of mount Sion the church vnder the Gospel vpon the assemblies thereof a clowd smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fyre by night that al ChristiaÌ„ churches have froÌ„ him their directioÌ„ protectioÌ„ whiles in the ministerie of his word spirit he speaks vnto theÌ„ as in the clowdy pillar is their shelter against the teÌ„pest their shadow against the heat For which grace praise ye God in the Assemblies even the Lord ye that are of the fountain of Israel 13. Thus every Church is like mount Sion fair in situation the joy of the whol earth the citie of the great king in the pallaces wherof God is knowen for a refuge which he wil stablish for ever and where his people wait for his mercie in the mids of his temple And as the howse of Iaakob walketh in the light of the Lord which shineth in the face of Christ in which light they beleev that they may be the children of the light so also they even al nations and people which are saved walk in the light of the church which it hath fi oÌ„ the Lord who is her light everlasting her sun shield in whose light she seeth light This is yâ— citie of truth the mount of holines the secret and congregatioÌ„ of the righteous which looketh forth as the Morning fair as the Moon pure as the Sun terrible as an armie with banners It is the howse of the living God the gate of heaven the pillar ground of truth al the limits therof rouÌ„d about ar most holy the Lord hath stablished it the poor of his people wil shrowd theÌ„selves in it the glorie and honour of the nations shal be brought vnto it vpon al the glorie shal be a defence it shal be a quiet habitation a tabernacle that cannot be removed a kingdome that cannot be shakeÌ„ and the nation or kingdome that wil not serve it shal perish but the people that dwel therein shal have their iniquitie forgiven and from the day that this citie is builded the name thereof is THE LORD IS THERE The Lord blesse thee ô habitation of 〈…〉 holy mountaine Ier. 31. 23. CHAP. XVIII Of the coÌ„munion that the Saincts in al Churches have in things spiritual NOW as the faithful are thus coÌ„pact like living and precious stones in one holy Temple and meÌ„bers of one bodie so havethey fellowship togither in all Christian offices spiritual and humane ech with other do willingly coÌ„municate the manifold graces of God Their spiritual communion may be considered in three things First in al duties from themselves towards God as be prayses thaÌ„ksgivings prayers supplications c. which they powr out one with for an other Secondly in all graces given them of God as are the words of his covenant the coÌ„forts and seales of the same opened and applied for the helping forward and assurance of their salvation Thirdly in al duties among themselves one towards an other as counsels deliberations exhortations consolations admonitions rebukes censures and such like al which for the honour of God and their mutual good they carefully togither doe keep execute 2. Their coÌ„munion in the Worship of God is when at time and place appointed they al come togither to serve confesse and prayse the Lord and cal vpon his name For which as Israel of old had their assemblies wher the ministers of God publickly and solemnly vttered his prayses discoursing of al his wonderful works and giving vnto him the glory of his name made also their requests vnto God for their wants vnto al which al the people sayd Amen and praysed the Lord so also in the Apostles dayes Gods people had still their places of prayer for which holy exercise the Christians assembled in which they continued with one accord both men women Where the ministers of Christ gav themselves vnto this busines that minding the publick state of the church they might for with the same make requests giv thaÌ„ks in the eares vnderstaÌ„ding of the people which thervnto answered Amen These now ar not the praiers or praises-of him alone that speaketh but of the whol asseÌ„blie which atteÌ„d w th their ears asseÌ„t with their harts seal with their lips that part of publick administratioÌ„ coÌ„firming it also by signes and gestures beseeming such an action In these whither ordinarie or extraordinarie with fasting and humiliatioÌ„ of sowl vpoÌ„ special occasioÌ„s ther is a coÌ„munioÌ„ harmonie among the Saincts that with one mind one mouth doe praise God and their prayer cometh vp vnto heaven to his holy habitatioÌ„ And as the publick assemblies of the whol church so the more private meetings in families or of other friends for special causes is both comfortable to themselves and acceptable to the Lord for he had promised that wher ther is a syâ—phonie or agreemeÌ„t but of two oâ— his togither in earth to desire anything it shal be given them so much he respecteth the fellowship vnâ—nimitie of his people and theâ— gathering togither in his name 3. But when through distance of place or other just occasion they cannot or doe not come togither as also in their private prayers which they powr out before the Lord eyther some few togither oâ— ech one apart the faithful hav yet spiritual communion and benefit by praying one for an other while they remember and make mention of their brethren vnto God rejoycing and giving thanks for his blessings vpon theÌ„ desiring things that may benefit comfort them praying for deliverance from baÌ„ds or other afflictions for strength stabilitie in the truth for remission of syns or for other graces as the necessities of the Saincts do require for al whoÌ„ we are exhorted to pray with al manner prayer and supplication in the spirit and for special persons to make more earnest suit to strive or wrastle togither with them by prayers to God for them This fellowship is comfortable to all that know the vse of prayer how much it prevaileth with God if it be ferveÌ„t Wherfore the Apostles did not only performe this dutie for others in their absence but themselves so earnestly desired it at the hands of al and trusted for help by it Also the Saincts that were before theÌ„ knew well and nourished this communion whiles they requested their brethren to pray vnto God for theÌ„ especially the prophets whose petitions were exceeding beneficial not onely to the church mem bers therof whom they sometime saved from death by this means but also for strangers so effectual with the Lord is the prayer of the Saincts and the odour therof as sweet incense before him and a token it was of
creditors These were to be wel intreated like brethren not overruled with crueltie they wer to be dismissed in the seventh or at furthest in the fiftith year called the Iubilee And when they went out they were to be liberally rewarded with their maisters goods Of the latter sort were the hethens either bought with price or conquered by battel which remayned servants alwaies theÌ„selves and their seed after theÌ„ Servitude especially bondage is a judgment of God vpon the world for syn inflicted vpon Chams posteritie as a curse yet is the curse by Christ taken away in whom the bond the free ar one And this was the case of many strangers in Israel as of the Gibeonites the offspring of CanaaÌ„ vpon whom their fathers curse for outward slaverie was inflicted which they cheerfully vnderwent and had Gods favour and blessing vpoÌ„ their sowles they serving him and he continewing theÌ„ though Saul sought to root them out punishing all Israel for their injurie The like was also to be seen in others of that progenie whom Solomon subdued vnder servile tribute whose children remayned among the Israelits after the captivitie of Babylon as did also the Nethinims of Gibeon and wer named the sons of Solomons servants When such bondmen ar brought to the faith of the Gospel their civil servitude is not therby at an end no not though they hav beleeving maisters but they ar stil to giv honour and do service even hartily as to the Lord and not to men 〈◊〉 they serv the Lord Christ in that estate and ar his freemen therfore they should not care for this yoke yet if they may be free they should vse it rather The maisters ar to do vnto their servants that which is just and equal knowing that they also hav a maister in heaven they may chasten theÌ„ but not oppresse them nor contemne their judgement when they coÌ„tend with theÌ„ Thus servaÌ„ts notwithstaÌ„ding their freedom in the faith ar to be in subjection and humble themselves vnder the haÌ„d of their governours they are to obey in labour and attendance in service at home or abroad in peace or in war and both maister and servant ar to keep communion togither in their holy faith wherin is no respect of persons without oppression fâ—awd murmuring or debate til they end their dayes in peace and come to the place appointed for al the living wher smal great do lodge togither and the servant free from his maister 6. This much of families which being wel ordered and conjoyned in the faith of Christ are as litle churches so caled by the Apostle and ought to hav care whatsoever be done in others that Gods true worship be continewed in them The secoÌ„d sort of humane societie is in Policies or Commune weals which may be diversly coÌ„stituted lesser or greater vnder suÌ„dry sorts of govermeÌ„t As many families coÌ„pact togither in one tribe many tribes in one nation or Kingdome many kingdomes in one Empire these menaged by one or by many by Princes Sâ—natouis Iudges Kings or Kaesaâ—s as God shal dispose the publick states see best For al powers are of God what soever be their names titles dignities or formes of regiment and when or howsoever they be altered at the discretion of man in respect wherof they ar caled â—â—mane creations or ordinaÌ„ces they ar to be submitted vnto for the Lords sake And this though they be vnbeleevers how much more if they also beleev hav brought their glorie to the Church of Christ and have their portion in the holy land 7. These magistrats if they be freely chosen of the church must be of their brethren men of wisdome and good conscience who must judge al causes aright govern the people in justice and in the fear of God whom the Commons are to honour submit vnto and reverence in deed word and gesture as to the Lord for the word of God is committed vnto them and they therfore ar caled Gods This subjection is due vnto al whither vnto the King as to the superior or vnto the Governors as they that ar sent of him It must be both openly secretly even of conscience not for fear of wrath onely The coÌ„munion of the faith is not a cause why eyther princes should forsake their place titles or dignities or the people shake off their subjection For seing Magistracie is stil Gods ordinance none ar meeter to execute it to hav his word and sword coÌ„mitted to theÌ„ to carie his titles to judge in his coÌ„gregatioÌ„ then his own servants furnished with his spirit And seeing it is stil his ministerie for the good of his people the punishmeÌ„t of malefactors praise of weldoers none caÌ„ better performe this dutie be noursing fathers mothers of Christs church then Christians Kings ar not to cast away but bring their glorie honour to IerusaleÌ„ as the gentiles do their riches theÌ„selves to minister therevnto 8. In which ministration they both mainteyn and conserve the true religion of God according to his word reforme things amisse in themselves and their subjects as is before touched and also mainteyn civil peace by executing mercie and judgment justifying delivering the poor and needy and beating down the oppressor Such magistrates are eyes to the blind feet to the lame fathers to the poor whose cause when they know not they seek out diligently breaking the jawes of the vnrighteous man plucking the prey out of his teeth And as their sword preserveth peace at home so it resisteth injuries from abroad that they are not onely ornameÌ„ts of coÌ„mune weals but their safety and strength vnder God and may wel be caled as the Prophets name them the Shields of the world For which cause all Christians as they may by Pauls example be partakers of the benefit of their lawes politick so do they ow homage service and subiectioÌ„ vnto theÌ„ should allow them maintenance pay them tributes and other like duties in recompence of their cares labours and employments that so mutual peace and concord in the coÌ„munion of the Saincts may all manner wayes be conserved 9. There remayneth yet an other sort of civil duties among the Saincts general vnto al maried or vnmaried bond or free magistrate or subject which are love mercy relief kindenes courtesie and many other the like sociable actions at al times to be performed of al persons as there is occasion and according to their power and place For Christians are to have care of those that labour among them aâ— over them in the Lord and admonish them that they have them in singular love for their works sake
kings of the earth and wonder of the world as having the Sun for her clothing the moon for her footstool and the twelve starres for a crown vpon her head whiles by faith and holines she hath put on Christ the Sun of righteousnes that is risen vnto her as she hath learned him of his Apostles and is herby advanced to heavenly dignity that even her conversation is in heaven so as she loveth no more this world of which she her self is not and the fashion wherof passeth away yet forasmuch as she hath both in her own body paines of childbirth whiles she is in travail to bring forth Christ which by the preaching of the Gospel is formed in her and without her self Satan for his fiercenes a dragon persecuting her in wrath warring with the remnant of her seed gathering his soldjers which are as the sand of the sea to compasse about the tents of the Saincts the beloved citie it shal be therfore good that we take a view of these troubles and assaults learn of God the end and vse of them and how we may either escape or overcome them least we be offended our faith fayl 2. That old crooked serpēt the enemy of mans salvatiō perceiving the vniting communion of the Saincts to be a great help furtherāce of their happines a prayse to their God a daunting to the world a comfort to themselves doth therfore bend his vtmost might and malice against this brotherhood that he may dissolve the same He stirreth vp the wicked multitudes like the raging waves of the sea that some out myre durt to bely and blaspheme the truth and witnesses of Christ accusing them of noveltie heresie sedition treason and rebellion He further kindleth this fyre by his false Prophets that cease not to inveigh against and calumniate this little flock and by their abused wit and learning to prove perswade that they are as bad or worse then they be reported of both for their faith towards God and loyaltie to the princes of the earth which princes also for like malice in themselves or for that they fear the losse or impeachment of their honour and dignities or because they loath the bonds and yoke of the gospel or for to gratifie their people and subjects are readie to turn the dint of their sword wherwith they should conserv the truth and peace of Christian religion against the Saincts and especially their cōmuniō assemblies which seem most dangerous and are indeed terrible to the world as an armie with banners 3. Herevpō they think to work wisely if any way they can hinder the propagation and increase of the church whither by privy oppressiō or open persecution though the wisdom of God hath sayd Sure◠it is not good to condemne the iust 〈◊〉 that princes should smite for equitie Especially the men-children the teachers guides and principal of Christs flock are most maligned exposed to their tyrannie though sōtime neyther women nor infants can be exempted from their rage and crueltie For which these civil polities with the heads and governours of thē vnto whom erewhile it was sayd ye ar Gods ye al are children of the most high ar now become more base then any men and are caled in holy scripture Liōs Wolves bears Libbards wild-bores and foxes even pourtrahed out by mōstrous savage and deformed bestes for such their barbarous havock and misusage of the Saincts 4. For loe in their malignant harts they fret against the people of God and against the holy covenant with their mouthes they speak evil even marveilous and presumptuous things blaspheming Gods name and tabernacle them that dwel in heaven with their hands and hornes they smite and push the poor flock of Christ spoyling them of their goods banishing them out of their dominions casting them into prisons and dungeons feeding thē with bread of adversitie and water of afflictiō devising all cruel and exquisite torments to make their death miserable racking stoning hāging hewing in peeces burning in fyre casting to wild beasts and many moe horrible tortures as the lambs of Christ have felt in all ages whiles children have been brought from the womb to their martirdom women with child ript vp in their vnnatural crueltie 5. By this meanes the cōmunion of the Saincts is oft times dissolved and scattred their shepheards and watchmen apprehended and killed the whol flock pursued as sheep appointed to the slaughter Some for fear deny and forsake the faith and are compelled to blaspheme Some by flatterie are caused to syn and wickedly break the holy covenant and to be the betrayers of their brethren Such as escape these evils somtime wander vp and down in sheeps skins and goat-skins destitute afflicted and tormented in desarts and mountaines in dennes and caves of the earth Thus waters of a full cup ar wrung out vnto them and now the wayes of Sion lament because no man cometh to the solemn fests for the dayly sacrifice whereby they were wont publickly to worship God is taken away and abominable desolation put in the place The sanctuarie synagogues of God are burned Ierusalem broken vp made a ruinous heap the stones therof layd in dust and the dead bodies of the Saincts cast to the fowles bestes of the earth Then the faithful mourn because God hath destroyed his congregation caused the sabbaths to be forgottē forsaken his sanctuarie and given into the enemies hand the walls of her palaces their eyes fayl with teares their bowels swel their liver is powred vpon the earth they cry out with the Prophet O Lord God spare we beseech thee who shal raise vp Iaakob for he is smal 6. Thus God who hath his fyre in Siō fornace in Ierusalē melteth his metall trieth fineth his people as silver purifieth thē as gold by the spirit of judgement and the spirit of burning draweth them to repentance by chastening them for their syns and making judgement to begin at his own howse cōsuming the drosse making known them that ar approved that the trial of their faith being much more precious thē gold that perisheth though it be tried with fyre may be found vnto prayse honour glorie at the appearing of Iesus Christ. For not withstanding al the rage of the persecutors God wil preserv to himself a litle flock vnto whom he wil be a litle Sanctuarie in al places wher they ar dispersed who in this their desolation yet pray with their faces towards Ierusalem doe convene and meet togither secretly for fear of their foes and cease not to performe al holy duties vnto God and one to an other to the vtmost of their power and in al their
afflictions ar more then conquerours through him that loved them For they account the suffrings of this preseÌ„t time not worthy of the glory which shal be shewed vnto them they consider Christ their head who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God who when he was both in name power a Lion appeared as a Lamb killed yet behold he is alive for evermore Amen and hath the keyes of hel and of death And he it is that raiseth vp his children fioÌ„ death he wil prophesie and their dispersed bones shall come togither sinewes and flesh shall grow vpon them breath shall enter into theÌ„ they stand vpoÌ„ their feet an exceeding great army For in their tribulations they have but washed their garments white in his blood and this is al the fruit the taking away of their syn and the more the adversaries vex them thinking to root them out the more they multiply grow by patient suffering they triumph and by dying dayly they attayn to life eternal And God who hath chastened theÌ„ with rods for their good will turn his hand vpoÌ„ their enemies scourge theÌ„ with scorpioÌ„s they shal wring out and drink the dreggs of this cup of wrath he that made them wil not have compassion of them and he that formed them will have no mercie on them the beasts shal be destroyed and given to the burning fyre the righteous shal have dominion over them in the morning The zele of the Lord of hosts wil performe it The Lord preserveth the sowles of his Saincts he wil deliver them from the hand of the wicked Psalm 97. 10. CHAPT XXI How the peace and communion of the Church is disturbed by troubles syns within it self BVt it is a smal thing for Satan thus to molest the Saincts with troubles from abroad for he hath meanes and instruments many in the church it self to work the woe yea often the ruine of the same he most delighteth to kindle contentions among brethren knowing that such things are most offensive vnto God heavie to his people give to the enemie occasion of reproch The means are two that he chiefly vseth herevnto 1. the infirmities of the Saincts who though they would do good yet through syn that dwelleth in theÌ„ oft times doe the evil which they hate 2. the iniquities of false brethren and hypocrites who alwayes are corrupted in themselves and seek to bring corruptioÌ„ into the whol body of the church 2. For wheÌ„ the faithful through coÌ„mune â—iaylty defyle their precious sowles and bodies through the remaynders of â—yn both the enemies without take occasioÌ„ to blaspheme and the brethren within to stumble contend as Moses was murmured against by his owne sister and brother because he had maried an Aethiopian wife And God himself is often angry with the whol church and punisheth many for the fault of a few as wheÌ„ David synned in numbring the people God in displeasure plagued Israel that of them there died seventie thowsand men Again the home-bred warrs and dessentions are heavier to the brethrens harts then al forreyn troubles many weak ones are offended no lesse then was Rebekah who feeling the childreÌ„ to strive in her bodie made question of her conception and sayd If it be so why am I thus But above al the hypocrites in hart doe increase wrath oft-times molest the church of which they ar not though they be in the same like the Apes peacocks in SolomoÌ„s ships being in deed the serpents seed and apperteyning to an other kingdome then Christs yet are thrust among the Saincts through Satans malice for to annoy them God also permitting this for the trial of his elect By these means the litle bark of Christs church hathever been tossed as with winds and tempests and is like ever to be so lâ—g as it is on the seas of this world that none may look for Angelical perfection or absolute peace vpon the earth 3. The Saincts ar subject if they be not wary hav their wits exercised to discerne good and evil to be caried about with divers and strange doctrines to fal into errors heresies idolatries Satan rayseth vp even among the teachers of the church some speaking perverse things to draw disciples after theÌ„ and the people many of them ar through their owne corruption prone vnto vice even set on mischief The children of Israel living in Aegipt defiled themselves with the abominations and idols of that land being brought out into the wildernes and informed in the statuts of the Lord they ther rebelled against him sinned stil provoked the most High teÌ„pted God and limited the holy one of Israel made them a molten calf sayd this is thy God ô Israel that brought thee out of the laÌ„d of Aegipt coÌ„mitted great blasphemies When they were entred into the good laÌ„d promised to their fathers there also they mingled themselves among the hethen learned thir works and served their idols which were their ruine False prophets ther were many among them that seduced the people to errour and idolatrie strengthned their haÌ„ds in evil preached peace to the wicked put pillowes vnder their armes but smote the righteous grieved and killed what in theÌ„ lay the sowls of such as should not hav died False teachers the Apostle sayth ther wil be also amongst vs which privily shal bring in damnable heresies eveÌ„ denying the Lord that hath bought them The primitive churches had woful experience herof whiles in Galatia they wer soon remooved away to an other gospel being bewitched by their misleaders who vnder pretence of the law of God abolished them from Christ and made them fal from grace And in many other churches false doctrine fretted as a canker and destroyed the faith of certayn whiles some taught the resurrection was past already some with Iezabel BalaaÌ„ perswaded to eat of things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication with other hateful doctrine of the NicolaitaÌ„s idolatrous doctrine of worshiping Angels Christ the head being let goe the grace of God turned to wantonnes God the onely Lord our Lord Iesus Christ denyed Antichrist even many Antichrists entred in to deceyv destroy mens sowles 4. By such seducers much trouble discord was wrought amoÌ„g the people some of ignorance some of wilfulnes receiving and walking in their errors by whom the way of truth was evil spoken of others opposing against them and earnestly contending for the faith once given to the Saincts Especially the Apostles and other trustie ministers of Christ to whose care the sowles of men were coÌ„mitted set themselves against those falsers by the word of truth by the