THE Peace of Jerusalem A SERMON Preached in the PARLIAMENT HOVSE Ian. 9. 1656. Being a day of private Humiliation kept by the Members thereof By Edward Reynolds D.D. LONDON Printed by Tho. Ratcliffe for George Thomason at the Sign of the Rose and Crown in St. Pauls Church-yard 1659. HOnoratissimis Amplissimis Consultissimis D. D. Magnae Britanniae Hiberniae Senatoribus in Magno Concilio Ardua Reipub. negotia assiduo indefesso studio tractantibus Concionem hanc de pace Ecclesiae Alteram Coram ipsis in solenni jejuniorum die privatim habitam ipsorumque jussu jam publici juris factam In Honoris humilimi obsequii Testimonium D. D.C. E.R. An Advertisement to the Reader Good Reader A Sad and sudden sickness befalling my Loving Friend the Stationer in whose hand this Sermon was to take care of the Printing of it hath been the cause why the Publication thereof hath been thus long retarded Which I thought fit to give an account of for the satisfaction of those who have too long expected it THE PEACE OF Jerusalem PSAL. 122.6 8 9. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces For my brethren and companions sake I will now say peace be within thee Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good THe whole world is divided into a two Congregations of men the Church Malignant under Satan their Head and the City of God under Christ their Head The general universality of natural men descending from the first Adam and the b special universality of believers descending from the second Adam This City of God was collected at first in the people of Israel therefore called the first-born Exod. 4 22. and holy to God as the first born Ier. 2.3 That which they were called from the rest of the world unto was to know to serve and to enjoy God Know him they could not but as he had revealed serve him they may not but as he had injoyned Gods service was prescribed both quoad modum and quoad locum the manner how the place where he would be worshipped the manner delivered to Moses from Sinai the place promised to be in due time revealed Deut. 12.11 14. The Tabernacle was the visible evidence of Gods presence amongst the people placed first in Shiloh Iosh. 18.1 and there continued till the dayes of Eli all which time the people went up thither to sacrifice 1 Sam. 1.3 Then the Lord being provoked forsook Shilo and gave his Glory the Ark into the hands of the Philistims Psal. 78.59 60 67. 1 Sam. 4.11 The Philistims by plagues were forced to bring it to Bethshemesh 1 Sam. 6.10 the men then being plagued for looking into it according to the threatning Numb. 4.20 perswaded those of Kiriath Iearim to fetch it which accordingly was done 1 Sam. 7.1 after Saul carried it into the field 1 Sam. 14.18 Thus we see that from the making of the Ark till its placing in Shiloh where it continued about 350. years and from the times of its captivity till David brought it into Sion which was about fifty years it was unsettled and itinerant But after it was fixed by David in the City of David Ierusalem or the South of the City which he wan from the Iebusites 2 Sam. 5.7 9. though it were removed from that part of the City to Mount Moriah something more Northward where Solomon built the Temple then it was in the City which God had chosen to place his name in from whence it was not to be by them removed though God threatned to do to that place as to Shiloh Ier. 7.12 14. This Psalm seemeth to have been compiled by David upon occasion of his setling the Ark in the Tabernacle which he had made for it in the City of David after the Iebusites were ejected the wall built the place fortified the Palace and political Government there setled And the use of it was as it may seem to be sung by the people when they went up solemnly unto Ierusalem according to the Law Exod. 23.17 as an expression of joy that the Ark was fixed in one certain place and the Kingdom in one certain family as visible testimonies of Gods presence and of the promised Messiah and as an excitation unto prayer for the continuance of so great a mercy unto all pious endeavours to promote the welfare of that City The parts of the Psalm are three First An expression of Davids joy for the House of God the resort of the people the publick Worship there celebrated vers. 1 2. Secondly A commendation of Ierusalem 1. From the Unity of it before it was a City divided for the Iebusites dwelt with the children of Iudah there till Davids time Iosh. 15.6.3 Iudg. 1.21 That part of it which was called the City of David was divided from the other part of the City untill Solomons time 1 Reg. 11.27 yet notwithstanding that separation the City is here said to be compacted in one because the Iebusites being cast out though the buildings were divided yet the affections were united and that made them a beautiful City 2. From the solemn worship of God when the Tribes came up thither thrice a year ver. 4. an honour which God gave that City above any other in Iudea or in the world to place his name there 1 Reg. 14.21 forbidding them to seek to any other place Bethel Gilgal or Beersheba Hos. 4.15 Amos 5.5 3. From the Civil Government there setled which from thence derived welfare into all parts of the Kingdom Where there is the Sanctuary and presence of God for Religion Thrones of Justice for Government no Iebusites to disturbe the one or the other but an unanimous and sweet consent of the whole people in both this must needs be a City of praise wherein good men could not but rejoyce Thirdly An Exhortation that inasmuch as such glorious things belong to this City of God therefore men would pray for the peace and prosperity thereof vers. 6 9. The words have no difficulty Pray for or ask after It extendeth not onely to the Duty of Prayer for Peace but of Consultation after the ways and means unto it which the Greek implies rendring it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Peace may be taken both generally for all kind of Happiness and specially for all Quietness and freedom from enemies Within thy walls Ramparts or Forts It is not enough to have outward Fortifications and walls against enemies except there be Peace within the walls and amongst the People Palaces which David built 2 Sam. 5.9.12 Peace within thy walls amongst thy people and within thy Palaces amongst the Princes and Peers By his Brethren he meaneth the people of all the Tribes who were greatly concerned in the prosperity of that City wherein were their foundations Psal. 87.1 It might seem no wonder if David pray
a faithfull City Isai. 1.26 Fourthly the Benefits of this Peace 1. To our selves they shall prosper that love it God will not onely hear the prayer by giving peace to the Church but by giving prosperity to him that made it Such a prayer is like to Noahs Dove turns back again to him that sent it out with an Olive branch in the mouth Yea if the prayer should be denied as to the body of the people yet such a man should be heard for himself He should be marked for safety Ezek. 9.4 5 14 14. there should be a hideing place provided for him-Isai 62.20 and a book of remembrance should be written for him Mal. 3.16 He shall have peace though the Assyrian be in the land Mich. 5.5 Isai. 43.2 2. To our Brethren Such a Prayer shall be like the Beams of the Sun which diffuseth light and heat upon thousands at once Gods people have publick hearts and aimes look after general and publick interests Moses was offered to be the Father of a great Nation himself Exod. 32.10 f O no not so Lord Lord think upon thy people The afflictions of Ioseph more wound then any such promise can comfort him He dares not so unman so unbrother himself as to look upon his posterity and forget Abrahams 3. To the House of God The conservation and propagation of his holy Doctrine and Worship is so dear to all that are of Davids mind that they are willing not onely to purchase it with their prayers but with their blood I count not my life dear unto me saith the Apostle so I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Iesus And again I am ready not onely to be bound but to die at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus Acts 20 24.21.13 They preferre Ierusalem above their greatest joy And this is an high honour that God doth confer upon the prayers of his servants that whereas all their good and comfort flows from the house of God the very house of God it self doth reap benefit by their prayers Though it be his Rest the place wherein he delighteth the place which he filleth with his glory yet the glory of his own house shall be bestowed upon it in answer to his servants prayers We have considered the Duty Before we make Application let us consider the Root and Ground of the Duty which is Love They shall prosper that love it The love of the Church is the foundation of all our prayers and endeavours for the prosperity of the Church A man will not very hastily seek the good of those whom he doth not love and therefore when Christ requireth that we should love our Enemies he addeth as a fruit of it that we should pray for them Matth. 5.44 Love made Ionathan intercede with his Father for David even then when he knew his displeasure against him Much more will it move us to intercede with God for his beloved people the Spouse of his own Son 1. Love is a fundamental Passion the Fountain of all the rest Prayer is nothing else but the affection of desire sanctified and presented unto God for the things we need Love natural being the fountain of natural Desires Love sanctifified must consequently be the fountain of Prayers which are Sanctified desires 2. Love is a special Root of obedience Faith worketh by love love hath a constraining vertue is as the sail to the ship the wing to the Bird the spirits to the blood the wheele to the chariot that keeps all in motion The more love the more activity ever the more we love the Church the more sollicitous we shall be for her peace 3. Love hath a very great interest in God it is of him and from him and therefore it can finde the way unto him 1 Iohn 4.7 16. as water which comes from the Sea runs to the Sea the Lord cannot but hear the voice of his own work in us Every one that loves is born of God and a Fathers ear is open to a loving child This is the foundation of prayer that we can call God Father Rom. 8.15 Matth. 6.9 Every one that loves knows God Other things are known by knowledge but God is known by love Come taste and see how gracious the Lord is Experimental comfortable knowledge of God we can have none but in the face of Christ in whom he is all love When Moses desired to see Gods glory he answered him by causing his goodness to pass before him Exod. 33.18 19. The more we love God the more he reveals his goodness to us which knowledge of him is the ground of our calling upon him God is love as things of a nature move to each other Earth to Earth Water to Water so love in us moves to love in God Now as if you binde a piece of wood to steel the Loadstone draws the wood for the sake of the steel to which it is joyned so when our prayer is joyned with love it is thereby drawn up unto God who is love Love is the Key of Heaven As love to the Church made Esthers petition so love to Ester made the Kings answer God will hold out the Scepter of his love to those prayers which proceed from love Love of the Brethren is an evidence of Gods dwelling in us by his Spirit which is a Spirit of Love 2 Tim. 1.7 and the Lords ears are readily open to those prayers which are made by the help of the Spirit of love in us Rom. 8.26 Ioh. 4.24 Lastly where there is love there is confidence towards God and confidence hath free accesse to the throne of grace Heb. 4.16 1 Ioh. 3.21 22. 4. Love hath an excellent vertue in it to season all duties is as salt in the Sacrifice it makes the duty hearty and God loves chearfulness as well in praying as in giving It makes a man urgent and importunate quicquid agit valde agit puts up strong cries It is strong as death whch will take no denial It keeps the minde intent upon prayer Love turned Maries thoughts from a meer civil entertaining of Christ into desires of hearing him Love stirs up Faith to eye and fix on ptomises quae valde volumus facile credimus Love facilitates duty and makes the heart constant in it Ruth loved Naomi and so went thorow with her Weak things by the strength of love will venture on hard things A Hen will fly upon a Dog out of love to her Chickens One man with an engine may move more then ten men with their own strength Love is an Engine makes the soul able to manage hard duties to shoot a prayer as high as Heaven Lastly Love is full of arguments no man will ever want something to plead in behalf of what he loves All the strength of the minde and powers of nature wait upon Love to contrive and cast about for the good of the thing loved How witty was
the love of the woman of Canaan to her daughter who could pick out an Argument out of a Repulse and turn that which seemed a g reproach into a Petition Love is that which commends every service to God the touchstone by which all our duties are to be tried h Martyrdom without love is nothing 1 Cor. 13.1 3. i Truth without love is nothing 2 Thes. 2.10 Prayer without love is nothing Doeg was detained before the Lord but his hatred to David brought a curse upon him for all his prayer 1 Sam. 21.7 The Lord looks not to pretence but to truth and will answer every man according to the love or to the Idols of his own heart Ezek. 14 1-5 A man may pray for the Church of God only out of self Love as the Jews were to pray for Babylon Ier. 29.7 because his own safety is involved in it as the life of the Ivy depends upon the standing of the Oak but true prayer for the Church is that which is grounded upon love of the Church it self upon zeal for Gods truth and worship upon delight in his Oracles and presence because here onely the means of salvation and the word of life is dispensed because in the distresses of the Church Gods name is blasphemed the Blood and Spirit of Christ is injured the glory of the Gospel is eclipsed the Enemies of God are comforted What wilt thou do said Ioshua to thy great name Nehemiah and Esther were great enough themselves but the afflictions of the Church made them mourn and pray And as no duties are acceptable unto God which do not proceed out of Love so no pretence of love is acceptable unto him which doth not put forth it self into duty This was the proof of Davids love I love the Lord I will call upon him Psalm 116.1 2. This the proof of Pauls love My hearts desire and prayer for Israel is that they might be saved Rom. 10.1 when God is angry we find Moses in the gap Psal. 106.23 When Israel flies Ioshua prayes when the plague is amongst the people David is at the Altar 2 Sam. 24.25 When Enemies are in Arms Iehoshaphat and Asa are upon their knees when Rabshekah is railing Hezekiah is intreating the Lord Here is the proof of Love it draws out the soul into all zealous endeavours for the peace of the Church where there is no other ability yet love will pray and as Solomon saith of a poor wise man we may say of a poor praying man that he hath a great hand in delivering the City Eccles. 9.15 The meanest Christian may pray for the peace of the Church But I must apply my Exhortation in the use of this Doctrine unto those who must do more then pray who have hands as well as knees power as well as prayer to put forth for God In how unsetled and discomposed a condition the Church of God is yet amongst us every mans eyes sees and I think every good mans heart doth sorrow to see the holy Ordinances of Christ by multitudes quite forsaken the holy truth of Christ by many corrupted with the leaven of heresie and blasphemy Emissaries walking up and down to draw away credulous and unstable souls into by-paths to follow every ignis fatuus which doth mislead them Multitudes of active and vigilant enemies who know not how to work under a disguise and by good words and fair speeches to deceive the hearts of the simple Multitudes of credulous ductile and unstaid spirits tossed up and down and carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the sleight and cunning craftiness of men who lye in wait to deceive We see how fast these evil weeds have grown what advantages the enemy hath taken in all places to sow his cares and to lay his leaven How greatly his hopes have been raised and his attempts encouraged by the experience which he hath of the lubricity and instability of the vulgar people amongst us As it is said that the Chief Priests moved the people against Christ Mar. 15.11 So the common enemy instills his poison into the people to try if by degrees he can bring things into a flame and commotion like that Act. 19. and then have some crafty Demetrius in a readiness to cry up Diana and you may observe how cunningly the Scene is laid 1. Cry up a boundlesse and universal liberty for every man to teach to publish to insinuate into others whatsoever doctrines he please be the tendency of them never so destructive to truth peace and godliness 2. Cry down the coercive power of the Magistrate in matters of Religion that so there may be no hedge to keep the Wolves out 3. Bring into contempt the faithful and able Ministers of the Gospel as hirelings and seducers that so what ever Arguments they shall produce in defence of the Truth may be wholly enervated and blown over by the prejudice against their persons 4. Decry Learning and the Schools of the Prophets as things rather dangerous then subservient unto Religion that so there may be no Smith in Israel least the Hebrews make them Swords and Spears 1 Sam. 13.19 5. Cry down the maintenance of the Ministry that when that is wholly taken away no man may breed his child to a hungry lean starved profession that so Emissaries who shall have an invisible maintenance from abroad may have the freer entertainment to spread their snares 6. Put Doctrines which in their own proper colours would not be swallowed into a disguise give them a Periwig if I may so speak and another name that they may not be known to be the thing which they are that in the dark and under a vail Leah may go for Rachel and in a mantle the Divel may be Samuel I doubt not but that your eys are open to see the danger I beseeh you let your hearts be awakened to consider of expedients to prevent it k That Magistrates have a care and duty lie upon them to look after the interest of the Church of Christ and to see that that may be preserved from pernicious and destructive evils that the Officers and Members thereof do in their several stations the several duties belonging unto them though I doubt not but you are setled in so wholesome a perswasion give me leave in three words to demonstrate unto you First the Lord did expresly command that Idolaters and Inticers to Idolatry Blasphemers Presumptuous and prophane despisers of Gods Law should be punished He that sacrificeth unto any God save unto the Lord onely he shall be utterly destroyed Exod. 22.20 He that blasphemeth the Name of the Lord shall surely be put to death and all the Congregation shall certainly stone him as well the stranger as he that is born in the Land when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord shall be put to death Levit. 24.16 The soul that doth ought presumptuously whether he be born in the Land or a stranger the same