for the devil and his Angels there 's their wicked company And just it is that Associates in sin should be Associates in suffering 3 There followeth the execution of these sentences Mat. 25. 46. Joh. 14. 3. 1 Thes 4. 17. Thus you have heard the proceedings of the Judge In the third place we are to consider the rule whereby all shall 3 The Rule of Judging be judged The sentence shall be given according to Law and Gospel both Joh. 5. 45. Joh. 12. 48. Rom. 2. 16. The godly shall be principally acquitted according to the Gospel Joh. 3. 18. And this their acquittance shall be approved on by the Law Mat. 5. 17. Gal. 3. 13. The condemnation of unbeleevers shall be chiefly according to the Law Deut. 27. 26. Gal. 3. 10. And be confirmed by the Gospel Joh. 3. 19. Absolution shall be pronounced of singular grace for Christs merits And the sentence of condemnation shall be pronounced out of gods severe justice and the sinners own deserts I proceed to a fifth Question What signs and forerunners of this day of judgement are set down in Scripture Ans 1. The publishing and receiving of the Gospel throughout the world Mat. 24. 4. 2 The Apostâ—sy of some Professors 1 Tim. 4. 1. 3 The revealing of Antichrist 2 Thes 2. 3 4 8. 4 Common corruption in manners joyned with security as in the dayes of Noah and Lot Mat. 24. 12 37. 2 Tim. 3. 1. 1 Thes 5. 3. 5 Warres and troubles both in the World and Church Mat. 24. 6 9. 6 False Christs attended with false Prophets and armed with false miracles Mat. 24. 24. 7 The calling of the Jewes unto the faith of the Gospel Rom. 11. 25. Whether their call shall be ordinary or extraordinary we cannot determine 8 Signes in Heaven and Earth and all Elements as the trembling of the Earth the roaring of the Sea the darkening of the Sun and Moon Mat. 24. 20. Lâ—k 21. 25. Yea the firing of the whole frame of Heaven and Earth 2 Pet. 3. 7 10 12. 9 The appearance of the son of man i. e. Christ God-man whereby his comeing shall then be clearly apprehended of all men Mat. 24. 30. I proceed to the 6 Question Why God desers the day of judgement and prolongs the time Ans 1. There are these reasons 1 For the exercise of the faith hope patience and prayers of the children of God They must believe wait and stay Gods leasure Though the vision be dark and seem to stay yet they must wait for it Hab. 2. 3. 2. God defers this day to give space of repentance and leave all impenitent rebellious sinners without excuse Rom. 2. 4. Rom. 9. 22. 2 Pet. 3. 8 9. But for the elects sake he is said to shorten them Mat. 24. 22. That they may neither be broken by grief and sorrow v. 21. nor seduced by Impostures v. 24. 3. That all the elect may be gathered together into the Church Joh. 10. 16. Rev. 6. 10 11. The 7 Question is whether it be within the power of a mans understanding to tell the determinate time when this day shall come I answer No Mar. 13. 32. This day wee read shall be in the end of the world Mat. 24. 3. But of that houre day moneth year no man knoweth Jewish Rabbins Astrologers c. are abominable who are so saucy and presumptuously inquisitive into the secrets locked up in Gods cabinet There are special reasons why the particular time is hid from us and God will not let us know when this day of judgement shall be 1. Reason is for the exercise of our graces Mat. 6. 10. Jam. Reas 1 5. 7. Rev. 22. 17 20. Another reason is to bridle our curiosity Act. 1. 6 7. A 3 reason is to keep us in our duty Mat. 24. 42. Luke 21. 34 35. A 4 reason is that the wicked may take heed and by no means defer their repentance upon hope of a longer time Because they know not the houre thereof they must be provided alwaies Mat. 24. 43. Mat. 25. 13. Luk. 19. 13. The 8 Question is Whether we must desire this day I answer We may 1 Because this is a Character of discrimination to difference good from bad At the day of judgement there will be a separation between good and bad Luk. 21. 26 27 28. Rom. 14. 10 15 16 17. 2 We have the command of Christ Mat. 6. 10. Rev. 22. 17. 3 We have the example of the Saints Rom. 7. 24. Phil. 1. 23. 4 Because this is the day of redemption deliverance of the Saints Luk. 21. 28. In the next place we must answer severall objections amongst Object 1 others these are the principal 1 It 's said that Christ shall not be the Judge because he said he came not to judge the world Joh. 12. 47. For answer We are to distinguish of a twofold coming a first Ans and a second coming Christ speakes there of his first and not his second comeing in the first he was judged of others in the next he shall judge others according to that of Austin Sedebit judex qui stetit sub judice damnabit veros reos qui factus est falsus reus He that stood at the barre to be judged of others shall there sit on the bench and judge others He that was causelesly found guilty here shall finde others justly guilty there But 2. It 's objected that the Apostles shall judge the twelve Object 2 Tribes of Israel Mat. 19. 28. How then is Christ the onely judge of the world Answer The Saints shall be Christs Assistants by way of suffrage Ans and approbation they shall assent unto Christs judgement but the absolute power of judging and pronouncing sentence the father hath committed unto the son A 3 objection is that the beleever shall not come into condemnation Obj. 3 Sol. Joh. 5. 24. how say we then that all shall appear before Christs judgement seat For answer we are to distinguish of a twofold judgement of absolution and condemnation A beleever shall not come into the judgement of condemnation but only of absolution Obj. 4 Sol. 1 But a 4. objection will hence arise He that beleeveth not is judged already Joh. 3. 18. Answer Wicked men and devils are already judged 1 By 2. 3. 4. Gods decree Jude 4. 6. Mat. 25. 41. 2 By the revealed word Joh. 12. 48. 3 By their own consciences Matt. 8. 29. 4 By the beginning of their punishment here on earth Rev. 12. 9 10. But at the day of judgement they shall have a compleat judgement and receive the full measure of their sufferings the sentence shall be pronounced and it shall never be recalled no repeale no reversing of that sentence In stead of urgeing more objections I shall betake my selfe to a threefold application viz. For Comfort to the godly Terror to the wicked Exhortation to all Use 1. For Comfort 1. For Comfort Here 's abundance of consolation to the Saints of
under his feet and gave him to be vers 22. the head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulnesse vers 23. Eph. 3. 10. Col. 1. 20. of him that filleth all in all To the intent that now the Principalities and Powers in heavenly places might be knowne by the Church the manifold wisdome of God And having made peace through the blood of his crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himselfe by him I Col. 2. 10. say whether they be things in heaven or things on earth And ye are compleat in him who is the head of all Principality and Power I purposely wave many curious questions wherein Popish writers abound Wherefore in the last place I shall make a practicall improvement of the whole and apply only three inferences for Information Instruction and Consolation For Information 1. For Information 1. What excellent knowing glorious creatures the holy Angells are and if they be so excellent how much more is Jesus Christ their Lord Great is the knowledge of these glorious creatures but what they have is derivative from their Creatour 2. Be informed that it is unlawfull to worship them See thou do Col. 2. 18. it not saith the Angell to John for I am thy fellow-servant And in the place fore cited Let no man beguile you of your reward and in voluntary humility and worshiping of Angells intruding into those things he hath not seen vainly puft up by his fleshly mind 3. Be informed of the singular benefit of the Angells ministry The Angell of the Lord encampeth about them that feare him and delivereth Psal 34. 11. Josh 5. 14 15 them The Angell stood for Joshua It came to passe when Joshua was by Jerico that he lifted up his eyes and looked and behold there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hands and Joshua went unto him and said Art thou for us or for our Adversaries And he said nay but as a captaine of the hoâ—t of the Lord am I now come And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and did worship and said unto him what saith my Lord unto his servant And he said loose thy shooe from off thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is holy This was the Lord Jesus the Angell of the Covenant for a Created Angell would have refused adoration An Angell preserved the three Children from the flame and burning of the fiery furnace and shut the Lyons mouth An Angell praised for the Church in Zechary that Angell was Christ Then the Angell Zech. 1. 12. of the Lord answered and said O Lord of hosts how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the Cities of Judah against which thou hast had Indignation these threescore and ten yeares An Angell delivered Hezekiah and smote Senacherib An Angell delivered Peter An Angell brought the good newes of Christs incarnation The Angells of God preserve us in our beds in our houses in our journyes in our undertakings The Angells will carry our soules to Heaven By way of Instruction Vse 2. of Instruction Psal 91. 11. 1. Labour to walk in Gods waies For he shall give his Angells charge over thee to keep thee in all thy waies Whilest we are in our lawfull waies not in our wanderings we have a promise of Protection 2. Pray to God for the Protection of Angells We may not pray to Angells we may not worship them but we may pray to God to vouchsafe their ministry to us to make our waies prosperous to send us an Angell as Abraham believed and cause his Angells to pitcht their Tents about us as Gods messengers to defend Gen. 24. 7. and rescue us out of dangers 3. We should so live as remembring we are in the presence of God and Angells that Gods eyes are over us that the Angells observe oâ—r carriage and what decorum we keep in the duties we performe For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the Angells Though men as Diodati observes 1 Cor. 11. 10. would give consent and connive at this disorder yet the Angells who are continuall Guardians in their Assemblies would be offended at it For I think saith the Apostle that God hath set forth us the Apostles 1 Cor. 4. 9. 16. last as it were men appointed to death For we are made a spectacle unto the world to Angells and to men Wherefore I beseech you be yee followers of me For Consolation Vse 3. for Consolation This serves for comfort to Gods children that the Angells are their Ministers 1. In their lives they have them under God their protectors the Lord bids them protect preserve succour comfort relieve such a one he is in distresse he is my servant The very Angells 1 King 19. 7 8. were purveyers unto Eliah The Angells ministred unto Christ they strengthened him when he was in the garden when he suffered in his humane Nature So the children of God find it to their comfort that the Angells refresh comfort support and protect them in their greatest extremities 2. When they die the Angells carry their soules into Heaven 3. At the day of judgment they gather the elect unto Christ Mar. 13. 27. He will send his Angells to gather his elect from the four winds from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of Heaven By all that hath been said we are to understand the happinesse of all the Saints who are here in the text called heires of salvation God gives them his Son and that 's the height of mercy God gives them his Angells for their Guardians so those two Scriptures are abundantly fulfilled Psal 34. 9. O feare the Lord ye his Saints Psal 34. 9. Rom. 8. 32. for there is no want to them that feare him And Rom. 8. 32. He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not but with him freely give us all things And these Scriptures bring a full measure of comfort unto the children of God Having Christ the Saints have all he protects and defends them he is Lord over all and commands all creatures services for the good of his people This Doctrine of the Ministry of Angells is too much Idolized by some which fall to the worshiping of them This is flat Idolatry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is abhominable And this Doctrine is too much slighted by others who are not thankfull to God for the Protection of Angells Both these extreames are to be avoided and our duty is to look upon Angells as fellow servants and begge of God their Ministry And for all deliverances we should returne unto God the praise and glory of all in the language of the Psalmist Psal 115. vers 1. which shall be my conclusion Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy name give glory Psal 115. 1. for thy mercy and truths sake
strength and power in the hands of men if they mis-imploy it God can give strength to wounded men to do great exploits For though ye had smitten the Jer. 37. 10. whole army of the Caldeans that fight against you and there remained but wounded men among them yet should they rise up every man in his tent and burn this city with fire And God can cause the lame to take the prey Thy tacklings are loosed they could not well strengthen their Isa 33. 23. mast they could not spread the sail then is the prey of a great spoil divided the lame take the prey Let us leave off murmuring and repining and wait to see what God will do with us and for us His time is next He will bring to pass his own work his own way to his own glory The third and last Argument I shall name shall be drawn from Arg. 3. Drawn from the benefit of waiting Isa 40. 31. the singular benefit and utility of the duty Art thou weak wait and thou shalt receive strength They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up on wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint Art thou afraid of shame and disgrace lest contempt and ignominy be cast upon the Church of God see what the Prophet Isaiah saith It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth and the inhabitants thereof are as grashoppers Isa 40. 22 23. that stretcheth out the heaven as a curtain and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in that bringeth the Princes to nothing he maketh the Judges of the earth as vanity Dost thou desire Gods blessing wait and thou shalt have it And therefore doth the Lord wait that he Isa 30. 18. may be gracious unto you and therefore will he be exalted that he may have mercy upon you For the Lord is a God of judgement Blessed are all they that wait for him God knows when and how to help his Cum duplicaÌ„tur lateres venit Deus Isa 3â— 9 10 people In the mount God will be seen When the Bricks were doubled then came God and delivered the Israelites from their Aegyptian bondage The earth mourneth languisheth Lebanâ—n is ashamed and hewed down Sharon is like a wilderness and Bashan and Carmâ—l shake off their fruits Now will I rise saith the Lord now will I be exalted now will I lift up my self When helps from earth have been cut off then help came from Heaven When Abraham was stretching forth his hand to kill Isaac then the Angel said Stay thy hand When David was hemm'd in on every side then a way was made for his escape by the Philistines Invasion When Paul was a killing and they were beating of him to beat out his life then came news of an Insurrection in Jerusalem and by that diversion Paul was repreived God hath a way of escape for his people in Fire and Water When thou passest thorow the waters I will be with thee and thorow the Isa 43. 2 3. rivers they shall not over-flâ—w thee when thou walkâ—st thorow the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Sometimes they have their lives for a prey other times they are made a prey and suffer in a common calamity Yet though the Saints suffer they have an hiding-place And a man shall be as an hiding-place from Isa 32. 2. the wind and a covert from the tempest as rivers of water in a dry place as the shaddow of a great rock in a weary land They have a Pella a Zoar sometimes where they may securely escape with their lives yet they have always a refuge and shelter in the Divine Promises They have a rock higher then themselves from the end of the earth saith the Psalmist will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed Psalm 61. 2. lead me to the rock that is higher then I. It 's an obliged duty to wait upon the Counsels of God By waiting we may look for good successe because we goe Gods way by murmuring or reviling we cannot look for comfort because we goe the way of flesh and blood By patience the pain and anguish of our fore is mitigated by impatience it corrodes and is inrag'd Thus far of the Doctrinal part I shall improve all unto four Use 1. For Terror Uses viz. For Reprehension Exhortation Direction and Consolation It breathes forth terror and severe reproof unto the murmuring spirits of these present times Never more complaining in our Streets Oh! we would have peace upon any tearms when will the Sword be put into the sheath when shall the Kingdom be setled That complaint is frequently taken up Hast thou utterly rejected Judah Hath thy soul loathed Zion Why hast thou smitten us and Jer. 14. 1â— there is no healing for us we looked for peace and there is no good and for the time of healing but behold trouble For Answer I expostulate with Jehu What Peace What Peace with Rome What Peace with Benhadad What Peace with falshood Peace upon such tearms will prove but a Body massacring a Soul-murdering Peace What Peace with our lusts and corruptions Till they be slaughtered what peace can we expect Can we expect a cessation of punishing before there be a cessation of sinning Can we expect peace with men as long as we continue at War with God For all those Monethly Fasts and days of Humiliation where 's a serious Reformation of our hearts and lives You know how hasty Saul was he forced himself to sacrifice and would not stay till Samuel came it cost him his Kingdom The Israelites would not wait Gods time but were hasty for an encounter with the Amalekites and you may see what they got by it they fell before them and were discomfited unto Hormah Then the Amalekites came down and the Canaanites that dwelt in the hill and smote Numb 14. 45. them and discomfited them even unto Hormah And what 's the ground of this hastiness of spirit It 's infidelity because we believe not God upon his Word we are such hot spurres we out-run Providence and antidate Deliverance We go devised ways untract pathes according to secret impulses quite contrary to the rode of the Word did we believe the faithfulness of God That he is faithful that hath promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against his Church we should possess our selves with patience and wait quietly for deliverance We usually say that hasty men never want woe Rash preproperous and preposterous practices are the ruine of practitioners An impatient man is a gate without an hinge Janua sine cardine What shame is it for a Christian to be like Hercules furens or like the Demoniack mentioned in the Gospel rending and tearing himself An impatient male-contented person is Felo de se his own Executioner What a weakness was it in
Fountaine is opened and men apprehend their thirst they will hasten to the waters 4. The fountaine is opened because God sends messengers to 4. God sends Messengers to invite invite and guides to direct to it The ministers Embassâ—e is to invite men and women to come unto this Fountaine to perswade them to reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now then wee are Embassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us wee pray you in Christs stead to bee reconciled unto God It 's our maine business to beseech and intreat men to take Christ and to come unto this fountaine 5. Now is the day of grace the opportunity season offered from 5. Now is the day of grace God a price put into our hands Now Christ tenders himselfe and his benefits Now the counsel is a word in due season Isai 55. 6 7. Seek yee the Lord while hee may bee found and call upon him while hee is near Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him returne unto the Lord and hee will have mercy 6. The Lord opens to us upon him and to our God for hee will abundantly pardon 6. The Lord himselfe now opens to us and this is evident because hee knocks for us to open to him Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand 6. The Lord opens to us at the dore and knock if any man heare my voice and open the dore I will come in unto him and I will sup with him and he with mee And the Lord affords us severall Hammers to knock at his dore withall viz. especially 4. Hammers God useth to knock withall 1. The Hammer of his word Every sermon you heare is a 1. Hammer of the word knocking at the doâ—res of your hearts God makes use of his Messengers as his mouth Jer. 15. 19. Thou shalt stand before mee and if thou take forth the precious from the vile thou shalt bee as my mouth However the Ministers of God be despised and evill intreated Christ accounts the affronts offered to them equall to those hee met withall immediately offered unto himselfe Luk 10. 10. But into whatsoever City you enter and they receive you not goe out into the streets of the same and say even the very dust of your City that cleaveth on us wee shak off against you By the sermons you heare God knocks at your hearts Ezek. 25. and Ezek. 33. 30 31 32 33. They speak each one to another saying Come and heare what is the word that commeth forth from the Lord they sit before thee as my people and heare thy wordes but will not doe them 2. The hammer of his spirit The spirit breatheth upon the waters 2. Hammer of the spirit How many strivinges waitings whispers of the spirit are there to draw us unto God Wee are exhorted not to quench the spirit nor grieve the spirit The Lord will once say as Gen. 6. 3. My spirit shall not alwayes strive with man 3. The Hammer of mercies God knocks at our hearts by mercies peace prosperity Ther 's a prevalent exhortation Rom. 12. 1. 3. Hammer of mercies I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that yee present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service To us he speakes by mercies Wee are brands pluckt out of the burning and have our lives for a prey 'T is mercy wee enjoy peace in our Borders wee are free as yet from the Plague Famine and the sword wee enjoy the peace of the Gospell and the Gospel of peace 4. God knockes sometimes by the Hammers of judgment sometimes 4. The Hammer of Judgments by the Sword Plague and other Calamities though at present we are free our duty is Jer. 6. 8. Bee thou instructed O Jerusalem lest my soule depart from thee lest I make thee desolate and a land not inhabited Wee should learne righteousness at all times especially when judgments are amongst us Isai 26. 9. With my soule have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within mee will I seâ—k thee earely for when thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learne righteousness Micah 6. 9. Heare yee thâ— rod who hath appointed it It appeares farther that the fountaine is opened because God God affords the right key One false key is Free-will hath afforded us the right keys to open it There are three false keyes and foure true keyes The first false Key is free-will O saith the sinner I le repent hereafter I shall have time enough But is repentance in thy power Velle naturae malè velle corruptae naturae bâ—ne velle gratiae Phil. 2. 13. For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to doe of his own good pleasure Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth that wee should bee a kind of first fruites of his Creatures Free-will is an Aegyptian reed it will deceive us Jer. 10. 23. O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe it is not in man that walkâ—th to direct his steps Samsâ—ns case is very observable Judg. 16. 20. And shee said the Philistines be upon thee Samson and hee awoke out of sleep and said I will goe out as at other times before and shake my selfe and he wist not that the Lord was departed from him Man can undoe himselfe and marre himselfe but cannot save himselfe Hos 13. 9. O Israel thou hast destroyed thy selfe but in me is thy help 2. A second false key is universal grace and redemption Christ died A 2d false key is universal Redemption for all say some tasted death for every man for Cain and Judas as well as David and Paul many plead and think by this key to open the Fountaine but it 's a false key and will not unlock the fountain Dore. The latter part of the Text which they urge expounds the former they urge Joh. 316. God so loved the world that hee gave his only begotten-Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have life everlasting And that in 2 Cor. 5. 15. And that hee died for all But what followeth that they which live should not hâ—nceforth live unto themselves but unto him who died for them and rose againe They urge likewise Heb. 2. 9. But wee see Jesus who was made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour that hee by the grace of God should tast death for every man The grace and free love of God moved him to bestow this transcendent benefit on his people only not for the whole world Rom. 5. 18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to justification of life Here is hended the universality of Christ's body Adam was a common
Carthw Catech. Church of a more narrow compasse is such a particular Church or Parrish that dwelling in one place may conveniently at one time be taught by the mouth of one Minister Now both for the Church in generall and for the particular Church especially wherein we live we ought to pray and make frequent supplications to the Throne of grace For the whole body of Christ i. e. the universall Church we must pray for the Nationall Church wherein we live under the visible Ministry and dispensation of visible Ordinances and where there are visible Professours We may not straighten our prayers nor confine the Church of Christ as the Donatists did of old only to a narrow compasse in Africa Although in a true Church where are true Ministers true Sacraments and God hath blest the Ministry with converting of Soules yet there may be many rotten professours many formalists many hypocrites yet we must labour to reforme what we can and pray incessantly for amendment of what is amisse but we may not seperate from a true Church We must separate from Heathens and from Antichrist We are to come out from amongst them but we may not gather Churches out of Churches that were to make a schisme between the members amongst themselves and to subdivide the body of Christ and make a separation where we ought to endeavour an union 4. What is meant by establishing Jerusalem a praise in the earth Q. 4 To make the Church a praise is all one as Calvin observes Ans as to make it glorious for that the Lords remembrancers must pray that Jerusalem may be the subject and matter of praise that Christ may rule and settle his Ordinances there fill it with knowledge make it eminent for graces that as vers 1. The righteousnesse thereof may go forth as brightnesse and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth Then may Jerusalem be said to be a praise in the earth But of this more largely in the application To summe up all Though principally this charge is given to Ministers yet in a larger sence I shall take it according to the judgment of good Expositors as taking in Ministers and people both injoyning to both the duty of remembring the Church of God before the Throne of grace And in an especiall manner though the Universall Church must be remembred the Particular Church or Nationall Church wherein we live must be remembred And this remembrance must be a fervent incessant and diligent remembrance till the Lord be pleased to settle it as a naile in a sure place and bring forth the top stone of Jerusalem with acclamations crying Grace grace unto it This concernes Zach. 3. 7. us all both Ministers and people We must all pray for the establishment of Jerusalem a praise in the earth Which words thus opened containe one Principall Doctrine which in it's latitude and compasse takes in the whole sence of the words That it is the obliged duty of all the Children of God to he earnest Doct. 1 and assiduous suitors at the Throne of grace in the behalfe of the Church of God More briefly We should all as one man continue praying to God that he would establish Jerusalem a praise in the earth 1. In unfolding of this point my method shall be Method 1. To illustrate the truth propounded by parallel examples 2. To prove it by variety of precepts inculcating so great a duty 3. To confirme it by strength of Reasons And 4. To conclude all with some usefull Application 1. For the resuming of what I first propounded time would 1. The Doctrine illustrated by Examples faile me to enlarge my selfe in so great a cloud of witnesses Some of the chiefe I 'le mention and leave the rest to be supplyed in your serious meditations How earnest was Moses for Israel the people where God was named above all the people of the earth When Amaleck was fighting against Israel Moses his hands were lifted up and Israel returned Conquerours when God threatned the utter ruine of that people and offered to make Moses a greater Nation than they O how zealous was Moses in their behalfe Moses besought the Lord his God and said Lord why doth thy Exod. 32. 11 12. wrath waxe hot against thy people which thou hast brought forth out of the Land of Egypt with great power and à mighty hand Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say For mischiefe did he bring them out to slay them in the Mountaines and to consume them from the face of the earth Turne from thy fierce wrath and repent of this evill against thy people c. So Numb 14. 18 19. The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy forgiving iniquity c. Pardon I beseech thee the iniquity of this people according unto the greatnesse of thy mercy and as thou hast forgiven this people from Egypt even untill now Psalm 106. vers 23. Therefore he said he would destroy them had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach to turne away his wrath lest he should destroy them To Moses I 'le adde Samuel as he himselfe was a Son of prayer so he was a praying man 1 Sam. 7. vers 9. He cryed unto the Lord for Israel and the Lord heard him 1 Sam. 12. 23. Moreover as for me God forbid that I should sinne against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you but I will teach you the good and the right way Moses and Samuel have Characters of honour put upon them for praying persons Jer. 15. 1. Moses Aaron â—nd Samuel are alâ— three joyn'd together And Psal 99. vers 6. Moses and Aaron among his Priests and Samuel among them that call upon his Name These were noted for choice Intercessours with God So likewise David was a man made up of affections towards the Church of God Psal 14. 7. O that the Salvation of Israel were come out of Sion when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people Jacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be glad Psal 137. 5. If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my hand forget her cunning Psal 51. 18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion build thou the walâ—s of Jerusalem Psal 25. 26. Redeem Israel O God out of all his troubles How doth Daniel urge the most prevailing arguments in the behalfe of Jerusalem Dan. 9. 18 19. O my God incline thine eare and heare open thine eyes and behold our desolations and the City which is called by thy name c. O Lord heare O God forgive O Lord hearken and do deferre not for thine owne sake O my God for thy City and thy people are called by thy name I might instance in Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Ezra and Nehemiah who all were much upon their knees for the publick and made the very burthen of their prayers as it were versus intercalaris frequently repeated the establishment of Jerusalem upon the sure basis of truth and peace If we passe from the old
shall prevaile 3. A third reason shall be drawn from Jerusalem and that upon R. 3. Drawn from Jerusalem a double ground because Jerusalem needs our prayers and likewise deserves our prayers 1. Jerusalem the type of the Church needs our prayers It is 1. Jerusalem needs our prayers militant on earth It resembleth Noahs Ark on the surface of the waters tost up and down it 's like to that smoaking furnace shewed to Abraham Gen 15. 17. The Church is like the bush that Moses saw burning but not consumed It standeth among the Mirtle Trees in the bottome Zech 1. 11. The Church may take up that selfe same complaint Psal 129. 1 2. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say many a time have they afflicted me from my youth yet they have not prevailed against me It is necessarily then an incumbent duty upon us all to remember Zion and pray for the prosperity of Jerusalem However Papists lay down Prosperity to be a mark of the true Church yet all the Saints and Martyrs from generation to generation by their sufferings and persecutions have abundantly confuted the groundlesness of their opinion The Church of God meets with various dispensations sutable to that prophecy Zech 6. 6 7. Where were white black grisled and bay horses And for the most part Gods dearest Children drink deepest of the cup of afflictions and have a full cup of the waters of Marah wrung out to them The title of the 22. Psal is Aijeleth Shahar the hind of the morning intimating the continuall hunting and persecuting of the People of God However it shall go well with the righteous it shall go well with them that feare the Lord. God hath founded Zion the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it Christ is ever present with them and though the Dragon cast out flouds against the woman yet she shall escape And though there are Hornes to push the Church yet God sends Carpenters to cut them off In the mean Zech. 1. 21. time how should we unite and pray for Zion that it may be delivered and established in glory This meanes of prayer God expects God blesseth and maketh successefull Gebal Ammon Amaleck and Philistines all the enemies that Hell can raise are confederate against Jerusalem The seed of the Serpent is at continuall enmity even deadly feud with the seed of the woman We read of their consultation Psal 83. 3 4. They have taken crafty counsell against thy people and consulted against thy hidden ones They have said come let us cut them off from being a Nation that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance We read of their associations Isaiah 8. 10. Associate your selves O yee people and ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces Take counsell together and it shall come to naught speak the word and it shall not stand For God is with us Of what necessity then are assiduous prayers and importunate Applications unto God in the behalfe of Zion 2. The Church of God deserves our prayers What high Epiâ—hites are ascribed unto it It is called the Citie of God Heb. 12. 2. Jerusalem deserves our prayers 22. The house of God 1 Tim. 3. 15. The delight of God Isa 62. 4. The love the dove the spouse the undefiled Cant. 5. 2. A crown of glory and a royall Diadem in the hand of God Isa 62. 3. The body of Christ Eph. 1. 23. And doth it not in all these respects deserve our prayers Should not we honour where God honours I shall adde no more for confirmation I now proceed to Application Vse 1. For Reprehension and shall insist only upon foure uses 1. For Reprehension 2. Exhortation 3. Direction And 4. Consolation 1. For Reproofe This Doctrine in the first place breaths terrour unto all the enemies of the Church of God If God put such an high honour and estimate upon his Church as to ingage his people to pray with all earnestnesse for it what shall we say of such as are so farre from praying for the Church as they oppose it and set themselves in battle aray against it They mourn when it goeth well and rejoyce when it goeth ill with Jerusalem And thus they tread Antipodes to divine Providence Multitudes there are of Samballats and Tobiah's temper who have a spirit of contradiction against the waies of Reformation Many hate the power of Godlinesse and cannot abide circumspect walking but reproach it like the spies that brought an evill report of the promised Land They calumniate revile those who walk most closely with God Now the Churches Enemies will appeare especially in times of Triall when it comes to suffering losses disgrace poverty c. Then all the Enemies to religion will make that wicked choice to chuse sinne rather than affliction as Job speaks Job 36. 21. But a second sort are to be reproved who are negligent careless Indifferents of Gallioes temper they care for none of these things They are secure setled upon their lee's at ease in Zion and are no whit affected with the afflictions of Joseph How many are there that never in good earnest put up a prayer for the Church of God in all their lives They look upon these things as not concerning them They plainly shew themselves to be a body without the spirit to animate it a carcase only painted men not living members of Jesus Christ For in Christs body when one member suffers the other doth Sympathize They are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and conferre subsidiary forces for the mutuall succour of each other but where there is no Sympathy and no fellow-feeling of each others afflicted condition This is a signe that the members of that body are rotten dead like withered branches cut off from the Vine 3. A third sort to be reproved are all such who pray but faintly and slightly and do not put forth their utmost strength for Jerusalem Some pray now and then when the humor takes them but they flagge and hold not out they are not wrastlers with God as Jacob they are not such Remembrancers as will give him no rest that will never leave of praying Now it 's an usuallsaying Qâ—iâ—timide rogat docet negare Cold prayer dead prayer and drousy prayer are no better than Gehazi'es touching of the Shunamites child He went on in a carelesse negligent manner and laid his staffe on the Child but it was not awakened whereas when Elisha in good earnest with all his might laid out himselfe and put his mouth vpon the childs mouth and his hands upon the childs hands and his eyes upon the childs eyes then the Child revived so you may read the History 2 King 4. 34. We read 1 Chron. 10. 14. That Saul enquired not of the Lord yet we read 1 Sam. 28. vers 6. That Saul enquired of the Lord. These places may thus be reconciled Though Saul did
after a manner enquire yet not in truth and faith his enquiring was after a slight manner after an hypocriticall formall way like that of Balaam Numb 23. 10. Let me dye the death of the righteous and let my last end be like unto his and like unto Israels howling Hos 7. 14. And they have not cryed to me with their hearts when they howled upon their beds they assembled themselves for corne and wine c. Wherefore then should we give God a slight service He requireth the Male the best of the flocks and there 's a dreadfull Curse Mal. 1. 14. Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock a Male and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing But in the second place here is a word of exhortation that we Vse 2. For Exhortation would all unite our forces for the Church in generall even the whole body of Christ however dispersed and distressed throughout the world How many of Christs body suffer hard things Some are imprisoned we must pray for the prisoners enlargement Some are under Antichristian Tyranny and Christ hath a Church even where Satan dwells we must pray that they may hold fast their profession without wavering Great things God hath granted to a praying people and he is the same God still as good and as gracious as ever The Army called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prayed and raine was poured down in abundance to refresh the Pagan Army of the Emperour Insomuch ex ore adversariorum it was confest great was the God of the Christians Constantine that excellent Eccl. Hist Euseb Prince and Patron of Christians would not after the example of his Predecessours suffer his picture to be drawn standing in a stately posture but kneeling for he ascribed his victories to the answer of prayers Let us remember likewise all the distressed Churches beyond the Seas such as are in misery where their enemies are the chiefe we should give them the Charity of our prayers counsells compassions purses our Bowells should be opened wide towards their release Polonia other places cry out in the language of Job to his friends Have pity upon me have pity upon me O ye my friends for the hand of God hath touched me To such as are afflicted pitty Job 19. 21. should be shewed We should all imitate the Apostle being alike affected with our Brethren rejoycing with them that rejoyce c. We should make their cases our own of this excellent temper was the Apostle Who is weake and I am not weake who is offended and I 2 Cor. 11. 29 burn not as if all the burthens of the Saints were laid upon his shoulders he was willing to beare them all Jerome writing a commentary upon Ezekiel and hearing of the sacking of Rome a place where he formerly lived was so affected that a long time he could think of nothing else He laid to heart so much the suffering of Gods people there as he imagined himselfe to be in their stead Furthermore in a more particular manner let us remember in our prayers the Land of our Nativity the Church of England Scotland and Ireland We expect shortly a Parliament and we hope in the multitude of Councellours there may be safety Formerly we have been frustrated of our expectations High-raised hopes have been disappointed That of the Prophet may truely be applyed to this purpose Hast thou utterly rejected Judah hath thy Jer. 14. 19. soule loathed Zion why hast thou smitten us and there is no healing for us We looked for peace and there is no good and for the time of healing and behold trouble We have been justly crost in our hopes because we have Idolized men and relyed too much upon an arme of flesh We are to call upon the great counsell as the man of Macedonia did Come and help us and they likewise call upon us help us with your prayers We may hope to speed the better if we pray the more Let us pray as one man that the Lord would instruct the Counselllours after his own will and teach the Senators wisdome What farther I shall speak in this use shall come under these two heads 1. What speciall things we must pray for that our Jerusalem our Church of England may be established a praise in the earth 2. What moving inducements may be assign'd to incourage us in the duty of prayer For the first Above all we must pray for the advancement of Religion for the establishing the power of Godlinesse It is Religion that beautifies and adorns a Nation the Kings daughter Gods Church and People are glorious within their decking is of pure gold Grace ennobles and puts a glorious lustre upon a people To name a few particulars 1. Let us in an especiall manner pray for the encrease of Godly 1. Pray for Magistâ—ates Magistrates Reprovers in the gate such as will do judgment and justice There is a great promise made in those Gospell daies Isaiah 49. 23. Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers and their Qâ—eens thy nursing Mothers they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth and lick the dust of thy feet c. Our duty is to pray for them so runs the Apostles command 1 Tim. 2. 1. I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made For all men for Kings c. Godly Rulers are a blessing to a Nation Jer. 5. 1. Run ye to and fro thorough the streets of Jerusalem and see now and know and seek in the broad places thereof if yee can find a man if there be any that executeth judgment that seeketh the truth and I will pardon it So Amos 5. 15. Hate the evill and love the good and establish judgment in the gate it may be that the Lord God of hoasts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph Where such Magistrates are we must pray for their continuance and for a supply of their mortality that the Lord would send continually such as may dispence justice impartially and may be a terror unto evill doers and a praise to them that do well 2. Pray for faithfull soul-saving Ministers Many such in mercy 2. Pray for Ministers the Lord hath given us We must pray that the Lord would increase the number of them But the Prophets live not for ever wherefore we must pray for a Godly succession of Ministers that such may be incouraged who are workmen that needeth not to be ashamed and such may be removed as unsavory salt who make the sacrifice of God to be abhorred There are yet left a faithfull remnant sound in the faith and holy in life who are as farre from Antichristianisme as their false accusers are from Charity who labour in season and out of season and are willing to spend and be spent for the salvation of soules These in an especiall manner must be incouraged by our prayers that the Lord would give them The
seale of their Apostleship and make their Ministry instrumentall to convert and build up soules unto Jesus Christ And we must likewise be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Advocates and Patrons of their maintenance It was the saying of an eminent Gentleman in Sr. Benjamin Rudiard the long Parliament that a scandalous maintenance would cause a scandalous Ministry It 's to be observed that Dioclesian did not do so much mischiefe to the Ministry it selfe as Julian did Dioclesian put many to death which was an horrid wickednesse But the Devill put another designe into Julians head to take away all the maintenance of Ministers and put downe Schooles of Learning and Ecclesiasticall Histories will informe us that by consequent Julian did the greater mischiefe For though some particular persons were took out of the way through Dioclesian's persecution yet there arose up others in their stead But the taking away of all their lands and revenues did hinder a succession of Ministers And the robbing of Schooles of learning discouraged many from the study of learned Arts and Sciences 3. Let us all pray for the continuance of Gospell Ordinances 3. Pray for the Continuance of the Gospell in their Liberty and purity This is that which made Israel praise-worthy in the eyes of the Nations Deut. 46. 7. Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdome and your understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall heare all these statutes and say surely this great Nation is a wise and understanding people For what Nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for â—he Gospell of Christ the Word and Sacraments administred in their purity the Sabbath kept strictly all these will be the praise and glory of our Nation 4. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem both for Civill and Ecclesiasticall peace Pray for Civill peace It 's to me a great wonder that 4. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem amidst all the concussions and revolutions of these times we in joy peace that we â—it under our own Vines and Fig-trees that meum tuum are in some measure preserved that publick Courts of Justice are opened and that the sword is not put to the decision of all controversies We should pray that peace may be continued that all our Officers may be peace and exactors righteousnesse I know none that hath his eyes in his head or grace in his heart that is willing to imbroyl Isai 60. 17. the Nation in another civill war We know by sad experiâ—nâ—e the Calamities of War how thankfull ought we to be for the peace we yet in joy and how ought we to pray for the continuance of it that Peace may be extended as a river and righteousnesse like a mighty streame For Ecclesiasticall peace we must pray there are two great Prophecies Zeph. 3. 9. Then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent And Zach. 13. 9. I will bring the third part through the fire Isai 66. 12. and will râ—fâ—ne them as Sylver is refined and trye them as Gold is tryed they shall call upon my name and I will heare them I will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God There is an Unity of the spirit which we must endeavour to keep and there are seaven Ones mentioned Eph. 4. 4 5 6. One body one spirit one hope one God one faith one baptisme one God and Father of all c. I remember a patheticall speech which Luther useth to the Pastors of the Church of Strusburg Vobis oro perswadeatis c. i. e. I pray you sath he be perswaded that I shall alwaies be as desirous to embrace unity and concord as I am desirous to have the Lord Jesus to be propitious to me Martin Bucer writes to a Godly Minister Quis non vitâ etiam sua redimat submorum isthuc infinitum dissidii scandalum Bucer very high expressions Who would not saith he purchase with his life the removing of that infinite scandall that comes by dissention Wherefore let us study the things that make for peace and edification Let dividing names be laid aside amongst sound Christian Quirites once named Cesars souldiers were pacified O that Christian being named union and reconciliation might be obtained Let us all labour to approve our selves members of the Church of Jesus Christ as living stones in that building The Apostle blames the Corinthians for siding and making partyes 1 Cor. 1. 11 12. It hath been declared to me of you my brethren by them which are of the House of Cloe that there are contentions among you Now this I say that every one of you saith I am of Paul and I am of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ The name of Christian should swallow up names of division Now for Motives the second thing propounded here I shall 1 Motive God will make Jerusalem a praise adde two only 1. That God will make Jerusalem a praise in the earth For first Believe it God will not faile one tittle of his word All the promises made unto Jerusalem shall every one be fulfilled 1. Because he promiseth in their season Psal 48. 1 2. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God in the mountain of his Holynesse beautifull for situation the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion on the sides of the North the City of the great King And Psal 50. 2. Out of Sion the perfection of beauty God hath shined For Instance Greater shall be the light of knowledge of the Church in the Gospell Isai 11. 9. The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Isai 60. 1 19. Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Vers 19. The Sun shall be no more thy light by day neither for brightnesse shall the Moon give light unto thee but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory These great Promises referre unto the Gospell 2. The Church shall be enlarged Isai 51. 1 2 3. Hearken unto me ye that follow after righteousnesse ye that seek the Lord look to the rockes whence ye are hewen c. Look unto Abraham your Father and Sarah that bare you for I called him alone and blessed and increased him For the Lord will comfort Zion he will make her wildernesse like Eden and her desert like the garden of God c. 3. Holynesse shall be improved Deut. 26. 18 19. The Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people c. To make thee high above all Nations which he hath made in praise in name and in honour that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God as he hath