which be Devout and Honorable Women laden with sins and lead away with divers lusts Epistle of St Jude ver 19. Those that separate themselves let them pretend never so much to holiness and piety they are sensual and they have not the Spirit such are they who ver 3. while the True Apostles do contend earnestly for the Common salvation and the Faith of it once delivered to the Saints creep in unawares turning the grace of God into lasciviousness v. 8. These are filthy Dreamers or in the language of our time Mad Diviners Ecstatical Enthusiasts who despise Dominions and speak evil of Dignities ver 10. They speak evil of those things which they know not inimicum praeter ignorantem Religion as well as Learning has no enemy but the Ignorant whilst wisdom and piety are justified by their Children but otherwise what these gainsayers do know naturally we must own them since they have the faces of men to be reasonable creatures and yet as brute beasts in those things which they seem to know they corrupt themselves that is they do as much confound themselves as they do amuse others with their brain-sick imaginations Wo wo unto them says our Apostle for they have gone in the way of Cain it is but of late sad remembrance setting every mans sword against his Brother onely because their sacrifices of sin were not accepted they have run greedily after the error of Balaam for a reward whilst that gain was their greatest Godliness Oh! that they had perished in the very act of gainsaying like Corah and his Company when they exalted themselves above the Congregation of the Lord These are spots in your feasts yea though they be Feasts of charity their Love feasts in the Family of Love a private secret Conventicle feeding themselves without fear Clouds they are without water like their Master Prince of the air and yet fire if any is the element predominant and these like Salamanders can live onely in the fire they are carried about of winds tossed too and fro with every blast of false and erroneous Doctrine Trees they are whose fruit withereth nay they have no fruit that is good twice dead why do they any longer cumber the ground they are raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame and that 's nothing but mire and durt so that because of the Tempest which they have raised there are no Halcyon days the Kings Fishers cannot build their nests in these troubled waters They are stars too but not in the right hand of Jesus wandring stars oh when shall they be falling stars usque quo Domine how long O Lord just holy and true when shall it once be unto whom is reserved the blackness of darkness a darkness like that of Egypt which is to be felt the blackness of darkness for ever v. 16. These are murmurers complainers walking after their own lusts running about City Town and Countrey and they grudge if they be not satisfied their mouths speak great swelling words of vanity having mens persons in admiration because of some particular advantage or as another Apopostle has it 2 Tim. 4.3 After their own lusts they heap up Teachers to themselves having itching ears and to sum up all with that which gave me occasion to paraphrase so much upon this Epistle These are they who separate themselves they are not moved nor acted by the Holy â—host the Devil has too much power over them if St. Jude's Epistle be Scripture and I guess by this time since they find themselves so exactly described in it they could wish it out of our Bibles since this is the best character that he can afford them that they are sensual and they have not the Spirit These are they and this is the manner of them who neglect the assembling of themselves together imitating the Primitive and the Apostolical times in nothing but in the divisions and dissentions of false Brethren who do not in the least consider that they are baptized into a Christian Faith in which Faith we have these two Articles in which we believe a Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church and the Communion of Saints the Catholick Church is but One and the Communion of it throughout the Christian World is Visible and the next Article to these is the Remission of sins which we obtain and have a right to by our being Baptized and so made Members of the Body of Christ and therefore another Creed has it by way of explanation thus that we are to believe One Baptisme for the Remission of sins as if out of the Visible Communion of the Catholick Church into which we are admitted by Baptisme there is to be no Remission and for this I urge our Saviours words S. Mat. 18.17 Dic Ecclesiae Tell it to the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen man and a Publican such a one whom the People of the Jews counted to be dead in their sins and trespasses Not without good reason therefore has our Church in her most excellent constitutions made this one of her wholsome laws Cannon 11th That whosoever shall affirm that there are within this Realm other Meetings Assemblies or Congregations of the Kings born subjects then such as by the Laws of this Land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselves the name of a true and of a lawful Church let him be excommunicated and not restored but by the Arch-bishop after his repentance and revocation of such his wicked errours Surely there is somthing extraordinary in the matter or else I should not be thus earnest I would ask the Separatists of our age this one serious and sober question Have ye Souls to be saved or no little do they think into what danger they put their own immortal souls by a schism and a separation they do as much as in them lies forego the ordinary means appointed by God for their salvation Now God in his wonderful Providence has made the Administration of his Gospel to be glorious in the midst of us the light to shine bright in our Candlestick Divine Services to be dispensed and Holy Offices to be performed even in the outward Beauty of Holiness Now for a froward and a peevish generation to place the service of God in one of the most damning sins that can be committed for ought I know by that little Divinity I have been acquainted with if it be wilfully persisted in and they add Obstinacy to their Separation it may in time come up to be the unpardonable sin the sin against the Holy Ghost Schisme and Division from the Churches community Oh! what shall we say unto these men Oh more foolish then were those Galatians Who has bewitched them that they should not obey the Truth Formerly yea before our Saviours time higher then yet hitherto I have brought my proof it was Davids choice to be a door keeper in the House of God rather then to
that there was a Toleration of each Service and yet the Jew counted the Samaritan a Devil and the Samaritan would not entertain a Jew no not a stranger for no other reason but because his face might look as if he were going up to Jerusalem the distance was so great and that because of their way of Worship though both were Tolerated yet they had no dealings one with another no not to eat and drink hardly to speak or discourse Thus Toleration is causal of that which Excommunication it self never pretended to in a well constituted Church tollit officia domestica it will not suffer a man to ingage himself in good offices of love and charity to those of another perswasion no though there be a Family-relation all Family-obligations are cancelled where falsly so called a Family of Love is set up this is that which is destructive c. Destructive of all civil society and commerce nay of Trade it self the popular reason why some would have it promoted for to be sure each party will inrich it self make a Monopoly of gain only to its own consistory whilst fractions are promoted factions will increase the Combination is the stronger only to give the greater blow with the fist of wickedness and to be sure the weakest shall be crushed against the Wall In the name of God therefore and in the love of one another let us Assemble our selves together in the places of Publick Worship with one accord laying aside all passion evil speaking and slandering let our outward behaviour an uniform Communion in the service of God be expressive of that inward affection which we bear to one another both as we are men and as we are Christians and if there be a froward and peevish generation amongst us that will contend both against the Laws of God and of the King all that we can reply is this That we have no such custome no nor the Church of God A holy Familiarity that is a Conformity in Religion is not in the least a cause of contempt external communion of all together with one accord is not the way to Levelling in the Sanctuary there is Order some go before and some follow after and in the midst of all God is glorified those lines which are drawn from the point of Vnion as their Centre to improve the similitude which I but now borrowed from a Royal Pen to the several parts of the Circumference round about keep their equal and their due distance they are called Parallels the word speaks a mutual congruity not a promiscuous contiguity they have a kind similitude one unto and a loving aspect one upon another yet each line keeps its fixed station without any the least interfearing Brotherly love does there continue where every man abides in that Calling in which he is called This is the happy result of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Concord in the text especially in the service of One God who has declared his Vnity to be his Essence there is but One Lord and as but One Lord so in the confession of him there is but One Faith and for an admission into that Faith there is but One Baptisme and but One Church in which is to be the Outward Visible and Uniform Administration of all the result of which Unity and Uniformity is this Phil. 2.2 3. The joy of all is full when all are like minded and of one accord hereupon nothing is done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind each one doth esteem of others better than himself which brings me to the next part of the Text The Convention we see is every way Holy First the Persons holy the Apostles and the convert Disciples Secondly the Place that was Holy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oecumenie in loc They left their own Houses and frequented the Temple we find them most an end assembled either at the Gate called Beautiful the more Beautiful because they were there whose feet were Beautiful bringing the glad tidings of Peace or else as in the Text in Solomons Porch Thirdly their Behaviour there that was Holy Solemn and Devout reverent even to outward appearance they were with one accord and where there was so much love so great a concord it could not be but there must be some respect some honour too which is the Subject of our next Discourse The Second SERMON The Convention as it was Holy so it was Regular Brotherly Love continued and yet a promiscuous parity was avoided there was a due Distance kept in this Solemn Assembly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the rest whither they were friends or whither they were enemies whether they were within or without the pale of the Church the Apostles having took their seats no man durst to joyn himself to them Of the rest durst no man joyn himself to them In which words Three things are to be considered 1. BY whom this distance was kept 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Rest 2ly What was the present frame and temper of their minds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 No man durst 3ly What was the Act which they did not dare to ingage themselves upon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To joyn themselves unto them I confess that this Division at the first may seem somewhat nice but upon a second search we shall find it very useful for the illustration of the matter in hand 1. By whom this distance was kept 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the Rest And these might be of three sorts First none of the convert Disciples 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the rest as distinguished from the Apostles ver 11. Great fear came upon all the Church Secondly None of those that were with the mixed multitude though they themselves might be distinguished both from the Apostles and the People ver 11. Even as many as hear those things ver 12. By the hands of the Apostles were signes and wonders wrought amongst the people but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the rest though amongst yet to be distinguished from both durst no man joyn himself unto them Thirdly No not the adversary himself ver 25. He doubts whitherto this might grow ver 26. The Officers bring them without violence fearing the People lest they should have been stoned and the wisest man in the Council gives his advice to discharge them ver 25. Gamaeliel was in this a Master of reason as well as a Doctor of the Law this is some further addition to his reputation in that he wished them to beware and to take heed what they did with those men lest they be found to fight against God ver 38. Thus the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those that are the rest here may be reckoned up as they are distinguished from the Apostles in the fore going verse from the People in the latter end of this verse and from the Adversary throughout the whole context the Adjective Masculine put absolute in its due regiment without a Substantive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
we have as good reason to believe them as we have to give our assent to any thing that has been performed in former Ages Our Fathers have told us the mighty works and the noble acts which God did in their daies and in the old time before them hence from the Psalmist our Church has taught us to make this our humble and hearty request That God still arise in the Defence of his Gospel to help and Deliver the Professors and Dispensors of it for his names sake and for his honour He that shall call into question or suspend his belief to the History of Redemption as from an Vniversal Tradition it has been delivered down faithfully by the Church in the Oracles of God and yet at the same time does not in the least boggle at many things more fabulous in the Annals of his own Country or it may be in the descent of his own pedigree such a person may think himself wise in his own Generation and yet a very fool in that upon the meer account of an uncontroulable Tradition he will give credence to that which because of the manner of its conveyance is of it self questionable rather then to the Gospel of Peace confirmed by Miracles and in the nature of the thing thus delivered to posterity from one age to another that from the beginning they were wrought by an Almighty Power that so from the Father to the Child in the Generations to come there might not be wanting an infallible convincing argument to raise and as it were to propagate and preserve a most firm belief And after all this we have a more sure word of Prophesie to which we shall do well if we take heed with Reverence and that is the outward and more Visible administration of this Gospel thus confirmed which is the Third thing causal of the Great Benefit bestowed here upon the Church and is to continue to the end of the World viz. because of the publick Convention the place of their meeting and their Behaviour there all which were holy therefore Believers were added to the Lord and those Multitudes Gods institution and the Primitive practice of the Apostles is to be embraced in order to Salvation It was Gods command to his people Israel though they were in the Wilderness that they should make him a Sanctuary Exod. 25.8 even the Tabernacle it self was so called and the reason added is this That I may dwell among them nay even at this time God Almighty did in some sort declare that he would restrain his acceptance only to such solemnities Exod. 20.24 immediately after the Law was given this was Gods promise upon the observance of it in all places where I record my name will I come unto thee and bless thee And with the Apostle we may argue in a literal sense 2 Cor. 3.7 If the Ministration of death written and engraven in stones were glorious how shall not the Ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious if the Ministration of Condemnation be glory much more doth the Ministration of Righteousness exceed in glory if that which was to be done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is still glorious To be short and plain for I have already instanced upon this at large Neglecting the Assembling of our selves together turning our backs upon the places of publick Worship and an irreverent behaviour at such solemnities is all one as if we should deny our selves the means of our Salvation how can you expect in faith that God should go out of his way to meet you when you turn aside from those paths which he has declared do lead to him What reason is there that we should now have a recourse to and make a vertue of that which onely under Persecution was a Necessity is it not absurd as well as impious in the nature of the thing it self to imagine that when the Churches are open the Truth must betake it self into corners it is something surely to be in the way in the ready road to happiness that which has been for so many hundred years successful in order to Conversion we have good reason to believe that it will be so still and it is frowardness and pievishness against a Community Presumption and that in a high degree of Providence for those who are but men to venture upon an extraordinary success and that in opposition to and against those ordinary usual means which ever since our Christianity have been certainly and surely established that which is Gods honour is our Benefit and so we may safely apply that of the Apostle Eph. 3.20 21. It is God alone who is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think even according to the effectual power which he worketh in us and yet notwithstanding this most effectual power working in us above and beyond all our thoughts and requests To him saith the Apostle We do ascribe Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages World without end Fourth and Fifth Things causal of this great Benefit bestowed upon the Church both these joyned together for brevities sake and indeed they cannot well be separated being so joyntly productive of this Benefit in the Text viz. because of the Distance here kept which was Solemn because of the awful Reverence exhibited which was beautiful and glorious therefore Believers were the more added to the Lord and those Multitudes Familiarity is causual of contempt but the farther from parity the nearer to and the closer the Communion so consequential as formerly instanced are these Three Articles of our Creed upon each other The Catholick Apostolick Church The Communion of Saints and the Forgiveness of Sins Faith as it comes by hearing in a publique Solemnity so it with Love is increased by that due reverence which is given to such who Minister in that Solemnity the Message can not chuse but be received which is accompanied with honour An equality either amongst Sacred Persons themselves or between them and the People does not in the least tend to edification there is neither order nor peace in levelling and when once the murmuring complaint arrives to this much That the whole Congregation are as holy every one of them as Moses or Aaron no wonder if the fire offered upon the Altar prove to be a strange fire not a fire to baptize and purifie but to burn and consume the whole Assembly in a moment It is the Apostles advice that we give unto all their dues Rom. 13.7 Fear to whom fear honour to whom honour so shall we not be wanting in our love to any and that love will be the fulfilling of the whole Law 1 Cor. 7.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let every man wherein he is called therein abide and abiding therein this is to be with God No wonder therefore if one reason assigned for the decay of Christian Piety be Disputes in general and those most an end in Opposition to Authority when in such things that either
gladness Act. 2.41 The same day the General reception of the word was already past and in the same day the Seal of the Covenant was conferred in that there were added to them as they were an Apostolick Church about three thousand souls and to warrant me this remark upon the Addition here in the Text and those other places we have it expressly Chap. 2.47 The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved from all which this inference is obvious That out of the Church we are not to presume for Salvation or to give it you in as modest terms as may be and those naturally deduced from the Text They that shall be saved with the Lord are first of all supposed to be added by the Lord to the Church Faith though it be the gift of God in the Heart unto Salvation yet he giveth unto every man a certain measure no otherwise than by an Ecclesiastical Dispensation For to make a summary rehersal of that Creed into which we are Baptized this is the compendium of the whole The Creed which with good reason we call the Apostles Creed or at least Apostolical is in our Church-Catechisme distinguished and divided into the Belief of the Father our Creator of the Son our Redemer and of the Holy Ghost the Comforter ruling in all our hearts in order to a thorow Sanctification now in the assurance of this Holy Ghost as he is a Spirit of Prophesie we do believe a Catholick and Apostolick Church in that Church as it is Apostolick and Catholick we must acknowledge a Communion of Saints the result of which Communion in this Church from the Holy Ghost is the forgiveness of our Sins whatsoever is loosed on Earth is loosed also in Heaven whence we do further believe and hope for the Resurrection of our flesh and the Life in the World to come And therefore to the Doctrine of the Trinity the Father Creating the Son Redeeming and the Holy Ghost Purifying as also to those Articles of the Church Administring in a visible holy Communion the Remission of Sins unto all such as look for the Resurrection to eternal Life we in the assurance of our Faith are to say Amen I would at length fain put it to the question what people generally have in their thoughts when they stand up at their Creed and say that they Believe a holy Catholick and Apostolick Church in effect it should be thus much that they do confess there is a Congregation and Corporation of Christian people though dispersed throughout the whole world that this society is united in a holy Communion under Christ the supreme and onely Head that it is assisted moved and directed by the Holy Ghost that it is Matriculated as it were into one holy Congregation and fraternity by Baptisme sustained by the word of Catechising which is milk for babes nourished by the Lords Supper which is meat for stronger men that it is continued by an holy Apostolical Succession by which the Keyes of the Kingdom are faithfully administred whatsoever is bound on earth is ratified in heaven and after all this does the promise of Christ signifie nothing that he will be with his Church so universally and every way holy that so whither he as the Head is gone the Members may follow after every one in his own order Christ the first afterward those that are Christs both before and at his coming And if this be the meaning of the Article as had I time might soon be proved from several Scriptures and our Separatists themselves do not deny but that this Summary Compendium of Faith is both antient and a sound Confession we thank them that at the same time when they thrust it out of our Churches they were pleased to annex it to the close of their Calvinistical Catechism I would demand of them and put it to the Conscience of those who are deluded by them how they can expect salvation in another world when they avoid the communion of the Saints in this and that against their vow in Baptisme against their solemn Profession of Faith I might I perswade my self urge it against their own inward sentiments whenever they do seriously think upon it what this Article of their Creed does mean or else they must be notoriously hypocritical before God against their own reason somthing or other they must believe when they do confess that there is such a thing as a holy Catholick and Apostolick Church and what can they believe to their souls good but that in the Communion of this Church they do expect salvation Let them if they are so fool-hardy excommunicate themselves and so put themselves into the condition of Heathens to be saved without a law and beside the Gospel if God so please to be sure there is great safety in the Christian institution as the Church is a holy society if with our hearts we believe and with our mouths we make confession of that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints to wit that there is a Holy Catholick Church and in that Church a Holy Communion of Saints and the result of both these is the forgiveness of sins and that because of the Churches Catholick Faith that there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead for unless it be so we are still in our sins when both soul and body are to be united together in order to be made partakers of everlasting life undoubtedly we shall be saved I know there are some who quarrel at the Athanasian Creed though they have subscribed to it for these words in it however I am not afraid to cite them to our present purpose whosoever will be saved that is in the unity of the Church before all things he must be careful that he hold the Catholick Faith for the Church is Catholick which faith except he keep whole and undefiled without doubt he shall perish everlastingly And so I pass to the Second instance of this great Benefit here accruing from the present Dispensation and that is a due qualification internal in the heart but still in order to an outward profession 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were Believers in the Lord which were now added to the Churches Communion holding the Faith as from the Apostles at this time it was delivered By Faith here not to spend time in the ordinary Definitions of it we may securely understand the pious and fiducial application of all the circumstances of this outward administration to each mans particular and private concerns whatsoever was publickly dispensed was in the heart of those that were assembled digested in an humble assurance of salvation there-from So that upon this account Schism from a Visible Communion is the result of Infidelity it is an evil heart of Unbelief that departs from God our Father or the Church our Mother in that whosoever he be that separates he cannot or he will not make due and sober reflections upon outward services in order to his own private
have kindled this shall you have of my hand you shall lie down in sorrow Would we examine and try our own or the spirits of others whether they be of God or no the Word of the Lord is sharp and piercing it divides betwixt the marrow and the bones it searcheth out the depths and secrets of the heart That fire cannot be a flame of holy incense to consume the Sacrifice and to render it acceptable which has no regard to the Holy Oracle of God Here that zeal is reproveable which spends it self either in decrying the sacred Scriptures as useless or in preverting the Scriptures making them of private interpretation to speak what they never intended such who wrest them to their own destruction First They that decry the Scriptures as useless since we are now not to be directed by a line or by precept but we are all to be taught of God of this sort are they who think themselves above Ordinances waiting only for some secret instincts some impetuous raptures to carry them they know not whither to do they know not what such who have laid aside the first Principles of Godliness they are not to be dealt with you shall never argue them into a better temper so long as this melancholy dumpish humour doth transport them they have this still for a refuge that they are not free to hear or to answer you But as for our selves that we be not led away by the errour of these wicked men it may be urged and I cannot urge it too often the Articles of our Creed into which we were baptized that as in our Profession we do believe the Holy Ghost to be the Lord and giver of Life and so a spirit of illumination unto the Sons of Men so we do believe that he the same Spirit spake by the Prophets He the same Spirit does assist in the Communion of Saints and therefore we are not to neglect the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is Secondly As for that other sort who have made themselves the only perpetual Dictators in Religion whose humour is the only Light they have for the interpretation of the Scripture who make the Scripture to be of a private interpretation speaking what it never intended who have against the continued practices of Christianity in all ages found out a new clew of thread to extricate themselves and others out of some Labyrinths of controversie of their own devising and do thus betray the simple and ignorant into not onely foolish but dangerous errors these men act as if they had forgot those Scriptures which they pretend for to interpret those that tell us that the Spirits of the Prophets must be subject to the Prophets especially when they are met together in a holy Communion They who would take heed to a sure word of Prophesie must know this first of all 2 Pet. 1.20 That no Prophesies of Scripture are of private interpretation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of a mans conceited enthusiastical and sudden explication 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 St. Mar. 4.34 It was the onely prerogative of Christ himself when he was alone for to interpret but as to us the word of Prophesie is not thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the will of man we must take in along with us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Analogy of our Common Faith and the sacred authority of the Catholick Church as knowing that whatsoever seemed good unto the Holy Ghost as it is revealed in the word seemed good likewise to the same Spirit as it is explained by the Church and proposed to those who will receive the truth in the love of it to be matter for their Faith wherefore the Scripture hath said I mean St. Paul in whose writings there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some things hard to be understood which the Pride and Tyranny of the Church of Rome on the one hand and the unstable peevishness of our Classical Brethren from their Consistory on the other have wrested two contrary ways yet between them both the word of God abideth sure to wit that Scripture which refers us to an Interpreter for all the rest 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of the Living God in all things necessary to salvation as the words following do imply is the onely pillar and ground of truth and then he adds the fundamental articles of our Christian faith without controversie great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels c. That zeal then is truly commendable just holy and good which is a Zeal according to the Scriptures a contention for the Faith of God in them revealed as they are by the Church delivered to the Saints which whilst it doth coufess the Holy Ghost to rule in the hearts of all Believers does not too hastily pass over the two next Articles of our Christian Faith in which we also do believe a Holy Catholick Church and in the Vnity of that Church do joyn with the Communion of Saints such a Zeal as this is good that is guided by a good rule by the word of God as it is proposed and said open by the Church to be a perfect Canon an exact prescription to tell us what ought to be our Faith and to guide us in our manners in all holy Conversation and Godliness Secondly Zeal is good in Relation to the Object of it if it be managed upon a good matter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon a good thing which bears its due proportion to that rule This is that which St. Paul tells us is the result of the Grace of God bringing salvation and appearing unto all Tit. 2.14 In that our Saviour gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works The people are then peculiar and the zeal is singular when by the blood of Christ we are cleansed from all iniquity so that our works are good Having once submitted our selves to the obedience of Faith and publickly owned it in the Unity of the Church every man has so far a Judgment of private Discretion and possibly not in many cases besides as to examine his own Actions by that Rule of Righteousness which he hath received and the rectitude of which he must not in the least dispute Saul forgot himself and God also when in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah he slew the Gibeonites 2 Sam. 21.2 These Gibeonites though but hewers of wood and drawers of water in the sanctuary were to be preserved because of the Oath of God Joshuah 9.3 17. They who were for exterpating root and branch amongst us though they had formerly given up their names to God and to his Church in their Promissory Subscriptions that they would conform to and not endeavour the alteration of the Religion established and yet after all this in their zeal unto the people did lift up
thither having heard of the signes and wonders only by the hearing of the ear they came and when they saw they both magnified and believed even the Adversary himself though he had malice enough yet he wanted power such durst not make too near approaches to them I cannot but here take notice of the Courage of these Apostles that in no wise they were dismayed or terrified even amidst the concourse of the people they were not affrighted their business was to save not to fear multitudes to convince mightily and with power not to dread the powers of the most or the mightiest of men men whose power consisted onely in their numbers 29. We ought to obey God rather than men The judgment of God upon Ananias and Sapphira might have been imputed as murder to these Apostles might not the people of the Jews here have cryed out as they did formerly against Moses upon the destruction of Corah and his Accomplices for a sin of much the like nature with this neither was the punishment unlike unto it they died not the common death of all men neither were they visited after the visitation of all men Numb 16.41 and all the Congregation murmured saying Ye have killed the People of the Lord Why might it not have been so with this mixt Assembly However the Apostles could expect no other then what did afterward really happen 17. That the High Priest and those that were with him should he filled with indignation Why should they therefore thus expose themselves to danger amidst the multitudes The answer to all is That they knew Jesus on whom they believed and whom they preached and it was with their joy 41. in that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of the Lord Jesus Courage and Resolution are vertues truly Apostolical it is beneath the dignity of a Priest to fear the People some come in humility to receive the Ingrafted word with a spirit of meekness and these are a joy to those that are set over them Some expect Signs and Wonders every day some new thing they are for the inticing words of mans Wisdom and he must work a miracle upon them that would perswade them though they are themselves the greatest Prodigy in that since the word of Salvation is come amongst them in the plainess of its Demonstration they will by no means submit the obedience of their faith to those Truths which in a Visible outward Oeconomy they cannot but profess neither dare take so much confidence to themselves as to deny them and after all these there are another sort who lie at the catch like the Pharisees and the Herodians St. Luke 11.54 Seeking something out of our Saviours Mouth to accuse or mis report him such whose business it is to carp at what they will not understand such who that they may bring an evil report upon the way of Godliness take every little or no occasion to traduce the Dispencers of it But whether they will hear or whether they will forbear the Prophets of the Lord are to come amongst them through good report and through bad report by honour and dishonour are we to approve our selves the Ministers of Christ and of his Gospel in much patience yea with the Apostles here in tumults and in labors as deceivers and yet true as unknown and yet well known and that they might be the better known frequenting those places where the greatest gathering of the people is like to be that so the word preached may have the more universal influence the very Place of their meeting was a Place of general and known concourse and so much the better because it was a part of the Temple see where they are assembled an intimation both of their Fortitude and Devotion even there where the thickest of the thronged multitudes were wont to gather with these we find the Apostles and the Convert Disciples at this Holy Convention 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Solomon's Porch which is the Second thing I observed to you The place of their meeting in a place consecrated and separated for the Service of God in Solomons Porch Solomon's Porch The History of which place I shall not here spend to give you those that have opportunity and ability may consult Jos Antiqu. lib. 7. cap. 2. lib. 8. cap. 11. lib. 20. cap. 8. Where we have the description of it at large in all its Dimensions from which we conclude it capacious enough to receive so great an Assembly as we suppose at this time to have been there that it was part of the Temple is evident enough to us all from our Saviours presence in it St. John 10.23 Whilst he was celebrating the Feast of Dedication which by the way was an Apocryphal Feast instituted 1 Mac. 4.59 and our Saviour honoured such a Solemnity with his company Jesus walked in the Temple in Solomons Porch which was also a place of publique worship 2 Cron. 8.12 Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the Lord on the Altar of the Lord which he had built before the Porch from all which and from the Text I gather as a word in season That our Lord and Blessed Saviour and from his example and precept the Apostles with the Primitive Christians did not usually assemble for the Worship and Service of God in private Houses or in solitary places if so be that any the outmost part of the Temple was allowed them to meet in First Our Saviour's Practice was most exemplary in this Whilst a Child he was the Holy Child Jesus early after his Birth so soon as the days of Purification according to Law were accomplished presented in and by the yearly Devotion of his Mother brought up unto the Temple where he soon exercised and delighted himself in the beauties of holiness The Days for Publick Worship were too soon accomplished for him St. Luc. 2.43 He must stay behind the rest of the Company some time longer and after three days sorrowful search where could they expect to find him though a Child of twelve years age but in the House of God and there about his Fathers business even in the midst of the Doctors hearing them and asking them questions in the midst of the Doctors and hearing them as if the Blessed Child would have been catechised by them and taught the way of God more perfectly this was his humility and yet asking them questions and so putting them to silence this was his authority whilst all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers This was the first onset of our Saviour in his Prophetick office and that in no other place then in the Temple True indeed afterward in the Course of his life he consecrated every place by his presence and therefore wherever he found the Multitudes still he taught them and yet we meet but with two notable instances of such an administration once by the Lake of Gennesareth when he taught the people out of the Ship and the other