circumstances as knowing he must not onely do good but be wise to do good 2 It will do all the good it can if it cannot do all the good it would for so the dragon doth in evill 3 It will be in lesser duties and commands as conscionable as in greater Psal. 119. 6. When I have respect to all thy Commandements 4 In temptations to sin 1 It thinketh not it self gotten on t of sinne by running unto the other extreme 2 It will abstaine from evill and from the appearance of evill 3 It will abstaine from evill though good might come of it Rom. 3. and so preventeth the tempter who ever thrusteth on evill under the colour of some good by it Comfort to the church not to feare the high reaches and deepe devises of the enemies for 1 The wise God taketh the wise in their craftinesse and breaketh the head of the crooked serpent and dragon of the sea Isai. 27. 3. 2 Though the dragon have 7. heads our head is wiser then them all In him are treasures of wisdome and knowledge dragons may hide their counsailes from men but not from him who hath 7. eies to foresee and prevent all mischiefes from his Church Zach. 4. He hath the 7. spirits of God Rev. 5. 6. that is a most absolute wisdome and power to repell all the dragons subtilties Ob. What is this to us Answ. Yes these 7. spirits are sent into all the world vers 5 6. 2 The head hath wisdome for all the members and understandeth not for it self only but for them 3 He is made of God to us wisdome as well as righteousnesse 2 Cor. 1. 30. 3 Though Charmers whisper and busily pull many from the truth yet by this wisdome of thy head thou maiest discerne betweene truth and error betweene the voice of a shepheard and of a stranger Let never so many false Prophets goe out into the world thy comfort is thou art of God and hast overcome them 4 Though tyrants and antichristian powers should draw thee before councells and consistories feare not what to say in that houre wisdome shall be givē to thee as the poore silly Martyrs to cōfound the mighty and learned 5 Though in the world thou art counted silly and simple to crosse thy selfe in the reputation of it be content let others be wise in the world be thou wise by the word so shalt thou be wise to salvation when worldly wisdome shall end in folly and damnation And ten hornes Now wee come to the fourth propertie of this dragon namely his power and strength called here ten hornes where consider 1. What those hornes be 2. The number of them 1 The word horne properly taken is wel knowne to be that part of the beast wherein is his chiefe strength and beauty but in scripture it is commonly taken Metaphorically and signifieth strength might power kingdome glory Sometimes in the Creator 2 Sam. 22. 3. The Lord is the horne of my salvation that is my powerfull and glorious Saviour Sometimes in the Creature and thus great Provinces and Princes and those mighty Kings and kingdomes which like beasts with hornes both defend themselves and offend and hurt one another are usually called by this name in scripture Dan. 7. 7. The fourth beast by which some understand the Romane Monarchy and others better the Asiaticall kingdome of the Selucidae was fearefull and terrible and very strong It had Iron teeth and devoured and brake in pieces all before it and it had ten hornes and those were ten kings that should rise successively and ver 8. another little horne that was Antiochus Epiphanes ver 24. called little because he was yongest brother and had no right to the kingdome before whom there were three of the first hornes pluckt away that is 3. kings who had right before him but all made away by him that he might come to the kingdome And the Beast Rev. 13. 1 by which is meant Antichrist is said to have 7. heads and ten hornes here in agreeing with this dragon both of them are monstrous and though they are divers beasts yet resemble one another in great correspondency and those ten hornes are expounded to be ten Kings vassals of Antichrist Cap. 17. 12. Here by hornes I understand 1 In generall the mighty power and strength of the whole dragon both head and members that is of Satan and his instruments against the Woman the Church in generall thus Zach 1. 18. The Prophet saw a vision of foure hornes and the Angell expoundeth it saying These be the hornes which have scattered Iuda Israel and Ierusalem that is the enemies which oppressed the Church called 4. hornes not in respect of number as if there were no more but of universalitie because they make waste and havocke of the Church in all the fowre costs and regions of the world as East West North South As 1 On the East of Judea were Moabites Ammonites and Idumeans 2 On the West were Philistims 3 On the South Egyptians and Ethiopians 4 On the North Syrians Assyrians and Babylonians So the Church is beset with these foure hornes II In speciall the excessive power and glory of the imperiall dragon or Romane Emperours who most of them were successively armed with as much power as cruelty to wast and destroy the woman that is the first Churches and Christians of the new testament to which story the Evangelist John in all this vision hath speciall reference as wee have already in part shewed and shall declare further all along as we come to the particular The number tenne hornes this may be taken two waies 1 Definitly and with limitation and restraint to a certaine number and so hath an eye either to the ten bloody tyrants and persecutions under those Emperors or to the ten Kings and kingdomes of Europe which were under the Romane Empire who made themselves vassailes to that dragon and gave that power and hornes to him against Christ and his spouse this Woman 2 Or rather which I thinke the better we are to take this number here indefinitly for all those Kings and Princes and Captaines under them who leagued and banded themselves against the Woman which by the perfect number of ten are noted to be exceeding many 1 Because this number is often so taken in the Scripture for an uncertaine but a very great number Numb 14. 22. they tempted me ten times Job 19. 3. Ye have reproched me ten times that is very many times Rev. 2. 10. Ye shall have tribulation ten dayes that is many dayes a certaine time for an uncertaine and the whole visible Church is described by tenne Virgins that is a numerous multitude of professors Math. 25. 2 I take in the instruments and agents of Kings and Princes because the horne properly ariseth from the head and those instruments of violence and fury sent from their heads and Commanders are aptly meant also by hornes 3 Because
abrogated all hand-writings which were against us and hath fastened them to his crosse Now a full atonement is made all the bonds of the Law to the rigour to the curse are all cancelled all the claimes of sinne death hell and clamors of accusing conscience are now stilled and answered all our obligations are discharged and fastened and filed up as void on the crosse of Christ for in no other place in the world could they be cancelled but there And as while the enmity lasted and the hostility was proclaimed betweene God and us there was no commerce nor no entercourse betweene us no more then is between nations who have proclaimed open warre against one another Now by this marriage and peace concluded we have a safe and happy entercourse negotiation into the kingdome of God The way is now laid open betweene heaven and earth and God himselfe pleaseth to come unto us yea into us and dwell and suppe with us to conferre with us to direct us to the advancement of our happy estate We have daily entrance and accesse unto him not as strangers or ordinary friends but as familiars yea as children in prayers praises meditations and the like See Eph. 2 18 19. The third priviledge is gracious assimilation and fitnesse betweene the bridegroome and his bride For whereas before was an infinite inequality and disproportion betweene these two parties now by this contract all this inequality is taken away and a fitnesse given by grace to make the spouse every way answerable to her Husbād as in these instances 1 The bride was of base parentage a daughter of the earth her father an Ammorite her mother an Hittite Eze. 16. 3. But now she is made a chosen generation of neere alliance to God the Daughter of a Prince yea of the King of glory 2 The bride was poore and needy had no worth no dowry to preferre her But by this contract hath an estate made her fit for a Prince That as her Lord and husband is heire of all things so she as the wife hath a right in his whole estate his love is so liberall as he hath stated her made her coheire of his own heavenly inheritance Rom. 8. 17. Here is the comfort of a Christian who hath no worth in himselfe but of damnation that he hath now a worthinesse in mercy and many compassions See Hos. 2. 19. 3 The spouse was deformed without beauty or comlinesse nay had no other but an ugly shape of sinne and unrighteousnesse far more blacke and hatefull then the Ethiopisse whom Moses married But now hath attained a perfect beauty in rightcousnes and the beauty of her husband maketh her beauty perfect See Ezech. 16. 14. Thy name was spread among the Heathen for thy beauty for it was perfect through the beauty which I set upon thee He maketh her like himselfe not having spotte or wrinkle or any such thing Ephes. 5. 27. having washed her with his blood 4 The spouse in her selfe was naked exposed to al injuries and covered with nothing but shame excepting a few ragges and figg-leaves too short and thinne a cover to hide her shame But now as mercy hath married her so it hath cloathed her here shee is cloathed with the sunne Her husband hath provided her costly garments her cloathing is of wrought gold Psal 45. 13. that is the golden righteousnesse of Christ shining as gold precious as gold durable as gold desirable as gold A garment as usefull as costly called Garments of Salvation Isai. 61. 10. This garment serveth both for necessitie and ornament The fourth priviledge is in free and liberall donation A bridegroome contracting a marriage with a Virgin gives her Iewells and Love-tokens as Isaac sent to Rebecca so the Lord Iesus doth with this woman 1 What he covenanteth and promiseth he also pledgeth with many graces and love-tokens even many graces shining as so many Iewels every one testifying his mindfulnesse and bounty toward her 2 He bestowes his person upon her and by becomming hers shee becomes his and they twaine are one flesh a gift then which heaven hath no greater 3 With his person he bestowes his goods upon her that is all his merits all his obedience all his sufferings all his glory all his prayers 4 He invests her not onely into his goods but into his inheritance and in due time consummates this marriage and brings his spouse home to his house of glory a prepared mansion for her and puts her in possession of all the wealth of heaven and that celestiall inheritance where she enjoyeth his immediate presence All which being lost in the first Adam is restored in the second by whom heaven is restored to us and wee to it The fifth priviledge is her high and honorable exaltation and advancement The whole dignity and honour of the husband is derived unto the wife be she in her selfe never so base and unworthy As in Esther a poore captive maid married to Ahasuerosh made a sharer in the honour of all his kingdome And Bathsebe a meane woman advanced to be Davids Queene But the honour of the Church goes beyond all the honor of all the Queenes that ever the sunne saw or theearth bare by reason of this marriage and contract For 1 They were matched to men and layd in the beds and bosomes of men but she comes into the bosome and greene bed of him that is God and man Cant. 1. 15. 2 They were married to Kings but earthly and mortall who dyed and left them widowes and often miserable But she to the King of Glory who onely hath immortality her King and husband never dyeth nor can leave her a widow 3 They were married to consort in some one kingdome and part of the earth and in such honor authority glory and riches as were as mortall and perishing as themselves and not long but they were parted But she to a King who rules from sea to sea to whom all Kings are subjects and by whom they rule to a kingdome that is unshaken not withering to an authority glory and wealth which is firme stable reserved in the heavens Neither is there of his kingdome any end either in respect of extent or of durance The sixt priviledge is strong and eternall consolation In that by this contract a firme and constant happinesse is assured which all the contracts in earth cannot performe This undivided conjunction of Christ with his Church answers al objections which might either prevent or discontinue the happinesse of a Christian. First for things which might seeme to prevent our happinesse Ob. 1. Our owne unworthinesse and infinite disproportion He is a divine head a mighty God ◠a base worme and man of earth How can he marry himselfe unto me An. We are not knit immediatly unto his divine nature but by the meanes of his humanity Thou canst not reach his deity he can stoope
impure without toleration or indulgence of thy selfe We shall be impure enough when we have done all we can without pleading for it Thou must be clothed either with the sunne or with thy sinne 2 Hold before thee the Lords commendation of the Church that she is not onely faire as the Moone which hath some specks and defects but pure as the sunne Cant. 6. 9. that is both in his owne gracious acceptation and in the Churches endeavour What care I to be mis-judged of men and to have my glory turned into shame I stand or fall to the Lord. 3 Hold before thee the danger of wanting this wedding garment which is to bee shut out from the supper If so then what shal be to him that rents and scornes it If they that are ashamed of this white garment because it is laced with crosses and reproaches be shut out what shall they be that deride and shame it Woe bee to them that of all other habits cannot abide white shining garments but rent and teare them as too precise and pure and yet can brooke drunkards swearers and prophane beasts 4 Hold before thee the promise of walking in white hereafter which promise is made to none but such as walke in white here Rev. 3. 4. And this The just shall shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of heaven but they must be just they must beginne to shine on earth wherein wee beginne the life of heaven for the first shining must be in the kingdome of grace The sunne shineth still if never so many Dogges barke against it The third duty is That being thus clothed wee be carefull to keepe our clothes cleane and undefiled This is called in the Scripture a walking worthy of Iesus Christ Eph. 4. 1. when the whole life of a regenerate man is as a cleane garment new washed And Phil. 1. 27 onely let your conversation be such as beseemeth the Gospell of Christ as if it were the onely care of a Christian. Three maine reasons there are to enforce this duty 1. Civility teacheth men and women to beware where they sit downe especially in foule and soily places when they have their new and wedding garments on So grace much more and the feare of God in the heart will not suffer any one in this garment carelesly to sit downe in the seat of sinners nor to meddle with the soyle and pitch of sinne which cannot but staine and besmeare their faire and wedding garment And as no man will meddle with his ordinary soyling businesse on the Sabbath while he hath his best clothes on So thou that art a Christian to whom every day must be a Sabbath and rest from sinne which is the ordinary and foule trade of the world must not soyle thy selfe with lusts but avoid the very appearance of evill 2 It is for the honor of Christ that we be carefull of our garments 1 King 10. 5. The Queene of Saba noted the wisdome and glory of Salomon in the sitting of his servants and the order of his Ministers and in their apparrell Even so the wisedome and glory of this true Salomon shineth in the shining and glorious attire of his servants How can a servant expresse greater contempt of his Lord then to take his new liverie and tread it under his feet or trayle it through the mire and durt But so doth he that professing the name of Christ liveth unsutable to his profession 3 As he never had this garment whose care is not to preserve it pure and cleane so no man hath assurance of his owne soundness in grace without this care Rev. 3. 4. In that Church of Sardi where the corruptions were great and generall were found a few names whose soundnesse was described by this That they had not defiled their garments Quest. How may wee keepe our garments cleane and fayre Answ. 1 By making conscience of every sinne and sincerely purposing and endeavouring to obey God for every sinne is a polluting of our selves and our garments True Christianity stands not in knowledge or profession but in uprightnesse and in study to keepe a good conscience 2 By framing our life sutable and tunable to holy doctrine A Christian then keepes his garment cleane when his life is a patterne of the Gospell and his conversation witnesseth his conversion Hence Rom. 6. 17. the Gospel is called a mould or forme because as a mould or seale leaves behind it a print or image of it selfe on such things as to which it is applyed so the Gospell leaveth a print or impression of heavenly wisdome holinesse and grace in the minde and lives of the godly and changeth them into it selfe as the waxe receiveth on it selfe the Image and print of the seale Not so the Law it commandeth or forbiddeth but leaveth no such print hath no power to change or renew 3 By keeping our selves free from the contagion of sinne in others no way allowing or consenting unto their sinne or communicating in their evill but preserving a diligent watch not to be defiled by others or being plucked away by their errours so to fall from our owne stedfastnesse 1 If this be to keepe our garments cleane then be there but a few names as in Sardi in whom wee may discover this care in this so filthy a generation in which most men nor regarding the place of their profession nor the presence of God and his Angels and servants goe abroad so beastly disguised that a man can scarce know them in the ranke of Christians Yea so myred and moyled are they in their beloved sinnes that they have soyled all their garments their profession and name into which they were baptized Where can a man bestow himselfe and cast his eye in this sluttish age and not see and heare numbers who professe salvation by Iesus Christ But 1 Renting and tearing this holy vestment by cursing swearing blasphemy nay some that bow at the name of Iesus presently sweare by the body blood and wounds of Christ. 2 Others bespawling it with brutish and hatefull drunkennesse by which they wash not onely religion out of their hearts but reason out of their heads and have scarce left themselves men much lesse Christians 3 Others bemyre them with worldlinesse covetousnesse pride cruelty deceit lying that many heathens would be ashamed of them and their religion as savouring more of earth or hell then of heaven 4 Others bemoyle their garments with fleshlinesse adultery fornication filthinesse and uncleannesse in word and deed which ought not to bee named amongst them that name themselves Christians 5 Others by apostacy and falling from their purposes and beginnings of grace welter themselves and garments as swine in the myre and dogges returned to their vomit 2 Pet. 2. 22. Better they had never heard of this garment then to wallow in such filthy puddles of lust and former filthinesse 6 Others that teare
by the holy Scriptures a sweet concord and happy communion with the Saints with whom he fruitfully converseth an harmonicall and musicall peace of good conscience within himselfe which passeth all understanding and all needfull supplies without him both for life and godlinesse 4 By Iesus Christ he hath attained an inexhaust fountaine of Gods love the wealth and rich revenue of precious faith love and all graces heaven to bee his hope and also his inheritance and God himselfe to be his portion in whose love is no lacke in whose presence is fulnesse of joy and to be crowned with immortality and eternall glory the same with Christ our head Now consider if a thousand worlds can afford any one of these contentments or if they all could make a man so rich or happy or if ever thou sawest the greatest Potentate without Christ so rich mighty or glorious as the poorest and basest Christian treading all that vanitie and Mooneshine under his feet 1 To reproove many men who in comparison of the world despise the priviledges in Christ. As such 1 Who for want of â—ound judgemeÌ„t disesteeme the highest state of a Christian weighed with worldly respects preferments Every man makes high rekoning of earthly parentage but scarce one of a thousand cares a rush for the dignity of adoptioÌ„ in Christ as if to be the son of a King were more honor then to be a son of God Earthly preferments ravish and affect men and lift them up above themselves but offer the preferments of the kingdome of heaven to most men they refuse and scorne them How doth it rejoyce mens hearts to see worldly wealth flow in in abundance or when an heritage of a piece of earth fals upon them But how few are of Davids mind who had more joy of heart in the cheerefull countenance of God then others when their corne wine and oyle increased Few are halfe so glad to become heires apparant of heaven 2 Who for want of sound love of Christ plainely refuse Christ for the world As when men lay aside religion good conscience and their duty to get riches and preferments of the world Such as the prophane Esaus of the world who are all for pottage but despise the blessing And the gracelesse Gadarens who as swine still rooting in the earth prefer their pigges before Iesus Christ. And wretched Demasses that forsake the truth to fall to the present world Oh the dayes of tryall will discover a number such But most unhappy of all worldlings are they whose office is to preach Iesus Christ but for wealth and preferments cast off good conscience and the diligent exercise of their callings the right successors of Iudas who must have the bagge and the better to fill it turnes against his Master departs from his calling and so runnes on to destruction Let all of us against this corruption consider 1 That our Lord Iesus himselfe denyed to bee a King and was content to be poore in the world that we might be rich and to be despised in comparison of his office And must it be better with servants then the Master 2 The saints were strangers and pilgrims Heb. 11. 13. If they could not enjoy both religion and riches then they chose religion and good conscience and abandoned honour wealth preferments Moses esteemed Christs rebukes above the wealth of a Kingdome Paul glories in the marks of Iesus Christ Gal. 6. 17. 3 What will it profit a man to winne the whole world and to lose his owne soule This is an unhappy exchange The world lost may be wonne againe 4 The promise is there shall be no losse in leaving all the world for Christ Mat. 19. 29. but great gaine and advantage 5 What a folly were it to bee so affected with the light of the Moone as for it to neglect the brightnes of the Sunne 6 What a confusion were it in the world to offer to set the Moone above the Sunne Such a confusion were it in Christianity to preferre in judgement or affection earthly things before Iesus Christ and things of heaven 2 Let no member of the Church thinke that hee may set the Moone any where but under his feet A sonne of this mother may not set the Moone upon his head by placing his chiefe study how to get and keepe the world and wealth of it Nor in his Iudgement advancing them above their due place but with Mary acknowledge a better part Neither may he set them on his heart by minding earthly things or by affecting and covetous desiring them above better things Neither hold them in his hand by base and tenacious keeping them when he may exchange them for better things but in this comparison tread them under his foote and contemne such bewitching vanities The text affords us some motives 1 Because they all resemble the Moone in mutability and ever-changing inconstancy If they or any of them were to abide with us or wee with them there were more cause or colour to allow them an higher place then under our feet but they are al alike fugitive and mutable as the Moone as appeares in this short survay First riches have Eagles wings to fly away Pro. 23. 5. Iob had experience that they were uncertaine riches as Paul cals them 1 Tim. 6. 17. Salomon cals them riches of vanity Prov. 13. 11. And the Apostle Heb. 11. 25. cals their use for a season Secondly honours are as mutable as the Moone Haman the one day was the only man with the King at the banquet the next day he was hanged on his owne gallowes Nebuchad-nezzar advanced himselfe in his grear Babel as if he were a God but the same houre he is cast among beasts Dan. 4 30. Adoni-bezek Iudg. 17. now a conquerour over seaventy Kings and now under the table equall with dogs and eating their offals Great Belizarius the chiefe Duke of all the Romane Empire most potent and glorious in honourable triumphs and victories but spoyled of his wealth by Iustinian accused condemned and had his eyes put out and came to stand in the high waies to beg saying give to Belizarius one token Thirdly pleasures Moone-like goe away by post make love to many like alluring harlots are large in faire promises and winne many to like them and adulterate with them but keepe faith with none It were a vaine thing to expect to hold them if thou hadst the pleasures of Paradise it selfe Pleasures for evermore are onely at Gods right hand Fourthly the life it self passeth as a tale is in a moment changed and who can boast of tomorrow The Moone risen hasteneth not faster to her West and setting then man borne travelleth swiftly to the west and setting of his life Fitfly the whole world passeth away as the Moon is ever upon his speed This old Moone is in her last quarter yea in the houre
hotch potch of his religion Gal. 6 12. false teachers to avoid persecution will make and coyne a new Gospell joyne Moses and Christ justification of faith and workes And many admirers of the moone can finely joyne Papists and Protestants religion together and binde them together with a rope of sand can justifie and qualifie their toyes and inventions and for advantage like hucksters for the Apostle calls them sellers for gaine blend our wine with puddle waters of mens devices There are too many of these patchers that will patch old ragges with new garments and in the meane time bring in disgrace those that are so strict that cannot blend as they doe For what cares he to tread religious persons under foot if times do so that can suffer religion to be troden downe with silence nay with approbation but how impossible is it to have the Sun and moone shine together 5 He that maketh his gaine his godlinesse that bestowes more thoughts care time for the world then heaven That can stand in all windes for profit and by right or wrong get the world That cares not for nor desires but feares the appearing of the Sonne of God the Sunne of righteousnesse to judgement Let this man resolve that the Moone is upon his head or in his heart and not under his feet To conclude thou that wouldest know that the Moone is under thy foote and that thou art a sonne of this woman thou must 1 Magnifie Christ above a 1000. worlds 2 Set up Gods service above the world 3 Subordinate the Moone to thy religion 4 Hate and detest mixture in religion 5 Esteeme godlinesse the greatest gaine hate that gaine that is severed from godlinesse and long for the appearing of Jesus Christ thy happie and perfect gaine And upon her head a Crowne of twelve starres The third propertie followes in the description of this woman who is set forth by a Crowne upon her head Where consider three things 1 Why this woman is crowned 2 The matter of the Crowne a Crowne of twelves starres 3 The place of it on her head 1 The Churches Crowne betokeneth foure things 1 The honor of her person that she is a Queene for no women are crowned but Queenes or Kings wives The true Church is no lesse being espoused to Jesus Christ the King of his Church Psal. 45. 9. upon thy right◠and thy Queen doth stand Salomons wife being a type of the Church set upon the right hand of Jesus Christ the true Salomon 2 Her eminency and glory for a Crowne was ever an ensigne of royall dignitie and crowned persons were ever in ranke above other ordinary persons So is the Church of God of the blood royall and advanced to partake of the divine nature raised to the height of spirituall and eternall glory which common persons are not and therefore the Lord hath fitted her with an incomparable ornament for no ornament is comparable to a Crowne 3 Her rich and abundant estate for a crowne is the richest thing that the world can give So this Queene partaketh of all her husbands wealth and shareth in the riches of that glorious inheritance Eph. 1. 18. And as the crowne compasseth her head so the Lord compasseth her with the riches of grace and of glory in all fulnesse and perfection For seeing Christ is hers so are all things with him 1 Cor. 3. 21. 4 Her victory and conquest For crownes are set upon the heads of conquerors Rev. 6. 9. And to him that overcommeth is granted to sit on the throne Rev. 3. 21. So the Church hath overcome and conquered sinne Satan death hell flesh and all enemies hath in the power right of her husband troden them all under feete For as the wife partaketh of all her husbands victories so she of Christs 2 The matter of this Crowne of twelve starres Other Princes weare crownes of gold beset with pearles and precious stones but this Queene hath a Crowne of twelve starres What cares she for gold and stones that hath the Moone under her feet Quest. What is meant by this crowne of twelve Starres Ans. The shining doctrine of the twelve Apostles here compared to bright and beautifull starres by whose meanes this woman gat this victorious Crowne For this was the Crowne and ornament of the Primitive Church that she was reared and advanced by the diligent and personall preaching and sufferings of the blessed Apostles Ob. But if this was the Churches Crowne then the Church of after ages and at this time hath lost her crowne and ornament Answ. No. For 1 that doctrine is delivered to us in writing to which while we hold our selves fast we are not despoyled of our ornament 2 The substantiall ministeriall duties which the Scriptures ascribe to the Apostles are not to be restrained to their persons but are to be extended to all those that are their true successors which preach the same Christ and him crucified and administer the same Sacraments And Christ is now with the Apostles in their successors to the end of the world as he promised Mat. 28. 20. And this seemes implyed in the number of twelve which is a number of universalitie and perfection including all that purely preach Christ as the Apostles did 3 The Pastors of the Church as they succeed the twelve Apostles in this function of crowning the Church so also have they the name of starres in many places So the Church hath still a crowne of twelve starres 3 The place of this Crowne on her head Some understand by head the beginning of the Church of the New Testament and so it is true she had then the Crowne of Virginitie and purity above all after-times when yet Apostolicall doctrine was not so corrupted by humane devices additions and traditions as shortly after it was But that is not all for the true Church was never without this Crowne But this Woman after the manner of other Queenes is said to weare her crowne on her head To note 1 That her glory and crowne is in and from her head For as the man is the glory of the woman so is Christ the object of the Apostolike doctrine the glory of his spouse the Church 2 That her Crowne is not of or from this world for the moone is under her feet The Crowne is not thē set upon her head whē she is rich glorious to the world but when the shining light of heavenly veritie is set aloft as the starres are above to direct her in all doctrines and actions When by the light of the Scriptures all the firmament of the Church is guided and ruled in all actions aswell inferiour as superiour then is shee a crowned Queene 3 To note a note of visibilitie The head is most conspicuous and the most apparent part of a man and a Crowne set upon the head may be seene a far off as the starres
to these duties 1 Thou shalt uphold the Crowne on the Churches head by upholding the puritie and shine of holy doctrine The faithfulnesse of Pastors crownes the Church 2 They selfe shall be held as a shining starre in the right hand of Christ here Rev. 1. 16 And this right hand shall surely protect provide for and defend thee in thy faithfulnesse then which what greater glory and crowne canst thou desire below 3 Thou shalt by thy faithfull shining attaine that unfading Crowne of glory Dan. 12. 3. by turning many to righteousnesse thou shalt shine as the starres in the firmament Remember that goad Bee faithfull to the death and I will give thee a Crowne of life Rev. 2. 10. 2 Seeing the true Church is a Crowned Queene the daughter of God and spouse of Jesus Christ then must every sonne and daughter of this woman partake of this advancement and be joynt heires of the same crowne yea in present possession of it Did men see the high and royall estate of Beleevers they could not so despise and scorne the persons and condition of Saints but admire and seeke to have part with them in such honor as have all the Saints Let us therefore a little set our eyes on this point to discerne the high estate of the Christian and we shall behold him not crowned with thornes onely but with shining starres and glory which wicked Princes were never capable of The point then is that All the Saints on earth have Kingly dignitie All the Children of this Mother are crowned as well as shee 1 Pet 2. â— Yee are a royall Priesthood The Scripture plainly saith that the Saints are already made Kings unto God Rev. 1. 6. and chap. 5. 10. And keeping the same resemblance all the children of the Church are called Queenes as she is Cant. 67. There are threescore Queenes 1 Their birth and allyance is all princely royall sons of God their father the great King of Kings As all the sons of hereditary Emperors are borne Kings and have Kingly dignitie so all the Sonnes of God much more Children of a Queene their Mother here crowned in the text All wives and spouses joyned in contract to the true Salomon and so are Kings wives to whom crownes pertaine and every one of them having right interest in his person have title unto all his estate and kingdome Thus have they all right to the crowne kingdome 1 By their fathers will Luk. 12. 32. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers will to give you the kingdome 2 In their mothers right whose crown descendt to al her seed being the seed of Christ Isai. 55. 3 By the pucrhase of their head Jesus Christ who gives them not promise onely but possession in present Behold I give you a Kingdome even as my Father hath given me a kingdome Luk 22. 29. but this possession is only in the entrance and first degree in this life and the full fruition and perfect possession reserved to the life to come 2 They are all anointed as Kings both in their head who is anointed with oile of gladnesse above all his fellowes Psal. 45. 7. as also in themselves for we have received that anointing 1 Iohn 2. 27. That holy oyle descendeth from Aarons head to the skirts of his garments Psal. 133. 2. All apparelled like Kings with the princely robe of righteousnesse more shining then Herods garment or then the Sun it selfe which deckes the whole man within and without All attended as Kings with Angels as a guard all styled with glorious and princely titles as kings to whom as the person and merits of Christ are communicated so also his name not called only Christians but Christs 1 Cor. 12. 12. Even so is Christ. All enthroned as kings on a more stately throne then Salomonâ— described 1 King 10. 18. For Christ shall give them to sit with him in his throne as himselfe sitteth in the throne of his Father Rev. 3. 21. All rich as princes Rev. 21. 7. Hee that overcommeth shall inherit all things 3 All the Saints have the power of Princes As 1. A commanding power not so much over others as over themselves Stronger is hee that rules himselfe then hee that rules a Citie Prov. 16 32. He layes laws upon himselfe and bindes himselfe to obedience and will command as Abraham and Ioshua all his inferiours to keepe the wayes of God 2. A performing power to effect greater things then greatest Princes Mark 9. 23. To him that beleeveth all things are possible Faith in Christ makes him receive all he can ordinately desire and performe all in Christ that he ordinately desireth to doe for it can obtaine of God power and strength to doe it 3 A conquering power Every Saint is already crowned a conquerour in part over sinne and Satan and temptation and his owne lusts and the world The devill resisted flieth him and he over-takes him and treads him under foot here is another manner of conquest then Davids was over Goliah And for the world Christ promiseth all the saints Rev. 2. 26 27 power over the nations to rule them with a rod of iron and breake them in pieces like a potters vessel Which is a power proper to Christ who received it from his Father for himselfe and his members and executeth it in his and their name also and for their common right and they also get victory by the help of faithfull Pastors 4 A power of judging All the Saints shall judge like Princes not the world onely but the wicked angels also the authors of all that unrighteous judgment which they in the world sustained 1 Cor. 6. 3. for Christs sentence shall be their sentence and shall be ratified by all the Saints And in the meane time they judge themselves by arraigning and condemning themselves for their sinnes and pleading for pardon 4 All the Saints are crowned already with twelve stars and expresse the bright shining of saving and Apostolike doctrine and uphold and maintaine it to their power and professe it and glory in it as in a crowne upon their heads 1 To magnifie the grace of God who out of so base and miserable estate and thraldome out of the chaines of hell and out of eternall damnation into which we were all cast by sinne hath lifted up his Saints into so high and excellent glory Never was poore Hester halfe so much obliged to great Ahashâ—erosh for raysing her from the dust to lay her in his owne bed and bosome as we are to the Lord for such an admirable advancement For herein he powred out all his love that while we were his enemies hee would not onely cast his skirts over us but crowne us first with compassion and then with a Crowne of twelve starres here in grace and hereafter in heavenly glory 2 To magnifie the state of Gods children who are set in
strive with unreasonable men that are not guided by truth humility charity or Christianity but by fury railing pride pretences of law threatning and violence the dragon will shew not his hornes only but his crownes to See wee the wicked of the world giving up their crownes to the dragon and with all their strength and power and authority setting their crownes on the dragons head wee on the contrary must learne with all our power to set up and uphold the Crown and Scepter of Christ in our selves and others for as all the limbes of the dragon reioice to see him crowned and domineere to the ruine of the Church so let all the children of Sion reioyce in their King Psal 149. 2. Shall the Papists triumph and glory wheÌ„ the Antichristian forces prevaile against the reformed religion and shall not wee when the woman prevaileth against the dragon Quest. How may I uphold Christs Crowne and Scepter against the dragon Ans. 1. Cast down thy Crowne at the feet of the Lambe and worship him that sitteth on the Throne as the Seniors Rev. 4. 10. this is done by 2 practices 1. If thou deny thy selfe and diselaime whatsoever is in thy selfe as being void of all power and strength to attaine any thing that is good 2. If thou ascribest all power to God and Iesus Christ of creation and providence of preservation yea of finall victorie against all enemies whom hee will make his footstoole and set his feet upon their neckes and crownes as Ioshua did II. Alow thy heart for his throne and chaire of state that in it he may sit and command and beware of resisting his person or entrance or peaceable possession in thy soule Psal. 24. open thy gates that the King of glory may enter avoid whatsoever would hinder his peaceable entrance or coÌ„tinuance especially in foure things 1. Infidelity for Jesus Christ is no way received but by faith Iohn 1. 12. 2. Impenitency he dwelleth no where but in an humble and contrite soule 3. Raigaing sinneâ— which are as iron gates and percullices to keepe out Jesus Christ out of his kingdome and hold the sinner in rebellion against his Sove aigne and King where any sin raigneth there Christ cannot raigne and as no man can serve two contrary masters being enemies so no man can bee subject to two kings enacting contrary lawes 4. Idolatry what communion betweene Christ and Antichrist 2 Cor. 6. 15 16. III. Take the oath of allegeance to Jesus Christ to submit to his lawes willingly David tooke this oath Psal. 119. 10. I have sworne and will performe to keepe thy righteous judgements A seeming subject is most pernicious such as the Pope and Jesuites have catechized to refuse the oath of allegeance to our Soveraigne they are among us but not of us Such subjects to Christ are wicked men and hypocrites Christians onely in name and profession are counterfeit are in the Church but not of it 1 Joh. 2. they want all the notes of good subjects which are 1. To know and attend to the lawes and word of his King the word of the Law and the Gospell is the municipall lawes of this kingdome called the word of the kingdome a good Christian will attend to the word preached as a good subject to his Kings Proclamation 2. To obey his lawes yeelding obedience to the whole law in true indeauour so did David have respect to all the Commandements Psal. 119. 6. and also faith and repentance to the Gospell 3. Neither this by constraint but as a willing people Psal. 100 of unwilling made willing drawne by the Father as the sheepe of Christ to heare his voyce and follow him IIII. Resist the Dragons incroachments upon this Kings kingdome know the enemies the Devill world sinne Pagans Papists Heretiques Atheists they would pull thee from allegeance to former slavery furnish thy selfe with weapons against all the enemies of the kingdome which are the word faith hope love righteousnesse patience especially prayer against the kingdome of darknesse and the proceeding of the enemies of the Church Hester must stand up and intercede for her people let us not faile at this time Shal the Pope injoyne a fast for the prosperity of the warres against the Church and wee shamefully neglect it And his tayle drew downe the third part of the Stars Having spoken of the five properties by which we have heard the Dragon described wee come to the second part of the description which is by two effects The former against the Starres of heaven in this verse The latter against the woman in the next verse For the meaning every word is mysticall wee must stand a while in the interpretation in which are foure things to be considered First what is meant by the Starres of heaven Ans. Fondly doe the Papists understand here by the dragon Lucifer drawing downe with him in his fall many Angels which they say are meant by Stars of heaven not attending the scope of the place for I reade not in all the Scripture where Satan is called Lucifer Calvin cals it a grosse ignorance to father Satans name upon Isa. 14. 12. but it is called by this name Rev. â—2 10. 1. These Starres fell to earth after Iohns prophesie whereas they fell before mans sall 2 These starres fell in the Church when the battell was pitcht against the woman but Satan fell and his angels before there was any Church in the world or before there was any mention either of Christ or his Church 3. Those fell with the dragon these cast downe by the dragon 4. These starres were cast downe by the dragon to the earth from mysticall heaven to mysticall earth but those Angels were cast downe by GOD from heaven into hell where they are reserved in chaines of darknesse to the judgement of the great day and both taken in their proper acceptation But this place is an allusion to Dan. 8. â—0 where Antiochus Epiphanes a type of Antichrist is said to cast the starres unto earth and tread upon them where he calleth by the name of the Host of heaven those whoÌ„ our Euangelist calleth the starres of heaven that is the Ministers and Pastors of the Church called by this name as we have declared verse 1. 1. As they are set in their orbes by God and receive their light from the Sunne and move in their certaine order and station so are these set in their severall stations to keepe the watch of the Lord by a perpetuall decree so long as day and night succeed one another 2. As they shine in the darknesse of the night so doe these give light to the Church in the darke night of this world partly by doctrine and partly by holy example Matth 5. 14 Ye are the lights of the world and the light of the starres is not for themselves 3. As starres are eminent and in high place above the earth so the Pastors and Teachers are in eminency as
their pleasure hee calleth them all by their right names Object What need we care for them seeing God is so carefull Sol. Provoke not God to remove them 1. See the neede of starres for illumination warmth moisture refrigeration by them discerne seasons of grace guide thy course on the sea of this world starres were made not for ornament onely but for use heate influence 2. Make use of their light some hate the light as of commets portending evill to them and blesse themselves from them 3. Reioyce in their light constantly not as the Iewes did in Iohn that counted him a light for a season men receive Preachers as new Starres or Commets gaze a while but care not how soone they be wasted The second effect by which the dragon is described is by his mischievous attempt against the woman as the former was against the starres this effect is set downe 1. By his action he stood before the Woman 2. His intention to devoure the childe when it was brought forth I. In his action observe two things 1. What it is to stand before the woman 2. How he standeth before her 1. To stand before the woman is an allusion to the ancient Story both of the dragon standing before Eve the woman that is the mother of the world and of the Church to seduce her as also of Pharaoh called the dragon of Aegypt watching the destruction of the male children of the Church so soone as the mothers should bee delivered of them to which places out of doubt the text hath reference This standing before the woman implieth two things 1 His readinesse and nearnesse as one at hand narrowly watching observing to assault and destroy the blessed seed 2. His instance and diligence in the purpose hee departs not farre nor long but standeth and abideth proceedeth and persisteth in his mischievous purpose and intention against the Church and members he standeth still but not idle 2. How he standeth before her and that is two wayes 1. By fraud and secret trechery he layeth traines out of sight for her hurt and by flattery seeketh to bring and lure her into his snare 2. By open force and violence to subdue such as by secret traines he cannot allure II. His intention to devoure the childe hee seemeth to doe nothing lesse but the Spirit of God uncaseth him sheweth us the true end of all his couÌ„sels and indeavours Let the dragon dissemble never so much friendship as to Eve in eating his minde is murderous for hee standeth not afore us to abridge us of our liberty or goods or outward comfort onely but his direct aime is to compasse our death and destruction of soule and body Quest. But what had the child done or when should he devoure it Sol. He watcheth the destruction of it before it be borne if the woman miscary not in bringing forth some abortive birth then he bestirreth himselfe to destroy the young and tender birth so soone as it taketh breath in the Church Where in the dragon note three things 1. The groundednesse and setlednesse of malice in the nature of the dragon who out of his wickednesse unstirred and unprovoked carrieth deadly wrath against the children of the Church There is a naturall enmity and antipathy betweene the seed of the dragon and the seed of the woman for what can the childe doe against him before hee is borne 2. The policy of the dragon who will not suffer the womans children to grow up to strength and stature but will oppresse them even in the biâ—â—â— or as soone as they are borne while they are tender and least able to resist hee knoweth the fittest time to blast grace is in herba in the cradle in the beginnings 3. The implacablenesse of this savage dragon whose pittilesse disposition nothing can move not infancy not tendernesse not innocency not causelesnesse nothing can pleade or prevaile for a drop of compassion nay these rather cause and stirre up his wrath and kindle his rage and fury more against them and this is the enemy with whom we have to deale whom Gods spirit hath thus graphycally and punctually described that we might stand so much the more watchfully and preparedly against him So soone as any childe commeth to bee borne of the Church Satan watcheth by all means to destroy him 1 Pet. 5. 8. Satan as a roaring Lyon seeketh whom to devoure The principall businesse of Satan in the world hath ever been to take out of the way and to destroy vijs modis by secret fraud or open force all that should bee spiritually begotten of the Church especially such as should stand up to maintaine the religion of Christ. How Herod the dragon stood before the woman seeking to slay the childe Iesus so soone as he was borne appeareth Mat. 2. 16. hee could not hinder his holy conception his quickning birth but his hope is to devoure him being borne the same fury he sheweth to the members and to come to that our text aimeth at how the dragon by the heathen Roman Emperours and bloody Tyrants Nero Domitian Trajan and the rest did by most cruell Edicts torments and unheard of punishments and persecutions stand in the whole Empire with the greatest vigilancy that might bee to swallow up whatsoever Christian should be borne in the Church utterly to extirpate all Christians and extinguish the Christian faith is manifest in every leafe and line of that bloody Story But especially the dragon by those tyrants watched and observed most diligently lest any defender of the Christian faith either in Magistracy or Ministery should spring up in so much that if any President or Governour was more moderate or lesse rigorous against ChristiaÌ„s he was presently devoured by the dragon as a favourer or childe of the woman His incessant labour to hinder the glory of God for whereas the glory of a King is the multitude of his subjects he cannot abide that Gods glory should bee increased by the increase of the subjects of his Kingdome He is the Arch-tyrant and head of all tyrants in the world and setteth up and holdeth up his kingdome by tyranny and injustice and as Attaliah could never thinke her selfe stable in her usurped authority till she had slaine all the Kings seed 2 Kin. 11. 1. so this monster of tyrants and scourge of the world thinketh his kingdome can never bee sure and stable if he kill not all the Kings seed the sonnes of this woman the Church His extremâ— hatred of the true religion the true service of God amongst the Israelites was an abomination to the Aegyptians and therefore like dragons they oppressed them The dragon never ceaseth to hinder or corrupt the purity of Gods worship or to persecute whom he cannot hinder Let Israel but talk of going to worship in the wildernesse the hellish Pharaoh presently begins to rage to augment the burthens and never cease his unjust vexation till himselfe cease to
Cyrus was named above a hundred and twenty yeares before he was borne and also his singular care and diligence in building of the Temple and restoring Ierusalem to her former beauty and honour that he should establish the pure worship of God and as a vigilant shepheard protect Gods people now would not the dragon have hindred the birth of such a sonne whom he knew should bee borne if hee could But he cannot prevent the Woman from bringing forth her sonnes especially designed to serve GODS Providence for the good of the Church The stability of Gods decrees the counsell of the Lord shall stand and no power nor policy shall break off any of his purposes hee hath purposed to teach mā by man to rule man by man to save men by men and therefore there must be a succession of Pastors in the Church and of Princes in the world who shall uphold this his ordinance in the severall ages It is true the Lord with whom is wisdome and strength can by his own hand without and against all worldly power save his Church but for his owne greater glory and the confusion of the dragon hee will rather doe it by weake instruments assisted with his owne mighty power which all the dragons cannot prevaile against The truth of his promise who although he bee the husband of his Church and as Elcanah to Anna better then ten sonnes yet hath promised that shee shall have sonnes and Princes in all Lands he will see that she shall not want sonnes of her own that shall bee as nursing fathers and mothers to her Esay 49. 23. and 7. The power of God is such as cannot be foyled by any contrary power but still raiseth up some man-childe for the Churches use and service for as it is in nature so here with this mother It is the Lord that openeth the wombe and the dragon cannot shut it as Iacob said to Rachel Am I God to open and shut the wombe so it is God that maketh the Church a fruitfull and joyfull mother of children which powerfull worke himselfe challengeth Esay 66. 9. Shall I cause to travell and not bring forth shall I cause to bring forth and shall shee be barren This power of God so over-ruleth that not onely against all outward contrary powers but when the birth it selfe or manchilde it selfe is most averse and repugnant yet shall he be brought forth For example Moses was most backward and pleaded many excuses earnestly intreated the Lord to send any other to Pharaoh yet he and no other must be brought forth Ionah flatly refused to goe to Niniveh but the Lords power mightily over-ruled and brought him forth by a strong hand for the conversion of the people No contrary course shall hinder the birth of the man-childe against the Lords powerfull call The care of God over his Church hee suffereth it not without some manchilde or other to helpe it as in the booke of the Iudges is manifest hee never casteth off his people nor his care of them hee hath speciall feeling of their miseries speciall regard of their prayers and sighes as is manifest by the example of Israel in Aegypt he suffereth not the rod of the wicked to lie on the lot of the righteous Psal. 125. 3. but it should ever doe so if the dragon could hinder the birth and bringing forth of such sonnes as may prevent and remove it For comfort of the Church who shall never want such stout defenders as the Lord doth see fit for her 2 Kings 19. 7. when Ahab and Iezabel destroyed the Prophets of the Lord and made no end of effusion of innocent blood the Lord had a manchilde in store Iehu who shall revenge their quarrell to the utmost When the dreadfull and terrible fires were kindled against the bodies of Gods servants Saints here in Queene Maries dayes God stirred up that most Noble Queene Elizabeth comparable with any manchilde in these last ages for her noble and heroical zeale valour and fortitude and though many plots were attempted by Papists to take away her life for Gardener chafed that they lopped the boughes and stocked not the roote yet was shee brought forth to the kingdome set upon the Throne of God and had an iron rod in her hand an unconquerable power by which she was the glory of her Kingdome a terrour to all Papists and professed enemies of her religion In the dayes when we see Antichrist prevaile his arme stronge his powers victorious his numbers increased his buls blasphemies and masses received himselfe and his in armes with hopefull successes Now is the time to expect some manchild and sonne of the Church to take him from his top and height or rather those ten sonnes of this woman taken up into the Throne of God and with rods of iron to make her desolate and naked to eate her flesh and burne her with fire Rev. 17. 16. the Church may say as Ioseph The Lord hath made mee fruitfull in the land of my affliction The dragon cannot hinder the woman from bringing forth children and sonnes that shall witnesse and defend the truth for her being her birthright and inheritance for 1. He cannot want hearts to beleeve nor mouthes to confesse the truth who made both all hearts and all mouthes 2. The power of the truth is such as will have witnesse and testimony to it Luke 19. 4. I tell you if these should hold their peace the stones would crie as indeed the earthquakes rending of the Rockes and opening of graves did at his resurrection hence was it that in the darkest times of Antichrist and when their tyranny was at hight God ever raised some sonne of the Church to witnesse unto the truth against that abomination as here in England Iohn Wickliffe that preached plainly the Pope to bee Antichrist his transubstantiation his masses his indulgences his dispensations to be trash and dung to be swept out of the Church many after him In Italy Dante 's Marsilius Patavinus Franciscus Petrarke In Bohemia Iohn Hus Ierome of Prague In Germany Luther Melancton c. the dragon could not hinder these sonnes of the Church in their testimony and so it shall alwayes be III. The dragon cannot hinder the woman to bring forth children in grace although he watch never so instantly for I. The spirit bloweth where it will and hee can no more hinder his worke then hee can the winde from blowing and by this spirit the Church becommeth like the Hebrew women of whom the midwiues said they were lively and delivered before they could come to destroy the birth II. Birth in grace is a mighty worke of new creation and no more can the devill and dragon hinder this worke where God will have it than they can dissolve the great worke of Gods creation wicked men as Esau may strive to hinder Iacobs birth in the wombe but cannot where hee will have a
Constantine that great champion of Christ who under Christs Standard made warre with and overthrew Maxentius Maximinus and Licimous horrible dragons and tyrants as were likely I will not certainly define but without all doubt that was included in this prophesie if not principally meant of which Euseb. lib. 9 cap. 9. who saith he received from Constantine himselfe the narration of the fight and victory Quest. 3. Why doth the Spirit of God foretell this battell Answ. 1. The Lord would not have his Church conceive that here she hath found any resting place or can enjoy perpetuall halcion dayes but that there abideth unto her many irreconciliable warres in this military condition against divers enemies hereticall tyrannicall and Antichristian 2. He would manifest his care and wisedome over his Church and children whose tryals he foretelleth that they might not thinke them come by chance or God not foreseeing them or distrust his favor while they are exercised by them but in these predictions might see him both ordering them for his glory and for their salvation 3. God would not have troubles come on a sudden or stealing on his servants but with warning that they might arme and prepare themselves with wisdome fortitude and patience to resist them that the Church might stand her ground not discouraged much lesse cast away her confidence that hee might abate the smart of them if they were sudden and blunt the edge of them by providing for them Quest. 4. But why doth the Lord ordaine or permot this fight and opposition being against his glory his Church his truth and his servants or how can he be mercifull and good to protract and permit so great evils Ans. 1. As God is good in his mercy so hee is no lesse good and great in his justice 2. This fight against the Church is not simply evill but hath in it a respect of good and therefore God permitteth it because 1. It is partly an execution of justice and a just correction of the sinnes of the Church 2. It is such an evill as much good is thence produced to the Church as hereafter wee shall see 3. It is not such an evill but that Gods wisedome and power can and doth moderate order bridle and turne to a good end and issue the dragon indeed intendeth them mischievouslly to quench the graces of God the wicked agent◠under him directly fight against his glory and truth and chosen ones and would chase them into the bottome of the sea to drowne them as Pharaoh but Gods mighty power and wisedome hereby will chase them to heaven as he did Israel to Canaan being a wise Physition that can temper hemlock and poyson to a medicine and remedie and over-rule the poysoned crooked wils of gracelesse men to the effecting of his owne most gracious pleasure and righteous will so as we may say to our brethren when forgetting nature grace humanity Christianity they contrive to cast us into pits and sel and send us away as Iosephs brethren to put a little base profit into their owne purses Gen. 50. 20. when they thought evill against me God did dispose it to my good You who should have beene my naturall brethren thought me in too high favour with my father you envied his love to me you thought if you could sel me off all should be yours and therefore wracked on me your barbarous malice but see God over-ruleth your rage your fiercenesse could not frustrate the good purpose of God who against all your plots hath raised mee to save much people alive Object But is not the Gospell a Gospell of peace Gods kingdome a kingdome of peace and Christ himselfe the Prince of peace typified in Melchisedek Isa. 9. the professors of the Gospell sonnes of peace how will this stand thus with such open hostility and perpetuall warre how is it true Isa. 9. 7. there shall be no end of peace when we see there is no end of warre Ans. 1. these two are not contradictory to bee at peace and at warre at the same time because they are not in the same respect so our Saviour teacheth In the world ye shall have tribulation but in me at the same time ye shall have peace Iohn 16. 33. the reason is because those that are Gods consist of two parts flesh and spirit according to the spirit they are in Christ and according to the body they are in the world therefore when in their spirits they enjoy the peace of Christ they are in the body afflicted in the world a wicked man cannot so bee Hee that is wholly in and of the world having affliction hath no conjunction of peace but are oppressed and over-whelmed with sorrow because the true peace of heart is onely in Christ and received by the spirit of faith 2. Peace is the daughter of warre and by warre the Saints attaine and retaine peace were they not at warre with the dragon and the world they could never enjoy an houre of peace I finde more sweet in wicked mens malice than in their delicates 3. Distinguish of peace it is either spirituall or carnall the peace of Christ or of the world which the Disciples themselves expected by Christ when the temporall dominion should bee restored to Israel and the Iewes delivered from the Romane bondage supposing they should bee great Rulers in their Countries but Christ wisheth thē to dreame of no such thing this peace Christ disclaimeth as Mat. 10. 34. Thinke not I am come to send peace but a sword and fire Secondly there is a spirituall and inward peace which Christ claimeth to be his My peace I leave with you he bringeth that peace to the world which the world giveth not nor knoweth not a peace not with the dragon or his party but peace with God peace of conscience and peace with all men so farre as lyeth in them This is the peace of Gods kingdome which is not interrupted by warres with the dragon and the world but established 4. Wee must with Luther distinguish of warre there is an Active warre and a Passive Christ and his Gospel and servants move no Active warre the Gospell of peace proclameth peace not warre the end of his comming and the Gospell publishing is to set all things at peace But there is a passive war waged by the Prince of darknesse discord against Christ and his people and the sonne of peace by all his skill cannot avoid this warre not that it is a fruit or effect of the Gospell or by any fault or cause in in the Gospell which perswadeth peace and concord with God and man but occasionally and by an accidentall event partly by the malice of the devill that man-slayer who being that Prince of darknesse deadly hateth the light partly by the malice of the world which yeeldeth not unto the truth and holy admonitions but warreth againstit and chaseth it so farre as they can out of the world and partly out of the wicked concupiscence
of the children of darknesse Iames 4. 1. Now were it not for the enmity of this wicked One and ones against the Gospell there would bee no hurt in all the maintenance of holinesse Onely here note how wide they are that call for and commend an unlimited peace whereas the Gospell onely cals for a well conditioned peace 1. No peace is good but which flowes from peace w th God none against him defie that peace that is at defiance with the God of peace beware of an impious peace 2. No peace but joyned with holinesse Heb. 12. 14. carnall companionship is a peace in sinne drunkennesse swearing the devill divideth not his kingdome Christians must owne no such hellish peace detest such a prophane peace 3. No peace but with truth which is magnified above peace against popish pacification conversing with Papists shall wee betray the truth of God under the pretence of peace no peace without contention for truth 4. No peace but with good conscience secure Protestants will have peace in their sinnes let them alone they will let you alone runne with them they like you oppose godlinesse these precise wayes oh you winne them for ever but all is against the Gospell but better is a godly distraction than a wicked peace The Church and members must be in perpetuall warre while it is upon earth as Israel in the wildernesse had daily warres and resistances so all the Israel of God in the wildernesse of this world Hence it is that the Church of God on earth is called militant because it is an inseparable adjunct of it to be in perpetuall flight and battell Ephes 6. 12. wee wrastle against principalities and powers and that without intermission and if wee must still put on the armour of God this implyeth a perpetuall battell God will have us put a difference betweene heaven and earth and know that this is not our resting place and that rest is not gotten with ease hee will have us prize the worth of it in the difficulty danger and strife in attaining it he will crowne none without lawfull striving because none can overcome that fights not The Lord hereby provideth for his owne glory for whereas if it pleased him he might put forth his mighty power in preventing all molestation and overthrowing all his and the Churches enemies at once and so procure to his Church perfect peace and prosperitie even in the world but he more magnifieth himselfe in the victory of his servants than in their peace and they are more glorious in their faith constancy fortitude and patience than in their peace rest and security The state and constitution of the Church is such as none can be servants of Christ but souldiers for 1. So long as the enmity of the seed of the woman and the Serpent lasts there is no hope of truce or cessation of armes 2. There cannot be spirit but there will bee a combate betweene flesh and spirit which if neither the first Adam nor the second both in innocency can escape how shall wee expect to avoid it in state of corruption so long as there is light darknesse will fight against it 3. Where any grace is as is in every true Christians heart there is something worth stealing there the thiefe layeth battery where hee knoweth the treasure is yea the same men who were quiet enough before the appearing of grace are now so raged against it as if either inward temptation or outward fury can prevaile they shall be cast downe as Paul 4. Where there is but an entrance into the profession an admission into the family of Christ a receiving of our Captaines presse-money and a promise to fight the good fight of faith that is cause enough of quarrell and even so much or so little shall not want keene blowes from the dragon and the world 5. Suppose a man should want enemies without him yet he wanteth no enemie so long as hee carrieth about himselfe himselfe is exercise enough to himselfe all his life long and the better he knoweth himselfe the better shall hee know this truth The Lord hereby provideth for his Churches good and the furthering of her salvation and that many wayes 1. He letteth her see the great malice and hatred of the dragon against her and the extent of his mighty power against her against which shee could no way stand but in the power of God thus hee humbleth her in her selfe shaketh her out of her security driveth her out of her selfe and chaseth her to her fort and refuge even God himselfe her rocke 2. Hee letteth her see the desert of her sinnes in some measure and so to further her repentance for though hee have laid the chastisement of her peace on his Sonne yet he by these wicked instruments fatherly correcteth us as children so Iob 13. 26. Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me possesse the sinnes of my youth This good the Lord bringeth out of the evill intentions of the dragon he both awakeneth the conscience to finde out and hunt out secret sins which before she was not aware of as this sharpe water of affliction cleareth her sight so she findeth that the greatest strength of the dragon is in her owne corruption she is now more wary to prevent sinne for time to come as the buffettings of Satan kept under Pauls pride and suffered him not to be exalted above measure 3. The Lord hereby setteth and keepeth all the graces of his servants in exercise and so preserveth and strengthneth them as the health of the body is preserved by bodily exercise so the health of the soule Now in conflict they find the use and worth and measure of their faith hope patience prayers which before were weake and languishing 4. The Lord setteth enimies perpetually in the necks of his servants not that they may be overcome but that they may not bee overcome hee knoweth standing brookes gather dregs that unused iron gathereth rust David in all his battels stood unconquered but in his peace and rest was soone foyled whereas in this battell none are foyled but cowards and none can hold out but are crowned Seeing he can be no Christian that knoweth no combates let us lay up the point of wisedome to forecast and make account of the battell and know we have blowes and bullets to passe through Holy Iob waited when his changes would come and it was his wisedome for time came when hee had thrust upon thrust messenger upon messenger yea changes and armies of sorrowes encamped about him in one day Chap 10. 8. Quest. How shall wee wisely forecast dayes of tryall and battell Answ. 1. Know wee have enemies round about such as will slip no advantage offered we say opportunity maketh a knave our enemies are wrathfull watchfull and never farre off 2. Labour to stand prepared Dost thou not see an enemy now in the field against thee yet bee wise in peace provide for warre a
is a Catholique heresie against the whole foundation 2. There is but one way to eternall life by Jesus Christ stray out of this way and you runne most assuredly to perdition 3. Esteeme the truth above wealth peace or life it selfe because God hath magnified it above all things 4. Consider the force of errour as the secret working of poison and who they be that are given up to Antichristian lies and delusions 2. Thess. 2. 10. 5. Considering the danger of the times and the businesse of the limbes and agents of Antichrist beware of three things 1. Of false prophets who come in sheepes cloathing and call themselves Catholique Doctors Know them by their fruits their seditions warres treasons massacres stabbing of Princes powder-plots arming of subjects against their undoubted Soveraignes c. They are locusts spoiling invading and eating up kingdomes 2. Beware of the leven of popery of their impudent and lying bookes which they spred boldly and busily of curious and alluring pictures and all false arts to deceive us 3. Beware of conversing with such too much out of desire to please some Touch no pitch In a word Remember what yee have beene taught concerning the whore of Babylon how you have beene called out of her what destructions they have provided for us and what plagues God hath provided for them This of the first point 2. Note this that wheresoever Jesus Christ the great Michael commeth there the Dragon is throwne to the ground and cast from his state and power This seed of the woman breakes the serpents head This lyon of the tribe of Judah conquers and casts downe the roaring lyon both in himselfe and his members This Michael is hee that sits on a white horse and hath a bow in his hand Revel 6. 2. that is the word of the Law and Gospell whence hee shoots deadly arrows to wound his enemies Psal. 45. 6. And to him is given a triumphant crowne beeing the King of glory and he goeth out conquering that hee may overcome The proofe hereof appeares by considering the two wayes of Michaels comming Hee comes 1. In person 2. In Spirit 1. Michael in the dayes of his flesh and infirmity in his owne person encountred all the devils hand to hand subdued all the devills he met withall and healed all that were oppressed with the devill Yea if there were a legion in one man hee made them come running and couching and begging forbearance Hee imposed them silence by a word and by the same cast them out of their hold 2. Hee comes in spirit by the powerfull preaching of the Gospell by which Sathan was so bound up and cast out of his rule that the exorcists could no longer practise their devillish arts Act. 8. 8. when the Gospell was preached in Samaria the great power of Simon Magus which had madded the people vanished and came to nothing Act. 16. 16. The spirit of the Pythonisse was driven away at Philippi by the Gospell preached by Paul Act. 19. 18. After the Ephesians had received the Gospell they burnt their magicall bookes and had no more to do with those devillish arts That is famous which Suidas reporteth of the oracle of Apollo when Augustus Cesar under whom Christ was borne asked who should rule after him no answer was given but this The Hebrew child who is King over the gods commands mee to leave this Temple and get mee to hell now therefore go quietly from these our altars To which wee will adde that of Porphyrie a deadly enemy of Christ and a scoffer of Christian religion who as Eusebius cites him hath these words Nowadaies men marvell that our city is so many yeares together annoyed with the pestilence whereas Esculapius and the other gods are farre gone away from it For since this Iesus is worshipped we can get no benefit by the gods One reason of the point is taken from the end of Christs comming which was to dissolve the works of the devill 1. Ioh. 3. 8. to shake downe his kingdome and destroy his power All the worke and office of Christ is but to cast out the Dragon The strong man had bound all mankinde hand and foot 1. From doing good 2. Unto punishment for doing evill 3. From helping our selves Now a stronger then hee commeth and looseth the prisoners that were bound his office being partly to preach liberty to the captives by his doctrine and partly to open the prison doores by his merit and obedience Another reason is taken from the power of his person who is God and man as God he hath absolute power and soveraigne command over all creatures even the same joint power with the Father and the Holy Ghost infinite uncreated omnipotent As mediator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God and man hee is by his office exalted at the right hand of God above all names and principalities to whom the Father hath committed and by whom hee executeth all power in heaven and earth for the Father ruleth all by the Sonne Hence is his title Lord of Lords and King of Kings Revel 17. 14. The Angell said Hee shall be great Luke 1. 32. And so hee was for hee is the greatest in respect 1. Of his person 2. Of his office 3. Of his kingdome and command over all Hence must it follow that the power armory and skill of the dragon is but impotency folly and weaknesse compared to Michael and must be hopelesse to prevaile unlesse hee could bring also into the field divine power and eternall majesty The third reason is taken from the powerfull meanes with which Christ commeth armed and furnished against the Dragon and these are five 1. A powerfull death which is of more strength than the lives of all men and Angels Hebr. 2. 14. By death he destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devill Iohn 12. 31. Now is the Prince of the world cast out But how by Christs lifting up upon the Crosse for he saith If I be lifted up This Michael hath spoyled principalities and powers upon his Crosse That is the Charriot of triumph there hee tormented the devils while they tormented him there they crucified themselves more than him and as Haman there they reared a Gibbet for their owne execution 2. A powerfull resurrection wherein he mightily declared himselfe the Sonne of God Rom. 1. 4. a worke passing all created power either to doe or hinder from being done for whereas his powerfull death was properly the death of sinne wherein the dragon ruled so his powerfull resurrection overcomes the world hell the grave in all which the dragon before tyrannized for hereby hee applyeth that salvation which by his death he merited hee maintaineth that salvation which he had formerly procured and hereby raiseth up all his members to eternall life at the last and great day of his appearing 3. A powerfull Ministery for the conversion of persons and nations and casting the dragon out of
of Gods and his Churches enemies publike enemies who through us wound Gods glory 2. There is a twofold joy Some riseth of private affection by which men are glad their injuries are revenged by God and this is an unwarrantable affection The other riseth out of publike affection and zeale for the glory of God and this is free from troublesome passions and affections of private hatred impatience wrath and private revenge and this the godly doe and may exercise when they see Gods revenge upon the wicked still retaining the graces of meeknesse patience charity and the like Christian vertues This joy ariseth out of spirituall causes as the other out of fleshly and these causes are especially three 1. The manifestation of Gods glory which seemed to be obscured in the oppression of the Saints 2. The manifestation of his justice upon uncurable enemies whose conversion rather they had desired 3. The deliverance of the Church arising from and joyned with the destruction of the enemies and the former is the proper matter of their joy not the destruction it selfe properly and simply Having now cleared the point by this explication wee come to the confirmation of it by sundry Reasons 1. The Lord who needeth no praise from us being eternally happy in himselfe yet bindeth his Church and people straightly to the duty of thankefulnes for taking their part against the dragon For First it is the condition on which hee conferreth this mercy Psal. 50. 15. I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie mee Secondly he will have us to acknowledge no merit no desert or power in our selves to helpe our selves that all our rejoycing dependance and glory may be in his love and mercy Thirdly it is his rent and tribute due from us for all his mercies and deliverances It is the onely recompence we can repay to give him the honour and glory of his mercy who can give him nothing else In what estate soever we bee the Lord expects a sacrifice from us if wee be in affliction and under any oppression now the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart is above all sacrifices Psal 51. 17. If in prosperity now he expects the sacrifice of praises to waite for him in Sion Fourthly it becomes the just to bee thankfull who feele the benefit sweet and comfortable which ungodly men and they that are without passe by and taste not so as if the Church should not praise God he should lose all his honour Thus the Lord expects it from them not from the other 2. The godly must most excite themselves to joyfull praises where they see Gods glory most manifested but the overthrow of the dragons kingdome is a work wherein the Lords glory shineth out aboue the other ordinary works of his providence especially in the manifestation of his two Attributes justice and mercy His powerfull justice is seene in breaking Satans power to peeces hee makes himselfe knowne by executing justice and by getting himselfe a name upon such dragons as Pharaoh Nero Haman Iulian c. his mercy is magnified in his Church First in that the overthrow of his and her enemies is a signe of his presence and good favour toward her who now rejoyceth in the light of his countenance Secondly it is a fruit of his everlasting Covenant made with his people whereof hee now sheweth himselfe mindefull Thirdly it is an effect of his speciall grace hearing the sighes and prayers of his people under their enemies oppressions whereby hee is now excited risen up for their seasonable salvation Fourthly the taking part with his people against the dragon argueth his sympathy and neare affection who is troubled in all their troubles and undertaketh their cause as his owne and feeleth after a sort accounteth their sufferings as his own In thy great glory thou hast overthrown thē that rose up against thee that is the Aegyptians who rose against Israel and accounted of God as risers up against himselfe 3. The overthrow of the dragon and thrusting down the power of wicked men carrieth in it abundant matter of joy to kindle the hearts of the Saints unto zealous and abundant praises for as Salomon saith Pro. 29. 2. When the wicked beare rule the people sigh but when the righteous are in authority people rejoyce and there is great cause in both for 1. When the wicked beare rule Gods worship is trodden under foot and the Kingdome of Christ is hindred Now contrarily when wicked men are foiled and good men come in their places the true worship of GOD is erected which is the soule and life of the world Christ is declared King ruling in the midst of his enemies and the bounds of his Kingdome are inlarged these will know their duty out of the Word these will doe their duty according to the Word these will uphold the Arke and glory of God will encourage his servants and rule in the feare of God 2. When wicked Rulers are in place civill justice is neglected as Iudges 5. 6. in the dayes of Shamger and Iael the highwayes and townes were unoccupied there was nothing but danger and spoile to him that went out and in for robbers oppressors Wicked men like themselves may doe what they list but when religious men are advanced civill justice and peace which is the maine stay and life of the world is maintained the sword is not suffered to rust in the sheath but is drawne out to the terrour of evill men and suffers not every man to doe as he list as Israel did being without a King 3. When wicked men beare rule there is abundance of all high sinnes against morall and civill laws and increase of sinners which like weeds and vermines can scarce by greatest iudustry be destroyed or kept under but when good men beare rule they will compell men to the keeping of the commandements of God they will seeke and take up to just correction drunkards that lie swilling and swearing and dicing and carding by dayes and nights they will gather up such as lie and wallow like swine in the streets who had they not better helpe than their own would be buried alive in the mire Under such government as wicked men would be nipt and kept under so would righteous men increase as under a faire gleame of incouragement Pro. 28. 28. 4. Where wicked men beare rule as all sins are suffred so is Gods justice let-in in all kindes of plagues publike and personall They bring evill on the place sometimes infamie and disgrace sometimes poverty and want and a generall curse upon mens callings and estates for want of reforming open abuses sometimes the fire of contentions quarrels and frivolous suites like that which came out from Abimelech and consumed Sichem and from Sichem and consumed Abimelech sometimes by driving away the light and removing the Candlesticke from an unhappy and unworthy people to some that will bring forth better fruit whereas where godly men are exalted
Chro. 29. 10. And when the Arke was brought home to the City of David hee was so over-carried with joy that hee could not containe himselfe but he danced before it 2 Sam. 6. 14. 1. A good heart cannot but esteeme it the greatest cause of joy where God is most honoured But God is most honoured where his Kingdom is most advanced for here he glorifieth his power and grace farre above all that is in the kingdome of power First his power is more admirable in setting up the Church than in setting up the world no lesse is his power in conversion than in the Creation of men The power of his Word converting soules is no lesse than the word fiat framing bodies and substances Neither is his power lesse admirable in upholding his Church then in upholding the world putting forth it self daily both in removing the stops and impediments reared against him by Sathan tyrants heretikes wicked worldlings mans corruption as also by advancing the powerfull meanes by which his kingdome is erected continued and inlarged Secondly his grace is magnified by setting up the Kingdome of grace 1. In gathering himselfe a choise people out of the world by a meanes so contemptible to the world 2. In freeing them from the dominion of sinne from the curse of the law and the power of Satan 3. In bestowing on them the free grace of righteousnesse joy peace of conscience and sanctification 4. In their finall salvation 2. Sincere love and affection to our mother the Church and to our brethren the children of our father cannot but bewray it selfe in rejoycing in their joy seeing this onely affection will shew a man to bee of the house and blood of Christ and his seed How doe men rejoyce when their neare kindred as Parents brethren or children rise up in earthly wealth honour and happinesse Even so will a godly man when he seeth any advanced in grace which brings ever a rich revenue with it desirable above wealth besides honour and favour of GOD to which all earthly honour and favour is winde and vanity and all rejoycing in any man or gift without this is carnall unseasoned and unsound And contrarily he is signed to bee out of the communion of Saints who rejoyceth not in the grace of everie one seeing every grace in every Christian is every Christians grace neither can hee bee a lively member whose welfare is shut up in himselfe seeing the health of the whole body stands in the welfare of every part 3. That must be the greatest cause of joy in earth which is next and likliest to the joyes in heaven But to see the kingdome the Lords is the next and likest to the joyes of heaven Therefore 1. This maketh way and entrance into that Kingdome of glory 2. That Kingdome of glory is but the perfection of this For here is a daily subduing of enemies and that is a conquest of all enemies subdued and vanquished this a gathering of subjects into the kingdome in that all subjects are gathered here the King of glory ruleth his subjects mediately by Princes and Pastors in Magistracy and Ministery there hee ruleth all by himselfe immediately and is by all acknowledged all in all here is a communion of Saints absent from the Lord striving against sinne there is a communion of just and perfect men present with the Lord freed from sinne and triumphing over it here the subjects have begun a chearefull and free obedience ceasing from sinne and have attained peace with God joy good conscience and sweet fellowship with God which is an heaven upon earth there they attaine a perfect obedience a perpetual Sabbath and rest from sinne an heavenly joy in the happy and immediate fellowship with God seeing him as they would So as indeed the setting up of this Kingdome is the setting up of that and is the seed-time of that full Harvest of joy which eye hath not seene This condemnes such as whose eyes are filled with envy at the prosperity and proceedings of the Gospell by which the Kingdome becomes the Lords and gather matter of griefe and wrath where they should most rejoyce As First gracelesse and irreligious people who expresse open contempt of Gods House and Ordinances cleane contrary to holy David who rejoyced to heare the people say to him Come let us goe to the House of God And whereas grace would teach them to count the feet of godly Preachers beautifull they cast mire and dirt in their faces and what disgraces the times wil afford thē an earnest of the ful wages they would pay them if times should prove for them Nothing so much grieves them as a man who is suffered to uphold the Lords Kingdome as Sanballat and Tobiah were exceedingly grieved that Nehemiah sought to build the walls of Jerusalem Secondly profane Ministers who above all men should rejoyce that Christ is preached any maner of way and preferre the worke and prevailing of the Gospell above their chiefe joy yet are full of envy to see Gods blessing given and the Kingdome of the Lord more set up by others than themselves So were the Pharises exceedingly troubled to see the people follow Christ himselfe See all the world goeth after him And their Ghosts walke in the world in numbers of their successors whose hearts rise against those to whose Ministery God gives a better report than to theirs A signe of a proud and unmortified heart Thus did not Moses Num. 11. 28. hee did not presently shove and thrust at Eldad and Medad to thrust them out of the Congregation because they prophesied but was glad and wished more of them The true Apostles were glad that Christ was preached by false apostles though it were of envy but they are false apostles that envie Christ preached of good will Iohn Baptist was glad that Christ increased though himselfe decreased by it Iohn 3. 29. Oh that the Angels of the Churches on earth would resemble the Angels in heaven They sing glory to God when Christ appeares and the poore shepheards preach him so would these were they as free from pride and vaine-glory as they and would frame their high spirits to the lowlinesse of our Lord himselfe who rejoyced in spirit and blessed his Father that hee had revealed the things of the Kingdome to Babes Thirdly others disswade and discourage such as are comming on to Christ and were it not for them would shew themselves subjects to this Lord by frequenting his House and Ordinances Oh you must not heare such nor frequent the Lecture you shall get your selfe a blot c. O unhappy men not onely the perswaded whose lot is to light into such mischievous acquaintance by whom they are intised away from their allegiance to their Heavenly King but most unhappy such perswaders who keepe away with themselves all they can fall in with what is their worke but the same with the dragons Vers. 4. to slay every manchilde so soone as he is borne
sanctification of the Sabbath according to Gods speciall Commandement and yeare by yeare urge the reformation of notorious abuses yet after many yeares nothing is amended there is no lesse working no lesse playing nay more open prophanesse than before that strangers from forraine parts admire to see the disorder of this place and the open prophanesse which hath had a name of good teaching and government And as in this so in other things our comfort must be this that we can grieve at what we cannot amend that the peace of your open prophanesse is proclaimed by your selves disclaimed by your Preachers What a griefe is it that while we preach the word of peace we are all broken into pieces and waste out our time wealth thoughts in frivolous quarrels and willingly part with our peace with God with charity to our brethren with inward contentment and outward credit and reputation And to conclude this point if wee shall see Christ a loser amongst us and that men are so farre from growing according to the means as they grow more froward more wilfull more weary and apparently lose the good things they have begun They were diligent hearers men of good example and earnest affections but now turned away either by Popish perswaders or by the perswasion of their owne deceitfull hearts how may wee grieve at the apostasie of such persons as if the Word of God were not the same of the same savour and sweetnesse as ever it was and if it be they cannot bee the same Well were it for them to consider that righteousnesse departed from shall never bee remembred In all these evils if all our paines study and counsell cannot prevaile wee must turne us to sorrow and teares and mourne over you as Christ over Jerusalem who wept and said Oh that thou hadst knowne the day of thy visitation but now these things are hid from thine eyes Luke 19. 42. IV. But most just cause of griefe and sorrow wee have when wee see that the Kingdome of God gets no more ground in our selves and in our own hearts than it doth as 1. If wee can finde that Christ hath long and many a day knocked at the doore of our hearts and sought entrance but we have not opened our everlasting gates that the King of glory might come in unto us Psal. 24. We make shew of receiving him into the Porters lodge by a formall and livelesse profession but wee cannot afford him a roome in the Inne of our hearts nor allow him a rest there as those that rest in him as our chiefe good we cannot esteeme him our Jewell and other things drosse in comparison of him 2. When we find the word tastlesse and powerlesse in us which is the Scepter of this Kingdome by which it is upheld when it is not so sweete unto our taste as honey in our mouthes when we doe not account our it treasure above all pearles and precious things when our hearts are not set upon it our lives not framed by it our selves not delivered unto it or changed by it into the fashion of it So much place as the Word hath in thee so much place hath Christ himselfe If the Word have no place in thee no more hath Christ nor his Kingdome 3. If we finde not our lusts tamed and the enemies of the Kingdome not subdued in our selves our former corruptions unmortified not crucified our love to sinne no lesse then formerly the love of the world not conquered ourselves not denyed nor can deny our profits and pleasures Now may wee justly mourne that the kingdome of darknesse stands so strong in us that all the battery and meanes planted against it cannot demolish and cast it downe 4. If wee finde the Spirit of grace and fortitude foyled and grieved in us that wee grow not stronger and more chearefull in good and holy duties of piety and mercy that we are not stronger nor stouter in affliction sufferings when we cannot endure losses and reproaches for the name of Jesus Christ nor bee chearefull in other trials when the Spirit brings not this Kingdome of God within us which stands in peace joy love of God which is an heaven upon earth this Kingdome of grace set up in the heart of a Christian is indeed an earthly Paradise 5. If wee have made some way toward this kingdome but growne heavy and weary if wee be fallen from our first love if wee have set our hands to the Plough and looked backe to the world to Popery to carnall counsels wee cannot bee fiâ— for the Kingdome of God Luke 9. 62. And the power of his Christ. The Church having sung out the praises of God the giver of her happy victory in these words with the same loud and fervent voyce proclaimeth the due praise and honour of Michael the Generall In whom wee have 1. His Title Christ. 2. His relation to God the Father his Christ. 3. His Attribute power I. The Title Christ signifyeth one anoynted or the Messiah whereof yee lately heard both the things wherein it chiefly consisteth namely 1. In the ordination and separation of his whole person to the Office of a Mediator 2. In the plentifull effusion of all gifts and graces fit for the Head of the Church as also the differences of his anointing from all the legal anoyntings of their Kings Priests and Prophets they by men hee by God they with externall oyle he with internall they ceremonially in shadow he truely and substantially they to a small measure he beyond all measure they for themselves he for his members Therefore here onely consider that this unction hath speciall reference to his Kingly Office and is so farre here properly considerable II. For the word of relation hee is called his Christ or the Lords Christ. First for distinction for other Kings were anoynted and set up by men but none else thus immediately set up by God Psalmeâ— I have set my King upon Sion Secondly for eminence all other Kings were anoynted as members of the Church though heads of the Civill Kingdome but Christ onely the Lords Christ was anoynted as Head of the Church Thirdly for neare relation they were some of them sonnes of God by adoption but Christ was his owne naturall Sonne and had the divine nature dwelling in him not onely vertually and powerfully as they but substantially and bodily after a sort Col. 2. III. The Attribute here ascribed unto Christ is power The power of Christ is twofold One as he is the Sonne of God Another as the Christ of God The former is potentia creationis which hee hath equall with his Father over all men and creatures The other is potentia conciliationis as hee is Mediator whereby hee ruleth in the Church among Saints who are in speciall subjection and confederacy with him For further explication wee must inquire 1. The difference betweene these two 2. Which of them is here meant The difference betweene these two is
our losses great hee can if hee please double our portion as Iobs at the latter end Also for things pertaining to godlinesse and a better life we have strong consolation in that Christ hath power 1. To merit 2. To apply 3. To uphold 4. To perfect our salvation 1. He hath power to merit our salvation because he hath power to satisfie wholly by himselfe the justice of God without any piecing or patching to his merit and righteousnesse He hath power to pay the whole debt and to cancell the bill and hand writing that was against all Gods chosen He is of power to pardon sinne Mat. 9. 6. that ye may know the Son of man hath power to forgive sinne on earth and he hath power to fulfill the Law 2 He hath all power to apply his merit to our salvation because to this end he did mightily raise himselfe from the dead by his owne power and ascended into heaven that by a powerfull intercession he might apply his sacrifice to the Saints From thence he hath power to send his Spirit to acquaint us with the things given us of God And he is of power to worke faith in the hearts of the Elect whereby they may apply to themselves his whole merit and obedience while they are here below 3 He is of power to uphold our salvation divers wayes By setting us upon a strong foundation and a sure rocke not to be shaken by any contrary power By strengthening us by a powerfull word which is a mighty organ and a strong arme able to save 2 Tim. 3. 16. By comforting and strengthening us by the Spirit of strength and power 2 Tim. 1. 7. God hath not given us the spirit of feare but of power And by making us invincible in suffering Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things by the power of Christ assisting me Yea to saile by hell to heaven and to passe by the crosse to the crowne 4 He is of power to perfect our salvation and hath engaged this power to this purpose 1 Pet. 1. 5 Wee are kept by the power of God to salvation And why First He is of power to make our imperfect duties pleasing to God hiding all the imperfection of them under the mantle of his mercy Secondly He hath a superior power to al enemies that none of them can separate us or plucke us out of his hands for he hath the keyes of hell and death Rev. 1. 18. Thirdly He hath power to lead us through death dust into his owne glory so as we have assurance of a glorious resurrection by the working of his mighty power Phil. 3. 21. Fourthly He hath power not only of preparing mansions for us in his Fathers house but in the last day to descend from heaven to fetch us up to himselfe that wee may be ever with the Lord. Our Ioshua hath power to bring us into Canaan II. Here is a ground of comfort and encouragement in all well-doing and to goe on fearelesly in good duties wherein commonly we have the power of the world against us For why First He is of power to strengthen us of weake to make us strong Of our selves wee are able to doe nothing that we have any power to any thing that is good it is from his power His grace alone is sufficient for us 2 Cor. 12. 9. Without mee yee can doe nothing Secondly He is of power to reward our least labour of love to his name or Saints and all the power of the world cannot hinder him Thirdly He is of power to cleare our innocency to disperse the fogs and clouds of calumnie and reproches and to make our righteousnesse shine as the sunne at noone-day He can and will make our darknesse light Fourthly His power encourageth our prayers because he is able to receive them and doe abundantly above all that we aske or thinke Fifthly He is of power to make us perserve for he is able to perfect his worke and this power shall uphold a poore Christiā if the truth should faile from the Church and Kingdome Object I am weake and oftentimes carelesse in keeping my ground and grace Answ. Quicken up thy selfe become a member of Christ and if thy faith be weake that thou canst not comprehend him his power is strong to comprehend thee yea the weakenes of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1. 25. Object But the enemies are strong and powerfull Jesuites other seducers subtle and sundrie adversaries armed with power grace of times cruelty c. Answ. Yet this power of Christ layes such hold on every true Beleever that no seducer can deceive him nor no power plucke him out of his hands No power can dismember this Head nor reach their graces 6 He that is of power gave us strength when we had none is of power even in death and in our dust when al strength is gone both to keepe faithfully for us what we commit unto him till the last day also to renew us with strength as the Eagles and change our vile bodies to be like his glorious body like it in quality not equality in strength shining agility incorruption fitted as a glorious member to be united to so glorious an head and that for all eternity III Another ground of comfort is that out of this power of Christ we may conclude the stability of the Church which is his Kingdome This power hath upheld the truth these many hundred yeares against the divell the world the Turke Antichrist Popish Princes and forces against tyrants massacres inquisitions torments pouder-plots against false brethren and hypocrites that against all the gates of hell it is not onely taught and preached but triumpheth and conquereth so as all the world may see a mighty power protecting it The Church is an heavie stone to lift at because it hath all Christs power for it and therefore if all nations rise against it they shall be torne in pieces The truth is stronger then all and must prevaile at last it may be smothered as fire under ashes extinct it cannot be so long as Christ who is truth hath power to uphold it The promise is strong that all the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it For as Christ is truth that uttered it so he is Omnipotent to accomplish it This power shall ever keepe this Arke upon the waters from drowning Hitherto of the consolation Instruction also ariseth from this power of Christ and 1 To Ministers that they preach Christ the power of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. that is not onely by preaching to acquaint men with the power of Christ but so to preach as Christs power may be put forth in the Gospell which is the rod of his power and so as to bring in subjects daily under this power of Jesus Christ Preaching a mans selfe will not doe it nor preaching of men will not doe it nor every learned nor every idle discourse of Christ but to speak from the spirit and
in demonstration of the spirit that men may say Christ is here indeed I feele his power quickning counselling comforting c. 2 To Magistrates that they put forth all the power they receive of Christ for the glory of Christ and the good of the Church as knowing First that all powers are of God and therefore for God and his causes Secondly they are his Ministers for the good of the good and them that do well Thirdly those that honour God God will honour and contrarily And who seeth not that those that extraordinarily oppose this power of Christ in his Ordinances God extraordinarily opposeth them they cannot so openly contemne him and despise his word but God as manifestly powres contempt upon them and makes them extraordinary spectacles of disgrace and contempt For how can a man set himselfe against God and prosper Fourthly All the power in Christs owne hand was set against sinne and the divels kingdome what better example to a Christian Magistrate 3 To every Christian three wayes 1 Wee are instructed to submit our selves to the royall power of Christ our King as willing subjects acknowledging him the great Centurion of the world For this was prophesied of us in the New Testament Psal. 110. 3. Thy people shall come willingly at the time of holy assembling And otherwise we shall be worse then wicked angels or the unreasonable creatures who all obey his word as we saw before 2 To depend upon this power of Christ as our soveraigne King who hath all power to do us good Want we heavenly things he hath all power in heaven and for heaven he hath power to call to justifie to sanctifie to beautifie to glorifie Want we heavenly graces and riches he hath treasures of wisedome and grace Want we earthly things he hath all power in earth he can bestow not dews of heaven only but the fat of the earth Isaac had but one blessing but he hath more blessings then one and if he be rich being our husband wee shall not be poore 3 To acknowledge this power of Christ in all our receipts of blessing or comfort 1 Finde wee the worke of conversion and sound grace this is not by free-will or preparations or operations of nature but here is a creating power put forth by Christ a power divine working many miracles making a blind man see a deafe man to heare dispossessing a man of many divels raysing a dead man and quickning him that was dead in trespasses and sins 2 Finde wee not onely our peace made up with God but that now wee are lovingly affected to Gods people for Gods image and goodnesse Here is a fruit of Christs mighty power who hath reconciled the wolfe and the Lambe the child and the cockatrice Esa. 11. 6. 3 Finde we any worke of holinesse begun any presence of grace any beginnings of heavenly motion in faith hope love joy zeale constancy Here is a great power of Christ our head by whose power all these are purchased here is a power making a Blackmoore white as snow 4 Findest thou any strength against sinne any temptation foyled any lust given over and hated which thy nature inclineth unto Oh here is the power of Christ above the power of nature Never was sinne foyled but by Christs power never was any a Conquerour in the spirituall combate but by the presence power and strength of the Generall 5 Finde we our prayers heard our defects covered our duties accepted All this is the vertue and power of Christs prayer and by the merit of his obedience Thus must wee with the Church here sing out the power of the Lords Christ. And this also of the Instruction Next this serves the members of the Church for examination namely to try whether we feele this power of Christ put forth in our selves else all is unprofitable and uncomfortable to us Phil. 3. 10. the Apostle counts all other knowledge and priviledges but losse and dung in respect of knowing in himselfe the vertue and power of Christs death and resurrection This is more then to heare of Christ of his life and doctrine of his death and passion It is a lively feeling in his owne soule the power and vertue of his death in the death of sinne and of his resurrection in rising from the grave of sinne This is more then to preach of Christs life and death and goeth beyond all eloquent discourses of the actions and passions of Christ if the Preacher as too many onely know the vertue of Christs death as the Physitian knows the vertues of herbes and simples onely by his reading or relation without his owne experience This knowledge of the power and grace of this Salomon must be like the knowledge of the Queene of Sheba 1 King 10. 7. It was a true word which I heard of thy sayings and wisdome howbeit I beleeved not this report till I came and have seene it with mine eyes neither can halfe the power and glory of Christ be attained by reading or report except our selves by inward feeling and experience come to discerne it That is an happie knowledge of the power of Christ not which is speculative or discoursive but which is experimentall such as the Samaritans Ioh. 4. 42. They say to the Woman Now we beleeve not for thy relation but because our selves have seene Him Quest. How may I discerne the power of Christ in my selfe Answ. It may be discerned by foure special marks or evidences I By the power of the word which is his powerfull arme to salvation So much as thou findest the power of the word so much of the power of Christ mayest thou discerne in thy selfe Now examine 1 Hast thou found the word commanding light out of darknesse in thy soule as in the first creation hath Gods powerfull word created a new saving light in thee that whereas thou wast blind now thou art sure thou seest the face of God in Jesus Christ reconciled unto thee 2 Hath the word in the Ministery beene a powerfull voice of Christ calling thee as Lazarus out of the grave where thou wast by nature under the dominion of death by sin hath it brought in a new life of God and grace What word besides the Omnipotent word of Christ can raise a dead man If the word of God hath inspired a new breath of the Spirit and wrought heavenly motions in thee thou mayest plainly see the power of Christ in thy selfe 3 Hath the word beene powerfull as a mighty engine to cast downe high and strong holds and bring every thing unto the subjection of Christ hath it taken thy highest holds and now sitteth as a Commander there If it have an inward command the understanding conceiveth and is convinced in the certainty of things which be contrary to nature and sense it will shut the owne eyes and yeild to things foolish and absurd to reason The will easily denyeth it selfe worldly wisdome reason profits pleasures liberty and life
they brew and digest the bread of affliction they prepared for others 2 Let us acknowledge with much thankfulnesse the truth of this prophesie Wee have seene the earth drinke up many floods cast out of the dragons mouth by Antichristian tyranny sufficiently strong and deepe to have carried her quite away Among many instances I will record two in fresh memory and not farre off In the yeare 1521. when Luther had appeared before Caesar at Wormes to give account of his doctrine and doings what a mighty flood issued out of the mouth of the dragon which in the Imperial edicts threatned nothing but death and bloodshed against the Professors of the Gospell and this flood like Danubius ranne through all Germany But now see how the earth drunke up the flood Shortly after arose an exceeding great trouble in Spaine to the pacifying of which the Emperour went in person and so the Professors of the Gospell had a little breathing till the States of the Empire assembled at Norinburge got those cruell Edicts mitigated and qualified to the great prosperity of the Gospell The other in our owne Kingdome in the dayes and memory of our Fathers When in the raigne of Queene Mary many were carryed away with that raging and high-swelling flood of the sixe Articles and the enemies were devising not to strike off the branches onely but as one perswaded to strike at the root in cutting off the then Lady Elizabeth being then in prisonand very unlike ever to get out of their bloody hands now see how the Lord caused the earth to helpe his Church for who was the meanes to keepe them off her and her head on her shoulders but King Philip of Spaine an earthly Idolater who had no reason but to bee a greater enemy to her than her sister or that state Now the earth dranke up the flood and a few moneths set that happy Lady and the Church and Kingdome by her in such glory and prosperity as ancient ages had never seene and future ages perhaps both wish and admire 3. In the present tryals and persecutions of the Church when wee see the floods swell even almost over her head and Antichristian Armies every where gathered and carry afore them whole Provinces and Churches be not dismayed but stand still and see the Lords salvation he will appoint one meanes or other to swallow up all these floods as here hee commanded the earth to â—each her helping hand both to take in and harbour the Lords exiles in the secret chambers of her desert Mountaines and Caves as also to drinke in the dangers for them Nay more the Lord who causeth the earth to helpe the woman will in and by these persecutions helpe up his Church and truth Act. 8. 1. The wicked men of earth raise great persecution against the Disciples at Jerusalem and scatter them but they being scattered and dispersed spread the Gospell through all the Regions of Iudea and Samaria In the story of the Waldenses is reported that the banishing of Waldo his followers out of LyoÌ„s was a means which God used to spread the doctrine of the Gospel in the darkest times of Antichrist almost over all Europe Thus the Lord bringeth light out of darknesse to his Church the earth shall not bury the truth but spread it neither shall these Antichristian floods drowne the woman but shall onely water her furrows And let the Church be instant with the Lord he wil in the end of these businesses shew he hath a reach beyond all Actors and lookers on the wrath of men shal turn to his praise themselves shal drink the rivers of blood which they intend against the woman and shall root themselves out that the Gospell which they fight against may finde footing in the most desolate Popish Countries and the time and their pride hasteneth it Let us alwayes set these props under our faith to support us through our tryals whether wee see meanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is enough to see the power and faithfulnesse of God who can and rather than faâ—â—e will worke the Saints delivery by unknowne and even by contrary meanes Waite upon the Word If hee seeme not to regard thee in danger awake him by thy prayers hee may delay helpe a while but he cannot dehy thee helpe but hee must deny himselfe but either hee will lead thee out by preventing the danger or helpe thee through it and make thee more then a Conquerour in it by a conquered death 4. As the Church abroad is tryed and in resistance of the floods of violence and lies under the fire and sword of the enemy so the dragon ceaseth not amongst us in our peace to cast out such floods as hee can of scandalls slanders and reproaches of Gods people against which wee must foâ—tifie our selves with assurance that all these floods shall be drunke up and dryed up also for us For 1. Our Head is the truth and as strength of truth prevailed in his owne person and rose againe from underground so it shall in all his members by his mighty power 2. Gods promise is to bring forth our righteousnesse as the light even as a bright morning comes after a sad night of black darknesse 3. Gods providence watcheth as well the names and reputation of the Saints as their persons because as their persons are nearely joyned to Christ so are their names nearely linked to his and their honour is his as their reproach is his Heb. 13. 13. 4. Looke upon the unknowne meanes used by God to drinke in these floods Sometime from heaven The Angell turnes away the flood of scandall which had like to have drowned the Virgin while Ioseph was thinking to put her away Mat. 1. 20. Feare not to take her Sometime the earth as here rather than faile shall drinke it up The Judge shall pronounce Christ innocent Saul shall proclaime Davids innocency 1 Sam. 24. 18. Thou art more righteous than I. Lastly though truth and innocency may bee clouded a long time yet it shall bee disclosed and time the mother of truth shall dry up and drinke in all wicked accusation when all secrets shall bee disclosed as well for the opening of innocency as the shutting of the mouth of guiltinesse Vers. 17. Then the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make warre with the remnant of her seed which keepe the Commandements of God and have the testimony of Iesus Christ. THE dragon being againe defeated of his purpose in drowning the woman seeth that hee cannot hurt her yet he cannot but hate her the more Hee cannot meet with her to doe the mischleâ—â— that he would for she is out of sight neither can the floods cast out of his mouth reach her for shee is safe and hid and the earth shall drinke it for her yet hee abates not of his wrath against her and for the wrath hee beares to her hee goes and makes warre with her issue described here