they fall foul one upon another cutting themselves with Knives and Lances till the blood gush out upon them these are the heats of Brethren in iniquity a friendship turned to the worst of hatred till amongst them many times blood touch blood whereas that zeal which conerns it self for God and for his Glory is the peaceable fruit of Righteousness it is a coal brought by the Ministration of Cherubims and Seraphins those Spirits that are a flame of Fire with which both mouth and lips being touched all sin is purged away and the zeal because Permanent and Constant is therefore Good Good a word that speaks all perfection as much as finite Beings are capable of it is what the B. Apostle recommends to the Galatians in the Text after he had given them an account in the verse preceding of the Temper of their Seducers a description of their wicked Zeal to pervert them from the Faith he would not have the Galatians in the last to abate any thing of their Christian Fervours for God and for his Truth It is God that answereth by fire in them against their opposers and Gainsayers and therefore let him be God this fire let it be preserved alive yea though St. Paul be absent from them For it is good to be zealously affected alwaies in a good thing and not only when I who have authority and a jurisdiction over you am present with you but out of love to the thing it self when in my care of the other Churches I have occasion to withdraw and to be absent from you In the words which are the commendation of a Pious and a holy Zeal we have these two Parts as I have before mentioned 1. Approbatio ipsa The Approbation it self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is good to be zealous 2ly Ratio Approbandi The reason of this Approbation which is Three-fold First Ab Objecto From the Object of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it must be in a good thing Secondly Ab Habitu From the Habit which must be as unlimited as the Object is universally good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it must be always Thirdly Ab Occasione From the Occasion of expressing it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not only when I your Apostle am present with you First The scope of the Text being such a Zeal commended to us as is it self a Moderation that is a Medium between luke-warm indifference and hot-headed Phrenzey in the general it is laid down as the Foundation of all That it is good to be Zealous Zeal is many times the Product of a true Repentance 2 Cor. 7.11 In that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what Zeal certainly then it is not alwayes it self to be repented of nay it was the Command of him who sat in the midst of the Seven Golden Candlesticks whose eyes were as a flame of Fire and his feet like unto fine Brass as if they burned in a furnace unto the Church of Laodicea that Church which was neither hot nor cold Rev. 3.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be thou zealous and Repent Zeal is like the Element to which it is often compared a good Servant though a bad Master a Good Servant when in subjection to in subordination with that obedience which we are to pay unto our God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When we are fervent in Spirit serving the Lord but a Bad Master when it rules not only in us but over us transporting us so much that we forget either our Duty to God or our Charity to our Brother As bad as some may esteem of Zeal who care not to put themselves to over-much trouble for God and for his service who consult their own ease and quiet so much that they are not sollicitous what becomes of the outward Professions the publick attestations of Holiness and Piety who are for doing their own business but nothing else let the World go how it will they are not concerned so they may be permitted a lazy retiredness and unusefull privacy yet zeal is Good when it walks abroad to be seen of men when it is not a candle under a bushel but on the house top or set upon a hill the holy hill of Sion that all the Passengers may behold it and be directed by it it is transcendently Good and that in the three common acceptions of Goodness jucundum honestum utile it is a pleasant Good it is honest and of good report it is every way profitable First Zeal is Good that is it is bonum jucundum it is a pleasant good though it be the exerting of our passions there is great complacency and satisfaction in it whilst we are musing the Fire burns and we have no rest till at last we speak with our tongues the result of it is great peace to a mans Conscience when at any time he supposes that he has disburdened his Soul in the cause of God it is a comfortable reflection upon a spiritual and a holy magnanimity when a man is satisfied with himself that he is not afraid or ashamed to speak and write his mind and to act according to an honest Principle maugre all opposition and discouragement when it is rightly qualified it is an excellent pre-requisite disposing a man to be a resolute Confessour or a joyful Martyr it fits a man to suffer with great joy and gladness the spoiling of his goods the loss of his life any thing rather then make shipwrack of his faith and of a good Conscience It is not requisite therefore that a true zealot should be an ill-natured person one that is contented with any thing rather then his present state and condition of life it is not like the peevishness of Jobs wife upbraiding its self with its own integrity as if we had served our God for nought and washed our hands in innocency to no purpose therefore upon every little and light affliction we must presently curse God and die neither is it like the fretting and fuming of Jonas displeased because God is gratious because the sentence of judgment against the evil works of the sons of men is not executed speedily therefore Jonas thinks that he does well to be angry even unto death No there are the comforts of life in the heats of a holy zeal and that life is the light of God Nay further yet This Supererogating grace I want a name for it it is somthing more then Love the surplusage of it not by it self a distinct vertue for once therefore allow me the expression I say this Supererogating grace is not onely a pleasant good that is warmth and refreshment Peace that passeth all understanding to the pious soul where it is seated but it is likewise comfort and encouragement unto others how many have taken fire at such heats as these to see a Martyr die with courage and resolution was the great inducement for others chearfully to embrace the same flames the Phoenix providing
have kindled this shall you have of my hand you shall lie down in sorrow Would we examine and try our own or the spirits of others whether they be of God or no the Word of the Lord is sharp and piercing it divides betwixt the marrow and the bones it searcheth out the depths and secrets of the heart That fire cannot be a flame of holy incense to consume the Sacrifice and to render it acceptable which has no regard to the Holy Oracle of God Here that zeal is reproveable which spends it self either in decrying the sacred Scriptures as useless or in preverting the Scriptures making them of private interpretation to speak what they never intended such who wrest them to their own destruction First They that decry the Scriptures as useless since we are now not to be directed by a line or by precept but we are all to be taught of God of this sort are they who think themselves above Ordinances waiting only for some secret instincts some impetuous raptures to carry them they know not whither to do they know not what such who have laid aside the first Principles of Godliness they are not to be dealt with you shall never argue them into a better temper so long as this melancholy dumpish humour doth transport them they have this still for a refuge that they are not free to hear or to answer you But as for our selves that we be not led away by the errour of these wicked men it may be urged and I cannot urge it too often the Articles of our Creed into which we were baptized that as in our Profession we do believe the Holy Ghost to be the Lord and giver of Life and so a spirit of illumination unto the Sons of Men so we do believe that he the same Spirit spake by the Prophets He the same Spirit does assist in the Communion of Saints and therefore we are not to neglect the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is Secondly As for that other sort who have made themselves the only perpetual Dictators in Religion whose humour is the only Light they have for the interpretation of the Scripture who make the Scripture to be of a private interpretation speaking what it never intended who have against the continued practices of Christianity in all ages found out a new clew of thread to extricate themselves and others out of some Labyrinths of controversie of their own devising and do thus betray the simple and ignorant into not onely foolish but dangerous errors these men act as if they had forgot those Scriptures which they pretend for to interpret those that tell us that the Spirits of the Prophets must be subject to the Prophets especially when they are met together in a holy Communion They who would take heed to a sure word of Prophesie must know this first of all 2 Pet. 1.20 That no Prophesies of Scripture are of private interpretation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of a mans conceited enthusiastical and sudden explication 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 St. Mar. 4.34 It was the onely prerogative of Christ himself when he was alone for to interpret but as to us the word of Prophesie is not thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the will of man we must take in along with us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Analogy of our Common Faith and the sacred authority of the Catholick Church as knowing that whatsoever seemed good unto the Holy Ghost as it is revealed in the word seemed good likewise to the same Spirit as it is explained by the Church and proposed to those who will receive the truth in the love of it to be matter for their Faith wherefore the Scripture hath said I mean St. Paul in whose writings there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some things hard to be understood which the Pride and Tyranny of the Church of Rome on the one hand and the unstable peevishness of our Classical Brethren from their Consistory on the other have wrested two contrary ways yet between them both the word of God abideth sure to wit that Scripture which refers us to an Interpreter for all the rest 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of the Living God in all things necessary to salvation as the words following do imply is the onely pillar and ground of truth and then he adds the fundamental articles of our Christian faith without controversie great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels c. That zeal then is truly commendable just holy and good which is a Zeal according to the Scriptures a contention for the Faith of God in them revealed as they are by the Church delivered to the Saints which whilst it doth coufess the Holy Ghost to rule in the hearts of all Believers does not too hastily pass over the two next Articles of our Christian Faith in which we also do believe a Holy Catholick Church and in the Vnity of that Church do joyn with the Communion of Saints such a Zeal as this is good that is guided by a good rule by the word of God as it is proposed and said open by the Church to be a perfect Canon an exact prescription to tell us what ought to be our Faith and to guide us in our manners in all holy Conversation and Godliness Secondly Zeal is good in Relation to the Object of it if it be managed upon a good matter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon a good thing which bears its due proportion to that rule This is that which St. Paul tells us is the result of the Grace of God bringing salvation and appearing unto all Tit. 2.14 In that our Saviour gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works The people are then peculiar and the zeal is singular when by the blood of Christ we are cleansed from all iniquity so that our works are good Having once submitted our selves to the obedience of Faith and publickly owned it in the Unity of the Church every man has so far a Judgment of private Discretion and possibly not in many cases besides as to examine his own Actions by that Rule of Righteousness which he hath received and the rectitude of which he must not in the least dispute Saul forgot himself and God also when in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah he slew the Gibeonites 2 Sam. 21.2 These Gibeonites though but hewers of wood and drawers of water in the sanctuary were to be preserved because of the Oath of God Joshuah 9.3 17. They who were for exterpating root and branch amongst us though they had formerly given up their names to God and to his Church in their Promissory Subscriptions that they would conform to and not endeavour the alteration of the Religion established and yet after all this in their zeal unto the people did lift up
request laying that and my self at the feet of Majesty in the behalf of the place from whence I came and for which I now serve Let not us the little children of the Prophets in the very Schools of the Prophets be exposed to the obstinate perverseness of ignorance and sedition Aaron's Mouth is opened for Moses to the People to declare his Authority as from God to be Sacred and Inviolable that he is not subject to Man nor the sons of men for any of his actions but to his own Master he must stand or fall even to God alone who hath appointed him it is yet open for Moses at the Mercy-seat before the holy Altar that he may be filled with Grace Wisdom and Vnderstanding in the execution of Justice and the maintenance of Truth And what may Aaron humbly expect in return from Moses nay what does the Lord God require of him but that Moses should be as God to secure unto God his Oblation the Morning and the Evening Sacrifice never to cease And is not all this for the Lord's sake for the Lord who hath preserved the Rod of Moses in strength and honour who hath confirmed his Blessing upon Aaron in that his Rod also hath budded and bloomed Blossoms and brought forth Almonds the fruits of Joy and Peace God hath as we do every day thankfully Commemorate it made the Horn of David though once cut down to flourish and sprout forth again he hath ordained a Lamp and a Light for his Anointed a Lamp from out of the Sanctuary to guide him in the ways of Peace and Truth that so he dash not his foot against any stone of stumbling which Schism and Rebellion may lay in his way he hath restored Majesty the Excellency of Majesty to his Prince He hath renewed Beauty the Beauties of Holiness to his Priests and we hope and pray that he hath given and will continue security the Certainty of Defence unto Both Oh that the people therefore would in the fear of God Honour the King and Reverence his Priests that so there may be a further lengthning of our tranquillity neither shall our iniquity our froward peevish iniquity be our utter ruine in vain shall we pretend Loyalty to Moses the Servant of the Lord if we vex Aaron the Saint of God What shall we quarrel at those who bring and at that Administration which doth dispence the Gospel of everlasting Peace How can we thus expect to be at peace amongst our selves May then the Throne be established in Righteousness even upon the Mount of God and may the Mount of God be guarded by the glorious and sure defence of Angels because of the Throne of him who is as God which is upon it thus as upon a Rock the Rock of Ages shall Church and Kingdom be built * nec Portae Gehennae nec Genevae as once by a happy mistake out of the vulgar that Text was read neither the Gates of Hell nor the Dark close designs of Schism and Sedition shall ever be able to prevail against them * In Gebennico lacu Mendum Typographi esi in Gehennico lacu Namque à Gehenna quid Gebenna dissidet Pia Hilaria Angel Gaz. impres Lond. pag. 68. I conclude all with those Pathetical Petitions which our holy Church hath put into our Mouths for better I cannot use and God accept them from the bottom of all our hearts O Lord Save the King And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee Endue thy Ministers whether of Justice in the State or Holiness in the Church with Righteousness And so shalt thou make thy chosen people joyful Da pacem in diebus nostris Give Peace in our time O Lord For whether it be against open violence and force offered from abroad or against secret Treachery and privy Conspiracy fomented at home whether against professed Enemies or meerly pretending Friends the worst of Enemies there is no other fighteth for us but only Thou O God To this onely wise God who is alone able to make us understand our own happiness by keeping us in the strict and solemn observance of Vniformity at Vnity amongst our selves that so to Prince Priests and People there may be but One heart and One mind in the Fear of him in Love and Duty to one another To the Author of our Peace and of every good and perfect gift amongst us To Father Son and Holy Ghost Three Persons and One God be ascribed of us of all Angels and all men The Kingdom the Power and the Glory Dominion and Adoration World without end Amen SOLOMONS PORCH frequented by the APOSTLES Act. 5. part of the 12 13 14. verses being a part of the Epistle for St. Bortholomew's day 12. And by the hands of the Apostles were many signes and wonders wrought among the people and they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch 13. And of the rest durst no man joyn himself to them but the people magnified them 14. And Believers were the more added to the Lord multitudes both of men and women OF St. Bartholomew the Apostle at this â—ime to be commemorated St. Mat. 10.3 St. Mar. 3.18 St. Luk. 6.14 we read but little in holy Scripture only his name three or four times mentioned to wit that he was numbered with the twelve Apostles and so ordained by Christ himself to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom even Repentance and Remission of sins in the name of Jesus unto all nations beginning at Jerusalem Accordingly we find Him with the rest Act. 1.13 taking his part of that Ministry and Apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell concontinuing with them in prayer and supplication and with them also waiting for the Promise of the Father till they should be endued with farther power from on high and so upon the whole it is on all hands believed that this Apostle was unto the last a faithful witness of Jesus and of his Resurrection Upon the consideration of all which our Holy Mother the Church of England in this Festival has little or no regard to Legendary Fictions what might be guessed either of this Apostles person or of his conversation from his Name Whither he were not of noble extraction the Son of Ptolemy or as some will have it like Moses of old a Prophet so he an Apostle Filius aquae ductus sive aquae suspensae taken up and drawn out of the waters into which being cast the stream retired and gave back nec potuit extingui quin amnem repressit as the Historian Lucius Florus writes of Romulus he could not be drowned for he did as it were force the waters from him nec adiri usque ad justi cursum poterat amnis neither at this time could the flowing stream reach unto its wonted height Also what might be said of his success in his Ministery where and unto whom he preached the Gospel quae regio in terris For what nation under heaven was he reserved to be from
satisfaction and Benefit Yea and this does intimate unto us the great advantage of solemn and regular institutions in the Church in that the meannest and the plainest persons may joyn in its communion each man particularly reflecting upon his own circumstances may beforehand resolve and apply such and such particular passages in Divine Services to the like particular emergency in himself and so literally prepare himself for the worship of his God according to the preparations of his Sanctuary such Petitions as these are the Prayers of Faith the Church does thus receive a liberal addition but the Belief is in the Lord we may with the more confidence expect acceptance when we make our humble requests in the voice of the Church Prayers which were certainly composed by the assistance of the Holy Ghost for these two Articles in our Creed follow one on the other the Holy Ghost and the Holy Church this is the best and most effectual Praying by the Spirit when Publick Prayers are in Faith and Piety referred to private necessities he that has Faith has it to himself and therefore for himself each one says I Believe but when we pray it is to be with a Publick Spirit in regard to a whole Community and therefore Christ has taught us to say Our Father Vis unita fortior both the Solemnity as of God and the whole assembly as before him do contribute much to the intensness and vehemency of the Devotion it is thus an effectual fervent Prayer because in and by the Church and so the greater are the praises ascribed unto God amongst the Multitudes Which is the Third instance of this Great Benefit at this present Ecclesiastical Dispensation the Benefit Great because diffusive the Redemption pretious because intimated that it might be Universal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Believers added to the Lord in the Community of the Church were Multitudes Multitudes and those in a Communion together with one accord how were the Solemnities in Solomons Porch both glorious and efficacious this was the Gospels great energy at the first in that it gained Proselytes unto its profession by Multitudes But alas this has of later years been the Epidemical Degeneracy in the Christian world in that our Religion looses of its followers even to a Popular Backsliding Is it not sad to reflect upon it that the Church should be almost reduced to a necessity of humouring the Multitude against its own Communion whereas external unity was wont to be effectual in the hearts of all how many soever they were that saw it that they should seek after it And yet this is Visible beit in reality or in strife their number is great who by Faith in the Lord are added to the Church and therefore though we cannot suppose the Multitudes here to be so distinguished yet the usual account given us of the Outward Church is that the Multitudes in its Communion are of two sorts either formal Professors or sincere true Believers and both these do belong to Christs Visible Body the Tares will multiply together with the good Corn untill the harvest one and the same Field incloseth both they are not separated till that which proves best is fit for the Granary in the mean time it is not for man to presume to make a difference so the Church increase by Multitudes we are therein to rejoyce and in our joy to hide even a Multitude of Sins let every one examine his own heart whether he experience to a spiritual and a holy advantage the comfortable effect of that Communion under which he lives and so as to the Multitudes a judgment of Charity will in the best sense and to very good purpose comprehend them all whatsoever may be the Election of grace this is sure we are not to be censorious in reference to the present or future state of any since the seal of that Election is that God onely knows who are his however for our comfort with him there is no respect of persons of every Age and of every sex whosoever worketh righteousness is accepted with him the Multitudes seem to imply all the Young and Old high and low One with another but more particularly this General Division of Mankind is specified to shew that the whole race is included Which is the Fourth Instance of a great Benefit in this present Dispensation there was no difference in relation unto Sex in Christ Jesus it is neither Male nor Female but a New Creature even the weaker Vessel has here its equal honour and proportionable too in its number 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there were Multitudes as of Men so of Women of honourable and vertuous Women and of holy Men not a few Vtriusque sexus fit mentio quia in utroque judicium sacrilegii Mention is here made of both sexes because that Gods judgment against the sin of Sacrilege was exerted upon both Ananias and his Wife were alike consenting to the sin and they share alike in the dreadful punishment that hence both Men and Women be fore-warned that they should be as the Apostle directs Gal. 3.28 As Male and Female all one in not against Christ Jesus Considering in the Text both Sexes met together in a holy Communion their faith increased with the increase of God I might observe how that schism and separation like the Devil of old begins with a Division even upon this account first surprising and shattering the weaker Vessel Women who because of their tender apprehensions and their weaker judgments do quickly embrace any thing that is offered them in reference to a future state are many times seduced into a mistake Act. 13.50 even the Devotion of honourable Women was abused by the Jews unto errour they raising a persecution against St. Paul by this means whom they could easily perswade that in so doing they did God good service I would not here speak without a witness what I urge is from the Scripture 2 Tim. 3.6 Of this sort are they who creep into houses and lead captive silly women who are ever learning and because thus deceived they never come to the knowledge of the Truth But this is not as Men and Women professing Godliness God from the begining intended that they should be meet helps to each other not only in the circumstances of humane life but also of Divine and Religious worship and shall they act the Devils part one against another what must they seduce and betray and that of all things in Gods service What is the Wife in the Bosome a Serpent there or is the Man at her right hand a Lion in the way to devour No may they live together as becometh holiness the one in love honour and prudence the other in silence and obedience both together in godliness and sobriety which have the Blessing of this life and of that which is to come let us all therefore both Men and Women without designes upon each other as One in the Lord chuse those things
which are good and profitable and which tend to peace Which is the Fifth and last Instance of the great Benefit here in the Text unto the whole Community from the present Dispensation and that once again yet another reflection upon the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the more or the rather was this great addition made to the Church all this because of what they saw and what they heard which denotes even in the Multitudes in the Women as well as in the Men an act of their free choice upon a most sober and mature deliberation Here was no violence at all offered upon their faculties though it was the terrour of the Lord in a most dreadful judgment yet it kindly perswades them the Signes and Wonders were both Miraculous and Convincing the solemn and holy Convention because Beautiful therefore of it self desireable the Miracles of Providence though they were surpassing yet they were clear and manifest so that at this time as at all others God drew the People unto himself with the cords of a Man that so whilst he drew they might of themselves run after him they were a willing People though it was a day of power they saw what was done they heard what was spoken and throughout they were convinced of all so that it was here an act both of their judgement and their reason in that they did deliver themselves up unto the obedience of Faith Believers were the more or the rather added to the Lord Multitudes of men and women I need not neither have I time to prosecute it as I should here urge that God works with us and within us in order to salvation as we are men and reasonable creatures he proposeth everlasting happiness to us in his Word or by his Church as to our free voluntary choice and whilst he does kindly allure us he doth at the same time leave us in the hand of our own counsel See I have set before you Fire and Water Blessing and a Curse Life and Death chuse you whether you will says God by his Prophet Deu. 30.19 But I am confined both by the time and the Text that I cannot descant so closely as I might upon this Probleme which is indeed too much controverted At present I take it for granted that which I suppose every one experienceth upon consulting his own thoughts that we are all of us as men endued with reason free sreatures and voluntary Agents and that we would do good but evil is present with us because we are not in our judgments or to our senses sufficiently convinced as we might of what is best And therefore since the Design of all that hitherto is inferred from this Text is to promote Vnity and Vniformity amongst Brethren professing Godliness which is here the Holy solemnity The Apostles with the Primitive Christians all with one accord in a holy Place and upon this their persons reverenced the Word of Life was magnified it did not return in vain but accomplished the work for which it was sent for the Benefit was great and exceeding prosperous for a parting now to this subject so much insisted on in one word fain I would perswade shall we suffer the word of exhortation Be entreated to frequent Solomons Porch the Author because of that August solemnity and Ministration that is in it we should with David be glad to go up unto the House chuse to be a Door-keeper in the Porch to wait at the Gates of Wisdom rather than assemble amidst the Congregations of the wicked Tell me says the Spouse to Christ Cant. 1.7 where thou feedest where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon and this was her kind expostulation Why should I be as one that turneth aside from the flocks of thy Companions our Saviour there feedeth where he is himself fed upon the flocks are there together yea and at rest and that at noon Separation is a work of Darkness chuseth to it self the night To turn aside is to be as one Vae soli alone and woe to him that is alone this the greatest both sin and misery to forsake those flocks which in love and Vnity are companions Behold then may the Separatists of our Age see that I have set before them Fire and Water Blessing and a Curse Life and Death Chuse they whether they will Fire not a strange fire but that of the Sanctuary a pure and bright flame of Love upon Gods Altar Water alas the waters are troubled schism and sedition is a tempestuous sea casting forth mire and dirt Blessing even that which is out of Sion good luck and Prosperity out of the House of the Lord A Curse none more bitter to be cut off from the Congregation what will our Schismaticks thus invade the Priests Office will they excommunicate themselves and deliver themselves up to Satan shall God by his Prophet call unto them and say stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the old way the good way because the old way and amidst all our tumblings and tossings from one post to another we cannot find a better Shall God command peremptorily that we walk in these ways with a promise of rest unto our souls for out of such paths there is nothing but disorder and disquietude and shall we return that answer which the Jews did Jer. 6.16 But they said we will not walk therein Thus the Rebells against their settled and fixed administration of old Korah and his Accomplices Numb 14.2 Moses called them to the Congregation and they said We will not come up they turned their backs to the Tabernacle Satan therefore claimed them for his Synagogue and soon took possession of them Hell from beneath was moved to meet them at their coming The Earth opened her Mouth and they went down alive into the Pit and therefore yet once more may the Sons of Belial who cast off every yoke see this day set before them Life and Death and that in the utmost extremity in the eternity of both Life a Life of of Grace here in order to glory hereafter and still out of Sion goes forth this Blessing the Promise of Life for evermore Christ with whom are the words of eternal Life is not to be found as I must again and again inculcate in the Wilderness or in the secret Chamber but in Solomons Porch by the Chair of Moses not in the Stool of Wickedness or in the Seat of the Scornful he is head of all things to his Church in the Communion of which alone we expect salvation without there is nothing but sin sin that excludes from pardon the wages of which is Death Solomon hath in a Proverb told us the misery of those who turn aside from his Porch The Man that wandreth out of the way out of the beaten path of understanding shall fall into the Congregation of the Dead And now let our Schismaticks chuse for themselves I have in this though a private Person yet with