delight ver 47. And I will delight my self in thy commandments which I have loved ver 70. Their heart is as fat as grease but I delight in thy law So Paul Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the law of God in the inward man There was joy in the whole City when Christ was Preached Acts 8. 8. Joy in the Eunuch converted Joy in the Jaylor Acts 16. 34. And when he had brought them into his hâ—use he set meat before them and rejoyced believing in God with all his house Great joy in rearing the material Temple great joy at the bringing of the Ark and celebration of the Passover And such joy and delight is in the hearts of all Gods people They do not onely perform duties but delight in them As a man drinks when he 's dry eats when he 's hungry and delights in meat and drink so it 's the meat and drink of the Saints to do the will of God 3. Wee 'l survey the particular ways of godliness and see what cause of delight there 's in them The ways of Wisdom are either the ways of Gods Ordinances or ways of exercise of the Graces of the Spirit or ways of obedience to the Commandments These are all ways of Divine Wisdom and Godlinesse and all these ways are top full of delight and pleasure 1. The ways of Gods Ordinances are ways of pleasure Every Ordinance is a pleasant sweet and delightful Ordinance 1. The Word is a sweet Ordinance Psal 119. 103. How sweet 1. The word is a sweet Ordinance are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter then honey to my mouth It was his comfort in all afflictions Psal 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickned me Psal 19. 7 8 9 10 11. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple The statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes The fear of the Lord is clean enduring for ever the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether more to be desired are they then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then the hâ—ney or the honey comb Moreover by them is thy servant warned and in kâ—eping of thâ—m there is great reward God speaks to us in his Word by the mouth of his Messengers O what sweetness doth God communicate to the soul out of this Ordinance Therefore Mary chose the better part Luke 10. 42. You may read her practice ver 39. She sat at Jesus feet and heard his Word Prov. 8. 34. Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my dores 2. Prayer is a sweet Ordinance The Saints have conference with 2. Prayer is a sweet Ordinance God and feel much sweetness and delight coming in Therefore Prayer is called incense Lev. 16. 12. And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small and bring it within the vail Numb 16. 46. And Moses said to Aaron Take a censer and put fire therein from off the altar and put on incense and go quickly and make an atonement Psal 141. 2. Let my prayer be set before thee as incense and the lifting up of mine hands an evening sacrifice Rev. 8. 3 4. And another angel came and stood at the altar having a golden censer and there was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne And the smoak of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints ascended Solatium â—st habere cui pectus aperias Ambr. up before God out of the angels hand Hannah after all her tears felt joy coming in and she was no more sad 1 Sam. 1. 18. When we are in great afflictions we account it matter of comfort to have a friend to whom we may ease our selves by way of communicating our condition and unbosoming our selves to him These are such times when we can trust no person never so near nor dear Micah 7. 6 7. For the son dishonoreth the father the daughter riseth up against her mother the daughter in law against her mother in law a mans enemies are the men of his own house Therefore I will look unto the Lord I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will hear me Yet at all times we may goe to God unbosom our selves to him make our requests known unto him in the name of Christ And though riches forsake thee and friends forsake thee yet all 's abundantly recompensed in this sweet promise Heb. 13. 5. Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee VVhatever thou wantest yet if thou wantest not a heart to pray thou wilt finde comfort The children of God would not loose the benefit of their Prayers nor a good look from Christ smiling upon them in answer to their Prayers for all the Joys and Delights in the Universe 3. The Sacraments are sweet delightful Ordinances For the Sacrament 3. The Sacraments are sweet Ordinances of initiation Baptism it 's a comfort to be admitted one of Christs Family 'T is that which Theodosius preferred before his Empire But the fruit of this joy and comfort will appear when God hath regenerated thee and made thee a new Creature Titus 3. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghâ—st Now compare this Sacrament of Baptism with Circumcision and we may see how much God indulgeth us under the Gospel That was a hard and irksome service in cutting away the fore-skin from the flesh Simeon and Levi overcame the Sichemites when they were sore Now Baptism is far easier the dipping or sprinkling in Water More delight and pleasantness was in this Ordinance then that Then for the Lords Supper This is a spiritual Banquet a Feast of fat things such as is promised Isa 25. 6. And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wines on lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined 'T is a sealing Ordinance The word writes the evidence fair Prayer prevails with God for a sight of it The Sacrament comes and sets a seal to it and when there 's such a sealing day then salvation is come unto thy soul And these Ordinances must needs be full of delight and consolation which are the means of our eternal salvation 3. As the Ordinances are full of delight so are all the Graces of 3. All the Graces of the Spirit are sweet Ordinances Gods spirit Cant.
but God will send it again to avenge the Jer. 6. 8. quarrel of a broken Covenant My advice from God to you is Be thou instructed O Jerusalem lest my soul depart from thee lest I make thâ—e Amos 4. 12. desolate and a land not inhabited Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel and because I will do thus unto thee prepare to meet thy God O Israel Gather your selves together yea gather together O nation not Zeph. 2. 1 2. 3. desired before the Decree bring forth before the day pass as the chaff before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon yoú before the day of the Lords anger come upon you Seek ye the Lord all the meek of the earth which have wrought his judgement seek righteousness seek meekness it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger And for a close of all The last Use is a Word of comfort to a waiting use 4. For Consolation people Mercy will be the portion of a waiting believing people And when it comes it will be good measure full press'd and running over It will abundantly make amends for all thy waiting for it Oh then confirm the weak hands and strengthen the feeble knees Learn to live by Faith in dying times Whatever thou loosest whether voluntarily or compulsorily let not go thy Faith Wait patiently and silently under dark Visions at the end the Vision shall speak and not lie God is a God of Infallibility and Eternall truth and will not falsifie his promises Though it tarry and thou hast waited long yet wait a little longer it shall come and will not tarry And it will be an exceeding comfort to the Saints when after long waiting for a mercy they can say by happy experience Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Isa 25. 9. Establishment of Justice Vnfolded in an Assise Sermon Preacht at St. Mary's OXON Upon Amos 5. 15. Hate the evil and love the good and establish Judgement in the gate It may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph AS in Water face answereth face So the Text suits Serm. 7. At St. Mary's Oxon. March 1. 1649. with the solemnity of the day It is a word in due season which I am resolved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without fear or flattery to apply particularly to your consciences as a word both seasonably to be Preacht and profitably to be learnt The Lord make it as profitable to you as it is seasonable for you My Prophet Amos was one of those Prophets which we call the lesser Prophets not of less esteem for his person or matter which he Prophesied then the others but less in quantity and bulk having reduced a great deal of choice matter into a narrower compass He Prophesied before Israels transportation into Babylâ—n He was an Herdsman of Tekoah chap. 1. ver 1. furnished with a Prophetical Spirit and commissionated by God for so high an employment v. 3. He Prophesied in a time of monstrous Impieties and severe Judgements He lived in the days of Vzziah and you may read of his horrid attempt in invading the Priests Office and the Judgement written in legible Characters in his Leprous â—orehead And they withstood Vzziah the King and said unto him It pâ—rtaineth not unto 2 Chro. 26. 18 19. thee Vzziah to burn incense unto the Lord but unto the Priests the sons of Aaron that are consecrated to burn incense Goe our of the sancluary for thou hast trespassed neither shall it be for thine honor from the Lord God Then Vzziah was wroth and had a Conser in his hand to burn incense and while he was wrath with the Priests the leprosie even rose up in his forehead before the Priests in the house of the Lord from besides the incense altar Some particular impieties and reigning abominacions were 1. Idolatry 1. Idolatry Idolatry was so continually practiced as by way of Irony the Lord seems to invite them to heap up the full measure of their sins Come to Bethel and transgress at Gilgal multiply transgressions Amos 4. 4. Hoc est cumulare sâ—elera sceleribus Calv. in Loc 2. Vnmercifulness Amos 1. 9. and bring your sacrifices every morning and your tithes after three years A second sin was unmercisulness want of bowels of compassion Thus saith the Lord For three transgressions of Tyrus and for fâ—ur I will not turn away the punishment thereof because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom and remembred not the brothâ—rly Covenant A third sin was Oppression Hear this word ye kine of Bashan that 3. Oppression Amos. 4. 1. are in the mountain of Samaria which oppress the poor which crush the needy which say to their masters Bring and let us drink And violence is another sin of the same litter Ye that put far the Amos 6. 3. evil day and cause the seat of violence to come near A fourth sin is Injustice and Bribery I couple them together like 4. Iujustice and Bribery Amos 5. 7 12. to like Ye that turn Judgement to wormwood and leave off righteousness in the earth For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins They afflict the just they take a bribe and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right A fifth sin is Luxury and Jovialty That chaunt to the sound of the Violl and invent to themselves Instruments of Musick like David 5. Luxury Amos 6. 5 6. That drinke Wine in Bowlls and anoint themselves with the chief Oyntments But they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph A sixth is Pride Now Judgements are the unhappy issue which 6. Pride sin brings forth Each word is a Thunder-bolt Amos 9. 8 9. Behold the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinfull kingdom and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob saith the Lord For lo I will command and I will sift the house of Israel among the nations like as corn is fifted in a sieve yâ—t shall not the least grain fall upon the earth And particular Judgements are threatned suitable to their sinnes As 1. Famine I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your 1. Amos 4. 6. cities and want of bread in all your places yet have you not returned unto me saith the Lord. There 's the punishment of Luxury 2. Mildew and Blasting I have smitten you with blasting and mildew 2. Amos 4. 9. when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees increased the palmer-worm devoured them yet have ye not returned unto me saith the Lord There 's another punishment of Luxury and Intemperance A third punishment is Pestilence I have sent among you the
meanes to move God to extend mercy compassion and deliverance to them Method propounded In handling of this precious point I shall thus dispose of my Method 1. To give in a full proofe from Scripture asserting the truth 2. Contribute some reasons confirming the same 3. Represent the manner how justice must be executed This shall be by way of Direction 4. And fourthly conclude with a word of exhortation and so presse closely the duty of the Text the establishment of Iustice and 1. The Doctrine proved this shall be my particular application I resume what I first propounded to assert the truth of the point See Jer. 5. 1. Run ye to and fro in the streets of Jerusalem and see now and know and seek in the broad places thereof if ye can find a man if there be any that executeth judgment that seeketh the truth and I will pardon it So Ier. 7. 5 6 7. for if you thorowly amend your waies and your doings if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his nâ—ighbour if ye oppresse not the stranger the fatherlesse and the widow and shed not innocent blood in this place nâ—ither walke after other Gods to your hurt then will I cause you to dwell in this place in the land which I gave unto your fathers for ever and ever So Isaiah 1. 17 18. Learne to doe well seeke Juâgment relieve the oppressed judg the fatherlesse plâ—ad for the widdow come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red as crimson they shall be as wool Prov. 29. 4. The King by judgment â—stablisheth the land but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it In these and sundry other places God promiseth a blessing upon the execution of justice I l'e single out particular instances that what 's asserted may be cleared more evidently When Israel committed both spirituall and corporall whoredome with the daughters of Moab for commonly they goe both together the greatest Idolaters the greatest whoremongers witnesse the Babylonish strumpet at this day Now nothing will appease Gods incensed wrath besides the execution of justice upon the Idolaters The Lord said unto Moses take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the Sun that the fierce anger of the Lord may Num. 25. 4. 5 be turned away from Israel And when Moses and the congregation were consulting Phineas stands up and falls a doing Iustice When Phineas the sonne of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest saw it he rose up from among the congregation and tooke a javelin in his hand and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them thorough the man of Israel and the woman thorough her belly So the Plague was stayed from the Children of Israel Here 's a patterne of singular zeale a man of heroicall courage all steele to the back Compare this with Psal 106. 30. Then stood up Phineas and executed judgment and so the Plague was stayed And you may read the ample reward Numb 25. 10 11 12. The Lord spake unto Moses saying Phineas the sonne of Eleazar hath turned away my wrath from the Children of Israel while he was zealous for my sake among them that I consumed them not in my jelousie wherefore say behold I give unto him my covenant of peace Moses likewise was a man of the same stamp Though in his own cause the meekest yet a man of invincible courage in the cause of God When he was in the mount Aaron makes them a golden calfe the people commit Idolatrie with it the Lord is highly incensed Moses intercedes for them Exodus 3. 11. Moses besought the Lord his God and said why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people which thou hâ—st brought forth out of the Land of Aegipt with great power and with a mightie hand He brake the tables vers 19. as soâ—ne as he came nigh unto the Camp that he saw the calfe and the dancing his anger waxed hot and he cast the Tables out of his hands and brake thâ—m beneath the mount He burnes the calfe to powdâ—r strewes it upâ—n the water and makes the Children of Israel to drink of it vers 20. executes judgment vers 26 27 28. Who is on the Lords side let him come unto me And all the Sons of Levi gathered themselves unto him and he said unto them put every man his sword by his side and goe in and out from gate to gate thorowout the camp and slay every man his brother and every man his companion and every man his neighbour And the Children of Levi did accordingly Compare this with Psal 106. 23. Therefore he said that he would destroy them had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the brach c. Whilst the camp was pestered with an Achan Israel could not stand before their enemies But as soon as Achan was executed the valley of Achor became a doore of hope Hos 2. 14. As long as Jonah was in the ship the storme continued but as soone as he was cast over shipbord there was a great calme Jonah 1. 15. Agag was hewed in pieces by Samuel Baals prophets were slain by Elijah Thus David executed judgment upon the Gibâ—onites enemies retaliating their mischiefes upon their own pates 2 Sam. 21. 1 6 9. There was a famine in the dayes of David for three yeares and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered it is for Saul and for his bloody house because he slew the Gibeonites vers 6. Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us and we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul whom the Lord did chuse And the King said I will give them vers 9. And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord. And see the good successe vers 14. And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his sonnâ— buried they in the countrey of Benjamin in Zelah in the Sepulchre of Kish his Father and they performed all that the King commanded and after that God was intreated for the Land You see how just David was in executing justice upon those that slew his enemies 2 Sam. 1. 15. David cald one of the young men and said go neer and fall upon him And he smote him that he died So 2 Sam. 4. 12. he commanded his young men and they slew them and cut off their hands and their feet and hanged them up in the poole of Hebron Amaziah slew those that slow his Father Ioash 2 Kings 14. 5 6. The people of the Land slew those that conspired against Amon 2 Kings 21. 24. I might produce for illustration many examples out of humane Authours as that of Zeleucus to his sonne in putting out his eye for Adulterie and such like But I will not light a candle to the sun I keep close to
Carthw Catech. Church of a more narrow compasse is such a particular Church or Parrish that dwelling in one place may conveniently at one time be taught by the mouth of one Minister Now both for the Church in generall and for the particular Church especially wherein we live we ought to pray and make frequent supplications to the Throne of grace For the whole body of Christ i. e. the universall Church we must pray for the Nationall Church wherein we live under the visible Ministry and dispensation of visible Ordinances and where there are visible Professours We may not straighten our prayers nor confine the Church of Christ as the Donatists did of old only to a narrow compasse in Africa Although in a true Church where are true Ministers true Sacraments and God hath blest the Ministry with converting of Soules yet there may be many rotten professours many formalists many hypocrites yet we must labour to reforme what we can and pray incessantly for amendment of what is amisse but we may not seperate from a true Church We must separate from Heathens and from Antichrist We are to come out from amongst them but we may not gather Churches out of Churches that were to make a schisme between the members amongst themselves and to subdivide the body of Christ and make a separation where we ought to endeavour an union 4. What is meant by establishing Jerusalem a praise in the earth Q. 4 To make the Church a praise is all one as Calvin observes Ans as to make it glorious for that the Lords remembrancers must pray that Jerusalem may be the subject and matter of praise that Christ may rule and settle his Ordinances there fill it with knowledge make it eminent for graces that as vers 1. The righteousnesse thereof may go forth as brightnesse and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth Then may Jerusalem be said to be a praise in the earth But of this more largely in the application To summe up all Though principally this charge is given to Ministers yet in a larger sence I shall take it according to the judgment of good Expositors as taking in Ministers and people both injoyning to both the duty of remembring the Church of God before the Throne of grace And in an especiall manner though the Universall Church must be remembred the Particular Church or Nationall Church wherein we live must be remembred And this remembrance must be a fervent incessant and diligent remembrance till the Lord be pleased to settle it as a naile in a sure place and bring forth the top stone of Jerusalem with acclamations crying Grace grace unto it This concernes Zach. 3. 7. us all both Ministers and people We must all pray for the establishment of Jerusalem a praise in the earth Which words thus opened containe one Principall Doctrine which in it's latitude and compasse takes in the whole sence of the words That it is the obliged duty of all the Children of God to he earnest Doct. 1 and assiduous suitors at the Throne of grace in the behalfe of the Church of God More briefly We should all as one man continue praying to God that he would establish Jerusalem a praise in the earth 1. In unfolding of this point my method shall be Method 1. To illustrate the truth propounded by parallel examples 2. To prove it by variety of precepts inculcating so great a duty 3. To confirme it by strength of Reasons And 4. To conclude all with some usefull Application 1. For the resuming of what I first propounded time would 1. The Doctrine illustrated by Examples faile me to enlarge my selfe in so great a cloud of witnesses Some of the chiefe I 'le mention and leave the rest to be supplyed in your serious meditations How earnest was Moses for Israel the people where God was named above all the people of the earth When Amaleck was fighting against Israel Moses his hands were lifted up and Israel returned Conquerours when God threatned the utter ruine of that people and offered to make Moses a greater Nation than they O how zealous was Moses in their behalfe Moses besought the Lord his God and said Lord why doth thy Exod. 32. 11 12. wrath waxe hot against thy people which thou hast brought forth out of the Land of Egypt with great power and à mighty hand Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say For mischiefe did he bring them out to slay them in the Mountaines and to consume them from the face of the earth Turne from thy fierce wrath and repent of this evill against thy people c. So Numb 14. 18 19. The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy forgiving iniquity c. Pardon I beseech thee the iniquity of this people according unto the greatnesse of thy mercy and as thou hast forgiven this people from Egypt even untill now Psalm 106. vers 23. Therefore he said he would destroy them had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach to turne away his wrath lest he should destroy them To Moses I 'le adde Samuel as he himselfe was a Son of prayer so he was a praying man 1 Sam. 7. vers 9. He cryed unto the Lord for Israel and the Lord heard him 1 Sam. 12. 23. Moreover as for me God forbid that I should sinne against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you but I will teach you the good and the right way Moses and Samuel have Characters of honour put upon them for praying persons Jer. 15. 1. Moses Aaron â—nd Samuel are alâ— three joyn'd together And Psal 99. vers 6. Moses and Aaron among his Priests and Samuel among them that call upon his Name These were noted for choice Intercessours with God So likewise David was a man made up of affections towards the Church of God Psal 14. 7. O that the Salvation of Israel were come out of Sion when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people Jacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be glad Psal 137. 5. If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my hand forget her cunning Psal 51. 18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion build thou the walâ—s of Jerusalem Psal 25. 26. Redeem Israel O God out of all his troubles How doth Daniel urge the most prevailing arguments in the behalfe of Jerusalem Dan. 9. 18 19. O my God incline thine eare and heare open thine eyes and behold our desolations and the City which is called by thy name c. O Lord heare O God forgive O Lord hearken and do deferre not for thine owne sake O my God for thy City and thy people are called by thy name I might instance in Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Ezra and Nehemiah who all were much upon their knees for the publick and made the very burthen of their prayers as it were versus intercalaris frequently repeated the establishment of Jerusalem upon the sure basis of truth and peace If we passe from the old