once and improving the miseries of the times by dilatory proceedings dead pay false musters betraying of advantages and letting opportunities of action slip with other stratagems and feates of pollicy very depths of Sathan profound as hell which I have not wit enough to reach If there be any such Judas's masked devills here let me informe them If their bosome intelligencer their Consciences I meane be asleepe perhaps it may arouse them a little that thunderbolt Esay 29.15 Wo unto them that dig deepe and seeke to hide their Counsell from the Lord and their workes are in the darke and they say who seeeth and who knoweth us and let them take that along with them too Esay 30.33 There is a Tophet prepared of old its deepe and large the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a streame of brimstone kindles it and let me tell them yet further If this fiery gulfe be not for such I do not know whether it can challenge any guests 5. There be others zealous in Religion but not enough they have like the Laodiccan Angell and Church some heate which makes them luke-warme but they are not violent their dram of zeale is tempered with so many ounces of discretion that the operation of it can scarce be discerned they are Orthodox in opinion not much exorbitant in conversation owne the great cause of the Kingdom set their faces towards heaven are not against Reformation but then they must not be over-driven you must not put them out of their owne pace they like not a Jehu's March It s good to be zealous but not too much say any what they will doe what they can their affected moderation will never suffer them to exceede the middle temper of that wise Statesman in Tiberius his Court who to be sure would not strike a stroke against the streame nor engage himselfe so far in any cause as might tend to his prejudice how-ever the world went he would be sure to save one Such is the polititian and wordly wise-man he will move no stone though never so needfull to be removed if he suspect that there lyes a Scorpion under it or if he apprehend the least feare that any part of the wall will fall upon himselfe well fare yet the Roman Consul that incomparable patriot who in his private and retired condition when he was removed from the Helme of the Common-wealth imployed all his force and strength to keep off those waves from the great vessell of the State which had well-nigh drowned the cock-boat of his owne private Fortunes 6. There be others zealous and violent for a while but they hold not out to the end The Philosopher sayes No violent thing lasts long It s true in Divinity as well as in Nature If the violent motion proceede from some externall artificiall cause and not from a rooted stirring principle within when that which is the cause is removed the motion arising from it ceaseth If our violent stirrings and heates of zeale be not from the right fountaine of heate the heart tract of time and other occurrances will be calm them by degrees and wear them out the stony ground set forward and put on with great animosity at the first but when difficulties and unlooked for dangers when a storme of persecution arose then they plucked in the tender horne their zeale cooled their courage abated their resolutions fell like leaves in Autumne In the beginning of this Parliament when the Lord tolled us on with fresh mercies and allured us into the wildernesse as the Prophet speakes that there he might give us the valley of Achor for a doore of hope when every day we were pasti miraculis as Cyprian speakes feasted with miracles in ordinary the Lord setting himselfe on purpose to ingage us firmely in his worke by divers rare and astonishing providences that all bridges might be cut off and that we might never thinke to retire backe againe At that time many that were not sound at the heart-roote joyned with us and who more resolute then they but when the wheele of Providence seemed to turne and many sad clouds began to gather and threaten a storme now they tacked about and set their sailes backe they were willing to follow us out of Egypt when they had seene the wonders and miracles of God at our departure thence but when they came into the wildernesse and met with Scorpions and fiery Serpents and great afflictions then their hearts fainted and they fell on murmuring as the unbeleeving Jewes and that mixed multitude did Numb. 11.4 A man might as well never own the cause of God as afterwards desert it whatsoever a man hath done and suffered for Religion and there be many that have done and suffered much It s al lost and forgotten when once he begins to looke backe Ezek. 18.24 Judas and Demas and Hymaeneus and Alexander the Copper-smith with other such flinchers what were they the better for all their hopefull beginnings when afterwards they declined their zeale-being all spent their violence tyred and all their alacrity lost It s not good beginnings but perseverance in Religion that takes this glorious prize and wins the garland Be faithfull unto the death and I will give thee a Crown of life Revel. 2.10 7. I may not passe over another sort without a gentle touch such I meane as are unfeinedly cordiall in the cause of God and zealous for it yet do not a little hurt to themselves and others and the Cause it selfe too through their indescreete and unwary managing of it they desire nothing more then this That Christ might raigne and weild the Scepter of his Kingdom according to his own hearts content in all the parts of the Land they are active in endeavours for Reformation and this deserves just praise but they step out of their bounds sometimes exceede the limits of their speciall calling in which the Will of God is they should containe themselves How happy were it for us if all would keepe within their proper spheare and wherein so ever they are called therein to abide with God 1 Cor. 7.24 But there be some that do {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} overstretch themselves beyond their line and Compasse 2 Cor. 10.14 They reach and straine after a perfect Reformation of the Church and that is well but they run before the Parliament and do anticipate the worke taking it out of those able and faithfull hands unto which God hath committed it and that deserves just censure That have a great zeale of God Oh that it were a little more according to knowledge We have all entred into the bonds of a Religious Conant with God in which among other things we have vowed our utmost endeavours to reforme Religion Worship Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and withall to draw the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest
consciences by the Scepter of his Word and Spirit and the Kingdome of God be within us as the expression is Luke 17.21 We shall then straine our indeavours with all violence to make our houses Bethels little Temples and Sanctuaries and courts for Christ to keepe residence in there shall be roome for no swearers drunkards scorners of Religion or any other children of Belial that turn the broad side against Christ and will not have him reigne over them 2. We may hold fast what we have got already not suffering any enemy to take our crown and Kingdom from us there is a holy art of violence if we could hit on it by which the King may be detained and held in our galleries by the chaines of an acceptable and well pleasing captivity Cant. 7.5 If he see us earnest and zealous with all our most serious desires and affections winding about him and passionately enamored and sick of love for him and stedfastly resolved to retaine him with us in despight of all oppositions it will not then be in the power of any enemies to drive him out or pluck him away from us It may be we cannot prevaile to advance the Kingdom of heaven to a further extent and progresse and to the achieving of new acquisitions but we may if we be zealous and resolute make good the ground which it hath already won maintaine and defend all the Forts and strong Holds which it hath already taken in and conquered We cannot be all Souldiers to fight the Lords battels in the field but there is an holy war which we all may and must wage against Christs and our enemies which would if they knew how plunder him out of his Imperiall Soveraignety and us out of our Salvation S. Jude would have all Christians {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} earnestly to contend and wrastle for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints Here it behooves us all to be stout and invincible Champions to take up the Armes of our Christian warfare against Sathan and Antichrist and all their Ensigne-bearers whosoever go about to encroach upon our consciences and to raigne over us in matters of faith and Religion besides Christ we must hold our owne against them to the last gaspe 3. If we can do nothing else yet we may help forward the propagation of the Gospell by our prayers S. Paul often moves the people to pray that a doore might be opened unto him and that the Word of the Lord might run and be glorified Habebat ille verbi tonitruum sed dari ei viam querebat saith Gregory He had the thunder of the Word and yet he desired the peoples prayers that it might get the easier entrance and make the swifter progresse through all the difficulties and rubbs which he knew it would meete with There are great mountaines of opposition that lye in the way of Christs Kingdome but prayer if it be earnest and faithfull will remove them Mat. 7.20 This was the Engine which the Prophet plyed when he would with his breath blow downe the great Monarchy of Babylon which so long hindred the Churches restitution Esay 64 12. Oh that thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down that the mountaines might flow down at thy presence when the spirit of prayer growes hot and violent it melts mighty mountaines and makes them flow downe as snow before the sun or wax before the fire There be many faithfull Ministers which now lye in chaines and suffer Imprisonment as Peter did when Herod set a strong guard of Souldiers to keepe him the enlargement of them were a great advantage to the Kingdome of God a strong Gale of prayer would turne the lock of the Prison doores shake off all their fetters and fetch them out with safety there be many blinde corners in the Land where the people sit in darknesse and the shadow of death having scarce any more knowledge of Christ and the Kingdom of heaven then those that live in the wild deserts of America how miserable is the condition of such poore soules which are besieged with hell fire and yet know not their owne danger The key of knowledge not being with them the kingdom of heaven is fast locked and shut up upon them with Iron gates and barres If we can do nothing else yet we may at least pitty such poore soules and weep over them and pray for them that the Lord would thrust some faithfull labourers into his harvest among them Mat. 9.38 4. We may and must with our prayers joyne our endeavours imploy our Interests friends purses withall the contributions talents and advantages that we have to help forward the propagation of Christs Gospell and Kingdom that it may prevaile and prosper every where especially in our own Land We all pray that his Kingdom may come we are not in good earnest but do in effect mock God when we use not all possible meanes to accomplish what we pray for If we be desirous to have a Kingdom of heaven upon earth we must spare for no cost but like the wise Merchant man venture all we have for this pearl Wherefore were our estates given us but to honour God advantage our selves and helpe our neighbours which we can no way procure more effectually then by laying them out to purchase a sound Ministery we can never put out our wealth to a nobler use riches are then Goods when they are thus imployed if there be any other this is the best way to make our selves friends of the unrighteous Mammon Luke 16.9 We may at once ingage God and man to be our friends by this course For what can be more to the honour of God or benefit of man What more acceptable to both then to do with our Estates as 〈◊〉 did after its conversion write upon them Holinesse to the Lord Lâ—in 23.18 Happy are those stones saith the Philosopher of which Temples are made and happy is that Sacred Revenue say I which is imployed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to make a bridge for men to go to heaven by Oh that some common stock might be raised for this purpose There was an honourable design on foot some few yeeres since for the buying out of Impropriations and the redeeming of the Churches patrimony it was a worke of as eminent piety and charity as ever any this Age hath produced and the stopping of it by some execrable instruments was an act of as pure Sathanicall malice against the glory of Christ and the Soules of men as ever issued out of Hell and were there no other exception against some great Incendiaries but this it were enough to render their persons hatefull and their memory infamous to all generations But howsoever all are interessed in this yet the Ministers of the Gospell it belongs to them in a more speciall manner to endeavour the prosperity honour and enlargement of Christs Kingdome their very office and calling
grove of Baal and overthrow his Altars though the men of the City cry out of him and threaten to have his life for it He will do his uttermost to remove scandalls and stumbling blockes as Hezekiah did the brazen Serpent when Idolized to scourge out of the Temple corrupt Church-men which make merchandize of holy things as our Saviour did the money-changers to reforme abuses and prophanations of Gods Name his Sabboth and Sanctuary as Ezra and Nehemiah did He will not connive at his neerest friends but eject and cashiere them if Idolatrous or superstitious as Asa did Maacha his Queen Mother 2 Chron. 15.16 Hezekiah made it his first work when he came to the Kingdom to set open the doores of the Lords house which for a long time had been shut up he was scarce warme in his Throne when he was fiery hot for a full and through reformation 2 Chron. 29.3 And Iosiah his grand-childe when he was yet but young was nothing lesse if not more eminent in this violent zeal than he All the Altars Groves Images and whatsoever other trinkets reliques and monuments of superstition were found in the land he offered them up for a hecatomb made a bone-fire of them as you may see at large 2 Chron. 34.3 4 5 c. You see now the chiefe Ingredients of this heroicall Disposition and straine of Spirit and some few for I cannot name all of the principall operations of it see now the Grounds and Reasons of it 1. In respect of God {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} It s meete and our bounden duty that we should use all our violence and if 't were possible more then all in matters of this nature It s good councell that of the wise man Eccles. 9.10 Whatsoever thine heart findes to do do it with all thy might slightnesse of heart in carrying on any businesse is naught but worst of all in Religion God likes it well when we put on to purpose muster all our Forces and stir up our strength to lay hold of him Esay 64.7 He lookes for what we can Deut. 6.5 And if we offer him lesse than all we might as well offer nothing When our intentions in his Worship are not screwed up to this height it s a sign that our hearts are divided and cloven and therefore hypocriticall when the Jewes were carelesse and perfunctory in their devotions and put God off with any sacrifices which came next to hand he accounted this as a dishonour to him and as a derogation to his Majesty and greatnesse and therefore he thundred out a dreadfull curse against them Mal. 1.14 If ye offer the blinde and the lame for sacrifice is it not evill offer it now unto thy governour will he be pleased with thee or accept thy person saith the Lord of Hosts vers. 8. This carriage of theirs bewrayed plainely how little respect their hearts bare him It was a cleere evidence against them that they made him not their chiefe therefore he lets them know how sensible he was of this disrespect vers. 14. Cursed be he that having a male in his flock offereth unto the Lord a corrupt thing for I am a great King saith the Lord of Hosts If there be not a stamp and impression of zealous violence in all our religious addresses unto God our deportment is not such as becomes the Majesty and greatnesse of such a King 2 And as this violence is just and necessary in respect of God who requires and calls for it at our hands so is it also in respect of the prize it selfe which is here contended and striven for it being the Kingdome of heaven and therefore well worthy of all the violence which we can use for it to be eager and earnest in other things of an inferiour allay {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} it will not quit the cost violence for the most part is above the proportion and value of them but the Kingdome of God is a matter of the greatest importance and consequence of any other in the world It is worthy of all the courage zeale and resolution that we have where can we lay them out better or so well as for the atchievement of a kingdom The heathen man could say Imperia pretio quolibet constant bene A kingdom cannot be over bought the crown Imperiall of a mortall Prince it is a radiant and sparkling object whatsoever a man payeth for it it is held a rich purchase notwithstanding Agrippina thought the Romane Empire a good penni-worth though she bought it for her son Nero a very wretch with the losse of her own life What violent running wrestling and striving was there of old in the Olympique games what combates and contentions yet all was but for a corruptible crown as the Apostle speakes 1 Cor. 9.24 25. The greatest reward they could looke for was but a crown of Lawrell a chaplet of flowers and besides they all ran in those masteries and yet it was but one onely that could receive the prize but we strive for an Incorruptible crown and if we strive violently as we ought we shall all obtaine the prize we strive for and when it is obtained it will be more worth then all the crownes and diadems in the world The Crownes of the greatest earthly Monarchs though the pearls in them be never so glistering yet they are stuffed for the most part with such thornes attended with so many piercing cares and sorrowes and discontents that a wise man if he should meete with one of them lying before him in the way he would scarce thinke it worth the taking up but the crowne of this Kingdome which we strive for if by all the violence we can use in doing or suffering we may win it at the last it will super-abundantly make amends for all It s possible that we may nay its certaine that we must endure much if we will set our selves with obstinacy and violence to run this course t is a Law enacted in heaven That we must all through many tribulations enter into the Kingdome of God Act. 14.22 But this needs not discourage If our suffering be great our Reward is Hyperbolicall 2 Cor. 4.17 Our light afflictions which are but for a moment what comparison betwixt them and the reward which they work out for us which is a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory It s possible in these plundring times we may lose our estates it skills not much if we part with that which we cannot keep to gaine that treasure which we cannot lose The Primitive Christians suffered the spoyling of their goods with joy knowing they had in heaven a better and more enduring substance Heb. 10.34 It may be whiles we are zealous for the honour of God we shall be in danger to lose all our owne respect and reputation among men the black mouth of Calumny may asperse the loyalty of our intentions and sully our Names with horrid
darknesse and shadow of death Oh the bright star of Jacobâ— the rising and Orient lustre of it to such as love darkenesse better then light it is of an Ominous and dismall presage it portends their kingdome will come downe their mis-giving hearts are afraid of the scorching Influence of it as the devills were of Christs comming lest it should torment them before the time Mat. 8.29 And now is it possible trow ye that such sonnes of Belial to whom the presence of Christ in his Ordinances and Worship is the greatest burthen and torment and as it were an hell upon earth Is it possible that such should ever expect or conceive the least hope of reigning with him for ever in heaven Oh yes they pretend for heaven as much and as loud as any others and they are for Religion too even for the true Reformed Protestant Profession and they are zealous yea violent for it and that is the reason you must beleeve them why they have drawne their swords and taken up Armes It s for no other end doubtlesse but to defend the true Protestant profession with his Majesties just Prerogative and Crown-rights which the Parliament with the faction of Brownists and Anabaptists that adhere to it endeavour to destroy It s a true saying that of the Romane Orator * There is nothing so horrid no cause so desperate which may not be palliated and covered over with glorious and glittering pretences As Herod would have the wisemen bring him word when they had found Christ for he meant to come and worship the babe when his intent was to slay it But as Tertullian wittily told the Gentiles when they contended so fiercely for the worship of Jupiter That whatsoever they pretended Caesar was their chiefe God and that they worshipped him with more devotion then Jupiter The like may I say of these Herodians or Court-zealots call them what you will and let them pretend what they list for God they are Caesars by whole-sale in Religion affection conscience soule and body and all Caesars they measure Religion by the length of the Scepter being resolved to beleeve the worst of Popery and to practise the worst of Tyranny even to the destruction of the three Kingdomes if Caesar do but please to declare the one to be the True Reformed Protestant Profession and the other The due Rights and Priviledges of Parliament much like the Boutefew that Tully speakes of C. Blos Cumanus I think it was that would to shew his affection to his friend do whatsoever he should bid him though it were to set fire on the Capitoll 2 Not all out so desperate though bad enough is another sort of neutralizing temporizers that are just of Gallios temper for matter of Religion not caring a jot whether the Arke or Dagon be set up whether Christ or Antichrist prevaile the true Religion or Popery both or neither to them is a matter of indifferency and not so much as the turning of an hand they passe not at all for such things onely they have the discretion to set their sayles as the wind blowes and to wheele about as they see occasion that they may be of the prevayling side much like the man in Macrobius who during the times of civill war betwixt Antony and Augustus Caesar had with much Art and diligence taught his two crowes their severall notes the one to say Ave Imperator Antoni the other Ave Imperator Augustâ— that so when the warres should be over and the controversie determined whether party soever prevayled he might be sure to have a bird for the Conquerour If there chance to be any such within these walls I wish they would sadly and ripely consider that speech of our Saviour He that is not with me is against me Mat. 12.30 and that grave expression of a great Prelate This cause of God is of that Nature that if a man do not appeare in it and gather with Christ he scattereth from him there being no middle condition possible in which a man can close or side with any other than the devill who joynes not with Christ 3. Such as value their wealth ease credit reputation above Christ and his Kingdome to come to Church now and then to heare the Word performe some cheape outward duties which may looke like a forme of godlinesse none will blame them for this It were disgracefull to be Atheists unprofitable to be Papists or recusants thus far they go and its faire too but to be at any expence for Christ to purchase his kingdom with any prejudice to themselves in their credit or estates he must pardon them for that they love a Religion contrary to Davids disposition which will cost them nothing these have taken the Covenant many of them onely to save charges for they spare not to professe that they will trust God with their soules though they perjure rather then the Parliament with their Estates They will lash out more in furnishing a banket or some unnecessary entertainment spend more in one cast at Bowles or Dice then ever they can be gotten to part with all their life long for the glory of God the upholding of his cause and Gospell and the preservation of an 100000. Christians in the three Kingdomes the men of this world they are violent for their Mammon Give them the fatnesse of the earth Take the dew of heaven who will A right brood of old Gadarens who can be content to have a whole Legion of Devils roost in the Kingdome and nestle in their own hearts as in strong holds rather than they will be at so much cost as the losse of their hoggs to purchase the dispossession of them 4. There be others that seeme violent in matters of Religion none more forward in appearance then they but they are not sincere and cordiall As it is with them that are sicke of a Fever while the face and outward parts burne the heart quakes and shivereth with cold so it is with these pretenders their countenance Jehu like is full of flushing heate in their face and outward carriage you may see their zeale for the Lord but if you could put but your hands within their brests you should finde their hearts Nabal-like as cold as a stone It s no new devise but an old trick of hypocriticall spirits to seeme devout onely for their owne ends to drive their own designes under a colour of being zealous for God Ignatius observed there were some of this stamp in his time who made a trade and an occupation of Christ to get wealth by him shuffling in Religon to deale themselves a thriving game in the world I know not whether it be true but the Vox Populi the Common opinion and voyce of the people is That in Country City Armies I hope not in the Parliament there are and have beene too many who in publike places of Imployment at the publike charge drive their private designes enjoying both at
resolutions let the Law and the Testimony be your Oracle It s a Kingdome of heaven that you are bound for and therefore your course must be like that of the Mariners guided by the heavens If you steere your course by any other line sure you will never arive where you would be at the faire havens The Heathens themselves never undertooke any great worke about the affaires of state till they had consulted the face of the Heavens what they did out of blind superstition do you from a principle of true Religion 4. When you have taken your aimes right and made choyce of fit meanes to compasse them let God alone with the successe he will make good the issue and turne all to the best As Quintillian said of a Pilot so may I of you whiles you hold the stearne and guide the compasse right you cannot be blamed although the great vessell of the State should be cast away and wracked in the storme which yet I hope it never will be Furthermore it concernes us all in common but you more especially most worthy Patriots not onely to labour for our owne particulars to take hold on this Kingdom with all violence but also to prepare way for others that they may come up to it or rather indeede that it may come downe to them As David therefore in a violent ravishment of desire that the Temple might be built cryed Psal. 24.9 10. Lift up your heads oh ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doores and the King of glory shall come in So let me addresse the like desire to you that are the Heads of our Tribes and have the keyes of the Kingdome of Great Brittaine hanging at the doores of your Honourable Senate House Oh let all the gates and doores of the Kingdome and of all the Counties Cities Parishes in it be set wide open That the King of Glory may come in The eyes of many thousands in the Land and a great part of Christendome too are now upon you you are in the hearts of all the Saints in all the Churches especially those at home who are ready to live and dye with you and what is their expectation and desire other then this That Christ may raigne as an All-Commanding King over his owne house That Doctrin Worship Government may be all exact according to the Patterne in the Mount Helpe on this much-desired Work 1 By setting a faithful pious and learned Ministery Be not offended that I touch upon this string once more How meane apprehensions soever any may have of this great Ordinance of God Preaching of the Gospell yet it is no other thing then the Scepter of Christs Kingdome the Royall Mace that is lifted up and born before him his triumphing chariot in which he rides conquering and to conquer Revel. 6.2 God is wont to hang the greatest weights upon the smallest wires The Salvation of the world depends upon this foolishnesse of preaching 1 Cor. 1.21 Blessed be God he hath given us his Word and if we could but adde what is next in the Psal. 68.11 Great is the multitude of them that publish it Sathan would soone fall downe like lightning and we should have an heaven upon earth We are zealous against Babylon and it s well that we are so I will shew you a way how to storme downe the proud walls and battlements of it without any Petards or Cannon shot or Engines of warre not so much need of these The sound of Rammes hornes will serve the turne Revel. 14.6 When the Angell flyes in the midst of heaven with an everlasting Gospell to Preach the next Newes is vers. 8. Babylon is fallen This preaching it will be the ruine of the man of sin it will spring a Myne under his Thron and beat down all his power and glory into the dust 2. If you would have a learned consciencious ministry do as Hezekiah Command the people to give the Priests and Levites their portion that they may be incouraged in the Law of the Lord 2 Chron. 31.4 Let there be due provision of oyle for all the Lamps of the Sanctuary and let there be worthy incouragements for all the severall professions of learning especially the sacred If learning should decay as some I hope without ground feare it will what can we looke for but an Inundation of Popery Atheisme prophanenesse sects heresies with all manner of Barbarity In the memory of our Fathers when it pleased the Lord to raise up Luther Melancton Calvin and many other choyce spirits it was unto the Churches even like unto a resurrection from the dead the Resurrection of learning brought with it a resurrection of Religion and a fresh spring of the Gospell which blessed be God continues still and flourishes to this day 3 But now that I have made mention of learning I may not without piacular neglect passe over the two Seminaries and seed-plots of it without a word or two It was a sad complaint of Luther against most of the Universities of Europe that they were become chaires of Pestilence and the very stewes and brothels of Antichrist God forbid that any should harbour any such apprehension of ours Blessed be God they have beene worthy Nurseries and schooles of the Prophets both of them and I hope they will continue so still Howsoever it were good to cast a little more salt into these Springs that the waters of life issuing from them may be more sweete and wholesome and that there may be no death nor barrennesse nor any thing causing miscarriage in them 2 King 29.10 The common complaint is That the two breasts though they be not quite dryed up yet they yeeld neither so much milke nor so wholesome now of late as in former times that it is now adulterated and brewed with mixtures its easie to know whence The way to heale all were to plant more wholesome heavenly and powerfull preaching there St. Basil tells That when men were desirous in his dayes to store themselves with Doves in their houses they tooke some of a milke white colour and perfumed them with odours and sweete oyntments and they flying abroad allured home with their sent all they met withall oh that we had a brood of such Doves richly perfum'd with Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia men anoynted I meane with the spirit and graces of Jesus Christ which are more sweet and odoriferous then all the unctions else in the world If there were some of these sent abroad into Country City Court and University how would multitudes flocke after them like Doves into their windowes Esay 60.8 4. If you would have Christ raigne fully freely universally all the Kingdome over let the Reformation then which is intended advance freely and fully and let it be first thorow and exact that no Rome be left for a throne of Sathan in any corner we would be loath that God should put us off with halfe a deliverance why should
we put him off with halfe a reformation 2. Let it be swift and speedy let it not alwaies thus sticke in the birth but give it quicke expedition and dispatch our Saviours rule is primum quaerite Mat. 6.33 Seeke first the Kingdome of God before and above all other things God takes it ill and shewes himselfe angry with the Jewes and chides them sore for neglect of this Hag. 1.4 Is it time for you to dwell in your cieled houses whiles this house lyes waste God gives us as he did them leave to have a due regard of our owne houses but his worke should alwayes in order preceede ours as it doth in worth and dignity Other causes may and must waite till that which is of greatest Importance be dispatched it was a worthy resolution that of Nehemiah when the enemies sent a Trumpeter as it were to beate for a parlee I am saith he about a great worke so that I cannot come down why should the worke cease whiles I leave it and come downe to you Nehem. 6.3 A word to the wise is enough I presse it no further 5. Remove all the lets Impediments and stumbling blockes which hinder the propagation and spreading of Christs Kingdom among us whether things or persons whatsoever cannot shew its pedegree from heaven out with it what should it do amongst us That which never came from heaven can never be a meanes to carry us thither the Temple of God may not be built with the materialls of Babylon we should not take a stone from thence for a corner nor for a foundation Jer. 51.16 And those persons too that pretend so high for their divine originall and cannot yet shew the Genealogy of it from the Scriptures They should be as polluted put from the Priesthood Neh. 6.64 But above all the other Impediments that which gives sourse and life unto them and is it selfe the greatest the faction I meane of Rome and Antichrist let that be removed If you be on the Lords side cast down Jezebel out at the windows when that mother of whoredome and all her merchants factors and retainers with all their Babilonish trash and trumpery the wares which they traffique in is sent packing away and cast like a mil-stone into the bottome of the Sea then and not before begins that victorious and triumphant Song of the Elders Revel. 19.6 Hallelujah the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth This is your worke oh ye worthies and to quicken you to it consider 1. How necessary it is if we let slip this opportunity in which the Kingdome of heaven seemes to come neere unto us and to knock at our doores for admission we are an undone people the Lord if not admitted now is like never to make us such another offer he will take his Kingdome from us and give it to some other Nation that will bring forth the fruits thereof Math. 21.43 The uncleane spirit which is in a good measure cast out will returne againe and bring along seven other worse ones with it to take possession of the whole Kingdome and so our condition will be worse then ever it was 2. It s a glorious prize that we are called to be violent for It is a Kingdome and who would not straine hard for such a booty which once obtained will more then countervaile all our care and cost our zeale and violence for it The heathen man thought it great reason to offer violence even to Justice and Conscience if it were for a Kingdome In other things he would have respect to just and right but if a kingdome lay at the stake and might be won he held it no discretion to be over conscientious I commend not his resolution in this our Rule is Fiat Justitia ruat caelum let Justice be done though the heavens fall we must be violent to keepe faith and a good conscience not to put them from us and this is the way to make us all Kings and Priests unto our God they are of the family of heaven and of the blood Royall that are thus affected Revel. 19.26 Christ at his last comming to destroy Antichrist is said to have his Name written not onely upon his vesture but upon his thigh too King of Kings and Lord of Lords What 's this 〈◊〉 a name Written upon his thigh somewhat an unproper sâ—ituation what should a man do with a name written upon his thigh But t is the place of generation Jacobs 70. soules are said to come out of his thigh and those choyce violent spirits that follow Christ in his warres against Antichrist as those Armies of heaven did spoken of before vers. 14. They all came out of his thigh were discended and propagated from him by a divine worke of Regeneration the Spirit of Jesus Christ refines the blood of the meanest persons and creates them a Regall pedegree 3 It s an honourable thing to be violent for the honour of our God and the good of a whole Kingdome to do good to one is honourable said the Philosopher but to do good to a City or Nation this is heroicall how much more when the honour of God and the happinesse of three Kingdomes that I may not say of Christendom too is infolded in one another Saint Paul saies It s good to be alwayes zealously affected in a good thing Gal. 4.16 Alwayes good It was intended no doubt as a marke of honour that Name which our Saviour for this cause imposed upon one of the Apostles when he called him Simon Zelotes Luke 6.15 The more zeale we have the more honourable we are at all times but to be zealous for God as Elias was in evill times to owne his cause in an adulterous and sinfull generation this is honourable indeed yea and I had almost said meritorious but howsever t is thank-worthy to be sure in an eminent degree Luk. 22.28 29 Ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations and what then I appoint unto you a Kingdom that ye may eate and drinke at my Table and sit on thrones c. You see how well our Saviour takes it when his servants cleave close to him and will stand for him in his temptations If the right hand place in his Kingdome be reserved for any more then others it shall be kept for such 5 The contrary disposition is of it selfe base and unworthy yea and of all other the most loathsome and abominable Revel. 3.15 16. Better key cold then onely lukewarme It s an argument we neither value God nor his Kingdome when we are so dull and heartlesse in our desires and endeavours as if the purchase we are about would not quit the cost nor be worth the paines that is required for it When Callidius a Roman Orator pleaded a cause very faintly and made no shew of affection Tully told him that sure he was not in earnest otherwise the tide of passion would have beene up In