remission of sins Mar. 1.4 did manifestly pre-ingage the people to beleeve in him that should come after him that is on Christ Jesus Acts 19.4 Now the gospell being preached which is the word of the Kingdom it never returnes back without successe but like a draw-net when it is let down some or other are caught and converted unto Christ by it 2. Johns ministery was mighty and powerfull above the proportion of former times the people lived under shadowes and dark clouds before which cast forth but little light and yeelded lesse heate their hearts were as cold and frozen as yee under the Ministery of the Pharisees and Scribes but Iohn was a burning and shining light Ioh. 5.35 His Doctrin and conversation kindled a light of knowledge and an heat of zeal in the hearts and consciences of men which drew them to Christ with much violence 3. When Iohn had once begun this course soone after our Saviour with his twelve Apostles and 70. Disciples came after him advancing and carrying on the work to a greater height and progresse and look how far Iohns ministery excelled all that went before so far did the ministery of our Saviour and his followers excell and go beyond him both in respect of a more cleer manifestation of glorious truths and also in respect of a more forcible operation upon the consciences of men And now having rubbed out these eares of Corne come we in the next place to reap from them such fruits of instruction as they will afford the points arising hence are foure 1. That the Church and people of the New Testament is the Kingdom of heaven 2. Where it pleaseth God to raise up choyce and prâ—â—ious Instruments to Preâ—ch the Gospell as he did here there the Kingdom of Christ will forcibly come in and numbers will as forcibly presse and throng into it though there be never so much opposition against it 3. Those that would have a share in this Kingdome they must not be dull and remisse but earnest and violent in their pursuit 4. All those and onely those which are thus earnest and violent shall prevaile in their design and carry the prize which they are so eager for For the first of these That the Church and people of the New Testament is the Kingdom of heaven This is coucht in the Text and implyed onely as a ground and therefore to insist upon it at large would be a little impertinent I shall therefore hint you to some reasons for this manner of denomination and so passe it over First therefore the Church of the New Testament is called The Kingdom of heaven because in the Church and in it onely the * Heavens govern and that not onely in a generall way of power and providence for so is all the world under that government Nebuchadnâ—zzâ—r when he had been schooled by grazing 7. yeeres among the bruits he came to see this cleerly that the heavens do rule Dan. 4.26 But the Church is under the rule and government of the heavens in another manner then the world is God raignes over the world onely in a Providenciall way ordering and disposing all things according to his secret Councell but he raignes over the Church according to his own hearts desire by the Scepter of his Word and Spirit looke upon which you will of all the States and Governments in the world even those that are most exactly ordered according to the rules of Civill Policy Justice and prudence and you shall finde that they are but men at the best and often worse then men beasts and sometimes worse than beasts devils that beare all the rule and carry all the stroak The foure great Monarchies which have been so glorious in the world would you know what Emblem the Holy Scripture sets them forth by Dan. 7.17 They are foure great beasts which arise out of the Earth and to the last beast of this litter the worst of all the former though in outward respects the most glorious the Dragon resigned his power and his Throne and great authority Rev. 13.2 S. Augustin is in the right for this Magna Regna Magna lâ—troâ—ima the great Kingdomes of the world what are they else in plain English but Tabernacles of Robbers dens of Lyons and mountaines of Leopars Job 12.6 Cant. 4.8 Copernicus his conceit is here no paradox the earth mooves and the heavens are at a stand the Wisdome the Councell the Policy and Interests of the Earth turne all the spheares move all the Engins and do all in all but the Wisdome the Councell the Policie and Interests of heaven stand still and strike never a stroke carries no sway at all But in the Church it s otherwise there the Lord alone raignes in a peculiar manner and his Will is done in earth as it is in heaven c. that is the princiall reason others are of inferiour remark which I shall briefly glyde over 2. The Church is the kingdom of heaven because the Prince that commands there is the Lord from heaven * The stone cut out of the mountaine without hands heavenly in respect of his extraction and originall as being sprung from the bosome of his Father by an eternall and ineffable generation and from the womb of his Mother by a Divine and miraculous conception without any concurrence or help of man and heavenly to in respect of his Inauguration and entrance into his Kingdome which was neither by popular Election which course he declined John 6.15 nor by succession for his Kingdome rests solely in his own hands and never did nor can passe from predecessour to successor nor yet by conquest or force of Armes as other Princes enter Christ waved all these wayes and came into his Throne by an Ordinance from heaven Dan. 7.13.14 When Peter drew his sword he commanded him to put it up For my Kingdome saith he is not of this world it s in this world but not of this world the prime source and originall of it is not from hence John 18.36 3. The first planting establishing and the continuall advancement and propagation of this Kingdome proceeds not from any councell policy or strength of the world but from the Wisedome and Power of God It is God alone and no other That plants the heavens and layes the foundation of the Earth and saith unto Sion Thou art my people Esay 5.16 As they say of Thebes That it was built by the sound of Amphious harpe so its true much more of the Church and Kingdome of God it was built by the Fishermen of Galilee and not any other way but onely by the preaching of the Gospell Micah 7.11 In the day that thy walls shall be built the Dâ—cree shall be far removed which Piscator Interprets thus longe latique propagalitur Evangelium the Gospell shall be propaged far and wide all the world over 4. In respect of the Subjects who are not of this world but severed and separated from it 1.
By an heavenly Election They are the Congregation of the first born whose names are enrolled in heaven Heb. 12 23. And 2. They are taken and bought from the earth by a speciall work of Redemption out of every Country and Kindred and People and Nation Revel. 59. and cap. 14.3 4.3 They are singled out from others by a powerfull conversion upon which ground they are saluted Holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling Heb. 3.1 And 4. Their trading and traffique is not for the things of this world but their conversation is in heaven Phil. 3 20.5 Their inheritance and portion is not in the earth for here they are but strangers and pilgrims out of their own Country but they have an inheritance immortall undefiled reserved in the heavens for them 1 Pet. 1.4 In these and divers other respects the Saints which are members of the Church though they live in the earth yet they are accounted in Scripture the Citizens and Inhabitants of heaven 5. The Lawes and Ordinances which the Church is governed by are all extracts taken from an heavenly originall copies and draughts derived from the Pattern in the Mount as Moses Tabernacle and Solomons Temple were {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The Church of God saith Nazianzen which is the inferiour Tabernacle and House of God here below it is in all its institutions rites and Ordâ—nances commensurable to its pattern and prototipe for the heavenly Tabernacle which is above 6. The Acts and administrations of the Church if they be such as they should be divine and Spirituall they sent not of the earth breathe not of the world but the whole savour and rellish of them is heavenly when the Word is Preached it is not the Wisdome and Spirit of man but the Lord from heaven that speakes Heb. 12.25 Mat. 10.20 And the Apostle tels us likewise that when men Prophecy there is such a demonstration of divine power that unbeleevers comming in are convinced by it saying God is in you of a truth 1 Cor. 14.25 The like may be sayd of prayer it s the Spirit that must frame every request and indite every Petition if it be according to Gods Will Rom. 8 27. So the execution of Church censures and generally all Church administrations they are not such as they should be if they carry not with them a certaine perfume as it were or odor of heaven This may suffice for the first point I defer the Use of it till I have done with the next which is this Where the Lord raiseth up choyce Instruments to Preach the Gospell as he did here in the dayes of Iohn and of our Saviour there the Kingdom of heaven comes in amaire and multitudes take hold of it For the proof of this see the truth of it in cleer predictions and prophecies foretelling that it should be so Esay 2.1 2 3. It shall come to passe in the latter dayes that the Mountaine of the Lords house shall be lifted up not onely on the Mount Marlah at Jerusalem but on the top of the Mountaines and all nations not the Jews only shall flow unto it but how shall this be brought about the Law of the Lord shall go out of Sion and the Word of the Lord out of Jerusalem and then he shall rule among the Nations If the Gospell be preached the Kingdome of God will advance and get ground among all the Nations of the world The like Prophecy we have Psal. 110.2.3 When Christ sends out his Gospell which is that rod of his power out of Sion he will then be ruler in the midst of his enemies In the day when he sends out his Armies to wit of Apostles and Prophets His people shall be a willing people or as some Interpretors turn it they shall be all voluntiers in the beauty of his holinesse and the dew of his youth that is the multitudes of children that shall be born unto him shall be as numerous as drops of dew in a spring or summers morning 2. See the reall performances and accomplishment of these Prophecies In the first dawning of the Gospell when the state of the Jewish Church was exceeding corrupt even then by the preaching of Iohn great numbers of people came over unto Christ and by Solemn Baptisme took the oath of allegeance unto him Mat. 3.5 6. And the Ministery of Christ and his Apostles was yet more effectuall their diligence was such that they went through every City and Village preaching and shewing the glad tydings of the Kingdome of God Luk 8.1 And the people flocked after them in such multitudes that they trode one upon another Luke 12.1 And they were so eager and violent for the Kingdom of God that they came by break of day to seek Christ in the desert and they layd hold of him that he should not depart from them Luk. 4.42 And the successe of those endeavours was such that Satan fell from heaven like lightning Luke 10.18 All this came to passe whiles the Gospell and Kingdom of Christ was yet penâ—â—o as it were in a corner confined only to the Jews but after that Christ was once by his Ascention lifted up unto heaven then he drew all men after him John 12.32 then was fulfilled and not before as some learned conceive that prediction of our Saviour Mat. 16.28 Verily I say unto you there be some standing here that shall not taste of death till they have seen the Kingdome of God come with power The Kingdom of God came with power when the Holy Ghost came down like a mighty rushing wind and shooke the place where the Apostles were on the day of Pentecost gathered together Act. 2.2 This violent rushing wind was an Emblem of the great power of the Gospell which shooke the foundations of Sathans Kingdom and overthrew all his strong holds demolished Idols subdued all the learning policy and power of the world and captivated all Nations to the obedience of faith The Jewes had most of them a strong prejudice against Christ yet S. Peter with his Fishâ—rs net came over them and caught 3000. of them at one draught Act. 2.41 The Samaritans had for a long time been held under the power of Sathan by the Inchantments and Sorceries of Simon the Conjurer but the Gospell comming among them those Magick Spells lost their force and were un-witched by a more potâ—nt and effectuall charm Act. 8.12 It s recorded there That when they beleeved the things that were spoken by Philip concerning the kingdome of God and the Name of Jesus Christ they were Baptized both men and women When the Word is Preached it s as possible to keepe down the Sun from rising as to hinder Christ from getting up into his Kingdom But how comes the empty breath of a few weak and despised men to be so effectuall and prevalent The Reasons are 1. This is the Institution and Ordinance of God which therefore must needs be
Rome the Imperiall City and not onely so but even grow famous too in Caesars Palace the Apostle tooke notice else-where of a great doore and effectuall which was opened unto him when yet there were many adversaries 1 Cor. 16.9 which plainly imports great successe in despight of great resistance when the Dragon lay in waite to devoure the Churches man-childe as soone as it was borne he was frustrate of his hopes notwithstanding all his rage the childe was caught up to the Throne of God Revel. 12.5 So in Dioclesians time when there was set up an Edict in the Market place for the utter extirpation of Christianity the whol world soon after turned Christian See then how great and singular a blessing it is which God affords unto any people when he raiseth up store of precious and choyce Instruments to Preach the Gospell among them Howsoever we may haply despise the day of small things and make but slight account of such a mercy yet it is a favour certainely of as much worth in the intendment and consequence of it as the kingdome of heaven amounts unto It s a sign that God is comming to Keep his Court of residence where he sends out harbingers to take up roomes and to prepare lodging and entertainment for him When Saviours come upon mount Sion the next newes is this That the Kingdom is the Lords Obad. v. 21. God abates nothing to a people of the height of his favours when he vouchsafes unto them this mercy Jer. 3.14 15. It s promised as a speciall token and pledge of Gods matrimoniall love Return unto me ye back-sliding children for I am married unto you how doth that appeare I will give you Pastors according to my own heart which shall feede you with knowledge and understanding and would you know of what consequence that is vers. 17. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord the Lord Raignes to be sure and hath a Throne where he is pleased to plant a faithfull and powerfull ministery and where the Lord Raignes there is 1. The greatest Honour and advancement that can befall a Nation It s that which makes a Country to be the land of Immannel Esay 8.8 A glorious high Throne Jer. 17.12 A Crown of glory and a Royall Diadem in the Lords hand Esay 62.3 In a word this is it which lifts up a people as high as heaven Mat. 11.23 Let Italy glory in this That it is for pleasure the garden of the world we shall never neede to envie them whilst it may be truly said of great Britain That it is the Court and presence Chamber of the great King this is the Churches peculiar honour The name of it shall be called from henceforth The Lord is There Ezech. 48 35. 2. As the greatest honour so the greatest safety and protection attends where the Lord Raignes The Church it is the Kingdom of heaven upon Earth and it is a strong City having Salvation for its walls and Bulwarkes Esay 26.1 It may indeed before assaulted and battered but cannot be overcome it may be endangered but not destroyed Christ must be plucked out of heaven and the Scepter wrested out of his hands before the Church can miscarry 3. The Kingdome of heaven is a storehouse of all blessings temporall Spirituall and Eternall the blessings of the heaven above and of the deepe that coucheth beneath Irriguum superius irriguum inferius the upper springs and the nether springs yea all Gods fresh springs have their course here Psal. 87.7 Christ hath unsearchable riches of grace and glory and he makes them all over together with himself to those that receive him That State can never be bankrupt that possesseth him who is the possessour of all things looke over all the world and consider what good thing we would have in reference to our private or publike well-fare whether it be riches honour wealth peace liberty policy plenty prosperity or whatsoever else which heaven can afford they come in as additions with the Kingdom of God Mat. 6.33 We value our Magna Charta much our civill rights and liberties we count them precious and yet they are but for this life but the grand Patent and Charter of heaven Feoffes us in the promises of the life that now is and of that also which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 To winde up therefore this clew Wheresoever the Lord is pleased by the Ministery of his Servants to establish himselfe a Kingdom among men there is a Throne of honour a myne of wealth a store-house of blessings an Ocean of comforts In a word there is the spring-head where all happinesse flourisheth and all misery withers 2. Here 's matter of comfort and encouragement That wheresoever the Gospell is preached there the Kingdom of heaven comes in and no opposition can keep it out The Prophets are wont to make this as a ground of greatest comfort even in the midst of sad times How beautifull are the feete how welcome the accesse of those which bring this good tydings unto Sion Thy God raignes Esay 52.7 We may feede upon this cordiall even on our solemne Fast in our greatest mourning in the midst of all our teares this may excite us to some expressions of thankfulnesse and strains of gratulation The Lord raignes saith the man after Gods own heart and what then let the earth rejoyce let the multitudes of the Isles be glad thereof Psal. 97.1 If any other people in the world surely wee of this Island have great cause to rejoyce and be glad in this regard howsoever it be with us in other respects yet blessed be God it may not it cannot be denyed but that the Lord raignes and hath had his Throne among us for a long time Tertullian observed long since that Christ set up his colours and came in as a conquerer before the Roman Eagles could spread their wings here and S. Hierom hath an expression to this purpose That the Court and Kingdom of heaven is as open at great Brittaine as at Jerusalem and although in the generall Apostacy of Antichrist the Kingdom of heaven was here fast locked and barred up for many hundreds of yeares yet it was afterward by the happy reformation in the dayes of our Fathers here also as well as in other Churches set open againe according to that prediction Revel. 15.5 After this I looked and behold the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in heaven was opened I neede not tell you what store of excellent and glorious Instruments the Lord then raised up both of Magistrates and Ministers nor how mightily they carried on the work though against a world of opposition It sufficeth that we all know that the foundation of the Temple and Tabernacle of God was layd and the street and walls of the heavenly Jerusalem built though in troublous times and from that day forward to this the Lord that
of heaven and to omit the various use of the notion if yet it be taken at all in a various use for I rather hold with the Judicious Cameron that it imports alwayes one and the same thing even the Kingdom of Christ the mediator over the Church and people of the New Testament with the preaching of the Gospell and the other Ordinances of Evangelicall and Christian worship which properly belong thereunto There is first a Kingdom of power and providence which Christ hath as God over all the world Angels and men and devils being put in subjection under him and of this the Prophet speakes Psal. 102. v. 19. The Lord hath prepared his Throne in heaven and his Kingdom ruleth over all this is not meant here 2. There is a Kingdom of Grace which Christ as Mediator exercised in a more especiall and peculiar manner over the Church and Common-wealth of the Jewes before the time of his Incarnation and comming into the world for even the Jewes as well as we were unto God a Kingdom of Priests and an holy Nation Exod. 19.5 and the Lord was their King Judge and Lawgiver Esay 33.22 and Salomon after David his Father is said to raign over Israel sitting upon the thron of Jah 1 Chron. 29 23. and hence as one of the Ancients * well observes out of Josephus The Politick State and form of Government among the Jewes It was neither a Monarchy nor an Aristocracy nor a Democracy but a Theocracy or Divine Government the Son of God being in that Common-wealth Commander in Chief and ordering all things therein according to his own will Christ therefore reigned over the Jewes as mediator many hundreds of yeeres before he was born of the Virgin Mother the Kingdom and government even then was upon his shoulders yet you shall never finde throughout all the whol Scripture that State and manner of Christs Raign over the Church of the Old Testament called The Kingdom of Heaven and the principall reason seemes to be this because the whol policy and form of it was Typicall and Ceremoniall all things being carried then in clouds and shadows and mysticall prefigurations of good things to come the truth and substance whereof was not yet exhibited and revealed Hence the Apostle shuns not to call the Jewish Tabernacle a worldly Sanctuary Heb. 9.1 and their Ordinances and rites of Worship carnall Ordinances imposed onely untill the time of reformation vers. 10. the like censure he is bold to passe upon their sacrifices and offerings They were only patterns and * figures of things in the heavens and not the heavenly things themselves vers. 23. the people also were in comparison of the Christian Church a carnall people and the whole oeconomy and frame of their Religion worship and government was to be shaken and removed as with an earth-quake at Christs comming Heb. 2.27 * therefore that pollicy and ceremoniall forme of Church administration was not fit to be called by so high and glorious a Title The Kingdom of heaven But now in the dayes and by the ministery of John the Baptist the Leviticall Paedagogie with all the carnall rudiments and umbrages of it began to wax old and to weare out of date another manner of Church State much more spirituall entring then upon the Stage and comming in by degrees in the roome of it which therefore in the New Testament is commonly called The Kingdom of heaven The mother place in Scripture from which this notion was derived is Dan. 2.44 In the dayes of those Kings the God of heaven shall set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed c. this passage Aben-Ezra and the Jewish Rabbins do generally interpret as Cameron observes of the Messias his Kingdom which they were wont to call {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the Kingdome of heaven * The denomination is not taken as is commonly thought from the subject or place of residence but from the efficient rather for with them in their Dialect the Kingdom of the Messias or Son of God and the Kingdom of the heavens are termes of promiscuous use as they are also in Scripture compare Mat. 70.7 with Luke 10.9 and you shall finde that which in the former place is called the Kingdom of heaven in the latter is the Kingdom of God the difference in the thing it self being none at all but onely in the sound of words But now this Evangelicall state of the Christian Church called the Kingdom of heaven it is either Militant or Triumphant the State of Grace or the State of Glory which for kinde and nature are both one and differ but onely in degrees for the State of grace what is it else but glory begun the way to the Kingdom is not without some first fruits of the Kingdom saith * Bernard And the State of glory on the other side what is it else but grace fully perfect and consummate It is the former of these which is here principally meant to wit the Militant Estate of the Christian Church in which men are brought to live under the gracious and milde government of Christ their minds being inlightned guided and powerfully moved and over-ruled 1. To repent of all their sins and then 2. To accept of the pardon and remission of them in such sort as it is offered in the tenor of the New Covenant 3. To render back as a Tribute of thankfulnesse a free cheerfull universall and constant obedience to all the revealed Will of God The next thing to be cleered is how this Kingdom may be said to suffer violence And here Interpretors varie I shall give a touch of their severall descantings It may be the very discords will help to make the Musick better and the harmony more pleasing the sum of all or most of the tendries I have met with is reducible to these three heads The violence here spoken of may be taken either as it is opposed 1. To Natures 2. To Just and right or 3. As it is opposed to temper and moderation First it may be taken as opposed to that which is according to Nature the Philosophers are wont to distinguish of motion thus That it is either naturall or violent naturall motion springs from naturall principles and tends to naturall objects and ends but the motion saith Hierome of these enterprizers was not such but violent and strained in respect of its principles object and end It was in all these beyond the spheare and compasse of nature those that were by nature born men of an elementary constitution being upon the matter little other then mushromes sprung out of the earth were transported with a more then generous affectation to become Angels and their ambition was so transcendent and supernaturall that nothing could satisfie them under heaven and this seemed to be such an extream violence against the common course and strain of nature as if fishes should affect to leave their watery
and restrained fence which is all one with oppression and rapine pillaging spoyling plundering and other such practises which Jehoiakim that wicked Prince is branded for Jer. 22.17 John the Baptist reads a Lecture to the Souldiers that came to his Baptisme to beware of this violence it being such a character as least of all suits with those that pretend towards the Kingdome of heaven S. Paul is peremptory that none such shall ever come there 1 Cor. 6.10 It is a violence quite of another nature and straine which is here hinted unto and commended An honest and just violence an holy Rapine a lawfull and heavenly Robbery a divine Sacriledge which to give you in a word a rude and cursory description of it is nothing else But a vehement bent of desires affections endeavours intensively aspiring and reaching after the Kingdome of God and greedily laying hold of all helpes meanes and advantages which may conduce and tend thereunto We have sundry instances in Scripture of such a violence as this The woman of Canaan Mark 7.27 she was so obstinate in driving on her design that she could not be beaten off no not with repulses the more Discouragements she had so much the more resolute and violent she grew taking a strong hold-fast of Christ and cleaving to him like a bur and never giving him over till she had got what she came for So the blind man which sate begging by the high-way-side you may enter him into same List When he heard that Jesus passed by he cryed after him with a loud voyce and when the Disciples discouraged him he cryed yet out the more a great deale and clamored after him Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me Luke 18.35 And were not those Auditors of Christ exceeding violent who thronged after him in such crowdes that they trode upon one another Luke 12.1 and those also no lesse who forced their accesse unto Christ by digging through stone walls and uncovering the roofe of the house where he was Mark 2.4 What should I neede to stand upon particular Instances the Scripture is full of them every where The Souldiers Publicans and Harlots in those dayes they rose up in great numbers and took the Kingdome of heaven by force whiles the Pharisees and Scribes and those profound Schollers were left behind Those that seemed first were the last and they that were last proved first This violent Disposition and straine of Spirit I shall endeavour to shew wherein it consists how it workes and wherefore it is so requisite and necessary 1. Therefore this violence consists in earnest and vehement desires 2. In stedfast purposes and Resolutions 3. In stirring and impetuous indeavours To begin with the first of these Earnest and vehement desires They are the next and most immediate issues and out-goings of the soule the feete on which it runnes the wings on which it mounts and flyes towards the object desired and longed for and these desires are either good or evill carnall or spirituall thereafter as the object is on which they fix and the order and manner in which they move A man may know what the constitution and temper of his spirit is in relation to the Kingdome of God if he can but discerne how the pulses of his desire beate and what the chiefe and principall thing is which the most quick and violent motions and ebullitions of his heart workes after If a man be {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as the Philosopher spake a Citizen and inhabitant of this world his desires grovell on the earth he pants after riches honours pleasures relisheth nothing else but now on the other side if a man be {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a Citizen and inhabitant of another world then the currant and full streame of his desires is still rising and working up towards heaven He will pant after God as the chased Hart doth for the water brookes Psal. 42. And thirst for him as the dry and parched ground doth for showres of raine Psal 63 1. He will long like a woman with child for his Salvation Psal 119.174 and if it be deferred he will faint and fall into a swoune Psal. 119.81 82. And be sick of love Cant. 5.8 Such desires as these are violent and they are of such force and prevalence that nothing can withstand them A man may do what he will and carry what he will in matters of Religion if he have but earnest and vehement desires Matth. 7. Aske and it shall be given you seeke and ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened unto you This asking seeking knocking is nothing else but prayer and prayer is nothing else but the ejaculation or darting out of earnest and impetuous desires which pierce the clouds and strike up unto God get into his bosome charme his wrath opens or shuts his hands extorts mercies removes Judgements and never will away without its errand This is that golden Key as one fitly calls it which can open all lockes remove all barres raigne over all Impediments in heaven and earth It s a kinde of omnipotent thing that can prevaile with God and man above all expressions and thoughts As they write of Proteus that when any came to consult with him and to receive Oracles from him he would at the first turne himselfe into a thousand varieties of colours and shapes but if they pressed on him with importunity and held him hard and close to it he would then give them at last satisfactory oracles So the Lord though he seeme for a while to neglect and take little or no knowledge of the desires of his people and seemes to put them off and winde from them yet when their desires grow violent and when they knock at his gates with importunitie then he lets them be their owne carvers and is content that they should ravish from him whatsoever they will By this you may see how strong and forcible desires be though they seeme but of a soft and gentle straine they ravish the objects they are set on As if a man looke upon an object of beauty and lust after it you know what interpretation our Saviour makes of that so if a man look upon the Kingdom of heaven and lust after it he hath already ravished it in his heart 2. This violent disposition and straine of spirit discovers it selfe in stedfast purposes and resolutions Resolution it is the spring of Action It s that which poyseth and steeres a mans course such as our purposes and resolutions are such be our actions and enterprizes the hand of the dyall goes without as the weights and wheels of the clock turn it within so the head plots the hand acts according to the sway of a well or ill setled Resolution The heart saith if it be set right for heaven I must and will have the Kingdom of God let honours and wealth go which way they will to set up Christ upon his
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
like manner when men are so lazie and languishing so cold and slack in dealing for a Kingdome It s a shrew'd argument against them that sure they are not in earnest they do but play with Religion the precious treasures of heaven are set before them and they resent them not at all or but a very little make no great haste are not a whit sollicitous take no paines about the matter as if the things were of no great importance they are very moderate and delicate in making towards them neither that high hand that holds th for t h nor that blood that bought them nor that worth that is in them workes much but all is slighted God comes waiting upon them with calls and calls and with gracious offers and is not regarded hence no doubt is this black cloud risen which darkens the heavens over us The glory of God and the Salvation of our soules we do nothing many of us but jest and dally with them I have read of Anastatius the Emperor that he was by the hand of God shot to death with a hot thunder-bolt because he was luke-warme in the Catholique cause and not zealous against the Arrian faction 6. In other things where the least overture of gaine honour pleasure appeares how eager are we panting after the dust of the earth as the Prophet speakes and ready to run our selves out of breath for it if a rich purchase may be made a profitable bargaine driven an honourable and wealthy match gotten or any such other secular Commodity which we are affected with oh then we are all upon the spur upon the wing no haste no alacrity no labour or diligence is thought too much or but enough now there is violence upon violence all oares and sailes must now be plyed and shall we be thus earnest for frivolous unconcerning low things which we may have and be never the better want and be never the worse and yet carry our selves in matters of eternity as if we were all Stoicks and had no passions about us Ferventissimi in terrenis frigidissimi in caelestibus shall we be red hot as fire for earth and key cold as any Ice for heaven 7. If all this will not move looke upon wicked men how violent a bent have they to sinne Their hearts are fully set to doe mischiefe Eccles. 9.3 They inflame themselves with Idols Esay 57.5 They are as swift Dromedaries traversing their waies Jer. 2.23 Their whole force is evill and their course not right Jer. 23.10 How violent were the Israelites for their Idolatry when they offered their sonnes and daughters unto Devills Deut. 32.17 Had they so much devotion for Idols and have we so little for the true God what care did they not take what cost did they not cast away when they made haste as David hath it to poure out meate and drink offerings to another God Psal. 16.4 and shall we esteeme our true God and Religion at such a low under-hand rate as if gold and silver were too deare and precious then to be offered up upon the sacrifice and service of them as if hell and lyes were pearles never over-bought but truth and heaven meere trash and nothing worth since they would doe any thing for the one and we nothing for the other 8. Looke upon your enemies how more then Hyperbolically violent they are in carrying on their designe of Rome and Hell how furious is their march how resolute are their spirits how quick their endeavours how do they compasse sea and land to Spaine France Holland Denmarke whither do they not dispatch their Emissarie what vaste treasures do they not lay out what expence of blood do they stick at what stones do they not roll what conclusions do they not try what project have they not hammered what corner of the earth have they not searched even till hell from beneath was moved to meete them and all to drive their desperate and pernicious designe to cast downe if it were possible Jesus Christ out of his Throne and to set up Belzebub in his roome hedging fencing planting watering what could they have done more for that wilde vine that false Antichristian Religion and Church which is the vine of the earth and not of heaven it having no rooting growth nor blessing thence Rev. 14.11 If there be any to whom the Syrens voyce sounds sweete Heark what Father Campian professeth of himselfe and his fellow Jesuites Quamdiu vel vnus quispiam e nobis supererit qui Tiburno vestro fruatur fruatur that is his word whiles there was any of them left to enjoy a Tyburn tippet as old Bishop Latimer was wont to speak whiles any of them remained for the gallowes torment and imprisonment they vowed never to desist nor let fall their weather-beaten cause and what shall we be coole and moderate when they are so extreame violent Acrius illi ad perniciem quam nos ad salutem Shall they be more zealous to procure their owne and others destruction temporall and eternall then we for our owne and others Salvation 9 If we be resolute we shall prevaile and carry away the prize which we are contending for This should have been a doctrine entire of it felfe I onely touch it and but lightly too as a motive to quicken us up What will not men do upon uncertaine and often most unlikely hopes to advantage themselves but we have this hope as an Anchor sure and stedfast That if we be violent for it this Kingdome is ours none can hinder us of it such as sell all shall have the pearle Mat. 13.44 Those that shrinke not from Christ in his temptations for feare of the Crosse when he comes in his glory they shall sit upon thrones and raigne with him Luke 22.28 and for the publique cause now depending whiles we continue faithfull with and stout for God feare not the issue let the oppositions be what they will all those great Mountaines before Zerubbabel shall become a plaine Zach. 4.8 The Lord reignes though the earth be never so unquiet he will bring about his designe when men and devills have done their worst What though the pillars of the Land tremble and all the foundations of it shake as in an earth quake what though we be in danger whiles we are so violent for heaven to lose all we have on earth as the Orator sometimes told the Athenians yet we shall not have an haires harme If we serve our God with reverence and godly feare we shall receive a Kingdome that cannot be shaken Heb. 12.28 Unto the which God of his infinite mercy bring us through the Merits of Christ Jesus who hath purchased it for us To whom c. FINIS Die Mercurii 29. Maii. 1644. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons Assembled in Parliament That Mr Harman do from this House give thankes unto Master Hall for the great paines he tooke in the Sermon he preached this day at the