CONCIO AD MAGISTRATUM A Nations Honour AND A Nations dishonour OR A Kingdoms Prospective-Glass Discovering who are the most faithful friends and who the most dangerous enemies to the Peace and Prosperity of a Kingdom Written by P. Fullwood M. A. R. of South-Normanton in the County of Darby LONDON Printed by John Lock for E. Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West end of St. Pauls 1673. To the Worshipful FRANCIS REVELL Esquire Mine honoured Patron all health and happiness THere are two sorts of People counted worthy of Honour quibus obtigit aut legenda scribere aut scribenda agere either to write things worthy to be read or to do things worthy to be written were I as succesful in the one as you are in the other I need not fear a fair approbation of these my labours but a Sermon once delivered goeth afterward to the Press as to the execution there are man things that in Elocution aurem praetereunt as St. Ambrose speaks that escape the ear which when they come to publick view are more strictly observed and many times weighed in the false weights of misprison therefore it was good counsel of that reverend Father before we deal our poor endeavours tructinare discutere omnes scrupulos malevolentiae ponderate discusse to try and prove every grain against which the envious may except but this labrur I leave to those that have leisure to be more curious it shall suffice me to trace the steps of that great Doctour of the Gentiles who delivered what he had received not in the entising words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and truth I hope your wonted candour will apply an Antidote to expel the poyson of malignant spirits and with the industrious Bee gather honey out of those herbs whence the venemous spider sucks poyson but that the porch prove not too large for the building I conclude in the Jacob benediction of the Patriark the Lord bless you with the blessings of Heaven above blessings of the deep the deep that lyeth under blessings of the breast and of the womb From my study at South Normanton April 3. 1673. So prayeth SIR Your humble servant Peter Fullwood Prov. 14. V. 34. Righteousness exalteth a Nation but Sin is a reproach to any People HOW Transcendent are those Sacred Oracles and Superlative perfections of holy writ because of the savour of her Oyntments her name is as oyntment poured forth therefore the Virgins love Her all her garments smell of Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia here are set the Topez the Jaspire the Emerauld and every pretious Stone This is a pillar of a Cloud to go before us in the hottest day of persecution and a pillar of Fire to lead us in the darkest night of errour it is the surest Basis of our faith the most sxact rule of our actions it is such savoury meat wherein our Soul delighteth and to every one that thirsteth a well of water springing up unto everlasting life nor is there greater variety in the use then in the Method some Scriptures being like the Curtains of the Tabernacle which all hang together others of a different temper where to draw an inference from a context is as to enforce a marriage being without consent of which sort seem these words I have read unto you at this time The whole Book of the Proverbs seems to be a Garden of sweet and fragrant Flowers holy and divine fited for the use of all Christians amongst which none more pregnant none more profitable then these words none more pregnant Vbi quot verba tot sententiae so many words so many sentences quot dictiones tot lectiones so many sayings so many lessons none more profitable profitable to the Converted that they may retain righteousness which exalteth a Nation profitable to the unconverted that they may abandon sin which is a shame or a reproach to any People Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a shame to any People I shall divide the words as Jacob divided his flocks into two bands here 's a Nations honour and a Nations dishonour 1. A Nations honour Righteousness exalteth a Nation 2. A Nations dishonour sin is a reproach to any People in the first here is 1. The efficient viz. Righteousness 2. The effect exalteth 3. The Object a Nation In the second here is 1. The indictment that 's against sin 2. The sentence sin is a reproach 3. The extent to any People Of these in their order circulo theologico by Gods assistance and your Christian patience leaving Curiosity to its courtiers and first of the first Righteousness To open this Scripture because all Scriptures are not open unto all as St. Gregory speaks where the Lamb may wade and the Elephant swim by the word of God let us divide the waters as with Elijahs mantle that we may pass over unto the genine sense of this Scripture Righteousness admits of several acceptions in holy writ but for method sake I shall rank them into two heads first particular Righteousness and that is a point of moral justice which contributes to every one that which by any just account may appear due to them render to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custom Rom. 13. v. 7. to whom custom fear to whom fear honour to whom honour justice is compared to the pulse the pulse if it beat equally it is a sympton of perfect health if unequally it signifyes a sore distemper if it beat not at all it portends imminent death and as it is in the body natural so also in the body politick if judgement come down like a stream and righteousness flow like many waters it is a true Prophet of the peace and prosperity of a Kingdome but if judgement be turned into wormwood and righteousness into gall it is an evident note of destructions making that Kingdome like that house which was built upon the Sand when the rain descended and the floods came and the wind blew it fell and great was the fall of it When God rains upon the ungodly fire and brimstone the portion of their Cup when the floods of Gods judgements have lift up their heads when the wind of Gods displeasure drives away the wicked like chaff then let the unrighteous Nation tremble for her judgment slumbreth Behold the Lord hath a controversie with the Hos 4. v. 1. Inhabitants of the Land because there is no truth mercy nor knowledg of God in the Land but swearing and lying and killing and stealing and committing Adultery they break out and blood toucheth blood therefore shall the land mourn and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish c. Secondly there is universal righteousness which consists in a general conformity to the golden rule of Religion in all our actions He that hath walked in my Statutes and kept my judgements Ezek. 18 v. 9. to deal truly he is just he shall surely live saith the Lord God if
furtherance that Joseph could contribute to them the best of the Land the Land of Goshen to invite them and to draw us into sin we have all that Pharaoh the God of this World can doe all that Joseph our own flesh can doe the best of the Land the glory of the World to invite us no wonder then if Noah Lot David Peter fall like starrs from Heaven the purest Diamonds is not without its flaw the sweetest Rose not without its prickles the fairest Flowers not without their witherings but external priviledges as they cannot exempt from the guilt so neither from the punishment of sin to prove this let us call in the evidence of John the Baptist who hath forâ—warned you to Mat. â— 8 8 9. flee from the wrath to come bring forth fruits meet for Repentance and think not to say within your selves we have Araham to our Father To hold up sin was more than Atlas could do who as the Poets feign underprops Heaven Heaven could not hold the Pride of Lucifer nor Paradise Adams disobedience Citties Gates and Walls were to week to keep the Old World from the Deluge or Sodom or Gomorrah from Fire and Brimstone Sin changed the Government at Rome destroyed our Abbies Frieryes and Nunneryes and without Repentance it is to be feared will destroy us Here then as in a glass we may behold who are the greatest Enemies to the peace and prosperity of a Kingdom such as draw humility with cords of vanity and sin as with a cart-rope In the dayes of Eli Phineas Wife being with Child bowed her self and travailed for pain came on her and being near the time of her death she named the child Icaboâ— for said she the glory is departed from Israel it is our national sins that makes our Kingdome bring forth Icabods Sons of shame and contempt Davids Adultery Solomons Idolatry Ahabs oppression Beltâ—shazars Luxury Nebuchadnezzars pride proves fatal to the subversion of their Kingdomes When Ahab saw Elijah Ahab saith unto him art thou he that troubleth Israel and he answered I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy Fathers house in that ye have forsaken God and served Balaim we need not fear all our Enemies without us were it not for sin within us though the Sea roar and make a noise and the billows thereof arise let us stop the current of our sins before they overflow the Banks and become a sad and fatal Deluge and over-run the Territories of our Kingdome Hear ye this then all ye People of high and low rich and poor one with another let the reproach and shame of sin invite you to amendment how long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and fools delight in scorning turn you at my reproof break of your sins by repentance arise from the sink of sin and dungeon of Death and wash you in the Laver of Repentance if the tears of a penitent soul cannot cleanse you behold the Rivers of blood and the Cataracts of Heaven stand open there is a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness wash there and you shall be clean through this red Sea all our Fathers were wont to pass to the promised Land having their Enemies their sins all swallowed up in those waters unless these Vipers be shaken off God regards not your offering repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be done away when times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the Acts 3. 19. Father Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of his Father to the Eternal invisiâ—le and only wise God be ascribed as is most due all Honour Glory Might Majstey and Dominion now and for ever CONCIO AD CLERUM Presbiteri onus honos THE Ministers Duty AND THE Ministers Due OR The Church Mans looking-glass wherein he may behold the face of his Office and the beauty thereof As it was delivered in a Visitation Sermon preached at Chester-field in the County of Darby April the 14th 1671. Written by P. Fullwood M. A. R. of South-Normanton in the County of Darby LONDON Printed by John Lock for E. Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West end of St. Pauls 1673. 1 Tim 5 17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especialy they who labour in the word and Doctrine VVE cannot without honour look back on the lines when Userpers pretend to Moses rod committed the crime that Kâ—rah designed destroying the mirrour of Princes and seeing that pleased a generations of factious and seditious spirits proceeded further to lay violent hands on the primitive order of the Church indeavouring to exterpate their Authority and swallow up their revenues dooming likewise the rest of that sacred orders perpetual silence who would not worship that golden Image they had set up Thus have we fallen amongst Thieves that have stript us wounded us and left us half dead this blessed Apostle with that good Samaritan seems to pour in oyl into our wounds and to set us upon our own Beast again and this he doth in these words I have read unto you Let the the Elders that Rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially such as labour in the word and doctrine The Text Rebceca like brings forth Twins heres Presbyteri onus honos The Elders duty and the Elders due First the Elders duty let them rule well let them labour in the Word and Doctrine and this I shall divide into the Parts of a Demonstration first the Elder subject Persons Presbyteri the Elders Secondly Affectione's hear what let them rule let them labour how let them rule well let them labour in the word and doctrine secondly the Elders due let them be counted worthy of double honour And this like the River of Paradise runs into four heads First Honour Secondly double honour Thirdly why they are worthy Fourthly how let them be counted worthy of these in their order by Gods assistance and your Christian Patience leaving curiosity to its Courtiers and first of the Presbyteri the Elders Presbyteri seems to be a Title annext to the holy order of Priesthood as appears by this subsequent clause who labour in the word and doctrine and this is signed with a Scriptum est v. 18. The scripture saith thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the Corn and the labourer is worthy of his hire Now that the truth hereof may appear as clear as the Sun let us take a view of their Ordination When they had ordained Elders in every Church they commended to the Lord suitable to that prayer in our Churches Liturgy or the initiation of Infants by Baptism grant O Lord that whosoever is here dedicated to thee by our Office and Ministry may be endued with Heavenly Vertues c. To which may be added the elder Induction into the 1 Pet. 5. v. 1. 2 3. 4. Church by St. Peter
blemish to us that Divines are less regarded amongst them in any Nation in the World either Christian or Heathen And so I pass from thee quality of the Elders due to the quantity double honour a due answerable to the duty as the reward to the merit their duty is double ruling and labouring their labour double in the Word and Doctrine so that all these respects double honour is due to them besides the honour of reverence their is the honouâ— of maintenance due to them as St. Chrysostâ—me and others upon these words See what a large patrymony God conferred upon those that Ministred about holy â—eut 18 things under the Law no less hath ordained under the Gospel the Apostle by seven irrefragible arguments proves Cor. 1. â— 9. from â— 9 to â— the maintenance of the Ministry is not a beggarly almes given to them only in charity or by way of â—enevolence hut an honourable stipend due to them in Justice for their workes â—ake And as we have an entail from the Lord of all so have we the continued usage of the Church time out of mind if we search into former ages we shall find that this homage hath been ever paid to the Church we cannot say of this as our Saviour said of the divorce from the beginning it was not so Mâ—lchesidick was tempore antiquiâ—r without Father without Mother without deseent 〈◊〉 14. 20. â—at 23. â— 23. King of Salem and Priest of the most high God and he received tythes of Abraham And this attested by our Saviour to be paid in his time and approved by him nor can the Enemies of the Church plead any prescription since that I have read of a lamp that burnt a thousand years and afterward went out but these with the Mat. 25. wiâ—e Virgins shall have oyl in their vessels with their lamps so long as the Sun and Moon endureth Thirdly dignâ— they are worthy First dignitate officâ— by the worthyness of their Office in the Scripture they are called Starres Angels Pastours of the Church the Amâ—assadours of Heaven nihil in hoc lâ—â—o excâ—ll â—tius sacâ—rdotâ—bus They that be wise shall shine Chrâ—â— as the â—rightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever Secondly dignâ—taâ—â—â—periâ— the worthyness of the work this work is to work out mans salvation honour the Physitian because of thy need saith the wise man now these are only conversant about the body in saving it from death temporal much more should be hâ—noured these spiritual Physitiâ—ns who are conversant about the Souâ— in saving it death eternal The more excellent a thing is in Nature the more acceptable is the preservation of it now the soul is the express Image of God the free-born child and heir of eternal it is Gods choicest jewel Christs purchase and therefore what an honour is it to save this soul from death and therefore not without good cause was the Apostles exhortation We beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the 1 Thes 5 v. 12. 13. Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their work sake Thirdly dignatione Dei by Gods vouchsafeing mercy The Saints shall be all cloathed with honourable robes white robes shall be given unto them duplicibus vestientur stola prima saith St. Bernard ipsa est felâ—citas requies animarum happiness and rest of Souls secunda vero est immortalitas gloria corporum Immortality and glory of Bodies such honour have all his saints but as the elder Brother the beginning of strength the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power had sundry preheminences above the rest he was Lord over all his Brethren he had a double portion and succeeded in the double Office hoth Kingly and Priestly so the Elders that rule well and labour for the rest of their Brethren in the Church Militant shall have double honour a double portion in the Church tryumphant The wise and faithful Steward whom his Lord maketh ruler over his houshold here him will he make ruler over all that he hath hereafter and of this they are worthy dignitate dei non St. Ber. dignitate sua by Gods acceptance not their merit Fourthly Quomodo How let them be counted worthy of double honour Here give me leave to turn the Apostles direction into an exhortation First I shall direct my speech to my Brethren of the Ministry si qua coelopictas quae talia curat If there be any comolation in Christ any comfort of love any fellowship of the Spirit c. mind ye not every one your own things but the things of the Church let the honour of the Church and the Ministry thereof be dear in your sight he that toucheth it let him touch the Apple of your eye Gregor Nazienzen Jonas like desired to be cast into the Sea so all might be calm and well in the Church and let us labour to hold up the great Authority of the Church and the honour of the Ministry against the unjust censures and machinations of the common Enemy and take we up that noble resolve If I Psal 137 v. 4. forget thee O Jerusalem let mâ— right hand forget her cunning If I do not remember thee let mâ— tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth Secondly a word or two to the Officers of the Church the Church-Wardens and Sides-men you are the eyes and ears of the Church and Court Be ye not as the Scripture speaks of the Idols that have eyes and see not ears and hear not mouths and speak not let not your presentments be like the Spiders where Hornets break through and smaller Flies are catcht but search Jerusalem with candles find out all those that have ill will at our Sion and bring them to condign punishment You Lam. 1 v. 1. shall not need to seek a knot in a Bulrush I wish there was no cause to renew the Churches complaint how doth the City sit solitar that was full of People Besides the Act. 10. Ataâ—ie and disorder by reason of several gestures makeing the Church seem like the sheet knit at the four corners where were all manner of four footed Beasts wild Beasts and creeping things and Fowles of the air or the Altar at Athens whereon was this inscription to the unknow God Let not these Beasts of prey lurk within your Parishes to rent contumelies against the Church and the holy order of the Ministry I shall wind up all with an exhortation to all in general look not with an evil eye upon the dues and rights of the Church neither withold them from those to whom they are due which of you by unjust deteinure can adde one Cubit to your statute hereby your riches shall be corrupted and your garments moath eaten your gold and your silver ankerd and the rust of them shall be a witness againâ—t â—on