shall lose that life and strength which it had not but that a Christian do's lose to his feeling but it will returne again When he is a hearing some affection but he goes away dead as he came no but when the Lord comes by his everlasting power and mercy and life in any Ordinance now Christ comes in his power and now ye receive the King in his power and Christ attaines his end in the Ordinance This is all that I would say I do beseech you brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ Oh seek for this blessed life everlasting life Lord everlasting power Lord beg for that and seek for that and pray for that and weep for that do not content thy self with sippings and tastings look for everlasting life and power to come with the Ordinance though means be weak in themselves do not therefore vilifie them Look upon the brazen serpent what a poor thing was that to heal the people that were stung yet the institution of Christ did put vertue into it So do thou attend on the Ordinances and never be content till thou dost finde the Lord and feel the Lord and say as some have said though I feel not the Lord now as I have done yet I think I shall for ever blesse the Lord. Never be content till ye finde the Lord bringing your heart to this passe and then the King of glory the Prince of peace is come though ye finde not the fame power at all times yet if ye finde that power which do's inure your heart for ever to blesse the Lord here is everlasting power Jesus is now come to thy soul Ay but when ye content your selves with some movings and beginnings and sin and Satan as strong again as ever and ye finde not your sin wasting and consuming in truth the Lord Jesus is cast off and ye have not the end for which ye come to the Ordinances of the Lord. But then ye are blessed for ever when ye finde this 2. There is a derivative power of Christ to the Church joyntly considered together Matth. 18.17 Go and tell the Church is the highest tribunal Christ hath on earth in the Kingdome of Saints 'T is Christs high Court of Parliament beyond which there is no appeal to any higher power then the Church and it cannot be meant of the Officers of the Church which is the fairest interpretation For the case may be that there is but one Officer and is he the Church as also that he may sin and not hear of his sin and must they leave him to himself at least to judge of his sin The power of Keys was given to Peter quà fidelis and the power to binde and loose to two or three gathered together in Christs name Mat. 18. but these things are known For the clearing up of this know that there is a threefold derivative power which the Lord bath given to the Church joyntly and not to Elders only Which may be miserably abused and so provoke the Lord to take it away from their hands till they know better how to use it yet when 't is used according to Christ now not to be under the power of it which is Christs power delegated to it is to cast off Christs Government And I am confident the bondage of all the Churches in Christendome if ye examine the Churches is continued because the Lord sees hearts unwilling to submit to him in the government of Churches and will continue it till Churches know how to use it and men lye down to the power of it 1. They have a power given them from Christ of opening and shutting the doores of the Church the Kingdome of God on earth i. e. of letting in and keeping out any according to Christ into or out of their communion and this I conceive to be one part of the power of the Keys committed to the Church The chief office of which is to open and shut to receive in and keep out according to Christ and hence the three thousand were added to the Church though the Apostles were guides therein and Acts 9.26 Paul would have joyned himself but they would not accept of him because they were afraid of him No body natural or politick but they have power to receive to them the usefull and keep from them the hurtfull so much more Christs spirituall body And hence the Church of Ephesus is commended Revel 2.2 together with their Angel for trying those that seemed good and were not Now 't is true this power may be miserably abused in opening doores too wide or locking them up too long or too fast and in many sad disorders this way yet there is this power Now when men shall refuse Church-tryal and so communion with the Church and that not from sense of their unfitnesse and unworthinesse or some other reason which is in the sight of God of great weight but from a carelesse contempt of Gods Ordinances or Gods people a man sayes What care I for the one and what are the other and from a resolution never to grow better they know they are not like to be accepted of them and they are resolved they will grow no better they think themselves as good as they and from a secret unwillingnesse to come to the light they know things are amisse and will not be known of it they appear better then they are and hence they are loath to be seen and judged as they are Certainly this is to cast off Christs power and if continued in the salvation of your soules is also cast off Acts 2. ult The Lord added to the Church daily such at should be saved To the Church i. e. not the universal Church but visible Church where it may be had such as should be saved Isa 60.14 15. For the Nation and Kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish yea those Nations shall utterly perish Lamentable is the condition of many not so much for not joyning themselves to the Church as not seeking of the Lord for that mercy that they may be first joyned to the Lord and so to his people for the Lords sake There are great heaps of people amongst the Churches here that do stand guilty of this the Lord humble us for it that content themselves to stand Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel Eph. 2.12 Strangers from the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the world The Lord is slow to wrath but there is a threefold bondage 1. Of sin and Satan Rev. 22.14 15. Let him that is filthy be filthy still Nay though there be some beginnings yet apt to fall back because not planted in the courts of the Lord And hence Col. 2.5 Joying and beholding your order and the stedfastnesse of your faith in Christ order and stedfastnesse are joyned together 2. Of misery Zach. 14.17 And it shall be that whosoever will not come up of all the families of the Earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King the
God is come to thy soul and know it thou hast Jesus Christ at the right hand of God the Father interceding for thee therefore go home and blesse the Lord and wonder at his grace that hath translated thee from the Kingdome of darknesse to the Kingdome of his dear Son If the Lord hath let thee finde the beginning of these things in truth go home and blesse the Lord for it 2. Try when the external Kingdome of Christ in his Church is cast off for we told you this was Christs Kingdome 'T is called the Kingdome of Heaven Matth. 25.1 And 't is it which the Lord gives up at the last day to God the Father and hence Mat. 8.12 the members thereof are The children of the Kingdome and hence we read of the rulers and governours of it and the keys not only of doctrine but of power and jurisdiction committed by Christ Jesus to it punctually exprest in Scripture Now we know in the Church there is a three-fold power of Christ in Government 1. The supreme Monarchical absolute power of Christ in and by his Ordinances 2. There is some derivative power of the Church from Christ joyntly together 3. There is a Ministeriall power of the officers of the Church it self Hence the Kingdome of Christ is overthrown when these three are when this three-fold cord is broen by the sons of men and if whole America cast off these or any of these then they fall to bondage and if particular persons in Churches do the Lord will do the like to them much more 1 Kings 9.4 5. When Solomon had been praying much the Lord tells him If he would walk before him as David his father had done to keep his statutes and obey his commandments then he would be a God making good his promise but if not then the Lord would cast off him and that place So Zach. 14.17 And it shall be that whoso will not come up of all the families of the Earth to worship the King the Lord of Hosts even upon them shall be no raine The Lord is quick in his judgements and will spare none 1. There is a supreme power of Jesus Christ in his Church and Ordinances thereof Isa 9.6 The Government is on his shoulders it is true this power is on others also but he is the maine Heb. 3. Moses was only a servant in his House Christ as a Sonne The guidance of all things in the Church doth lye chiefly on him or else it would never be carried along Christ is a Son and that in his own House into whose hands the supreme power of guiding and ordering all things in the Church of God is put the experience of Gods Saints and People doth finde another power which shewes that the Lord Jesus hath and doth exercise a mighty power in the ordinances of his Worship the supreme and kingly power which he exerciseth in the hearts of his people Now cast off this kingly power the Lord himself is cast off I speak not immediately as in the internal Kingdome but mediately And for this the Lord will bring into bondage Luk 19.17 Those mine enemies saith Christ which would not that I should reigne over them bring them hither that I may slay them which is meant of the Lords external administration by his servants Quest Quest When is this done Answ 1. When men impenitently break Covenant made with the Lord. Answ 1 Especially in his Ordinances of cleaving and submitting to him therein and remain so with impenitency This is the maine and first Original of all the rest Now it is manifest the power of Christ Jesus the supreme power of Christ is cast off for a man do's professe by this that not the will of Christ but his own will shall rule him Christ shall not be Lord but as they said Jer. 2.31 We are Lords we will come no more at thee When the League and Covenant between Prince and People is broke then he is cast off from being King this is certain the Lord never did receive any people to himself from the beginning of the world to this day but he hath done it by some Covenant Nor never any people took the Lord to be their God but by some Covenant they bound themselves to the Lord. Whereby they were either made his people or continued to be his people and he their God but I cannot now stand to clear this Now look as when the Lord breaks his Covenant he casts them off from being his people though this he never doth to the Elect So when people break Covenant with him they cast him off as much as in them lyes from being their God they do as much as in them lyes make the Lord to be no God You shall see therefore Hosea 10.3 They say we have no King because we feared not the Lord. It is the speech of Conscience and that at a sad time wherein they did not fear the Lord They have spoken words swearing falsly and breaking the Covenant In their time of Covenanting with the Lord there seemed to be much sorrow and humiliation yet in these very Covenants Hemlock did spring up and hence captivity came Many times the Covenants that are made there is such outward seeming reality that not only men but the Lord speaking after the manner of men He thinks certainly these Promises these Covenants will never be broke yet they are broken Isa 65.8 9 10. I said surely saith the Lord This is a people that will not lie Such profession and such acknowledgements c. so it is said In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence did redeem them But afterward they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit They cast off the Government of the Lord they would not be under the bonds of the Lord and so he was turned to be their enemie this is that which brings captivity and bondage Jerm 2.14 15 c. Is Israel a servant saith the Lord ye shall see the reason why he was so I have broken their iron yoke saith the Lord and I have burst thy bonds and I have planted thee a noble Vine yet hast thou degenerated and this is that which doth make them vassals or slaves And in truth you never see Churches laid desolate but when that time comes men shall see and shall professe it When other Nations shall aske Why hath the Lord dealt thus with his people The answer shall be clear They have broken the Covenant of the Lord. When many miseries come upon particular persons what is the cause of it then remember the Covenant thou hast broken with the Lord. Isa 24.5 6. They have transgressed the Law speaking of the whole earth And they have changed their Ordinances and broken the everlasting Covenant A people that might have had everlasting mercy they would not submit to the Lord they have broken this everlasting Covenant of the Lord Now what followes The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof
it sads their hearts that they do their work feebly 3. Hence to propose a doubtful question to the Church which may trouble or bring an offenders sin to the Church without councell of the Elders who may encourage them if of God and ripen it for the Church or discourage it if not of God Christ when he writes to the Churches he superscribes his epistles to the Angels if one man may propose a doubtful opinion another may and a third and one may side with another and so much confusion will follow 4. Hence when men shall not take warning of evils to come upon evident grounds it 's casting off the Lords yoke when they come on thee thou mayest say it is because I have refused to hearken to my watchers they warned me of this and it may be you will finde else such evils which the scripture notes according to the word of the Lord by his servant Elisha so will the Lord make good the words and threatnings of his faithful servanrs 5 They have power of publick reproof of any member of the Church in case of plain open and publick offences others without leave cannot nor ought not although others may tell them Reproofs are part of the power peculiar to the governours in any society where governours are present especially and at hand as now in a family no wise man will suffer brawles amongst his children or servants but saies he tell me 1 Tim. 5.20 Now this is sad when a man cannot forbear reproof of others nor hear reproofs of Elders but turns again and will be judge in his own cause though never so grosse a signe of an extream froward high spirit Hosea 4.4 which makes the Lord to take away Elders as soon as any sin is committed and stop their mouths Exod. 2. Who made thee a judge c. And when afflictions come and you then enquire what is the cause of it you may be sure this is one even by the confession of the blindest deboist ones Prov. 5.12 How have I hated Instruction and not obeyed the voice of my teachers 6. They are to feed with power as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth every one in their places publickly instructing exhorting comforting and privately also which though private men may do yet here is the stamp of authority also and so the more power the more blessing usually if God be acknowledged therein Acts 20.28 Hence 1. When men despise their food they are poor things they speak and they can see no matter in them and that after study prayers and teares c. and so cast it by this is to cast off the Lord. 2. When men grow glutted and full Mal. 1. ult although they eat not a bit and hence thrive not but a spirit of slumber and a deep sleep grows on them that they cannot be awakened by all the ordinances of God These things call for chaines Amos 8.12 When will these Sabbaths be ended for which the Lord threatens a famine and then you shall know the worth of them in the want of them These things I speak 1. Because I see the Apostle in many of his epistles layes this charge on the people Heb. 13.7 17. 't is twice repeated 1. Lest Officers be sadded in their worke that 's heavy 2. Lest it be unprofitable for you you think to get this and that good by it but it will be nothing in the conclusion 2 Because we lie under slander of many and that godly as if Elders in Churches were but only ciphers 3. Because people begin to run to extreames Elders taking all to themselves and people taking all for themselves 4 Because if here be not attendance you will quickly see the miserable ruine and fall of Churches more sad then the burning of Solomons temple 'T is observed of Jeroboam when he was sacrificing he had no leprosie but when he stretched out his hand against the Prophet it was withered for the Lord will not bear here they may be despised and you may think your selves Kings without them 1 Cor. 4.8 and they will say so they may rule as they will but you will do as you lift But the Lord will be provoked for this all Satans subtilty lies here disgrace the Elder sayes one divide them sayes another pull them down sayes the third that there may be no King in Israel no nor in Sion that we may do what is right in our own eyes 3. Try when the external Kingdome of Christ in a Common-wealth is cast off for when any Common-wealth is ordered according to the sacred will of Christ by such persons especially whose aime is to advance the Kingdome of Christ by their rule and power 't is then become the Kingdome of Christ Jesus And hence Revel 11.15 when the seventh trumpet is blowne and the Lords last wo is come upon the world and the Kingdomes thereof which have opposed Christ and those Kingdomes are turned to imbrace the Gospel submit to the power of Christ in the same then it 's said The Kingdomes of the world are become the Kingdomes of Christ it 's not said Christs Kingdome is become the Kingdome of the world as if Christ should put down civil authority and exercise rule by it himselfe but The Kingdomes of the worlds i. e. the various Kingdomes are become Christs i.e. to advance it and debase themselves at his feet Eph. 1.22 it 's said All things are put under Christs feet and he is head over all things to the Church that is universally cheefly nextly particularly so then earths Kingdomes when they are subject to Christ for his ends now they exercise the Kingdome of Christ in a manner and hence to cast off this is to cast off the Kingdome of Christ and so to provoke the Lord to put us under bondage Quest When is Christs Power and Kingdome cast off here Quest Answ There is a double Power in the Kingdomes of the world Answ which I suppose when they become Christs Kingdomes they will retaine First There is some supreme or higher power in the chief Magistrates Princes or chief Court of Justice Secondly There is some inferiour power by some superiour power set over particular Persons Cities and Townes for the well ordering of them The ground of this is that natural necessity which Jethro propounded from God to Moses Exod. 18.17 18. 'T is not good for thee to be alone but thou wilt both wear out thy self and thy people Publick authority must have many eyes and many hands and like a River that is to water a Countrey it must have many streams And hence they had in the Common-wealth of Israel which was for God in every City Judges and in Townes such as were over fifties and tens Exod. 18.25 which it seemes continued long till all fit men for government were taken away and then Isaiah 3.3 their condition is lamented Now the forme of this government is not in all Common-wealths alike the Lord not
things but as they are appointed arid sanctified for this end they are most glorious and therefore Christ threatens the Jewes Matth. 21.43 That the kingdom should be taken from them what was that Surely not inward for that they had not but the outward and externall means called Gods kingdome all these helps and meanes shall be taken from you and all laid ruinous Now this externall kingdom of Christ is double 1. The externall kingdome or government of God by his Church in the administration and execution and subjection to the blessed Ordinances of God wherein the power and Kingdome of Christ is seen and thus Dan. 2.44 45. Dan. 7.27 If shall be given to the Saints of the most high c. Not to prophane herds of beasts or cages of unclean birds but to the Saints of the most high Whose kingdome is an everlasting kingdome and all the Princes of the world shall subject themselves to this kingdom of Christ This outward Kingdome Christ administreth amongst his people in this world And this was part of the Lords government over his people herein though various from our forme now 2. Of the Common-wealth which may have divers forms and had in the time of Israel but it receiving its law from God and governing for God hence it was the government of God and subjection hereunto was subjection and service to God himselfe And hence when the people cast off Samuel 1 Sam. 8.7 They have not rejected thee but me Rev. 11.15 The kingdomes of the world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever For although the Common-wealth of Israel was made up of the Church and hence Josephus calls it a Theocracy where the Lord governed and yet the same thing had divers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 formes and respects and hence there was a diverse government then and hence made diverse 2 Chron. 19.5 8. Jehosaphat sets Judges in the land throughout all the fenced Cities Such is the wildnesse boldnesse and carelesness of mens hearts that they do not only need lawes but watchmen over them to see they be kept and hence the Lord appointed some chiefe some Judges in every City and also some in every Village as by proportion may be gathered Exod. 18. every ten men had one over them Now this was the blessed wisdome of God to put all into sweet subordination one unto another for himfelf 1. Every one professing his name is made for God for Christ as Lord of Lords unto whom every knee must how and inwardly subject 2. Hence the Lord it being not good to leave man to himselfe erects a Kingdome of the Church with his owne power and authority and government in it for that end 3. This being poor and shiftlesse against inward and outward revenge hence the Lord sets up Kingdoms of the world which either rule for this end or these ends or not if they do not they are to answer it and shall one day to Christ whom God hath made head over all things to the Church Eph. 1.22 If they do then their government judgement and kingdome is the Lords in a speciall manner and hence break the yoak of subjection to any one of these you cast off Christ the Lords government and service and being so linked together in truth if you break one you break all and this will provoke the Lord to make you kisse the clinke and to put your necks under iron bondage that refuse subjection to him Quest. 2. Quest 2 What is that bondage or other government to which the Lord gives over his people when they have cast off his government this will provoke the Lord if the Lord be cast off and the casting off the government of Christ will bring the most famous Kingdomes Churches and Families into bondage you will say what is this bondage when is it that the Lord takes his season for the execution of it Ans 1. Answ 1 The Lord takes his own times to do it these were a 12. moneth before the Lord sent Shishak Here he was more quick Nebuchadnezzar comes at last and many yeares 't is before the Lord doth it 2. The Lord is various in working Answ 2 as he is wonderfull and hath divers wayes or meanes of bondage he hath more prisons and chaines then one First sometimes the Lord opens the door of a Kingdome or State for the inrode of some forraign or it may be barbarous Enemy breaking in sometime by power coming in sometime by craft and then ruling like Lions which the Lord makes to vex and prick the people of God thus here their lives were spared but liberties lost Thus Judg. 2.13 14. They forsook the Lord and served Baal and Ashtaroth And in vers 14. The anger of the Lord waxed hot against Israel and he delivered them into the hands of spoylers that spoyled them Ver. 15. Whithersoever they went out the hand of the Lord was against them for evill And this the Lord doth many times suddenly that one would never thinke that ever the Lord should be so sudden the Lord can be as quick to punish as man to sinne and that unexpectedly Eccl. 9.12 Man knows not his time but are taken like fish in an evill net suddenly Lam. 4.12 The kyngdomes of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world would not have beleeved Judg. 5.8 They set up new gods and war was in the gate 2. Sometimes the Lord turnes the edge of that lawful authority God hath set over them against themselves to be a heavy scourge from God upon them Thus it was with Israel in Egypt Exod. 1.8 9. there arose a King which knew not Joseph and it 's said then they were oppressed Thus Jeroboam whom the ten Tribes chose Hos 5.11 he oppressed the people he will be innovating and this becomes their oppression Thus the people under the reign of degenerate Solomon though their complaint might be in part unjust Such is the venome of sin and unsubduednesse to the Kingdom God that the Lord turns light into darknesse and makes an aking head matter of sorrow to all the state and body of people Eccles 10.16 Wo to thee O Land when thy King is a childe And one man shall do a world of hurt one Shebna or Amaziah and this the Lord doth in justice many times for casting off his government 3. Sometimes the Lord gives a people up into the hands of one another to be mutual oppressors of each other that a mans neighbour shall be his oppressor Zach. 11.9 I will pitty no more the inhabitants of the land I will deliver them every one into his neighbours hands I will feed you no more that which dieth let it dye and that which is cut off let it be cut off and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another Sometimes the Lord is pleased to send marvellous straits into a place that men are forced to imbondage themselves sometimes by words as
bitter as death as sharp as arrows the Lord is pleased for the forsaking of his righteous wayes to make a mans self rip his own bowels the father against the childe the master shall be a scourge to the servant and the servant shall be a scourge to his master weary him of his life the government of the Lord in a mans heart or family being cast off Mic. 7.4 5. Trust not in a friend No greater bondage in the world then for men professing the Lord to be desperately set one against another 4. By taking from a people all that righteous power of government the Lord hath set over them when a people despising the Lord and inward government first for there all begins and so not prizing what they have nor praying for them nor subjecting to them the Lord hereupon sends some sicknesse or some other evill that they are either suddenly taken away or gradually and when they are gone all sink or else such crosse carriages that as Moses said so say they I cannot beare this people Thus Judges 21.25 Men did what was right in their owne eyes when there was no King in Israel No State so miserable as an Anarchie when every one is a slave because every one will be a master Thus Isa 3.1 2.6 Be a ruler to us No I 'le not undertake to rule So 2 Chron. 15.3 5. when without a teaching Priest then no peace at all men will not be under government of them you shall not have them they shall rest in peace and you shall then know the want of them 5. By giving them over to Satans and their own hearts lusts that seeing they will not serve the Lord they shall serve their lusts their sins that now the Lord he hath left off chastising of men and conscience shal check no more prosper saith the Lord and go on in thy sin Psal 81.12 So I gave them up to their own hearts lusts and they walked after their owne counsels Rev. 22.11 Let him that is filthy be filthy still When the Lord shall give a man over to Satan not only to winnow him to let out the chaffe and so to make the grain the purer or to buffet them as he did Paul but to insnare them and hold them that he shall not only tempt but his temptations shall take and not onely take but hold 2 Tim. 2. ult Who are taken captive by him at his will taken alive as a snare doth that now a man is beyond the reach of all means only peradventure God may give repentance Isa 1.5 Why should ye be stricken any more ye will revolt yet more and more The Lord leaves smiting and sayes Go on and prosper in thy sinne and which is the worst of all Satan shall so blinde him and harden him fill him with pride passion lying hatred of Gods people cavilling against the Lords wayes of grace slighting of his betters despising of wholesome counsell from his dearest friends that he knowes not that gray hairs are upon him And after this when God hath cast out it may be the Church doth also a most fearfull bondage that the Lord gives such a soule over unto There are two reasons of this point which I collect only from the story in this Chapt. Reason 1. Reas 1 Inregard of the righteous Judgement of God It 's just and equal that he that will not be ruled by this blessed Lord Jesus he should be ruled by his lusts he that will not be in subjection to a merciful Christ he should be in bondage to unmerciful men this an humbled heart will acknowledge as these do here Verse 6. They acknowledged the Lord to be righteous Mam being fallen it had been righteous with God to have left all men as the Angels that fell in chains of darknesse for ever But among his church and people the Lord sends the Gospel to proclaime liberty and with it sends Christ with his Spirit to come to the prison-doores of poor sinners to give repentance as well as remission of sinnes and now if they will not come out of their bondage accept of the Lords liberty 't is exceeding righteous to deal with them as we do with prisoners condemned to die if the Prince comes to the prison-doores and saies I am come to give thee thy life nay and here is pardon nay favour and to pull off thy chaines also now if he saies no I had rather be in prison every one will say it is just and as it was in the yeare of Jubile he that would not go free was to be a bondman for ever 'T is very righteous to give men their own choice 't is no wrong to let them have their own will If indeed the lawes of Christ were Draco's lawes hard and heavy there were something to object but they are most sweet and for which of all other blessings men have cause to blesse him Psal 147. ult Reason 2. Reas 2 In regard of the mercy or merciful wisdome of the Lord towards his Church and people especially his peculiar ones that hereby they keep the closer to the Lord set a higher price upon the rules and government of the Lord love his kingdome the more and the liberties thereof and use them better when they have them again so here that they may know my service c. 1. How sweet it is Experience we say is the Mistris of fooles such is the foolishnesse of mens hearts that men are many times never truly taught a truth till they are taught it by sense Prov. 5.11 and thou mourn at last when thy flesh is consumed tell a man of all the glory of the Saints they never understand it till they feel it tell men of the wo of their wayes they will not beleeve it till they see it Psal 32.9 Be not as the horse or mule that hath no understanding whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle Hosea 10.11 Ephraim is like an Heifer that is taught Like untamed Horses that will cast their rider unlesse they be held under and backt and then they are gentle so 't is here and truly 't is long before a man can learn the sweet of Christs government hence Israel must be long in Egyptian bondage and many long miseries so that if there be either justice or mercy in the Lord he will do this and this point shall be true Vse 1. Vse 1 Hence then see that the greatest liberty and sweetest liberty is to be under the government of Christ Jesus although men do not think so hence the Lord tells them here they shall know my service they might have replyed we do know it No till they be in bonds they know it not nor cannot learn it So 't is now and hence let men observe whiles they live loosly and are guided by their own wisdome for their own ends according to their own will at peradventures at rovers as they please they do think this liberty very sweet and 't
not be thus and purpose never to live thus again yet notwithstanding all their purposes and resolutions they fall again and never get any real conquest their untamed hearts wils are never a whit more subdued Isaiah 63.7 8. For he said Surely they are my people children that will not lie So he was their Saviour but they soone rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit their wills were never subdued But now the Saints either the Lord preserves them from such falls and apostasies Or if they do depart from the Lord by reason of the prevailing power of any temptation they ever get real conquest by their fall their sinful corruption thereby gets its deadly wound Rom. 11.10 Their backs are not alwayes bowed down but the Lord raiseth their bowed down spirits Psalm 145.14 and upholdeth their spirits for them when they think they shall one day fall by the hand of such Saul-like sins and distempers A carnal heart may carry a faire profession and be in subjection to Christ for a time but his back stands alwayes bowed down under his profession it is his burthen and hence at last he casts it off as a man doth his wearisome burden but on the contrary childe of God being indeed weary of his sinne and carrying that up and down with him as his burden with his soul bowed down in the sense of his own vilenesse by this means through the helpe of Christ at last he comes to get real conquest over his sinne and cast it off 5. When the Lord in this case lets them alone without inward or outward troubles this is a fearful signe Hosea 4.17 Ephraim is joyned to his Idols let him alone the Lord will take no more paines with them he is wearied out with striving Isaiah 1.5 Why should ye be stricken ye will revolt yet more and more when the Lord sees men the worse for his merciful corrections he deales like parents that have have striven long with their children and can do no good on them they then resolve to let them take their own course and will own them no longer to be of their family the Lord never deales thus long with his but if their sinne will not waste by words the Lord will then try what chaines will do and now they shalt finde good now they shall remember their backslidings and apostasies from God and their impenitency in finne in fecret sinnes especially in the dayes of their peace and prosperity now the Lord will make finne as bitter as ever it was sweet Oh consider this you that are prosperous and because the Lord is good to you therefore you think the Lord likes well of your wayes No greater plague then for the Lord to give a man peace in his sinne or if the Lord begins to afflct thee in thy name or estate begin to be blasted and thou canst see Gods hand on thee and knowest it and yet thou remained unhumbled this is a signe thou art under the bondage of thy finne Vse 5. For examination whether we do Vse 5 or when a people do cast off the government of the Lord and destroy his kingdome it's needful to know the sinne that we may prevent the misery and 't is certaine let New-England be watchful and make sure here to advance the Prince of peace and to keep the right and government in his hand and you shall have the blessing of God and his ordinances peace and mercy in your times and continued to your children for his kingdom is an everlasting kingdome and of the increase of his kingdome there is no end and on the contrary if New-England cast off the government from over them and refuse his service the Lord will then take the kingdome from you and you shal then know the want of what now ye injoy Now because Christs government or kingdome is 1. Inward 2. Outward in Church in State I shall let you know 1 when the inward kingdome of Christ is set up and when 't is tazed down which I shall do by giving you a briefe view of the nature or it and wherein it consists and so you may the better Judge of your own hearts in this particular As Satan hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of those that are without so the Lord Jesus hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of all his Saints Col. 1.13 Blessed be God saith the apostle which hath translated us from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan into the kingdome of his dear sonne which is very spiritual little seen a man may be under all outward government and yet naught here and therefore attend this inward kingdome therefore consists in four things or when the whole soul submits it self to God in these four particulars 1. When the whole foul gives entertainment unto the Lord himself to come into it for if a people shall say they are under such a government and yet will not admit the Prince himself to come amongst them but keep him out of the kingdome they cast off his government and his kingdome 2. When the whole foul closeth with the whole will of the Lord for if a people shall receive a Prince amongst them but he shall make no wholesome Laws to governe them but will be led by their own wills and lusts they pull down his kingdome 3. When the whole soul thus closeth with the will of Christ by vertue of the power and Spirit of Christ for if a people submit to the will of their Prince but 't is not by vertue of his authority over them command of them and helps he hath given them for that end but it is by reason of some forreign power that underhand incourageth them to yield this is poore subjection 4. When the soul thus submits to Christs will for the Lords ends denying its own wisdome or will and is-led by the Lord to his end for if a people shall submit to their Prince but 't is to set up other princes he is cast off from his throne When a man shall serve God and be under his government because it is profitable or honourable it suits his own end this is poor service in the Lords account 1. I say then the soul is under the inward kingdome or government of Christ when the whole soul gives entertainment to the Lord of Lords the Lord himself with all his traine in and by the Gospel of graâ—e the royal sword and Scepter of Christs kingdome for when Christ himself is thus received the kingdome of God is come to that soul and entred into that heart and hence Marke 1.14 15. the Gospel is called the Gospel of the Kingdome and when John and Christ preached believe and repent for the kingdome of God is at hand Under which word is comprehended much but principally Christ Jesus ready to enter the souls of his people and hence Iohn preached Christ Now 't is said those that were effectually wrought upon Matt. 11.12 that the kingdome of heaven did
Lord of Hosts even upon them shall be no raine 3. Sadnesse hence Isa 56.7 Even them I will bring to my holy Mountains and make them joyful in my House of Prayer To be joyful in the house of Prayer is promised to such as joyn themselves to Gods Covenant 2. They have a power given them of binding and loosing By admonition of any one that being received in shall sin against their communion and the Lord in it thereby to defile the whole body and to provoke the wrath of the Lord against the same and this is mentioned Matth. 18. and by the Apostle 1 Cor. 5.1 4. and this is given to them to use against whatever sinner or offender it be be he great or small Prince or Peer if he be a brother he is to lye down here An admonition is an arrest and message from God from Christ Jesus the King of Kings Eglon must come down from his throne when this is brought Now I grant again this power may be abused miserably as to admonish without conviction or without compassion and love but in heat passion c. Yet this is the part of Christs binding power in his Church which when 't is done 't is bound in heaven Now when men come to that passe that they do not only sin for that the Lord pardons but are grown to that height that they cast off all reproofs and Christ-like admonitions for sin steept it may be in many teares and prayers before they came and sweetned with the Spirit of mercy and terror of Christ Jesus in the mouths of his servants this brings under bondage 'T is not sin so much for this will be but when they cannot abide reproofes they are iron morsels cannot be digested and hence sometime hide it and twenty shifts and halfe as many lies or if it be found out defend it and fall a fencing and thrusting and try it out to the last or extenuate it twenty wayes that a beam is a mote and which is worse their hearts rise and swell and they bear a privy grudge against them as if they were their enemies because they tell them the truth when they should say Let the righteous smite me Exod. 2.14 Who made thee a Prince and Judge over us When Moses the Israelites deliverer was raised up he thereupon departs and they lye under heavy bondage when they cast off his reproof It 's true a Saint may not for a time submit but yet it argues a height of spirit for the present unfit for communion with God and the Lord will bring them off and humble them for their pride 2 Sam. 23.6 7. But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thornes thrust away because they cannot be taken with hands A childe of God may have many weaknesses a hypocrite many excellencies but the tryall of them is when they come to be arrested with a sad reproof how they yield there and that as unto God especially when confession shall either discredit their person or make others question their grace Snakes will not hisse nor sting till touched a sheep will be led to the slaughter and turn the cheeke to him that smites So should one poor brother do to another when he comes to him in the name of the Lord but not many that will so do but resist and oppose against all reason 3. They have a power of Communication of good one to another in way of edification according to their places in this their communion So that now 't is not only left in the hands of the Officers but of the whole Church and each Member in the Church according to his place and ability to edifie the whole Eph. 4.16 From whom the whole body fitly joyned and compacted together by that which every joynt supplieth according to the essectuall working in the measure of every part making increase of the body unto the edifying self in love Members are not to stand like beautifull pictures in Church-windowes and as costly images in Churches that have eyes and see not eares and hear not but they are to be living stones in Gods building not only to build up themselves but one another also that so a man may not only get no hurt from communion of Churches but he may get good indeed from the same And if I mistake not here is the wound of Churches When Members seek not and indeavour not the good one of another and so have Ordinances and means of doing one another good but exercise them not or if they do receive not the good they might hereby but may say and shall say at last as he Prov. 5.14 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the Congregation Sin prevailing and sorrowes by little and little like water in a leaking ship sinking the poor barke Quest. What are those means that are left to the Saints themselves Quest even private Members to exercise in Christian communion for men and women and so you may see when these are neglected or not improved the power of Christ in his Church is cast off so far forth Answ 1. The first is Answ a Spirit of dear Christ-like love one to another every one to all and all to that one againe being ready to expresse it self in procuring the good of others as well as its own This doth sweeten communion very much and edifies quickens and encourageth a Christian in his whole course marvelously Eph. 4.16 Making increase of the body unto the edifying it self in love Love edifieth 1 Cor. 8.1 Knowledge puffeth up but Charity edifieth It 's the joy of the Saints and that which makes the Saints to blesse God in heaven where take any one singly all joyntly besides honour it tender it and seek the good of it and that one blesseth God and seeks their good more then its own againe and this is prophesied Zeph. 3.9 That they may call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent to serve the Lord with one shoulder to help one another spiritually and outwardly where there be many griefs and burdens which depresse the spirits and make it unserviceable is removed As what is there that doth alienate the hearts of men more from God and his Church but want of love Now when mens love grows cold that a godly man is not esteemed whiles he lives nor his death lamented so much as the losse of a swine When people grow strange one to another and take distastes and prejudices when they can sit by the fire-side and censure and whisper and make offences and take offences and mindes divide and hearts divide that if you aske what such a one is good for the answer is he is good for himself and good to breed brawles and divide a Church A Kingdome divided against it self cannot stand and therefore hereby you cast off this Kingdome Oh Christians should pray for this and mourne for want of this and study peace and follow it It should be
power the Lord he hath given them over to the power of their lusts and sinfull distempers Oh Brethren truely I cannot see how any man can maintaine any evidence of Gods electing love that shall hear and hear and good dayes mend him not nor bad dayes paire him that can commend a Sermon and speak of it but that efficacy is not known to him neither doth he mourne for the want of it but the eternall efficacy thereof is a stranger to it 1 Thes 1.5 Knowing saith the Apostle your election of God How did he know it For saith he Our Gospel came not to you in word but in power ye will rejoyce the hearts of your Ministets when the word comes with power Let me say this and so I conclude I remember the Lords threatning I will take away the staffe of bread and ye shall eat and shall not be satisfied When the Lord shall let men have the word when the Lord shall not take away the word but the staffe of the word Suppose you poor Parents Fathers and Mothers your families should have good Corne but when you come to eat it no strength at all but ye dye and weare away and others that are about you they have planted the same Corne and eat and are satisfied What will ye do in this case You would set apart a day of fasting and prayer and say Good Lord what a curse is upon me my poor children are dying before me others have the staffe of Corne but my Family have no strength at all Ye would mourne if it were thus with your poor Cattell Oh for poor Creatures to have the word but the efficacy of it to be taken away no blessing no power at all Oh poor Creatures go and say Oh the the curse of God that lyes on me the wrath of God that lyes on my servants it is a heavy plague But Oh the sweetnesse and excellency of it when a Christian shall finde everlasting vertue and efficacy conveyed to him by the word All you that are before the Lord this day ye shall see an end of all perfection but eternall things are not they worth something You shall see an end of all delights and contentments but this shall comfort you when you are a dying that the word which you attended upon the Lord in such peace and such consolation I have found by it and the efficacy of that word then remaines with you nay goes to heaven with you I commend you therefore to the word of His grace which is able to build you up unto an eternall inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Acts 20.32 FINIS THE Table B. EVery one to whom the Gospel comes bound to Beleeve pag. 147 Objections against Beleeving answered p. 147 148 Bondage caused by casting off the Lords Government p. 4 5 God hath divers ways and means of Bondage Ibid. By laying open to the Inrodes of forreigne enemies Ibid. Turning the edge of lawful Authority against us p. 12 Giving up to be oppressed of one another p. 13 Taking away of good Governours from us p. 14 Giving up to Satan and our own lusts ibid. A miserable Bondage to be under the rule of our lusts ibid. God brings into Bondage that we may know the better how to prize and use Liberty p. 17 Why some are given up to the Bondage of lusts who seemed to be delivered from it p. 25 Difference between the Saints Bondage under sin and others p. 26 to 30 God hath many wayes to bring into Bondage though never so unlikely when his Government is cast off p. 135 C. CHrist himself to be received not his benefits only p. 33. When the soul receives Christ himself pag. 35 Come to Christ for strength to do his will p. 44 See Will of Christ The benefit of coming to Christ for strength p. 46 How men refuse to do this p. 47 Great skill thus to come to Christ for strength p. 48 Wherein to submit to Christ p. 145 Means to submit to Christ p. 151 Christ the true Messiah proved by 4. Testimonies p. 153 What was the Fathers Testimony p. 154 Civil government to defend the Church p. 10 Church Christs Kingdome p. 52 53 Threefold power of Christ in the Church p. 53 See Power Church the highest Tribunal of Christ on Earth p. 78 What is meant by the words Tell the Church Matth. 18.17 What power given the Church joyntly p. 79 See power Neglect of living in Church-society p. 80 Church-Members to edifie one another p. 84 See Edification Miscarriage of Church-Members p. 107 109 No one forme of Civil-government jure divino p. 112 Common-wealths when ordered according to Christs will are his Kingdome p. 110 The evil of loose Company p. 120 A powerful Conflict against corruption a note of the efficacy of the Word p. 183 Gods lawes only binde Conscience See Lawes The Lords end 's gracious in his Corrections p. 3 Breach of Covenant a provoking sinne p. 55 c. Procures the desolation of Churches p. 56 57. Saints may break Covenant but not impenitently p. 58 D. DIfference between Gods service and the service of others p. 4 143 144 See Service Difference of the Saints bondage under sin and Satan from others p. 26 to 30. See Bondage E. THe duty of Church Members to Edifie one another pag. 84 Means of Edification p. 85. to 91 Hindrances of mutual Edification p. 92 In doing good ibid. In receiving good p. 94 Of the Efficacy of the word of God See Word Feeling the Efficacy of the word an evidence of Election p. 183 The Lords End 's gracious in his Corrections See Corrections Error and Heresie dies by opposition Truth thrives the more p. 117 F. FOrsaking the Lord the provoking sin pag. 2. G. GOD to be justified in his judgements pag. 3 Not to be subject to God is to make God subject to our lusts p. 4 5 God will not serve mens lusts p. 6 Casting off the Lords Government brings bondage p. 4 5 Gods Government over his people twofold outward and inward p. 7 8 Gods external Government either in Church or Common-wealth p. 9 To be under Christs Government the sweetest Liberty p. 18 When the Government of Christ is cast off p. 30 Wherein the inward Government of Christ consists p. 31 c. Motives to come under Christs Government p. 143 Difference between Christs Government and others See Difference H. OVr Happinesse to be placed in closing with the Word pag. 191 A man may Hear the Word and not hear God speaking it p. 156. and why p. 159 Why the Saints finde such alterations in themselves when they Hear the Word p. 161 162 How to know whether we have Heard the Lords voice in the Word p. 165. to 170. Whether a man may not Hear the Lord speak and yet not feel the efficacy thereof p. 173 Rest not in outward Hearing p. 187 How to Hear the Word effectually ibid. Come to Hear mourning under the sense of infirmities p.