mighty and powerfull to bring about the end it was appointed for this was the sole Apostolicke Weapon whereby they subdued all the world to the Scepter of Christ 2 Cor. 10 4.5 It is not the bare sound of the Word but the concurrence of God with his own Ordinance that did give it such life and successe every where Mark 16. ult. As the woman of Tekoah was subtile because the hand of Ioab was with her so the Preaching of the Apostles was powerfull because the hand of the Lord was with them Act. 11.21 Zabarell gives this account why heate being but a meere accident is yet the cause of all nutrition It is not as it is a bare quality but as the Instrument of the Soule And if any aske How the Preaching of the Gospell workes such rare effects it being so weak and contemptible a thing the answer is Non ut sonus sed ut instrumentum dei not as it is a sound but as the Instrument of God there was never any man more excellently accomplished or more diligent in this great work then the Apostle S. Paul he carried the Word of the Kingdom and set up the Scepter of Christ well neere to the third part of the know world Yet I dare not speak saith he of any thing which Christ hath not wrought by me to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed through the mighty power of the Spirit of God Rom. 15.19 20. 2. In the Gospel there is a discovery of great and glorious things which objectively and morally work upon the apprehensions of men All objects make impressions upon the hearts of men according as the worth and excellency the use and necessity of them is more or lesse apprehended every man is drawn by that which appeares best for him in his own judgment As a sheepe may be led along with a green bow so may an Epicure with pleasures an ambitious man with a baite of honour and covetous men with a bribe a martiall man with feats of Armes and every man with that which carries the greatest stroke with him and which he hath the greatest apprehention of In like manner doth it fall out here the great things propounded in the Gospell when they are seene and understood according to their own worth they attract the heart and ravish the affections the Arminians say That the Word preached workes upon the understanding irresistibly in the Elect no doubt it doth so when the houre is come which God hath appointed and when there is an impression of light set on irresistably upon the minde the will and affections are alwayes in a due proportion equally moved and stirred as the hinder wheeles in a coach are with the former and when both the understanding is conquered and the will caught and the affections ravished what then can hinder men from comming into the Kingdome of Christ If the Pharisees by taking away the key of knowledge debarred men of entrance into the Kingdome of God Mat. 23.13 Luke 11.52 Surely then the preaching of the Gospell and the dispensation of the mysteries of it being the right use of the Keyes of knowledge must needs be a meanes to give people admission and entrance into that Kingdom 3. In the Preaching of the Gospell there is not onely a bare Proposition and discovery of glorious things to whet up and provoke the affections of men but there is an offer and tendry of them upon the easiest and freest termes as if the Lord were weary of his Kingdome and would gladly make it over unto men he offers it for nothing requires nothing but acceptance and thankes more than this he intreats and woo's and sollicites men yea he importunes and urges and in a manner offers violence unto them to make them plyant and tractable to their own happinesse As Lot urged the Angels and offered violence to them to come and lodge with him Gen. 19.3 and Jacob in like manner was urgent with his brother to accept his present Gen. 33.11 and the Levites father-in-law would needs with much importunity heape kindnesse upon him so the Lord he seemes with a loving violence to obtrude as it were his Kingdom upon men and to presse it upon them with such eagernesse of affection as if he knew not how to be happy without them When the guests that were invited to the marriage Supper of the Kings Son refused the offer Go saith he into the high wayes and hedges and Market places and bring in the blinde and the lame and the halt {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Luke 14.23 compell them to enter in that is use all your uttermost endeavours to allure and draw them try all conclusions by perswasions promises threats to work upon them As Lot when he lingred in Sodom and was loth to depart the Angells layd hold on him and pluckt him out so the Lord would have his servants to enforce as it were and hale men into his Kingdom that they might be saved not that he doth in proper speech constrain or enforce the will for that agrees not with its nature it being a rational faculty which cannot be compelled but the Lord drawes it with a sweet and liberall {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a loving and gentle violence a pleasing powerfull necessity which in effect is all one with those cords of a man and bands of love which the Prophet speakes of Hosea 11.4 and when men are thus drawn it s no marvell if they come and offer violence to the Kingdom of heaven when it hath first offered such violence to them 4. The Gospell and Kingdom of Christ is of an increasing and growing nature it spreads like a leaven Mat. 13.33 growes like a graine of mustard seed ver. 31. It got first into families then it crept next into Cities afterwards it advanced into whole Provinces Countries Common-wealths that little stone that was cut out of the mountaine without hands figured the Kingdome of Christ which will break in pieces all other Kingdomes and grow into a great mountaine filling the whole earth Deut. 2.34 35. 5. And that which is yet more observable this Kingdom of Christ it growes by its losses thrives by its decayes prospers by its oppositions it is in this like unto a bed of Cammomill the more it s trodden down the more it gets up and riseth the old rule here if ever holds true Punitis ingeniis gliscit it authoritas opposition makes the Gospell it self and those that bring it gather strength and win the more Authority when the Apostle was cast into prison the Word of the Lord was not bound howsoever the Adversaries thought to stop the proceedings of the Gospell by that course yet it tended rather to the enlarging and propagation thereof Phil. 1.11 12. Lo here how bonds and fetters helped forward the happy spreading and progresse of Christs Kingdome opposition at Jerusalem made it get footing in
consciences by the Scepter of his Word and Spirit and the Kingdome of God be within us as the expression is Luke 17.21 We shall then straine our indeavours with all violence to make our houses Bethels little Temples and Sanctuaries and courts for Christ to keepe residence in there shall be roome for no swearers drunkards scorners of Religion or any other children of Belial that turn the broad side against Christ and will not have him reigne over them 2. We may hold fast what we have got already not suffering any enemy to take our crown and Kingdom from us there is a holy art of violence if we could hit on it by which the King may be detained and held in our galleries by the chaines of an acceptable and well pleasing captivity Cant. 7.5 If he see us earnest and zealous with all our most serious desires and affections winding about him and passionately enamored and sick of love for him and stedfastly resolved to retaine him with us in despight of all oppositions it will not then be in the power of any enemies to drive him out or pluck him away from us It may be we cannot prevaile to advance the Kingdom of heaven to a further extent and progresse and to the achieving of new acquisitions but we may if we be zealous and resolute make good the ground which it hath already won maintaine and defend all the Forts and strong Holds which it hath already taken in and conquered We cannot be all Souldiers to fight the Lords battels in the field but there is an holy war which we all may and must wage against Christs and our enemies which would if they knew how plunder him out of his Imperiall Soveraignety and us out of our Salvation S. Jude would have all Christians {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} earnestly to contend and wrastle for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints Here it behooves us all to be stout and invincible Champions to take up the Armes of our Christian warfare against Sathan and Antichrist and all their Ensigne-bearers whosoever go about to encroach upon our consciences and to raigne over us in matters of faith and Religion besides Christ we must hold our owne against them to the last gaspe 3. If we can do nothing else yet we may help forward the propagation of the Gospell by our prayers S. Paul often moves the people to pray that a doore might be opened unto him and that the Word of the Lord might run and be glorified Habebat ille verbi tonitruum sed dari ei viam querebat saith Gregory He had the thunder of the Word and yet he desired the peoples prayers that it might get the easier entrance and make the swifter progresse through all the difficulties and rubbs which he knew it would meete with There are great mountaines of opposition that lye in the way of Christs Kingdome but prayer if it be earnest and faithfull will remove them Mat. 7.20 This was the Engine which the Prophet plyed when he would with his breath blow downe the great Monarchy of Babylon which so long hindred the Churches restitution Esay 64 12. Oh that thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down that the mountaines might flow down at thy presence when the spirit of prayer growes hot and violent it melts mighty mountaines and makes them flow downe as snow before the sun or wax before the fire There be many faithfull Ministers which now lye in chaines and suffer Imprisonment as Peter did when Herod set a strong guard of Souldiers to keepe him the enlargement of them were a great advantage to the Kingdome of God a strong Gale of prayer would turne the lock of the Prison doores shake off all their fetters and fetch them out with safety there be many blinde corners in the Land where the people sit in darknesse and the shadow of death having scarce any more knowledge of Christ and the Kingdom of heaven then those that live in the wild deserts of America how miserable is the condition of such poore soules which are besieged with hell fire and yet know not their owne danger The key of knowledge not being with them the kingdom of heaven is fast locked and shut up upon them with Iron gates and barres If we can do nothing else yet we may at least pitty such poore soules and weep over them and pray for them that the Lord would thrust some faithfull labourers into his harvest among them Mat. 9.38 4. We may and must with our prayers joyne our endeavours imploy our Interests friends purses withall the contributions talents and advantages that we have to help forward the propagation of Christs Gospell and Kingdom that it may prevaile and prosper every where especially in our own Land We all pray that his Kingdom may come we are not in good earnest but do in effect mock God when we use not all possible meanes to accomplish what we pray for If we be desirous to have a Kingdom of heaven upon earth we must spare for no cost but like the wise Merchant man venture all we have for this pearl Wherefore were our estates given us but to honour God advantage our selves and helpe our neighbours which we can no way procure more effectually then by laying them out to purchase a sound Ministery we can never put out our wealth to a nobler use riches are then Goods when they are thus imployed if there be any other this is the best way to make our selves friends of the unrighteous Mammon Luke 16.9 We may at once ingage God and man to be our friends by this course For what can be more to the honour of God or benefit of man What more acceptable to both then to do with our Estates as 〈◊〉 did after its conversion write upon them Holinesse to the Lord Lâ—in 23.18 Happy are those stones saith the Philosopher of which Temples are made and happy is that Sacred Revenue say I which is imployed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to make a bridge for men to go to heaven by Oh that some common stock might be raised for this purpose There was an honourable design on foot some few yeeres since for the buying out of Impropriations and the redeeming of the Churches patrimony it was a worke of as eminent piety and charity as ever any this Age hath produced and the stopping of it by some execrable instruments was an act of as pure Sathanicall malice against the glory of Christ and the Soules of men as ever issued out of Hell and were there no other exception against some great Incendiaries but this it were enough to render their persons hatefull and their memory infamous to all generations But howsoever all are interessed in this yet the Ministers of the Gospell it belongs to them in a more speciall manner to endeavour the prosperity honour and enlargement of Christs Kingdome their very office and calling
bespeakes this at their hands wherefore else are they appointed of God and separated from others but to be both by their preaching and conversation builders of his house Stewards in his family Watchmen in his City Labourers in his Vineyard burning Lamps in his Temple the successe and fortune of Christs Kingdome depends next unto God upon the Issue of their endeavours If they whose office it is to attend the Sanctuary had but the fire of the Sanctuary burning on the Altar of their own hearts If they were like John the Baptist Burning and shining lights oh what a goodly light of knowledge and flame of zeale would be kindled in the hearts of the people How would multitudes come flowing in to borrow fire from their hearth and light their candles at their Lampes What a singular honour would this be to have it recorded as 't is here of John That from the days of such and such a Minister since the time of his arivall and continuance in such and such a Congregation with the parts adjacent there hath bin great contention much wrestling and violence for the Kingdome of heaven great trading and trafficking for remission of sinnes the Graces of the Spirit which before were scarce at all looked after How much better were this then to have it left upon record That since the entrance of such and such a Dumbe Minister or lazie Drone there hath been a great decay of Religion and piety a great famine of the Word with a Mighty Inundation of Popery Atheisme and all Prophannesse since the entrance of such Idoll Sheepheards and Priests of Baalam all vices have grown all vertues withered What a wofull account will such men have at the day of judgement when it shall be charged upon them as upon the Pharisees That they neither entred themselves into the Kingdome of God and that they hindred others that were desirous to enter molesting discouraging and doing what they could to cast them out with a rage that reached as high as heaven with such a violence as this they will finde that God was not nor ever will be well pleased I descend to that part of this Exhortation which concernes our honourable Senators If powerfull and plentifull preaching of the Gospell be the next way to bring down the Kingdome of heaven among us you see then Worthy Patriots what it is which the Lord and his people expect and call for at your hands The generall complaint is from every corner of the Land That the people have been for a long time almost quite without the true God and without a teaching Priest and without the Law as the Israelites were 2 Chron. 15 3. No Ministery no Worship no Ordinances or that which is little better then none and the generall request and desire is like to that motion of the man of Macedonia That you would send some over to helpe them If therefore the glory of Jesus Christ and the Salvation of his people bought with his own blood be deare and precious unto you as we know they are If ever you desire to have the honour of being the chiefest Instruments to plant a new heaven and a new earth in this Land Helpe every Congregation to faithfull Pastors and pure Ordinances you are as Joshuah and Zerubbabel the two Olive-branches or the two anointed ones which stand before the Lord of the whole earth Oh let the golden Oyle still stream out in abundance from you to feede the Lamps of the golden Candlestick Zach. 4.12 14. God hath made you nursing fathers and nursing mothers to his Church blessed be God we have found you such Go on still with your honour and make yet more full and liberall provisions for all the children of his family by this meanes Religion and the Church shall flourish more than ever and thousand thousands shall blesse God for you If you would straine your selves to do a work of the richest merit and grandest importance for the Churches of Christ I do not know any other that may be of superiour or but of equall consideration with this which among many things usefull is without all doubt That one thing mainely necessary Luke 10.42 The Kingdome of God cannot be held up without this The key of knowledge you know the custody of it in the Priests lips it is the key of heaven take away this and suppose the whole land were paved with gold and walled with rockes of Adamant suppose we were crowned like the fortunate Islands with the richest confluence of all worldly prosperity honour and happinesse what would all this availe whiles the heavens are shut up and fast locked against us Take away a right Ministery and what is the most flourishing Common-wealth but as a Paradise without the tree of life as the firmament without the Sun or as a goodly Palace richly furnished and hung about with stately ornaments but without any windowes to let in the light of heaven Among all the Religious and worthy Acts of Jehoshaphat this is recorded as one of the chiefe 2 Chron. 17.7 8 9. That he sent his Princes and with them the Levites to teach the People in the Cities of Judah and I neede not tell you for it s well knowne how prosperous and successefull that design prooved I doubt not but this practise of that incomparable Prince will be set up unto you as a pattern for imitation Blessed be God ye have begun well I shall neede to say nothing but as that Greek Commander said unto Teucer {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} go on and prosper Gather out of the Kingdome of our God {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} all things and persons that are offensive and that do Iniquity Mat. 13.41 Ye have displaced sundry unworthy and scandalous ones which like drones cumbred the hive and preyed upon the honey which should have served for the laborious Bees take the same course with the rest Remove the stumbling blockes prepare the way of the people lift up a standard that they may flocke to it as doves to their windowes this is the way to leave the Church a Pallace of Marble which you found as a cottage of brick I have insisted but too long upon this wherefore I passe it over and come to the next Those that would put in for a share in this Kingdome they must not be dull and sluggish but earnest and violent in pursuance of it There is indeed a violence nothing praise-worthy held out in Scripture which is either 1. In generall when men put forth themselves to the uttermost and draw out their strength in any sinfull way be it what it will As the Priests and people when Ahab-like they sold themselves over to Idols and the full bent and sway of their spirits was unto sin here was a violence such as it was Jer. 23.10 Their course was evill and their force not right Or 2. There is a violence taken in a more speciall
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
and grace sure then the contrary must needs be interpreted as symptomes of wrath and infallible arguments of much displeasure God is angry with a people to purpose when he inflicteth upon them such a Judgement Hos. 9.7 Israel might well know and so may England now by the same token that the dayes of visitation and recompence were come when the Prophet it a foole the spirituall man mad an heavie condition God wot but hark what followes For the multitude of their Iniquity and the great hatred we are for the most part slight and shallow in searching out the true roote and ground of such a Judgement when the Prophets are fooles and spirituall men mad we shift off the blame from our selves and derive it upon others oh we may thank the Prelates for this or we may thank corrupt and Simoniacall Patrons these commonly be our thoughts but truely we may thank our selves most of all who by our manifold great sinnes have provoked our God to scourge us with such a dreadfull visitation Let us therefore sit in the dust and accept of our punishment acknowledging and owning our demerit If there be multitudes of Prophets fooles and multitudes of Spirituall men that are no better then mad or distracted take the Prophets word for it and write it down as an Oracle That it is for The multitude of our Iniquity and for Gods great but just Hatred conceived against us It was Hirams complement to Solomon Because the Lord loved his people therefore he made thee to be King over them 2 Chron. 2.11 And let me say in the same manner because the Lord was angry with his people therefore in Church and State he made such and such Lyons Wolves and Leopards to rule over them when a Religious man in an expostulatory straine complained to God of Phocas that Paracide who paved his way to the Throne by the murther of Mauritius his predecessour saying Lord wherefore hast thou made this man Emperour The story records that the Lord returned this unto him in answer enimvero quomodum non inveni pejorem Verily because I have not found a worse It seemes the sinnes of the Romane State were then grown to such an height that if God could have culled out a worse Instrument then Phocas was they should have had him to sit at the Helm and Steere their Common-wealth with a vengeance And if any should expostulate now and complaine in like manner unto God and aske Why he hath set over the Church such multitudes of blinde Seers mongrâ—ll temporizers superstitious Chemarims desperate malignants Incendiaries and furies May he not returne the same answer Because he hath not found any worse Verily the sins and provocations of our Land are risen to such an height and swoln to such a Number that if the Lord could have raked together a worse generation of pernicious and destructive instruments from any corner of the world on this side of hell It s not to be doubted but that sundry of our Parishes and Congregations should have been thought worthy to be plagued with them I know this will seeme a sad and perhaps too grievous a charge but will ye please to consider how the Lord lightens and thunders and with how tragicall an accent he ushers in such a Judgement Esay 29.9 10 11 c. Stay your selves and wonder and cry yâ—e out Wherefore is all this noise What meanes such unusuall fulgurations Sure the matter must needs be great more then ordinary when the expressions are so full of horror Indeed so it is for the Lord was now preparing a Judgement for his people little short of the damnation of Hell at the 10. vers. He powres out upon them a Spirit of slumber rockes them fast asleepe in a profound security and that they might never be awaked Their eyes were closed as dying men use to be their Prophets Rulers and Seers were covered a black and palpable mist of Egyptian darknesse enclosed and over-clouded them all learned and unlearned The visions of heaven were unto them a Sealed booke vers. 11.12 Utterly inexplicable and unintelligible and if we would know what meanes the heate of this fierce wrath see the ground and meritorius cause of it vers. 13 14 It is for the Iniquity of an hypocriticall and superstitious people which draw neere unto God with their mouth and with their lips do honour him but their hearts recede far from him and their worship of him is taught by the precepts of men Therefore doth the Lord proceede to do this marvellous work and wonder in their dayes when he would seale up a people unto destruction he strikes them with a spirit of giddinesse and makes their wisemen that should be as blinde as beetles so as they can see nothing Let me with you patience adde one place more of many others to close up this Mich. 2.6 11. They straightned the Spirit of the Lord and silenced his Prophets they liked not their Prophecies which never boded unto them any good but still as they thought put them to shame therefore to fit their humour that there might be like Priest like people If any man saith the Lord vers. 11. walking in the spirit and falshood do lye saying I will Prophecy unto you of wine and strong drink he shall even be the Prophet of this people The visions and inspirations of faithfull Prophets which like golden showers came dropping from heaven these were loathed therefore the Lord lets them have such as they best relished drunken sots setting all their doctrines abroach from their wine cellar Doe but turn the key of the speech and alter the Scene and it will suite our condition to an haire If any man walking in the Spirit and falshood will Preach against Preaching and cry up the divine right of Episcopacy with Altar and Image worship and the only lawfull devotion of May games and Morrice dances for the Sanctification of the Lords day he shall even be the Prophet of this people 4. This may reach out a word of exhortation First to all in generall and next in a more speciall addresse to ministers and lastly to our honourable Senators 1. It generally concerns us all of what degree or condition soever we be to helpe forward as much as lyeth in us the powerfull preaching and receiving of the Gospell which is the onely meanes by which the Kingdome of heaven comes in and gets possession Indeede we cannot all be Christs Scepter bearers that is an Office peculiar to some few that are design'd to it by speciall appointment we cannot all promote the affaires of the Kingdom of heaven by Preaching but there is somewhat which we may all doe 1. We may prepare and make way for the erecting and setting up of Christs Throne in our owne hearts and in our families and dependants we may do much if we put our strength to it to do our utmost If Christ raigne in our own
more and more strives if possible to get up a note above Elah sets himselfe no bounds counts all that he hath attained as nothing like the Apostle S. Paul whose zeale and covetousnesse and ambition in this kind was so beyond all measure super superlative that although he had already gotten the greatest measure of grace that ever any mortall man attained on this side of heaven yet he forgot it all and scarce thought it any competencie still pressing forward to an higher marke as if he would pre-occupate the state of glory and attaine even in this world unto the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3.11 2. In the worship and Service of God and in the use of all the Ordinances publique and private the violence of a mans spirit workes much in this the Jewes have a rule That whatsoever a man doth in the solemn Worship of God he should stretch and straine his inventions to do it with all his might else it is not currant nor allowable with God and the Apostle requires the like Rom. 12.11 He would not have a man slight and formall but fervent in Spirit serving the Lord and the word notes an ebullition or boyling up of our spirits to the height The oddes is not great if any at all between the omission of duties altogether and the remisse performance of them seeing a man is a looser both wayes Acts of worship and devotion when they are livelesse and superficiall are like a bow slack bent which will not carry the arrow home to the marke S. Basil observes further That such slighting over duties is not onely unprofitable but hurtfull and prejudiciall to the State of the soule as tending onely to nourish an hypocriticall and barren formality There is nothing in the world more unbecomming the worship of God then such a slight wanton superficiall straine of spirit when a man playes with Religion and serves God as if he served him not It was Davids just praise that the Zeale of Gods House did eate him up Psal. 69.9 And he daunced before the Arke with all his might and when Michael scoffed at him for it I will saith he be yet more vile then thus for God 2 Sam. 6.14 22. Nor was Hezekiah behind him in this of whom to his everlasting honour it is recorded that 2 Chron. 31.27 In every worke which he began in the service of the house of his God and in the Law and in the Commandements to seeke his God he did it with all his heart and prospered The ancient primative Christians when they met and crowded together with one shoulder at their devotions were so earnest that they seemed to besiege the Throne of Grace and to raise a common strength to invade and make a riot upon God in their prayers and this saith Tertullian was a violence right welcome unto God Jacob was honoured and called Israel for this because he wrestled in prayer and by main strength prevailed like a Prince with God Hos. 12.3 4 5. Gen. 32.28 3. Nor is the violence either lesse acceptable or lesse necessary which we are to use for the Word and worship of God either to maintaine and hold it up when we have it or to restore and recover it if lost or endangered S. Jude held it necessary to write unto beleevers to stir them up {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Earnestly to contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints v. 3. and the angell of Pergamos is much commended for holding fast Christs Name and not denying his faith in a time of persecution Revel. 2.13 If wicked men would rob us of the Gospell take from us the Worship and Ordinances of God plunder us of our glory our crown our Salvation here we must hold fast what we have Revel 2.25 Not giving place by subjection no not for an houre Gal. 2.5 nor yeeld to betray one sillable unto them as Basils worthy resolution was we value not the truth of God nor set a right estimate upon his worship and Ordinances if we be not violently bent to maintaine and defend them to the last drop of our blood And if there be a famine of the Word a want or losse of any part or piece of worship it must be violently striven and contended for Solomon would have us buy the truth and not sell it Prov. 23.23 at any rate to purchase it at no rate to part with it a man that is rightly principled for heaven will venture through an Army of Philistims for water of life as Davids worthies did unto the well of Bethlehem the people would part with their very Jewells the most pretious things they had for the erecting the setting up of Gods Tabernacle David would not take an houres rest till he had prepared an habitation for the Arke Psal. 132.3 4 5. and because he set his affection upon the house of God he prepared for the building of it with all his might 1 Chron. 2 3 4 He thought it a thing unbecomming him to dwell himselfe in a house of Cedar when the Arke of God dwelt under curtaines and the Jewes in the sore famine and siege of Jerusalem brought ever the fairest and fattest Cattell for sacrifices though they were constrained themselves to feede upon Rats and Mice and other worse vermine they chose rather to pine and famish their own bodies that the Altars of God should be altogether unfurnished or take up with the worst and when the Tribunes complained for want of gold in the Treasury to offer to Apollo the Romane Matrons plucked off their chaines bracelets and rings freely offering them to the Priests to supply that defect in the service of their gods This certainly was a high straine of devotion in those Jewes and Heathens And what do you think of the Primitive Christians were not they also thus violent when they sold their estates and layd down the price of them at the Apostles feete to purchase the meanes of Salvation for themselves and others If the people of this land would bid so high for the rich pearl of the Gospell The Kingdom of heaven were ours 2. And as in procuring of helpes meanes and advantages for the attainement or advancement of the kingdom of God so in removing the lets and impediments this heaven-sprung-violence will work and bestir it self to the uttermost If the Gospell of Christ the Word of the Kingdom chance to be brewed with humane traditions or the Worship and Ordinances of God adulterated with spurious institutions and impure mixtures Quid non audet amor what will not a man of violence do or suffer What labour or cost will he spare What adventures will he not make What hazards not run rather them suffer if he can helpe it such pollutions He will set his shoulders with Sampson to the pillars of Dagons house and pull them down though himselfe be oppressed in the ruines he will cut down the
grand importance and generall concernment unto all that our Saviour thought fit to disperse himself and his Apostles severall wayes that all the Cities and parts of the land might with more convenience be summoned to take notice of it John the Baptist he had indeed awakened the people as with the sound of a Trumpet and stirred them up to a generall expectation of the Messias his comming but yet many of them remained in suspence and were not so well satisfied about the person of the Messias whether John himself or Jesus was He as appeares Luk. 3.15 This scruple was necessary to be cleared and therefore John being cast into prison and now neere unto his Martyrdom he dispatcheth out two of his Disciples in an Embassy unto Christ to know of him whether he was {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that grand Redeemer of Iâ—rael so much desired and so long expected or whether they should look for some other vers. 2.3 It was not out of any doubt that John himself had as some Ancients have thought that he sent unto Christ this message for the Oracle from heaven had satisfied him in this and He others John 1.32 33. c. But it was out of a pious desire to imform and settle his Disciples who were not yet so well resolved in that matter as Chrysostom and other Interpreters Ancient and Modern have observed Our Saviour therefore having at that time as appeares by another paralell place wrought sundry miracles in healing the sick clensing the Lepers raising the dead he returnes this answer vers. 4 5 6. Go and shew unto Iohn what things you have heard and seen implying fairely that such divine words and works carried light and conviction enough along with them to bewray the Author of them and that he were little other than a miracle of unbeleef whom such great wonders and miracles could not move Hereupon the Disciples of Iohn being sent away with their answer he turnes his speech to the multitude and gives out a large and ample testimony unto Iohn commending him greatly for his personall vertues and his High Office and the singular effect and fruit thereof vers. 7 8 9 10 11 12. First for his personall vertues he was a man of a grave spirit of a constant and wel-setled Judgment not wavering and reeling to and fro like a reede shaken with the wind in which is no stedfastnesse for howsoever the people might haply think by occasion of this message that Iohn after his imprisonment might change his minde and not retaine the same opinion of Christ which he had before yet our Saviour cleares him from any umbrage of such a suspition by that quaere which he puts forth to the multitude vers. 7. What went ye out into the wildernesse to see intimating that they could not in reason suppose that Camell-hayred Prophet haunting the Wildernesse to be such a fickle humorous and desultory temporizer as those smooth silken Chaplains are wont to be that are in the Courts and Palaces of Princes 2. He extolls his Office and Function he being not onely a Prophet but much more then a Prophet v. 9. The ancient Prophets they saw Christ a far off but Iohn saw him face to face they fore-shewed his comming but Iohn was his harbinger and immediate fore-runner that pointed him out with his singer saying this is he in which respect our Saviour rankes him above the chiefe of Prophets and makes him the greatest meere man that ever was born of a woman and yet withall gives a prerogative of excellencie to the meanest Officer in the Kingdom of heaven above him vers. 11. which must not be understood of inherent holinesse or personall grace for in that respect the ordinary ministers of the Gospell are much inferiour unto Iohn but it is to be interpreted of their more honourable Office and Function in which they go beyond Iohn and excell him as far as he did the former Prophets it being a received maxim * that he that is least in a greater Order is greater than the greatest of a lesser Order as in the Schools he that hath proceeded a master in the Arts though but an Inceptor and of the latest Edition is above the highest Batchelours and the meanest Knight above the greatest Esquire 3. But the principall commendation of Iohn and the fairest flower in all his garland is taken from the singular effect and force of his ministery it being not dull and sluggish but lively and powerfull in operation upon the consciences of men and crowned with a more then ordinary successe and fruit and that is presented unto us in the Text now in hand From the dayes of John the Baptist untill now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violâ—nce c. The words then hold out unto us a glorious Spectacle a goodly sight well worth the beholding and that is the Kingdom of heaven ravished or if you will here 's a Noble prize atchieved by an honourable and heroicall enterprize together with the condition and successe of the enterprizers and the period and date of all this 1. The Noble prize to be atchieved is the Kingdom of Heaven 2. The honourable and heroicall enterprize is to invade and seize upon this Kingdom 3. The condition and quality of the enterprizers they are not remisse and slack but eager and violent 4. The Issue and successe of the enterprizers they prevaile in their design and take the Kingdom by force 5. The period or date from which this violence begins and how long it continues from the dayes of Iohn the Baptist untill now Johns ministery was but of a few dayes and of a short continuance but he kindled in that short time such a light of knowledge and such a flame of affection in the hearts of men as no opposition could put out but it continued like the morning star still blazing and glowing more and more till Christ came the Sun of righteousnesse and he with his Apostles was so far from quenching the smoaking flax that taking the Lamp out of Johns hands he blew it up to a greater height and made it burn more cleer and bright And from Christs time to the end of the world wheresoever the Gospell is preached which is the ministery of the Spirit discovering glorious things in the Kingdom of heaven and working mighty impressions upon the consciences of men by meanes of such discoveries there will be violence offered and resolute attempts and enterprizes taken in hand for the atchieving and compassing of those glorious things These are the parts of this Text all fraught with precious and choyce materialls I shall endeavour first {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to top these sheaves and to beat out the meaning of the severall parts and then we shall the better come to reape from them such fruits of Instruction as they will afford I begin with the first particular propounded The glorious prize here held out which is the Kingdom
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
Element to live in the earth or as if Camels and Elephants should strive to leave the earth and go live and swim in the Sea 2. But this Interpretation it self is judged by some to be too much forced and violent and therefore Ambrose and Hillary take violence here as opposed to just and right * We are wont you know to call them violent who invade and seize upon that by force which they have no good right nor title unto as theeves and robters do by the high way In like manner the Gentiles say these Authors who had no right unto the Kingdom of Heaven for they were strangers from the Common-wealth of Israell aliens from the Covenants of promise without God and without hope in the world yet they came thronging and crowding in howsoever whether they had any good tenure or no quo jure quaque Injuriâ they came according to our Saviours prediction from the East and from the West and from the North and from the South and seated themselves in the Kingdome of God whiles the Jewes which were the children of the Kingdom were cast out of doores Luk. 13.28.29 Rapuit Ecclesia regnum a Synagogue saith Ambrose the Jewes being Abrahams children thought this kingdom to be an inheritance due unto them onely in respect of their lineall descent and propagation from their Ancestors but the Gentiles came by force and shouldered them out and took all their Ancient rights and Priviledges from them This exposition carries smoothnesse and concinnity enough with it and might well be admitted were it not that it antedates a little too soone the conversion of the Gentiles who sprung not in with such violence nor in such numbers and multitudes till after the dayes of Iohn the Baptist in whose time yet this violence began 3. Therefore the more received and as I think the more judicious interpretation of this violence here takes it as opposed to temper and moderation for so in moralls we account them violent who are not dull and sluggish but earnest and serious in their work warm and zealous in their pursuite impetuous and resolute in their undertakings and such was the disposition of many people in Johns dayes they were so bent and set upon the Kingdom of heaven that no difficulties or discouragements could take them off they would have a share whatsoever it cost them As Souldiers when they lye before a besieged City they set to their long ladders and Scale the walls and when they are got in they flye upon the spoyl and seize upon what ever comes next to hand so was the course of these violent ones The Kingdom of heaven was no sooner opened but they sprung in and took hold of this glorious prize and carried all away before them with maine force But there is yet another Interpretation of this place given by Melancton which though it lye a little out of the common rode and is not much nor so far as I can finde at all taken notice of by others yet it seemes to me very considerable and worthy of due regard as well as any of the former the sum of his notion to give you an account of it in a word it is grounded upon the proper signification and common use of the word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which in all sorts of Authors is for the most part taken in the active and but seldom and very sparingly in the passive and if you please thus to take it here the sense will run cleer and smooth to this effect from the dayes of John the Baptist untill now regnum caelorum vi ingruit vi irrumpit the kingdom of heaven breakes in by force As the sun though it may be over-cast with a dark cloud yet the beames of it will at last break out or as a mighty violent flood or winter torrent though it meete with many obstructions to dam up its course yet it will burst through and flow over them so the kingdom of heaven howsoever there were oppositions raised to obstruct the passages and proceedings of it yet it violently rushed in bearing down all resistance removing all rubs and raigning over all impediments that lay in the way of it This Exposition hath nothing forced nor strained in it it agreeth well with that native force and common use of the word and there is another paralell place Luk. 16.16 which much favoureth this sence From the dayes of Iohn the Baptist untill now the Kingdom of heaven is preached and every one presseth into it the word is the same there and here and I know no reason of any force why the Active signification of it may not be admitted here as well as there the places being parallell its probable enough that one and the same line of Interpretation may serve them both Besides the currant use of the word in this sense among other Authors the Septuagint as far as I can finde takes it alwayes thus to wave other places for the present that in Exod. 19.24 is full and punctuall for this {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Let not the Priests and people break through to come up unto God and the next clause to the Text for the Law and the Prophets were untill Iohn fairely admits if not requires this construction his Ministry being the common bound-stone betwixt the Jewish and the Christian Church the limits from which the Law and the Prophets took their conclusion and the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ its commencement and inauguration However because I delight not to recede from the beaten tract unlesse it be upon urgent necessity therefore choose whether sence you please the difference will not be materiall in respect of the observations arising hence which before I enter upon there is yet one thing more to be explained in a word or two and that is Why from the dayes of John the Baptist this Kingdome of the heavens doth thus violently come in or if you relish the former notion better Why it suffered such violence in his dayes more then in former times The Reasons are 1. Because the Law and the Prophets were in force untill those dayes and then upon the expiring of that dispensation Johns ministery with the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ like time and the motion of the heavens took beginning together at one and the same instant therefore the Evangelist hath coupled them both together Mar. 1.1 2 3. and S. Peter hath done the like Act. 10.37 The Word you know which was published through all Judea beginning at Galilee after the Baptisme which John Preached Iohns Ministery it was you see preparatory and introductive unto Christ the whole designe of his Preaching and Baptisme was to discover Christ and to make him manifest unto Israel Iohn 1.31 His preaching being in the Spirit and power of Elias tended unto this to make ready a people prepared for the Lord Luke 1.17 and his Baptisme being a summons to repentance for the
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
hath the key of the house of David that opens and none shuts and shuts none opens he hath set before us an open door as he did for Philadelphia Rev. 3.7.8 and although there hath been and still is much opposition and great endeavours to have this door shut and fast bolted yet still it s kept open in despight of Rome and hell and is not this just matter of comfort that God hath by his Word opened us a passage into his Kingdom which no Art or power of the Enemies can block up Doth it not revive and cheer up our Spirits in our saddest droopings that although the Lord suffers our treasures to waste our estates to be drayned our provisions and supplies brought low though he feede us with the bread of adversity and water of affliction as it is in the Prophet Esay 30.20 21. Yet he suffers not our teachers to be scattered into corners notwithstanding all opposition he still continues a fresh Spring of the Gospell and with it the cloud of his presence among us Surely we are injurious to the bounty and goodnesse of our God in this kinde and value it not aright If it beare not such weight in our estimations and thoughts as to counter-vaile and more then countervaile to out-ballance all our afflictions And though there be some that would make us beleeve That we are still in the midst of Babylon and that it is not Christ but Antichrist that hath his Throne among us yet that is not a more malicious then an ignorant slander and tends not a little were it true to the honour of that man of sin For how almost can you honour him more as a reverend and grave Author sayes well then by holding him to be such an one under whose raigne a faithfull and effectuall ministery takes place the Word of the Kingdom being purely preached the Sacraments rightly administred for substance thousands of people converted and the way to Salvation and life eternall as open as in any other place in the world Surely we should be worse scared then hurt with those expressions of horrour and atrocity which the Scripture brands the kingdom of Antichrist with if this were the condition of his raign and government Sed non sic notus Vlysses I hope we are taught of God to know the manners of that man of sin otherwise then so But to passe over this let us descend into a more particular survey and discovery of our present condition and then I doubt me we shall finde but too much ground of just mourning and humiliation for although it is true that there is a Kingdom of heaven among us which prospers and flourishes in a considerable degree yet it hath not spread and got ground in such a large manner as might have beene expected and desired A man would think that we who have been tenants in the Lords land and have had a Patent and Charter of the Gospell leased out unto us for the terme of more than fourescore yeeres with many other great advantages above other parts of the world a man would think I say we should have been long since a people so refined in Religion so ripe in knowledge so eminent for the life and power of godlinesse so exemplary for purity of Ordinances Ministery Doctrine Worship and Government as might have rendred us a praise in all the Reformed Churches and a singular pattern and myrrour to the other parts of the world But alas how far short are we of such a condition and what great cause have we of mourning and humiliation in sundry respects 1. Its matter of mourning That although there be some yet we have not workmen enough rightly fitted and furnished with ability and fidelity for the Kingdom of God if we had as many labourers as Solomon had for the building of the Temple and he had many hundreds of thousands 1 Kings 5.15.16 yet all this would be no more then sufficient in respect or the great Work of God now in hand and upon the wheeles among us But alas we have scarce the tithe of that number the harvest is great and the labourers but few as our Saviour complained in a like case Luke 10.2 The Apostle having mentioned some 4. or 5. men of principall note who assisted him in the great work of Preaching the Gospell hee doth as it were fetch a sigh and breath out his soul in an expression of some griefe for that there were no more such Col. 4.11 These onely saith he are my fellow workers unto the Kingdom of God which have beene a comfort unto me you know how our Saviour mourned and how his bowels yearned with compassion over the multitudes when he observed them to be destitute in this kinde and scattered abroad like sheep without a sheepheard Mat. 9.36 2. It s yet more to be lamented that we are clogged and cumbred with others who in stead of promoting and carrying on do indeed retard and set back the proceedings of the Gospell and Kingdom of Christ {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as the saying of Byas was their very help is a disadvantage and an hinderance rather there be no small numbers imployed in the Service of the house of God whom a man would disdaine to set with the dogs of his flock as Job hath it Chap. 30.1 of this sort are 1. Those troopes of blinde guides ignorant sots priests of Jeroboams order the scum and froth of the people Indeed the silliest creatures in the world if they were but men were good enough as one fayes to make priests for Jeroboams gods which were but calves but what hath the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ deserved that it should be put into the hands of such hucksters 2. Little better upon the matter though some of them are more learned are those Loiterers rather than labourers in Gods Vineyard who feede themselves and famish their flocks Non-residents I meane who through covetousnesse make Merchandize of the Church of God and care not what becomes of the soules of the people bought with Christs blood so they may wallow in their pomp and jollity Master Greenham wished that this Inscription or Motto might be written on their doores and posts on their beds and tables on their study bookes plate and all their furniture precium sanguinis pretium sanguinis The price of blood The price of blood 3. Worse then both the former are those sonnes of Eli or sons of Belial rather who by their corrupt Doctrine or scandalous conversation poyson those who are committed to their charge pulling down the Church and Kingdom of God with both hands but building it up with neither if the people call for bread they give them a stone and when they aske a fish reach them a Serpent are not Christs flock trow ye well provided for when they are set over to the feeding of such Wolves 4. That small sprinkling of faithfull Ministers and people that are in
the Land have they not been discouraged oppressed and persecuted with all extremity of rigour onely for that power of godlinesse which they held out as if they that are themselves and would gladly draw others to be subjects in the Kingdom of heaven were for that reason not worthy to live upon the earth That which we reade of the Jewes Ezek. 11.15 It was me thinkes an exact image and portraiture of the late face of our times The great ones that bare the sway cast out all the Ministers and people of God saying Get ye far hence from the Lord to us is this Land given in possession oprression was in power superstition in credit Luxury Idlenesse in favour Ignorance cherished prophannesse countenanced negligence harboured all Impiety fostered and maintained onely the faithfull servants of Christ were and eye-sore and a burthen which the land could not beare and what was the quarrell Why they could not reconcile their Consciences to the piety of those times the new revived Popery would not rellish antiquated superstitions then obtruded were not pleasing they could not concoct Idolatry with witty distinctions In a Word they could not swallow the doctrine of Balaam which some great Prelates and their adherents set abroach teaching men to bow to a piece of wood or stone the work of the hands of the Mason or Carpenter no doubt a right worshipfull block therefore the enemies either drove them out and persecuted them into strange Cities as Jeroboam did the conscientious Levites 2 King 17.21 Or if they tarried still in the Land they were appointed out as sheepe to the slaughter Zach. 11.45 consult the place and it will seeme a Prophecy calculated for our Meridian 5. To affect our hearts with just griefe yet more see if there be not a mighty Reigne of all manner of Iniquity almost every where in the Land Is there not an overflowing Deluge of Popery Atheisme Heresies Sects Schismes Idolatry Tyranny Simony Bribery Sacriledge Oppression Rapine Whordom Drunkennesse Adultery Murther with all other abominations that can be named are not all these as you heard worthily from the reverend Doctor in the morning broken in like a torrent or winter land-flood upon us It was a sad complaint of a learned and worthy Divine of ours divers yeeres since That there was such a generall corruption of manners here that all things seemed to be lawfull and might be acted freely and with impunity enough except medling with the Prelates Myters which only were so sacred that they might not be toucht the Jewes have a saying That when all the creatures were destroyed by the flood Noah had a copy of them in the Arke which was after re-printed to the world and sure I think were all the corrupt Religions and all the notorious sinnes of the world lost a new Edition might be soon supplyed and sent out by the Copies and Paternes of them that are among us Where these things are and abound it may be questioned whether the Lord raigns but it is out of all doubt that so far forth at least Sathan hath a Throne there as in the Church of Pergamus Revel. 3.13 6. That which may heighten our griefe as it doth our misery yet further since the beginning of the Reformation none of all out former Princes or Parliaments have ever yet so laid these mischiefes to heart as to make any effectuall provision against them Daut animum ad libere loquendum ultimae miseriae Extreame miseries will force a man to speak out more freely then otherwise were perhaps fitting Let me therefore intreate you most honoured Senators to lay your hands on your brests and tell me whether this be not true What law hath ever yet been enacted to enforce diligence and painfulnesse in preaching or to establish a learned and faithfull ministery Nay hath not the doore unto the Ministry been set wide open and Sacred Orders prostituted to all sorts of persons though never so apparently unfit or unworthy And hath there ever yet been any sollid well-grounded course either to prevent the entrance of such at the first or to eject and remove them afterwards The like may be said of the unsuppressed growth of scandalous sinnes dangerous errours destructive opinions and heresies besides the prodigious ignorance next to Barbarisme which hath been suffered to overflow the Dominion of Wales and the neighbouring Kingdom of Ireland to say nothing of the blinde corners in our own Land in all which there is so little knowledge of Christ and the Gospell that a man could hardly take it upon his conscience that the most of the people are not Infidels surely very few would suspect them to be Christians Who would think that such a Kingdom as this professing the Gospell and faith of Christ should suffer such abuses and prophanations and take no effectuall course for the redresse and reformation of them It may be a just griefe and shame unto us that such things may be layd to our charge and that we cannot answer for them 7. But this is yet worse then all the rest and more to be lamented That the Publique State of the Kingdome hath heretofore by Parliamentary Acts and Decrees Legitimated some of the former and sundry other mischiefes and is it not a strong conviction of sin reigning in a land where the throne of Iniquity establisheth mischiefe by a Law Psal. 94.20 Other sins may be charged upon private persons but the publique state must beare the guilt of those evills which it might have hindred and did not much more of those which it did command and how can that State be excused from commanding of sin which enacteth lawes against Gods Lawes what should I neede to tell you of the errours and oversights of former times in which the civill Authority and sanction of Parliaments hath confirmed and ratified not onely Non-residency Pluralities Impropriations and a dumb Ministery with other like corruptions but that which hath given growth and spreadth to all these and many other horrible abuses a pompous high towring and most unprofitable Hierarchy with a multitude of Chauncellours Commissaries Surrogates and other inferiour Officers depending thereupon the most of which have beene ever found by constant experience very bitter enemies to the Kingdom of God and now the whole faction of them with all its dependants is risen up in Armes to oppose Religion and Liberty and to sacrifice to their unbounded ambition the prosperity honour and happinesse of three Kingdomes It was a harsh expression but too true Religion is never in danger but among the Right Reverend 8. Once more look upon all these great evills not as sinnes onely but as Judgements also especially that Church-destroying soul-damning curse of a corrupt Ministery which is one of the forest plagues that God is wont to punish a wicked people with It s undeniable this upon the former grounds for if Pastors after Gods own heart be such undoubted pledges of speciall favour
must be excommunicated for the Pontificall tribe had made a Canon That whosoever confessed Christ should be put out of the Synagogue John 9.22 34. If once we begin to advance in good earnest and set forward towards heaven it will not be long to be sure ere some furious storme of persecution be raised to drive us back againe if possible to the gates of hell In all these and sundry other respects there must be much fervency in our desires affectionate obstinacy in our resolutions and endeavours much wrestling and conflicting with God and our selves friends and enemies or else admission and entrance into the Kingdome of heaven is a thing to be despaired of I come now to inferences of use and practise and to omit others which offer themselves in variety I pitch upon three onely 1. For Instruction 2. For Reproofe 3. For Exhortation For Instruction in two Branches 1. This may informe us That Salvation is a prize not so easily won as it s commonly Imagined There is an opinion in the world Paulus Tarnovius calls it Novum Evangelium A new Gospell that if so be a man professe the true Religion and be Orthodox in his Judgement and not grosly notorious for any enormious crymes in his conversation if he come to Church and heare the Word and receive the Sacraments and have forme of Godlinesse though not the power and life of it why then such a man shall certainely be saved This new Gospell as that Reverend and worthy Divine calls it is an old Delusion and fallacy of Sathan which hath prevailed in the world from the beginning and in all ages jugled thousands out of their Salvation and wheresoever it is received and entertained it will be the destruction not of particular persons alone but of whole States and Kingdomes as it was of the old world and the Jewish Common-wealth and of Germany too now of late if the judgement of that learned man mistooke not its marke Oh this {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as Nazianzen speakes this new Gospell without charges this cheap Religion which would open us such an easie way with a few good words with a little wholsome breath to purchase the Kingdome of heaven we could rellish it well its marvellous pleasing and delightfull to our lazie and sluggish dispositions As Marcus Lepidus when he stretched himself and lay along on the grasse O utimam hoe essâ—t laborare Oh saith he that this were to labour and to get the Mastery so many of us when we stretch ourselves on our beds like them in Amos and live at ease in Sion denying nothing to our carnall affections and appetites which we have a minde to Oh say we that this were to be violent for the Kingdom of heaven for then we would list our Names and be as forward as who most but let us not be deceived The Kingdome of God consists not in Words but in power I Cor. 4.20 If Christianity were a soft and delicate profession were the way to heaven over green meddowes and floury plaines strewed with Roses and Violet and not beset with tryers and thornes with difficulties encumbrances and oppositions every Agrippa would then be not onely almost but altogether perswaded to be a Christian every prophane Esau would come in for a share none would sit out but heaven is not got with a wish nor Paradise with a song Remission of sinnes and the Graces of Regeneration they are not obtained with a sigh victory over all oppositions from earth and hell is not atchieved with a breath it s not dull and faint wishes cold and languishing velleities feeble and heardlesse endeavours that can hope to win the crowne of Glory there must be passionate longings and breakings of the heart with continuall desires after God the operation of Gods Word upon us must be as a burning fire shut up in our bones Jer. 20.9 Our zeale for God must eate us up Psal. 69.9 We must be valiant for the truth Jer. 9.3 Resist oppositions and temptations unto blood Heb. 12.4 Else were there as many heavens as there be dayes in the yeere we are never like to arrive in any of them 2. This may let us see what we are to judge of temper and moderation in matters of Religion In other things it is a vertue and worthy of much praise and it is not to be denyed That even in Religion too there are some things in which it may have place When there was too much heate in the Church of Rome about some matters of indifferency not much importing any way the Apostle to calme both parties and to compose them unto moderation and mutuall bearing with one another The Kingdome of God saith he is not meate and drinke but righteousnesse and peace and joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 All truth carries Gods stampe and is pretious but not alike there be some truths of such moment and consequence as that they cannot be over violently striven for but there be others of an inferiour alloy which need not be held much lesse pressed upon others with so hard a hand such are not a few speculative opinions and rituall practises in matters of externall Worship in contending about which if the excesses of zeale were corrected and allayed with a little cooling of moderation no doubt it would be much better then now it is with the Church of God It s a good rule to this purpose that of the famous Chauncellour of Paris Honey is good with the honey comb and so is the Savour of Devotion when it is seasoned with a discreete mixture of moderation But although it be true that in these punctilioes as it were in Religion moderation is a Jewell yet in the profession and practise of those maine fundamentalls of Faith and Worship with other superstructions neerly bordering and coasting thereupon it is far otherwise In these things its easie to be too moderate but impossible to be over violent If we seeme to be transported into an extasie so as the world judgeth us to be besides our selves it matters not much If we be besides our selves it is unto God 2 Cor. 5.13 Religion is a tender businesse and of great concernment the glory of God and our Salvation depends on it and as Calvin said of drawing too much water out of the well of life so may I of drawing out our Spirits in too much violence for the honour of God I do not know where any man is blamed in all the Scripture for such a fault If it were possile that in hearing the Word a man were all eare if in prayer he could be rapt up into an extasie in mourning for sin if he could melt out his soule at his eyes in all the other parts of worship and practises of piety could he be all devotion and pure pure zeale it would become him well and there should be no danger of excesse How is it possible that we should have
darknesse and shadow of death Oh the bright star of Jacobâ— the rising and Orient lustre of it to such as love darkenesse better then light it is of an Ominous and dismall presage it portends their kingdome will come downe their mis-giving hearts are afraid of the scorching Influence of it as the devills were of Christs comming lest it should torment them before the time Mat. 8.29 And now is it possible trow ye that such sonnes of Belial to whom the presence of Christ in his Ordinances and Worship is the greatest burthen and torment and as it were an hell upon earth Is it possible that such should ever expect or conceive the least hope of reigning with him for ever in heaven Oh yes they pretend for heaven as much and as loud as any others and they are for Religion too even for the true Reformed Protestant Profession and they are zealous yea violent for it and that is the reason you must beleeve them why they have drawne their swords and taken up Armes It s for no other end doubtlesse but to defend the true Protestant profession with his Majesties just Prerogative and Crown-rights which the Parliament with the faction of Brownists and Anabaptists that adhere to it endeavour to destroy It s a true saying that of the Romane Orator * There is nothing so horrid no cause so desperate which may not be palliated and covered over with glorious and glittering pretences As Herod would have the wisemen bring him word when they had found Christ for he meant to come and worship the babe when his intent was to slay it But as Tertullian wittily told the Gentiles when they contended so fiercely for the worship of Jupiter That whatsoever they pretended Caesar was their chiefe God and that they worshipped him with more devotion then Jupiter The like may I say of these Herodians or Court-zealots call them what you will and let them pretend what they list for God they are Caesars by whole-sale in Religion affection conscience soule and body and all Caesars they measure Religion by the length of the Scepter being resolved to beleeve the worst of Popery and to practise the worst of Tyranny even to the destruction of the three Kingdomes if Caesar do but please to declare the one to be the True Reformed Protestant Profession and the other The due Rights and Priviledges of Parliament much like the Boutefew that Tully speakes of C. Blos Cumanus I think it was that would to shew his affection to his friend do whatsoever he should bid him though it were to set fire on the Capitoll 2 Not all out so desperate though bad enough is another sort of neutralizing temporizers that are just of Gallios temper for matter of Religion not caring a jot whether the Arke or Dagon be set up whether Christ or Antichrist prevaile the true Religion or Popery both or neither to them is a matter of indifferency and not so much as the turning of an hand they passe not at all for such things onely they have the discretion to set their sayles as the wind blowes and to wheele about as they see occasion that they may be of the prevayling side much like the man in Macrobius who during the times of civill war betwixt Antony and Augustus Caesar had with much Art and diligence taught his two crowes their severall notes the one to say Ave Imperator Antoni the other Ave Imperator Augustâ— that so when the warres should be over and the controversie determined whether party soever prevayled he might be sure to have a bird for the Conquerour If there chance to be any such within these walls I wish they would sadly and ripely consider that speech of our Saviour He that is not with me is against me Mat. 12.30 and that grave expression of a great Prelate This cause of God is of that Nature that if a man do not appeare in it and gather with Christ he scattereth from him there being no middle condition possible in which a man can close or side with any other than the devill who joynes not with Christ 3. Such as value their wealth ease credit reputation above Christ and his Kingdome to come to Church now and then to heare the Word performe some cheape outward duties which may looke like a forme of godlinesse none will blame them for this It were disgracefull to be Atheists unprofitable to be Papists or recusants thus far they go and its faire too but to be at any expence for Christ to purchase his kingdom with any prejudice to themselves in their credit or estates he must pardon them for that they love a Religion contrary to Davids disposition which will cost them nothing these have taken the Covenant many of them onely to save charges for they spare not to professe that they will trust God with their soules though they perjure rather then the Parliament with their Estates They will lash out more in furnishing a banket or some unnecessary entertainment spend more in one cast at Bowles or Dice then ever they can be gotten to part with all their life long for the glory of God the upholding of his cause and Gospell and the preservation of an 100000. Christians in the three Kingdomes the men of this world they are violent for their Mammon Give them the fatnesse of the earth Take the dew of heaven who will A right brood of old Gadarens who can be content to have a whole Legion of Devils roost in the Kingdome and nestle in their own hearts as in strong holds rather than they will be at so much cost as the losse of their hoggs to purchase the dispossession of them 4. There be others that seeme violent in matters of Religion none more forward in appearance then they but they are not sincere and cordiall As it is with them that are sicke of a Fever while the face and outward parts burne the heart quakes and shivereth with cold so it is with these pretenders their countenance Jehu like is full of flushing heate in their face and outward carriage you may see their zeale for the Lord but if you could put but your hands within their brests you should finde their hearts Nabal-like as cold as a stone It s no new devise but an old trick of hypocriticall spirits to seeme devout onely for their owne ends to drive their own designes under a colour of being zealous for God Ignatius observed there were some of this stamp in his time who made a trade and an occupation of Christ to get wealth by him shuffling in Religon to deale themselves a thriving game in the world I know not whether it be true but the Vox Populi the Common opinion and voyce of the people is That in Country City Armies I hope not in the Parliament there are and have beene too many who in publike places of Imployment at the publike charge drive their private designes enjoying both at
resolutions let the Law and the Testimony be your Oracle It s a Kingdome of heaven that you are bound for and therefore your course must be like that of the Mariners guided by the heavens If you steere your course by any other line sure you will never arive where you would be at the faire havens The Heathens themselves never undertooke any great worke about the affaires of state till they had consulted the face of the Heavens what they did out of blind superstition do you from a principle of true Religion 4. When you have taken your aimes right and made choyce of fit meanes to compasse them let God alone with the successe he will make good the issue and turne all to the best As Quintillian said of a Pilot so may I of you whiles you hold the stearne and guide the compasse right you cannot be blamed although the great vessell of the State should be cast away and wracked in the storme which yet I hope it never will be Furthermore it concernes us all in common but you more especially most worthy Patriots not onely to labour for our owne particulars to take hold on this Kingdom with all violence but also to prepare way for others that they may come up to it or rather indeede that it may come downe to them As David therefore in a violent ravishment of desire that the Temple might be built cryed Psal. 24.9 10. Lift up your heads oh ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doores and the King of glory shall come in So let me addresse the like desire to you that are the Heads of our Tribes and have the keyes of the Kingdome of Great Brittaine hanging at the doores of your Honourable Senate House Oh let all the gates and doores of the Kingdome and of all the Counties Cities Parishes in it be set wide open That the King of Glory may come in The eyes of many thousands in the Land and a great part of Christendome too are now upon you you are in the hearts of all the Saints in all the Churches especially those at home who are ready to live and dye with you and what is their expectation and desire other then this That Christ may raigne as an All-Commanding King over his owne house That Doctrin Worship Government may be all exact according to the Patterne in the Mount Helpe on this much-desired Work 1 By setting a faithful pious and learned Ministery Be not offended that I touch upon this string once more How meane apprehensions soever any may have of this great Ordinance of God Preaching of the Gospell yet it is no other thing then the Scepter of Christs Kingdome the Royall Mace that is lifted up and born before him his triumphing chariot in which he rides conquering and to conquer Revel. 6.2 God is wont to hang the greatest weights upon the smallest wires The Salvation of the world depends upon this foolishnesse of preaching 1 Cor. 1.21 Blessed be God he hath given us his Word and if we could but adde what is next in the Psal. 68.11 Great is the multitude of them that publish it Sathan would soone fall downe like lightning and we should have an heaven upon earth We are zealous against Babylon and it s well that we are so I will shew you a way how to storme downe the proud walls and battlements of it without any Petards or Cannon shot or Engines of warre not so much need of these The sound of Rammes hornes will serve the turne Revel. 14.6 When the Angell flyes in the midst of heaven with an everlasting Gospell to Preach the next Newes is vers. 8. Babylon is fallen This preaching it will be the ruine of the man of sin it will spring a Myne under his Thron and beat down all his power and glory into the dust 2. If you would have a learned consciencious ministry do as Hezekiah Command the people to give the Priests and Levites their portion that they may be incouraged in the Law of the Lord 2 Chron. 31.4 Let there be due provision of oyle for all the Lamps of the Sanctuary and let there be worthy incouragements for all the severall professions of learning especially the sacred If learning should decay as some I hope without ground feare it will what can we looke for but an Inundation of Popery Atheisme prophanenesse sects heresies with all manner of Barbarity In the memory of our Fathers when it pleased the Lord to raise up Luther Melancton Calvin and many other choyce spirits it was unto the Churches even like unto a resurrection from the dead the Resurrection of learning brought with it a resurrection of Religion and a fresh spring of the Gospell which blessed be God continues still and flourishes to this day 3 But now that I have made mention of learning I may not without piacular neglect passe over the two Seminaries and seed-plots of it without a word or two It was a sad complaint of Luther against most of the Universities of Europe that they were become chaires of Pestilence and the very stewes and brothels of Antichrist God forbid that any should harbour any such apprehension of ours Blessed be God they have beene worthy Nurseries and schooles of the Prophets both of them and I hope they will continue so still Howsoever it were good to cast a little more salt into these Springs that the waters of life issuing from them may be more sweete and wholesome and that there may be no death nor barrennesse nor any thing causing miscarriage in them 2 King 29.10 The common complaint is That the two breasts though they be not quite dryed up yet they yeeld neither so much milke nor so wholesome now of late as in former times that it is now adulterated and brewed with mixtures its easie to know whence The way to heale all were to plant more wholesome heavenly and powerfull preaching there St. Basil tells That when men were desirous in his dayes to store themselves with Doves in their houses they tooke some of a milke white colour and perfumed them with odours and sweete oyntments and they flying abroad allured home with their sent all they met withall oh that we had a brood of such Doves richly perfum'd with Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia men anoynted I meane with the spirit and graces of Jesus Christ which are more sweet and odoriferous then all the unctions else in the world If there were some of these sent abroad into Country City Court and University how would multitudes flocke after them like Doves into their windowes Esay 60.8 4. If you would have Christ raigne fully freely universally all the Kingdome over let the Reformation then which is intended advance freely and fully and let it be first thorow and exact that no Rome be left for a throne of Sathan in any corner we would be loath that God should put us off with halfe a deliverance why should
we put him off with halfe a reformation 2. Let it be swift and speedy let it not alwaies thus sticke in the birth but give it quicke expedition and dispatch our Saviours rule is primum quaerite Mat. 6.33 Seeke first the Kingdome of God before and above all other things God takes it ill and shewes himselfe angry with the Jewes and chides them sore for neglect of this Hag. 1.4 Is it time for you to dwell in your cieled houses whiles this house lyes waste God gives us as he did them leave to have a due regard of our owne houses but his worke should alwayes in order preceede ours as it doth in worth and dignity Other causes may and must waite till that which is of greatest Importance be dispatched it was a worthy resolution that of Nehemiah when the enemies sent a Trumpeter as it were to beate for a parlee I am saith he about a great worke so that I cannot come down why should the worke cease whiles I leave it and come downe to you Nehem. 6.3 A word to the wise is enough I presse it no further 5. Remove all the lets Impediments and stumbling blockes which hinder the propagation and spreading of Christs Kingdom among us whether things or persons whatsoever cannot shew its pedegree from heaven out with it what should it do amongst us That which never came from heaven can never be a meanes to carry us thither the Temple of God may not be built with the materialls of Babylon we should not take a stone from thence for a corner nor for a foundation Jer. 51.16 And those persons too that pretend so high for their divine originall and cannot yet shew the Genealogy of it from the Scriptures They should be as polluted put from the Priesthood Neh. 6.64 But above all the other Impediments that which gives sourse and life unto them and is it selfe the greatest the faction I meane of Rome and Antichrist let that be removed If you be on the Lords side cast down Jezebel out at the windows when that mother of whoredome and all her merchants factors and retainers with all their Babilonish trash and trumpery the wares which they traffique in is sent packing away and cast like a mil-stone into the bottome of the Sea then and not before begins that victorious and triumphant Song of the Elders Revel. 19.6 Hallelujah the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth This is your worke oh ye worthies and to quicken you to it consider 1. How necessary it is if we let slip this opportunity in which the Kingdome of heaven seemes to come neere unto us and to knock at our doores for admission we are an undone people the Lord if not admitted now is like never to make us such another offer he will take his Kingdome from us and give it to some other Nation that will bring forth the fruits thereof Math. 21.43 The uncleane spirit which is in a good measure cast out will returne againe and bring along seven other worse ones with it to take possession of the whole Kingdome and so our condition will be worse then ever it was 2. It s a glorious prize that we are called to be violent for It is a Kingdome and who would not straine hard for such a booty which once obtained will more then countervaile all our care and cost our zeale and violence for it The heathen man thought it great reason to offer violence even to Justice and Conscience if it were for a Kingdome In other things he would have respect to just and right but if a kingdome lay at the stake and might be won he held it no discretion to be over conscientious I commend not his resolution in this our Rule is Fiat Justitia ruat caelum let Justice be done though the heavens fall we must be violent to keepe faith and a good conscience not to put them from us and this is the way to make us all Kings and Priests unto our God they are of the family of heaven and of the blood Royall that are thus affected Revel. 19.26 Christ at his last comming to destroy Antichrist is said to have his Name written not onely upon his vesture but upon his thigh too King of Kings and Lord of Lords What 's this 〈◊〉 a name Written upon his thigh somewhat an unproper sâ—ituation what should a man do with a name written upon his thigh But t is the place of generation Jacobs 70. soules are said to come out of his thigh and those choyce violent spirits that follow Christ in his warres against Antichrist as those Armies of heaven did spoken of before vers. 14. They all came out of his thigh were discended and propagated from him by a divine worke of Regeneration the Spirit of Jesus Christ refines the blood of the meanest persons and creates them a Regall pedegree 3 It s an honourable thing to be violent for the honour of our God and the good of a whole Kingdome to do good to one is honourable said the Philosopher but to do good to a City or Nation this is heroicall how much more when the honour of God and the happinesse of three Kingdomes that I may not say of Christendom too is infolded in one another Saint Paul saies It s good to be alwayes zealously affected in a good thing Gal. 4.16 Alwayes good It was intended no doubt as a marke of honour that Name which our Saviour for this cause imposed upon one of the Apostles when he called him Simon Zelotes Luke 6.15 The more zeale we have the more honourable we are at all times but to be zealous for God as Elias was in evill times to owne his cause in an adulterous and sinfull generation this is honourable indeed yea and I had almost said meritorious but howsever t is thank-worthy to be sure in an eminent degree Luk. 22.28 29 Ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations and what then I appoint unto you a Kingdom that ye may eate and drinke at my Table and sit on thrones c. You see how well our Saviour takes it when his servants cleave close to him and will stand for him in his temptations If the right hand place in his Kingdome be reserved for any more then others it shall be kept for such 5 The contrary disposition is of it selfe base and unworthy yea and of all other the most loathsome and abominable Revel. 3.15 16. Better key cold then onely lukewarme It s an argument we neither value God nor his Kingdome when we are so dull and heartlesse in our desires and endeavours as if the purchase we are about would not quit the cost nor be worth the paines that is required for it When Callidius a Roman Orator pleaded a cause very faintly and made no shew of affection Tully told him that sure he was not in earnest otherwise the tide of passion would have beene up In