their period and determination But who is he and where is he that dares put this indignity upon the eternal and immutable Jehovah Will not common experience convince him that the same good hand which created all things hath been ever and still is stretched forth in Upholding and Preserving Whence is it else that amidst such Variety there is such excellent Order still continued Yea that in such Contrariety Confusion doth not break in to the ruine of all Much might here be added to shew the constancy and immutability of Jesus Christ in governing and preserving the World But we shall now contract what might be enlarged The holy Scripture is clear in this matter ascribing unto Christ the power and sovereignty in ruling and preserving the whole Creation By him saith the Apostle Col. 1.17 doth all things consist visible and invisible And the reason as I conceive seems to be there annexed in the former words viz. He is before all things like a Captain in the head of his Army without whom they would be of no force but consume to nothing like a Basis or Foundation in a Building which as it must have a priority in time before the Building so being first laid it upholdeth all that is built upon it To which also the Apostle alludeth Heb. 1. when having made mention of the Worlds being made by Christ he addeth That he upholdeth all things by the word of his power that is his powerful Word which word is very emphatical Heb. 1.3 implying that in the things themselves there is no power no virtue at all for their own preservation but that it is his Rule Order Wisdom alone that keeps the World upright For as in a Structure the stones and other materials cannot subsist in the Building by any qualities or inherent virtues of their own but only by the subsistence which they have upon the Foundation So is it in the World the several Creatures that are therein could never of themselves hold together with that exact Symmetry Comeliness and order that appeareth amongst them but would certainly run headlong to ruine were it not for the mighty Word of command that ruling Virtue which constantly issueth out from Jesus Christ whereby they are upheld and sustained His mighty Power it is alone that upholdeth the Earth that stretcheth out the Heavens that sendeth forth the winds that raiseth up the high and great Waves of the Sea and again saith unto them Peace and be still Yea in the very smallest things is his Power and Providence in governing and ordering the World exercised and made known He it is that maketh the Feather to move Mat. 10.29 30. his mighty hand leadeth the Fly in her way yea more the same force which now shaketh a Leaf if he had sent it against a Mountain it would have turned it up from the foundations and the same strength that bloweth up the Dust if it came against the whole Earth it would shake the bottoms of it For it is not the natural 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Philosopher calls it that is as some interpret it the continual progressive Agitation or perfect Adeption of the Creatures that makes them run on in their course But it is that Omnipotent Arm that gave a Being to all things that ordereth and disposeth the motion of them all as seemeth good unto him And for their parts they are willingly subject unto his commands When he saith Go they go when he saith Come they come when he saith Do this they do it as cheerfully as ever the Centurion's Servant did what his Master appointed him though many times they be put upon Services contrary to their ordinary course and those natural Instructions which they received in the Creation for they are sensible of the power of their Lord and in order to his Glory and their own preservation do unanimously agree that his Wisdom must not be controlled To conclude Ps 36.6 He it is saith the Psalmist that preserveth Man and Beast for he having created all all things therefore must be under his Inspection and Care yea it is his glory and honour to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the only He in guiding and governing and preserving the World as well as in creating it which honour we find given unto him by the Prophet Ps 40.26 He that created these things bringeth out their Hoste by number he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might for that he is strong in power not one faileth And when he calleth them Es 48.13 they like dutiful Servants stand up together Es 48 13. We shall not proceed any further in the confirmation of a Point so clear only answer a Cavil conceived and produced in these times through a mis-understanding of the Sovereign power of Christ over the Creatures In which mistake since he did as it is manifest give a Being to the World and thereupon had free liberty to order and govern it as seemed good unto him we shall make it appear they do not only strike at the Mediatory Scepter of the Lord Jesus but at his Wisdom also in the management of his natural Dominion Which being done we shall come to derive some inferences from what hath been said concerning this matter for our further edification Objection If this power say some belongeth unto Christ and to Christ alone to guide and govern the World because he gave a Being unto it why then are men set up in the Throne with him Doth he need helps in Government Or is he like Moses not able himself to bear all the people alone Is he not wise in heart and mighty in strength to manage his own power Doth he govern the whole Hoste of Heaven by his immediate Scepter and must he have Coadjutours in Office with him to rule over men Far be it from us to judge so meanly of this great Preserver of Men. Away therefore with Kings and all the Powers that are upon Earth Down with Magistracy what ever it be that is of a Humane Constitution set up in Competition with him we have no King but Jesus for in him we live and move and have our being To him then alone be Glory for ever Amen Solution Even so Amen Let the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory be ascribed unto him for ever and ever and let all the people say Amen For these things indeed saith The Amen the faithful and true Witness himself he saith it once yea twice once in the Law and a second time in the Gospel without Retractation that Power and Dominion belongeth unto him and whosoever they be that say the contrary That they will not have him to reign over them let them be executed in his presence for Rebels and Traitours So then a hearty Concurrency is readily yielded to the exalting of the Lord Jesus neither shall there be any Name whatsoever in heaven or in Earth named by us at any time to
hath of late been sufficiently cleared by others Mr. Prinn c. Is not the Lord Jesus Christ called the Prince of the Kings of the Earth as being his honour to have those that are of the highest estimation to be Subjects unto him Which being so it should be the desire and ambition of all the people in the world to be ruled by those persons who are entituled to this subjective Regality And when Divine Providence shall with a strong hand and a stretched-out Arm lead them unto it as it hath done us here in this Kingdom and the Nations of our Vicinity for many Generations it will certainly be their sin if they should not submit cheerfully unto it as it was the sin of the people of Israel when they out of a diffidence of Gods care and protection of them and out of an Apish imitation of other Nations would in an unseasonable preposterous and tumultuous manner be catching at it And now all this considered how can a people with any serenity of Conscience profess Godliness and yet speak reproachfully of the Kingly Office yea account it Antichristian as some have done proclaiming open Hostility against it Were it indeed Heterogeneous to the Divine Ordinance of Civil Government or incongruous to the times of the Gospel or prejudicial to the interest of the Saints as it is said to be or an impeachment in the least degree to the Dignity and Prerogative Royal of the Lord Jesus Christ himself either in respect of his Natural or of his Donative Kingdom such persons might proceed upon warrantable grounds to proclaim their dislike in that kind But it may now appear to all the World that the clamour which is raised against Regal Power upon any of these before-named accounts is altogether causeless and of no moment It will not be expedient here to examine them severally for in so doing we should make too large a digression haply we shall meet with them obiter in our way wherein the inadvertency or to say truly the Seditious frowardness rather then the godly zeal of the Authors and Abettors of these Complaints will be made manifest unto all men In the mean time I cannot but protest against that pernicious Paradox which hath been vented by a leading Divine as he was accounted in these late times of Errour and Rebellion amongst us J. O. who in a Sermon preached at S. Margarets Westminster and afterwards Printed saith thus The Lord had of old erected a Kingly Government in the House of David not for any eminency in the Government it self or for the Civil Advantage of that people but that it might be a Type of the Spiritual Dominion of the Messiah and so was a part of their Paedagogy and Bondage as was the residue of their Types every one of them and consequently this form of Government not to be of any use in the time of the Gospel Were this true we then who are now of the Church of God as that people were before us acknowledging this Messiah to be come according to the Promise may indeed have just cause to say of that kind of Government as the Apostle doth of Circumcision If we should allow of it Christ shall profit us nothing the substance being come what should the shadow of a King do unto us But I hope that those who have through the subtlety of Satan been misled into this Opinion will hereafter find cause to retract it when they shall remember that the rule of the Gospel to which they pretend an exact Conformity requires them to pray and to give thanks for Kings which as the Apostle saith is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. 1 Tim 2.1 2 3. However seeing that Wisdom puts forth her Voice crying at the Gates at the entry of the City at the coming in at the Doors saying By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice by me Princes rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the eâ—rth Seeing I say this sound is heard from Heaven every day in the Consciences of men Wisdom will herein be justified of all her children And let this serve to terminate the first part of my Proposition viz. Government is an Ordinance of Divine Authorization Secondly It is ordained to be subservient unto Christ in the dispensation of his power and providence towards the preservation of Mankind 2. Branch For though Christ be All in all Col. 3.11 as the Apostle speaks Col. 3. yet to shew himself to be the Lord of all he hath ordained means to be subservient unto him in all the works of his Providence and hath accordingly made use of them To this purpose saith the Son of Sirach very pertinently Ec. 38.2 3 4 5. Of the most High cometh healing yet the Physician must be honoured with that honour that belongeth unto him The Lord also hath created Medicines out of the Earth and he that is wise will not abhor them He hath given skill unto men that he might be honoured in his marvellous works with such doth he heal men and taketh away their pains of such doth the Apothecary make a Confection c. Hence it is as the Prophet Jeremy speaketh Jer. 23.25 That his Covenant with Day and Night and the Ordinances of Heaven and Earth concerning their disposition motion order influences virtues and operations are inviolable They continue this day saith the Psalmist according to thine ordinance Ps 119.91 for all are thy servants not as if his Paramount Authority and power were thereby any whit diminished rather it is advanced nor as if he were necessitated thereunto for want of power in himself for we may see the course of Heaven c. hath sometimes been inverted by him Indulgentiae est non indigentiae non efficaciam quaerit sed congruentiam Ex. 14.16 John 3.16 2 Reg. 10.1 Dan. 3.25 But of his own free will in the abundance of his goodness it is that he governeth and preserveth Creatures by Creatures using the ministery of second Causes for in their present poor estate wherein they are in this world his own immediate hand and power would soon prove intolerable unto them Who alas among us here can dwell with devouring fire Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings Goodness then and mercy it is that is the ground of this Dispensation from Heaven towards poor creatures of all sorts but there is no creature under the Sun unto whom the Lord hath so much respect as he hath to Mankind all other indeed have their being and their well-being whatsoever it is from him as hath been said before But Man is his Favourite the Masterpiece of his wisdom power and goodness the work of his Faciamus not barely of his Fiat as other Creatures were in him he challengeth a special propriety accounting him his own in a peculiar manner for in that sense I conceive that place of the Evangelist John 1.11 He
unto him in heaven and in Earth The exercise of which power he would first have to be manifested in discipling whole Nations of the Gentiles Matt. 28.18 19. receiving them into Covenant by the Sacrament of Baptisme as the Jews were by the Sacrament of Circumcision Where the word Nation in order to the Gentiles must without controversie be taken in the same sense as it was with a reference unto the Jews for as the Nation of the Jews was made up of all sorts and sexes old and young so in like manner are the Nations of the Gentiles And because his commission which he then gave unto his Apostles was not formed according to the erroneous fancy of these deluded people who in effect render it thus Go and Disciple all men But thus Go and Disciple all Nations baptising them in the name c. And Children being a part of the Nations we may conclude without any hesitancy that the intent and purpose of the Lord in this commission to his Apostles was that they should wheresoever they came baptise the Children as well as the Parents And seeing he came to break down the wall of partition that was between Jews and Gentiles which was actually done in the execution of this Commission It is not to be imagined that he would by it set up a partition-wall between Parents and their Children so as that they should be at as great a distance the one from the other in point of eternal Salvation as Heaven is from Hell A thing he never did in all the Ages before and undoubtedly whatsoever these Dreamers may blasphemously prate against him He hath not done it now because he is still the Same I will not dwell any longer upon the Conviction of these obstinate people least the more reason be shewed unto them out of the Scripture to lead them into the way of truth they be thereby according to their usual wont the more hardened in their errour The Lord open their eyes that they may see betimes what dishonour they bring unto Jesus Christ in the diminution of his power by their frantick Opinions What disturbance they create unto his Church and consequently what hazard they run notwithstanding their conceited assurance of their own everlasting Salvation We have now done with this second particular viz. Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Same to day which he was yesterday that is The Same to his Church in the time of the gospel which he was in the time both before and under the Law CHAP. III. Sheweth how JESUS CHRIST shall continue to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Same for ever Vnto his Church WE should now according to our prescribed method come to speak of the third course or computation of time here mentioned in the Text and of that which is predicated of it viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ the Same or the onely He for ever But to avoid Prolixity which hath already spun out the former parts into a greater length then was intended we shall not distinguish this into several propositions as hath been done with those before Neither indeed can we be able to speak of what shall come upon the Church in the continuation of this day of the Gospel to the end of the world Onely this we can say because the Holy Ghost witnesseth it That persecutions and Afflictions do abide it but withall that Jesus Christ will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto it which he ever hath been Hereupon therefore shall we fix the short remainder of our discourse deriving some inferences from it for the further edification of those that take pleasure in beholding the immutability of the Lord Jesus Observe then In the midst of all the various changes and chances that may come upon the Church to the end of the world Jesus Christ will be unto it still The Same No variableness nor shadow of turning shall ever be found in him either in his Mediation with the Father or in the dispensation of his power among his people But he will be Semper idem Alwayes the Same Now herein we can but speak of the exercise of Christs Mediatory office as we have already done and therefore it will be needless to spend many words about it As he began so he will continue to be the Prophet Priest and King of his Church The same word of truth which he hath revealed he will still continue no addition unto it or diminution from it will he ever suffer his Gospel is an everlasting Gospel Rev. 14.6 1 Pet. 1.25 His word abideth for ever And if an Angel from Heaven should come and preach any other we must therefore much more will he ho'd him accursed Gal. 1.8 He is a Priest for ever according to the oath of God not to be retracted saith the Prophet Hath an unchangeable Priest-hood saith the Apostle Ps 110.4 Heb. 7.24 A Priest established in his Dignity as master and Lord by virtue of his Son-ship not like unto the servants the Priests of Aaron's order Who when they entred into the most Holy place were not there to sit but otherwise to execute their office according to the order prescribed unto them by Moses Heb. 10 11 They stood as became servants saith the Apostle ministring before the Lord. But Jesus Christ when he had offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever and according to the Law entred into the holy place to finish the Atonement Sat down on the right hand of God noting the perpetuity of his office according to the dignity of his person and that he ever liveth which was not possible for any other to do to make intercession Dan. 7.14 Mach. 4.7 His Throne in like manner is for ever and ever His Kingdom an everlasting Kingdom and his Dominion endureth throughout all Generations No Salvation then to be expected for ever Act 4.12 but onely by him No other Name under Heaven given among men from the beginning of the world to the end of it whereby we must be saved For before him as he saith of himself there was no God formed Es 43 10 or rather as it may be rendred nothing formed of God for any such purpose as to be a Saviour Ec. 2.12 Ps 145.11 12. neither shall there be after him What alas can the man do that cometh after the King What He may speak of the glory of his Kingdom and talk of his power to make known to the Sons of men his mighty acts and the glorious Majesty of his Kingdom But to imitate him in his power and his mighty Acts or to compare with him in the Majesty of his Kingdom would not onely be a contempt cast upon his Crown and Dignity but an utter impossibility and a meere vanity for men or angels to attempt it They poor Creatures being infinitely unfit and unworthy must let that alone for ever and they that will expect it of them will finde it to be folly
be able with Comfort to enjoy the Blessings which God gave them under the Sun if they knew nothing of a Way and Mean of escape from the wrath and urse which Sin had brought upon them and who could be able to reveal it but this Wonderful Counsellour No man saith the Evangelist hath seen God at any time that is since the World began The onely begotten Son who is in the Bosome of the Father John 1.18 he hath declared him The original Word there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is exposuit is very Emphatical implying that Jesus Christ hath been the Father's Interpreter to the Sons of Men for exegesis is an exposition or Interpretation of things that are obscure So then Christ it was as he saith of himself that was the Light of the World Joh. 8.12 Joh. 1.9 That true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World And whosoever they were in all Ages that spake not according to his Word as he dictated to them it was because there was no Light in them He was the Prophet and Preacher of righteousness to the old World for as the Apostle Saint Peter witnesseth 1 Pet. 3.19 He did then in the Spirit of Quickning preach unto the People of that Generation 1 Pet. 3.19 and because there were then disobedient spirits that would not be quickned by him therefore they were afterwards by the just judgment of Judgment of God shut up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is imprisoned in Hell thrown into the Dungeon where the bright beams and gracious Quicknings of this Spirit should never come at them This office indeed he then executed by the Ministery of Men that were his Servants Ps 68.11 in the same manner as he doth now in this Time of the Gospel The Lord gave the Word and great was the Company of those that Published it as the Psalmist saith in another case He spake by the mouth of all his Holy Prophets which have been since the World began and to him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believed in him should not perish but have everlasting Life Even those Patriarchs that were before the Floud Jud. v. 14 what were they but Prophets of his Order When Henoch Prophecyed concerning him he spake as he was moved by his Spirit for as no Man can discern the sun without the Light of the Sun and what Man saith St. Paul knoweth the things of a Man save the Spirit of Man which is in him even so the things of Christ knoweth no man without the Spirit of Christ 1 Pet. 1.11 yea the Apostle St. Peter testifieth expressly that it was the spirit of Christ which was in the Prophets of old 1 Pet. 4.6 and that the Gospel was preached to them that were dead that is as Mr. Calvin conceiveth very probably by comparing this with that which went before to those of the old world who were alive in the days of Noah but dead in the time of the Apostle's writing All which considered it appeareth clearly that Jesus Christ was the Prophet of his Church from the beginning in making known the Minde of God concerning the Salvation of his Elect and in the Promuâ—gation of the Doctrine which hath alwayes been one and the same Now as touching Sacraments the Institution whereof belongeth to the Prophetical office of Christ when the Divine Wisdom brought them on by degrees and ordained them for the People's Incorporation into the Body and their Corroboration in it what Grace or Spirituality soever they had in them and without which they had been altogether in vain it was not originally nor determinately in themselves but derived from Jesus Christ Rom. 4.11 and in effect wholly depended upon him what was Circumcision but a seal of the Righteousness not of the Law but of Faith that is of Christ's Righteousness which is the proper object of Faith whereby Abraham and his seed were ever justified before God And what was the Paschal Lamb but a Passeover to Jesus Christ the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sin of the World without which Divine Justice would never have distinguisht between Israelites and Egyptians Jesus Christ was the Spirit of Life of the Sacraments of old as well as of those that are now in use amongst us 1 Cor. 10.4 Yea the Apostle saith plainly of the Israelites in the Wilderness 1 Cor. 10 4 that They did all eat the same spiritual meate and did all drink the same spiritual drink 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same Meat the same Drink not onely the same together amongst themselves as some would have it but the same with us for that is according to the scope of the Apostle in that place and the Reason following enforceth it for they drank of that spiritual Rock which followed them and that Rock was Christ their Rock therefore is the same with our Rock the Apostle himself being Judge Christ was their Saviour 1 Cor. 10 9. and when they sinned they sinned against Christ for so saith the Apostle v. 9. Christ a King Yesterday Secondly As the People of God Yesterday that is in the times of old had Jesus Christ for their Propher so they had him for their King I speak not now of his Natural Kingdom as he was God Equal with the Father but of his Oeconomical as he was Mediatour between God and Man He was the Head of his Church from the beginning and so consequently was it ruled ordered and guided by him in all things the Government was laid upon his Shoulders for otherwise he could not well have quitted himself in the great work of Salvation as a Prince can never be able to Defend and Protect his Subjects unless he have a Supreme Power and Authority over them and therefore doth the Apostle put forth these together as inseparable Concomitants calling Christ the Head of the Church Eph. 5.23 and the Saviour of the Body Eph. 5.23 Hence it is that He is called by the Apostle Rom. 8.29 The first-begotten among many Brethren Many in that place signifying All all that ever had been are or shall be for albeit he was born of his Virgin-Mother some thousands of Years after the Creation and in that respect viz. of time was made flesh taking upon him our Nature after many millions of Brethren that were before him born into the World yet nevertheless he was immediately upon that great Turn of Providence in the Violation of the first Covenant by Adam's Transgression begotten of the Father according to his eternal Decree to be the Mediatour at the very instant of God's gracious reconciling himself to poor man that was then ready to perish So that in this regard he might well say as he doth before Abraham was I am Joh. 8.58 for before Adam himself was that is received into the Brother-hood and made a Childe of Grace in being actually reconciled unto God through his Mediation
him with tears to consider the dangerous consequences of such a proceeding and to desist from it whereunto his answer was this I acknowledge it is a very base business but they put it upon me and I cannot avoid it This being witnessed against him at his trial he had not so much confidence then as to deny it Whereby it seems that one while he accounted it a very base business another while after he had gotten preferment by it it was the most Noble and Glorious Act that ever he did in all his life His Indictment also charging him with Malice He replyed that he acted onely as a Counsellour for his fee so that it might be as he said called avaritia not malitia Covetousness not Malice And being told that he demanded judgement against the King He answered His meaning was judgement for his acquittal Yea further when he was in Ireland he did as he said put in a Petition to the Honourable Commissioners that he might have the benefit of his Majesties Declaration at Breda but when he saw his expectation therein to be frustrated by the sentence of death upon him the Case is altered his Death must be a Martyrdom and the Cause for which he suffers the most glorious Cause that ever was agitated for God and Christ since the Apostolical times Just like some sturdy Beggar who at first will seem to be very humble pouring out his prayers for such as will relieve him but if he have not an almes given him according to his asking he presently falls to cursing and banning Let now the best friends this man had judge whether he be to be commended for constancy and fortitude in his Cause or to be condemned for shameful shuffling and halting in it and consequently whether he be a fit pattern for their imitation Had he and the rest of his fellows in iniquity but given testimony of so much self-denial as to have refused that Wealth and Preferment which they gained by their busy actings in their Cause and have kept themselves in that inferiour rank wherein they were before they had brought so much mischief upon us they might possibly not have been so subject to censure as they were but when they coveted feilds and houses and took them by violence oppressed a man and his house even a man and his heritage when they spoiled for themselves as the Psalmist speaketh and like wretched Ahab did kill and also take possession yet in the mean time would be esteemed as the prime patrons of publick liberty and in point of religion Saints of the greatest magnitude in this Hemisphere of the Church Out upon it It was as hateful Hypocrisie as ever was seen under the Sun And I doubt not but those that now justifie it will have their eyes open one day so to account of it Now therefore O foolish people and unwise that are so miserably deluded with vain and empty shadows of holiness and constancy in a pretended cause of Religion be warned betimes and as you love your souls never let them enter into the secret of these men nor be baptised with the baptisme that they were baptised with Away I say with that spirit of Rebellion and Sedition of Division and Delusion that hath too long haunted this Nation Let it from henceforth never be entertained by us any more And if we have not quite lost that antient genuine integrity and goodness of Nature that hath been peculiar to the natives of this Kingdom we will all joyn hearts and hands together to send it packing Consider what hath been said and the Lord give us a right understanding in all things But I hope it is now made evident who they be among us that come neerest to the pattern here presented unto us in the text in being still the same Whether those that have framed the objection which hath caused this dispute or those against whom the objection is framed And now because this Text is in an especial manner intended for the instruction encouragement of the Hebrews to submit themselves to the Scepter of Christ's government I shall out of a friendly zeal for their Conversion make another short Application unto them O yee that were once a people and who shall again we believe be glorious among the Nations be at length informed aright concerning the Messiah whom I hope you will upon a perusal of what is here written if you suffer not prejudice to captivate your judgment account to be this Jesus onely whom your Fathers persecuted and we adore Be wise I say receive instruction concerning his Kingdom here upon earth It is not to be nor ever shall be conformed to the Kingdomes of this world in outward pomp and splendour in expectation whereof you have been hitherto wofully blinded For look what manner of power our Lord exercised over his people yesterday the same doth he to day because he is still 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same And whatsoever alteration hath happened therein as it must be confessed some there is and ought to have been upon those termes before mentioned which yet as we have said argueth no inconstancy at all in himself It is a change unto that which is more spiritual and so consequently is his Kingdom at a farther distance from the world then it was before Was it not prophecyed of him that he should be a man of sorrows broken with infirmities Es 53.3 c. And even where his comming is spoken of as a King That though he be just and bringeth Salvation with him yet he is lowly too and should testifie it by the poverty of his appearance not to be mounted in a Princely manner as the Kings of the earth are wont but upon no better steed then a ragged Colt the foal of an asse which surely speakes him to be one that would take no great state upon him And hath not this which is written been this day fulfilled by this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this onely Hee Jesus Christ as all else hath been which was yesterday prophecyed of the Messiah why then will you suffer your selves to be deceived by Satan with a fruitles waiting for of I know not what glorious appearance of Another yet to come True it is we also look for another coming of this our great Redeemer and we now call upon one another daily as you have been exhorted heretofore Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand But as it is observed by us from the Holy Prophets and Apostles The Scepter will be changed Bishop King upon Jonas and the government wholly altered from what it was before Then was the Kingdom of Grace now of Glory and Justice Then was the saving now the judging of Souls Then came it in the tongues of Men but hereafter in the trumpet of an Arch-Angel Then with tidings of great Joy to the whole World but that that is to come shall be with Terrour and Amazement to all the kindreds of
and he made it his business to preach the Gospel not where Christ was named Rom. 15.20 24. lest he should build upon another mans foundation So that if one of these Itinerants could run over so great a part of the world we may well suppose that the other twelve might with ease divide the rest of the world among them And now what alas were we mad and desperate Idolaters that God should bring us hitherto That the Lord should say to us who were not his people You are my people and that we should say O Lord thou art our God O what a mercy is it that we the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blinde Mat. 22.9 Luk. 14.21 23. who abode in the streets and lanes of the City yea that we who wandred about in the high-wayes and amongst the hedges should be called to the Wedding-Feast of the King of heaven That unto us who sate in darkness and dwelt in the region and shadow of death Light should spring up Let therefore the name of the Lord be magnified by us poor sinners the Gentiles as the Prophet soretold it should from the rising of the Sun Mal. 1.11 unto the going down of the same And since we are through grace become children of Sion let us take the liberty here to sing one of the Songs of Sion so far as we may be concern'd therein O give Thanks unto the Lord for he is Good For his mercy endureth for ever O give Thanks unto the God of gods For his mercy endureth for ever O give Thanks unto the Lord of lords For his mercy endureth for ever To Him who alone doth great wonders For his mercy endureth for ever Who remembred us in our low estate For his mercy endureth for ever O give Thanks unto the God of heaven For his mercy endureth for ever Let the Redeemed of the Lord among the Gentiles say so whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy and gathered them out of all lands from the East and from the West from the North and from the South not onely to dwell in the house of the Lord here and to see his goodness in the land of the Living but to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdome of God to all Eternity And let us of this Nation among the rest and above the rest as it is our duty give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name acknowledging his great mercy in that his unchangeable love hath had an extraordinary measure reaching even first unto us Oh how hath the Lord been pleased to send his Gospel upon the wing unto this Nation So wonderfully here prevailing that England hath had this honour in an eminent manner to be the first-born of grace among the Nations Here reigned the first Christian King that ever was in the world King Lucius who submitted to the Law of Christ confirming it by a civil sanction From hence went the first Christian Emperour that put an end to the bloudy persecutions of the primitive Christians Constantine yea and after the general defection from the purity of the faith made by the Romish Church which like the tail of the Dragon threw down to the earth a great part of the Stars of Heaven Here the Reformation of the Christian Religion began first to be established by a Law by the first King that ever cast off the yoke of that Anti-Christian Usurper King Henry the 8. Wherein whether his design was to promote any sinister interest of his own as some imagine or to advance the Kingdom of Christ is not much material for us to know The arme of the Almighty hath hitherto been stretched out for the preservation thereof counter-working all the Machinations of Hell which have been and still are upon the Devil's forge against it Rejoyce therefore in the Lord O England and again I say rejoyce But as it is our bounden duty to ascribe unto the Lord the glory of this mercy and to rejoyce that we are no more strangers and forreiners as the Apostle tells the Ephesians but fellow-citizens with the Saints Eph. 2.19 that is the Jews and of the house-hold of God So we cannot but abhor the treachery of those false brethren among us called Anabaptists who like a brood of Vipers would if it lay in their power but that Gods mercy towards us triumphs over their falsehood disfranchise us of our liberties in the house of our God and rob us of those priviledges wherein the Lord Jesus Christ hath made us free giving us therein equal right with his Israel that was before us because he is still the Same I might instance in sundry of their Anti-Christian tenents tending hereunto But for brevities sake will make mention onely of one that is their Antipaedobaptisme not allowing the Infants of Believers to be admitted into the house-hold of faith by the Sacrament of Baptisme It is not my purpose here to dispute this point at large being out of my way enough hath been written of it already And it hath been found by experience to be a toylsome task to run the wilde-goose chase as a learned divine now with God once phrased it after a well breathed Opinionist they delight in Vitilitigation Mr. Nath. Ward It is an itch as he said that loves a life to be scrubb'd they desire not satisfaction but satisdiction whereof themselves must be judges I shall not therefore say much to this quarelsome people Let them consider how they will answer the Apostle here who avoucheth Jesus Christ to be thee Same to day which he was yesterday Certainly if the infants of the Jews were by virtue of Christs mediatory office to be received into the bosome of the Church and distinguished from those that were without by a Solemn Sacrament of initiation but the infants of Christian parents to whom belongeth the Kingdom of God as as well as to the Jews before must not be allowed to partake of a like priviledge but be reckoned still as dogs as the Scripture calls all that are without Jesus Christ is not the Same according to the Apostles word Neither is his office now of so much use unto his Church as it hath been formerly Of such blasphemy as this not to be mentioned without horrour must this cursed errour be the foundation But let me ask of these deceivers How came it to pass that Christ hath not obtained this priviledge for our Infants as well as he did for the Jews seeing God is not now the God of the Jews onely but of the Gentiles also Surely it must be either because he would not or because he could not To say he would not doth plainly demonstrate his love of us to be less then it was of the Jews which agreeth not with that abundant grace that hath been now revealed in the time of the Gospel To say he could not contradicteth that universal power which the father had given
what it is for the Son to deliver up the Kingdom to the Father It is even that which the Apostle saith Phil. 2.10 then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all whence it followeth that this subjection is the same with the delivery up of the Kingdom An interpretation therefore here seems to be necessary that the Son may be acknowledged to be subject to the Father and yet nevertheless that he may be said to have an everlasting Kingdom which may be called the Kingdom of the Son because then at the Name of Jesus every knee must bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the Earth When all things do confess the Lord Jesus and are made subject unto him whether it be by constraint or by consent then shall the mystery of one God be made manifest unto all and all praise shall redound unto the Father of whom are all things that so when preaching that is the creatures service in proclaiming the Name of God shall cease the one onely God may be known in the mystery of the Trinity For when all rule and all authority and power shall bow the knee to Christ then shall the Son manifest himself that it is not he of whom are all things but that he is his Son and that in him he himself is to be seen according to his own words Joh. 14.10 Joh. 14.10 This then is the subjection and the yeilding up of the Kingdome Christ subjecteth himself unto the Father proclaiming the Father to be he of whom are all things confessing also that he himself is of him For so great Majesty and Glory will appear in the comming of the Son that all the powers of Heaven and company of Angels may possibly look upon him as God alone But our Saviour when he shall say I am not he that is the Father but his Son he delivers up the Kingdome to the Father and yet continueth to be King still Herein then I say is manifested both his subjection and his delivery up of the Kingdome because when he professeth that he himself is of the Father he confesseth that whatsoever he hath is of the Father ascribing unto him the glory of being the complement of all things Besides this the same Saint Austin adds yet another sense concerning Christs delivery up of the Kingdome to the Father interpreting the said Kingdome for the people of the Kingdome that is his charge of the Elect Saints which he received of the Father not suffering one of them to be lost Ad Oro. Cont. Priscillia cap. 7. tom 6. Cum tradiderit Regnum Deo Patri id est cum perduxerit sanctos suos ad contemplationem Patris c. He shall deliver up the Kingdome to the Father that is when he hath brought all his Saints to behold the Glory of the Father and his own Glory which he had with the Father before the World was Now whether we understand the Apostle in this sense or that other before either of which we may safely adhere unto and unto one or both of them without question must the words of the Apostle be reduced we may conclude infallibly that Christs delivery up of the Kingdome to the Father shall not deprive him of that power and authority which he had before over his Church but that he shall continue to be King thereof unto all eternity August eodem loco Quod autem dicit Apostolus deinde finis cum tradiderit Regnum Deo Patri ibi finem non consumentem sed perficientem significat And whereas the Apostle saith then cometh the end when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdome c. That is not to be understood of the end bringing with it destruction and dissolution but rather that which bringeth perfection wherein shall be a clearer demonstration of Christs Power and Wisdome in the governing of his Church then is possible now to be discerned For as Luther upon these very words of the Apostle saith well Est idem hic in Terris regnum quod postea in Coelis futurum erit nisi quod jam contectum oculis nostris non pateat It is the same Kingdome here upon Earth which shall be hereafter in Heaven but that we are not able now abiding in this mortal and sinful estate to perceive it being hidden from our eyes I could multiply Authours both Ancient and Modern who do all agree in this that when Christ delivers up the Kingdome to the Father he then onely layeth down his Mediatorial Office not continuing any longer the Fathers Deputy in the governing of his Church but that his Kingdome notwithstanding shall everlastingly be the Same The same in the manifestation of his Wisdome Power Love Goodness towards his redeemed people to all eternity Onely how and wherein he will exercise the Authority of a Head over his Church otherwise then is before related there is none that is wise unto sobriety that will speak of it or be inquisitive after it Such knowledge is too wonderful for us it is high we cannot attain unto it Now therefore let all the ends of the Earth that is Application all the Inhabitants of the World farre and near Look unto Jesus and be saved Consider him in his Divine Nature Es 45.22 as he is begotten of the Father from eternity to eternity consider him also in the several works of creation continual preservation and future restauration of all things look unto him in his relation to his Church what he hath been is and eternally will be without any variableness or shadow of turning you 'll finde him in all that which the Apostle here proclaims him to be the same yesterday to day and for ever Look unto him then I say that you may more and more long after his apperance love him and delight in him Look unto him that you may follow his example an example equivalent with all Rules of righteousness in those things which he did and commanded though not altogether in those things which he did but commanded not What better object can you have to fix all the thoughts of your hearts upon He is the pattern set for your imitation according to the depth of Divine Wisdome He is the gift of God to the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 4.10 a greater gift then which though God be great in power and infinite in love he hath not to give Eph. 1.6 He is the beloved in whom the Father is well pleased deliciae Dei humani generis the darling of the Almighty Hag. 2.7 Ps 45.2 Cant. 5.10 and the desire of all Nations fairer then the children of men white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand white in his Divine Nature according to the sense of some late Expositours which was the brightness of his Fathers substance and red in his humanity being of the same substance with
upon reason and was never before heard of as that a part should signifie the whole when that part which should express the whole is not included but shut out from it doubtless in all Synechdochichal speeches the part set down for the whole must be always a part of it as when Saint Paul said Yee shall see my face no more Act. 20. His face is a part of him And thus must all other Synechdoches whatsoever be understood the part signifying the whole must of necessity be included and contained in it If therefore all the Nation of Israel here be put for all the Nations of Believers in the World as a part of the whole then it must certainly follow that the Nation of Israel according to the flesh was included apart and not excluded from the whole Let us go on omitting for brevities sake what might be more added out of the Prophet Esay to this purpose wherein he hath abounded Consider how Jeremiah keepeth also in the same track For thus saith he in the Name of the Lord. Jer. 3 18. In those dayes the house of Judah shall walk with or to the house of Israel and they shall come together c. And again I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all Countryes wither I have driven them and will bring them again to their folds Jer. 23.3 4. and they shall be fruitful and encrease and I will set up Shepheards over them which shall feed them and they shall fear no more nor be dismayed neither shall they be lacking saith the Lord. Add hereunto Loe the dayes come saith the Lord Jer. 30 3.9 that I will bring again the Captivity of my people Israel and Judah saith the Lord And they shall serve the Lord their God and David their King whom I will raise up unto them The like also is prophecyed by Ezekiel Thus saith the Lord Ezek. 37.21 22 23. c. behold I will take the Children of Israel from among the Heathen whether they be gone and will gather them on every side and I will make them one Nation in the Land upon the Mountains of Israel and one King shall be King over them and they shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be divided into two Kingdoms any more at all and my servant David shall be their Prince for ever Moreover I will make a Covenant of peace with them it shall be an everlasting Covenant with them and I will place them and multiply them and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore My Tabernacle also shall be with them Yea I will be their God and they shall be my people and the Heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctifie Israel when my Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore Again Jer. 31.1 4. At the same time saith the Lord that is Jer. 31.1 4. in the later dayes as appears Jer. 30.24 I will be the God of all the families of Israel and they shall be my people Again I will build them and thou shalt be built O Virgin of Israel thou shalt be again adorned with thy Tabrets and thou shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry I willingly pass by many other places that might be alledged for it would be too much to insert all that is written thereof But I demand Hath any of these things as yet come to pass When was it that the house of Judah did walk with the house of Israel together since the time they were divided one from the other in the days of Rehoboam Hath the Lord as yet gathered the remnant of his flock out of all Countryes whither he hath driven them or set up shepheards over them to seed or to defend them so as they should fear no more nor be dismayed Do Israel and Judah this day unanimously serve the Lord their God and David their King that is the Messiah David's Son as Interpretersiboth Jewish and Christian expound it of whose government and peace there shall be no end Hath God set his Sanctuary in the midst of them or pitched his Tabernacle among them so as the Heathen do take notice of it that it is the Lord that doth sanctifie Israel If his Sanctuary hath been among some of them it hath been again removed but here it is said his Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore In fine Hath God as yet in these latter dayes declared himself to be the God of all the families of Israel since their defection from him and own'd them again for his people Is this Virgin as yet repayred since she was stript of her ornaments or hath she yet furbisht over and trimmed up her Tabrets that she might rejoyce at her restauration If none of all these things I say be yet come to pass and the word of God cannot be retracted they are yet to be fulfilled and shall in time most certainly have their due accomplishment Yea more that neither their divisions amongst themselves Israel against Judah and Judah against Israel nor their inveterate stubbornnes against the Lord might be any hinderance unto them the Lord promiseth by the Prophet Jeremy in these words Jer. 32.39 I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever for the good of them and of their Children after them And by the Prophet Ezekiel in these words A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them Oh blessed and thrice happy shall this people be when these things are fulfilled I deny not but these promises have a measure reaching to us Gentiles even all among us that are interessed in the new Covenant But I say again the people that are mentioned cannot without violence done to the sense of the Holy Ghost be excluded from them in the dayes of the Gospel I omit what might be further added out of these Prophets to this purpose As the vision of dry bones in the Prophecy of Ezekiel restored to life again And that of two sticks made both one in the hand of the Prophet with sundry other discoveries of the minde of God concerning this truth which upon an unprejudicate perusal even by those that are contrary-minded would appear unto them to carry in them this sense viz. That this first-born of the Almighty this people so entirely beloved of the Lord shall not at this day be quite forgotten as dead men out of minde nor be ever divided one from another as they have been but shall restored again notwithstanding the seeming impossibilitie of it to their pristine glory and shall be happily re-united together into one as becometh brethren In the next place let us try whether the Prophecy of Daniel
of the first of the Acts sixth and seventh verses Act. 1.6.7 The words are these When they therefore were come together they asked of him saying Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel And he said unto them It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own pâ—wer I know well the Apostles have been and are to this day charged here with an errour common among the Jews as it is reported of them namely That the time should come when the Messiah should reign as Lord and King upon the Earth according to the manner of the world and that all Nations should in that kinde be subject unto him and because the Jews were to have the preheminence among them therefore doth the Apostle speak here of his Dominion in this manâ—er calling it the kingdom of Israel But I must crave leave to enter my dissent unto this charge because it runs on too fast in the world without a warrant yea I cannot but account it too much rashness to impute a fault unto those eminent servants of Christ where the Holy Ghost in Scripture hath not given a clear demonstration thereof A fault indeed here is whereof they were too guilty in busying themselves about the knowledge of a time wherein they were not concerned and for which the Lord rebukes them But that they should now as for what they had done formerly in that kinde it is not here Material look for such a temporal Kingdome of the Messiah as the Jews generally did and do still expect this I confidently deny The grounds of which confidence will appear when I shall have proved that this discourse between Christ and his Apostles is a clear confirmation of the point in hand That we may understand aâ—ight the sense of this Scripture let us consider distinctly three things First the occasion of this Question Secondly the persons that put the Question Thirdly the Answer unto it First the occasion from whence the Question did arise is couched in this word therefore when they therefore were come together they asked of him c. By which word of connexion it is manifest that their Question was not suddainly started as of a thing impertinent to the purport of Christs Doctrine which he had been pressing upon them in those fourty dayes since his Resurrection but rather was produced by them as a result very consonant thereunto He had been speaking to them as it is said vers 3. of the things pertaining to the Kingdome of God that is of the future estate of his Church for as for the Doctrine of Salvation he had fully made that known unto them before as appears Joh. 15.15 Where he saith All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you So that probable it is the Subject of his discourse now was as I have said concerning his Church giving instructions for the planting and governing of it and premonitions also what dangers and difficulties it was like to suffer and how it should prosper and prevaile over them all in the latter end And herein the Lord manifests his provident care and tender compassion which he had of his Church resembling thereby good old Jacob his Type in this very particular who when he was about to leave the world calls upon his sons to gather themselves together that he migh shew unto them what should befall them in the latter dayes Gâ—n 49 1. Whereas therefore the Lord Jesus Christ had been speaking to his Apostles of these things pertaining to the Kingdome of God and they thereupon enquire of him concerning the restoring the Kingdome to Israel is it not past all gain-saying that some at least of the things which he spake had reference to this restauration Especially when as it is well observed by Grotius In his Annota Luk. 21.24 non negat se id facturum sed quo id futurum esset tempore noluit ab ipsis inquiri he doth not deny that such a thing he would do but onely was not willing to be enquired of by them when it should be done Much was to be done as the sequel now proveth before this which they so hastily sought for could come to pass which they thought not of for it could never have entred into their hearts to conceive unless it had been revealed unto them wherein nevertheless they and their Successours for many Ages should be employed as servants and co-workers with Christ to the end that this much desired restauration might by the bringing in of others also to the faith of the Gospel be attended with the greater glory And hence it is that the Lord commands them that they should not depart from Jerusalem because from thence was the word of life to go out into the world till they were baptised with the Holy Ghost which was the promise of the Father whereby they were to be endued with power extraordinary as being the chief intruments under Christ for so great a work and to authorize others in an ordinary way to be their co-agents in it Secondly consider the persons that put the Question First it was the Apostles men not to be despised such as were legati à latere whom Christ had chosen above all others to be his witnesses of what he did and taught and to be his Embassadours to carry his name into all the world Who did eate and drinks with him after he arose from the dead Act. 10. Secondly the Apostles who though they were not yet baptised with the Holy Ghost according to the promise of the Father yet had received the Holy Ghost by Christs breathing on them whereby they had not onely power given them more then ordinary but knowledge also more then ever they had to discern what might be most conducible to the advancement of their Masters honour and so knew more of his minde in order thereunto then any others could or can possibly attain unto Thirdly the Apostles altogether not one or two of them separated from the rest desirous to winde themselves into their Masters favour above their fellows as it had unhappily fallen out in former time but the eleven with one consent joyned as one man to put this Question unto him for when they were come together it is said they asked of him saying Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdome to Israel Which Kingdome if it were never any more to have a being in this World as a thing inconsistent with the manner of Christs Spiritual Kingdome their general agreement about it would doubtless have been adjudged no better then a conspiracy against the Dignity and Prerogative Royal of their Lord and Master and consequently had not gone without a severe check no more then their precipitant disquisition after the time did for which they are reproved Thirdly consider the answer that the Lord giveth It is not saith he for you to know the times or