The blood of the Lambe 2. The instrumentall causes and these were two 1. The word of their Testimony 2. Their constancy and Martyrdome They loved not their lives to the death In the report of the victory are two things 1. Who overcame They. 2. Whom Him They that is the Angels of Michael vers 9. Him that is the dragon and his army who being all one in will in worke in mischiefe are all one in name in state in ruine and overthrow Note hence that not only Christ himself doth overcome the dragon but all Christians also even all the godly now overcome the devil al wicked ones all wicked powers 1 Ioh. 2. 14. Ye have overcome the wicked one 1 Cor. 15. 57. Who hath given us victory namely over sinne death the grave and whatsoever would separate us from Christ here he speaks in the time past Rom. 8. 37. Neverthelesse wee are more then conquerours here hee speakes in the present time Quest. How doe Christians now enjoy victory Ans. 1. In their Head all Beleevers have now overcome the devill 2. In beginnings of their owne victory they have got some holds and advantages 3. In assured hope and confidence which shall not leave them ashamed So as every Christian may say as Lucullus who having in the beginning of the fight got an advantage against the Armie of Methridates cryed Vicimus that is we are as sure of victory as if wee had it in our hands so may wee the Lords Captaines cry cheare to our souldiers We have overcome in our Head we have wonne the strongest holds we have an hopefull victory in our hands the maine battell is routed and discomfited a few straglers remaine with whom we shall make short work The God of peace shall tread Satan under our feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. Quest. Why must Christians overcome was it not enough that Michael did Ans. No every Christian must overcome the dragons as well as Michael 1. Because of his straite union with his Head every member is advanced in the head if the head bee crowned so are the members And it is the will of God that all that are given to Christ not onely behold but partake of his glory Iohn 17. Some Generals are so ambitious as they would have all the glory of victory result upon themselves but this Generall will have the meanest souldier to share in the honour as well as in the labour 2. Christ fought not his owne battels with the dragon but ours The quarrell was not his but ours and the victory was not for himself but for us So as he fought as our Mediatour and overcame as a Mediator susteining the cause and persons of his members so as indeed the victory is properly ours 1. By imputation faith which makes him ours makes his victory ours and it is our victory by which wee now overcome for the present 2. By inchoation giving us power and making us Kings and Conquerours Rev. 1. 5. here in part and perfectly hereafter 3. By mercifull acceptation For though we be so farre from overcomming in our selves as that wee cannot thinke a good thought and of his owne wee must give him yet for our incouragement he is pleased to call his own workes in us ours as in the Text They overcame And though wee doe nothing but by him who is our sufficiency yet his grace ascribeth to us that which himselfe effecteth in us and though our beginnings be weake and indeavours poore yet hee pleaseth to esteeme his servants by the truth of grace not the measure Where he seeth a willing minde hee accepteth the will for the deed soundnesse of weake grace for perfection and true beginnings for accomplishment Thus having begun to overcome grace accounts us Conquerors 3 Every Christian must therefore overcome both for the greater confusion of the dragon who is as unable to stand against a despised member of Christ as Christ himselfe every woman and childe of God beleeving foyles him and the greater consolation of the Saints in this battell who must be daily flesht and hartned by the first fruits of victory and stand here below as it were upon Pâ—sgah and see the good land and happinesse of perfection and vision of full peace a farre off in the sweet beginnings of it while the enemies begin to turne their backes and dare not stand out the resistance of the meanest member of Christ. This serves to discover the delusion of many who say they leane upon Christs victory for salvation but never examine whether they themselves overcome or no But Christ overcomes not onely in himselfe but in every member of his Hath hee not made thee a Conqueror then what is his victory to thee not being in thee True it is hee imputeth his victory to the Christian but first he beginneth it in him Feelest thou the mighty power of Christ effectually working in thee discernest thou the power of faith which is thy victory hath the word a mighty power to throw downe high holds of lusts Doth the power of grace leade thee in upright courses of piety and equity Here is a good signe of a Conqueror with Michael But doe thy lusts sway doth sin rule followest thou thy violent affections against Gods Word rather then thou must not have thy unjust will thou wilt treade downe the word of grace and the worke of grace in others c. A slave then thou art to the devill and hast as yet no part in Christs victory What little victory Christ hath wonne for many men appeares in that little victory hee hath in them whose onely study and bravery is to throw downe the power of God the Ministery and servants of Christ the great and unanswerable sinne of these times as will bee shortly convinced 2. Here is comfort for godly men They have many enemies but none of them can prevaile as before Vers. 8. for First the Beleever is upon an impregnable rocke in the sea which let it be beaten without intermission with billowes and waves tossed by the windes against it yet it abides unmoveable Secondly hee stands not single in the combate but incorporate into Christ if the enemies can seize againe to conquer Christ then may they him Thirdly hee is sure of victory and therefore may come with courage and stand with confidence as Gideon with his three hundred stood it out against the mighty host of Midian because he was assured of victory Fourthly hee hath victory in great part already over all enemies Sinne stickes to him but raignes not sinne is in him not hee in sinne Death is busie but hath lost his sting The Law accuseth but in our surety is performed the debt payed the bill cancelled and one debt is not to bee payed twice Hell is shut and now there is no condemnation to them that are in Jesus Christ the devill and his instruments are chained Lyons Fiftly no combination of enemies can support them though hand joyne
redeeme us Gal. 3. 13. Fourthly death seised on us in the day we sinned but this blood of the Lambe is the death of death who is swallowed into victory Hos. 13. 14. Fiftly the wrath of God pursueth sinne infinitely but here is a propitiatory sprinkled with blood and as the propitiatory did cover the Arke in which the law was layd so Christ our propitiatory hides the law from the eyes of Gods justice and stilleth the accusing clamour of it against us freeing us both from the rigor and malediction of it The sixt enemie is sting of conscience and restlesnesse but this blood raseth the handwriting there also both pacifying it in sealing remission of sinnes through his blood Col. 1. 14. as also purging it from dead workes 9. 14. The seventh is enmitie of the creatures which all take their Lords part against us but this blood reconcileth all things Col. 1. 20. saveth from revenging Angells Heb. 11. 28. changeth Lions into Lambes sealeth the covenant not onely betweene the Creator and us but the creature also The last enemie is hell and hellish sorrowes but this blood hath shut hell and opened heaven Our high Priest hath carried his owne blood into the holy place and there pleadeth for us better things then the blood of Abel Heb. 12. 24. It hath merited and now prepareth us entrance and mansions in the Holy of Holies Next this blood answers all objections so as by this blood the members must overcome all enemies as the head did 1 The world gives many a blow and thrust against godly men But be of good coÌ„fort this Lambe hath overcome the world 2 In sense of the grievousnesse of sinne this blood is more efficacious then the blood of bulls and goats to pacifie wrath Heb. 9. 13. 3 Oh but my heart is infinitely hard and rebellious Answ. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sinne by pardoning and purging it 4 Oh but I lie open to the adversarie and am prone to sin and fall away Answ. The destroyer had no power over those houses that were marked with the blood of the Lambe and this blood hath more safety and protection 5 But my owne conscience followeth me with liue and cry Answ. This blood in earth cancelled all bonds and now in Heaven speaketh better things then Abels Secondly the Saints overcome but in overcomming must be humble being in themselves weake and unequall to such a battell and must conquer by the blood of him that loved us Rom. 8. 35. Here wee are taught to disclayme all merits and strength of our owne By nothing but by faith in this blood can we prevaile 1 Ioh. 5. 5. Who is he that overcometh but he that beleeveth Thirdly Christians so overcome as all the glory must be the Lambes Wee must give the honour of victory to the Lambe and say Thâ—â— art worthy for thou wast killed Revel 3. 9. No man nor Angell must share in the glory of this victory they never fought this battell for us they never shed blood for us Woe unto them that ascribe any part of this victory to any but the Lambe who payd so deare a blood for it Let Papists consider it who ascribe the victory to merits satisfactions pardons c. It is said in Revel 14. 11. The smoake of their torment shall ascend continually who worship the beast or receive his marke Fourthly highly value this blood Nothing in the world can conquer the least enemie or sinne but this blood which onely is of infinite price If all the seed of Adam had shed their blood for sinne yet had no enemie beene conquered no sinne satisfied This blood is opposed to all corruptible things as silver and gold 1 Pet. 1. 18. This is the treasure of the Church to which all things else are drosse and dung Phil. 3. 8. Never did they know the price and power of this blood that will eeke it with the merits or passions of Saints Martyres Traytors Highly do all they sinne against this blood that despise the grace of the covenant in the blessed meanes of it or the word of grace which is the booke sprinkled with this blood Heb. 9 19. or the people of God the remnant of grace bought and sprinkled with this blood As also fearefully do they tread this blood under foot who lye in their unbeliefe and obstinate impenitency and they that by swearing by blood and wounds by the death and passion of Christ cause this blood to cry for vengeance against their soules more loud then the blood of Abel And time comes when this blood of Christ so dispised and trampled shall lie heavie on such mens consciences Fiftly did our Lord by resisting unto blood for us obtaine victory we must also get victory by resisting unto blood Heb. 12. 4. striving against sinne and looking unto the author and finisher of our faith He without sinne resisted sinne unto blood and shall not we who are pressed with sinne in way of thankfulnesse resist unto blood seeing our resistance and suffering tends dayly to the weakening and consuming of sin in us And by the word of their testimony Now we come to the secondarie and instrumentall causes of the victory of the Saints the former of which is the word of their testimony This word is the faith and doctrine of the Gospell concerning salvation by Jesus Christ. Where are two questions 1 Why is it called the word of their testimony seeing it is called the word of the testimony of Jesus vers 17. and chap. 1. 2. the Testimony of Iesus Christ. Answ. It is both in divers respects 1 If we respect the author it is the testimony of Jesus whose all truth is or if we respect the matter or subject of which it treats Christ is the matter to whom all the Gospell testifieth But 2. if wee respect the subject in which it is also the testimony of the Saints not because it is the word of man but because it is witnessed unto by men for God doth so far honour his Saints as to admit them witnesses to his truth 2 How doe the Saints testifie to the Word or Gospell Answ. Foure wayes 1 By preaching publishing and declaring Christ to be the Messiah and Saviour of the world and this either by word or writing For the former the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesie or gift of teaching so preachers are called witnesses Act. 1. 8. In the latter sense Iohn calleth himselfe a witnesse testifying these things because he was the pen-man of this prophesie concerning Jesus Christ to the Churches 2 By profession and confession of Christ declaring and witnessing with the mouth what he beleeveth in his heart concerning Christ and salvation by him 1 Tim. 6. 12. and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses 3 By holy life and conversation expressing the vertues of Christ and the power of Christian religion this is an actuall witnesse 4 By passion and suffering Martyrdome when
sound beleever is hereby discerned from all hypocrites and the prophane of the world Secondly how doth this garment differ from other garments Ans. In the 1 efficient 2 matter 3 price 4 vse 5 durance 1 The Author All other garments for the body are made by man but this could onely be made by God and man Hee must be God to performe an infinite righteousnesse and meritorious obedience he must be man for it could not besteed man had it not beene done in the nature of man He must be man to suffer he must be God to overcome See Ezec. 16. 10. I clothed thee 2 The matter and manner All other garments are made of dead creatures God made naked Adam and Eve coats of skinnes of dead beasts Gen. 3 21. But for his soule he made this garment of the life and death of the Sonne of God of his death to make satisfaction of his life to fulfill the law thus for the matter Now for the manner or fashion Other garments are made to the body but we must be fashioned to this our garment Christ must not submit to us but we must frame to him 3 The price Other garments are made either of some homespunne webbe or bought with corruptible things a base vile price in comparison But this is no homespunne piece nor bought with any other price then the precious blood of Iesus Christ nothing in heaven or earth else could buy these costly robes And therefore these robes are said to be made white in the blood of the Lambe Rev. 7. 14. Other blood staines and fowles and dyes red but this blood makes white and purgeth from all sinne 1 Ioh. 1. 7 and makes white as snow Isa. 1. 18. A colour of grace not nature of faith not art 4 The use Other garments may couer our bodily nakednesse but this our spirituall and therefore are called long white robes that need no eching or patching with humane merits or satisfactions for this were absurde to set an old patch on a new garment And for ornament other garments can but adorne the body in mans eyes this beautifies the whole man in Gods eye and makes us as Iacob acceptable to our Father in our Brothers garment The durance They all waxe old and decay Even Israels clothes in the wildernesse by miracle kept from wearing fourty yeares yet afterwards fâ—ll to ragges But this is an ever-new garment for as Christs blood is ever new so is the merit of it But suppose those garments should not yet we waxe old and decay and leave them in earth but this garment we carry to heaven with us which lasts with us to all eternity Herein also it differs from other clothes for those we put on and off at our pleasure but this once put on is put on for ever never to bee put off any more Thirdly how is this woman cloathed with the Sun that is the righteousnesse of Christ more pure and shining then the sunne in his strength Answ. Two wayes 1 On Gods part by his gracious imputation of Christ and his merits unto the true beleever This is a phrase taken from creditors who doe not impute a debt they meane to forgive but account it as discharged though the party be never able to pay it So God doth impute Christs righteousnesse to the beleever and the beleevers sinnes to Christ our surety So as in and by faith in Christ made sinne for us wee are made and reputed no sinners but acquited and freely discharged Rom. 4. 24 25. Abraham beleeved and it was imputed to him for righteousnesse and not to him onely but to us that beleeve 2 On mans part by sound application and acceptation I say sound application because application is twofold 1 Sacramentall and by profession onely Gal 3. 17. all that are baptized into Christ have put on Christ. And thus in respect of the sacrament and externall profession good and bad may put him on as every man may easily hang a cloak or loose garmeÌ„t upon himselfe 2 Spirituall and by faith also when a man is not only baptized with water but also with the holy Ghost and fire when inward and outward washing goe together A man is then truely said to be clothed when he hath put on all his clothes one peece as well as another And this is Augustines distinction Some put on Christ onely by Sacramentall washing some by spirituall regeneration This is also the Apostles distinction speaking to them that were baptized already Rom. 13 14. But put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ so implying that there was a further putting on of Christ then by the Sacrament Quest. But what is required to this putting on of Christ Answ. There are five graces especially necessary to this clothing of a Christian. 1 The grace of true repentance and mortification which bewrayeth it selfe in two things 1 A sight and most humble sense and sorrow and as Dan. 9. 8 shame for our nakednesse A daily putting off the filthy ragges of our owne sinfull nature and lothsome lusts for this new garment will never come upon our old ragges of sinne Adam casts off his figgeleaves when God makes him coates 2 The grace of speciall faith which justifieth and so incorporateth into Iesus Christ. For what is putting on of clothes but a close knitting and uniting them to the body And what else is our putting on of Christ but a neere union and conjunction with him And therefore the Apostle Gal. 3. makes the putting on of Christ and being in Christ all one ver 27 28. and that this union by adoption is by faith ver 26. Now as the man and his garments are but one man so Christ and the beleever are but one even as he and his Father are but one Ioh. 17. 22. Wouldest thou daily put on Christ as thou daily puttest on thy garments then thou must daily renew and strengthen thy faith for the strengthning of this union 3 The grace of fervent invocation and prayer That Iesus Christ wold cloath himself with our sins that we may be clothed with his righteousness for before we can put on Christ Christ must put on our sinnes and wretchednesse 2. Cor. 5. 21. He made him sinne for us which knew no sinne that wee should bee made the righteousnesse of God in him Hee must bee covered with shame that our shame might bee covered 4 The grace of true sanctification and holinesse Thou canst not put on Christ but thou must put on his graces For 1 Christ is the treasury and store-house of all graces which were in all abundance in the manhood of Christ he is full of grace Ioh 1. 14. 2 Christ and his graces are inseparable so as without putting on of these there is no putting on of Christ his fulnesse supplies us Ioh. 1. 16. 3 Christ is never given for justification but his spirit is given to our sanctification
great care and provident eye over his Church by whose almighty power this small flock of sheep is safe amongst a drove of wolves Lions and a whole foxest of foxes and dragons Take notice of the perpetuall condition of the Church and her dangerous estate that wee may not marvaile or take offence at the tumults and hostile forces raised against the Church at this day 1 Let not the might and power of the enemies gathereed against her dismay us nor their great and puissant armies and Captaines nor that royall and imperiall forces are raised against this poore Woman utterly to destroy her this is no new thing that mighty hornes and the highest of all humane power should lift up themselves against her she hath from the beginning beene acquainted with such tryals Nor let us startle at the multitudes of enemies Princes and armies that stand about her it is not the first time that ten hornes at once have assaulted and pushed her nay seldome shall yee see this Woman but in the midst of these ten hornes al ready to make a present spoile of her Neither let the fiercenesse and savage disposition of them against her be strange to us seeing they are the dragons hornes dragons are guided by no law but by their owne fierce and truculent nature flying upon their prey without all pity but no cruell and truculent beast or dragon is so fierce against men as wicked men are against the Woman no law of nature or nations no bond or tye no respect of sex or age stoppeth them but pitilesly without all mercy the dragons seize upon young and old male and female high and low nocents or innocents if they fall in their way whosoever professe the feare of God and true religion against them they are gathered See it in one example Haman because Mordecai will not bow to him because he was of another religion getteth to the King enformeth against all the Jewes as having a law and religion of their owne contrary to the Kings and it was not for the Kings profit to suffer thē presently without any course of law no man being heard nay no man complaining but Haman privatly slaundering the King delivereth the whole nation men women and children some 2. or 3. thousand persons to death and bloody buchery al in a day but that God prevented it a thiefe or guilty fellon shal have a due course of law shal not be condemned unheard sometimes pity spareth a seditious and rebellious multitude that have deserved death because they are many After warre and hot blood the most furious enemies will spare such as are overcome though they would have spoyled and not spared them in hot blood In sacking and taking cities the Conqueror often in humanity spareth women children when their lives are in their hands But in this cause of Religion these horned dragons put off all humanity cloath themselves with barbarous more then brutish cruelty no humanity nor humility no intreaty nor sex no age nor place can plead for one drop of pity As in plentifull examples both old and new might be proved namely the French Massacre 1572. and our owne powder Treason Quest. But what shall the Church be devoured by so many and potent horns how can a silly weak woman be safe among them Ans. No this Woman was never yet overcome by them nor shall be she may be tyred terrified pusht wounded by them but not overcome For 1 The dragons great power is but limited and restrained as Satan must not touch Iobs wise and Laban against his owne evill intention is commanded Gen. 31. 24. Take heed thou speake nought to Iacob save good So can they doe nothing against Iacob which is not good or shall not be turned to good Though their power be great yet there is a greater and over-ruling power which curbeth them both in the attempting proceeding and ending of their intentions Herod Pontius Pilate and the Gentiles can attempt nothing against Christ but what the hand and counsaile of God hath before determined to be done Act. 4. 27. In the executiō this over-ruling power can blunt their hornes at his pleasure If Esau be come forth with a band of men to revēge on Iacob this power can turne their hearts to favour his brother in the end they are over-ruled for wheras they would make no end of pushing and goaring he will have them go no further then he please And the rod of the wicked shall not alway lie on the lot of the godly 2 The hornes of the dragon have great power but being set all against God his Saints it cannot prosper Job 9. 4. Who was ever fierce against God and prospered their power shall never effect all their wils being so contrary to the will and counsaile of the Almighty their will is to destroy and roote out the Saints of the most High but his will and counsaile is onely to chasten them their will is not onely to destroy the person but the faith also fortitude but they can doe neither for though they may prevaile against the persons of some members yet never against the person of the Woman the whole Church and those that are overcome of them in respect of life are never in respect of faith the gates of hell cannot prevaile against that so as though they be slaine they are never overcome 3 Although mighty hornes are raised up against the Woman yet hath God raised up for her a more mighty horne of salvation Luk. ◠69. Even the horne of David stronger then they all the greatest enemie of the Church is but as Antiochus a little horne to him Ob. But here are ten hornes what is one horne to so many Answ. Christ our Lord and head wants not a sufficient number of hornes to encounter the dragons ten hornes Rev. 5. 6 the Lambe hath 7. hornes though the dragon seeme to exceed in number yet doth not for the number of 7 is a number of perfection and argueth in Christ perfection of power which is not in the number of ten whether it be taken definitly or indefinitly in the dragon and there is not one of these 7. but is stronger then all the dragons ten And besides whereas the dragons hornes are confined to his heads which they exalt and carry aloft our Lord Jesus hath many hornes comming out of his hands Hab. 3. 4. that is Omnipotent in all his works especially in his battailes against the dragons ten horns for he hath atchieved an admirable victorie over principalities and powers and made show of them openly as a triumphant Conqueror on the Chariot of his Crosse and at his ascension professed that all power in heaven and earth was given to him 4 Although the dragon hath his hornes and agents every where so as the Dove of Christ knoweth not where to set her foot to rest safe from them for there be 4. hornes which scatter
as the fish doth naturally river-water we have so much the more need to bee called backe from so dangerous a sinne and indeed we want no bridles if wee be not too head strong for 1. God hath provided by his expresse law aswell for the good name of his servants as for their goods or lives Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour wherein the Lord upon paine of death bindeth every soule to truth and justice in all his speeches the uprightnesse whereof must demonstrate the uprightnesse and sincerity of the heart as a chaste daughter of a chaste mother And this Law of God wraps him in the curse as well that steales and wounds his good name as the theefe that steales his goods or the murderer that assaults his life And as farre as the good name is farre in estimation above gold and silver Prov. 22. 1. so much more hatefull and mischievous is the false accuser above a theefe or burglary 2. Nothing can bee more contrary to God nothing comes so neare the devill Hee is a creature most degenerate from God both in respect of his nature judgement and practise First God in his nature is truth essentiall and truth originall the Author of all truth and truth it selfe in all his decrees in all his workes in all his words which all agree with the truth of his essence But this man suits with Satan the father of lies who stood not in the truth Iohn 8. 44. God in his nature loveth truth the devill speaketh truth sometimes but never lovesit God is called a Justifier Satan here an accuser If wee see this image or superscription of false accusing on any say it is Satans coyne a man moulded in his mint and give unto Satan what is Satans Secondly nothing can bee more dissonant to the judgement of God than rash judgement and false accusation of good men God approves the wayes of his servants highly esteemeth of their graces accepteth and remunerateth weake indeavours Now what can bee more contrary than to accuse the wayes of God to bee hatefull purity and a straine beyond discretion and the graces of God for singularity hypocrisie dissembling know thou hast not now belied men but the Spirit of God Thirdly the Lord in his course pleadeth for his Saints acquiteth them answereth all accusations for them and pronounceth a righteous sentence upon them the fals accuser impudently impleadeth all this God calleth Nathaniel a true Israelite no saith the accuser hee is an Ismaelite a dissembler God pronounceth Paul an elect Vessell no saith the accuser hee is a murderer a theefe vengeance will not suffer him to live Act. 28. 4. God pronounceth of his owne Sonne This is my beloved Sonne no saith the accuser he is a deceiver an impostor a blasphemer in saying he is the Sonne of God Now what can be liker Satan who would have all men in his owne condemnation than these vile persons who would have all thought as vile as themselves Hence our Text maketh Satan and all accusers but one accuser 3. Whom doest thou accuse or revile Thou accusest the brethren First the brethren of Christ and in them Christ himselfe Matth. 25. In that ye have done it to one of these my brethren ye have done it to mee Wouldest thou in the day of the Lord be brought in a false witnesse against Christ And yet there is a nearer relation these brethren are members of Christ. Wouldest thou for a thousand worlds have that sin of the Jewes lying upon thy soule that thou hadst thrust a speare into the body of Christ but what was that sinne to this they knew not who he was nor what they did beside his body was dead first but thou thrustest the sharpe speare of false accusation and by it tearest and rentest the living body of Christ which is his Church and this wilfully and of set purpose 2 Thou sinnest against the sonnes not of God onely but of the Church whom thou professest thy Mother The Spirit of God amplifies the wickednesse of false accusation by this circumstance Psal. 50. 20. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother and slaunderest thy mothers sonne shewing the unnaturalnesse of these wicked men to their owne flesh and the bowels of their owne Mother Were there a dram of nature or grace in them they could not violate such neare bands Godly Sem will cover his fathers nakednesse though unnaturall Cham discover it Charity would cover a multitude of offences Prov. 10. 4. But wanting both they are rightly ranked with theeves and adulterers vers 18. 4 A false accuser is a most irreligious person and commonly such are the greatest enemies to true religion Observe and you shall finde them either Atheists or Papists or Libertines or worldlings given over to some foule sinne or other For according to the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh If the heart swell with malice envie and bitternesse how can the mouth but run over with cursed speaking A bitter fountaine can send no sweet water The shop is supplied with such wares as are in the storehouse Besides true religion which purifieth the heart would order the tongue I am 1. 26. If any seeme to be religious and ordereth not his tongue that mans religion is in vaine 5 Consider the fearefull evils awayting this sin so contrary to God First It casts a man out of the sanctuary of God Psal. 15. 3. unlesse the Church of God could consist of a generation of devills but it is the spouse of Christ the communion of Saints 2 It casts him into the judgement of God and damnation of hell for God hath appointed a day to give judgement of all cruell speakings which wicked sinners have spoken against him Iude 15. Then shall their measure be filled to the brim they shall have accusation enough God doth even here admonish of that day and sit in judgement on some even in this life What got Haman by false accusation but hanging on his owne gallowes What got Ahab and Iezabel by false accusing Naboth but a possession of wrath In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth must they licke Ahabs and Iezabel was eaten with dogs in the valley of Jezreel 1 King 22. A dart shot against a wall or an arrow shot upward rebound and fall upon the shooter Daniels accusers were devoured by the Lions to whom Daniel was cast What got Amaziah by accusing Amos chap. 7. 17. Thy wife shal be an whore c. Let men take heed of touching Prophets and slaundering godly Ministers Eusebius in his Church-history sheweth how Narcissus was falsly accused by three false witnesses one wished if it were not true he might be burnt the other that a foule disease might eate him the third that he might else be blind And accordingly they perished the first by a sparke of fire from heaven the second by a loathsome disease from top to toe the third seeing this repented but yet lost both his eyes
they are ready to give testimony to the truth of God with losse of their lives and do so indeed when they are called unto it Revel 2. 13. Antipas my faithfull witnesse was slaine The point is this The Saints overcome all hellish powers and adversaries of salvation by the word of God 1 Ioh. 2. 14. Ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked 1 As Michael overcame so must his army But he overcame by the word Mat. 4. in all the temptations though he might have oppressed and confounded the dragon with power yet he would for our example and to point us who want power to a most powerfull weapon and meanes overthrow him by the word 2 The promise of God is a sure confirmation Prov. 4. 6. 8. uphold the word and it will uphold thee exalt wisdome and she shall exalt thee for sake her not and she shall keepe thee 3 The word is of the nature of God invincible and whosoever abideth in this word of truth is stable and cannot be cast downe 4 The parts of the word have their speciall strength and shew us that the whole is a complete armour or rather a furnished armoury to fetch thence all weapons for our fence and safety For First the Law chaseth us to Christ who is our strength and is a rule of life and an hedge to bound us in the way of safetie Secondly the Gospell exhibiteth Christ a glorious conquerour and worketh faith in us which is our victory The promises make us more then conquerors in which we see the Lord fighting for us and engaging himselfe to us for victory He hath bound himselfe not to fayle us nor forsake us Thirdly the precepts and explications of both furnish us with truth against error with counsell against false suggestions with sound wisdome and direction against all secret stratagems Psal. 119. By thy word I became wiser then the counsellors or the ancients Fourthly the examples store us with experience and shews us where and how and why such and such were foyled how they rose againe how they held their advantages and atchieved victory They shew how by the skill use of the word they have wounded their enemies and fortified themselves 5 By induction of enemies we may see that none of them all is able to stand before this two-edged sword of the Spirit proceeding out of the mouth of Christ Revel 1. 16. First it is the smooth stone that prostrates Goliah the wicked one 1 Sam. 17. the Sonne of David made choise of no other weapon against the Divell Secondly sinne is foyled by it Psal. 119. 11. I have hid thy word in my heart that I might not sinne against thee Thirdly wicked men are slaine by it Esa. 11. 4. Fourthly Antichrist that wicked one is slain with the breath of his mouth 2 Thes. 2. 8. Fiftly persecutions and afflictions thrust sore at us but the word upholds us Psal. 119. Had not thy word beene my comfort I had perished in my trouble And for inward affliction if the combate be with God himself the word at length speakes to him that is wearie Now if the Saints overcome by the word then see the wickednesse of Papists who betray their people by disarming them and turning them naked among their enemies and into satanicall temptations For they take away the word from them and hold it hereticall to have the Scriptures in a knowne tongue An high wickednesse against common sense as if they should say you have a multitude of fierce strong and subtile enemies before you and your danger is very great now if you would drive away the enemy and come away conqueror you must cast away your weapons and lay aside your armour which is as un fit for you as Sauls armour was for David but yet for a show you may take with you some conjuring spells or charmes some terrible crosses some holy relikes or so me holy water that is leave your sword and take a straw or rush in your hand cast away your shield and take a feather leave Gods weapons and take one out of the hand of the devill shoot in the divels owne bow and you shall do well enough Oh how hath the spirit of madnesse and giddinesse effectually prevayled both upon such wicked seducers and such seely soules so unreasonably seduced and left naked to the devill by them 2 Wee see hereby that the onely way to be safe is to get the word close nto thee nay into thee It is no fence to thee to have the word in the Church and Ministery only no nor to have it in thy booke and bible at home nor to have it in thy mouth speach unlesse thou hast it in thy heart working thee to soundnesse and integrity as David Psal. 119. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee Prov. 2. 10. 11. When wisdome entreth into thy heart and knowledge delighteth thy soule then shall counsell preserve thee and understanding shall keepe thee and deliver thee from the evill way 3 Note the reason why Satan prevailes in the world and tramples upon wicked men drawing them to all height of wickednesse namely because they reject the word If wee cast our eyes upon the most flagitious sinners and the worst of evill men as blasphemers swearers drunkards scoffers atheists contemners of the Sabbath and the like marke if they be not such as never care for the booke of God in private and but for fashion for the word preached the word is rejected and the divell hath them where he would Who be they whom Antichrist prevailes against to make them his slaves and vassalls to receive his marke in their hands and foreheads to destruction but such as hate the word and Scriptures as a felon doth a gibbet and such as are ignorant sotts fit for their knowledge to make Jews or Turkes aswell as Papists The Fawkner knows he can better rule his hawk on Tassell when he hath hooded him so doe Papish Fawkners Priests and Jesuites and therefore keepe their people in the darke Who art thou now converted that seest not how while thou wast in thy naturall course and couldest sweare and lye and game and scorne and do whatsoever was nought as thy company was that then thou caredst not for the word nor the Scriptures and counsells of God A Play had more taste then a good Sermon and therefore the divell carryed all and ruled thee at his will And what adoo hadst thou before thou couldest settle thy selfe to the constant reading and hearing of the word from which could Satan with all his power and policy have kept thee thou hadst never medled with them for he knowes how easily a Champion trained in warres may overcome and binde a blinde man And till thou medledst with them thou never conqueredst one sinne or lust much lesse the body of them 4.
in hand they cannot escape Sinne is chained to punishment in all The same sin deserves ruine in all Gods justice is impartiall And the same destruction belongs to the devill and wicked men seeing they all make but one dragon who is here overcome They overcame by the blood of the Lambe Here is the principall and meritorious cause of this victory Where three things must be opened 1. Who is this Lambe 2. What is meant by his blood 3. How the Saints overcome by this blood I. This Lambe is Michael called a Lambe especially for two reasons 1. Because hee was resembled by the Lambe sacrificed in the Law Object Other beasts were sacrificed and were types of Christ as the Bullocke Goate Ramme and the like but he is not so called Ans. True because those were not in continuall sacrifice as these neither did so ordinarily represent him as these for these were offered held Christs sacrifice before their eyes 1. Annually as in the Passeover 2. Monthly as in the Calends of every month were seven Lambes offered Numb 28. 11. 3. Weekly for every Sabbath they must offer two Verse 9. 4. Daily the juge sacrificium or continuall sacrifice which let the fire never goe out was of two Lambes every day Verse 13. 2. Christ is called a Lambe because hee did resemble those Lambes in qualities especially two First innocency and harmlesnesse hee was the innocent Lambe of God without spot no guile was found in his mouth Secondly obedience and meeknesse he was obedient to the death and as a Lambe dumbe before the shearer so opened he not his mouth Esa. 53. 7. This comforteth us in beholding this Lambe our sacrifice who was 1. The Lambe of God that is set a part by God not by men as the other Lambes in the old Testament were 2. A Lambe from God not rising from the earth as they but descending from God and comming from the bosome of his Father 3. A Lambe that was God for God shed his blood Act. 20. and therfore the dignity of the person of this Lambe giving worth and sufficiency to his sacrifice it taketh away the sinnes of the world with difference from those in the Law 1. It really tooke away sinne other Lambes did did but shadow and represent it 2. The sinnes of the whole world other Lambes expiated sinne but in one nation but this is of validity to redeeme the whole Church in all nations 3. It tooke them away perfectly by one oncemade oblation and needed not repetition yearely monthly weekly and daily as theirs did Againe this teacheth us to imitate this Lambe especially in these two gracious qualities 1. Of holinesse purity innocency of life and conversation that wee may bee as much as is possible blamelesse and without spot in the midst of a froward generation He was fairer then the sonnes of men all faire and no spot was in him neither in nature nor practice We cannot be so but yet we must part with our spots and come so neare as mortality will suffer us 2. Of obedience both Active he was willing and free in all his obedience it was his meate and drinke to doe his Fathers will and to fulfil all righteousnesse so wee must aime at perfection set all the Law before us and in all obedience offer free-will offerings And Passive meekly contentedly and patiently induring the greatest wrongs and evils for his sake as hee did for ours II. What is meant by this blood Ans. The whole sacrifice of Christ which includeth his whole obedience especially his death with all the antecedents and consequents his whole passion visible and invisible in soule and body none was in vaine for this is an ordinary figurative speech in Scripture that the whole obedience of Christ is ser downe by a part no part of which may bee divulsed or rent from other seeing he obeyed in suffering and suffered in obeying III. How doe the Saints overcome by his blood Answ. It seemes to bee an allusion to the Israelites who being sprinkled with the blood of the Lambe escaped the revenging Angell as also the revenging Aegyptians and by that blood a type of this overcame them all even so this blood of this Lambe is the victory of all the Israel of God 1. In regard of acquisition and merit Christs blood is the Well-head and full spring of all benefits to the Church The Fountaine flowing out of the side of Christ is the fountaine of all favour flowing unto us and consequently of our victory 2. In regard of donation in that it actually worketh a perfect reconciliation betweene God and us and stoppeth all enemies mouthes that were open against us in which sense it is called the blood of attonement 3. In regard of obsignation in that it sealeth all the Covenant of grace called therefore the blood of the Covenant because it ratifieth unto us the cancelling of that hand-writing of the old Covenant which we had transgressed and wiping off all old scores and debts it confirmes our entrance into the new Covenant of grace 4. In regard of application by the instrument of faith which is our victory whereby wee overcome the world and our shield by which wee vanquish Satan Quest. How can faith be our victory Answ. Not for the worthinesse of it which is at best weake and feeble but First by entring us into the Covenant of God espousing and marrying us unto Christ for faith onely maketh Christ ours and all his victory Secondly by drawing vertue from Christ as the branch suckes from the root for wee having no power of our owne faith fetches power from Christ and draweth downe strength from him and such strength as the gates of hell cannot prevaile against Thirdly by receiving as an hand all from God and Christ especially the promise of the Spirit the presence of the Spirit and graces of the Spirit which makes the Christian invincible For greater is he that is in the Beleever then the spirit that is in the World Object But can one be strong and victorious by anothers strength and victory Answ No but faith makes Christ a mans owne and Christ and the Christian are no more twaine but one flesh Root and branches make but one tree foundation and building but one house head and members but one body So as Christ being his owne his strength is his owne strength his victory his owne victory The Christian then on whose heart this blood is sprinkled is in good case This victorious blood both foyles all enemies for us and answers all objections for us The former appeares by induction of eight enemies The chiefe is the devill but he is spoyled by this blood of the crosse see Col. 2. 15. and Heb. 2. 14. The next is sin but this Lambe of God hath taken away the sins of the world Ioh. 1. 29. Thirdly the curse of the law followes sinne at the heeles but this Lambe shedding his blood was made a curse for us to