the children of Ammon thus should Gods children covenant together and help each other against their corruptions and temptations every man endeavouring the welfare of another mans soule as his owne Were the soules of Gods children thus happily and graciously united they would undoubtedly prove a flourishing common-wealth a glorious people and a great honour to Christ who reignes as King over them CHAP. X. Pressing the seeking of the welfare of Christs Church 4. THis likewise presseth on us the ministration of our best help and assistance to the Church of Christ The members of a common-wealth endeavour the welfare and safety of the common-wealth they preferre it above their owne private good The members of Christs spirituall common-wealth should doe the like for Christs Church It is the Lords injunction pray for the peace of Jerusalem be instant with God for the prosperity safety increase and flourishing estate of his Church What though God watch over it and have promised protection to it yet thou must also pray for and labour the prosperity thereof otherwise how canst thou rejoyce in the welfare of the same To this duty the very relation between us and the Church should leade us the Church is the body whereof we are members doe not all the members in the body naturall labour the welfare of the whole How can the members of the mysticall body of Christ doe lesse unlesse they will prove themselves unnaturall Our Sympathy with the Churches afflictions should perswade us to this we must apprehend the calamity which resteth upon the Church as resting upon our owne persons If one member saith Saint Paul doe suffer all the members suffer with it A dead member indeed hath no sympathy with the rest but the living member hath a fellow-feeling a quicke and exquisite sence within when any of the members are pained or hazarded Who is weake saith Paul and I am not weake who is offended and I burne not The blessing which is attendant on our endeavouring the welfare of the Church is an Argument of great force to move us to this worke hereof the Lord saith they shall prosper that love thee They that love thee they that are carefull for thee solicitous and studious to maintaine soundnesse of Doctrine and purity of divine worship in thee they that humble themselves in thy behalf when troubles are upon thee they that put themselves forth to the utmost to relieve thee in thy wants to comfort thee in thy sorrowes to assist thee against thy opposers they shall prosper it shall be well with them they shall not goe without a blessing their worke and labour of Love shall not be forgotten Besides our welfare is very much dependant upon the welfare of the whole Church of Christ The welfare of every member in a common-wealth and in a body naturall is deeply interested in the prosperity and good successe of the whole Thus the prosperity or fall of the Church in generall is our fall or prosperity in particular The strengthening of some part of a building is a strengthening and a beautifying of the whole building the fall of any part is a weakning a disgrace a prejudice to the whole and thus it is in this case We live saith Paul if ye stand fast in the saith if ye abide in Christ thrive in grace and make a gracious progresse in the wayes of life then we live then we rejoyce and are full of comfort then our hearts are much strengthened in the Lord. Our Subjection to changes miseries and troubles should very much quicken us to the present commiseration of the rest of Christs afflicted members the Lord may make us drinke of the same cup as in the prophecye of Jeremy the Lord caused the cup of his wrath to goe round he made all the Nations to drink thereof and if we have no compassion on others now who shall have compassion upon us then if we withdraw our helping hand from others who shall reach forth the hand of assistance unto us for God doth so order it in the course of his providence that look what measure we meet to others in their distresse the same shall men measure againe to us in our necessity Besides this is a work very acceptable to God and very profitable to the Church of God doubtlesse it pleased David well when Joab sought to bring home Absolon to him and when Abner undertooke to bring about all Israel Thus when we endeavour to reconcile God and his Church to bring men about to God by our prayers exhortations and their repentance is a worke very pleasing unto God and herein we prove instruments of the greatest honour game and comfort to our fellow brethren O therefore I as we are all one common-wealth let us labour the good of this our common-wealth Let Magistrates and Ministers be to the Church like the siery pillar to Israel a light and a defence Let Ministers like Bees make the honey compose sweet and wholesome Doctrine gathered from the flowers growing in the garden of the sacred Scriptures and so frame it that it may be sweeter then the honey or the honey-combe unto the palate of the Church and let Magistrates like hives preserve this honey of wholsome Doctrine that nothing doe adulterate it Let Ministers by the executive power of the Word and Sacraments and Magistrates by their directive and coactive power demeane themselves to the great behoofe and benefit of Gods Church and as Moses and Aaron brought Israel out of Egypt so let both Magistrate and Minister labour the spirituall and corporall freedome of the Lords people And as every member joynt and sinew in the body naturall performes his office for the good of the whole so let Christs members from the highest to the lowest according to their severall places stations and abilities promote the welfare of Christs Church and servants CHAP. XI Treating of Carnall mans Alienation from Christs Church THe second thing is the Exemption of all prophane men from this common-wealth from the Church of Christ and all the spirituall prerogatives and priviledges belonging thereunto The Gentiles before the comming of Christ were altogether aliens hereunto having no place at all in this common-wealth Prophane men since the comming of Christ though they be in this common-wealth living within the pale of the visible Church as the uncleane beasts within the Arke yet they are also aliens to this common-wealth aliens to that holy and eâ—ectuall vocation wherewith this common-wealth is called aliens to the heavenly and saving power of that Word and Spirit by which this common-wealth is ruled and guided aliens to that sweet and gracious Communion which the members of this common-wealth have with Christ by faith and among themselves by love and this is one great misery of all corrupt and carnall men being without Christ they are also aliens to the common-wealth of his Israel as he that is an alien to the King is an alien to that common-wealth which is under the
them his love and all the comforts of his Spirit but to prophane men Christ is as a sealed fountaine of whom they drinke not a hidden Manna of whom they taste not he that is an alien to the Church is without the protection and salvation of Christ they that were without the Arke had no safety from the waters and surely they that are without the Church I meane without that faith holinesse love and gracious communion which is proper to Gods children are without salvation And this is the misery of carnall men living in the Church and not living the life of them that are the true Church of Christ indeed and such men indeed are a great dishonour to the Church as spots in the face spots and blemishes as Saint Peter termes them a burthen to the Church as dead members to the body a trouble to the Church as Ionah to the ship raising the stormy tempest of Gods wrath against it and therefore should be wiped away cut off and cast out by the censures of the Church not for everlasting condemnation but for their humiliation and reformation for the destruction of the flesh that their spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus according to the Apostles rule This opens the impossibility of the salvation of corrupt and carnall men as such and as long as they continue such for being such they are aliens to the Church of Christ to the spirituall common-wealth of Christs Israel As all that were out of the Arke perished in the deluge of waters so all that are out of the Church not living members of this common-wealth doe perish in the deluge of Gods wrath Such as are by the power of their prophanenesse alienated from the Church of Christ the company of them that are effectually called and sanctified they are 1. Without God He that hath not the Church for his Mother hath not God for his Father he that is not of the new Jerusalem whom the Apostle termes the Mother of us all for her bringing forth children spiritually unto God he that is not of her is not of God he that is not a childe in this spirituall and heavenly family is not borne of God therefore the Apostle saith of them that are the true members of this Church Ye are no more strangers and forrainers but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God 2. He that is by his prophanenesse an alien to the Church of Christ is an alien to Christ he that is an alien to the common-wealth is an alien to the King he that is not one of Christs flocke cannot have Christ for his Shepheard and without Christ there is no salvation 3. He that is an alien to the Church of Christ is estranged from regeneration renovation illumination sanctification remission donation of the Spirit and the promise of the eternall inheritance Effects and fruits of the Word and Spirit in them that are effectually called properties and prerogatives belonging onely to Christs holy and gracious people and without these there is no salvation These saith Chemnitius God the Word Faith the Church salvation and life eternall are very intimously knit and ioyned together and accordingly the Apostle there is one Body and one Spirit one Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all To him therefore that is not of this sacred company and Church of Christ the Spirit is no Sanctifier Christ no Redeemer God no Father Baptisme no Seale and Faith no Instrument of Justification and therefore unlesse man be of this sacred company there is no salvation they that leap out of the ship into the Sea perish they that forsake the ship of Christs Church and hold not communion by faith and love with Gods Saints perish in the Sea of this world all the Citizens of Iericho who were out of Rahabs house perished with fire and the sword All that are out of Gods house or to speake in the Apostles words who are not built up a spirituall house to God are liable to the fire and sword of Gods wrath CHAP. XIV Discovering the vanity of carnall mans applauding and pleasing himselfe with being borne within the Church HEre may we likewise see how vaine nay how dangerous it is for man to applaud and please himselfe in being borne within the pale of the Church and having the externall use of Gods Ordinances continuing under the power of sinfull lusts because remaining under the command and power of sinne he is an alien to the Church even whiles he lives within the Church blesse not therefore your selves in this build not your salvation upon such sandy ground There was in Abrahams house a childe of the bond-woman as well as of the free they are not all children saith Saint Paul because they are Abrahams seed There are within the house of the visible Church children of Hagar as well as of Sarah they who are the bondmen of corruption as well as they who are the Lords free-men Mans outward participation of Gods Ordinances is no assured evidence of his inward participation of Christ Jesus The hearts of Ezekiels hearers went after their covetousnesse Herod lived in incest when he attended the ministery of the Baptist the Sadduces were a very generation of vipers when they came to the Baptisme of Iohn the very City of Jerusalem even whiles it had the glorious name and title of Gods Church was become an harlot her silver was become drosse and her wine mixt with water It is an easier thing to wait on Gods Ordinances then it is to lay aside our corruptions Mens outward profession is not alwayes seconded with a spirituall change and reformation Iether had a sword but he had no strength no courage to draw it to slay Zeba and Zalmunna with it Many have the Word and Sacrament the Oracles of God the Sword of the Spirit but they have no heart to use them they doe not apply them to the mortification of their corruptions It is not the having but the gracious working of the word of God which proves a man to be the childe of God The lame man lay many yeares at Bethesda his lameship not cured many live many yeares within the pale of the Church under the powerfull ministery of the word and yet no spirituall cure wrought upon their soules the disease of sinne still continues and increases upon them Doe not therefore boast and glory that you are the children of the Church as the Pharisees sometimes boasted that they were the children of Abraham for as Christ said to them if you were the children of Abraham you would doe the workes of Abraham Thus if you were the genuine and naturall children of the Church you would doe the works of them that are the Church and children of God and be assured of this though
every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemne They who cast the three children into the fiery fornace burnt themselves Pharaoh perished in the very waters into which he forc'd the Israelites there is nothing but an expectation of crosses and curses to that man that doth oppose Christ the fountaine of all blessings 5. Consider when the Church is weakest and the combination strongest against it then God is alwaies nearest to it and most ready to shew his power in the preservation of it The Churches deepest misery is Gods choisest opportunity the Lords people never see and enjoy more of Gods presence then in the fiery fornace God takes occasion by his Churches distresses at once to manifest his power wisdome justice truth and goodnes 6. Consider that Christ is the strength of every thing the foundation is the strength of the house the rootes are the strength of the Tree Christ the Creatour is the strength of the creature He turnes the strength of the mighty into weaknesse and the impotency of the weak into strength the creature alwaies proves more or lesse powerfull according to the concurrence of Christs arme either with or against him all the Nations of the world when the influence of Gods power is suspended are but as a drop of a bucket and as the small dust of the ballance the weakest people the worme Jacob when Christ joynes with them are stronger then the Mountaines No mans station is firme or stable beside his who hath Christ sustaining him Gods Church hath no cause of contracting despairing cogitations either from her owne weaknesse or from the power of her adversaries receiving her supportment from the power of Christ Iesus for he will keepe the feet of his Saints and the wicked shall be silent in darknesse and by strength shall no man prevaile 7. Consider how they who step out from Christ and betake themselves to the shadow of carnall men for refuge doe therein associate and combine themselves with Satan for an uncertaine bodily preservation doe expose their soules unto certaine and inevitable ruine and what can it availe a man to loose the jewell in hope to keep the casket or to destroy the Inhabitant in hope to preserve the house How ever it goe for the present Christ will prevaile at last and whither wilt thou runne then that runnest from Christ now Hee that now flies from the cause of Christ will not be then able to fly from the wrath of Christ He that now refuseth Christ suffering shall with dreadfull horrour and amazement at last behold Christ triumphing Lastly Consider There is more Majesty terrour and security too in the presence and consortship of a few good men then in the presence of a great number of profane men There is a manifestation of God in them which makes the hearts of their enemies to shake as they who came to apprehend Christ fell backward at the very beholding of Christ Gods powerfull and blessed presence among his people the efficacy of their prayers the power of godlinesse apparant in their lives the very perswasion which wicked men have of their integrity of their intimacy and communion with God and of Gods taking part with them doth make their presence dreadfull to the eye and apprehension of profane men thus the Psalmist Beautifull for scituation the joy of the whole Earth is Mount Syon on the sides of the North the City of the great King God is knowne in her Palaces for a Refuge for loe the Kings were assembled they passed by together they saw and so they marvelled they were troubled and hasted away feare tooke hold upon them there and paine as of a woman in travell And in the dayes of Hester the feare of the Iewes fell upon all people And in the dayes of Ioshua such a feare fell upon the profane Nations that their hearts melted neither was there spirit in them any more because of the children of Israel The enduring of affliction with Gods people is better more honourable more comfortable more safe and profitable then the enjoyment of the pleasures of sin for a season 5. Pray for the peace of Ierusalem for the safety unity tranquility of the Church of Christ Pray for the blessing of Heaven upon our deare and dread Soveraigne and upon his great Councell that his Name his Throne and Kingdome may flourish and shine in glory like the Sun to the end of the world and that their Councell may be acceptable to him the divisions of Reuben sweetly and fully reconciled our threatned storm changed into a blessed calm having one Prince of peace commanding us one word of peace instructing us one spirit of peace conducting us one way of peace wherunto the Lord hath called us let every man cast the disobedient Ionah out of the Ship of his own soul which makes our waters tempestuous Let every man cut off the Sheba of his owne rebellious lust which causeth God to threaten the laying of a Siege against the City both of our soule and body Let us meet the Lord as Abigail did David that the Lord may be intreated that all that is amisse may be thoroughly reformed and the Gospel of our peace in the purity and perfection therof continued and the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace preserved 6. Communicate freely and fully to the necessities of the Church of Christ as the Sun his light to them that sit in darknesse the mother her breast to the hungry child and the Cloud its raine to the thirsty ground the Churches wants are for the tryall of thine abundance the Church purchased by the blood of Christ is more precious then all worldly possessions and challengeth preheminence in thy affections above all earthly treasures What thou possessest is not so much thine as Christs and therefore ought freely to be expended in the cause of Christ It is the honour of thy substance to be imployed in the Lords service it is the glory of a Christian to be Christs Almoner to feed his Church and children the Church is a Vineyard whence a liberall harvest returneth to every man that sowes plentifully to it Christs bloud is infinitely more precious then thy gold He gave his blood for thee and how canst thou with-hold thy mony from him Depart rather with all thy substance then that one member of Christ perish for the want of it It is not mans riches but mans bounty to Christs members that honours man it is not the presence but the well using of thy abilities which will give thee comfort in the houre of thy last and dreadfull Summons 7. Be constant in the knowledge faith love feare and profession of Christ Be not in the matter of Gods worship and thy salvation like a Reed shaken with the wind Be not carried too and fro with every vaine and empty Doctrine like a Ship without an Anker Be not tossed up and downe with every gust and wave
Church and children in the dissipation of all adversary powers victorious be he in the subjugation and conquest of his enemies glorious be he in the conversion of sinners in the multiplication and increase of his holy and loyall subjects beautifull and amiable be he in the eyes of all persons Let his Gospell shine like the Sun from the one end of heaven unto the other Let his name be as an oyntment powred out casting a sweet smell throughout this great house of the world to him let all the Kings and kingdomes of the earth vaile and stoop become truly obedient and subject This is the prayer desire and endeavour of all that rejoyce in Christ aright teaching us That It is the duty of all people unfainedly to desire and earnestly to endeavour the welfare promotion and advancement of Christ his spirituall kingdome and Gospell David and all the house of Israel joyned together in erecting and setting up the Arke in the Tabernacle Kings and Subjects Masters and servants parents and children the people of every calling and condition should unite their forces their hearts and hands their counsels and tongues their affections and endeavours to set up Christ to advance his Gospell to honour and enlarge his kingdome This was shadowed in the building of the Temple to the building thereof concurred Solomon and his servants Hyram of Tyrus and the Sydonians who did hew the timber for it to the building of the Church of Christ to the setting up of Christ and his Gospell there should be an universall unanimous full and sweet concurrence of men of all nations of Kings and subjects of Lords and servants of Ministers and people every man in the place and calling wherein God hath set him according to the gift and endowment which God hath bestowed on him must concurre in his prayers and endeavours to advance the honour and kingdome of Christ Jesus This was also figured in the neighbouring Kings payment of tribute unto Solomon desiring his friendship and by variety of gifts and presents making their peace with him All people comming from all the Kings of the earth to heare his wisedome the whole as in a shadow presignifying mens payment of the spirituall tribute of feare and reverence faith and obedience love and thankfulnesse unto Christ their entring into a Covenant of peace with Christ their seeking of the love and friendship of Christ their attendance upon the Gospell to heare and learne Christs wisedome their dedication of themselves and their substance to the service of Christ their spirituall subjection unto Christ and their holy and gracious endeavours to make the name of Christ glorious This was foretold by the Psalmist they that dwell in the wildernesse shall bow before him and his enemies shall licke the dust they shall humble themselves under the mighty hand of Christ they shall acknowledge and receive him as their Lord they shall feare and reverence him as their King they shall vaile and bow to his scepter they shall put themselves and all that is theirs under Christ they shall give themselves to the exaltation and setting up of Christ The Kings of Tharsis and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts they shall consecrate their abilities to Christs service they shall communicate of their substance to the maintenanne of Christs Church and Ministers to the preservation and increase of Christs kingdome All Kings shall fall downe before him all nations shall serve him All shall adore and serve him as their King all shall exalt and honour him as loyall subjects their heavenly Soveraigne all persons from the highest to the lowest must serve the Lord Jesus and study to make him glorious grace works obedience in the hearts of Princes as well as in the hearts of beggars The Sun as well as the stars did obeysance unto Joseph in his vision Kings as well as inferiour persons doe obâ—â—â—ance unto Christ under his kingdome and Gospell The foure and twenty Elders in Saint Johns vision fell downe before him that sate on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crownes before the throne Godly Kings and Governours cast their crownes their dominion dignity power honour and jurisdiction and all that they have before Christ they make all serviceable to the exaltation of Christ and his kingdome This was like prophecyed by the Prophet Esay the abundance of the sea multitudes of men dwelling in Islands shall be converted unto thee shall be gathered unto the Church and kingdome of Christ and the forces great troupes and companies of the Gentiles shall come to thee shall be joyned to the people of God embrace their Religion and enter into a sweet and gracious fellowship with them They shall bring gold and incense they shall contribute liberally to the maintenance of the Gospell and Christs poore members they shall dedicate their earthly abundance to Christs service and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord they shall be very industrious and studious to make the name of the Lord Jesus glorious The sonnes of strangers shall build up thy wals become members in thy house and fellow-helpers in thy worke and their Kings shall minister unto thee shall serve Christ and labour the welfare of his Church and kingdome The glory of Lebanon shall come to thee there is nothing so excellent which shall not put it selfe under Christ and be made serviceable to his Gospell and kingdome and thus our Saviour taught his Disciples to pray that Gods kingdome might come that the Gospell might be preached and men filled with the light thereof As the aire is filled with light upon the comming of the Sunne that the Holy-Ghost might be powred out and the hearts of men inspired with the knowledge love and obedience of the truth that all the lusts of men the impediments of Gods gracious kingdome in the soule of man might be crucified and utterly extinct and that God might universally spiritually and fully reigne in the hearts of men all the weapons of their rebellion laid aside and their soules brought into a gracious subjection and it is the Apostles charge pray that the word of the Lord may run have a free and a speedie passage running as the Sun shining to all the corners of the world and running as the rivers to water the earth and be glorified by the pure and powerfull preaching of it by the holy and gracious working of it by the ready and cheerfull entertainment of it and by the holy and humble subjection of the soules of men under it Mans obedience makes the word very glorious and the free and speedy passage and powerfull working of the Gospell should be earnestly prayed for by the Lords people this is the charet on which Christ rideth in spirituall triumph this is the scepter by which he swayeth in the soules of his chosen and the welfare of this doe all the
welfare of Christs kingdome and Gospell Such men are altogether unmindfull of their relation unto Christ who desire not who labour not the prosperity of the Gospell and kingdome of Christ 3. In regard of Christs interest in us We are not our owne but Christs as sometimes the King of Syria said to the King of Israel thy silver and thy gold is mine thy wives also and thy children even the goodliest are mine Thus may Christ say to us thy body and thy soule thy wife and thy children thy gold and thy silver thy lands and thy livings and whatsoeuer thou hast is mine and we must answer as the King of Israel did My Lord O King I am thine and all that I have This the Lord claimeth by the mouth of the Prophet Now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and that formed thee O Israel I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine my chosen vessell my redeemer and sanctified one my childe my servant my jewell and the Lords portion saith Moses is his people Jacob is the Lot of his inheritance He hath separated and taken us unto himselfe to be his peculiar people whom he loves in whom he delights and to whom we must bring forth all our fruit and be unto him whatsoever we are as a portion or inheritance is all that it is to him that ownes it and Christs we are indeed by donation We are given unto him from eternity in the decree of Gods election by redemption he hath bought us with a price by vocation he called us out of darknesse into a marvellous light and hath made us a peculiar people to himselfe and also by way of spirituall Conjunction and wedlocke We are espoused unto Christ and are stiled his wife And as we are Christs so we must be for Christ so we must seeke the prosperity of Christs kingdome and advancement of his Gospell Thine are we O David and on thy side thou sonne of Jesse said Amasai to David peace peace be unto thee and peace be unto thine helpers Thus must we say unto Christ thine are we O Christ and on thy side O Sonne of God peace peace all welfare and prosperity be to thee and thy kingdome successefull be the labours and undertakings of all them that are thy ministeriall and underhelpers This is urged as a fruit and effect of Christs interest in us We are bought saith the Apostle with a price therefore let us glorifie God in our bodies and in our spirits and againe Christ hath died that wee who live should not henceforth live unto our selves but to him who died for us and rose againe That man doth not well consider Christs interest in him who puts not himselfe and all that is his upon Christs service He is doubtlesse a stranger to the efficacy and fruit of the worke of Christs redemption who doth not throughly apply himselfe to the setting up of Christ and his Gospell 4. In regard of the Subversion of Satan and his kingdome The setting up of the Arke was the fall of Dagon the setting up of the house of David was the overthrow of the house of Saul the setting up of Christ his Kingdome and Gospell is the overthrow of Satan Where the Gospell is preached and Christ set up Satan fals like lightning from heaven his holds of sin are overturned like the wals of Jericho at the blowing of the rammes hornes There is no competition between the Devils kingdome and the powerfull preaching of the Gospell When David was once set upon the throne all Israel by degrees came about left the house of Saul and bowed unto Davids scepter When Christ is set upon his Throne exalted and lifted up in the preaching of the Gospell all that are ordained unto life come about and stoop to Christ they leave the service of sinne Satan and the world and vaile to Christs scepter they turne from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God When Philip preached in Samaria the Devils went out of many that were possessed by them The Lord hath ordained the ministery of the Gospell to be the instrument and meanes of the ruine of Satans kingdome and for this cause we should come our selves to Christ and labour the welfare and increase of Christs Kingdome that Satan the grand adversary of our soules of our peace of our salvation may be overthrowne and troden under foot and have no more place in heaven in the Church of God in the hearts of the people of God but be cast out as a strong man bound is put out of his house and a King vanquished and overcome is cast out of his Kingdome He is no true subject unto Christ that endeavours not the subversion of Satan and his kingdome that Christ alone may raigne and have compleat dominion over Gods Church and people 5. In regard of the Glory Crowne and dignity of Gods Church and people The setting up of Christ his Gospell and Kingdome is the glory of the Church of God the appearance and shining of the Sunne in the fulnesse of his beauty is the glory of the world the presence of the Arke was the glory of Israel being a witnesse of Gods glorious presence among them the Lord there giving forth his oracles and hearing the prayers of his people Thus the presence appearance and bright shining of Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse in the Gospell is the glory of the Church Where Christ is in the Gospell there God is graciously present clearly manifesting himselfe to mens understanding and mercifully hearing and answering the prayers of his people and the place where the ordinances of God are where the Gospell is published and the mysteries of Gods Kingdome opened is called the habitation of his house and the place where his honor dwelleth The Lord doth ever shew himselfe very glorious to the soules of his servants in the use of his ordinances and vouchsafes great honour to the people in setting up his Gospell and Kingdome among them and therefore the Church of God is called the glorious rest of Christ because Christ by his Gospell and by his love and grace doth rest there that place is of all places most glorious which is the Evangelicall resting place of Christ and the Lord foretelling the multiplication of his Church the increase of his faithfull people and augmentation of his sonnes Kingdome saith he will glorifie the house of his glory and make his Church an eternall excellency and therefore we should mightily endeavour the exaltation of Christ and his Gospell because this is the honour crowne and glory of the Church The cleare full and open enjoyment of Christ in the Gospell is the prime glory of any place or people Such people are very base and ignominious whatsoever be their outward abundance who enjoy not Christ in his ordinance that man is altogether regardlesse of the
spirituall welfare of his children The Psalmist having mentioned and set forth the felicity and prosperity of the faithfull servants of God In the multiplication of their seed in the increase of their wealth in the Lords dispensation of joy in heavinesse of safety in dangers of deliverance in distresses of exaltation after all oppositions to Gods Church and children concludes thus The wicked shall see it and be grieved he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away the desire of the wicked shall perish Wicked men are more grieved at good mens prosperity then at their owne misery It is a sure argument of raigning prophanenesse to sorrow for the welfare of the righteous All Hamans honours and preferments availe him nothing while he sees Mordecai sitting in the gate Wicked men often lose the comfort of all their owne earthly fulnesse whiles they behold the prosperity and welfare of Gods Church and righteous servants The exaltation of Christs Kingdome and flourishing of the Gospell doth fill some men with such vexation that all their wealth honours and high places seeme to them as nothing No doubt it much troubled the Philistines to see the Arke of the Lord stand upright and Dagon broken to a stump It is a great trouble to many people to see the Kingdome of Christ stand and the Gospell to flourish and the Dagon of superstition usury drunkennesse c. disgraced shamed and cast to ground the Priests the Captaine of the Temple and the Sadduces were grieved that the Disciples taught the people and preached through Iesus the resurrection from the dead and the two Prophets in the Revelation are said to torment them that dwell on the earth The glorious shining of the Sunne is a trouble to diseased eyes the bright and cleare shining of the truth is a torment to prophane and ungracious soules such as grieve not for their sin grieve at the Gospell the meanes of mortifying sin such as most rejoyce in superstition prophanenesse and the vanities of the world are most grieved and troubled at the powerfull preaching of the Gospell O how great is mans blindnesse how strange is mans perversenesse that he should be most grieved and troubled at the presence of that which God hath ordained to be the instrument of mans greatest honour profit and comfort CHAP. X. ALl men should learne by this to worke their hearts to imploy their thoughts and to give themselves to the utmost of their abilities to the advancement of Christs Kingdome and Gospell to the setting up of Christ upon his throne in his Church here on the face of the earth Zadok the Priest Nathan the Prophet Benaiah the sonne of Jehoiada and the Cherethites and the Pelithites caused Solomon to ride upon the Kings mule they anointed him King in Gihon and all the servants of King David came and said God make the name of Solomon better then thy name and his throne greater then thy throne All Kings and rulers all Ministers and teachers should set up Christ and cause him to ride in spirituall triumph upon Gods Church and all the servants of the Lord from the highest to the lowest should pray for the prosperity successe honour and enlargement of Christs Kingdome All Magistrates as representative gods should be in stead of God to Christs Church as shepheards they should see that spirituall pastures be provided for Christs flocke and that all wolves beares and foxes all instruments of annoyance be kept far from them as nursing fathers and nursing mothers they should be carefull that provision be made for Christs family and as they are stiled the shields of the earth so they should be carefull to minister defence to Christs Church and people against the power and fury of all that offer any injury to them Thus they must kisse the sonne with the kisse of love and affection with the kisse of honour and exaltation with the kisse of reverence and subjection with the kisse of congratulation and rejoycing with the kisse of prayer and wel-wishing endeavouring to the utmost of their power the propagation of Christ and his Gospell All Ministers as builders in Christs house as stewards in Christs family as teachers in Christs schoole as labourers in Christs vineyard as under-rowers in Christs ship as burning lamps in Christs Temple as watchmen in Christs City should by their frequent preaching wholsome doctrine sharp reprehension wise admonition seasonable and gracious consolation and holy walking propagate the Gospell advance the Kingdome and increase the number of Christs people and make the Lord Jesus every day more and more glorious in the eyes of all beholders All Masters and rulers of families should strive the exaltation of Christs Kingdome by being as Kings Prophets and Priests within their domesticall wals by their godly government Christian instruction and holy prayer and supplication with and for them that are under their jurisdiction teaching them with Abraham to know the Lord bringing them with Cornelius to the ministery of the word and making their houses with Philemon a Church of God All private persons should likewise put their hands to this worke and labour the setting up of Christs Kingdome and Gospell by flowing to the house of God as rivers to the ocean by comming speedily and unanimously as the doves unto the windowes as the Eagles to the carkasse or the lame unto Bethesda by growing in all spirituall gifts and graces as children grow in stature as trees in fruitfulnesse and as the light shineth more and more unto the perfect day by consecrating themselves to Christ and his service as souldiers to their Generall as servants to their Lord and Master and as a Spouse to their husband to fight Christs battels to doe Christs worke to love Christs name and to bring forth all their fruit to Christ as a wife brings forth all her children to her husband and by holy exhortation and gracious counsell perswading and drawing others to Christ to the knowledge faith love and obedience of Christ leaving other imployments at convenient seasons as the woman of Samaria left her water pot to bring other men to Christ as she brought her fellow citizens Considering as the Apostle saith one another and provoking one another to love and to good works being to their fellow brethren as spurres quickning them and as loadstones drawing them daily nearer and nearer unto Christ labouring to make Christ appeare more amiable and glorious in the eyes of all their fellow-servants As all the rivers great and small empty themselves into the sea to the filling up of the sea so let us all high and low young and old rich and poore bond and free empty our selves and all our abilities and endeavours into Christ to the filling up of Christ his Church his Kingdome his mysticall body which is the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all As all the people who were willing hearted both men
abilities upon Christs service He that truly feares Christ will withhold nothing which may tend to the exaltation of Christ his Church and Gospell 3. Lively sence and feeling of the necessity of Christ and his Gospell Mens exaltation of Christ is according to their apprehension of the necessity of Christ When the Elders of Gilead saw the necessity they had of Jeptha then they made him head and Captaine over them When men see and feele the want of Christ the perill of their estate without Christ then they put themselves under Christ then they exalt and magnifie Christ then they labour the setting up of Christ and his Gospell Sence of sicknesse famine siege bondage makes physicke food an army a ransomer very precious Physitians were of great esteeme with the woman troubled with a fluxe of bloud she spent all her substance upon them Christ and his Gospell are of great price with the man to whom sinne is a torment a griefe a trouble he will withhold nothing which may tend to the exaltation of Christ and his Gospell to the working out and removing of the sinne which doth molest him When Josephs brethren were in want and had no bread to sustaine them then they came and bowed themselves before Joseph and when they called to mind their great trespasse against him then they besought his favour and were very submissive to him Mans sence of his owne emptinesse drives him to Christ and causeth him to vaile and stoop to Christ to put himselfe under the feet of Christ and readily to exalt and set up Christ selfe-opinion ignorance of mans want of Christ and the Gospell is a great impediment to our setting up of Christ and his kingdome 4. Elevation and raising of the heart of man to a holy spirituall and noble frame and temper The heart of man naturally is very base carnall and earthly delighting like the swine in the mire and mud of the world rellishing and savouring nothing but that which is worldly and fleshly his spirit is very low and ignoble and his highest aime is but to ascend some mole-hill or mountaine of the earth like the prodigall he is a companion of swine and feeds on the huskes of worldly vanities his longings like the besotted Israelites is after the onyons and flesh-pots of Egypt poore things unworthy and empty things of the earth Man like Nebuchadnezzars image how ever deckt with gold and silver authority and dominion and glorious in outward appearance to the world yet his feet are yron and clay his thoughts his affections the motions and goings of his heart are very base and dishonourable The spirit of man must be therefore sublimated and refined by Christ the great refiner of the soule Mans drosse and tin must be purged out the earthinesse and basenesse of his spirit must be taken away and man endowed with a more spirituall sublime and noble disposition and temper of soule or he can never intend Christ exalt Christ and his Gospell It is recorded in Ezra that the chiefe of the fathers rose up with all them whose spirits God had raised to goe up to build the house of God in Ierusalem First God raised their hearts put willingnesse alacrity enlargement opennesse and courage into their hearts to doe the worke and then they went to build Thus God must raise our hearts innoble our spirits make us spiritually heroicall or we shall never build Ierusalem never labour the advancement of Christ and his â—ospell Christ raised Lazarus out of the grave and then he followed him Christ must raise our spirits from their earthlinesse and basenesse or they will never be serviceable to him The Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheeles and they moved where the living creatures moved Christ must put his Spirit into us or we shall never follow him never seeke his honour and the welfare of his Gospell It is said of Saul when the Lord had made him King that he went home to Gibeah and there went with him a band of men whose heart God had touched God hath set Christ his King upon his holy hill of Sion but there is no man followes him no man exalts and honours him as a King but such whose hearts the Lord doth touch with the gracious finger of his Spirit the basenesse cowardlinesse and earthlinesse of our spirits must be put away and our hearts throughly refined otherwise we cannot discerne Christ we cannot rellish Christ we cannot love Christ we cannot prize Christ we can never put our selves upon the exaltation of Christ his Kingdome and Gospell but when old things are past away and all become new when we are renewed in the spirit of our mind when the Spirit of God like Eliahs fiery charet hath taken us up from the earth and hath raised our hearts thoughts desires and affections to the things which are above then shall we rejoyce in Christ and his Gospell then shall we put our selves and all that we have upon the service of Christ and the Gospell then shall we pray for the prosperity welfare and advancement of Christs Gospell and kingdome then shall we say Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. CHAP. XII CHrist came not as the false prophets of old in his owne name he had his calling and commission from above No man saith the Apostle speaking of Christ taketh this honour to himselfe but such an one as is called of God as Aaron was and this is the second particular in the first generall part of these words Christs Calling and Commission He came in the name of the Lord Christ is said to come in the name of the Lord. 1. In respect of Ordination Christ as Mediator was appointed of old to minister salvation to Gods chosen fore-ordained saith Saint Peter before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times A lambe slaine from the foundation of the world saith Saint John slaine from the foundation of the world in the eternall preordination of God in the promise of the seed of woman to breake the serpents head in the legall sacrifices in the faith of the fathers and in the sufferings of his members in whose sufferings Christ suffered their sufferings then shadowing Christs suffering to come 2. In respect of preparation Christ as Man and Mediator is prepared and furnished with all abilities to execute and accomplish his office it pleased the Father saith Paul that in him should all fulnesse dwell fulnesse of wisedome power grace righteousnesse and worth to minister to his Church whatsoever appertained to the salvation welfare or peace thereof he having the Spirit poured out upon him above measure 3. In respect of Calling designation and investiture into his office The Lord saith Christ as Mediator hath called me from the wombe from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name and I
over us to be honourably entertained by us Saint Luke as of a Physitian sent to heale us as of a ransomer sent to free us and to restore spirituall liberty to us And Saint Paul saith plainly When the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his sonne made of a woman made under the Law to redeeme them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of sons and in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily and he filleth all in all And the authority calling preparation and fulnesse of Christs abilities to save us is very manifest 1. In regard of the power communicated unto Christ as Mediator All power both in heaven and in earth is given unto him power of vivification he quickneth whom he will as he raised Lazarus out of the grave power of illumination he openeth and no man shutteth as he opened the eyes of him that was borne blind power of sanctification he purgeth away all sinne as he cleansed the leprosie from the uncleane power of remission as Lord and King he forgiveth sinne he blotteth out sinne as the Sun the cloud power of pacification as he appeased the winds and waters power of administration as the high Steward of Gods family the supreme Pilot over the ship which is the Church of God as the great Centurion over the Lords army and chiefe Justice in Gods Kingdome power of subiugation casting downe and breaking in pieces all opposing forces as the stone out of the mountaines burst Nebuchadnezzars Image power of protection and sustentation in all troubles as Noahs Arke sustained him in the deluge and Christ safe guarded the three children in the fiery furnace The miraculous and mighty acts of Christs power are cleare and manifest declarations of his calling and commission and of his ability to minister salvation 2. In regard of Christs exaltationâ— He is exalted above all principalities he is exalted above all the common creatures as the Creator and workman above the worke as the Lord above his lowest servants he is exalted above all Angels as the Prince above the Nobles as the son above the attendants he is exalted above all devils as the Conquerour above the captives he is exalted above all the Saints of God as the head above the members as the King above the subjects as the bridegroome above the bride He is set at the right hand of God an exaltation whereof no meere creature is capable Christs Majesty dignity glory and exaltation doth even infinitely surpasse the dignity and honour of man and Angell He is made higher then the heavens others ascend into heaven have their dwelling in heaven but Christ is made higher then the heavens being God and man in one person having an exaltation above all Saints and Angels the inhabitants of heaven all that is in heaven and in the earth being put under him Christs sitting in his Fathers throne Christs exaltation above all creatures fully declared his ability to save his chosen from all evils 3. In regard of Christs impletion and filling of all He ascended farre above all heavens that he might fill all things Christ filleth all things with his power and common and generall operation as the Sunne fils all the earth with his influence with his absolute authority and dominion as a King fils his kingdome with his common gifts and mercies as the Master of the house fils all the persons of the house Christ filleth the Devils and damned men with his justice wrath vengeance but he filleth his Church and children with his ordinances as a teacher fils his schoole with books and rules of instruction as a nurse fils the childe with her breasts and the Master of the feast his guests with food these he filleth with knowledge as the Sun the aire with light with spirituall life sence and motion and all heavenly graces as the head the members as the root the branches as the Sun the starres sweet and comfortable excellent and gracious is that fulnesse which Christ ministers to his members and by his filling of his faithfull servants he verefies his Fathers mission and preparation of him to accomplish mans salvation 4. In regard of his proposing of his Fathers glory and referring all to his Fathers praise as the supreme and ultimate end of all his service and undertakings an ingenuous son preferres his fathers honour above his owne honour a good servant his Masters profit above his owne profit a loyall Embassador the Kings will message advantage and renowne above his owne will errant benefit or credit Christ as Mediator was both a sonne a servant and Gods great Embassador preferring his fathers will pleasure and praise above his owne I seeke not mine owne will faith Christ but the will of him that sent me and againe he sought not his owne glory but the glory of him that sent him and to the father Christ thus speakes of himselfe I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the worke which thou gavest me He glorified his father on earth by declaring his fathers will and counsell by making his father appeare glorious in the eyes of the people by ascribing all his miraculous and mighty works to his fathers power by fulfilling his Law by his obedience by satisfying his fathers justice by his sufferings by gathering home the soules of men to God his Father to know his Fathers will to adore his Fathers name to obey his Fathers precepts to beleeve his Fathers promises to love his Fathers truth to glorifie his â—athers name and every way to conforme themselves and their doings to his Fathers testimonies and by his full intendment and glorious accomplishment of his Fathers honour he compleatly demonstrated his ordination and preparation his comming in the name of his Father to be mans Saviour CHAP. XIII IN this with open face may all men behold and see Gods dispensation of salvation unto man by Christ his Sonne Christ is come in his Fathers name ordained prepared most absolutely and compleatly furnished to communicate salvation to the Lords chosen others come in the name of the Lord to procure and promote the salvation of man instrumentally ministerially subordinately dependantly but Christ is come in his fathers name to give salvation unto man absolutely and independantly by his owne power meritoriously by his owne worth and merit efficiently by the efficacions and mighty worke of his owne Spirit fully and everlastingly being able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him the Lord Jesus is the efficient and meritorious cause spring and fountaine of mans salvation There is no other name given under heaven wher by man can be saved but onely the name of Christ The name of the creature is a name of weaknesse emptinesse unworthinesse the name of mans righteousnesse is a name of many pollutions the name of mans worke and services is a name of debt and manifold
imperfections the name of birth of wealth of art of strength and humane excellencies are a name of no esteeme with God for God is no respector of persons None of these names have wisedome to open the mystery of mans salvation worth to satisfie Gods justice or ability to dissolve the works of Satan or sanctifie the soules of men Christ alone communicates salvation to the Lords people the Arke was the only place of safety to Noah from the deluge Christ is the onely safeguard of the soule of man from the deluge of destruction all that were out of the Arke perished in the waters there is no salvation to them that are out of Christ Jesus Christ is the head and root enlivining man The body of Lazarus lay corporally dead till Christ raised it the soule of man lies spiritually dead untill Christ quickens it Christ is the Sunne enlightening man the world without the Sun is in darknesse the soule without Christ is in blindnesse none of the Magitians and wise men onely Joseph was able to interpret Pharaohs dreame Neither man nor Angell but Christ onely hath revealed his fathers will and counsell touching mans salvation Christ is the Conquerour that vanquisheth the adversaries of mans peace all Israel stood trembling onely David overthrew the great Goliah Christ through death destroyed the Devill that had the power of death and delivered them who through feare of death were all their life time subject to bondage Christ is the surety that payes mans debt he gave himselfe a ransome for man whom all the world could not redeeme Christ is the fountaine purging the sinne of mans soule none of the rivers of Damascus only Jordan cleansed the leprosie of of Naaman neither man nor Angell only the Lord Jesus can purge away mans uncleannesse Christs righteousnesse is the roabe which covers us and makes us appeare just in Gods presence Jacob obtained the blessing not in his owne but in his elder brothers apparell Man is accepted of God obtaines the blessing of pardon and peace not through his owne but through the righteousnesse of Christ Christ is the treasure and store-house which filleth man all the garners in the land of Egypt were empty onely Joseph had provision for them all the soules of men are empty only Christ filleth all in all Christ is the Prince of mans peace and Authour of mans reconciliation with God Iosephs brethren being shepheards were an abomination to the Egyptians but by Iosephs meanes they came nigh to Pharaoh and found favour with him Man by reason of his sinne is an abomination to the Lord but through Christ he commeth nigh to God and finds sweet and gracious acceptance of God and thus as in a glasse we see all the causes of mans salvation and eternall happinesse derived and flowing from and through Christ Iesus God ministring all his fulnesse unto man by Christ and accepting man and all his holy service in Christ he that looks beside or beyond Christ for salvation looks beyond the fountaine for water to refresh him beyond the Sunne for light to guide him and beyond the rocke for a foundation to support him he that layes not firme and sure hold on Christ never meets with sweet with sure and everlasting peace he that truly embraceth Christ may undoubtedly perswade himselfe of his salvation he hath a guide of infinite wisedome to direct him a rocke of invincible strength to sustaine him a rich and royall roabe of absolute purity to cloath and cover him a Conquerour of insuperable power to subdue all that doth oppose him an Advocate or never failing intercession to take off all the accusations which are brought against him and a fiery Charet to carry him through all difficulties to sweet and everlasting rest in the highest heavens Christs comming in his Fathers name Christs authority and ability to minister salvation makes manifest their folly and vanity their pride and insolency who leaving Christ and the rules which he hath given the lawes of divine worship which he hath prescribed betake themselves to humane traditions and selfe-inventions teaching and receiving for doctrines the commandements of men a practise 1. very derogatory to the Authority and dominion of Christ who is the King of the Church whose voice alone ought to be heard in the Church of God who is set over the house of God and ought to be observed as the Lord and Master of the house by the whole family of faith and houshold of God who is exalted above the Church as the head above the members as the husband above the Spouse Doth not a Subjects receiving of Lawes from a forraine Prince much derogate from the authority of his owne Soveraigne Doth not a servants receiving direction from another man in his service annihilate his Masters jurisdiction Doth not a wives conforming her to the prescription of a stranger obscure and darken and even disanull the authority of her husband And what else doe the embracers of forraine and strange inventions but deny and disanull the jurisdiction and dominion of Christ Doth not our Saviour say to such You have made the Commandement of God of none effect through your traditions The observation of mens devices in Gods service is a transgression of Gods precepts He that thinks to honour and please God by thrusting upon God his owne devises in stead of honouring and pleasing him doth very highly dishonour and provoke him No man doth further honour Christ then he conformes himselfe to the Law and rule of Christ 2. This also argues much pride and presumption in man who but a proud Subject will take upon him to give a Law to his Soveraigne how he shall be obeyed who but an insolent servant will take upon him to prescribe to his Lord and Master how he shall be served and who but a proud soule durst take upon him to give a Law unto his God how he shall be adored who but the great Master of humane traditions sitteth in the Temple of God as God and exalts himselfe above all that is called God The most superstitious are the proudest of all persons their very humility is ambition who have a spirit of superstition overswaying them they adore themselves and not Christ who neglect the rule which Christ hath given and worship after their owne invention His servant man is to whom he obeyes he that worships according to a rule of his owne framing serves himselfe and not God instead of obeying God he becomes a Law-giver unto God This doth much impeach and disparage the perfection of Christs and the sufficiency of the Scriptures If there be light enough in the Sunne what needs a candle If all the treasures of wisedome be hidden in Christ and his word able to make man wise unto salvation what need or use in this behalfe of mans invention addition ever supposeth imperfection 4. This is very perillous to the soules of men He that leaves Christ and his word and
of Christs authority and divine abilities doth presse upon us is a duty of Dependance Christ is no withered reed no sandy foundation no weake poore and empty person but one endowed with all power and authority with all abilities therefore depend upon him cleave to him when you are in darknesse and have no light Trust in the name in the power truth faithfulnesse and al-sufficiency of the Lord Christ is a hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest as rivers of waters in a dry place as the shadow of a great rocke in a weary land Christ is a comforter in all sorrowes a helper at all needs a deliverer in all distresses a counsellor in all doubts and a supply in all wants therefore stay upon the Lord He can command a deliverance for Jacob when there is no deliverer as he commanded the stormy tempest and restored a calme to the Disciples He can support man when he is ready to sinke as he supported Peter sinking in the water he can provide as he made provision for the Disciples attending him and having nothing to eat as he prepared a Well for Hagar when her bottle was empty he can comfort when all the starres of consolation are set he can give light in darknesse as he gave Sampson honey out of the Lyon therefore looke unto Christ fasten the eyes of your faith upon him commit your selves to him trust your selves with him and you shall see in due season a ministration of whatsoever is behovefull A third duty whereunto this presseth us is a duty of Love to Christ In Christ is the fulnes of all abilities whatsoever is worthy of love is in Christ in the highest perfection therefore this should much endeare Christ to man and make him very amiable and glorious in the eyes of man He indeed is worthy of all love he is the King that rules over us the guide that leads us the shepheard which watcheth over and feeds us the ransomer that redeemes us the builder which new makes us the Captaine that overcomes for us the teacher that instructeth us the treasury that enricheth us and the husband who betrotheth himselfe unto us therefore he should be in our eye the fairest of ten thousand our soules should be sicke of love towards him and in our love we should prostrate our selves and all that is ours under him A fourth duty whereunto this doth presse us is a duty of Acquiescence in Christ and contentation with Christ in Christ are all divine abilities he that hath Christ hath all he that hath the Sunne hath all light he that hath the fountaine hath all water he that hath Christ may say as Jacob did I have enough Elkanâ—h gave to Hanna a worthy portion he hath the choisest portion to whom God gives Christ he that possesseth most of Christ hath the richest the sweetest the most noble and sure possession he hath no cause to complaine of want who hath the fruition of Christ the soule which enjoyeth Christ as his King as his counsellor as his friend as his treasure as his bridegroome as his shield and fountaine hath the highest honour the choisest wisedome the sweetest comfort the best riches the most heart-reviving love the surest defence and the chiefest and most abiding and soule-contenting fulnesse Of all the gifts of God Christ is the worthiest of all the estates of men theirs is the sweetest and most comfortable who have Christ for their possession CHAP. XIV THe second generall part in these words is a benediction uttered by the Ministers of the Lord We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord wherein we have 1. the parties blessing the Ministers of the Lord we who are called of God to this sacred function who are appointed to make prayer and supplication for you to pronounce a blessing upon you Holy and faithfull Ministers are the instrumentall causes of great blessings to Gods Church and servants 2. here is their Act an act of blessing We have blessed Ministers blesse the people sometime by way of vote and exoptation prayer and supplication sometime by way of vocall pronunciation pronouncing good things in the name of God upon them sometime by way of prophecye and prediction foretelling great blessings to come sometime by way of doctrine and instruction They declare and open the blessings which God hath prepared for them and the Lord by them as by his ministeriall instruments communicates his grace and blessing to the people It must be the care of Ministers so to demeane themselves in their function that they prove a blessing to the people 3. Here is the Obiect or parties blessed You you to whom Christs comming is acceptable you who wish well to Christs kingdome you who readily endeavour the exaltation of Christs name and Gospell we have blessed you The labours of Gods Ministers prove a blessing onely to such people as reioyce in and endeavour the advancement of the Gospell 4 Here is the place from whence they blessed the people out of the house of the Lord the place of Gods publike worship where his Saints are assembled his ordinances sincerely handled his name invocated his word preached and religious duties celebrated God useth to dispense his spirituall blessings in the publike and sacred assemblies From all these particulars knit together we may gather That God by his holy and faithfull Ministers dispenseth every great sweet and heavenly blessing to his Church and servants The Lord by Joseph brought great prosperity to the house of Pharaoh he blessed the Egyptians house for Josephs sake the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and in the field the Lord by the presence and labours of his Ministers blesseth his Church and servants his blessing is upon their soules and upon their bodies upon all their labours and upon all their possessions the estate and persons the undertaking and possessions of men are made very prosperous through the prayer and labours of Gods Ministers This was prophecyed by the mouth of Esay in that day in the day of the Gospell when salvation shall be preached and published in and through Christ There shall be an Altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord an Altar and a pillar the worship of God shall be erected the word preached the Sacraments administred Christ the true Christians Altar and pillar shall be clearly manifested his name published his kingdome established his truth propagated among the people of Israel Egypt and Assyria whom the Lord of Hosts shall blesse saying blessed be Egypt my people and Assyria the worke of my hands and Israel mine inheritance There is the blessing attendant on the Ministery of the Gospell a blessing of regeneration renovation remission and sweet reconciliation with God in Christ they are the choisest and best blessings which God communicates
of old was upon Mount Gerazim the blessing is now upon the Gospell He that savingly entertaines the Gospell enjoyes a most blessed condition a condition of divine and heavenly wisedome Gods Ministers feed him with knowledge and understanding and make him wise unto salvation a condition of holinesse and sanctification the ministery of the word doth wash him like water and purifie him like fire a condition of liberty and freedome Moses freed Israel from Pharaohs bondage Gods Minister frees the soules of his children from the servitude of Satan the world and their owne corruption the word makes them free from ignorance in their understandings from perversenesse in their wils from vanity in their thoughts from infidelity servile feare worldly love and carnall joy in their affections the word makes them free to know God as the cleare eye is free to see the Sunne to receive Christ as the strong and open hand is free to receive a gift to love Christ as the bride hath an open and enlarged heart to love the bridegroome to attend Gods Ordinances to run the way of Gods Commandements as he whose feet and ankle-bones received strength by the ministery of Peter was free to stand and leap and walke and enter into the Temple and free to move and come to God by faith and love and joy as the rivers are free to move and flow unto the sea a condition of honour and exaltation the Gospell making them Sonnes of God by regeneration the friends of God by love the members of Christ by faith and heires annexed with Christ for their present title to and future participation of the same inheritance with Christ Jesus a condition of fulnesse and satisfaction they are satisfied with the goodnesse of Gods house the Gospell leads them unto Christ the Sunne in whom is all light the tree on whom growes all fruit the fountaine from whom flowes all refreshment the rocke in whom is all strength the pearle in whom is all worth and the Paradise in whom is all pleasure and peace very sweet and wonderfull gracious and overflowing are the comforts and contentments derived from Christ to Gods children under their enjoyment of the Gospell Lastly a condition of permanency and duration though the grasse wither and the flower fade yet the word of the Lord abideth for ever Though worldly fulnesse change like the Moone and vanish like a vapor and wither like the flower and the grasse yet the estate of grace into which men are called by Gods Ministers is an estate of firme and sure continuance they are sonnes abiding alway in their fathers house they are trees planted by the water side never withering they are houses built upon the rocke never sinking their graces like the light shine more and more to the day of their perfection the excellency of their estate who enjoy and make best use of the Gospell abundantly declares Gods dispensation of very great sweet and heavenly blessings by the labours of his Ministers CHAP. XV THe Lords dispensing of sweet and heavenly blessings unto man by the labours of his holy and faithfull Ministers shewes what the estate and condition of man is without the Lords Ministers even an estate of woes of myseries and curses Mans condition without the ministery of the Gospell is very wretched and miserable an estate of death without spirituall life the earth without the Sunne is but a dead and fruitlesse lump the soule without the Sunne of Righteousnesse shining in the Gospell is dead in sinnes and trespasses a tree twice dead oncce by originall corruption and secondly by actuall transgression and plucked up by the roots wholly separate from all the meanes of life he that hath not the Sonne externally in the Gospell internally in his heart ministerially in his word and efficiently in his worke of grace he hath not life Such are farre from the life of grace and sanctification as are strangers to Christ in his Gospell The woman of Shunems sonne remained dead according to the body till the Prophet came and raised him the soule of man continues dead in respect of the inward man untill the Minister of the Lord comes to quicken him 2. An estate of darknesse Man without the ministery of the word is in darknesse and the shadow of death a darke body without an eye a darke house without a Lamp The soules clearest light is nothing else but darknesse as long as the Gospell doth not shine into it to irradiate and enlighten it There was once no light in all the land of Egypt onely the children of Israel had light in their dwellings there is no spirituall and heavenly light in all the world but among Gods Israel there is light only in their dwellings who enjoy the Gospell In Judah is God knowne and his name is great in Israel God is truly and savingly knowne only by that people who enjoy the light of the Gospell 3. An estate of servitude and bondage Israel continued under hard bondage untill Moses and Aaron came to deliver them untill the Lord raised a fiery pillar to conduct them out of Egypt unto Canaan Man abides under the hard bondage of Satan and his owne corruption untill the Lord sends his Minister to free him and sets up the fiery pillar of his word to lead him out of this servile and slavish condition Man without the Gospell is in prison and hath no key to open it he is taken captive and hath no weapon to resist his enemy to procure his freedome he is manacled with many fetters and hath no hammer to dissolve and loose them Mans condition without the ministery of the Gospell is very base and servile When and where the Gospell shineth then and there as the Prophet speaketh The eyes of the blind are opened the prisoners are brought out from the prison and they that sit in darknesse out of the prison-house 4. An estate of emptinesse and barrennesse The field without the dew is unfruitfull the soule without the dew of divine and heavenly doctrine distilling thereupon beares no good fruit there is no lawfull conception without an husband all the fruit of the soule not espoused to Christ by the Gospell is illegitimate and a very abomination there is no reaping where is no sowing The soule which is not sowne with the seed of the word yeelds no harvest of grace they are barren ground nigh to burning who are strangers to the Gospell 5. An estate of pollution and uncleanesse The house without the besome is overspread with slime and cobwebs Naaman continued leprous untill he went seven times into Jordan and washed the Temple was a den of theeves till Christ came with his whip and drove them out the heart of man is an unclean house without the besome of the word sweeping it the soule of man is oversread with the lothsome leprosie of sin untill he bathe himselfe in the Jordan of
it lasteth and as the joy of the Merchant in his rich treasure ceaseth while the violent storme continueth Though Gods children have a rich treasure of grace a blessed portion of spirituall wealth within them yet the joy hereof is much abated for the present by reason of Satans violent temptation Gods children through the force and fury of the assault of Satan are somtimes disabled to make a comfortable use of the gifts they have received 4. This ariseth from the sinfulnesse and great impieties which they see in others among whom they live The Lords people have matter of sorrow and humiliation ministred to them not onely from their owne sinnes but also from the sins of other people they see the name of God is dishonoured the Christian profession is disgraced the mouth of the common adversary is opened the welfare of the Church is hazarded the removall of the Gospell is threatened and many punishments are inflicted by the exorbitancies of many living within the Pale of the Church and for this they are much grieved and very deeply humbled their righteous soule with Lot is vexed from day to day with their unlawfull deeds in seeing and hearing and their eyes with David gush out with rivers of teares because men keep not the Law of God and with the marked ones in Ezekiel they sigh and cry for all the abominations which are done in the Family City Congregation and Kingdome whereof they are members they are unworthy the name of Christians who sorrow not for other mens impieties 5. This ariseth from their prevision preconsideration and foresight of future calamities Noah foresaw the comming of the floud and prepared an Arke Joseph foresaw the comming of the famine and accordingly made preparation the skilfull Mariners foresee the storme and betake themselves unto the haven The wise man saith Solomon foreseeth the evill and hideth himselfe humbleth himselfe addresseth himselfe to God makes his peace with God and hides himselfe with the Lord Be mercifull unto me O God be mercifull unto me saith the Psalmist for my soule trusteth in thee yea in the shadow of thy wings will I hide my selfe untill these calamities be over-past He saw the rage of the adversary against him their intendment of evill to him their conspiracy and determination to take his life from him he saw the absence of all humane help to assist him and therefore he makes his petition unto God humbles himselfe before him and as the chickens betake themselves to the wings of the Hen to hide them from the tempest raine wind and cold comming upon them So did the Psalmist betake himselfe to the Lord to the wisedome power truth and goodnesse of God as to the wings of protection the clearer discerning men have of incumbent evils the more effectually they apply themselves to God for future refuge Mens ignorance and inconsideratenesse of future judgements makes them obstinate in present impieties taking no notice of the evill of sinne untill the evill of punishment come upon them The simple saith Solomon passe on and are punished but good men whose soules are sanctified whose eyes are opened see the raine of Gods displeasure afar off in the clouds and hide themselves from it Elijah seeing a little cloud arising out of the Sea like a mans hand bid his servant goe up and say to Ahab prepare thy charet and get thee downe that the raine stop thee not and Ahab rode and went to Jezreel The children of God discerning the wrath of God afar off when it is but a little even in the first appearance prepare themselves by prayers and teares confession contrition and humiliation and make all hast to draw nigh to God that they may be safe with the Lord when the cloud of Gods anger shall raine upon the earth When I heard saith Habakuk the threatenings of the Lord the dreadfull judgements the great destruction and grievous desolation which God had appointed to bring upon the people what then how was he affected with the hearing of this My belly saith he trembled my lips quivered at the voice rottennesse entred into my bones and I trembled in my selfe that I might rest in the day of trouble when he commeth up unto the people he will invade them with his troupes Here is a declaration of his great sorrow and humiliation at the hearing and foreseeing of a judgement yet to come and here is the reason why he did it and the fruit arising from it even rest in the day of trouble sweet and sure acquiescence in God gracious and mighty protection under God when the trouble foreseene should come Although the fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the vines the labour of the Olive shall faile and the fields shall yeeld no meat the flocke shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no heard in the stals There is the great desolation and devastation of the land all this notwithstanding the Prophet having humbled himselfe is confident of comfort in this great distresse Yet saith he I will reioyce in the Lord I will ioy in the God of my salvation the Lord is my strength my helper my shield my comforter he shall make my feet like Hinds feet and he will make me to walke upon mine high places making me secure and safe comfortable and cheerfull in the day of trouble Unfained humiliation in the dayes of peace ministers great comfort and confidence in the houre of distresse He that sees the evill afar off and is humbled shall have comfort when the evill commeth 6. This ariseth from the distresse which Gods children see upon the Church of Christ they say not of the Church as Cain did of Abâ— am I my brothers am I the Churches Keeper they answer not the Church complaining in her afflictions as sometimes the Priests and Elders answered Judas in his anguish what is that to us see thou to that but Gods children have a sympathy and fellow-feeling of the troubles of their brethren they are not of their number who are at ease in Sion eating the Calfes of the stall drinking their wine in bowles c. but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph But they like the members in the body naturall if one member suffer all the members suffer with it weeping with them that weep remembring them that are in bonds us bound with them and them which suffer adversity as being themselves in the body Such is their love to the Church of Christ such is their desire after and pleasure in the Churches welfare such is their coniunction with the Church and their apprehension of the estate of the Church that the Churches miseries are their sorrowes CHAP. XXVI THe consideration of Christs living in all Gods children may give us just occasion to examine our selves and to get good and cleare evidence of Christs living in our soules This is the crowne and comfort of
other people have besides them 7. In respect of unity A common-wealth consisting of many particular persons makes but one politicke body All true beleevers are but one mysticall body in Christ therefore the Church is called One. My beloved saith Christ is one and there is one body and one spirit saith the Apostle one Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and Father of us all The Church is of one Lord by one Baptisme into one mysticall body under one head ruled by one spirit bound with one bond of hope and love professing one faith and called with one Calling to one heavenly Kingdome built upon the foundation of one Doctrine As one soule doth quicken the many members of the body so the Spirit doth animate and enliven the whole Church As in one Pomegranate there are many kernels within one rinde so doth one Church containe innumerable people through the unity of faith having one Father regenerating them one spirit enlivening them one light guiding them one spirituall food nourishing them one Law binding them and one Head ruling the in they are most sweetly and entirely one among themselves CHAP. IX Perswading Subiection under one Head Submission to one Law and unity between our selves THe Church and faithfull people of Christ must learne from hence Subjection under one Head Submission under one Law and unity between themselves 1. Subiection under one Head Christ To Christ is all power given both in Heaven and in Earth and to him must all be Subject His dominion is from sea to sea an I from the river to the ends of the earth all Kings must fall downe before him and all Nations must serve him To him the Church must be subject spiritually their obedience must arise from a principle of grace they must worship him in spirit and in truth To him they must be subject heartily not in shew but in truth obeying from the heart root that forme of Doctrine which Christ hath delivered to them To him they must be subject voluntarily without compulsion they must be a willing people his Law must be in their hearts and they must delight to doe his will To him they must subject themselves universally in respect of the rule they must have respect unto all the Commandements as Noah in building the Arke had an eye to the whole patterne which was set before him and in respect of the whole man all the faculties of the soule and all the members of the body must be obedient to him as the Sun Moone and eleven Starres did obeysance to Joseph in his vision Christ must be glorified both in our body and in our spirit To Christ we must be constantly subject our hearts must be inclined to performe his statutes alway even unto the end Christ is the Head and we the members Christ is the shepheard and we the slocke Christ is the husband and we the Spouse and as all the members are fully subject to the head the slocke readily follows the voice of the shepheard and the Spouse is lovingly subject to the Bridegroome so must we be fully freely and lovingly obedient unto Christ 2. This teacheth Submission unto one Law The Church is one mysticall common-wealth and must be subject unto one Law of Christ All that builded the Arke built by one patterne The whole Church of Christ hath one patterne according to which they must build their faith and their love even the whole Fabricke of their worship and service The ship hath one compasse by which it roweth and one Pilate by which it is guided The Church is the ship the Word the Compasse and Christ the Pilate by Christ and his Word must the whole Church of God be ordered and ruled The Word of God is a sure word to which we must give heed as to a light that shineth in a darke place The Law of the Lord is perfect it needs no addition as the Sun needs not the help of any candle to increase his light in shining on them that travell The Scriptures are a compleate and perfect Schoole profitable for Doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works God gave Moses a perfect patterne for the building of the Tabernacle without addition or dimunution Gods word is a perfect patterne comprising the whole frame of mans conversation It is Gods prerogative to prescribe and mans duty to conforme Ye shall not adde unto the word Which I command you saith the Lord neither shall you diminish ought from it that you may keep the Commandements of the Lord your God which I command All other Doctrines are darknesse and not light they cannot guide us they are false plants of mans and not of Gods planting they beare no good fruit to feed us and God the great Husbandman of the vineyard will plucke them up they are sand he that builds upon them sinks they corrupt and adulterate the Doctrine and Religion of Christ as the tares the wheate as the evill herbe the Prophets pot Mans service is no service of Christ if it receive not it's rule from Christ in vaine saith Christ doe ye worship me teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men He that mingles humane devices with his religious duties makes it a humane and no divine service As the Elements once mingled in a compound body doe lose their proper formes so Religions mingled with humane traditions and made compounding parts of a mixed worship and service doe lose their formes and cease to be religious in Gods account As silver mingled with brasse doth lose the nature and name of silver and currant coyne and will not passe with men the touchstone discovers it and the skilfull Goldsmith rejects it Thus the worship of God mixed with the dresse of mans invention loseth both the name and nature of true worship The word discovers it to be counterfeit and God doth not regard it nor the performers of it Of such therefore the Prophet saith reprobate silver shall men call them because the Lord hath reiected them This alienates from Christ it divides the heart and places the feare trust love and joy of the soule upon some forraine thing some Idoll of mans devising A woman that embrace a stranger with her husband in her bosome and mingles strangers with her husband is no more a chaste and loving wife her heart is divided and she is become an adulteresse The mingling of forraine inventions with Christs precepts in his services is in Gods interpretation spirituall fornication their hearts are gone from Christ their husband they are taken up with strange lovers To this purpose is that of the Prophet Esay the faithfull City is become an harlot and what other but this was Judah's whoredome for which the Lord upbraideth her by the Prophet saying thou hast played the harlot with many Lovers thou hast embraced many forreigne doctrines thou hast
King Whence observe That All Prophane and carnall persons are aliens to the true Church of Christ and all the spirituall priviledges therof The Lepers under the Law were excluded the camp separated from the society of cleane persons shewing the effect of the Law in sinners which driveth them from the communion of God and his people till by repentance and faith they come unto Christ and also figuring the putting and excluding of all uncleane sinners from the Church of Christ and the priviledges thereof according to the charge of the Apostle put away from among your selves that wicked person Adam eating the forbidden fruit was debarr'd from the Tree of Life and shut out of the Garden of Eden The posterity of Adam feedâ—ng upon the forbidden fruit of sinne making a trade and practise of sinne are excluded from Christ the true Tree of Life and shut out of the Church of Christ the inclosed Garden of which Christ is the Keeper and dresser Hence prophane men living within the pale of the Church are likened to chaffe mingled among the wheate in the floore which though it be among the wheate yet it is not of the wheate To a man at the wedding feast without a wedding garment who though he was among the guests yet he was not of the number of the true and welcome guests and therefore was cast out as having of right no place there and to thornes and bryars which thouâ—h they sometime grow within the Orchard yet are not Trees of the Orchard not planted watered and manured by the Keeper of the Orchard as other Trees are And for this the Church is stiled a Garden inclosed in respect of Gods protection and preservation of her in respect of her separation from them that are prophane and carnall by grace and holy calling and for the Churches care and vigilancy that no enemies invade her that no uncleane thing or vitious persons pollute and defile her And for this cause the Church is tearmed a chaste virgin for her internall and externall purity for her holy chastity for her fidelity and fervent love to her husband Christ for her alienation from the world from all idolatry and false worship and for her separation and distinction from all that pollute and defile themselves with Idols the world or any carnall lusts And the Church is charged to preserve and keep her selfe from all intimate and familiar communion with them that are openly scandalous and uncleane I have written unto you saith Saint Paul not to keep company If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous or an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with such a one no not to eat not familiarly and friendly to converse He forbids not the exercise of the necessary offices of humanity and charity towards them but the having of intimate communion with them And if any man saith the Apostle to the Thessalonians obey not our Word by this Epistle but be rebellious and obstinate against the holy and wholsome Doctrine delivered note that man and have no company with him Whereby we see that the Lord denyes them that are obstinate and carnall communion with such as are truly holy and spirituall there can be no sweet and seemly fellowship between common harlots and chaste virgins What fellowship saith Paul hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse and what communion hath light with darknesse Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sonnes and daughters Carnall men are not spirituall brethren to them that are Gods children they are not begotten of the same heavenly parent they are not united to the same spirituall head they are not endowed with the same gracious qualities and therefore are aliens to Gods sonnes and daughters And without saith Christ are doggs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murtherers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lye these are without without the number of Gods holy and sanctified Church and people without the Prerogatives granted to Gods gracious children without the company of the Citizens of the new Jerusalem here and without glory and happinesse hereafter and of such S. John saith expresly however they have a place within the Church yet they are not of the Church They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had beene of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us CHAP. XII Laying downe the grounds of carnall mans alienation from the true church of Christ THe alienation of profane men from the true Church of Christ is manifest 1. By their alienation from the Head of the Church they are strangers to Christ they hold not the Head saith the Apostle from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the encrease of God they hold not Christ but are strangers to the life of Christ as withered branches are strangers to the life of the root Christ doth not live in them they are strangers to the knowledge of Christ as blind men are strangers to the light of the Sunne the light shineth in the darknesse but the darknesse comprehendeth it not the Gospell is hidden to them they are strangers to the dominion of Christ he doth not reigne spiritually within them though they professe they know Christ yet they be reprobate and disobedient to every good worke they are strangers to the holy and gracious presence of Christ Christ doth not dwell in their hearts by Faith possessing protecting aâ—d beautifying then soules as a dweller his house directing and guiding their goings to the haven of peace as a Pilot his Ship they are strangers to the love of Christ they are not espoused to him as a chast Virgin to the operation of Christ he is not unto them as a Refiners fire and Fullers sope purifying them as gold and silver to offer unto the Lord an offering of Righteousnesse and also to the fullnesse of Christ he is a sealed well of whose waters their soules drinke not though they live within the pale of the Church and come to the ordinaâ—ces of Christ yet as Salomon spake in another case Of the way of a Ship in the Sea of an Eagle in the Ayre and of a Serpent upon a stone so â—â—â—y we say of the way of Christ in his ordinances with the soules of carnall men it leaveth no track behind it worketh no change imprints no character of holinesse they still continue strangers to Christ and having no communion with the Head they are farre from fellowship with the Members 2. By their being dâ—stitute of the Seed of the Church the Church of Christ is begotten of a holy Seed the word of God and vertue of
man is destitute both of faith and of a godly life his faith like Jeroboams hand is withered he cannot reach it forth to apprehend Christ and the promise of life in Christ Though carnall man live within the pale of the Church and come to the House and Table of the Lord yet like him in the Parable that came to the wedding feast without a wedding garment he hath not put on Christ Christs righteousnesse doth not cloathe him and therefore is an unwelcome guest the dainties there provided doe neither profit him nor belong unto him his faith is a dead faith it doth not purifie him it makes him not victorious over Satan and the world he continues as a dead man in the house having no claime nor title to the things of the house The foolish Virgins wanting oyle in their lamps were not acknowledged by Christ he did not open to them he gave them no admission Profession without faith and obedience gives no interest in Christ nor finds any acceptance with Christ he that breakes the conditions of the covenant can justly claime nothing by the covenant The covenant from which prophane men are excluded is the Covenant of grace by which God appointeth a heavenly inheritance to his adopted children through the death of his Sonne Jesus Christ interveening The matter of this covenant is the promise of God to become our God in Christ and the promise of man to beleeve in God through Christ and to walke with God in newnesse of life The forme of this covenant consisteth in a mutuall obligation of God to man and of man to God The Object of this covenant is properly the elect effectually called it is offered to all to whom the Gospell is preached the elect alone have the true and comfortable fruition of it The moving cause of this covenant is the meere mercy and free favour of God the impulsive cause hereof is the merit of Christ by whose intercession alone all the elect are reconciled unto God the finall cause is the glory of God and the salvation of his chosen the Adiunct of it is perpetuity an everlasting covenant a covenant of wedlocke which never shall be ended And to this covenant all corrupt and carnall men as long as they continue such are strangers they are strangers to the comfortable and experimentall knowledge of it they doe not know themselves reconciled unto God in Christ Jesus they are strangers to the matter of it they doe not know God to be their God their treasure their crowne and comforter neither doe they know themselves to be Gods peculiar people by a lively faith in God by fervent love towards God by holy and humble walking and gracious communion with God nor by Christian application of themselves with all their might to the service of God and strangers they are to the fruits and effects of the covenant mentioned by the Prophet Ieremy as inscription of the Law in their hearts illumination of their understandings remission of their sinnes holy and constant feare not to offend God stedfast perseverance in the wayes of God and divine dispensation of all things to worke for the best unto them and thus they are very unhappy strangers to the covenants of promise CHAP. XVI Displaying the misery and uncomfortablenesse of Mans estate without the Covenant IN this is very fully opened the misery and uncomfortablenesse of every corrupt and carnall mans estate Mans sole and onely hope and expectation of comfort is from the free and gracious Promise of God in Christ he hath no other staffe to sustaine him no other Star to send forth any glimpse of consolation to him no other well from whence to draw any water of refreshment yet even from this is the carnall man excluded he hath no interest in this covenant and having no interest in this covenant He is 1. A stranger to Christ and to that salvation which cometh by Christ Christ saveth onely such as come within the covenant the Promise of salvation by Christ is to them whom God shall call from death to life from darknesse to light from bondage to liberty and from uncleannesse to holinesse according to that of the Lord by the Prophet to our Saviour I the Lord have called thee to the Office of a Mediatour in righteousnesse my Justice moving me to fulfill my gracious Promise I will hold thine hand I will helpe thee I will minister strength unto thee to fulfill this office I will keepe thee from suffering untill the time appointed and in thy suffering that thou despaire not and give thee for a Covenant a Mediatour of the people and a light a Saviour to the Gentiles to open the blind eyes to enlighten their understandings by the preaching of the Gospell to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darknesse from the prison-house to set mine elect free from the power of Satan dominion of sin and feare of Hell Now carnall men who are without the covenant have not Christ a Mediatour reconciling them to God an enlightner of their understandings nor a restorer of their soules to spirituall freedome Christ is not unto them life quickning them a Rocke supporting them Righteousnesse cloathing them a Husband marrying them and a Fountaine filling them but they are without Christ as a House without a Foundation as Members without a Head as Captives wiâ—hout a Ransomer and as a forsaken woman without a Husband The woman which is not under the covenant of wedlock hath no Husband the soule which is not under the covenant of grace hath no Jesus no Deliverer no Salvation by Christ 2. He remaines empty of all spirituall and heavenly gifts his soule is in empty house wherin dwels no good thing he is a stranger to all Gods gracious and soule-saving communications he that is not in covenant with the King that refuseth the Oath of Allegiance to the King is excluded from communion with the King and from all such Prerogatives and favours as the King grants to them that are in covenant with him such as are not in covenant with God like Absolom in another case cannot see the Kings face the face of God doth not shine but frowne upon them they sit in darkenesse and the shadow of death God doth not reveale himselfe clearely and graciously unto them the great things of his Law are a strange thing unto them they have no discerning of the things of God the Lord sends them away empty from his house and from his Ordinances after their long living within the pale of the Church and long attendance upon the Gospell and often being at the Lords feast of marrow and of fat things they continue like Pharaohs leane kine after their eating the fat as leane as ever blind poore naked miserable and wretched as Christ speaketh Gods graces are dispenced with his Covenant thou shalt breake forth on the right hand and on the
left saith the Lord thou shalt multiply abundantly and be very fruitfull a mother of many spirituall children there is the fruitfulnesse of the Church for thy maker is thy husband there is Gods Covenant the soules wedlock with the Lord Jesus is ever attended with spirituall fruitfullnesse but the strangers to this Covenant continue barren like a Woman without a Husband 3. Hee is without the Lords gracious and sure protection God is a Sunne and a Shield to them that are within his Covenant that walke uprightly as the Psalmist speakes to these he is a wall of fire round about them these he keepeth as the apple of his eye these he watereth like a Vineyard every moment and keepeth them day and night least any hurt them but them that are without his covenant he leaveth them as a Vinyard without an hedg as a flock without a Shepheard a City without a Watch-man these the Lord leaveth to their sins as a sick-man to his disease to Satan as a wandring Sheepe to the Lyon as a barren field to the wilde Boare and Beast of the Forrest these he leaveth to their enemies to spoyle them these have no hiding place under the shadow of Gods wings when dangers doe assault them The men of the old world which were without the Arke were left to the waters to swallow them they that are without the Covenant of God in Christ are lyable to a deluge of woes and miseries to surprize them 4. He is without all spirituall claime and title to any blessing The woman which is not in matrimoniall covenant with the Master of the house hath no title to the things of the House Christ is the heire of all things he that is not in covenant with Christ not married to Christ though he hath a civill right in respect of men yet hee hath noe spirituall right in respect of Christ to any thing God as a bountifull Master feeds him as a servant but he possesseth noâ—hing as a Son he can claime nothing he enjoyes nothing as a Son an Heyre and Co-heyre with Jesus Christ 5. He is without the blessing of God Gods blessing goes with his Covenant They saith St. Paul which are of the Faith true beleevers partakers of the Covenant they are blessed with faithfull Abraham they are blessed as in the Justification of their soules so in their persons in their possessions in their civill and religious performances and in all their sufferings and severall changes but such as are without the Covenant are farre from blessing The wrath of God saith St. John abideth on them on their persons on their possessions on their undertakings the Lord sets his face against them for evill and not for good that which is good in it selfe turnes for evill unto them their very blessings turne to a curse as the meat of diseased bodies turnes to evill humours their very Table becomes their snare yea the word of life becomes to them the savour of death unto death and Christ himselfe who is the way the truth and the life becomes a stone of stumbling and a rocke of offence 6. He is without peace there is no peace saith the Prophet to the wicked no spirituall no true peace to them that are not within the Covenant of peace they are as the tossed Sea which hath no rest but is in continuall agitation casting up mire and dirt there is gravell in their bread which makes it bread of sorrowes to them there is a thorne in their bed which causeth their sleepe to depart from them with Belshazar they have a hand-writing appeares in the wall of their Banquetting-house which turnes their merry feasting into dismall feare and trembling and in the midst of their sufficiency they are in straights there is a worme within them continually biting and gnawing them causing their hearts to meditate terrour the thought of God is terrible to them as the thought of a severe Judge to a guilty malefactor the thought of the Word affrights them as the light a theefe having stolne goods about him and by this you may in part at least discerne the uncomfortablenesse of their estate who are without the Covenant CHAP. XVII Proposing certaine markes and characters of mans being within the Covenant CArnall mans estrangement from the Covenant of grace and misery in being without it should occasion every man to examine his owne estate in this behalfe and strive to find in himself sound and cleare evidence of his interest in this Covenant which may be discerned 1. By Gods being all in all to man this is a prime parcell of the Covenant I will be their God the husband is to the woman joyned in matrimoniall covenant with him instead of all and more then all other men God is to him that is in covenant with him instead of al other things as Elkana said to Hannah Am not J to thee better then ten sons thus is God to the soule espoused to him better then all things to such a one God is a Father regenerating a Sun enlightning a dweller possessing a King commanding a Guide leading a Treasure enriching a Friend comforting and a Fountaine filling he is such a soules summum bonum his shield for defence his rocke for supportment his Counsellour for advice his Paradise for comforts his Bridegroome for love his Friend for communion and his Portion for satisfaction he is able to say Whom have J in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever God his making himselfe ours in the way of sanctification satisfaction and spirituall comfort is a sweet assurance of our being within his Covenant 2. By mans full application of himselfe to God this is another branch of the Covenant they shall be my people Schollars in my Schoole learning my will servants in my house doing my worke Souldiers in my army fighting my battels Subiects in my Kingdome receiving my Lawes and studying the exaltation of my name Children in my Family abiding in my house delighting in my presence and rejoycing in their communion with me and trees of Righteousnesse in my Orchard bringing forth all their fruit to me they shall be all that they are unto me as a wife is what she is unto her husband bringing forth children unto her husband and caring how to please her husband thus they who are in covenant with God strive to be all that they are unto God doe all for God their full and constant care is how to please God they are not their own they live not after their own fancy they intend not themselves in what they do but they are the Lords in their understandings to know him in their wils to intend him in their imaginations to think upon him in their affections to feare and trust
and his owne lusts as the Israelites knew Joshuah vanquishing and treading upon the necks of the Kings of Canaan he knowes not Christ sanctifying and cleansing his soule as Naaman knew Jordan washing his leprosie from him he knowes not Christ ministring the fulnesse of God unto him as the people of Egypt knew Joseph ministring to them and supplying their wants Carnall man is very ignorant of Christ far from sweet acquaintance with him and comfortable experience of his soule-saving ministrations There is a way of spirituall poverty and self-denyall wherein a man walks humbly with his God ceasing from himselfe from his owne wisedome will reason purpose and affection abased below the dust in the apprehension of his owne uncleannesse emptinesse and unworthinesse renouncing himselfe his owne gifts abilities and performances going cleane out of himselfe unto Christ labouring to be found in Christ and not in himselfe making Christ all in all unto him seeking his whole salvation from Christ and prostrating himselfe with all that is his under Christ this is a way in which the carnall man treads not he is still full of himselfe he dreames of a self-sufficiency at home and looks not beyond himselfe he stayes in his legall righteousnesse and is shamefully guilty of self-love and self-seeking There is a way of new obedience and true holinesse in which the carnall man walks not he wanders like an erring traveller from this path and stumbles like the blinde their feet saith the Prophet run to evill and they make haste to shed innocent bloud their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity wasting and destruction are in their paths the way of peace they know not and there is no iudgement in their goings they have made them crooked paths whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace He that runs not the race hath no hope to obtaine the prize he that fights not the battell hath no hope to win the crowne he that sowes not his field hath no hope to reape it he that runs not the race of Gods Commandements he that fights not Gods battels hath no hope to win the prize which is eternall life nor yet to weare the crowne of glory He that sowes to the Spirit doth of the Spirit reape life everlasting but he that sowes to the flesh doth of the flesh reap destruction CHAP. XIX Shewing the vanity of prophane Mans hope of salvation THe carnall mans estrangement from the hope of salvation discovers and layes open the vanity and deceitfulnesse of prophane mens hopes of having life and glory by Christ Though they have no true and saving faith in Christ though they have no experience of the espousall of their souls to Christ though they have no fervent and unfained love to Christ no evidence of Christs living in them no knowledge of Christs holy and gracious working upon them no fence of Christs love to them yet they hope Christ will save them Haman hearing that King Ahasuerus had a purpose to honour some man concluded presently that himselfe must be the man whom the King delighted to honour though the issue crost his expectation Carnall man hearing of Gods mercy Christs merits and the Lords purpose to exalt and honour man presently feeds and fils himselfe with hopes that he shall be the man presumes that God will honour him though in the end he meets with Hamans portion a gallowes in hell instead of a crowne in Heaven As the foolish man in the Parable built his house upon the sand so doe all the carnall men in the world build their hopes of salvation upon some sandy and rotten foundation which at length sinks and suffers them to fall shamefully fearefully finally as the house did which was built upon the sand Now if you aske what those false and deceitfull props and pillars are upon which carnall men usually build their hopes I answer 1. Some build their hopes upon superstitious observations they receive for Doctrines the commandements of men the traditions of their superiours and predecessors In the observation of these they are very full and frequent very precise and punctuall and hereupon they promise themselves salvation Thus Paul before his conversion after the strictest sect of their Religion lived a Pharisee and was very zealous and thought himselfe alive when he was dead perswaded himselfe he was in the state of grace when he was in the state of damnation a childe of God when he was one of Satans brood a friend of God when he was an adversary of the Lord a pillar when he was a destroyer of the Church The observers of humane Doctrines are very full of miserable blindnesse possest with an overweaning opinion of the goodnesse of their condition shamefully mistaking their estate perswading themselves that that doth much endeare them and highly commend them unto God which makes them a very abomination before the Lord. 2. Some build their hopes upon a formall profession of Christ and Christian Religion Micah had great hopes that God would blesse him because he had gotten a Levite to his Priest though he continued an idolater Many men promise themselves great peace and glory because they have the Gospell heare the Word receive the Sacrament are called after the name of Christ though they live in all prophanenesse The foolish Virgins were very secure and promised much unto themselves from their lamps though they were empty lamps Many a vaine and foolish man is secure and consident of his salvation by reason of his profession though an empty one though he be an empty vine bringing forth all his fruit to himselfe doing all for himselfe and nothing for God and Christ professing as the Apostle saith that they know God being the meane while disobedient and reprobate to every good worke This is the common foundation on which all carnall Protestants build their hopes like the Pharisees boasting that they were the children of Abraham though they did the works of the Devill being like the Locusts in the Revelation which had outwardly the face of a man and the haire of a woman but within the teeth of a Lyon and behinde the tayle of a Scorpion Thus these men have outwardly the name of Christians a profession of Christ but as savage and indomitable as the Lyon as full of all sinne as the Scorpion of venome and what a fond thing is it for a man to build his hopes upon an empty profession Will a husband delight himselfe in his wife because she professeth him to be her husband living the while in adultery with strangers Will the King honour a man for professing him to be his King not ceasing to plot treason and act rebellion against him Is there any hope that Christ will take pleasure in a man or honour him because he cals him Husband Lord and King in the meane space committing fornication with the world plotting spirituall treason and acting open rebellion against him Surely such men