The Author of this Blessing and that 's the Lord Himself 1 The Churches stability First The Blessing it self promised And that is the stability of Sion Sion shall be establisht This is a point which the Scripture is very full and pregnant in as none more Esai 33.20 Look upon Sion c. A Tabernacle that shall not be taken down nor one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed So Psal 125.2 They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever Mat. 16.16 It is said That the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church And Heb. 12.28 It is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Kingdome that cannot be shaken The Ground of it The Ground of it is the strong Foundation whereupon it is built Her foundation is in the holy Mountains vers 1. of this Psalm according to some Translations of it And Esai 14.32 The Lord hath founded Sion and the poor of his people shall trust in it or betake themselves to it What is it founded upon Upon the Attributes of God upon the Word of God upon the Son of God It is founded upon a Rock On this Rock will I build my Church in the place before alledged 2. The Author This brings in the second with it and that is the Author or Bestower of this Blessing They do well being joyned together and indeed they cannot well be sever'd This is here exprest in the Text to be the HIGHEST HIMSELF 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is He that establishes Sion and every member of it He that establishes us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God And so S. Peter 1 Pet. 5.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The God of all Grace who hath call'd us c. make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you see there are four words at once for the expression of this unto us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Set you in joynt consolidate corroborate give you a good foundation And all from God himself who gives the Grace at first He that cals must also keep He that begins must perfect He that is the author of converting Grace must be the giver also of establishing we stand not by our own Habituals but by his Auxiliaries and Assistances c. And so here the most High There are inferiour Highnesses even below here in the world which the Preacher tels us of Eccles 5.8 Subordinate establishers of Sion All men are not of the same stature or size nor is it fitting they should be There are some Higher then others by the Head and Shoulders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the establishment of Sion does in a great measure depend upon them it is their work to do it it is their duty to do it it is their glory to do it not only to pull down Babylon but to establish Sion To establish it in the Graces of it and to establish it in the Doctrines of it and to establish it in the Ordinances of it They cannot better establish themselves then by establishing that It is the Highest Honour which God puts upon them when he does not only give them abilities and opportunities for it but likewise withall hearts and affections to it But yet the strength of the work it lies not so much in them as in Him That He which is higher then the highest regards it as there be higher then They. The Coherence Therefore it is worth our observation how these words are here brought in in the Text namely in a way of prolepsis and anticipation He had said in the words before That this and that man that is as I have already explained it this variety of eminent persons was born in Sion now from hence some might be ready to conclude that then certainly it should be sure to stand if it hath such excellent Supporters as those famous Men which were born in it then there 's no fear that it should ever decay They 'l take care to keep it up themselves Oh but saies the Spirit of God That 's not that which Sion must trust to It is an advantage indeed to Her to have such persons of note and quality to be born in Her yea but that 's not the Basis whereupon she must rest her self No no but the Goodnesse and Power and Providence of an Almighty God God will not trust his Church with the Best man alive No He will establish it Himself He will establish it Himself as a work peculiar to Him Where men shall neglect to do it there He will do it Himself by supplying their defects that He may not be beholding to them Where men shall undertake to do it there He will do it Himself by strengthening their undertakings that so they may be beholding to Him So it is still Himself which does it and upon the point Himself alone There 's none which have Bowels for it like Him there 's none which have Power for it like Him And therefore it must needs be He and so it is I the LORD do keep it Esai 27.3 And here The Highest Himself shall establish it A word of comfor◠This is a Point of admirable Comfort and consolation in both the Branches of it whether we consider the work it self Sions establishment or whether we we consider the Author of this work the Lord Himself yea in both taken together it is very sweet and satisfactory Every one naturally desires the establishment of their own party and the establishment of their own Countrey that that may be sure to stand what ever becomes of any thing else This is the priviledge and advantage now of Sion i. e. the Church of God The Lord Himself has undertaken to establish it And that for ever as the Arabick Interpreter reads it in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath founded it for ever Because He ever lives that establishes it therefore it shall for ever be establisht As for Men they are mortal and their establishing is no longer then for their lives although they may lay a ground and foundation of establishment for future Ages But now the Highest Himself is for ever The ETERNAL God is thy Refuge and underneath are the everlasting Armes Deut. 33.27 Therefore thou shalt be an eternal excellency and a Joy of many generations Esai 60.15 Vse Where then are those that are ill-willers to Sion and that think to pull down that 1 Confusion to Sions Adversaries How do they befool themselves and labour in vain which All the Powers in Earth or Hell are never able to prevail against This Altissimus He is out of their reach and besides can over-reach them This City which is built upon a rock it will out-stand all flouds whatsoever 2. Comfort to particular Christians This is comfortable not only in the behalf of the whole Church but also of every particular person and member of it which stands upon the same
Zion's Birth-Register UNFOLDED IN A SERMON TO THE NATIVE-CITIZENS OF LONDON In their Solemn Assembly at PAVLS on Thursday the VIII of May A.D. M.DC.LVI By THOMAS HORTON D.D. PSAL. 22.9,10 But Thou art He that took me out of the womb thou madest me to hope when I was upon my Mothers breasts I was cast upon Thee from the womb Thou art my God from my Mothers belly ACT. 18.9,10 Then spake the Lord to Paul I have much people in this City LONDON Printed for John Clark and are to be sold at the Entrance into Mercers-Chappel at the lower end of Cheapside M.DC.LVI To all the SONS of ZION especially which were Born within the Liberties of the City of LONDON and of late more solemnly Assembled for the acknowledgment of that Providence to them Much honoured and beloved in Christ I Know not to whom the inscription of this Sermon could more justly belong then indeed to your selves who are the proper subjects of it movers for it and Auditors to whom it was delivered To You therefore I tender it not without your own invitation yet not limited to any particulars but rather in common and at large that so whilest that All have an equal interest in the occasion they might equally share in the remembrances and publications of it The scope of this Discourse before you is to improve the present opportunity to the best spiritual advantage which is or should be the end of all such solemn Assemblies and performances as these are Gods Ordinances being too good and instituted to better purpose then meerly to serve mens Fancies and Formalities and Complemental devices which yet the generality of the world for the most part makes them to do I know not how it comes to passe but your late meeting hath not obtain'd that effect which I know you desired and design'd in the first appointment of it from whence you will finde some passages in the close of the Sermon to be a great deal truer in the event then I wist they would be when I utter'd them And yet I cannot very well tell where to lay the blame I am apt to perswade my self and would have the World so perswaded too that it proceeded not from want of Affection but rather of Contrivance This is most certain and undeniable That there were divers persons at that time amongst you which came together with large intentions and some with great preparations to very noble and honorable atchievements only they had not a channel so readily cut out unto them wherein their Charity might stream it self You wanted not liquor but vent not matter but method not conception but obstetrication The children were come to the birth but there was not strength to bring forth Isa 37.3 It will therefore very neerly concern you both in point of conscience and honour to resume the work again and to find out some way or other for the more successefull accomplishment of it which you had better never undertaken then not bring to some perfection Think not to smoother it in silence and that time will wear it out for that it will not God knowes your thoughts a far off And your Resolutions with him are Subscriptions as your Subscriptions due Debts Remember Ananias and Sapphira who kept back part of the price Act. 5.2 what was said and what was done to them And consider what Solomon sayes of those that boast themselves of a false gift that they are like clouds and wind without rain Prov. 25.14 But I will not so far suspect you as to presse too hard upon you in a businesse whereunto I suppose you are of your selves so readily inclined The Lord make us all faithfull and serious in our dealings with him You will so much the more affectionately resent this seasonable suggestion as it proceeds from the hearty desires seconded with prayers of Your Countryman and fellow-servant in the advancement of the common good Thomas Horton From my Study in Gresham-Colledge Jun. 3. 1656. A SERMON PREACHED TO The Native-Citizens of LONDON The VIII of May M.DC.LVI PSAL. LXXXVII Vers 4 5 6. THIS MAN WAS BORN THERE And of Zion it shall be said This and that man was born in her And the HIGHEST HIMSELF shall establish her The Lord shall count when he writes up the people That this man was born there Selah THere is so much excellency considerable in our Being and the communications of humane subsistence as that every thing is so far estimable and accountable with us as it bears the greatest share and part in it and proportion and affinity to it Therefore it is that we give so much respect to old age because it is life and being both in the first and soonest beginnings of it as also in the longest continuance And accordingly as we esteem of Being so in like measure we esteem of Birth which is as it were the first conveyance and irradiation and peeping out of this our being unto us And again as we esteem of that simply considered so we esteem of it likewise in the circumstances and appendances of it Because it is so noble and excellent a thing to be born therefore we esteem of the Time and count it the greater excellency as we are born Then And again because it is so noble and excellent a thing to be Born therefore we esteem of the Place and count it the greater excellency as we are born There And this is that which to the glory of God and our own greater rejoycing WE who have sometime been born and brought forth in this famous City of London are met together to acknowledge this day That we were born here as such a passage and piece of providence which is not to be easily neglected or past over by us and for which purpose I have made choice of this Scripture now before us In the reading whereof unto you you may perhaps aske the Question which the Eunuch of Ethiopia sometimes put to Philip the Deacon upon the like occasion namely concerning ones birth and generation Act. 8.34 I pray thee of whom speaketh the Prophet this OF HIMSELF or of some OTHER MAN The Reason of it is this Because it is delivered to us in such uncertain and ambiguous Expressions Here 's every thing almost indefinite and undetermin'd Here 's this and that and there but who and what and where it is hardly signified Therefore it is that Interpreters are at so much strife with themselves about it which I will not now trouble you withall lest thereby I should prevent my self of that which is more material I take it at large and in the generall as a full and ample description to us of the priviledges and preheminences of the Church with the members of it in a mutuall reference to each other The Division And so in the Text it self there are two generall parts considerable First The Priviledge mentioned Secondly The celebration of this Priviledge The Priviledge mentioned that ye
Christ then he scornes them and throws them away What things were gain unto me those I counted losse for Christ yea doubtless and I count all things to be but loss c. But when others despised him for want of them or did not sufficiently prize him in them then he resumes them and takes them up again with greater authority Then wheresoever any is bold I speak foolishly I am bold also Are they Hebrews so am I. Are they Israelites so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham so am I and so he goes on To teach us that these were such things which in their due rank and place might be mentioned with some kind of acknowledgment and so they may But so much may be spoken of Zion according to its first representation as it is taken for the City of David and so to be born there as denoting a temporal priviledge which is not altogether to be neglected by us 2. The City of God The second is for the City of God So it is sometimes taken and called in sundry places of Scripture Thus Psal 48.1 The City of our God The mountain of Holinesse he speaks it of Zion as the next vers expresses it And so vers 8. The City of the Lord of Hosts the City of our God And so in the third vers of this very Psalm which we have now in hand Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of God Having spoken in the vers before of the Gates of Zion Thus now it signifies the Church and so to born in it a spirituall priviledge But then again even thus considered it has a double notion in it Zion Local Mystical For it may be taken either locally or mystically If we take it locally so to be born in Zion is to be born in such a place where the Church and people of God does reside To be born in some visible Church If we take it mystically so to be born in Zion is to be regenerate and born again To be a member of the Church which is invisible Either of these is a very great priviledge but especially the latter of them And the former in reference to the latter with which former we will now begin 1. Local First Take Zion locally for the place of the Churches residence the visible Church This man was born there It is intimated as a priviledge this to that man whosoever he be and so it is It is a great mercy to be cast upon such places and times and to be brought forth in such Nations and Countries wherein the Ordinances and means of grace are dispenst This is to be born under a right Planet and Constellation indeed as none else besides And that especially from Gods presence which is here especially manifested and who takes special delight therein The Lord loves the gates of Zion more then all the dwellings of Jacob in the 2 vers of this Psalm Why the gates of Zion more then any other gates else Namely because of the Ordinances and Performances which are there in use Where any are gathered together in his name there is He present amongst them Here are excellent truths revealed and excellent duties performed and excellent priviledges enjoyed as pertaining hereunto and all these likewise tending and conducing to an excellent end which is consequent and following hereupon through Gods blessing upon them even conversion and regeneration here and salvation and glory hereafter which we are put into a capacity of and into a way unto by such opportunities as these are The improvement This is that therefore which we have cause much to acknowledge and to be affected withall We of this Nation in general and We of this City in particular The great goodnesse and mercy of God to us in this respect That we have been born here Not in Egypt but in Goshen Not in Babylon but in Zion Not in the valley of darknesse but in the valley of vision and under the beams of light it self 1. By the Nation in general First We of this Nation that we have been born here And here in the right Reflexion and reduplication of it not in Paganism but in Christianity not in Popery but in the true Religion For we must know and consider that there hath been a double hand of conversion and Reformation which has past upon us here in this Island A Conversion from Heathenism and Infidelity as we were sometimes a barbarous Nation as wilde and savage as any other in all the world which once we were And a Conversion from Antichristianism and Superstition as we were sometime a Popish Nation and overgrown with the corruptions of Rome which once also we were We are to own our deliverance from both in regard of the Nation and our birth as partaking of that deliverance in regard of our selves as born in such a Time and Age which through Gods goodness was freed from either This is that which is the great priviledge and advantage indeed unto us It is this that makes it there To be born in such an Aire under such a Climate within such a compasse of ground and earth It is not that which is any great matter Our Fore-fathers that lived in Darkness and Ignorance and Blindnesse and Superstition they were in this sense born here as well as we No but to be born in dayes of knowledge and light under the preaching of the Gospel and the Dispensation of the Ordinances and the enjoyment of the truth this is our glory and joy and Crown of rejoycing above any thing else besides and those which are born thus are born there Thus we of this Land and Nation in generall 2. By the City in special But then secondly We of this City and place in particular we have cause to acknowledge it more especially And we are come to acknowledge it this Day It is a main end of of our meeting and assembling together at this thime if we know what it is which we are met and assembled for To praise God for this happy providence which hath been afforded unto us That we should be born not only in Jury but also in Sion and that not in the literal sense neither but in the spiritual not in the legal Sion but in the evangelical That God should cast and dispose our beginnings in such a place as wherein we might suck in Religion with the ayre in which we breath according to the various opportunities which are here administred to us For so there are as no place under heaven the like This is that which cals for our acknowledgment The Psalmist when he would advance Sion and set forth the glory of it how does he do it in Psal 48.1 c. he does it from hence in that it is the City of God and the mountain of holinesse Beautifull for situation the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion on the sides of the north the City of the great King God
is known in her palaces for a refuge Yea there was the glory of Sion that God was known in her And so Jerusalem he expresses this of it as the great ornament to it That thither the tribes went up the tribes of the Lord to the testimony of Israel And that the house of the Lord was in it Psal 122.4 c. And that which was the glory of Sion the same is the glory of London without this London were no more then Ligorne or Constantinople or any other City besides in the whole world This is that which puts an honor upon it the dispensations and means of grace which are vouchsafed unto it and which accordingly they have the benefit and advantage of which are brought forth and brought up in it 3. By all together This it is not only matter of dignity and to be looked upon by us so but likewise as all other mercies and priviledges besides are it is matter of duty too and obliges us to answerable behaviours Beloved We are accountable to God for our births and the places of our breeding and bringing up in which it hath been There are some which have been born not only in Sion at large in regard of the common opportunities but also in Sion more particularly in regard of the speciall advantages which they have been partakers of Not only born in a City of Religion but moreover in religious families of godly and religious Parents which have been godlily and religiously educated and nurtured in the fear of the Lord. There are many which have lived under faithful Ministers and faithful Masters and Governors c. Now what an ingagement does from hence lie upon them to be that which they should be How much better should they be then other men Oh it 's a fearfull thing to sin against good education and the instillation of gracious principles God will one day call to reckoning for it The Lord will count when he writes up the people That this man was born there He was born in such a Nation in such a Countrey in such a City in such a Family c. God observes and takes notice of it and how far he is the betber for it or how far he is not That which is in it self a mercy in the misimprovement of it is a judgement and we had better been absolutely without it if we be not the better for it That so we may not glory in these priviledges meerly for themselves but rather take care how we manage them and make use of them And so much of Sion in the first notion as taken locally and to be born in it i. e. born in the visible Church 2. Mystical The second is as taken Mystically To be born in Sion i. e. To be regenerate and born again to be a member of the Church which is invisible This is a great priviledge indeed and the highest of all All are not Israel which are of Israel Nor all born in Sion according to the Spirit which are born in it according to the flesh But yet this spiritual birth is that which is principally to be regarded and to be looked after above any besides In Rom. 2.28,29 He is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh But he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart whose praise is not of men but of God To be born indeed is to be new-born That is the main birth of all And they are to purpose born there which are born thus S. Paul salutes Andronicus and Junia especially upon this account as in Christ before him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 16.7 He is born first who is first born anew and he is the ancientest Man that 's the ancientest Christian My little children of whom I travel in birth again till Christ be form'd in you sayes the Apostle Paul to the Galatians in Gal. 4.19 What ever birth comes short of this it is in a sort but monstrous and imperfect though it be otherwise adorned with never so many accomplishments and qualifications besides Our Natural condition For this purpose it is very pertinent to consider what we are in our natural condition we are all by Nature the children of wrath as the Apostle expresses it Ephes 2.3 Our Birth and our Nativity of the land of Canaan our Father an Amorite our Mother an Hittite Ezek. 16.3 We were shapen in iniquity and in sin did our Mothers conceive us in Psal 51.5 Every imagination or frame of our Hearts and the thoughts of them were only evill continually Now certainly there must be some change therefore wrought if ever we be that which we should be Our birth nativity of Canaan it will not serve the turn No But we must be born in Sion And this is that which we have now before us as commended unto us this spiritual and supernatural Birth That we be Regenerated and new principled Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdome of God Joh. 3.3 Born again that is as the word properly signifies born from above 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He must fetch his Birth and pedegree from thence or else he is but in a poor condition There is no man is born to Heaven except he be born from it and has principles answerable to it In 1 Pet. 1.3 Who hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that is by such a spirituall power which is conformable to this Resurrection and is the fountain of Regeneration in us A word of Examination Therefore we should especially look to this to finde it in our selves That we are in this sense born in Sion And that Jerusalem which is above and is free be the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 That our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Citizenship be in Heaven Phil. 3.20 without which all civil Priviledges or natural will be of little worth to us This is that which we are called to in the Gospel and the ministery of it it is ordained for such an End as this and this especially Thus the Apostle to the believing Hebrewes Heb. 12.22 Ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem Come How so as by the Gospel ye have been called and as by Faith you have been received into the Communion of the Christian Church which was figured by Jerusalem and by Mount Sion That 's the coming there meant And we never come to purpose till we come thus till not only we partake of the Gospel as communicated to our outward Ears but as digested and wrought into our Hearts This is true Religion indeed and this is to be truly Religious to be thus affected in our selves Religion is not a thing taken up as some custome and fashion or the like No but it is somewhat imbred in us It is incorporated and
e. This honourable Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eminent in Countenance as he is called Esai 3.2 He is likewise born in Sion The mighty Man and the Man of War The Syriack Interpreter was so far sensible of this as that he expresses it in the very Text therefore in stead of saying This man was born there he saies A Potent man was born there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and he has establisht it whereby as I conceive he takes in the word Highest which followes afterwards in the verse and refers it here to this place and so the Scripture sets it in other places besides Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship c. Esai 49.7 And again The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifis Psal 72.10 And again the Chaldee Paraphrast in the Text This King was born there understanding thereby Solomon as most conceive and apprehend it Indeed these great and potent men have not the greatest name for Religion for the most part Not many mighty not many noble are called But yet some there are and through Gods goodnesse instances of it such as these born in Sion Men of power and place and authority and nobility and the like This man was born there 3. This Godly man Thirdly Take it for spirituals and for these accomplishments especially This Man i. e. This godly Man this is that which is most proper and essential to Sion and to the being born in it yea it is that which makes Sion it self in the sense we now take it It is the highest perfection of it and the greatest commendation to it of any thing else This is the great honour of the Church that it formes men to such qualities and dispositions as those are which no other place does besides It is not all the Schools of the Philosophers The Stoa or Academy or Lycaeum though they also have their use and seasonable improvement which are able to send forth such a man as Sion does so qual fied and adorned and beautified especially in his inward parts As for other places and such as those which I now mentioned they may perhaps now and then reach to some other principles and those likewise very glorious in the eyes of the world morality and civility and ingenuity and smoothnesse of behaviour The School of Nature and common reason may sometimes come up to these and that in a very great measure yea but now go a little higher to brokenednesse of heart to self-denial to love of enemies to closing with Christ the frame and spirit of the Gospel this is to be found no where but only in Sion And here it is THIS MAN was born THERE This in the Amplification Now this will further take an advancement and amplification of it not only by considering this man what he is now but what he was once which is also intimated in the Text Behold Philistia and Tyre and Ethiopia This man was born there Here 's the excellency of the Ordinances and that Power and Energie which is stirring in the Church of Christ that it is able to work such a miraculous alteration as this to bring men from darknesse to light from Satan to God from a state of sin and corruption and unregeneracy to a state of Grace and Holinesse and Regeneration yea from the lowest degree of the one to the highest degree of the other That Philistia should turn into Palestina Tyre into Jerusalem Ethiopia into Judaea here 's the wonder of all The reconciling of these two opposite termes thus both together That Princes should come out of Egypt and that Ethiopia should stretch out her hands to God as it is Psal 68.31 That the Blackmore should change his skin and that the Leopard should change his spots And that this Ethiopian should become this Christian that he which was born there should be born here There are some which have understood this place here in the Text concerning the Ethiopian Eunuch mentioned in the 8. of the Acts and whom I mentioned in the beginning of the Sermon as if this passage here before us were spoken Prophetically of him But I conceive that to be a little too narrow an Interpretation and a little too much forced I rather take it more general and at large as relating to all kinde of sinners whosoever they be yea the worst that are as reduced by the power of the Gospel and the mediation of the Ordinances of the Church as sometimes through the goodnesse of God it happens to be And that 's the first thing here considerable in the children of Sion to wit the quality of the persons exprest in this man 2. The Dignity of number The second is the Number or plurality This and that man c. And there are three things again here For this man only to be born there there had been no great matter in that one Swallow does not make a Summer and there is not the plainest or meanest place that is but may chance to have one eminent man to be born in it In this First Variety Secondly Indifferency And thirdly Succession 1. Variety This and that man i. e. That man with this 2. Indifferency This and that man i. e. That man as well as this 3. Succession This and that man i. e. That man after this the one following and succeeding to the other 1. Variety First Variety 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A man and a man i. e. many men Repetition it does denote multitude in the ordinary signification of it And so here The Church is a fruitful Mother and has the honour of many eminent children to be born of her Many in the Multitude of persons both men and women and many in the multitude of Nations both Jewes and Gentiles There 's a Plurality and a Variety of both And so the Scripture declares unto us at large in sundry places of it in Act. 2.41 we finde how at one Sermon of Peters there were three thousand which were born at once and Act 5.14 After that Peter and the rest had been restrain'd it is said That Beleevers were the more added to the Lord even multitudes both of Men and Women This for the Multitude of the persons And so for the multitude of the Nations Sion Mystical is inlarged beyond Sion Local And it is not only a multitude of Jewes but also of Gentiles which is here intended as also elsewhere exprest in Esai 2.2 The Mountain of the Lords House shall be established c. And all Nations shall flow unto it yea and these too in great multitudes as we may see further in Esai 60.4,5,6,7 Lift up thine eyes round about and see All they gather themselves together c. And then thou shalt see and flow together and thine heart shall fear and be inlarged because the abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee and the forces or riches of the
if we have any spiritual sense or feeling in us we cannot but be very much pleased and affected withall yea and it will make us likewise to endeavour it for our own particulars not only to take care that we may make up so many parts of Sion whiles we live our selves but that those which come after us may do so too for our sakes and by our procurement Our children and our childrens children and their children in the succession of Ages Et nati natorum qui nascuntur ab illis As Paul to Timothy 2. Tim. 1.5 The Faith which dwelt first in thy Grandmother Lois and in thy Mother Eunice and I am perswaded that in thee also It is a businesse worthy our undertaking 2. Excitement And accordingly we should be perswaded to it and heartned in it according to the several opportunittes which God in his providence affords unto us Ministers in the Instruction of our people Parents and Masters of our Families Christian friends and acquaintance in the mutual excitement one of another to be so many blessed Instruments of begetting others to God and thereby propagating of his Church from time to time as every one hath received the Gift so ministring the same to one another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God 1 Pet 4.10 1 In General Alas We are here but for a while even the longest-lived amongst us And the Church as considered in our Age is but of short and small continuance Oh what a comfort will it then be to us to think that when we are dead and gone and in our graves there shall be those standing up in our steads which shall continue Religion after us and so much the rather upon our account it will be comfortable in death and it will be comfortable after death likewise when we come to Heaven it self Not only to meet with a glorious Church there in its perfection and accomplishment but likewise to think that there 's a gracious Church also here in the beginnings and inchoations of it and especially that we our selves have any thing contributed to it 1. In our particular relations More particularly we should indevour it in the cities and places in which we live and the bounds of our particular habitations as in England so especially in London in a peculiar manner Let it never be said for shame that Religion failed in our time or that we were the first corrupters or betrayers of it No but let us earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints and that blessed Doctrine of Truth which has been transmitted to us by our Ancestors and sealed by the bloud of the Martyrs and improved by the holy lives of those godly persons which have conform'd unto it let the same be handed down still by us to succeeding posterity We see how carefull we are in other matters to provide for after times in building of houses in setting of plants in preparing of works and contrivances and how much rather should we then be thus carefull in spiritual things That such holy men as are gone before us may never die whiles we live And that we our selves may never die so long as such and such live whom we have laboured to season with those principles which we are partakers of our selves What a blemish and stain will that be to us to all generations if either we shall degenerate from the good examples which others have set us or else set such examples to others as whence they also shall degenerate from the holy lives of both their and our progenitors and predecessors Let us therefore be watchfull in this particular That 's the second branch of honour whence the Church is here commended to us in regard of her children and the people which are born in her As from their condition and quality This Man so from their number and plurality This and That In variety in indifferency in succession and thus taking it of Sion Mystically is it a dignity and honour to it to have this and that man born in it 2. Locally Secondly Take it Locally for this particular Church or City For Sion in the Restriction And it is an honour to it so likewise Vertuous and eminent persons they are a singular credit and ornament to those places in which they were born This and that Man was born in Sion it is spoken of her in a way of commendation and to advance the Dignity of her in the notion of such a place as that was Thus it has alwaies been esteemed and that even sometimes amongst the Heathen themselves Their Worthies have been an honour to their Countreyes Thus was Solon to Athens and Pindarus to Thebes and Tully to Rome Homer he had seven Cities which contended for him as the places of of his Nativity And Scotus the great Schoolman had three Nations which all strove for his Birth England Scotland and Ireland so great a matter is it to have men of note and eminency to be born in such and such a Countrey What do I speak of these This was that which made Bethlehem which was the least yet not to be the least among the Princes of Judah the Prophet Micah cals it the least the Evangelist Matthew cals it not the least how do these two agree The Reconciliation is easie Least in it self not least in regard of the Person which was born in it and that was Christ himself which some also apply here to our Sion and understand by this indefinite expression here in the Text This Man was born there that is our Blessed Lord and Saviour even Jesus Christ he according to them is this Man which is here spoken of And that by way of Dignity to Sion as the greatest part of the renown of it Now as it is with Christ Himself so is it with all those which are Christs Gracious and holy persons they reflect honourably upon their Relations whether of Persons or Places of Persons the womb that bare them of Places the Countreys that brought them forth each of which do receive some respect and advancement from them Application This is that which to come home to our selves may be very well observed by us to Gods glory and our own incouragement even in this our Sion wherein we now are I might easily if need were give you a very large Catalogue of many famous and eminent persons in all kinde of waies and professions which this place and city hath brought forth and shew how This and that man was born in her But that perhaps might carry some appearance of vanity with it Besides that in mentioning of some I should cast some prejudice upon the rest which I did not mention Therefore while I cannot in probability name all nor with discretion leave out any I will now at this time name none But rather onely in stead of it perswade that we our selves may make up the number and tread in
bottome Every private Christian is upon the same termes in point of stability with Sion it self They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion And they not only collectively taken but likewise distributively When it is said here that God will establish Sion we are to understand it especially of Sion Mystically rather then of Sion Locally Particular Churches may fail but not the Church in General And again general Churches may fail but not particular Christians yea the whole world may fail when yet a Beleever stands impregnable Cadit mundus stat Christianus quia non codit Christus Augustine There is not the poorest Christian that is but he is upon surer termes with God then any one visible Church Gods Covenant is but temporary with a Nation but it is perpetual with a Person as being founded in Christ Himself whom he is rooted into As here in the City such a Company or Corporation may fail when as the particular Members or Brethren of it may subsist and hold up their Heads We see those famous Churches of Asia which are made mention of in the Revelation how they are all now come to nothing And other Churches have no better an hold then they had Quam diu bene se gesserint durante bene placito That so we may not be high-minded but fear Indeed it should be All our Cares and endevours that God would establish not only that but this not only Sion in general but also our Sion in particular not only Christendome but England nor only England but London and we are answerably to demean our selves in order and reference hereunto which may be very much obtained and procured by our behaviour we should every one so deport our selves as that God may delight still to dwell amongst us and not remove the Candlestick from us We which are set watchmen upon the wals we should never hold our peace day nor night And we which make mention of the Lord or are the Lords Remembrancers we should not keep silence till he has establisht and made our Jerusalem even a praise in all the Earth Esai 62.6,7 So much for that And so I have done with this celebration of the Priviledge on Mans part by way of Report in the 5. verse And of Sion it shall be said c. The second is on Gods part by way of Record The Lord shall count c. vers 6. 2. The Divine Celebration This has a double preheminence both of the Person and of the Conveyance First of the person that it is God As for men to take notice of such a businesse there 's it may be no such matter in it They may be carried perhaps by fondnesse and partiality and self-love have some respect to themselves in it Yea but for the honour of the Natives of Sion the Lord Himself shall take an account of them and observe who they are Secondly For the Conveyance That other it is only of Report Of Sion it shall be said that 's but a transient observation Vox audita perit But this here it is by way of Record The Lord when he writes up the people c. Litera scripta manet This is more abiding and permanent And here again two things more First somewhat Implyed And secondly somewhat Exprest That which is implyed is this That God does write up the people That which is exprest is this that when God does write up the people he shall count in this with it That this Man was born there 1. That which is implyed First For the thing implyed it is this That God does write up the people He does conscribere Populos It is a Metaphor taken from the affairs of this present life and the offices of it From a shepherd taking account of his sheep From a Commander numbring of his Souldiers From a Magistrate or Chamberlain of a City registring and inrolling those which are made free of such a City and Corporation Thus does the Lord do in his Church in Ezek. 13.9 we read of Kethab Beth Iisrael The writing of the house of Israel And Exod. 30.12 of Rosh Bene Iisrael The sum of the children of Israel And Numb 11.26 Of Eldad and Medad that they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 among them that were written In Mal. 3.17 There 's Sepher Zikkaron A Book of Remembrance which was written for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name And God hath divers Books of this nature First The book of Election and Predestination which is calld in Scripture language The Book of Life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 4.3 whose names are in the Book of Life that is the Heavenly Roul Luk. 10.22 Rejoyce in this because your names are written in Heaven Secondly The Book of Scriptures wherein there are the Records of all the famous and eminent Saints both of the Old and New Testament and in them vertually of all the rest In Scriptura populorum so Hierom renders it In the Scripture of the people and he gives this reason for it ut quae ab omni populo legatur which may be read of all people indifferently The third is The Book of Providence and preservation which Moses understands by Thy Book Exod. 32.32 When as rather then Israel should be utterly destroyed he makes this Petition to God Blot me I pray thee out of thy Book which thou hast written i. e. Not out of the Book of Election as it is commonly and ordinarily taken but out of the Book of Providence According to that also in Esai 4.3 Every one that is written amongst the living in Jerusalem or appointed and designed to life and preservation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Take it which way you will There is a Register and record which is made God writes up the people and the foundation of the Lord standeth sure having this seal THE LORD KNOWETH THEM THAT ARE HIS 2 Tim. 2.19 That 's that which is here imply'd 2. That which is Exprest The second is that which is Exprest And that is this That when God does write up the people He shall count in this with it That this man was born there God takes a special notice of such and such particular persons which were born in such and such places and how they are qualified He does not only Censum agere make a Taxation of the people which I noted before but he does also Censuram agere set his mark of Remembrance upon them and gives his verdict and judgement of them He takes notice not only of persons but of conditions Thus and thus Able Thus and thus Usefull Thus and thus Serviceable And he esteems of his Church so much the better as such as these are Members of it and born in it Vse This is much for the honour and comfort of the servants of God and may serve as an incouragement to us in the service of Him That however men may esteem of us we shall