it shall be to those The Reading in the Margin is very considerable for he shall be with them the unclean shall not be there because the Lord shall be with them there as before the Lord their Righteousness the wayfaring men tho' Fools shall not err therein Tho' in themselves Fools without Divine teaching yet being taught of God they shall not err Verse 9. No Lyon shall be there nor any Ravenous Beast shall go up thereon None to affright them out of those Paths but the Redeemed shall walk there and as here Dwell there They shall be Pillars in the Temple of God and go no more cut Rev. 3.12 We read of lively Stones 1 Pet. 20.4 made so by coming to Christ the living Stone so are Saints the Materials of the Church Stones but living Stones seeing Stones upon one Stone was Seven Eyes Zech. 3.9 So hearing Stones speaking Stones and walking Stones so these Pillars shall be lively Pillars walking Pillars going in the House of God but never going out of its Paths they shall be Paths to dwell in 6. Verse 14. I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the Earth thou shalt get above all former troubles and Persecutions Rev. 17.7 The Woman the Mother of Harlots hath a Beast carrying her on which she rides having Seven Heads and Ten Horns and this Woman Verse 15. Sitteth on People Multitudes Nations and Tongues on these she rides they carry her and on those she rides over the Saints and treads them down who are the true worshippers and rides over their backs This Woman rides upon the High places and High Persons of the Earth which carry this Woman giving up their strength and power to the Beast which is called before the Woman here 's a Beast riding over the true worshippers whose condition is suitable to what is said Isa 51.23 They said to thy Soul bow down that we may go over and thou hast laid thy Body as the ground and as the street to them that went over The great Whore says to the Soul bow down and would have them submit their Souls and Consciences to her and to receive her Doctrine Commands c. But observe when Souls are call'd for the Saints will not yield them to bow down but thou hast laid thy Body as the ground Saints chuse to have their Bodies trodden down rather then to bow down to an Idol with their Souls This hath been long the condition of the true witnesses and so will whilst the Woman rides but what is said there I will take the Cup of trembling out of thy hands and put it into the hands of them that afâ—â—ict thee which say thus to thy Soul Observe Rev. 17.16 The Ten Horns that is the Ten Kings that give up their power and strength to the Beast shall hate the Whore shall throw off their Rider and shall make her desolate and naked and eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire And then shall the true Church ride upon the High places and be above former troubles How was this fulfilled to the Jews after their return from Babylon when they were subject to their Enemies and had seldom any breathing time from their troubles Doubtless then this Prophecy looks far beyond these times 7. 'T is Promised and Prophecied I will feed thee with the Heritage of Jacob thy Father Q How doth this prove that this Prophecy respects Gospel-times and in special those times when the Jews shall be called Ans Thus. When the Jews came out of Babylon it was but Judah that returned And so one upon the place who would understand it only of the Jews returning from Babylon straitens the sence thus The Heritage here meant is the land of Canaan part of which was the Land of Judah and so when 't is said to ride upon the High places of the Earth by Earth in general saith he we are to understand the Land of Judah in particular But observe the promise is I will feed thâ—e with the Heritage of Jacob thy Father and it was the whole Land of Canaan was Jacob's Inheritance and so the Promise of being fed thus includes the calling and bringing back of the Ten Tribes when the stick of Joseph and Judah shall become one Jacob gave all his Sons an Inheritance in Canaan and now when this Prophecy shall be fulfilled then all the Tribes shall be called and have their Lot as is fore-told Ezek ult Now observe as it appears that these Promises have respect to the Gospel times so the condition of them is a strict observation of the sabbath-Sabbath-day under the Gospel And so in this Prophecy of the Old Testament we find a Jus Divinum for the Christian Sabbath which may well go under its old and first Name though another also be given it under the New Testament The Lord's day which now we are to observe by vertue of the Fourth Commandment tho' the day be changed and the Fourth Commandment does require us now to observe the first day of the week that being made a christian-Christian-Sabbath by divine appointment as much as it did the Jews to observe the seventh day which may be cleared by an Instance in the Second Commandment which hath a negative part not to make any graven Image forbidding Men to institute and appoint ways of Divine Worship and an affirmative part requiring us to worship God in these ways and in the use of these Ordinances which he hath commanded So under the Law the Second Command did bind Men to observe the Ordinances of Circumcision the Passover and offering Sacrifices And now under the Gospel it bind us to observe Gospel Ordinances as Baptism the Lord's Supper c. But the Second Commandment remains the same only hath different respects so the Fourth from the beginning and under the Law did oblige to the observing of the seventh day and now the first day yet the Command is in matter the same there 's no change in the Command only it hath different respects Quest How doth this change appear and how will it be made out that Christ commanded the observation of the first day Answ It 's evident there was Apostolical and Christian practice of it in the Primitive times and so ever since then were the solemn meettings for Worship Act. 20.7 Upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break Bread Paul Preached unto them till midnight And then Collections were made for the Poor 1 Cor. 16.2 As on the first day of the wâ—ek when Christ rose the Disciples were assembled Jesus came and stood in the midst of them so from this time this was kept as the Christian-Sabbath and it may be well thought that Christ commanded the Apostles to observe it Act. 1.2 3. Christ gave Commands by the Holy Ghost unto the Apostles and spake of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God Now this is a great thing that pertains to the Kingdom of God upon Earth or if Christ
did not then yet after by the Holy Ghost in the Apostles he gave this Command And that a Christian Sabbath is now to be kepâ— by Divine Institution may be gathered 1. From Mark 2.27 The Sabbath was made for Man and not Man for the Sabbath ver 28 For the Son of Man also is Lord of the sabbath-Sabbath-day I gather this hence Man did need a Sabbath and it was given to Man because he doth stand in need of it Men do need and cannot be without it therefore the Son of Man who is Lord of the Sabbath must give him a Sabbath God shall supply all your need Phil. 4.19 If Christ did not then he was not so faithful as Moses he gave a Command for a Sabbath because the Jews did want it therefore it is not to be questioned but that Christ gave a Command for the Christian-Sabbath Let this then be well considered the Sabbath was made for Man's benefit for his good and he so needed it that he can't well be without it and Christ being Head will give what the Members do need the Lord will give what the Servants do need the Husband will give what the Spouse shall need 2. When it was given Adam in Innocency 't was made for Adam's good and because he stood in need of it and if Adam in Innocency did need a Sabbath do not we much more now that we may the better recover what was lost by the fall 3. It was made for the Jews this was one of their advantages Rom. 3.1 2. What advantage had the Jews Much every way they had Oracles and the word of God they had his Laws Psa 147. He dealt not so with other Nations and in particucular the Law of the Sabbath was a great advantage and as much profit in it Now if Christians under the Gospel should not have a Sabbath given them than the advantages of the Law were above the advantages of the Gospel and the profit which the Jews had beyond the profit of Christians whereas the advantages of the Gospel are beyond the advantages of the Law the ministration whereof exceeds in Glory in Profit and Advantage Quest How was the Sabbath made for Man Answ 1. For man to rest in for the rest of his Body from labour and of his mind from thoughts care and study about his worldly Affairs 2. 'T is for Man that he may set himself in a more solemn and serious manner to praise the Lord for the great work of Redemption by Christ i. e. the work of the new Creation begun and for the works of Providence Sabbath work is the work of Heaven begun on Earth It was made for Adam that on the seventh day he might contemplate and praise God for the work of the six days and he was to think on God manifest in the Creatures aâ—d to see the invisible things of God his Eternal Power and Godhead in the things that were made The Christian-Sabbath is made for the Saints to contemplate the great Mystery of Godliness God manifest in the Flesh c. As Man was Redeemed Quickened Called Sanctified that he might be to the Praise of the Glory of his Grace and to shew forth the Vertues of him that died and rose again c. So this is the day the Lord hath made for the solemn Performance of this work 3. 'T is for a Man to gather Manna for the six Days The Jews were to gather Manna for the body on the sixth day for the seventh we on the Sabbath for the six days this is a day to trade for the Soul to buy of Christ Gold white Raiment and Eye-salve and to be digging for Wisdom and to search out for hid Treasures As God hath given Apostles and Prophets for the wâ—rk of the Ministry for edifying the body of Christ so a day also for the work of the Ministry for the edifying the Body of Christ and to continue with the Ministry till we all come in the unity of Faith and knowledge of the Son of God Eph. 4.13 Thus you see the Sabbath is made for Man for his use good and benefit and he can't be without it his Body and Soul need it and Christ is Lord of the Sabbath and it being so necessary for them he would make a Sabbath for them and not make it void He came not to destroy but to establish the Law Math. 5.17 The next thing to be handled is that there ought to be and when the Church shall be Gloririous in the World there will be a strict observation of the Sabbath As appears in this place 1. If thou turn away thy Foot from the Sabbath-day to unlawful Works to sinful Company not go any unnecessary Journeys or to Sports and Recreations you must not walk your own Steps as well as not speak your own Words Now there is more understood when there is less spoken as thou must turn away thy Foot so the Hands the Eyes the Ears from the Sabhath-day the Hands from the works of thy Calling the Eyes from the delightful beholding of Earthly things the Ears from hearing vain Discourses and Talks about worldly matters Men's own words Likewise the Feet of the Soul as thoughts and affections with these Feet many Souls many times travel on the Sabbath as the Devil doth that is to walk to and fro in the Earth and by observing lying Vanities to allude to that in Jonah forsake th â—r own Mercies Now as Solomon exhorts keep thy Foot when thou goest into the House of God Keep your Feet when the Sabbath comes and turn not these away from it let not these be Instruments of Prophanation on the Sabbath-day 2. Turn from doing thy Pleasure self-pleasing works are Sabbath prophaning works God's pleasure is to be fulfilled then altogether and nothing of our own pleasure is to be done in that time all bodily Recreations are forbidden all works tending to our worldly profit are unlawful for we must deny our selves in point of Pleasure and so also in point of Profit 3. Not finding thy own ways Most properly the works of Men's Callings are their own ways Let every Man abide in his Calling the works of our Calling are our own works these must not be done on the Sabbath-day they are the works of the six days 4. Not finding thine own Pleasure As we must not set our selves to self-pleasing works so if any pleasurable Objects are presented and come in your way you must not find them that is you should not take notice of them nor regard them If they find you and tempt you do not you find them Satan lays matter of Pleasures in your way but do not find and take it up 5. Nor speaking your own words Such words as you may speak at other times we ought not to be speaking of worldly Matters what we must not do what we must not find pleasure in that we must not talk of as we must not work so we must not talk of work we
SEVERAL DISCOURSES ON The Unsearchable Riches of Christ The Knowledge of Christ Crucified The Authority and Efficacy of the word Working out our Salvation The Observation of the Christian-Sabbath Christ 's coming to Judge the World Being Some REMAINS OF WILLIAM ALLEIN M. A. Sometime Minister of the Gospel in Blanford Carefully copy'd from his own Notes and publish'd at the Request of his Hearers Remember them which had the rule over you who have spoken to you the word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation Heb. xiij vij BRISTOL Printed by Will. Bonny for I. Allein at his House in Bristol 1697. TO THE READERS Those especially who once were Hearers of the late Mr. W. A. and now desired this Service YOur justly Honoured-Teacher tho' ceased from his Labours near Twenty Years ago now once more speaks to you some great things of the Gospel to the same ends as St. Peter wrote to his dispersed Countrymen 2 Pet. 1.12 13. To stir you up by the way of Remembrance and to establish you in present Truth The World is indeed full of Books and Preachers yet seems to want more or at least that surviving Elisha might receive a double Portion of Elija's Spirit we are not allowed to wish that ascended Elijah's might be sent back to our dark impure World Divine Wisdom has chosen other ways to amend it but the Mantle they dropt we may take up to divide the Jordan in our way I cannot tell as perhaps you may at what times these Sermons were delivered it appears in some of them they were in in the time of the Authors publick Ministry Many yet remember what Excellent Piety Learning Modesty and Meekness enrich'd and adorn'd him and his Doctrine and have noted that when in his former Book which himself designed for the P ess and to have added somewhat to it he pleads more judiciously and strenuouslâ— for a dubious notion than most others did yet makes no such confident boast as they Somewhere that notion occurs too in these Papers which needs not offend any who are not of his mind in that Many great Men of different Names in our Age espouse most tâ—at he argues for viz. that a day aâ—d state of the Christian Church on Earth shall be when the impure mouths of Blasphemy now opened so wide against our blessed Lord Jesus his perfect Wisdom sacred Truth omnipotent Grace and vital Headship to his Body shall be stopped Satan the seducer being chain'd up and the whole Mystery of Godliness more clearly understood more unanimously â—elieved and the purifâ—ing nature of divine Truth irresistably demonstrated in the holy lives and loving Commerces of very numerous Converts to Christ Now who can forbear to wish at least this may prove true To promote such a Kingdom of Christ among Men as that in Rom 14.17 was the scope of the worthy Author's Life Study and Labours as witness these broken Remains he never design'd them for the Press as appears by many abreviatures and c's in his notes even in alledging Texts of Scripture which I think the Transcriber should have filled up but hath not a desire to serve true Religion peaceably in his private Station induced his consent to the motion of thus reviving his Honoured Father's Memory It cost him not a little pains tho' best acquainted with the Author 's very small Hand What assistance I could give in comparing his Copy with the Originals was due upon his request but after all our diligence the work requires the Readers Candour for we would not assume to correct the Atuhor's words tho' here and there may be a Phrase ungrateful to some Ears till they read on where our Author delivers his sense as plain and sound as needs be desired Once indeed I alter'd one Sentence to give the meaning of it in terms inoffensive but when the same recurr'd I chose to late it pâ—ss These Discourses were chose out of many because the notes of these were most legible the transcript has often fail'd in one little word viz. in putting so for ergo or therefore which the Authour commonly wrote in a character like So otherlike defects in the work claim excuse by Common Law Many have writ well on these same Subjects which as they can never be exhausted so must be alwayâ— inculcated that Men may grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. ult It 's not to be doubted but from a Man of God so well read in Holy Scripture you 'l receive what is worthy of your time and pains and will never be disrelished by any that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity but pleasant as bread eaten in Secret He was a true patient Labourer and most succesful Comforter of many dejected and wounded Spirits by skilful affectionate application of Gospel-Cordials a Man modestly zealous for Truth and Peace and mightily was his Spirit and Conversation influenced by the pure Heavenly Doctrine he believed and taught Like Remains of two other excellent Allein's Richard the geuvine Brother and Joseph the Kinsman of our Author have been judged worthy of such Publication And we have later Examples of Printing the Notes of great Men which in some parts are not more compleat than these Impartial Readers will allow that this Author was Baptized into the same excellent Spirit as they In the Sixty third year of his Age he was called into hiâ— Lords rest and joy when he had newly cut out for himself fome painful work wherein he hoped to do greater Service to the Church in divers places as he had every where good acceptance when his Friends told him they thought his Siskness would be unto death he answered well I know no cause I have to be sorry for that for I know in whom I have believed and am perswaded he 's able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day As 2 Tim. 1.2 but it 's some trouble to me that during my day I have not more improv'd my Time and Talent as I might Suitable Counsels he added to those about him to redeem the time and hasten all the work of their Generation and notwithstanding his penitent Reflections as excellent Arch-Bishop Usher on his death bed regretted his Sins of omission the Lord was pleased to chear him in his last Conflicts by ravishing prospects of Glory set before him even Eternal Life as the Gift of God through Jesus Christ To supply what was lacking in his design'd Service is one reason of publishing these imperfect Papers Some that saw his amiable walking in all good Conscience towards God and Man will more reverence and love that Truth whereâ—y he was sanctified the Faith and Footsteps of such guides St. Paul bids us follow and such remains may put us in mind that England's Churches once had burning and shining Lights Survivors sadly confess a greater scarcity of such now and may we not do well to enquire 1. How and wâ—y tâ—is is come
Accomplishment Page 166 3. To make these Argum. convictive there is requir'd an inward work of the Spirit on the Heart Page 170 Use 1. Of reproof to them that honour not the word duly Page 175 2. Of direction how to receive it Page 179 The Fourth Discourse Phil. 2.12 Of working out our Salvation Page 185 Sect. 1. Opening the Text. Page 186 Sect. 2. D. 1. The great busin that requires greatest diligence is to make Salvation sure Page 188 1. Salvation of Believers in Christ is sure in it self as the whole Trinity can make it Page 193 2. It may be made as sure to them 3. It ought to be made sure Page 194 4. Nothing else can be made sure Page 195 5. Nothing else is worth making sure Page 196 Sect. 3. What is Salv. and what Assur thereof Page 197 Sect. 4. Use of Exhortation with motives Page 198 Sect. 5. Directions 1. to estranged Sinners Page 203 Sect. 6. 2. To Saints 1. how to get this Assur Page 211 Sect. 7. 2. How to carry thems in want of it Page 213 Sect. 8. D. 2. The working out of Salvation begun should be the great desire of all Believers Page 220 1. Their Salvation shall be perfected 2. by degr 3. They should desire its perfection Page 223 Sect. 9. Use 1. Of Information 2. Of Excitation 3. Of Direction in this great work Page 229 Sect. 10. D. 3. Salvation is to be wrought out with fear and trembling Page 238 With what fear and what not Page 240 Sect. 11. 1. Salvation of Sinners is the work of the Trinity Page 242 2. There is a most glorious manifest of God in it 3. That cannot but work fear in the Soul to which this manifestation is made Page 245 Sect. 12. Of the nat and opposiâ—… of that fear Page 249 Sect. 13. Use 2 Of Information for Sinners Page 250 Sect. 14. Use 2. To consider well what is this work Page 252 Sect. 15. On the motive to this work ver 13. Doct. 1. they that are in the way of Life and Salvat are willing and doing Christians Page 256 Sect. 16. How they are willing and doing Page 257 Sect. 17. Use for conviction of many Page 261 Sect. 18. Doct. 2. A gracious will is of God's working Page 266 1. Explained 2. Proved by these steps 1. In Nat. Man is no free will to spirit good he is 1 dark 2. dead 3. full of enmity thereto Page 271 2. Renewed Man hath spiritual freedom Page 273 3. This holy free will is of God's working Page 274 Two main Objections answered Page 276 Sect. 19. Divers uses of this point Page 271 The Fifth Discourse Isa 58.13 14 Of Sanctifying the Gospel Sab. Page 283 Doct. In the puâ—est Goâ—pel-times theâ—e will be a strict observ of the Sabbath day How this Prophet Text proves that Page 285 c. Q. How God's Com. to Sanct. the seventh day can oblige us now to Sanct. the Lord's day Page 293 Q. How the chaâ—ge of the Sab. day appears Page 294 Q. How was the Sabbath made for Man Page 296 Q. Wherein consists the strict observ of it Page 299 Answer'd from the Text it self Object Who then can keep a Sab. Answered Page 302 Q. Shall a Sab. be kept in New Jerus or when the Church is glorious on Earth Page 303 Use 1. Of Rep. to many for not counting the Sab. holy and honour neither in the Judgm nor in their Practice Page 304 2. Of Exhortation to Sanctify it better Page 306 3. Motives to the Exhortation 4. Direct how to keep a Gospel Sab. Page 312 The Sixth Discourse Rom. 14.10 Of Christ 's Universal Judgment Page 317 D. 1. Christ hath a Judgment seat prepared for him What is meant by that and by his sitting on it Page 319 How Christ shall then appear What Enemies will then be Conquered D. 2. All Men shall then appear before him to receive Sentence according to their deeds now done in the Body Page 323 After what form Christ's Judgm will proceed Page 324 Q. Shall the Sins of the Godly be then mentio Page 326 Use 1. Of terrour to all the Wicked Page 331 Urged by considering that 1. 't is the day of Christ's wrath 2. All their sinful works will be remembred 3. None of their seeming good works mention'd in excuse of their evil ones 4. Their Conscience shall then be convinced Page 337 5. Their cries Prayers shall not be heard Page 339 6. They 'll be reward accord to their works Page 340 Use 2. Of Exhortat make it the business of every day to prepare for that last day Page 341 Directions how to prepare ERRATA Of many Slips in Spelling and Pointing these most need to be Corrected PReface Page 3. Line 16. for late read let p. 4. l. ult r. 12 Book p. 1. l. 8. dele Saint p. 7. l. 28. after is add to p. 11 l. 9. doth This. l. 33. r. here 's page 53. 30. they p. 54. 30. dele be p. 62. 28. aim p. 65. 12. is r. are p. 67. f. trusting r. instructing as we are instructed p. 68. 32. too r. to p. 69. 33. where p. 78. 12. add as after Sense l. 28. is r. if p. 80. 20. night r. might p. 81. 6. you r. must p. 82. 11. spent p. 84. 7. exercise p. 86. 33. Son-like p. 87. 2. change the Points p. 89. 28. dele more p. 90. 12. none p. 97. 19. Isai 33. p. 103. 14. search l. 22. plenty p. 104. 30. then read thou p. 107. 27. appropriation p. 108. 10. dele re p. 110. 15. I can p. 115. 21. dele on p. 116. 19. dele let 's p. 122. 3. Christ was p. 149. ult they P. 151. 2. constrain p. 152. ult be no. p. 160. 15. p. 170. 9. dele Truth p. 19. 69. â—n r. in p. 174. 20. fore r. for l. 24. there are p. 180. 19. 15. r. 5 p. 199. 22. that he p. 204. 3. r. live p. 221. 22. we were p. 235. 1. groaâ—ing p. 275. 12. dele that l. 21. his own p. 313. ult they p. 323. 30. dele and. p. 333. 14. change the Points r. and the. p. 340. 26. capacity p. 341. ult believe This. p. 344. 15. Jude l. 88. that they THE FIRST DISCOURSE THE Unsearchable Riches of CHRIST EPHESIANS the iij. verse viij Unto me who am less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given that I should Preach among the Gentiles the Unsearchable Riches of Christ CHAP. I. THE Apostle here commends the Grace of God to the Gentiles in that they were made Fellow Heires and partakers of his Promise in Christ by the Gospel and also the Grace of God to him in particular in Calling him to Preach the Unsearchable Riches of Christ among the Gentiles Who was a greater and more Eminent Saint Saint then Paul He calls himself when a sinner the chief of Sinners So there was ground for others to call him when he was a Saint the chief of Saints yet he stiles
love of God in your Electing or accepting Christ on the terms offered chusing him above the World and to serve him rather than your Lusts You may read your own Election or God As 't is said of Mary Magdalen much was forgiven her for she loved much Pardoning love was to be read in her love this is one fruit of the love of God on the Soul So you may say God wills for the Creatures wills This will is of God's working and this testifiâ—s of God's will 2. Such as once will to be saved shall continue to will and to do what they ought in the way of Life They shall not reject Christ they shall not cast of his Yoke they shall so live and do as those that are in the way of Life ought for God will work the immutability of God's Counsel shall cause an immutability in their will of following Christ As nothing shall seperate them from the love of God Angels Principalities Powers c. noâ—hing shall alter God's will towards them so noâ—hing shall alter their will towards God They shall not grow out of the Love of Christ into utter dislike or dis-esteem of him their Conversation shall be in Heaven they shall breath and long for Salvation They shall deny themselves and walk contrary to the World they shâ—ll â—vercome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their Testimony and not love their liveâ— o the Death For God shall work in them both 〈◊〉 will and do of his good pleasure c The End of the Fourth Discourse THE FIFTH DISCOURSE Of Sanctifying the Sabbath or Lord's Day ISAIAH lviij xiij If thou turn away thy Foot from the Sabbath from doing thy Pleasure on my Holy Day and call the Sabbath a delight the Holy of the Lord Honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own ways not finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Verse 14. Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride on the high places of the Earth and feed thee with the Heritage of Jacob thy Father For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it THe occasion of making choice of this Text is a late Discourse concerning a Reformation which there is ground to hope there will be in the World which will be usher'd in with some sweeping Judgment and therefore our present work is to prepare for a Storm Many Directions were given how we may prepare for a Storm The last was this Furnish your selves with those Graces with which the day of Reformation will flourish when it comes Now of many Graces mentioned which will live in that day this is one in that great day when the Church shall be glorious through the destruction of Anti-christ by an increase of â—ight so that the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord as the Waters coveâ—â—he Sea and the Spouse shall be prepared as a Bride adorn'd to her Husband when the Jews shall be called and the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in and these shall be filled with all the fulness of God and there shall be a Church which shall be the fulness of him which filleth all in all In this glorious day the Sabbath shall be an Holy and Honourable day in the Churches of Christ and the Duties thereof shall be performed with great delight Now if you wiâ—l prepare for a Storm and have some hâ—ding place in the day of the Lord's anger See that you be found in a strict observation of the Lord's day Doctrine When suâ—h a Reformation shall come which shall mak◠〈◊〉 â—hurch glorious on Earth then shall the Sabbath be look'd on by the People of God as Hâ—ly â—nd Honâ—urable and shall be observed as with verâ— much strictne s so with great delight Or in fewer words thus In the last and purest of Gospel time there â—â—ll be a very strict observation of the Sabbath-day â—ich now we call the Lord's day Quest. You will ask what ground there is to conclude this from these words Answ Let the context be well considered and we shall see a Prophecy of such things which as yet have not had a full accomplishment but shall in the lâ—st days And the observation of the Sabbath is made the condition of the Promises here made if the Sabbath be duly kâ—pt then what is promised before and in the Text shall be performed and if it be so then God commands the keeping a Sabbath under the Gospel And as there was before so there was when the Law was given on Sinai a Sabbath given There remains a Sabbath a day of holy rest for the People of God Let us search this Scripture then and see whether there will not câ—me forth of it a Jus Divinum for a Sabbath now under the Gospel The Prophet was sent to shew the House of Jacob their Transgressions and in particular to reprove them of their Hypocrisy in the Duties they performed and especially in their fasting which was a counterfeit Fast and then shews them what is the true Fast and then makes many gracious Promises which is his usual method after reproving present Evils he makes Promises which not only had respect to present times but chiefly to the times of the Gospel as we see plainly in the next Chapter He mentions present Sins and present Judgments ver 16. He complains that no Man did endeavour to set things right and so declares the Lord putting on Righteousness and an Helmet of Salvation to execute Vengeance on his Enemies and then the Effect of this They shall fear the Lord from the West And then the Redeemer shall come to Zion And in this observe how suddenly he falls into Prophecying of Gospel times and the last of them For so he doth as appears Rom. 11.26 There shall come out of Sion the Redeemer and shall turn ungodliness from Jacob. Those words are brought in as a Proof for calling the Jews and bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles In like manner he doth here which will the better appear if we consider the particulars of this Prophecy in this Chapter which will manifest that these chiefly respect the last Gospel times 1. See ver 8. Thy Righteousness shall go before Thee c. that is The Lord thy Righteousness as he is call'd in Jer. 23.6 When we consider that their Righteousness shall go before that 's some evidence of this sense as best Besides in what time is it that Christ and the Church of the Jews shall be called by this Name and why In the place before mentioned it is said Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch and a King shall Reign and prosper and shall Execute Judgment and Justice in the Earth In his days Judah and Israel shall dwell safely So 't is to be fulfilled when Israel as well as Judah are brought out of bondage then he shall be The Lord our Righteousness Jer.
must not Buy Sell Plow c. so we must not talk of these things on the Sabbath 't is prophane and prophaning talk This is the negative part shewing what is forbidden Next is the affirmative part 1. Call the Sabbath a delight The Jews did bear burdens on the Sabbath and thereby prophaned it many there are who if they bear no burden on their backs yet when they are engag'd in Sabbath-work bear burdens on their Hearts The Sabbath it self is a burden these do but prophane the Sabbath to whom Sabbath-Duties are a burden This is Evangelical True Spiritual keeping a Sabbath to call it a delight Psa 43.4 I will go to the Altar of God unto God my exceeding Joy So when you go about Sabbath-work and come to Ordinances your aim should be to have Communion with God and to meet with him to worship him and to receive Blessings from him that you may be able to say I will go to God my exceeding Joy Call Sabbath-work as well as Sabbath-blessings Sabbath-profit Sabbath-advantages a delight Delight to do the Will of God as well as delight in the Mercies he bestows upon you If you will remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy you must remember it and call it a delight and not only call it a delight but let it be so indeed and then your keeping of the Sabbath is the delight of God 2. The Holy of the Lord. 1. Made Holy by the Lord's Institution If you obserâ—â— a Sabbath as Commanded by Men only or as â— ving but the stamp of Humane Authority that â—s buâ— the Holy of Men but see the stamp of Divine Authâ—rity and look on the Sabbath as being from Heaven and not of Men. Honour Christ as Lord of 〈◊〉 Sabbath 2. And made Holy to the Lord to his Praise and Glory made for Holy Work and that for this High and Holy End to Glorify God 3. Honourable It hath been dishonoured and made contemptible by Men that have denied the Divine Right thereof and Men have been made Lords of it and many make themselves Lords of it doing and finding their own Pleasure and so make void this Law to themselves But as God will have a time to magnify his whole Law and make it Honourable so this of the Sabbath Isa 42.21 Thus you see with how much strictness and spirituality the Sabbath ought to be kept As there was an outward strictness required of the Jews for its observation beyond what is now as for not kindling a Fire c. so this was a type of that spiritual strictness here foretold which should be under the Gospel in the observation of it God forbad the kindling a fire on the Hearth That was a Type to shew that we should not kindle a fire of worldly Lusts in your Hearts nor warm your selves with any delightful thoughts of any matter of Profit or Pleasure c. and this reason may be given why God should forbid the kindling of Fire to the Jews God dealt with the Jews as a Soveraign and many things that were commanded was to declare his Soveraignty and to prove them whether they would be obedient to him So was the multitude of the Sacrifices and Oblations and so this command for not kindling a fire must be to declare his Soveraignty But under the Gospel 't is a time to declare his Kindness and Love his abundant Grace after that the Kindness and love of God appeared towards Man Tit. 3.4 Now God will have Mercy and not Sacrifice In this sense that he will declare his Soveraignty but will deal in a more gracious and merciful way as all Providences So all Ordinances and Commands are full of Grace Observe when God proclaims his Name before Moses Exod. 34.6 't is thus The Lord the Lord God gracious and merciful c. And that will not clear the Guilty We may take notice of three branches of this Name of God which have respect to three different times for the more convenient manifestation of them not but that all of them are manifested enough at all times 1. The Lord. So the time of the Law was for the manifestation of this branch of God's Name 2. The Lord gracious and merciful long-suffering abundant in goodness so the accepted time and day of Salvation under the Gospel is the time for the manifestation hereof 3. 3. That will not clear the guilty Now the day of Judgment will be the time for the manifestation of this part of God's Name Those that come in their guilt before him shall feel the power of that wrath which now perhaps they little fear Quest. If the Sabbath be to be kept with so much strictness Who then can keep a Sabbath Answ 1. This is the Law and thus it ought to be though we cannot come up to that strictness and spirituality which we ought to do 2. The Will and Desire should be as exact as is commanded and should beget in you your utmost endeavour and care and then shall you be accepted 3. Call it Holy and Honourable a delight Be sound in your Principles set your Seal to the truth of it 1. Call it so in your Judgment and inward Conviction or Assent and Consent 2. Call it so in word Justify it as the Holy of the Lord speak Honorably of it and for it 3. Call it so in your works do that which may honour the day and the Lord in keeping it When we consider the high degree of exactness and spirituality which there ought to be in keeping a Sabbath which is here laid down it much confirms the Interpretation of extending this to Gospel times and to the last and best times of the Gospel in which as God will liberally fulfil promises so he will in such a measure give his Spirit that the Saints shall more liberally fulfil this and other Commands when as all the Law so this of the Sabbath shall be written in the Heart God will have a time to make Men more Holy and obedient more agreeable to his Laws both for substance and circumstance matter and manner and it shall bear much more proportion and run more parallel with his Laws then hitherto Thus much I can boldly affirm haply more Consider Psal 102.18 This shall be written for the Generations to come and the People that shall be created shall praise the Lord or the new ercated People c. As this strict injunction binds always and makes it our Duty to keep a Sabbath so the new created People the Saints of the new Heaven and Earth shall praise the Lord they shall observe it in this manner c. when the Divine Nature shall deeply overspread all their Faculties when the Saints in Duties shall fly on the wings of the Spirit and shew the vigour of the new Nature which is part of that day of Reformation then will something be done to purpose as in all other Christian Duties so in this of turning away thy Foot c. Rev. 22.3
forc'd from his Heritage and not fed with it and 2 When there was a Famine in the Land of Canaan then his Heritage failed him and he went down into Egypt to be fed there But there shall be a time when the true Israel of God shall not only have but be fed with their Heritage their Heritage shall not fail them There is no Famine of Bread in the true Canaan Bread shall be given them and their Waters sure There shall be no prophane persecuting Person as Esau to make them fly from it 6. A Sabbath rightly kept is as the Gates of Heaven as Jacob said of Bethel this is the Gates of Heaven The Rest of the Sabbath is a figure of the Rest of Heaven and of Christ's Kingdom The work of the Sabbath is a figure of the work of Heaven the Joy in communion with God tasting in his Ordinances that the Lord is gracious is the first Fruits of the Joys of Heaven Heb. 4.4 5. He speaks of the Seventh day God did rest then from all his works and in this place if they shall enter into my rest Observe Those that keep a Sabbath aright to the Lord do enter into the rest of the Lord they rest from their own work and refresh themselves in the Lord. v. 9. There remaineth a rest or Sabbatism to the People of God that is a day to rest in and rejoyce in the Lord and honour him and this is the figure of the Eternal rest the Saints have in Heaven Directions for a Gospel keeping of a Sabbath To what was spoken before from the Text let the 92 Psalm be added where we have a pattern and directory for it The Title of it being A Psalm for the Sabbath-day 1. God is to be praised for making us glad through his work v. 4. It 's a good thing to give thanks c. to shew forth his loving kindness and faithfulness his loving kindness in giving Christ to be made Flesh and Sin a Curse c. Thou Lord hast made me glad through thy works through the work of Redemption Justification Sanctification Our own works make us sad when we think of them 't is with grief and Godly sorrow but thy works c. The works of the Redeemer fulfilling Righteousness making his Soul an offering for Sin and making Intercession changing me into thine Image these make me glad I will triumph in thy works I am ashamed of mine own works but I will glory in thine I am ashamed of mine own Righteousness which is as filthy Rags but I will triumph in Christ's which is most perfect and glorious I trust not to my own works but I trust in thine and not only trust but triumph in them over Sin Satan Death and Hell How great are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep We should not only take a slâ—ght view but have very serious thoughts of them and be much in meditating on them As the Angels desire to look into them and with a holy admiration of them Such Knowledge is too wonderful for me c. When Christ took not on him the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham and took Sin upon him and so loved us as to give himself to suffer Death and passing by many so loved me as to give his Spirit to quicken me when I was dead in Sins and to prepare me unto Glory what a great work is this Now it is proper for the Sabbath to cease from our own works which weary us c. To contemplate on and make our selves glad with the work of the Redeemer There are also the works of his gracious Providence in which God gives great experience of his Love Mercy c. to his People Object When we consider how much the Saints are afflicted in the World the are chastened every morning and in the mean time the Wicked spring as the Grass and the workers of Iniquity do flourish How can we be glad thro' God's works of Providence Answ Here God's thoughts lye deep but enter into the Sanctuary of God draw nigh and search into them and so you shall understand that which shall make you glad As for the wicked they spring as the Grass but 't is that they may be destroyed the wicked in their Prosperity are but as Grass and the best of them but as Grass on the House-top Grass soon withers and that on the House-top the soonest of all Thou Lord art most high if they be more high in Worldly Prosperity c. As for the Godly if they now suffer and are afflicted in their outward Man in worldly things 't is that they may be saved for ever The Wicked now prosper that they may perish for ever This he further sets forth Lo thine Enemies shall perish my Horn shalt thou exalt c. The World being high in worldly Prosperity are in the way to be thrown down Saints being low are in the way to be exalted the wicked exalting themselves glorying in their wickedness in their worldly enjoyments having exalted thoughts of themselves shall be abased but the Godly humbling themselves under the mighty Hand of God shall be exalted 2. On this day a Spirit of Prophesy should be exercised as to praise God for and make our selves glad in the works that are done so by the Spirit of Prophecy to consider from the word what God will do and make our selves glad in the works that are to be done ver 10. I shall be anointed with fresh Oyl I have some Light I shall have more somewhat I know of the Mystery of Godliness and I shall know more Some Grace I have received I shall have more I have a little strength I shall have more the little Faith and Love I have shall be increased thou wert a a Spring to me heretofore I had Grace in Conversion and all my fresh Springs are in thee and thence I shall have fresh Oyl 'T is good to exercise a Spirit of Prophecy it will make us glad amidst all our weaknesses and wants c. ver 11. Mine Eyes shall see and mine Ears shall hear my desire of the Wicked the Church's Eyes shall see her desire on Anti-christ the Man of Sin on Babylon the great ver 12.13 The Righteous shall flourish as the Palm trees the Righteous are oppressed but they shall flourish in and under their oppressions and shall grow under their burdens and take root downward and bear fruit upwards so doth the Palm-tree bear more fruit when 't is burthened He shall grow like the Cedar in Lebanon the wicked grow but as the Grass the Saints grow like the Cedar That is lasting and a Tree that continues long and the wood is very durable and lasting Those that be planted in the House of God shall flourish even when old And then are most green and flourishing in Grace When the outward Man perisheth the inner Man is renewed Lastly All this must be that God may shew himself upright he will put a
to pass 2. What are the present Consequences of God's smiting so many Shepherds such as scattering the litle Flocks growth of Ignorance Error Impiety Ruins of Temple work many disorders and distractions in the destitute Churches c. 3. What must be the Cure Its time to enquire For do we not see want of more able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 wise and faithful builders of God's House How weak are many shoulders on whom so great work is laid forcing an out-cry for a richer anointing with the Spirit of Grace i. e. of Love Wisdom Humility Zeal Self-denial Heavenliness which they had seen on others If this depart so much of our true Glory departs It cannot go well in Churches without fiâ—ed Pastors after God's own Heart entirely caring and watching for Souls feeding tâ—em with knowledge and understanding in the great Mysteries of Godliness Jer. 3.15 such was our Author known not mint anise filled his Tâ—oughts but the weighty things of Natural and Reveal'd Religion if he dwelt more than some do on sublimer Doctrines of Faith the Texts here treated are his Warrant together with Col. 1.24 to 29. 2.1 2 3. Nor did he treat them in a way of bold or curious speculation but as leading to Christian Practice upon the great things of the Gospel must Christians live if evâ—r they go further in Religion than a fruitless Form It 's in wrong to Christ and his Church if any Preachers do not jointly declare these with the moral Rules of good living I cannot see that Law and Gospel were set as variance in the Ministry of Christ and his Apostles Nor that the Honour of Christianity can be preserv'd or its ends attain'd without tutoring his Disciples great and small both in Principles of Christian Doctrine touching the glorious Person Offices Fulness and Benefits of Christ t eir only Head Lord and Saviour and touching subjection to his Soveraign Wisdom in his Laws They must be under the Law to Christ 1 Cor. 9.21 and that in vertue of his own Grace 1 Cor. 15.10 what kind of Evangilists must they be that think the great discoverys of the Gospel whereby the world was Christianiz'd are of little use in Preaching now Our Author was better taught as the Truth is in Jesus and finished his Course fighting the good fight and keeping the Faith once delivered to the Saints holding fast the Doctrine according to Godliness till of his beloved Master he obtain'd the Crown of Righteousness would to God that a like love to Divine Truth might prompt many others professing to embrace it to meditate and consult speedily how tâ—ey may best establish and propagate it It 's not witâ—out a Providence that of late we hear of so many sudden deaths of able useful Ministers and may it not prove a presage of other Calamitees to surprize us It 's tâ—y spiritual Profiting Reader that this work aims at and now look to thy self that thou receive not this Grace of God in vain T e Unsearchable Ricâ—es of Christ are surely the better part and being timely chosen and pursued may be thine chuse and inherit them study to know him whom to know is Life Eternal Improve that Ministry and word of Grace to day which is still the Power of God to Salvation to them that believe and enjoying this with other Helps work out thy Salvation with Fear and Trembling and God for Christ's sake will work in thee both to will and to do So shalt thou be counted worthy to stand before the Son of Man when he shall appear in Glory to doom this whole World to its Eternal State This is the Intent and Call of this Essay may the Lord of the Harvest so bless it Amen THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRST DISCOURSE Eph. 3.8 Of the Unsearchable Riches of Christ CHAP. 1. Some transient Notes on the Text. Page 1 Chap. 2. Why the things of Christ call'd Riches Page 4 Chap. 3. What are these Riches Page 6 1. Riches of Love which is Abounding Abiding Effectual c. Chap. 4.2 Riches of Christ's Righteousness as Mediator 1. In his works for Men. 2. In his works towards Men. Page 13 Chap. 5.3 Riches of Wisdom 1. Speculative Page 22 2. Practical As 1. in Ancient Providences and 2. About Man's Salvation Page 32 Chap. 6.4 Riches of Christ's Power Page 37 The Power of his Death Resurrect Intecession c. Power over all Mens Hearts and over all Creatures How exercised for us Page 40 Chap. 7.5 Riches of Glory Page 45 What Glory Christ hath and will appear in What Glory he received from the Father and shall receive from Creatures Page 50 Saints shall see and share in his Glory Page 56 Chap. 8. General Application of the whole Page 62 To those enriched by Christ and to all to seek a Portion in Christ's Riches Page 66 The Second Discourse 1 Cor. 2.2 Of Knowing Christ Crucified Page 72 The Text and Context explained to Page 77 Divers Notes thereupon As 1. That a Gospel Minister must resolve to go thorow with his work of Preaching Page 80 2. That he aim not at self-applause therein Page 81 3. That he must Preach Christ tho' he be counted a Fool for so doing Page 82 4. That he truly knows Christ when he labours to make others know Christ Page 83 5. He counts it a precious service to Preach Christ Page 85 6. Of all Divine Doctrines none more necessary to be Preached than Christ Crucified Page 87 Doct. 1. Knowledge of Christ is the most excellent Knowledge Page 88 1. Proved by considering 1. its object Christ in general Page 92 And in particular as his Natures Names Relations Offices to the Church Page 93 to 99 2. The Effects of this Kowledge as Justification Spiritual Transformation and Eternal Life Page 100 1. Use of Exhortation with motives Page 103 2. Means to get this Excellent Knowledge Page 113 3. Of Comfort to such as have attained it Page 119 Signs to Satisfy such as doubt Doct. 2. Our Principal study should be to know not only the History but Mystery of Christ Crucified Page 126 That Mystery is 1. Of Wisdom 2. Of Love And 3. of Vertue in his Blood Page 132 How the Vertue of Christ's Death is conveyed to us Page 138 Use 1. 1. Of reproof to the enemies of Christ's Cross 2. Of Exhortation to Believe in Confess and Suffer for Christ Page 134 Q. How may we so Suffer as to have Fellowship in Christ's Sufferings Page 145 Christ's Sufferings for us a ground of our worshipping him and how that must be Page 150 The Third Discourse 1 Thess 2.13 The Divine Authority of Scripture Page 157 D. The Word contain'd in Holy Scripture is in truth the Word of God Shewn Page 159 1. The Spirit in Scripture gives Testimony to it 2. Arg. from the word conv its Authority As 1. It s Power upon Sinners Page 160 2. It s Holiness 3. It s
with fear Doct 1. They are willing and doing Christians that are in the way of Life They will and do that are in the way of Life they will good and do good they will to take Christ and they will Christ should save them they will Christ should reign over them and are careful to do the will of Christ Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power Ps 110.3 They are willing to receive of Christ and are willing to give to Christ they are willing to receive grace and willing to give glory Willing to live by Christ and willing to live to Christ This is the will of a sound Christian Cant. 6.12 Mr Soul set me on the Chariot of Amminadab i. e. of my willing people That which the Apostle speaks in relation the duty of ministring to the Saints 2 Cor. 8.10 11. you may apply to the whole duty of Christians It is expedient for you to do and also to be forward That is to do good and do it willingly Now so perform the doing of it that as there was a readiness to will so there may be a performance also The sum is this let Will and Action go together perform willingly and will performingly Let there not be performance without a willing mind nor a willing mind without performance of that which is good Sect. 16. Now for opening this point First shall be shew'd how and in what respects such as are in the way of Life are willing Christians Now they are willing Christians in two respects 1. In respect of consent of heart to be sav'd by Christ They are made to will this To receive Christ as he is tendered in the Gospel as the Way Truth and Life As Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Christ complains of the Jews How oft would I have gathered you as a Hen gathereth her Chickens undâ—r her Wings buâ— ye would not Ye refuse to be gathered and to be saved by me Christ says I am come that they might have life and complains of the Jews ye will not come to me that you might have life Your hearts do not consent to the taking of me as liâ—e Now what the Jews refused and would not that â—â—ch as are in the way of life do consent unto They are willing to be gathered by Christ They disclaim a Self-sufficiency Merit or Righteousness and will have none but Christ. Christ my Pâ—ace Buy of my Gold says Christ I offer it and will freely give to those that are willing to take what I offer Now to Buy is nothing but to consent to take what Christ offers A Will to embrace Christ in all his fulness and glorious excellencies This see in Peter To whom shall we go We will abide in thee and with thee we will seek life no other way This Will was in Paul I desire to be found in him not having mine own Righteousness God offers a Covenant he is ready to bind himself to men he calls on men to take hold on the Covenant to take hold on the Promi Priviledges Grace Blood and Blessings of the Covenant Now this is to take hold of the Covenant Consent to God's Covenant be willing it should be Ratified and stand firm betwixt God and you that God may be yours and you his Conâ—ent to take God in Christ as your God and Father and Consent to be his in Christ There is none good but one that is God God in Christ the Supreme good then the will is made perfect when it closes in with God as the Supreme good Now this upright Will this Consent of heart is wrought in all that are in the way of Life Observe the steps by which Salvation is wrought First the Father wills it he chuses to Life in Christ And wills that the Son of God should be made Man and dye c. This Christ was willing to do Lo I come to do thy will Then the Spirit is given to the Elect he makes their hearts to Will to be saved by Christ and draws forth a Consenâ— from the heart to be saved by grace in Christ and no other way then God and the Creature both Will it God works two ways for saving the Elect. 1. God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself That is God gave Christ Christ Satisfied his Justice he punished sin on Christ and God did accept of what Christ did as perfect satisfaction And God was in Christ That is while Christ was Mediating Redeeming Dying and Rising God was in him Hereby he was strengthened for the work and supported in it hereby the price of his blood is of infinite Value his Obedience of infinite Merit sufficient to Redeem out of Misery and to purchase an Inheritance of Glory 2. God in the heart perswading to live to God in Christ and to accept of Life that is offered Thus drawing in their hearts to God as the Life of the Souls God in the heart reconciling it to himself making it willing to have Christ rather than the World and God rather than the Creature 2. In respect of Consent of heart to serve God in Christ The heart of a Christian is thus made willing that God's will should be its ‑ Rule above its own it is made Subordinate unto it as Israel said when the Law was given All that the Lord hath spoken we will do There was their consent that the Lord should Rule them and they would fear him So this is the will of a Christian under the Covenant of Grace and in the way of Life All that the Lord speaks I will do Lord says Paul What wilt thou have me to do The Angels and Saints cryed with a loud Voice c. Expressing their willingness that Christ should be honoured as King Rev. 5.11 12. There are two things to be observed about the tenders of Christ in the Gospel unto Believers 1. The fulness of God that 's held forth in him even his Blood the Way to it that is Faith in his Blood Mediation and Intercession hereby is access to God 2. The Terms on which Sinners must take him For that Christ says If any Man will follow me let him deny himself Self-righteousness Pleasure Profit and any thing that stands in opposition to Christ Let him take up his Cross and chuse to suffer rather than sin and lose any thing rather then me Math. 16.24 He must love Christ more than all things then he will consent to leave all things for Christ So let him follow me and go whither I lead him walking in such ways as I command him Then the Man doth will uprightly when he consents to take Christ in both these respects There is fulness of good in him and I will take him and depend on him for every good thing This shall be my Hope Joy Rest and Life for ever All good is treasured up in Christ the fulness of the Godhead is in him He seeks no further I have found him whom my Soul loveth
The Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his Servants shall serve him Then they shall serve him and not their Enemies any more and they shall serve him in-deed Now his Servants in name do serve other Lords Hypocrites go for the Servants of God but then his Servants shall serve him All Servants in name shall serve him indeed that is all shall serve him in sincerity so his Servanâ—s shall serve him throughly and to purpose 'T is so little Service that God hath now from his Servants that they can hardly be said to serve him but when they are before the Throne of the Lamb then shall Christ have abundantly more Service from his Saints As there shall be more light more warm Affections heat of Love in a high degree So there shall be much better Service Quest Shall there be a keeping of a Sabbath in the new Jerusalem the Holy City 't is said thus no Temple there no Sun nor Moon No Ordinances because the presence of the Lamb shall supply them and so make them useless and if no Ordinances then no First-day-Sabbath but every day a Sabbath Answ We must distinguish between the Holy City New Jerusalem and the Nations of them that shall be saved and shall walk in the light of it Rev. 21.24 Who bring their Glâ—ry and Honour into it mentioned Chap. 20.9 That is the Nations of them that shall be saved in the time of the Thousand Years as it is the same word which is used for the Congregation of Israel when they went out of Egypt travelling towards Canaan In like manner in the time of the Thousand Years besides the beloved City there will be a Camp of Saints there will be saved Nations called and converted then travelling towards the Holy City The Law shall go forth from Sion and the wâ—rd of the Lord from Jerusalem And they do walk in this light towards it Now in the beloved City Ordinances cease and the keeping of one day in seven ceases but in the Camp of the Saints c. amongst the Nations saved and walking in the light of the New Jerusalem there will be Ordinances and the keeping of the Sabbath in manner as is here prescribed Uses If there ought to be so strict an observation of the Sabbath day then how short do men come of the keeping of it Where are the Persons to be found that walk on the Sabbath according to this Rule 1. How loose are some in their Principles in writing and speaking against a Divine Institution of it as if there were not ground for the keeping of it but from Custom and the Commands of Men and so it shall be but the Holy of Men and not the Holy of the Lord whereas this is that which makes it H nourable and is the ground why we should call it Honourable because it hath the stamp of Divine Authority upon it And it 's Christ that is the Lord of it and not Man 2. And what loosness is in the practice of almost all Who be they that turn their Feet the Feet of the Body and Soul from it Where are any to be found that do not find their pleasure and speak their own words c. 2. Learn what reason there is to long for that glorious Reformation which shall be in the World As the Creatures groan to be delivered for the bondage of Corruption and from being in such bondage to Men's lusts who do abuse them so much to the dishonour of God and make them the matter of Sin So those that have the first fruits of the Spirit should groan within themselves waiting for the Adoption That is as they that believe have the power of Sons so they should wait for the Inheritance of Sons and long to have more of the Spirit of Sons that thereby they may be enabled as in their whole course to carry themselves as Sons towards their Heavenly Father So on the Lord's day they may come before the Lord in that Holy Spiritual and Heavenly frame which is here required What a blessed time will that be when he that is feeble and fails so much in Duties shall be as David the Man after God's own heart doing all his will Christ advised the Jews to pray that their flight might not he on the Sabbath-day Many times there is flying on the Sabbath-day and this is sad times Sometimes there is flying from Meetings flying from Duties for fear of Enemies and too often our Hearts on that day are flying away from God and the duties of his worship upon the wings of worldly thoughts and affections A happy time will it be with the Saints when there shall be no flying on the Sabbath no flying upon the wings of fear nor no flying upon the wings of worldly love but then David's wish shall be fulfilled to those that shall serve the Lord and David their King and fear the Lord and his goodness They shall have the wings of the Dove wherewith they shall fly to the Holy Spiritual Soul-refreshing rest of the Sabbath and fly to Heaven to the Throne of God and the Lamb c. Use 2. Exhortation Let that Holy Spiritual Strict Observation of the Sabbath which shall be hereafter be your pattern now 1. It will be a good evidence of your being in Covenant and of the truth and reality of Grace when you can thus holily and spiritually keep a Sabbath to the Lord. This is the Man that is likely to perform the duties of his Calling on other days to the honour of the Lord he will work he will Buy and Sell he will Plow and Sow he will Eat and drink to the honour of God and he will be careful that his business in the World be acted in Religion Isa 56.1 2. Keep Judgment do Justice Keep the Sabbath from polluting it The former comprehends the duties of the Second Table the latter the duties of the First So necessary is it to the right worshipping of God to keep a Sabbath that this is put for and made comprehensive of all the duties of God's worship 2. Thus shall you be the better prepared for a Storm For as here are Promises of being above troubles of riding on the High places of the Earth c. So hence you may conclude you shall have protection under trouble The true worshippers who worship God in Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus may have great confidence and peace in their hearts in such a day Psa 27.4 5. One thing have I desired of the Lord c. In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Pavillion in the secret of his Tabernacle c. Those that come to his pavillion-love to be where God is and to be near him and to have communion with him c. When the Woman is in the Wilderness she is nourished there and when a stream comes and the Dragon casts out a flood out of his Mouth to swallow her up the Earth shall help her
this is the Storm falling on the Remnant of the Woman's seed during the time of the witnesses lying dead Rev. 11. and 12. being compared 't will appear that those keeping the Commandments of God and testimony of Jesus are Heirs of those Promises that are made of the Spirit of Life to enter into the witnesses which shall make them stand upon their Feet These shall ascend in a Cloud and be above the Earth-quake and so in this great Storm be preserved as seed of that Glory which shall follow to the Church 3. This is some ground to hope that God hath some special favour for England because the Sabbath hath been called the Holy of the Lord and Honourable more here than in any other Nation And so to strengâ—hen thiâ— Hope be the more zealous of a sâ—rict obsâ—rvâ—tion of it Here the Doctrine of the Sabbath hath been better taught and a strict of sâ—lvation of it hath been enjoyned couâ—tenanc'd and encouraged by Humane Laws and the prophanâ—tion of it hath been made punishâ—ble and although the best have come too far short of what is here required yet a generation haâ—h been here coming nearer to this pattern than other Churches abroad have done aâ—d God haâ—h said them that Honour me I will honour God will have a day to honour those that honour him on his day I will make thee to ride upon the High â—laces of the Earth 4. Make the Sabbath a delight and then God himself will be your dâ—light Delight your selves in the Lord's work delight your selves in the Law and so you shall in the Lord's favour in the Light of his Countenance if Grace be put in your Hearts so that you delight to Honour God then gladness shall be put in your Hearts more than when their Corn and Wine and Oyl increased Thus you may delight in him in trouble our rejoycing is the Testimony of our Conscience a good Conscience witnessing our Sincerity towaâ—ds God in worshipping him is a continual Feast Thus you shall delight in him in a state above troubles and shall go to God your exceeding Joy and shall enter into the Joy of the Lord and the Lord himself shall be your Joy 1. Then you shall delight in God more clearly manifesting himself and better known The Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord. And there shall be none to hurt you for endâ—avouring to know him The Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all Flesh shall see it Isa 40.5 i. e. His love betâ—er known As now 't is shed abroad in the heart so then it shall be shining upon the Person The Church at last shall be a Philadelphia Christ mentions not any thing that he had against that Church a Type haply it was of the Glorious Church in the day of Reformation Now what says Christ of that Rev. 3.9 I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan to come and worship before thy Feet and to know that I have loved thee and if they indeed then much more the Saints themselves shall know that they are beloved of God and so delight themselves in the Lord. 2. They shall delight themselves in the works and ways of God towards them The Providences of God shall be all delightsome Providences Not good dispensed in and by Evil but good apart from evil Aâ— Israel shall dwell alâ—ne so good shall come alone and not evil with it Then God's works shall be like his thoughts of good and not of evil to grant an expected end So his works are good and there 's no afflicting evil in them and God will give the Saints their expected end that is what from his word they did expect to be accomplish'd here in the World not the last and utmost end that is fulness of Joy in Heaven 1. The groaning Creature shall have its expected end the liberty of the Sons of God in which its Liberty is wrapt up Then upon all shall be written Holines to the Lord and not be then the Lusts of the Flesh tho Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life as all in the World is so now Men lust after Worldly Pleasures and satisfy their Lusts with them the Voluptuous Man doth so and the Glutton and Drunkard The Lusts of the Eye being coveted by an Evil Covetuousness The Covetous Man makes his Riches the Lusts of his Eye and the Pride of Life Men that have much are usually proud of it This is the Creature 's bondage and burden to be so but then the Sons of God that possess and use them well will honour God with their Substance their Fields are like those of Canaan Fields of Offerings they shall Consecrate their gain to the Lord c. when thus the Creature shall have its expected end 2. The groaning Saint and Servant of God shall have his expected end the Adoption the Redemption of his Body They shall sit under their Vines and none make them afraid and stand before the Lord c. and shall have Peace flowing in like a River and Grace flowing in abundantly I wil pour out a Spirit of Grace and Supplication Now 't is but dropt out upon the Saints then it shall be poured out As Christ was anointed with the Oyl of Gladness above his Fellows so the Saints shall be anointed with the Oyl of Gladness above their Fore-Fathers with the Oyl of Grace and Gladness above them 5. Thus shall they be fed with the Heritage of Jacob their Father What is that 1. God himself was Jacob's Heritage as he said to Abraham he would be his exceeding great Reward so Rev. 21.3 I will be with them and be their God for they shall be satisfied with favour 2. Canaan the Land flowing with Milk and Honey was Jacob's Heritage and what was Typed out hereby will be given to the Church and is meant Deut. 32.13 He made him ride on the High places of the Earth that he might Eat the encrease of the Field and he made him suck Honey out of the Rock c. Butter of Kine Milk of Sheep fat of Lambs the fat of Kidneys of Wheat Thou didst drink the pure Blood of the Grape these were a Type of Christ and that fulness of Grace and Glory that is in him There is Honey and Oyl out of this Rock Righteousness and Peace the Joys of the Holy Ghost the substance of that shadow fat of Lambs Kidneys of Wheat He is the Bread of Life and hâ— the pure Blood of the Grape Christ will feast them at his Table in his Kingdom Christ himself his Grace and Glory the blessings of his Kingdom Righteousness Peace and the Joys of the Holy Ghost is the Heritage of the Saints and this they shall be fed with Jacob had an Inheritance viz. Canaan but there were times when he was not fed with his Heritage as 1. when he fled from his Brother Esau who threatned to be avenged on him and to kill him then he was