covetousnesse to do the will of God faithfully and enjoy the light of his countenance let that satisfie you They write that in some Regions there are black Lyons to be seen too many such I feare have been seen in our City I beseech God I beseech you that we may see no more of them I have shewed you wherein you ought not to be like Lyons I shall endeavour next to shew you wherein you are to be like Lyons Be like the Lyon of the tribe of Judah in all things yea be like the ordinary and common Lyon in these following properties qualities and deportments 1. The Lyon is vigilant a waking and a watchfull creature The names in the Hebrew and Greeke import so much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Videre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Video The Lyon is of sharp sight and sleepeth with his eyes open Herein be you like the Lyon yea be like the Lord whose eyes run too and fro throughout the whole earth Let your eye be every where as farr as it can possibly reach have your eye about in the Church mark what is done there Let your eye be about in the Market to see what measures and weights and wares are there Let your eye be about upon the Sabbath dayes in the streets and open places to take notice how the day of the Lord is prophaned Let your eye be about in every Inn and Alehouse to observe what disorders are there Make use also of the eyes of others that will be faithfull How can you ever reforme what is amisse if you doe not know and see what is out of order The Lyon of the tribe of Judah is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Visitator I will English it in Daniels words A watcher and a holy one Be you so 2. Justice appeares notably in the Lyon in distributing and in punishing The Lyon is very just in distributing the Prey he doth not feed one and leave the rest hungry but the Lyon doth teare in peices enough for his Whelps for every Whelp enough and also for his Lyonesses The Lyon is also just in punishing Nunquam se vindicat ultra modum so they write Hee doth never take revenge beyond the measure of the injury he hath received if any man throw a dart at him and yet hurt him not the Lyon will throw him downe that threw the dart but not hurt him if any man wounds the Lyon the Lyon will wound him and no more hurt if any man kill a Lyons Whelp the Lyon will kill him And herein be you a Lyon All Magistrates be you Lyons learne righteousnesse to execute judgement and justice It is sayd of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah The Scepter of his Kingdome is a right Scepter or a Scepter of righteousnesse Be just in your distributions Viz. of your favours and rewards ever countenance and cherish those that are good and feare God let your frownes be upon those that doe evill It is observed of the Lyon that he is benigne to men but fierce against beasts be you so To men First to such as are good extend your favour but to Beasts to a beastly generation be severe For Rulers are not a terrour to good works but to the evill Governours are sent of God for the punishment of evill doers and for the praise of them that do well The Lyons in the Den will teach you what to do not to hurt Daniel but to flye upon false witnesses and persecutors of the servants of the Lord to roare and be terrible unto them Be just in punishing offenders to correct in a proportion If the wicked man be worthy to be beaten the Judge shall cause him to lye downe and to be beaten before his face according to his fault in a certaine number Deut. 25. 2. that is according to the proportion of his sin They were to moderate the punishment according to the nature of the trespasse and the Delinquents ability to beare the stripes Eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand foot for foot Burning for burning wound for wound stripe for stripe The Law of retaliation is an exact law God doth all his works of Justice as well as his works of power in number weight and measure Learn Justice of the Lyon 3. The Lyon is eminent for mercy For mercy in giving the Lyon is liberall in giving it eates not the prey alone but divides it to other creatures which cannot hunt for themselves Also for mercy in forgiving The Lyon spares all that prostrate and bow to him The Lyon of the tribe of Judah is gentle and mercifull Behold thy King cometh to thee he is meek Be you also mercifull Shew mercy in giving distribute liberally to the necessity of the Saints of Christ The Lyon of the tribe of Judah what did he give to relieve and save your Soules He gave himselfe The bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the World Hath Jesus Christ given his flesh and blood for you and to you and will not you give common bread to his poor Members to comfort their bodies in these pinching times Shew mercy in forgiving Parcere prostratis scit nobilis ira Leonis Tu quoque fac simile The Lyon did not tyrannize over the Carkasse when it was down nor tear the Asse being an innocent thing The Ruler must have mercy to shew compassion to the oppressed to use mildnesse and lenity to penitent Offenders to remit and mitigate the rigour of the Law Parcere subjectis as well as Debellare superbos You should consider that even you are not without your Infirmities All Authors agree in this that the Lyon hath a continuall Feaver a quartain Ague The reason they give is this God hath so provided because he is a fierce Beast and if he had no Infirmities of his own he would not only insult over but devoure also all the Beasts of the field So also God hath provided that the best Christians and the highest in place shall ever have some Infirmities and Fraileties which may temper and allay their severity against others Be not so hot in the Execution of Justice as to rent and teare every Delinquent that hath perhaps failed in some petty matters Consider your own Infirmities Brethren If any man be overtaken in a sault yee which are spirituall restore such an one in the spirit of meeknesse considering thy selfe least thou also he tempted The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah was made like unto his Brethren God only knowes how soon you your owne selves may stand in need of mercy and that not only from God but even from men also What you would that men should do to you the same do to them This is Christs golden Rule And know yea and remember it too That hee shall have Judgment without mercy that hath shewed no
hee spake was an Oracle to her and her will ever closed with his Judgment He lived to eighty yeares of age When I the youngest of nine and the unworthiest of all was born he was forty years of age He called me the Son of his age yet lived to see me forty yeares old before he dyed He was much and frequent in secret fasting And when he kept a day hee told none of the house of it save my Mother onely who would not eate that day that he fasted but oft-times she was with him in his retyring Chamber to joyn with him in prayer yet all the Family knew it because at night hee supped not but onely had a Toste and a draught of ordinary Beer to sustaine nature On the Sabbath day he never had any thing rost to Dinner because hee would have none detained at home from the publique Ordinances The Pot was hung on and a peice of Beefe and a Pudding in it that was their constant Lords-day Dinner for well-nigh sixty years His Church at Belssed stood in a very solitary place He alwayes kept a Key of it and would often resort thither all alone A Gentleman once espying him going to the Church-ward on a private day hid himselfe till my Father was past and in the Church then hee came close up to the Church wall desirous to peep in at some Window to see what he did and to listen him if he sayd any thing And the Gentleman told me the last time I was at Belsted that he prayed then read a Chapter and after that prayed largely and very heavenly as if he had been in his Family or in the publique Congregation He vigorously held on the course of his Ministry to the last It may be said of him as of Caleb and Joshua he was as fit for Service in Gods Harvest-field at fourescore as he was at forty Some abatement of bodily strength there was as old Age did steale upon him After his after-noon Sermon on the Sabbath he would be something faint and commonly when he came home he would call for some comfortable Draught and when he had lifted up his eyes to Heaven and taken it he would say to them about him these are Crutches to shore up a ruinous house But in his Intellectuals and Spirituall strength there was no failing I cannot but here intersert a Passage that now comes in my minde Old Mr. Benton of Wramplingham in Norffolke a holy man of God being upon occasion in Suffolke in those parts could not but give a visite to his old friend Mr. Carter of Belsted Being with him he heard him discourse with holy Gravity a mixture of all kind of Learning Solidity and Wit he stood amazed and said Mr. Carter I see you are like the Palm and Cedar that bring forth more Fruit in your Age. I thank you said my Father for telling of me what I should be And now the time of his departure was at hand Some fortnight or three weeks before his translation there appeared some decaies in his Body and his memory did a little faile He would sometimes but very rarely call to go to Sea and to his better Country Yet he sat up from morning to night and walked commonly up and down the Room and never failed the performance of Prayer and other Family duties and so as none could discern any considerable defect in his spirituall or naturall strength Onely this when he had done he would presently call to begin again and say Daughter Eunice for my Mother being dead about two yeares before she was the stay of his house and staff of his Age shall we not go to Prayer and when she should answer him you have been at Prayer already and you are weary he would answer I feare we have not done what we should do It was an ordinary yea a constant passage in every Prayer that God would vouchsafe a mercifull and easie passage out of this life And most graciously did the Lord answer it Febr. 21. 1634. being the day before the Sabbath in the Evening he calls very earnestly for Paper Ink and two Pens for by Gods grace saith he to morrow I will Preach twice But God knowes he was not in a fit condition for Study yet with that resolution he went to Bed and God gave him some rest that night In the morning upon the Sabbath-day he did rise out of his Bed as he used to do came out of his Bed-chamber into the Hall and after Prayer he called for his ordinary Breakfast before he went to the Church for still he held his resolution of Preaching which was an Egge he took it in his hand but alas it would not down Eunice saith he I am not able to go to Church yet I prethee lead me to my Bed I will lye down a little and rest me So he arose up out of his Chaire and walked she supporting of him And when he came to the Parlour-door before he put his foot over the Threshold Oh Eunice sayes he what shall I do Put your trust saith she in that God of whom you have had so much experience who never yet did leave you nor forsake you He said The Lord be thanked So he gather'd up himselfe went to the Beds-side sate downe upon it and immediately composed himselfe to lye down He lifted up one of his Legs upon the Bed without any great difficulty laid down his Body and rested his head upon the Pillow My poor Sister stood by expecting still when he should lift up his other leg she thought he had been fallen asleep And she was not mistaken so it was it proved his last sleep and before she could discern any change in him his Soule had taken its flight to Heaven even into the Armes and Embraces of his blessed Saviour whom he had faithfully served Hee intended a Sabbaths Labour for Christ and Christ gave him rest from his Labour even the rest of an eternall Sabbath When my Sister began to speak to him and lift him she found that his breath was departed and yet no change in his Countenance at all his eyes and his mouth continuing in the same posture they used to be in his sweetest sleeps Thus the Lord gave unto his faithfull Servant the desire of his Soule such an easie passage that his death could not be discerned from a sweet naturall sleep Not many daies before he dyed he called my Sister Daughter saith he remember my Love to my Son John I shall see him no more in this life and remember me to the rest of my Children and Family and deliver this message to them all from me Stand fast in the Faith and love one another This was the last message that ever he sent Hee ended his life with a Doxology breathing out his last with these words The Lord be thanked When he had thus yeelded up his spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father my Sister Eunice dispatched a Messenger to me to
Norwich For so he had given order before he dyed that his body should not be put in the Coffin till his Son John came God carryed me through the journey in hard weather and through his good providence I arrived at Belsted early on the Tuesday And going to the house of mourning I found the body of my deceased Father still lying upon the Bed They uncovered his face Sweetly he lay and with a smiling countenance and no difference to the eye between his countenance alive and dead save onely that he was wont to rejoyce and blesse me at my approach now he was silent I fell upon his face I confesse and kissed him and lift up my voice and wept and so took my last leave of him till we meet in a better World In the afternoon February 4. 1634. at his interring there was a great confluence of people from all parts thereabouts Ministers and others taking up the words of Joash the King of Israel Oh my Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof Old Mr. Samuel Ward that famous Divine and the glory of Ipswich came to the Funerall brought a mourning Gowne with him and offered very respectively to Preach his funerall Sermon now that such a Congregation were gathered together and upon such an occasion But my Sister and I durst not give way to it For so our Father had often charged us in his life time and upon his blessing that no Sermon should be at his buryall For sayd he it will give occasion to speak some good of me that I deserve not and so false things will be uttered in the Pulpit Mr. Ward rested satisfied and did forbeare But the next Friday at Ipswich he turned his whole Lecture into a Funerall Sermon for my Father in which he did lament and honour him to the great satisfaction of the whole Auditory Gloria fugientes sequitur Glory is like a shadow follow it and it will fly away fly from it and it will follow For humility hee was most eminent Humble in his habite humble in his company for though his gifts called him before great men yet his most ordinary converse was with those of inferiour ranck in whom he saw most of the power of Godlinesse He writ very much but hee left nothing behinde him save what is Printed and his Exposition of the Revelation and a Petition to King James for the taking away of burdensome Ceremonies out of the Church nothing else but a few broken Papers which I suppose he look'd upon as Waste paper Surely he burnt the rest when hee saw his appointed time draw neer meerly out of a low opinion of himselfe and gifts He baulked all things that might tend to outward pomp and ostentation He would have no Funerall Sermon He gave order to be buryed not in the Church but in the Church-yard where hee and my sweet Mother that glorious Paire lye interred together without so much or rather so little as a poore Gravestone over them He had learned of Christ to be meek and lowly in heart he was humble in his life and humble in his death and now the Lord hath highly exalted him He kept a constant Diary or day-book in which he set down every day Gods extraordinary dispensations his own actions and whatsoever memorable things hee heard or read that day He cast up his accounts with God every day and his sins were blotted out before he was called to his last reckoning His day of refreshing is come he rests from his Labours Plus vivitur exemplis quam praeceptis saith Seneca Examples of the dead are Sermons for the living And though when I first set Pen to Paper I intended onely to recollect some of his doings and sayings now eighteen yeares after his decease for my owne memory instruction and comfort yet I cannot but conceive that the example of this holy man of God if it be communicated may be usefull and profitable to the Church of God He was a true childe of Abraham and the blessing of Abraham fell upon him I will blesse them that blesse thee saith the Lord and I will curse them that curse thee Not long since I was at Bramford there dwelleth an ancient Gentleman one of great quality my friend and my Fathers old friend he spake thus to me Mr. Carter I have now lived to see the downfall of all your Fathers opposers and enemies There is not one of them but their Families are scattered and ruined Let the Enemies of Gods faithfull Messengers heare and feare and do no more wickedly I cannot but add one thing more It may be truely said of him and his faithfull Yoke-fellow as it is writen of Zacharias and Elizabeth They were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandements and Ordinances of the Lord blamelesse I dare say the World will testifie that neither of them did ever do that thing that was unjust or evill or scandalour or uncomely their Enemies being Judges They were as to men without blemish their life was a sweet savour and they went out of this life as a fragrant perfume I confesse I have drawn his life very imperfectly I must say as the Queen of Sheba the one halfe hath not been told you It will not be long before the Lord Jesus Christ shall open the Books at the last and great day then and there you shall read his compleat Story Prov. 10. 7. The Memory of the Just is and shall be blessed Reader IT is sayd of Christs sayings and doings that if they should bee written every one the World it selfe could not containe the Bookes Farre be it from me to attribute so much to my worthy Father Yet this much I am certaine of that there are many things in his Life and those of very great concernment which have slipped me Therefore I leave these ensuing Pages vacant that so as thou remembrest any of his holy sayings and doings not mentioned before thou mayst write them downe for thine owne benefit and the good of others Isa 58. 1. Lift up thy voice like a Trumpet Joh. 19. 14. Behold your King 1 Cor. 1. 23. We preach Christ crucified Joh. 1. 29. Behold the Lamb of God Revel 13. 8. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the World A RARE SIGHT OR THE LYON Sent from a farr Country and presented to the City of NORWICH in a Sermon upon the Solemne Guild-day June 18. 1650. By IOHN CARTER Preacher of the Gospel And as yet Sojourning in the City of NORWICH Joh. 1. 21. Sir We would see Jesus LONDON Printed in the yeare 1653. TO THE RIGHT WORShipfull Mr. WILLIAM BARNHAM Major of the City of NORWICH As also to Mr. Barnard Church who with much Honour managed the chiefe Place of Magistracy in the said City the last yeare JOHN CARTER Humbly presents this rare Sight AS a Testimony of his respect love and thankfulnesse to them for all their undeserved Favour and faithfulnesse As also because they have
of Ioseph the Husband of Mary his supposed Father Hee descended from David through the loynes of Solomon Saint Luke chap. 3. 23. describes the Pedegree of the Virgin Mary his Mother that bare him shee descended from David through the loynes of Nathâ—n The Husband and Wife were both of the same Family and therefore Christ had a title to the temporall Kingdome Crown and Dignity both by the Fathers and Mothers side Heralds came from the East to proclaime him King there saying Where is he that is borne King of the Iewes For we have seen his starr in the East Matth. 2. 2. This Pilate subscribed and would not revoke it Iesus of Nazareth the King of the Iewes He was a Lyon true bred But as for this temporall Kingdome and Dominion over Judah the other Tribes our Lord Jesus Christ would not meddle with it Hee had indeed jus ad rem but would never take possession They would have taken him by force to make him King Joh. 6. 15. but he perceiving it departed and hid himselfe in a Mountaine Hee departed from his owne right abdicated the earthly Kingdome and would not meddle with it Therefore secondly By the Tribe of Judah wee must understand the same thing that is signified by Mount Sion and the City of the living God and the heavenly Jerusalem Heb. 12. 22. And what is that Vers 23. will tell you The generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in Heaven The whole company of the Elect who are ordained to life eternall Christ is the King of his Church and the Church is Christs Kingdome The Elect the company of true Beleevers are his subjects and none else Psal 2. 6. I have set my King upon my holy hill of Sion that is over the Church As Pharaoh made Joseph Governour over all his House so God the Father made his Sonne Jesus Christ King and Governour of the house of God that is the Church of God This Nathanael confesseth in his little Creed John 1 49. Thou art the son of God thou art the King of Israel His peculiar jurisdiction is over the Church Quest But is not Christ a great King over all the Earth Psal 47. 2. Answ Christ hath a twofold Kingdome 1. Regnum potentiae his Kingdome of power by which as God together with the Father and the holy Ghost hee powerfully rules over all Creatures in Heaven and Earth And so all Men and Women in the World are his Subjects yea whether they will or no. 2. Regnum gratiae The Kingdome of grace Whereby as Mediator hee calls and governs his Church and chosen And in regard of this latter he is sayd properly and peculiarly to be the King of his Church and of his Church onely Thus you have seen 1. That Christ is a Lyon a King 2. That he is the Lyon the onely King 3. That he is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Now attend to the reason of all together Why must the Lord Jesus Christ be such a Lyon such a King He must be a Lyon a King because he is Mediator of his Church This great and high office of a King was so necessary that the Church could never have been saved except Christ had born it A Mediatour is for the reconciling of parties that are at variance and hee that undertakes the work must be in grace and favour with both parties and he must deal not onely between but with both parties with the party offended and the party offending Here the parties at odds are God and Man God is the party offended Man is the party offending You know how the quarrell began man by transgressing against the Commandement and eating of the prohibited Tree highly provoked God here came in the enmity and man cast under an eternall â—curse and must have remained under the sentence of death for ever without a Mediator to take up the quarrell and make peace The Lord Jesus Christ undertakes this office There is one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus He therefore must deal and negotiate with both parties and to this end he puts himself upon a threefold office of a Prophet Priest and King 1. And first hee deales with the party offended with God for men This hee doth in his Priestly office Every high Priest saith the Apostle is taken from among men is ordained for men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in things pertaining to God that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sin Here you see he deals with God on the behalfe of men offending and how by offering sacrifices that is by way of satisfaction The sentence was our That day thou eatest that day thou sinnest thou shalt dye certainely Gods justice now could not be satisfied nor any reconciliation made without death no nor without the death of such a person as was without sin without any exception yea such a person as must be God as well as man because the satisfaction must be infinite Jesus Christ is willing Oh the infinite grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to negotiate in this great businesse with his Father and on mans behalfe he doth three things 1. He suffers whatsoever man should have suffered to satisfie God and acquit sinfull man They write of the Lyon that he alwayes hath a quartain ague I am sure Jesus Christ the Lyon of the tribe of Judah hee had a quotidian for us Hee was a man of sorrowes well acquainted with griefe from his birth to the Crosse Yea he dyed a bloody and a most accursed death to appease the wrath of God and slay the enmitty And here the Lyon becomes a Lambe brought as a Lambe to the slaughter and is the very Lambe mentioned in the next Verse which stood in the midst of the Elders as it had been slaine Thus he satisfieth A second businesse he doth for man is as a Priest to pray and intercede to and with his Father that his Sacrifice may be availeable and effectuall to the salvation of his Church I pray saith Christ for these with me now and for all them also that shall beleeve on me Thirdly He doth ingage to his Father that all that the Father hath given him shall beleeve That hee will work faith in them by his Spirit John 6. 3. All that the Father giveth me i. e. all the Elect shal come to me i. e. they shall beleeve Thus Christ is an agent for man with God And in this Priestly office he purchased his Kingdome Therefore saith God the Father will I divide him a portion with the great and he shal divide the spoyle with the strong because he hath poured out his soule unto death and he was numbred with the transgressors and he bare the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors Againe secondly it is necessary that he deale and negotiate on Gods part with men and this he doth as a Prophet King 1. As a Prophet He
thou art his Subject But they that are not ruled and governed by Christ by his word and Spirit they reject Christ and say we will not have this Lyon this King to Reigne over us These are under another King Sin reignes in them and they have a King over them indeed it is the Angell of the bottomlesse Pit whose name is Abaddon and Apollyon Revel 9. 11. The Devill is their King and they are his Vassals These lye under the wrath of God And how dreadfull that is Solomon will tell you The Kings wrath is as the roaring of a Lyon but his favour is as the dew upon the grasse Prov. 19. 12. And do they say we will not have this King to reigne over us they shall be subject at the long-run if they will not bend in time they shall be broken if they will not come into the Kingdome of grace they shall be subdued by the Kingdome of his power I have sworn by my selfe saith the Lord the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousnesse and shall not return that to me every Knee shall bow Isa 45. 23. They that here will not kisse his golden Scepter shall at the last and dreadfull day be dashed in peices with his iron Rod. Then shall he say to his mighty Angels Those mine Enemies that would not that I should Raigne over them bring hither and slay them before me Luk. 19. 27. Those that in time will not prostrate to this Lyon of the Tribe of Judah he will be to them at last a fierce and furious Lyon and will rent and teare them to peices when there is none to help Reprehens 2. Is Jesus Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah This checks not onely the arrogance and boldnesse but also the madnesse and folly of all such as provoke this Lyon and rise up against him There are such fighters against God who oppose themselves and exalt themselves above all that is called God This is Antichrist And as Saint John speaks in his first Epistle Chap. 2. 18. Even now there are many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time Not onely that Antichrist the great Whore of Babylon sitting upon seven Mountaines with a Golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthinesse and drunken with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus But all Hereticks and Blasphemers that rise up against this Lyon Viz. Such as rise up against the very person of Christ some against his Divinity others against his Humanity and many against whole Christ Such as rise up against the Scriptures of God crying them downe for a meer humane invention such as rise up and fight against the truth of Christ the Gospel of Christ all the Ordinances of Christ the Government of Christ These my Beloved Christs Gospel Truth and Government are his Scepter The rod of his strength which hee sends out of Zyon These are the sharp two-edged Sword which cometh out of the mouth of Christ whereby he conquers and rules in the midst of his enemies And all such as oppose the truth Ordinances and Government of Jesus Christ they set up their power against the power of Christ they draw out their Sword against Christs Sword Against these the Lyon of the tribe of Judah will roare yea he will tear them in peices But especially he will be feirce and terrible against them that hurt and kill his Whelps But who are the Whelps of this Lyon The old Patriarch Jacob shall tell you Judah is the Lyons Whelp Gen. 49. 4. Judah that is the Church and people of God The annointed of the Lord his Prophets and his Saints Psal 105. 14 15. And here I may turne my reprehension into lamentation Oh God! the Heathen are come into thine inheritance thy holy Temple have they defiled they have layd Jerusalem on heaps The blood of thy Saints have they shed like water round about Jerusalem We are become a reproach to our neighbours a scorn derision to them that are round about us The Lord hath sent Prophets wise men and Scribes and some of them have they killed and crucified and some of them have they scourged and persecuted from City to City I saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the beast neither his Image neither had received his marke upon their foreheads or in their hands But it may be sayd as the King answered Ester Who is he and where is hee that durst presume in his heart to do so And Ester sayd The Adversary and Enemy is this wicked Haman Hee was a great Favorite politick and potent and hee presumed upon his owne greatnesse So may I say the Adversaries and Enemies that have done these things are a wicked Generation but how dare they doe these things How dare they not They are great in power and riches and strength able to crush all that stand in their way they are politick and crafty who can over-reach them they stand strong and who can bring them downe They have sayd Wee will prevaile who is Lord over us But can they prevaile against the Lyon of the tribe of Judah whose Whelps they have injured and killed Let me tell these deceitfull and bloody men two or three things 1. That there is no creature more tender of their young ones then the Lyon the Lyon will defend his Whelps from injury till he fall downe dead I have read so much in approved Authors 2. Let me tell them they are indeed Lyons themselves base savage Lyons of the Forest Davids cruell Persecutors were gaping ravening and roaring Lyons Nero was a Lyon and such are all Tyrants But the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah is stronger then they Hee is the strongest among Lyons and a King against whom there is no rising up Prov. 30. 30 31. He is a foole that will contend with one that is mightier then himselfe Eccles 6. 10. 3. Let me tell them yet further the Lyon may seem to sleepe a while even whilest his Whelps suffer but hee will rouse up and roare Some write that the Lyon never sleeps but often seemes to sleep when he is most awake I am sure the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah doth neither slumber nor sleep Hee may seem to sleep but hee will awake as one out of sleep and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of Wine And he will smite his Enemies in the hinder parts he will put them to a perpetuall reproach Psal 78. 65 66 4. And lastly let me tell them a Story which I have read in a learned and approved Author which he relates and affirms to be true his end is to prove as the strength so the wisedome of the Lyon above other creatures A Lyon and a Lyonesse having Whelps went both out to hunt for prey
A Consul's Servant whose name was Androdus for an offence was brought forth to this Lyon either to fight with him and conquer him or else to be torn in peeces by the Lyon and nothing else could be expected When this fierce Lyon saw Androdus afar off hee made a sudden stand as it were in admiration afterwards by little and little hee comes on to the man tanquam noscitabundus as if he thought he knew him and were desirous to know him more perfectly Then he wags his taile after the manner of a fawning Dog rubs his body against the body of Androdus who was almost dead for feare and gently strokes his thighs and hands with his tongue Upon this kindnesse of the Lyon Androdus begins to recover his Spirit and fixing his eyes upon the Lyon he and the Lyon as knowing one another began to renew acquaintance and rejoyce and play together Hereupon there was a strange admiration and shout Androdus was called before Caesar and the cause enquired why the most fierce and barbarous of all the Lyons should spare him and none else Then Androdus gave a full account of the whole matter I was a Servant sayes hee to a Proconsul a Lord-deputy in Africa there having hard use and continuall stripes from my Master I was forced to run away Wandring in solitudes that I might not be found again by my Master about Noon-tide in a hot scortching day I enter'd a Cave for coolnesse presently after this very Lyon came into the same Den with a halting and bloody foot sighing and moaning and as begging pity At the first sight of the Lyon I was terrified but the Lyon soon espying me in a corner of his Den came towards me in a peaceable manner held up his wounded foot shewed it me as craving my helpe I pulled out of the plant of his foot a great thorne or shiver that stuck in it nipped out the blood and corruption cleansed the wound and healed it The Lyon finding ease and cure by my industry rested his foot in my hand And from that day I lived three yeares in that Den with this Lyon and we had the same dyet For when the Lyon had hunted and caught his Prey he would bring the fattest and loveliest peeces to me and because I wanted fire I rosted them against the Sun dryed them and eat them But growing weary of that kind of life with the wilde Beast when on a day the Lyon was gon out after Prey I left the Den and ran away and after some three daies wandring I was taken by the Souldiers and brought to Rome to my Master he presently condemned me to be thrown to this Lyon And I understand that as soon as ever I was parted from the Lyon the Lyon also was taken in his ranging abroad and brought to Rome and now shewes me this kindnesse for his cure Appion said he heard Androdus make this relation It was soon published abroad and all the men petitioned Caesar that the man might be pardon'd and set free and that the Lyon might be given to him And upon the request of the people it was granted Afterwards saith Appion we saw Androdus leading the Lyon about the City by a small Cord from Tavern to Tavern the people gave him money and all as they met him would say Hic est Leo hospes hominis Hic est homo medicus Leonis Here is the Lyon the mans Land-Lord and here is the man the Lyons Surgeon The Story hath been something long I will give you the Application short and quick The man plucked a thorne out of the Lyons foot the Lyon gave the man his life for a reward And will not the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah do more then a Lyon of the Forrest Dost thou see in any of Christ poor Members a thorne a thorn of extream poverty and want a thorn of misery that they are ready to perish Pull out the thorn ease them help them refresh their bowels Christ will give you life even eternall life for your reward He will feed and protect you here and glorifie you hereafter Here what this Lyon this King this Jesus will say to you when he shall come in his glory Come yee blessed of my Father receive the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was an hungred and you gave nee meat I was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and you took me in naked and you clothed me I was sick and you visited me I was in prison and you came unto me Matth. 25. 34. 35. 36. Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtain mercy Matth. 5. 7. You have heard the word of Exhortation now followes the fourth and last Vse 4. Of Consolation Jesus Christ is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah the Almighty and eternall King of his Church This opens a wels-spring of comfort to all the Lyons true-bred Whelps to all the Subjects of Christs spirituall Kingdome The Lord Jesus Christ reigneth let the Earth rejoyce let the multitude of the Isles be glad thereof Zion heard and was glad and the Daughters of Judah rejoyced because of thy judgments oh Lord. Various and manifold are the Consolations I will propound them to you that your joy may be full and as shortly as is possible because I hasten to a conclusion and desire not to trespasse too much upon your patience Consel 1. Against all the Churches Enemies The Church and people of God may alwaies sing that Psalme O Lord how are my Foes increas'd And especially at this time Now doubtlesse Rome and Hell all Jesuited spirits all Hereticks and Sectaries who love to fish in troubled waters are busily plotting the overthrow of our Religion and Peace But this is the comfort the Church is not without a King a pâ—â—ent King For the Lord Jesus Christ is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us Isa 33. 22. He may seem a Lyon dermant for a season he slept till the tempest was very high Matth. 8. 24. But the Lyon is awake even when he seemeth to sleep He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep Psal 121. 4. The Lord shall awake as one out of sleep and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of Wine and he shall smite his Enemies in the hinder parts and put them to a perpetuall reproach All attempts against the Church are vain The Gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it The Lord Jesus Christ will be a Lyon to them and rent and teare Zions Enemies in peeces and there shall be none to help For hee must reigne till he hath put all Enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15. 35. Consol 2. Against our ignorance and blindnesse The poor Christian complaines as Agur Prov. 30. 2. Surely I am more brutish then any man and have not the understanding of a man 3. I neither learned wisdome nor have the knowledge
Againe Dost thou repent unfeignedly of all thy sins and transgressions be of good comfort the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah will have mercy upon thee They say if the Lyonnesse defile her selfe and commit adultery with the Libbard the Lyon will not accompany with her suddenly but if she go and wash her in the water the Lyon will receive her again So the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Hast thou defiled thy self with sin look that Christ shall stand aloofe off till thou wash thy selfe in a bath of penitentiall teares and then he will receive thee to Communion again Wash you therefore and make you clean repent and be converted and your sins shall be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Act. 3. 19. Solomon tells us that a living Dog is better then a dead Lyon But I say unto you my Beloved that a dead Lyon is better then all the World besides Christ crucified is this dead Lyon unspeakable are the Consolations that spring out of the dead Tree of the Crosse Here is Sampsons Riddle declared Out of the Eater came forth meat and out of the strong came forth sweetnesse what is sweeter then honey and what is stronger then a Lyon Judic 14. 14. 18. Christ crucified is sweet Christ crucified is sweet Christ crucified is sweetest of all Thus have you heard the Trumpet sounded The rare Sight hath also been presented to your view And by this time verily you think it is high time that I should dismisse you I will have done by and by yet I must take a little liberty more As the Trumpet sounded when this glorious Shew was first brought in so now at the close I sound the Trumpet once more Behold behold behold I come to that which hath been my designe and which I have driven at all this while viz. To exhalt Jesus Christ Here in my Preaching I lift up an Ensigne to the people I lift up the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah in this Standard And I if I be lifted up from the earth saith Christ will draw all men unto me I lift up the Lion of the Tribe of Judah before you that I may draw all your eyes and all your hearts to him Eye Christ know Christ gaze continually upon Christ and why for this end that you may be drawn to love admire and adore the Lord Jesus Christ My Beloved My heart is inditing of a good matter I will speak the things which I have made touching the King I will sound forth the Praises of the King of Christ the blessed King of his Church Thou art fairer oh King then the Children of men grace is powered into thy lips Thou art full of Majesty truth meeknesse and righteousnesse all thy Garments smell of Myrhe and Aloes and Cassia Jesus Christ is the chiefest among ten thousand He is the GOLDEN LYON His head is like the most fine Gold his Locks are bushy So is the Noblenesse generousnesse and statelinesse of the Lyon discovered by his shaggy haire covering his head neck and shoulders His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely The tongues of men and Angels cannot expresse the excellency of Jesus Christ in himselfe therefore love admire adore him Yet eye him a little further and behold what he is relatively in relation to us and then you will see much more to endeare you to him Behold he is not onely a Prophet but your Prophet not onely a Priest but your Priest Not onely a King but your King Behold your King And what is he to you what Rejoice oh daughter of Zion Behold thy King cometh unto thee he is just and having Salvation He brings Salvation along with him for thee if thou beleive in him and receive him He is our Mediator our Redeemer our Saviour He hath called us with a holy calling out of the Kingdome of darknesse into his holy and heavenly Kingdome He hath given us divine Lawes and rules us with the Scepter of the Gospell and with his holy Spirit He is the Cloud and the defence of his Church A shelter to it against all Enemies spirituall and corporall He will utterly subdue all the Enemies of the Church of his people and he will certainly glorifie them and receive them into an everlasting Communion with himselfe and make them all Kings O then let Christ be precious to you all beleive in him love him honour and reverence him This is my aime the Lord give me the desire of my heart herein to kindle in all your hearts a greater flame of love to the Lord Jesus Christ Antoninus Caracalla Rom. Imp. had a Lyon to which he gave an honourable name he nourished it and doted on it He would not onely kisse his Lyon in publick but he did admit it to his Table and his Bed yet doubtlesse his Lyon was not without his stinking breath and deformities How much more should you set your hearts on the Lyon of the tribe of Iudah whose mouth is most sweet and who is altogether lovely I will do but one thing more The chiefe Magistrate hath had his Shield Now I will give to every one in the Assembly an Escoucheon a Coat of Armes That you may behold it afterwards and view it for ever Ever gaze upon it to engage your hearts more and more to Jesus Christ I will give you the Armes of Iudah The Beleiver must beare Mars that is red The charge must be a Lyon Sol that is Gold The Sun of Righteousnesse is the Golden Lyon in a red field a field of blood To speak plain English the Beleiver must ever beare in his heart the memory of Christ crucified But as for the posture of the Lyon in your Banner or Shield Let me tell you the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah hath gone through all postures for your sakes for your Salvation He was conceived in the Womb of the blessed Virgin Then he was a Lyon Latent She brought forth her first-born Son Christ in his Birth was a Lyon Issuant In his whole life he was a Lyon Salient Behold he cometh leaping upon the Mountaines skipping upon the Hils Cant. 2. 8. It was his meat and drink to do his Fathers will and to finish the work of our Salvation He was a man of sorrowes persecuted and pursued and when he was chased he was a Lyon Passant he went on and turned not his head a side for any In his Propheticall Office he is a Lyon Rugient he roares in the Preaching of the Gospell In his Priestly Office upon the Crosse he was a Lyon Combatant he encountred the Enemies of our Salvation He spoyled Principalities and Powers he made a shew openly triumphing over them in his Crosse He was laid in the Grave there he was a Lyon Dormant quiescent yea to speak properly in the Grave he was a Lyon Couchant when hee had conquered hee laid down and rested by the Prey