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
Angell nor Arch-angell none in Heaven and Earth can be found meet to under-go this Office onely Jesus Christ God-man could beare it You have seene how the Lion Messiah the Prince was annointed within Now secondly I will make out his Title to the Crown He had an externall Unction he was annointed a King The ancient annointing of Kings was an outward manifestation and declaration to the whole World of their undoubted Right and Title to their Kingdomes it was also a publick Assignation And this externall Unction had Jesus Christ not with materiall oyle but he had a full and undoubted right to the Government He was no usurper he had a solemn calling from God the Father to this Office and from him he derived a three-fold right The Kingdome was his 1. By Assignation from the Father Psal 2. 6. I have set my King upon my holy Hill of Zion Act. 2. 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath â—ade that same JESUS who was crucified both LORD and CHRIST 2. By inheritance Psal 2. 7. I will declare the decree the Lord hath sayd unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Heb. 1. 2. God hath appointed him heire of all things Even the wicked Husbandmen acknowledged thus much This is the heire Mat. 21. 38. 3. By free Donation Psal 2. 8. Aske of me and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession By this time the first branch or Proposition is true and evident Christ is a Lyon that is A King Therefore as after the anoynting of Jehu they blew with Trumpets and proclaimed saying Jehu is King So here having seen the anoynting I blow the Trumpet proclaim Behold Christ is King Behold Christ is King Branch 2. The Lord Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lyon The Lyon of Lyons The most excellent Lyon the onely Lyon Christ is a King and there 's no King but Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 43. â— I am the Lord and beside me there is no Saviour The cheife Priests sayd We have no King but Caesar Christians must say We have no King but Christ But haply some will object Are there not many other Kings Were there not Kings of Israel and Judah Had not Aegypt their Pharaohs and the Philistims their Abimelechs Do wee not read in Daniel of the head of Gold the Silver breast and armes the Brasse belly and thighes the Iron Legs the four ancient and famous Monarchies Did wee never heare of the Emperours of the West And are there not many Kings at this very day in the World What is there but one Lyon in the Forest I answer with Saint Paul There are Lords many many Kings And Saint Peter mentions The King as supreame and that as an Ordinance But such a King as the Lord Jesus Christ is not in the whole World And I will shew you some differences between Christ the King and all other Kings 1. Christ is the onely absolute supream soveraigne independent King the onely Lord Paramount all other Kings have but a derived delegated power from him Pro. 8. 15. By me Kings raigne saith the Lord Jesus the wisedome of the Father and Princes decree Justice All other Kings are but subordinate Viceroys Lord-Deputies 2. All other Kings are men meer men Jesus Christ is God and man as he is the man Christ Jesus so he is God over all blessed for ever No other King God-Man but he 3. In regard of bounds all other Kings they have Dominion only over some part and a little part of the World Indeed there have been Monarchs that have styled themselves Emperours of the World but they were mistaken two wayes First in their times scarce halfe the habitable part of the World was discovered Secondly Had they had all they layd claime to it was but to the lower and baser part of the World the Earth But the Lord Jesus Christ hath an universall Kingdome Psal 72. 8. He shall have Dominion from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the ends of the Earth v. 9. They that dwell in the Wildernesse shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust v. 10. The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts v. 11. Yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords yea he is King of Heaven and Earth and of all things in them There is no universall King but he 4. In respect of duration All other Kings are men that dye and their Kingdomes have their fatall periods few Kingdomes continue above five hundred years We use to say So many yeares raigned the Chaldeans and Babylonians so many the Medes and Persians so many the Graecians and so many the Romans that I meddle not with the fatall mutations in our Nation The Lord often speaks to earthly Kings in his wrath The Lord hath rent the Kingdome of Israel from thee saith Samuel to Saul even this day he hath done it and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better then thou And this was the Writing that was written concerning Belshazzar Thy Bingdome is divided and given to the Medes and Persians But unto the Sonne unto the Lord Jesus Christ the Father saith Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever God the Father speaks concerning his Son as Jupiter is brought in speaking of the Romans His ego nec metas rerum nec tempora pono Imperium sine fine dedi His seed will I make to endure for ever and his Throne as the dayes of Heaven His Throne shall be as the Sun before me It shall be established for ever as the Moon and as a faithfull witnesse in Heaven SELAH The Angell Gabriel was sent from God to the Virgin Mary with this Oracle Thou shalt conceive bringforth a Son and shalt cal his name Jesus He shal be great and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his Father David And he shall raigâ—e over the House of David for ever and of his Kingdome there shall be no end Jesus Christ is the Lyon The Lyon is a Creature as Pliny writes that lives long to an incredible age but Christ is the Lyon that never dyes And there is no eternall King but Christ You have the second Branch or Proposition I passe to Branch 3. Jesus Christ is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah First And according to the Letter He was King of Iudah He had a just right and title to the temporall Crowne and Kingdome He was of the Seed of David according to the flesh lineally descended from his loynes and by undoubted succession the King and Prince being of the Kingly race This will appear by the Genealogies Saint Matthew chap. 1. sets downe the Pedegree
Christ undertakes the protection of it Hee will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion and upon her Assemblies a cloud and a smoak by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence And the Gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it 4. The Lord Jesus Christ must be the Lyon the King to exercise judiciary power to execute judgement To bring Malefactors to condigne punishment to destroy the implacable Enemies of his Church and Kingdome He is therefore a Lyon and a Bear too Hos 13. 7. Therefore will I be unto them as a Lyon as a Leopard by the way will I observe them Vers 8. I will meet them as a Bear that is bereaved of her Whelps and will rent the Caul of their heart and there will I devour them like a Lyon the wilde beast shall tear them Luke 19. 27. But those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me Hee also must be a Lyon a King to distribute rewards to his good and faithfull Subjects The Lyon doth teare in peices enough for his Whelps and strangled for his Lyonesses and filled his holes with prey and his dens with Ravine So the Lord Jesus Divides the spoyle with the strong He spoyled Principalities and Powers He ascended up on high hee led Captivity captive and gave gifts to men Ephes 4. 8. As a King hee will hee will inrich his subjects with grace here and glory hereafter he will reward his followers not for their merits sake but for his mercies sake He will say to one Well done thou good servant because thou hast been saithfull in a very little have thou authority over ten Cities And to another Be thou also over five Cities And they that follow him in the Regeneration when Christ the King shall sit in the throne of his glory they also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel And every one that hath forsaken houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands to become his subjects shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherite everlasting life Thus have you the generall Doctrine 3. Before I come to make application of it I will addresse my selfe to my third task and returne to the parts of the Text and take a review of them and speake something to them and observe something from them distinctly and very shortly The parts you may remember are two 1. The Trumpet sounded 2. The sight or shew presented 1. For the first The Trumpet sounded Behold This demonstrative as it points to some admirable thing so it is a word of command Here Observe It is the duty of every Christian to behold the Lord Jesus Christ As Saint John the Divine is here called upon to behold so is every one enjoyned to eye the Lyon that is the Lord Jesus John the Baptist calls as much upon his Disciples to behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sins of the World John 1. 29. Even Pilate could call unto the Jews saying Behold your King John 19. 14. But why must we alwayes set our eyes upon Christ There are many reasons I will fasten onely upon one namely Wee must alwayes behold him that wee may imitate and follow him Behold thy King saith the Prophet Zechariah how he cometh he is just meeke and lowly And why must we thus behold him Christ himselfe will give you the reason Matth. 11. 29. that you may learne of him to be meeke and lowly in heart I have given you my example saith the Lord Jesus John 13. 15. that you should do as I have done to you Judah had a Lion in their Standard and that they were to follow Jesus Christ is our Standard The root of Iesse i. e. Christ springing out of Davids stock shall stand for an Ensigne of the people Luke 2. 34. Behold saith Simeon this Childe Iesus is set 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Banner which shall meet with contradiction a military signe It is our duty to follow our Ensigne and that is a Lyon 2. You have heard the Trumpet sounded I will now lead you to the second part of the Text Viz. The sight or shew The Lyon of the tribe of Iudah and why of the Tribe of Judah The Apostle shall give you the reason clearly Heb. 7. 14. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Iudah Observe then the Pedigree of this Lyon He came out of the loynes of Judah the fourth Son of Jacob and was born in that Tribe In the words next following my Text Christ is called the root of David which metaphoricall expression doth imply two things 1. That Christ indeed is Davids root David sprang from him David in spirit called him Lord and hee might also call him Father for Jesus Christ is the everlasting Father Isa 9. 6. All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Iohn 1. 3. Even David had his originall from him Secondly and most properly the meaning is that David was the root of Christ that is Christ sprang from David God raised up Christ out of the decayed House of David by his mighty arme So plainly Isa 11. 1. There shall come forth a Rod out of the stemme of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots You have both together Revel 22. 16. I am saith Christ the Root and the Off-spring of David I bear David in regard of my Deity and I come of David in regard of my Humanity The whole amounts to thus much That Christ is Man He is God of the substance of his Father begotten before the Worlds and Man of the substance of his Mother borne in the World Of a reasonable soule and humane flesh subsisting Jesus Christ our Lord was made of the Seed of David according to the flesh Rom. 1. 3. He took our flesh he took all our infirmities sin onely excepted 4. I have by Gods gracious assistance finished the Doctrinall part I enter now upon my fourth and last taske but not the least It is to make application Put all together that I have spoken and it will be profitable 1. To instruct 2. To convince 3. To exhort 4. To comfort I shall prosecute these distinctly the Lord order and direct my tongue and rightly dispose your hearts for the obedient receiving of the word Behold and hearken And first it wil serve for our Instruction From all that hath been said we may gather divers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Corollaries Consectary conclusions as additions for our better information concerning this Lion this King Obs 1. Quale Regnum What manner of Kingdome the Kingdome of Christ is A Spiritual not a temporall Kingdome The Conquest of temporall and earthly Kings is of Countries Cities Castles Navies The Conquest of Christ our King is of
that I should obey his voice I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go May not the Lord write it before them in a Table and note it a Book that this is a rebellious people They many of them know the Lawes of their Prince and yet transgresse against them and walk contrary Christ saith thou shalt not be angry with thy Brother rashly but they will continue malicious and revengefull Christ saith Thou shalt not look upon a Woman to lust after her but they have eyes and hearts full of Adultery Christ saith swear not at all but they upon every light occasion upon no occasion blaspheme the name of God and take it in vaine Christ saith Love your enemies blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you but they continue full of malice returning rebuke for rebuke curse for curse wrong for wrong evil for evill Christ saith He that will be my Disciple let him Deny himselfe they make self their God Christ saith Let my Disciple take up his Crosse and follow me They say as the reviling Passengers if thou be the Son of God come down from the Crosse free us from the Crosse or we will not follow thee Christ saith Learn of me to be meeke and lowly but they are fierce and proud Christ commandeth faith and love These are the two great Gospell-Lawes but the most of the Children of men are full of unbeliefe and haters of the Brethren O what a little Kingdome is Christs Kingdome Sign 4. Faithfull payment of Tribute as Augustus Caesar so the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Christ the King of his Church doth lay Taxes upon all his Subjects And it is the Character of a right Subject to render Tribute to whom Tribute is due and to give to Caesar the things which are Caesars And according to this rule how small is Christs Kingdome in comparison There is a Tribute of our time due to him every seventh day is his but alas How many prophane persons give away that day to the Devill Yea which is more sad how many are there in these daies that mask under the name and shape of Saints that deny this Tribute altogether and maintain it that there is no such day due to Christ at all now under the Gospell The morality of the Sabbath is gone every day is a Sabbath no day is a Sabbath This is the Doctrine of Devils and Rebels against Jesus Christ There is a tribute to go out of our time every day we live There is a certain Kingdome I remember not the name of it at present in which there is sometimes but rarely a Fish taken which by reason of the greatnesse and excellency and rarity is the Kings Right and Royalty and therefore called the Kings Fish The King alwaies gives the bulck and body of this Fish to those that catch it but he reserves to himselfe Capita Caudas the heads and the tailes as a tribute and acknowledgment that all was his due to him In like manner precious time it is all Christs own all due to him yet he gives his Subjects the body of time the body of the week the body of the day he reserves to himselfe onely capita caudas the ends of time the Morning and the Evening and what other convenient time may be redeemed these are his tribute But how few pay this Little faithfully How few who give to Jesus Christ a Morning Sacrifice How few with Isaac go out to meditate in the Evening How rare is it to finde a man that with David will pray and cry aloud Evening and Morning and at Noon There is a Tribute due to Christ our King out of our Estates and here the poore Members of Jesus Christ are his Receivers Withhold not good from them to whom it is due The poore are in a sense owners of some thing in our hands we are but stewards under Christ to distribute to them I perswade my selfe this kind of tribute I mean Almes is as unjustly and brokenly paid in this City and in this whole Nation as it is in any part of the Christian World and this I feare Christs Collectors and Receivers will witnesse against this hard-hearted Generation There are extraordinary Taxes upon extraordinary occasions you are pretty well acquainted with them Such there are in the Kingdome of Christ in times of trouble and persecution Christ calls for thy Goods Liberty Life for thy dearest blood Tell me art thou willing to part with these when Christ requires them A good Subject will fight for his King If my Kingdome were of this World sayes Christ then would my Servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jewes Joh. 18. 36. But alas alas how few Champions hath the Lord Jesus Christ Nebuchadnezzar made a Degree that every People Nation and Language which speake any thing amisse against the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego shall bee cut in peices and their houses be made a dunghill But now Hereticks that speak amisse of God and of Christ and of the Scriptures and most horrid Blasphemers do swarm and are I had almost said tolerated and cherished Who fights against them Who opposeth them Who contends for the faith for the truth and for the honour of Jesus Christ To endeavour the increase and honour of his Kingdome In the multitude of people is the Kings Honour Prov. 14. 28. He that is a right and faithfull Subject will endeavour with all his might to bring in Subjects to the Kingdome of Jesus Christ I will put you upon examination now Let Magistrates ask their owne hearts whether they in their places by executing Judgment do seek to lessen Satans Kingdome and to enlarge the Kingdome of Christ Let Ministers aske their owne hearts whether they in their places by preaching and practise by life and Doctrine do endeavour to lessen Satans Kingdome and advance the Kingdome of Jesus Christ Let Parents and Masters aske their owne hearts whether they in their places do endeavour by private inflructing of their Families to bring their Children and Servants and all committed to their charge out of the Devils Kingdome into the Kingdome of Jesus Christ Andlet all that are before me this day aske their owne hearts whether they do outof a zealous desire of the increase and honour of Christs Kingdome incessantly pray that all those that are held in captivity under Satan under chaines of darknesse that the Lord would translate them out of the Kingdome of darknesse into the Kingdome of his deare Son Do they daily pray thy Kingdome Come 7. For a ful-do And not so much a new signe as the sum of all before Is sin Is Satan cast out Hath Jesus Christ his Throne in thy heart Doth he rule in thee altogether art acted not by Satan not by the World not by the Flesh but by the Spirit of Iesus Christ then
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
of the holy And for this he weeps and laments But heare what the Elder saith Weep not behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath prevailed to open the Booke and to loose the seven Seales thereof The Lord Jesus Christ is appointed of God to reveale the decree the whole will and counsell of God concerning mans Salvation He is made unto us wisdome 1 Cor. 1 30. No man hath seen God at any time the onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father hee hath declared him John 1. 18. There followed great joy Songs and Musick in Heaven when the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah had taken the Book and undertaken to open it Consol 3. Against all our spirituall Enemies the Enemies of our Salvation Sin Death the Devill The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vicit hee hath overcome and prevailed He hath vanquished Death Hell and all the power of the Adversary The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath spoyled the roaring Lyon that walketh about seeking to devoure us He overcame in dying and so obtained high Dignity and became Lord of all Now he coucheth as a Lyon and none can drive him from his Prey which he caught out of the Dragons Pawes Saint Paul is Herauld to the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah proclaimes his Victory and declares him Conquerour with a word of triumph and solemnity Death is swallowed up in Victory Oh death where is thy Sting Oh Grave where is thy Victory The Sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us Victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 54 55 56 57. All the strength of death and the Devill was from sin but Christ hath taken that quite away Here in this verse Iohn heares of Christ as a Lyon but in the next verse he seeth him as a Lamb slain sacrificed and he is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world Ioh. 1. 29. He made peace by the blood of his Crosse Consol 4. Against Defects wants of righteousnesse Alas saith the poor Creature without holinesse no man shall see the Lord And I have no righteousnesse or at least very imperfect none that will justifie It is true Christian if thou speakst of thine own righteousnesse inherent and actuall it s at the best but as a short Garment and a spotted Cloath Woe be to them that have no other Robe to cover them But look up and behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah He hath a Golden Skin to cover thee withall I will tell you a peece of Herauldry There are used in Armes Colours and Furres Furres are the Skins of certain Beasts stripped from their bodies and artificially trimmed for adorning of Garments for Kings and great men The Lyon is Iudahs Armes The Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah is the Churches Ensigne and Shield Jesus Christ will give thee Colours and Furres Colours he will make the white by encreasing in the more and more the grace of Sanctification And he hath Furres for thee too his own Skin his own Righteousnesse to cover thee to justifie thee withall Jesus Christ is made unto us Righteousnesse and Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30. Hast thou nothing in thy selfe there is enough in Christ Consol 5. Against all afflictions and troubles that the Children of God meet withall here Poverty Persecution and the like Art thou in great streights Yes perhaps thou will say but alas I cannot pray yet bee of good comfort Jesus Christ at the right hand of his Father doth pray and make continuall Intercession for thee He is of the Tribe of Judah And you know that Judah was an Intercessor for his Brother Iudah said oh do not slay our Brother And herein a Type of Christ The Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah making continuall intercession for his Brethren Art thou poore and knowest not where to get bread Jesus Christ is thy King and he is a Lyon and will teare in peeces enough for his whelps and distribute it to his hungry ones Do thy afflictions and troubles continue it is but for a time it can be no longer then this transitory life continueth and then Christ will glorifie thee he will give you the Kingdome Here you have had great consolation from Christs Kingly Office against the implacable Enemies of the Church against blindnesse and ignorance against all Spirituall Adversaries of our Salvation Sin Death the Devill against wanâ—s and defects of righteousnesse against all afflictions and miseries of this life Ob. But haply some will say is Christ able and willing to do all this for his people Answ To this I answer and that shall be Consol 6. He is able to do it for he is a Lyon The strongest The Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty He is also willing for this end he was sent and for this purpose he took our Nature and came into the World he is our bone and our flesh The Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah our Kinsman our Brother our Husband Ob. But alas will some poor Christians say all these things may belong to others but we are not qualified we are not prepared and therefore not capable of these great Prerogatives Answ To this I shall answer with a Caution with a limitation The Consolation doth not belong to all onely to the Lyons whelps onely to the Tribe of Judah onely to such are true and faithfull Subjects of the Lyon of the King Christ Jesus And who are they I will tell you shortly such as beleive and repent and this I shall add as a seventh Consolation Dost thou beleive in the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah in Jesus Christ be of good comfort Sin and Satan shall never hurt thee To him to the Lord Jesus Christ give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever beleiveth in him shall receive remission of sins Act. 10. 43. Pliny writes that if any one be annointed with the blood of a Lyon or the fat the bitings of no venomous Creature can hurt him If thy Soule be annointed with the blood of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah sin cannot sting thee and the bitings of the old Serpent cannot harm thee Dost thou finde wants and defects in thine own righteousnesse yet dost thou beleive in the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Be of good comfort he hath Righteousness enough to justifie thee I read that Garments wrapt up in the Golden Skin of the Lyon are safe from Moths Art thou by faith wrapt up in the glorious Robe of Christs Righteousnesse Be of good comfort the Moths and defects of thy Sanctification shall not prejudice thy justification for thou shalt stand before the Judge of all the World Not having thine own Righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ Phil. 3. 9.
a just claim thereunto Mr. Matthew Lyndsey who deceased in the midst of his Majoralty 1650. had the true right to it The Sermon was preached at his request and at his Inauguration He dying it descends by Inheritance upon these his Successors The Sight is very rare indeed but very poorly and meanly set forth Such as it is the unworthy Author humbly tenders to them with apprecation of all Grace Honour and Happinesse A RARE SIGHT OR THE LYON REVEL 5. 5. Behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah AT great Solemnities and extraordinary confluences of people it is the ancient use and custome to bring out strange sights and shew farrfetched Rarities This is a solemne day the Cities great anniversary Feast for the Inauguration of the cheife Magistrate Here 's much concourse from several parts I shal therefore at such a time as this being called to stand in the middest of such a multitude produce my Spectacle and present to your view the godliest sight that ever Heaven or Earth afforded a stately and a generous Lion from a farre Countrey Behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Concerning which I shall propound two things to your observation the parts of the Text. 1. The Trumpet Sounded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold 2. The Sight or Shew presented A rare and strange Living Creature described from His 1. Species kinde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Lion 2. Originall pedegree and Country the most noble and best bred Lion in the WORLD 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the Tribe of JVDAH These are the parts and particulars of the Text. But I will not tye my selfe strictly and punctually to these or at least I will lay them aside a while and according to my plaine and usuall way I shall concerning this Little yea this great portion of Scripture dispatch these foure things 1. I will speak something of the sence and meaning of the words 2. I will give you the summe substance of all in one generall proposition in one plaine doctrine 3. Then in the third place I will returne to the parts and particulars I will review search and examine them for such speciall observations and Instructions as may be profitable besides the main and generall doctrine 4. And last of all I will as God shall enable me endeavour to make profitable use and application of all I stand heer by call and commission from God It s my duty to lift up my voice like a Trumpet to Usher in this rare spectacle and it is required of you that with Moses you will now turn a side and see this great sight Let him that hath an eare heare and let him that hath an Eye behold And let the Eye of the God of Heaven be upon us all for good and let the Lion of the Tribe of Judah be with us and help us and blesse us Amen 1. And first I am to open and expound the Text. Behold This demonstrative hath singular weight and moment Aliquid repentinum et insperatum demonstrat It points to something that is sudden unexpected unhoped for something that is rare excellent and admirable It hath here in this place a two fold use 1. To excite and stir up attention and intention it calls for your ears and eyes 2. To command Thus Christ made use of it It was his word of command He said unto them In his Doctrine Hearken Behold I command you to attend So here it 's the sounding of the Trumpet it invites it commands you all to fix your Eyes upon this rare and excellent sight which is now comming forth Behold then But first I pray before you look for the Lion Lift up your eyes a little higher to the first Verse There you shall see A Throne set in Heaven and one sitting upon that Throne in great glory Majesty and brightnesse That is God the Father In his right hand he holds a book written within and on the back-side and sealed with 7. Seals V. I. Q. What Book may this be A. It is none other but this Book of the Revelation Would you know the Contents of this Book It is a Propheticall-Historicall Decretall Not onely decreed but as it were ingrossed in the Court-Roules of Heaven It was a great Roule written on both sides for the multitude and variety of matters as containing a compleat History of the Church unto the Worlds end and therefore took up both sides of the Book Volume or Roule It containes the decrees Counsels and will of God concerning the future state and government of the Church It contains great Mysteries Of the Kingdome and Tyranny of Antichrist of the persecutions troubles and afflictions of the Church in all Ages till Christ shall come the second time and deliver up the Kingdome to God even the Father It foreshews the patience and constancy of the faithfull the utter ruine of their Enemies and their eternall glory and faelicity at the generall judgement and Consummation These Mysteries are written in a Book i. e. in Gods eternall Praescience Providence and Decree But this Book is clasped up and sealed 1. For matter most excellent and Divine kept secret from the knowledge of al creatures and with seaven Seales most surely as mysteries of the greatest moment Worth and Certainty Therefore behold vers 2. A strong Angel proclaiming with a lond voice Like a Herauld or Officer Who is worthy for the excellency of his person or for his deserts To open the Book and to loose the Seals thereof To disclose these secret decrees and counsels of God to dive into these most deep mysteries that he may make them know to the Church of God in all ages Who O it 's a hard and difficult matter to open the Book and to loose the Seales Verse 3. None in Heaven No Angel None in Earth No Saint living None under the Earth No Saint departed whose body is under-ground or more generally no creature in Heaven Earth or Sea was able to open the Book to read understand or divulge it Neither to look thereon To have any thing at all to do with it Alas alas This is a sad thing Behold verse 5. John the Divine weeps much Because no man was found worthy to open and to read the Book c. He wept much to see himselfe and others deprived of so deep so sweet and so excellent Mysteries but especially to think that God should be deprived of the glory of them What then Shall the Church never know the Contents of that Book Yes yes it shall Behold in the fifth verse a word of Consolation One of the Elders saith unto me weep not One of the body of the Councill of State one of the Assessors one of the glorified Saints representing all the faithfull one to whom the secret of the Lord was revealed He said to John weep not q. d. This is thine infirmity what hast thou forgotten Art thou a Master and Teacher in the Church of God and dost thou
not remember that great Prophet the onely begotten Son of God which is in the bosome of his Father who from the beginning of the World unto the end of it ever leadeth the Church into all needfull Truths Weep not then so much cheer up thy Spirits Order is taken for the opening and revealing of the Book Behold behold Lift up thine eyes now do'st not discover a rare Sight a Lion Behold That Lion of the Tribe of Judah the root of David he hath prevailed to open the Booke and to loose the seven Seales thereof I have now brought you down to my Text your eyes are by this time upon the rare Sight and I shall endeavour to keep them fixed there from henceforth The words read are nothing else but an Elegant Metaphorical description of him who can and onely can open and reveale the Decrees Counsels and will of God to the Church Behold with admiration and joy this is the Lion I finde in the Scripture a three-fold Lion 1. Of the Forest 2. Of the Internall Pit 3. Of the Tribe of Judah 1. A Lion of the Forest Jer. 5. 6. bred in the Woods and Desarts This is a rare and Noble Creature the chiefe among Beasts this is properly called a Lion 2. The Lion of the Infernall Pit that is the Devill called so by way of similitude because he is like a Lion In the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lion springs out of the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 decerpere to pluck rent and teare Such is the Devill 1 Pet. 5. 8. Your adversary the Devill as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devoure 3. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah What is he Indeed it is a Male a Noble Generous and Famous Lion Yet not a Beast as some blasphemous Hereticks have spoken horresco referens in these leprous times no! here we must leave the Letter and understand it Metaphorically It is a Lion not to be found amongst men meere men nor Angels Would you know certainly who it is The next verse will tell you Behold there you shall see standing in the midst of the Elders A Lamb as it had been slaine this is the Lion for verse 9. you shall finde it was this Lamb who was worthy to take the Booke and to open the Seales thereof Here the Lion and the Lamb meet in one plainly therefore The Lion or the Lamb is hee that was slaine and hath redeemed us to God by his own blood even the Lord Jesus Christ the root of David He and none other is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Of the Tribe of Judah viz. Of the Posterity of Judah which excelled all the other Tribes in Courage Dignity and Renoune You must conceive that here is an allusion to the Armoriall Ensigne or Armes of that Tribe The Lord commands the children of Israel Num. 2. 2. Every man shall pitch by his own Standard with the Ensigne of their Father's house farre off about the Tabernacle of the Congregation shall they pitch All the while they travailed in the Wildernesse they pitch their Tents as an Army round about the Sanctuary in a Square The Israelites consisted of twelve Tribes And these were divided into foure Regiments To each Regiment three Tribes of which every one had a particular Standard or Banner differing in colour and forme and in the Ensigne a Coat of Armes In the front were Judah Issachar and Zabulon In the Reare Ephraim Benjamin and Manasses In the North-wing Dan Aser and Naphtali In the South-wing Reuben Simeon and Gad. Judah carried a Lion in his Standard Reuben a Man-drake Ephraim an Ox and Dan an Eagle Judah carried a Lion in his Standard The occasion of this Coat of Armes you have Gen. 49. 9. Viz. Jacobs blessing Judah is a Lions Whelp And here you have the originall of Armes GOD was the first King of Heraulds He commanded them also the antiquity and use Armes were tokens or resemblances signifying some Act or Quality of the Bearer In their Banners Shields or Targets they did engrave emboss embroyder or depict some Beast Bird Fish or other thing whose nature and quality did best quadrate with their own There was a kind of sympathy between the Armes and their bearers to note their quality and disposition Such Armes were remunerations for Service bestowed by Kings Emperours and their Generals Hereditary Testimonies of their glorious Merits This armoriall Ensigne the Lion was given to Judah to shew 1. The Courage of that Tribe above the rest and 2. That it should be the governing the Law-giving Tribe 1 Chron 5. 2. For Judah prevailed above his Brethren and of him came the chiefe Ruler And 3. That God had decreed Monarchicall Government for that people when they should be settled in a perfect state And 4. That David as the Type afterwards at the fulness of time the Lord Jesus Christ the Antitype should be born of that Tribe according to the flesh and lineally descended through the Loines of many Kings Successive one to another as to his humane Nature And so came forth the Famous Lion of the Tribe of Judah For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah Heb. 7. 14. And thus you have the sense meaning and exposition of the words 2. I shall now in the second place give you the sum and substance of all in one generall proposition which I will give you in no other termes then the very words of the Text. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah For the evidence and demonstration of this Thesis I will lay it out unto you in three Branches 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ is a Lion 2. That he is the Lion 3. That he is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Branch 1. The Lord Iesus Christ is a Lion The truth of this with the reason I will give you both together It is both prophesyed and typified Gen. 49. 9. Iuda is a Lions Whelp Iudah this cannot be meant of the person of Judah that 's certaine for he crouched and bowed downe to Joseph his younger Brother and dyed in Aegypt Therefore it must be understood first of the posterity of the Tribe of Judah The Ofspring of Judah shall be a Lion's Whelp but for what cause is he so described Propter dignitatem Regiam The Lion is Rex quadrupedum The noblest of all fourefooted creatures and the King of all beasts Pro. 30. 30. 31. A Lion and a King put together In the 8 9 and tenth Verse of that 49. cap. of Gen. you have a graphicall description of the Kingly power and Soveraignty that should be in the Tribe of Judah many Generations after shewing that Iudah shall meet with many potent and implacable enemies to conflict withall that he shall conquer and subdue them all Ver. 8. Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine Enemies Ver. 9. From the prey my Son thou art gone up 1. Iudah shall