walk towards God with truth aequablenesse and certainty Reason 4. What we purpose is either due to God or not now there is no question of the debt when God demands and if it be due it is injustice not to performe and its dangerous to run into debt when we have to pay Therefore wee should say as David I have sworne and I will performe it c. Psal 119.106 Thus having runne over the point by demonstrating the necessity both of resolution and execution when we have a commission and charge to doe for God I come to application I will take up this charge which David gave his sonne upon you It s a like season A time of Parliament and solemne assembly as then here is a like work lying in your hands that an house be built for the Lord and you also have commission for the Lord hath chosen you to build him an house be strong therefore and doe it Suffer me here to speak a little of the work Solomon was to build an house for God but that house was but a type of that which is now to be built Your work is to help that the Churches of Christ may be rightly framed and formed each Church is called an house of God 1 Tim. 3.15 God hath three houses 1 Coelestiall built for the Saints by himselfe Heb. 11.10 2 Mysticall invisible built by himselfe for himselfe Eph. 2. c. 3 Instituted visible built for himselfe and the Saints that in it they might enjoy each other This is compared to an house in respect of constitution end 1 For constitution as in an house there is 1 qualification of matter 2 Combining and knitting it together So in a Church there must bee 1 matter qualified and prepared for such ends to which a Church is appointed it must be of that nature as may be apt to knit with the building and to contribute something to it It s preposterous and unreasonable to heap on promiscuously stones and straw stubble and timber without judgement of the fitnes of the matter to conduce to the common frame When at the temple the materialls were prepared before it was brought thither so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any toole of iron heard in the house while it was in building 1 Kings 6.7 so in this spirituall Temple the building should consist of persons fitted for it they should be living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 All societies are composed with choyce the members of them are such as agree in the same common nature and in the same fundamentall lawes of that society So ecclesiasticall bodies are to consist of congruous matter it 's the rule of all other bodies whether naturall or civill Not that Churches have a power of infallible judgement not infallibility but wisedome with love is required in their judgment of persons to be admitted they must be such of whom we may be able to say of them as the Apostle of the Philippians of whom he said It is meet for me to think this of you all Phil. 1.7 2 A Church is a combined company for many without conjunction are a multitude not a corporation As many stones and timbers are a heape but not an house except they be fitted and joyned together as a naturall body is a multitude in which the members by conjunction become one so is the Church from the head all the body is by joynts and bands knit together Col. 2.19 And in Christ the Church is said to be built together to be an habitation for God Eph. 2.22 These bands are either such as tye to Christ the head and the foundation faith and the spirit This makes members of the Church Catholick which is called the generall assembly Heb. 12.23 consisting of all Saints in heaven and in earth Eph 1.10 which is called the whole family in heaven and earth Eph. 3.15 Or they are such as tye the Saints among themselves as in a building the materialls are not onely knit to the foundation but to themselves These tyes are 1 such as constitute a Church i. e. consent to live together in communion There is no other way imaginable by which divers persons can be either one family or one City or one kingdom which never were one but by consent and how should divers persons who before were free come to have any justly exercising any power among them but by consent This therefore must be the bond to knit divers Saints into one body And a Church must be knit together else it will be but a casuall loose company without order and rule When it is orderly gathered and composed it becomes an house to Christ for his instituted worship though not only as the mysticall Church is for naturall worship 2 Such as doe conserve i.e. mutuall love which is the bond of perfectnesse Col. 3.14 This preserves the unity peace and order of a Church Secondly as the Church is called the house of God in respect of constitution so also in respect of the end 1 For his dwelling In Christ yee are knit together for an habitation of God through the spirit Eph. 2.21 Though he fill all places yet his presence is with the Churches with more complacence The Lord hath chosen Sion he hath desired it for his habitation This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it Psal 131.13 14. He dwelt in Hierusalem the shadow of these Churches out of choyce with a doubled desire I have desired it I have desired it And as he dwels here with complacence so with beneficence I will abundantly blesse her provision I will satisfie her poore with bread I will also cloath her Priests with salvation and her Saints shall shout aloud for joy ver 15.16 Plenty and safety is promised to Churches so much as to cause the greatest joy In these societies it is where God commandeth the blessing and life for evermore Psal 131.3 2 For his honour poore mens houses are for necessity but great men and Princes have houses for honour also Kings have 1. houses of judgement where they exercise justice and judgement So is the Church the place of the power and judgement of Christ it 's called his throne Jerem. 3.17 which is the seat of honour and majestie 2 Kings have their treasuries Esay 39.2 In which they keep their treasure which is the glory of Kings And the Church is called the house of Gods glory Esay 60.7 The place where hee layeth his pretious treasures 3 They have their armories the Church also is Gods military house here are those spirituall weapons which are mighty through God 2 Cor. 10.4 His Saints have here those armes by which they defend themselves in their spirituall warfare and obtaine great conquests against the world against their lusts and Satans power Much should bee said concerning the order and government of this house but time faileth This then oh yee worthies is the house which must be built you are chosen of God and
abide such an habitation where his servants children ordinances are cast out Me thinks the voyce of our great ones hath been like that of the heathen Exeant Christiani exeant Christiani let the Christians goe out As it 's said of Jeroboam so it 's true of them Hee drove Israel from following the Lord and made them sinne a great sinne 2 Kings 17.21 Avolare fecit Hee made them fly away from the Lord. Oh what sinne hath beene by their counsell example hires feares lawes Others that would not fly from the Lord have fled from their Country to seeke that in a strange land which they could not but ought to have had at home Hagar the bondwoman and her children were in possession but the free woman and her children either in persecution at home or in exile abroad And was that trash which they have brought in a fit price for the peace of our consciences the sweetnesse of our estates friends and Country Will you then in zeale for God and pitty to your brethren and to your selves take up a resolution to vindicate our injuries and their insolencies Be strong and doe it 2 As your resolutions must be firme so they must be spirituall From higher principles then humane prudence Our evills are sore grievances indeed yet more afflictive to our consciences then to our sences Look on them not only as pressures on us but as sinnes against God ease us by righting him lest you be found to worke for your selves and not for him Then men serve Christ indeed when they make him not onely the exemplary cause but the finall Doe what you doe not because you must onely both in prudence and in conscience but doe it for his glory as David Solomon in building the house intended the name of the great God 1 Kings 8.17 2 Chron. 2.1 4. Spirituall ends are most noble and most strong 3 They must be willing it 's true there can be no resolutions simply unwilling But acts of the will are either mixt or mere Mixt are such wherein upon different respects the will hangs both wayes so a man may upon some reason resolve on that which he fully abhorreth as in a gangraene to endure the excision of a limb But to resolve thus for God is rather to be patients then agents for him it s rather to be sick of God then true to him Labour for Davids spirit who set his affection to the building of the house 1 Chron. 29.3 Be not onely subject to God but zealous for him It was Davids temper who was the type The zeale of thine house hath eaten me up Psal 69.9 And Christs temper who is the substance Ioh. 2.17 worke as friends If it be onely in your heads it will vanish but the impressions of love are deepe Say with Moses The Lord is my strength and song and he is become my salvation hee is my God and I will prepare him an habitation Exod. 15.2 Zeale will make you men of might and your counsells and endeavours as an arrow shot from a strong arme which returneth not empty 4 Speedy For 1 It 's the greatest worke you have to doe Therefore give it priority quick dispatch I know you are wise I prescribe not an absolute order Important things are often respectively such A lesse thing in it self may be at some time of greatest importance of right should be first admitted Do what you can Christ will be content to stay till you can doe his businesse But still minde this and ayme at this and do all in order to this I may say to you as David to Ahimelech The Kings businesse requireth haste 1 Sam. 21.8 Doe things in Christs order Seek first the Kingdome of heaven You may mind your owne houses but not too much say with David See now I dwell in an house of Cedar but the Ark of God dwelleth within curtaines 2 Sam. 7.2 God stands much upon time and expects to be first served Therefore he chides the Jewes and sorely punisheth them for breach of this order Is it time for you oh yee to dwell in your seiled houses and this house lie wast Hag. 1.4 It 's an angry speech Other causes may and must wayt say to them as Nehemiah when hee was building an house for God I am doing a great work so that I cannot come downe why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you chap. 6.3 I confesse that things that are first in intention are last in execution but then they are still moving till they come to perfection 2 Delayes are dangerous For 1 affections may coole the best may and the rest will Some men are hot as fire others as iron rather heated then hot take the season and strike while the iron is hot God sometimes for some oportunity of service gives a fervour of spirit but if the lock of oportunity be cut off you will as Sampson lose your strength and become like other men Judg. 15.5.17 2 Rubs rise by delayes A subtill enemie if hee have but the onely advantage of time will gaine much even in a desperate cause And they say the bitings of dying beasts are most deadly 3 Wee are speedy with God Lord heale her now saith Moses Numb 12.13 And David crieth for haste Oh my strength haste thee to help mee Psal 22.19 And God doth make haste to our good Es 16.5 For love is quick 4 God hath stayed long 5 Unanimous Let there be none adverse slothfull unfaithfull fearefull You have the honour and we the happinesse of a blessed conspiration of your hearts and hands hitherto Be still one and more one That you may meet as many streames in one channell and prove a conquering torrent Sands are small things yet being united they can break the proudest ships Christ is among you and knoweth whose hearts are with him he seeth and heareth all your counsels motions debates and votes Hee will say to the faithfull Well done good faithfull servant but to others had it not been for thee such a cause of mine had prospered such servants of mine relieved my house had been built but thy hand was against it By how much the greater you are by so much the more you owe let it not be said of you others were willing but their nobles put not their necks to the work of the Lord. Nehem. 3.5 I draw to an end To quicken you to the work Consider You may doe this thing Christ may have his house built You have power of 1 Ability 2 Authority You cannot think our present discipline is by divine law then you may remove except you think it most convenient But how is that convenient which Ministers good men bad men almost all men have complained of You may by your power make it necessary but it will never be convenient and how ill will the oxen draw when their yoakes gall them You have seene the experience of this discipline these rites and orders for many
honour of the Kingdome and of this service In the text 1 Preface to the speech 2 matter of the speech The preface in this word Take heed It s an item both strong or spiritous and pregnant or comprehensive Now take heed i.e. if ever thou didst attend heare now and if ever thou didst seriously minde and intend any thing take what I am saying into thy most ponderous thoughts and most vigorous resolution as a businesse of greatest concernment and importance which ever did or can come under thy hand The matter of the speech is 1 A commission 2 A charge The commission The Lord hath chosen thee to build c. This is the enforcement of Solomon to this work warrant of Solomon to this work encouragement of Solomon to this work He may hee must doe it because commanded and hath This to encourage 1 Hee is chosen to it it s a choyce favour 2 By God Here is the highest coÌ„missioÌ„ best security 3 To build him an house it was the most honourable service that could be My purpose is to speake chiefely of the charge In which two things are required of Solomon 1 resolution Be strong 2 execution Doe it The first is Resolution The word expressing it importeth a vigorous and magnanimous will a will intensely and couragiously bent to the businesse so set to it that no disswasions slowth feare policie covetousnesse ficklenesse nor any other thing might cause either diversion or cessation or interruption So wee have Davids owne comment upon his owne words Be strong and of good courage dread not nor be dismayed 1 Chron. 22.13 and verse 20. of this 28. Chapter Be strong and of good courage and do it feare not nor be dismayed for the Lord God will be with thee hee will not faile thee nor forsake thee untill thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. David in his zeale and wisedome endeavours to beget a fixed resolution in his sonnes heart For 1 Resolution is the life of action 2 We are apt above all works to be slack in Gods 3 The nature of the work required resolution 1 Gods work This requires our best strength 2 Great work 1 Chr. 29.1 carefull painefull chargeable 3 A new work And new works are often entertained either with ficklenesse fearfulnesse The second part of the charge is execution Doe it Which hath in it a tye to 3 things Do it 1 presently 2 fully the word is perfice 3 regularly The house must not be built after his fancie but Gods modell David gave to Solomon his sonne the patterne of c. ver 11. the patterne which he had by the spirit ver 12. Matters of worship are never left to mans liberty God onely appoints the matter manner and meanes of his worship And these are like a connex proposition wherof the denial of one part is the denial of the whole Though wee offer true worship for the matter if yet according to mans will or reason God doth not owne it Es 1.12 13 14. Esay 58. If a man order his Taylor to make him a sute though he bring the garment for kind according to order but for fashion and size otherwise it s not allowed That which I commend out of these words is that they that are chosen of God to do great things for him should resolve and doe them First of the resolution This must be when any thing is committed of God to us to be done for him Reasons Iosh 1.6.7.9.18 Deut. 31.6 1 Sam. 4.9 1 Chro 22. â—9 2 Chro 15.7 Hag 2.4 1 Where no resolution is raised upon a matter proposed there is either reluctance which clearely ought to be farre from us when God commandeth or pendulousnesse of heart This also hath no just place in this case For the heart is never rationally pendulous and wavering but in things dubious Now all doubts which give a stop or barre to the will are either from Conscience or Prudence If the question be in the conscience it must be concerning either the lawfulnesse of the thing in respect of the substance or circumstances in which case its impossible but that the heart by how much the better it is should be in a wavering and trembling state being dubious qâ—ad duas vias as a man at two wayes not knowing which to choose But in things committed of God to us here can be no such quaeres because he is supreame the Lord Judge and rule of all Or else the question is whether the thing be necessarie And indeed often things come with warrant without command In which case men have a latitude and may and doe act or not act sometimes out of meere liberty sometimes upon intercurrent reason But when God appoints here is no roome left for such agitations but the case is cleare all things commanded are necessary Gods command is the rule and spring of necessity Sometimes the question may be in prudence humane prudence is an intruding medler in Gods matters and it is of use when it followeth the rule and so leades the action But there be two evills which usuall fee carnall wisedom to be of their counsell 1 Earthly affections and respects 2 Unbeliefe 1 So far as any thing in this world is a mans end he is apt in every businesse to ask what wil it profit what advantage doth it bring to me great men say if the Churches be so or so ordered what compliance will it have with our honour power wealth Unprofitablenesse is a strong plea with men Haman knew the force of this Engine when hee to oppose the Jewes said There is a certaine people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the Provinces of thy Kingdome and their lawes are divers from all people neither keep they the Kings laws therfore it is not for the Kings profit to suffer them if it please the King let it be written that they may be destroyed Hest 3.8.9 The like arrow did they sharpen and discharge against his people Ezr. 4. from 11. to 16. The people also have the like spirit weighing all by this rule of gaine and earthly advantage Job 21.15 What profit should wee have if we pray unto him and the Prophet accuseth them of his time Yee have said it is in vain to serve God and what profit is it that wee have kept his ordinances Mal. 3.14 And certainly the argument is good when well applied for nothing is good but what is profitable and every way or order of Churches which is indeed unprofitable is worthy to be refused God useth arguments of like importance against their devised worship What profiteth the graven image Hab. 2.18 But now none can plead unprofitablenes in the things of God For what ever is of him is profitable to all and doth not include any hurtfull quality or power of it self to any sorts or ranks of men in the world godlines is profitable to all things 1 Tim. 4.8 The
yeares You may do worthily for God and for your brethren you are the fountaine of law When a beast knoweth his strength he will not serve but rule our adversaries did so Doe you see now Say as Maximinus by how much the greater I am by so much the more I will doe They say there is a fish that hath a sword but no heart but I hope better things of you The work is not so hard as many either out of needlesse feare or craft doe pretend 1 You have many friends The Saints at home and abroad that wast themselves in prayer for you that blesse you with Judah his blessing Let his hands be sufficient for him and be thou an help to him from his enemies Deut. 33.7 Yea God is with you As Moses said of Acher There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun who rideth upon the heaven in thy help ver 26. 2 Matter is ready for the building when Solomon built his Temple he sent for his pretious stones from Arabia for Cedars from Lebanon for gold from Ophyr for spices from Sheba and Arabia But here is all ready England is as Lebanon your Cedars are at hand ready hewed and want onely laying into the building 3 You shall be at no charge Solomons Temple was very costly you need part with nothing for this work we shall be no losers in any thing but sinne and sorrow It may be the fall of the old frame may hurt some as the house which Sampson pulled downe which killed some of the Lords of the Philistines Judg. 16.30 Truly they have put you to grinde their grist but they have not put out your eyes you need not to be led to the pillars of their house Therefore doe valiantly for your selves your people and your God Expect their anger Luther found it Erasmus gives the reason for he medled with the Popes Miter and the Monks bellies In a word as you may doe it doe it for it is expected of God of man good men your friends your friends afflicted long and sore Let me add but these two Counsells 1 Doe it well Doe your work throughly Let the building be compleat Cast out all the rubbish for we may say as they There is much rubbish so that we are not able to build Nehem. 4.10 Ordinances are best when purest ayme high Altius ibunt qui ad summum nituntur Hitherto the work hath been done by the halfes Our fore-fathers intended that which is reserved for you Better our burthens were encreased then only eased for extream evils enforce relief 2 Doe it now For 1 It hath bin long expected with prayers teares groanes and if Gods house be now built wee shall be as those that dreame and say wondring as hee What hath God wrought Numb 23.23 Wee shall joy in our God as they when the foundation of the temple was layd Ezr. 3.10 11. 2 God shakes the old building by discovering the abominations thereof and by a miraculous turn upon the peoples spirits Doe not they crie downe with it downe with it And vox populi est vox Dei 3 God hath built your houses they did not long since shake as in an earthquake you know not what batteries were laid against them but you are now in peace 4 You may want another season and may never see Gods house nor enjoy your owne remember Christs words to them when he saw the Citie and wept over it Saying if thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace but now are they hid from thine eyes For the dayes shall come upon thee that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compasse thee round and keep thee in on every side and shall lay thee even with the ground and thy children within thee and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another because thou knewest not the day of thy visitation Luk. 19.41 42 43 44. 5 This is the time 1 Gods time is the present time 2 A season of mercy God is doing good take therefore the oportunity Say as David Hee that hath delivered mee from the Lyon and the Beare shall deliver me out of the hands of this uncircumcised Philistine 3 It 's like now the set time of God is come for the fall of Babel the reformation deliverance enlargement of the Churches of Christ In the 12 of Dan. we have a Prophecy of the deliverance of Israel The time of it is in ver 11. From the time that the dayly sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up There shal be a 1290 dayes i.e. years This seemes to be in Iulian the Apostates time who about 360 yeares after Christ would have had the Jewish Temple built which is the abomination and the abomination of desolation for God did destroy it with terrible stormes and fires with the builders And the Jewes were after in greater calamity then before There is no time so like to be the time which Daniel meant as this For we know no memorable thing of this kind among the Jewes but in Antiochus his time and in Titus Vespasian his dayes but if you add to those times the number of 1290 yeares the dayes are long since expired therefore it must be a time which may with addition of these numbers make the thing yet to come And so with this way of account Master Brightman and others also doe accord for if you add 1290 to 360 in which time the abomination of desolation was it casts the beginning of the accomplishment of this Prophecie upon the 1650 yeare so that the time of their deliverance is not far off But Rome must fall before that Therfore I conclude that this is an hopefull season Take heed of delayes God was angry because they said The time is not come the time that the Lords house should be builded Hag. 1.2 Therefore they could not prosper but as soone as they began then God said From this day will I blesse you Hag. 2.19 I will now say no more but what David said to Solomon Be strong and of a good courage and doe it Feare not nor be dismayed for the Lord God even my God will be with thee hee will not faile thee nor forsake thee untill thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord 1 Chron. 29.20 FINIS