they suffer from such and by the general prosperity of such as sometimes David almost was Psalm 7. 3. Whereas when ever the cutting off righteous and good men in the midst of their dayes or depriving of the residue of their years is spoken of it s alwayes mentioned as an evil breach a heavy wo and judgement to the survivers procured by their iniquities yea though sometimes such providences have in them some present correction to themselves so cut off for some error or miscarriage in which they have not sanctified him before others as in the case of Moses Josiah and here Vzzah and that threatned on Hezekiah yet First That correction is not in wrath or such as in which they are cut off from God or from their hope onely from their further opportunity of praising him to the living and so of bringing forth more fruit that might appear on their account at the day of Christ which is a present correction and affliction to a gracious soul though the end of corrections to them and redounds to their own private gain and advantage Again secondly God would never so correct them for such errours by cutting them off in the midst of their dayes and depriving them of the residue of their years if he had not a controversie with others the people from whom such are moved and taken It was for the Peoples sakes that God was angry with Moses and took him away as before we snewed so it was in judgement and wrath upon Jerusalem and for their grievous sins and rebellions that God corrected Josiah for his rashness by cutting him off See the whole book of the Lamentations Likewise for the iniquities found with the Corinths even these that yet survived for their not so discerning the Lords body as to examine and judge themselves in the instructions and reproots of it many from among them slept or were taken away by death in displeasure to the rest 1 Corin. 11. 30. And such are the providences in which God is making evil breaches upon a people and they are such breaches and judgements to the survivers whether there were any correction or displeasure testified unto them taken away or no when such as before good and righteous men are cut off in the midst of their dayeâ— or deprived of the residue of their years as in that threatned on Hezekiah Isaiah 38. and as it may seem on David Psalm 39. 10 13. Or when by some sudden stroke or in signal testimony of displeasure they are cut off in the midst of some good work they had been eminently instrumental in beginning and promoting as Moses Josiah and here Vzzah especially when others of like usefulness and faithfulness are not found surviving or timely raised up in their stead yea however they are taken away though in a good old age yet when that kind or generation of men perish and decay from among men that they are so many the fewer as there is taken away by death And especially when such as were chiefly instrumental for stirring up others to seek the Lord and with full purpose of heart to cleave to him and so for gathering and keeping others in clusters fail from among men that its hard to finde one in such a sense good and upright but all are seeking their own things and not the things which be Jesus Christs These are the providences and breaches under consideration in which God is making evil breaches executing sad judgements on the survivers 2 We come next to consider what manner of breaches such providences do make and on whom 1 They are breaches made in the Wall or Hedge or do make such breaches 1 Upon all generally in the Nations Places and Families amongst whom they had their conversation and from amongst whom they are taken To the making away for Gods anger to be poured out in desolating judgements to the destruction or cutting off a people or in sending strong delusions to them and leaving them to their own hearts lusts that they might be damned Psalm 78. 50. Isaiah 59. 4 18. and 64. 7. Jer. 5. 1. For while they are preserved amongst men They are set to seek the Peace and good of all men to make supplcations prayers and intercessions for all men that they may be saved to stand in the gap to keep off judgen enâ—s and the effectual servent prayer of the righteous availeth much yea by the exercise of their wisdome in the knowledge of God in Christ they though poor and despised are made instruments of delivering the place and City where they live Therefore their perishing from the earth is a sign and fore-runner of greater evils and jâ—dgments to come if not timely prevented by turning to him that smites 2 To the leaving evil and ungodly men at liberty without sense or controle to run on and prevail also with their ungodly principles and works as Psalm 12. When the godly man ceaseth and faithful ones fail from among the children of men then they the children of men speak vanity every one with his neighbour with a flattering lip and double heart do they speak encouraging themselves to prevail with their Lip Word or Doctrine For say they Who is Lord over us Who shall controle or hinder us or stop our mouths The godly and faithful being failed from among them who it seems had power in their right words and works which are forcible to stop the mouths of Gain-sayers and hinder the prevalency and spreading of their Lip even by sound Doctrine witnessed also in a good conversation in Christ for they would not seek to do it by a worldly power if they had opportunity nor by the wrath of man Yea it followes in the close of the Psalm still as the issue of this judgment The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted So Isaiah 57. 3 4. with Mich. 7. we read That on the perishing of the righteous good men from the earth the seed of the sorceress of the Adulterer and Whore sport themselves and draw out a wide mouth they rejoyce to do evil with both hands earnestly laying in wait for blood hunting every man his brother with a net encouraging themselves now easily to prevail over those needy and feeble ones that are sighing under Gods judgments and to blot out their name from under heaven that it be no more a hindrance reproof and check to them For if the foundations be destroyed say they what can the righteous do But our Rock is not like theirs our foundation and sanctuary is one and cannot be destroyed our God is in his holy Temple The Lords Throne is in Heaven A glorious high Throne is the place of our sanctuary Psalm 11. Jer. 17. 12 13. Therefore rejoyce not against me Oh mine enemies saith Michah chap. 7. 9. When I fall I shall arise because the Lord liveth who is the Rock of my salvation and will be a light to me even when good men are perished from
that life in him and so through the taste of his graciousness are as lively stones built up in him a spiritual house for him to dwell and walk in and so manifest himself in and through them Hebrews 3. 6. 2 Corinthians 6. 16. 1 Corinthians 3. 16 17. John 14. 21. 23. An holy Priest-hood to offer up by him Spiritual sacrifices of praise to God continually even the fruit of their lips confessing to his name as well as in doing good and communicating for with such sacrifices also God is well pleased Heb. 13. 15 16. A Chosen Generation a Holy Nation a Peculiar People that they should shew forth the praises of him that called them out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Peter 2. 4 5. 9 10. They are the Salt of the earth the light of the World let and preserved in it to shine as lights by holding forth the word of life in it in word and conversation so working out to others their own salvation Mat. 5. 13. 16. Phil. 2. 12. 16. Whence Timothy is instructed to be an example of believers in word and conversation c. 1 Timothy 4. 12. That they might all each in their place and according to their capacity be followers of him as he was of Christ and so together with him of Christ and his Apostles Hence also our Saâ—iour in John 17. Praying for such peculiar blessings as in which the persons prayed for might be sanctified through the truth to the ministration of it and holding it forth to the world which blessings he prayes not for for the world that they should be conferred on any man that is yet abiding in the state condition and way of the World such being not appointed of him to this service Yet he saith he prayes for those peculiar blessings not onely for those first messengers whom he sent immediately to that work of the Ministry as the Father sent him and to whom he gave the grace of Apostleship for obedience to the faith among all Nations nor onely to the more eminently gifted believers But in those prayers he also prayed for all those that in after Ages should believe through their word That they also might be one in this service in a secondary sence so as receiving it and their fitness to it in believing through the Apostles doctrine That they all might be one in will and design with the Father and Son and with his Apostle for carrying on this business that through him by meanes of them instrumentally the World might know and believe that the Father had sent Christ the Saviour of the World and loveth those that through his grace believe as he hath loved him or with such manner of love in a subordinate sense John 17. 9. 24. 2 The Priesthood being changed there is therein made of necessity a change also of the law for service There is verily a disanulling of the commandement going before for the weakness and unpâ—ofiâ—ableness of it For the law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope by the which we draw nigh to God If perfection were by the Levitical Priesthood under which the people received the law what farther need was there that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchizedeck c. There is therefore a change of the law for service 1. In respect of the persons unto whom their ministration of and about holy things is to be extended and amongst whom to be exercised 2. In respect â—â— the manner of their work or service in the charge committed to them yet in both it 's such as answers to those patterns and tipical reâ—â—mbâ—ances that was in theirs 1. As to the persons unto whom their ministry is to be extended and among whom to be exercised As their charge was to bear and keep the vessels of the Lord and to minister about holy things for and in the behalf of the whole Congregation of Israel after the flesh To whom was committed the Oracles of God the knowledge of which as given by the Prophets was by the Priests lips to be preserved amongst and unto them To whom also pertained the Adoption the Glory the Covenants the giving of the law the service of God and the promises Rom. 3. 2. and 9. 4. Even so now The charge of the holy Priesthood whom the Father hath given unto Christ to minister unto him and keep his charge who is the great Apostle and High-Priest of our profession is to bear the vessels of the Lord and to minister about holy things for and in the behalfe of unto and amongst all Nations Unto the Apostles eminently this charge was committed to go into all the World to disciple the Nations to Christ baptizing them in his name preaching the Gospel to every creature of all the Nations small and great Jew and Gentile bond and free witnessing repentance and remission of sins to them and amongst them as in his name for them and that in baptizing them with their word or doctrine and also as an outward seal to that with water in his name and therein teaching them to observe as instructed moved and capacitated by his preventing Grace through their word all things that Christ had commanded them To them was committed the grace of Apostleship for obedience to the faith among all Nations for his name And unto all them that believe through their word in a secondary sense is this charge committed That they should shine as lights in the World as they have capacity and opportunity in their several places where they are set to keep that commandement without spot until the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ They ought not to account any man common or unclean or as left under that outward state of uncleanness which sometime remained on the Gentiles who are now made nigh by the blood of Christ Act. 1â— 28. Ephes 2. 13. 17. and 3. 1. 10. The Servants therefore as Servants not as Lords or Worldly Princes by a worldly power nor by the wrath of man are to indeavour the gathering them together as many as they finde both good and bad and the bringing them into his house to rejoyce with his People to eat of his Bread and drink of the Wine that he hath mingled Proverbs 9. 3 4 5. Matthew 22. 9 10. Romans 15. 6. 9. c. 2. As to the manner of their service in the charge commited to them whereas the service of the Levitical Priesthood was exercised in the tipes and patters of Heavenly things and so in offering such gifts and sacrifices as could never make themselves and therefore not the comers perfect as pertaining to the Conscience but stood onely in meats and drinks and divers washings and tipical rights and ceremonies imposed on them till the time of reformation they had a Worldly or Earthly Sanctuary and Vessels of the Ministry committed to their charge They had an earthly and tipical Ark and mercy seat all patterns and figures of the true and
BREACH upon BREACH OR AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF Judiciall Breaches MADE UPON US PROCURED BY SINFULL BREACHES FOUND AMONGST US With Instruction Admonition and encouragement yet to turn to him that smites us and the sum of it was delivered at the Funerall of Mr. Jeremiah Colman late Preacher of the Gospell at Hetherset in Norfolk February 18. 1658 9. By Tho. Moore Junior If they shall confesse their iniquity And that they have walked contrary to me and I also have walked contrary to them Then will I remember my covenant and I will remember the Land Levit. 26. 40 41 42. If any say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profitted me not he will deliver his soul from going downe to the pit and his life shall see the light for he hath found a Ransome Job 33. 24. 27. 28. For this cause vide not so discerning the Lords Body that was broken for us as to examine and judge our selves in the light thereof many are weake and sickly among you and many sleepe for if we would judge our selves we should not be judged c. 1 Cor. 11. 28 29 30 31 32. LONDON Printed by J. B. for the Author 1659. The Epistle to the Reader THis our beloved Brother deceased had his conversation in times past among a people zealous about some lighter matters of the Law as to outward order and discipline in the worship of God while yet neglecting the weighty matters as judgement and the love of God ernest in building Churches but slighting if not as there is too much cause of jealouâ—y of many of their builders refusing that stone for the foundation and head of the corner which God hath laid in Sion for that purpose too much like though it may be hoped not so much out of order as Israel of old who when forgetting his maker And counting the great things of his Law even Christ the end of the Law and the knowledge of God in Christ and his righteousnesse the things witnessed in the Law and Prophets as a strange thing were yet zealous in building Temples and multiplying Altars and sacrifices Hos 8. 11 12 14. with ch 6. 6 7. Psal 118. 22. Math. 21. 42. and 23. 23. Luk. 11. 42. Act. 4. 11. with Isa 28. 12. 16. and 29. 11. But God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins and â—respasses and that he might thereby shew the exceeding riches of his grace to others inclined his heart more dilligently to enquire into the great things of his Law or doctrine summed up in the testimony God hath given of Christ and gave him to perceive the faithfulnesse of that saying that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners By the light of which he karned to relinquish the former apprehensions he had of Christ and so of other persons and things after the flesh or as that teacheth and to account losse and dung for Christ and for the excellency of the knowledge of him such things as before were gain to him that he might farther win him and be found in him And so in receiving his word as the word of God and not of men Christ as testified in the scriptures the son of God the Saviour of the world became precious to him And having tested that the Lord is gracious to whom comming as to a living stone disalowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious he also as a lively stone was therein built up in him and so made of the spirituall house and holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ the love of Christ constrained him with much earnestnesse to perswade and beseech others to be reconciled to God and to seeke help in the name of God in Christ to warne the unruly comfort the feeble-minded support the weake to be patient towards all men in meeknesse instructing them that oppose themselves and to encourage and stir up such as had believed through grace to abide in him as they had received him and to provoke them to love and good works and so to help forward and strengthen the hearts and hands of the fellow-helpers to the truth As one that had his heart seasoned with those principles of certainty and truth that one died for all so effectually with the father that all have died in that death of one as all have sinned and death passed on them in and by the sin of one And that he therefore died for all that they which live in their severall ages by the grace of God bringing salvation to them as it doth to all men in due time should not henceforth live to themselves but to him that dyed for them and rose again knowing also in this knowledge of the greatnesse and truth of Gods grace in Christ to manward the unspeakable terror of the Lord against those that will not know him but are contentious and do not obey the truth or by an evil heart of unbelief depart from him and go on in their trespasses and backslidings till the day of grace pass and the master of the house be rissen up and have shut to the dore And in this his earnest seeking the good of all and the edifying of the Body of Christ he was much stirred up espâ—cially in his latter days to press for more fellowship in the Gospell with them that did know and acknowledge the grace of God in truth and so callon the Lord out of a pure heart And that such should joyn together as the heart of one man for the promoting that designe To which purpose he moved it as of great advantage and very necessary that brethren in the Gospell should often gather together as they might have opportunity frroâ— divers parts to consult one with another and together with the Scriptures and the testimony of God concerning Christ as contained in them how they might walk and strive together in more joint order for for the faith of the Gospell This though much upon his spirit to his latter end Yet was too little considered by us Our generall dulness and loss of our first love by wandering out of the way of understanding made us insencible both of the advantage to be sâ—â—â—net within such endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond if peace and so seeking the Lord and his things and therein the things and good of others after the due order and also of the necessiry of it especially in these evill times It seemed to me that Gods removing this instrument in the midst of his days and while his spirit was so earnestly set for the promoting and carrying on so good a worke and yet it was so little apprehended or considered by us had in it a great reproofe of our dulnesse and a loud voice signifying necessity of timely listening to it to awaken us to righteousnesse in this particular that standing up from the dead Christ
might give us light to straighten our steps and strengthen the things that remaine and are ready to dye It was therefore much set upon my spirit on this occasion to apply my selfe to some consideration of the voice of the rod in these instructions In which though I met with many discouragement in my selfe from the sence of my owne weaknesse as also from some other considerations yet I could not with any satisfaction in my owne spirit wave the propounding something of my weake apprehensions if thereby I might by any meanes stir up others more able and fit to set their hearts and hands to the worke which having done at the funerall of our deceased Brother I was earnestly requested once and again by our Sister the Widow of the deceased who also signified it to be the earnest desire of others This way to make more publick what I had then delivered unto which though with some unwillingnesse at the first being sensible of the weaknesse and confusion of my own apprehensions of these things yet I was perswaded thus further to shew my weaknesse Beseeching my Brethren to help me as they may see my need And add their more profitable endeavours to the instructing and stirring up Beleivers to seek the Lord after the due order to strive together for the faith of the Gospell as becomes it and in nothing terrifyed by our adversaries c. Vnto which that the Lord in his mercy may farther direct us and make profitable his judgements and these meane endeavours of putting to mind the voyce of them to that purpose is the desire of the most unworty of all that have received mercy Tho. Moore Junior Lynn July 27 1659. A TABLE of the principall Heads of the following Discourse AFter some generall consideration of the summe and scope of the Text and instruction from it to hear the Rod. pag. 1. 2. And a breif veiw of the parts of the Text viz. an evil of punishment bewailed and an evil of sin acknowledged as the cause with some hints of the difference between the manner of that correction and of this and yet how this Text suites our occasion pag. 3. These instructions are opened 1 Such Providences are great Breaches upon a People 2 The Lord is the maker of such Breaches 3 The reason or procuring cause is our own iniquities yea usually there is found in it great neglects and disorder in Gods people Iniquities in their holy things 4 Yet the Lord is our God when so provoked and while so punishing us 1 Such providences are Breaches And there 1 What providences 2 How they are Breaches and on whom 1 The providences are such as in which righteous Men are taken away untimely pag. 4. And there is proposed I. What manner of Persons they are whose untimely removall is such a Judgement pag. 4 5 6. II. What manner of removall of such is so to be apprehended pag. 6 7 8 9. 2 What manner of Breaches such providences make and on whom pages 9 10 11 12. 2 The Lord is the maker of such Breaches And there How he is the Author of the evill of punishments or corrections for sin And how that evidences him to have no hand or heart in the sin see pages 13 14. Corrections of sin of two sorts some by evill instruments of which God is more remotely the Author The Author of the punishment on the party punished but not of the sinfull action in the instrument pages 14 15. There are others more directly from his own hand of which sort this Some use of this pages 16 17 18. 3 The reason or procuring cause is our own iniquities c. Some generall demonstration of this by other Scriptures As Ezek. 33. with other Scriptures pages 18 19. 1 Cor. 11. 29 30 31. pages 19 20 21 22. The particular consideration of the evill of sin mentioned in the Text as the reason of the Judgement That is first considered as a generall expression of any way of iniquity that may be fignified in the sence of the words And then veiwed as particularly applyed in the Text. In the first There are some considerations propounded of the due order after which the Lord is to be sought by us 1 There is an order of precedency in the nature worth and goodness of things after which some are to be sought rather than yea with a neglect of others And so to seek the Lord after the due order as with reference to other things that are not the Lord is to seek him first and so as with a neglect of all other things for him pages 22 23. 2 There is an order in the time and causes of the things that are to be preferred and in a sence equally to be sought After which some things are to be sought first that other things may be sound and attained in and through them And so what it is to seek the Lord after the due order as with reference to the things of the Lord and to be sought in him see pages 24 25 26 27. 3 There is an order of regularnesse to be observed in the manner of our seeking To walk according to the rule already delivered as that is grounded upon and opened by the word of the beginning of Christ page 28. 1 To seek and acknowledge him in his ways pages 28 29. 2 Alwayes first and cheifly to mind the greater or more weighty matters And who sought him not after the due order according to these considerations see pages 29 30 31 32 33. 3 To seek him in the preparation and sanctification of his Sanctuary I. In the instruction of his name pages 33 34 35. II. In the encouragement and strength of it pages 35 36. III. In a cordiall confession and acknowledgment of it p. 37 38. IV. In hearty union together in it And there First The Persons with whom we are to dwell and walk in the unity of the spirit pages 39 40. Then the unity of the spirit in which such are to dwell and walk together 1 Union of love 2 Union of mind or designe 3 Of way 4 Of accord 5 Union of fellowship pages 41 42 43 44 45. Who they are that seek him not after the due order according to these considerations See it under four Heads pag. 46 47 48. Particular application under three Heads pag. 49 50 51 52. The particular veiw of the evils unto which the acknowledgment in the Text is applyed pag. 53. For applying that to our selves These considerations propounded 1 Who are the holy Preisthood under the Gospell 2 What 's their charge 3 How they should be sanctified to it 4 What order is to be observed in the mannagement of it 1 Who are the Preisthood pag. 54 55 56. 2 Their Service 1 In respect of the Persons to whom it is to extend pag. 56 57. 2 As to the manner of their service not in Tipes and patterns but in the truth in the spirit in the Heavenly things themselves
the earth and in that respect I am made to sit in darkness 1 Sam. 22. 47. and Psal 18. 1 2 3 46. with Mich. 7 7 8 9. even so the true believer of Gods testimony exercising faith in Christ according to it hath yet encouragement in the Lord his God But evil and ungodly men take liberty and rejoyce to do evil as before boasting themselves of their hearts desire and encouraging themselves in hope of prevailing upon the ceasing of faithful men from amongst them for while they were preserved among them They were by the word of life put in their heart held forth in word and conversation unto them and amongst them as a fenced Brazen Wall against which though fighting they could never prevail But they the faithful or upright ones were mighty through God by the power of their word to turn their waters or doctrines into blood that men could not drink them or not find rest and content in them for the Lord was with them as a mighty and terrible One making their witness held forth in word and conversation together so powerfull as was affirmed of Jeremie of old Jer. 1. 7. 10 17 18 19. and 15 19 20 21. with chap. 6. 27 28 29 30. And might not be altogether unduely applyed here 2 Such providences are also as breaches in the hedge wall or sence to such as are left of Gods peculiar people even to the flock of God the Church or Congregation that he hath gathered or redeemed from among men through that excellent price the precious blood of Christ set before them and opened to them by the spirit in the Gospel 1 To the laying them open to be wasted spoiled and troden down by Bores and wild Beasts in the likeness of men who now will enter in amongst them without let or hindrance to corrupt and destroy I know sais Paul that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them Acts 20. 29 30. While such powerfull and faithful instruments are continued with and amongst the flock they are mighty through God to the keeping out and driving away such hurtfull Wolves and false brethren that come to bring into bondage to whom they will not give place by subjection to them no not for an hour that the truth of the Gospel may continue with the flock of God over whom the Holy Ghost hath made them overseers and that it may therefore and so remain with them that it may be held forth by them for the good of others They being furnished with that faithful word the word of reconciliation the preaching peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all with which they are able through God to stop the mouths of gain-sayers and of such vain and unruly talkers and so to hinder them in their enterprize of subverting whole houses being thereby fully instructed and strengthned to every good word and work Their removal therefore is an evil breach to the letting in such to waste and destroy this Vine Psalm 80. 13. Isaiah 5. 2 Also to the letting out or administring occasion of disheartning to the weak and wavering leaving them as without watch or guard to their aptness to take offence and stumble at they know not what and so to turn away their ears from the truth and be tumbled aside to fables such as did watch over them and seek to heal help and strengthen them at all occasions being removed and failing from them Many will be easily enticed to follow the pernicious wayes of the spirit of Antichrist by reason of whom the way of truth will be evil spoken of and the enemy will more rejoyce 2 Tim. 4. 2 3 4 6. 2 Pet. 1. 13 14. with chap. 2. 1. 2. Acts 20. 30. Psal 12. Mich. 7. 2 Such providences are like a breach in the natural body as the cutting off an usefull member until the making up or healing of which there can be no profitable or cheerful progress in the work for if all the members suffer in the suffering of one their suffering and affliction must needs be greater in the loss of one by its being broken or cut off from being any more usefull or serviceable to or in the body in this time of temptation Whence Paul speaking of Epaphroditus as his brother and companion in labours and fellow-souldier and their messenger signifies that his being taken away by death as was threatned would have been not onely to the Philippians but to himself also a very great affliction adding sorrow upon sorrow Yea 3 Being breaches of such a nature they must needs occasion a present breach in and stâ—â—ppage to the good work the work of the Lord to be carryed on by the Church in the world until it be made up or healed as Vzzah's being thus cut off by a sudden stroke chiefly procures by their iniquities occasioned a breach in and put a stop to their work of bringing home the Ark of God for the present and till they had searched and sound the iniquity reproved and their hearts were prepared to seek the Lord after the due order as we see by comparing the 13. chap. With this we may fitly apply what hath been said to our present occasion of lamentation The taking away of this our Jeremy in the midst of his dayes depriving him or rather us of the residue of his years and at such a time in the midst or rather in the beginning of his zealous indeavours to the promoting of so glorious a work as the Publishing and Proclaiming the glorious name and grace of God in Christ to man-ward and earnest pressing and stirring up the people of God to joyn as one man with full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord striving together in his name after the due order for the faith of the Gospel and in nothing terrified by their adversaries his being taken from us being also in such an evil time when so few like minded not seeking their own things but the things which be Jesus Christs This is surely a very great and grievous breach made upon us in all the forementioned considerations something near to that Lamentations 2. 13. Vse It presents us with abundant cause and matter of lamentation and bitter weeping for our selves and the miseries that are like to follow upon us if not timely prevented by turning to him that smites us with whom onely is healing 'T is a day of trouble of treading down and of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of Vision breaking down the wall c. He hath made us to see the breaches of the City of David Isaiah 22. 5 9. 'T is a day in which the Lord calls to mourning and weeping to astonishment and humbling under his mighty hand Take heed least there be in any of us a spirit lifted up or carried away from the sense of the affliction as
bears witness against us of some great iniquities with us and of much stubborness in hiding and retaining them provoking such displeasure in such a gracious God and Saviour If he had given us over or left us in the hands of men and they had not spared nor pitied but been cruel to the utmost they could There might yet have been some room to have waved the reproof of instruction in it or to have strengthned our selves in a thought that there had been no such reproof in it to us or displeasure from God signified against us He might have ordered some light affliction to us and they might being also left to try them have added to our affliction as Zach. 1. 15. But what shall we say Himself hath done it and by himself The Lord that sees many things to provoke before he observe them against us yea though he prevents alwayes with opening the â—ar by gracious instructions in milder means yet is not quick to hear our murmurings disputings and hardning our hearts against the reproofs of instruction so graciously brought us nor is there with him any changeableness He is the same yet he the Lord. The Lord Gracious Merciful slow to Anger ready to forgive and that doth not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men even he hath made this breach upon us Who gave Jacob to the spoil and Israel to the robbers Did not the Lord Surely the Lord our Holy and Gracious One the glorious Lord would not have done it if we had not excâ—edingly sinned against him and with much and long stubborness refused to walk in his ways and to be obedient to his lawes Let us then search and try our wayes and turn unto the Lord. This leads us into the nâ—xt instruction propounded to be considered in the Text. 3 That the reason or procuring cause of such judgments from the Lord is our own iniquities Yea that usually there is found besides the more general evils some great iniquity of neglects and disorder in Gods peculiar people yea even iniquity and pollution in their holy things as the in-let to and procuring cause of such judgments on themselves and others We shall first give some general proof and demonstration of this point by other Scriptures And then speak particularly to the evil of sin or iniquity mentioned in the text as the reason or procuring cause of the breach made upon them First For the general proof and demonstration of this point by other Scriptures See Ezek. 33. After the Prophâ—t hath mentioned many great and crying sins as general and national evils such as The feeding on and rejoycing in forbidden and unclean things lifting up their eyes to their idols Gods that men make to themselves which indeed are no Gods as their wisdome strength â—iches honourâ— confederates the like Their shedding blood Their standing leaning or depending on their sword for defence and safety Working Ambition and Vnclâ—anness For which he threatens to dispossess them of the land and to lay the land most desolate c. verse 25. 28. He then adds verse 30. c. Also moreover or besides these great general and national evils The children of thy people still are talking against thee by the Walls and in the doors of the houses privately murmuring and speaking evil imagining deceit and seeking how to avoid the force and prevalency of his doctrine yet speaking one to another mean while Come I pray you and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord yea such they were as did sit before him as Gods people and did hear his words and with their mouth shew much love and he was to them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice c. Yet they were not doers of his words but was stil secretly murmuring and disputing against them and the reproofs of instruction in them for their heart went after their covetousness And for these with the former God farther threatens That when this namely the forementioned judgment cometh to pass They should also know that a Prophet had been among them as may seem by the want of them He would take away such in such an evil time when they should have stood in the gap to turn away Gods wrath and been instruments of comforting strength and teaching to them in their affliction Their condition should then be such as they should not see their signes nor should there be among them a Prophet or any that knoweth How long as Psalm 74. 9. I might here mention the evils complained of Isaiah 56. which is principally their general envy at God people by whom his house is rendred a house of prayer for all people the blindness greediness profaness and enmity of their watch-men who were Ring-leaders in those crooked pathes which are declared as fore-runners and procurers of such judgments as well as their multiplied idolatries and coveâ—ousness compare chap. 57. with chap. 56. Likewise the oppression fraudilence violence deceit and the like spoken of Mich. 6. as fore-runners of such judgments as the taking away righteous and good men from the earth and from among men chap. 7. But to these Scriptures having spoke more fully in the fore-said lamentation I shall here add no more Yet something more we shall briefly add to what is there also hinted of that plain declaration of the cause why many among believers were weak and sickly and many slept 1 Cor. 11. 29 30 31. It was as appears by comparing the verses 28. 31. For their not so discerning considering and looking into the Lords body that was broken for them and is now through sufferings entered into his glory As to examine themselves in that glass and judge themselves thereby as discovered and reproved in the light and powet of it and so for their pride and disorders that followed on that in-let to all disorder For so much is evident from his councel let a man examine himself so let him eat as that is pressed with this motive or reason For he that eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks Damnation present reproof and correction to himself not discerning the Lords body so much I say is evident 1 That the true way for a man rightly to examine himself is in the discerning the Lords body as declared in the glorious Gospel looking to and into that as the true glass that makes himself and all things else manifest in their right colours 2 That the want of or the wilfull neglect or shunning the so examining a mans selt in that glass the unwillingness to see and judge himself his own vileness and wretchedness the evil and shortness of his own wayes as therein discovered and reproved is that iniquity that renders him unworthy or unâ—eer and disorderly in his seeking and worshipping the Lord and makes him obnoxious to reproof from the Lords body the object acknowledged by him in those acts of worship and procures such corrections as followes For this cause many are
weak and sickly among you and many sleep And this understanding is farther confirmed in what followes For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged This shews us that the examining of a mans self to which we are here instracted is not to search our own glory which indeed is not glory Proverbs 25 27. Nor to search for know or take notice of the goodness of our own frames or qualifications as things rendring us worthy or by which we may come nor in this case or to such an â—nd are we so â—o examine or look upon the operations of grace in us or by us as in other cases or to other purposes may be good and useful as 2 Cor. 13. 3 4 5. Hebr. 10. 32. Gal. 3. 2 and 4. 15. But if we had done all those things to which by grace made known through blood we are instructed and obliged the same grace instructs us therein alwayes to acknowledge our selves unprofitable servants that have done but our duty nothing in which we may be profitable to God or procure the reward oâ— himself or his things to us But the examining our selves here and in this case instructed to ver 28. is such an examining our selves in that true glass the Lords body verse 29. As in which we shall alwayes at best find cause to judg our selves to receive and fall down under the humbling instructions of the Lords body broken for us as declared in the Gospel and so under the râ—proofs of those instructions 'T is indeed a searching for and so looking into the true glass as to see our own shame or what cause we have alwayes to be ashamed and huâ—bled before him such as hath in it a willingness to see acknowledge and be ashamed of our own vilâ—ness and sinfulness to know every one the plague of his own heart and confess our sins as discovered by the true light as we are instructed to come before him and approach his presence in prayer and other ordinances so in this Let a man examine himself discerning the Lords body For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged 1 Let him examine himself what he is in aâ—d of himself and as from Adam as discovered in that glass of the Loâ—ds body where he may alwayes see himself a sinner wholly polluted an heir of wrath as in himself and from Adam yea altogether without strength helpless and dead in sins and trespasses and so lost Thus he is presented in Christs comming to seek and save him and in the great things he suffered That through sufferings he might obtain such glory â—nto himself for us that he might bring us back to God and that through him we might be saved For we thus judge saith the Apostle If one dyed for all then were all dead c. which being alwayes rightly minded and remembred would exclude all boasting and rejoycing in the Flesh and keep us from being lifted up in or by any thing that we have received making us to differ from any seeing it s not of our selves not of works but of free grace through blood and for that love wherewith he loved us when dead in sins and trespasses and for a pattern of the exceeding riches of it towards others of man-kind towards whom also it is in Christ that they might partake of it together with us 2 Cor. 5. 14 15 16. Rom. 3. 9 27. 1 Cor. 4. 1 7. Ephes 2. 1 12. 2 Let him examine himself his own wayes and doings in the sight of the Lord what they are or have been in answerableness to his grace in Christ or the appearances and streamings forth of it unto him Not measuring himself by himself what he is now with what he was before or with others what he is more or better then they that he may have any thing of that nature to look upon or commend himself by This was the evil way of the Corinths that led them to despise such as had not what they had Therefore in measuring or examining our selves according to such rules we are not wise 1 Cor. 11 22 31. with 2 Cor. 10. tot But let a man examine himself in an earnest and hearty discerning the Lords body in that glass let every man search and try his wayes how short his understanding and knowledge is of the object to be known and also of the grace discovered and means of knowledge afforded How short his love to God or to men of his infinite grace discovered in that glass obliging and of the discoveries of it to hâ—m instructing and leading how short all his wayes and doings of any answerableness to the grace in Christ or to the streams of loving kindness bestowed There the best will alwayes find and be most sensible of cause of shame of their vast shortness and the greatness of their sins aggravated by the grace bestowed And find good reason to equalize themselves with them of the lower sort and rejoyce that they may yet come in at the same door with them This law of faith cenâ—ured and exercised in the Lords body broken for us excludes boasting every where The wilfull neglect and unwillingingness thus to examine and judge themselves in an earnest discerning looking into and continuing in as James 1. 23. 25. The Lords body in which is also the encouragement for such sinners approach was that which procured such judgments to them 1 Cor. 11. 30. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many slâ—ep And this leads us again to the text Secondly To consider particularly the evil of sin or iniquity mentioned there as the reason or procuring cause of the breach made upon them The Lord our God made this breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order We shall first consider this declaration of the procuring cause of the breach made upon them as it is a general expression of any way of inâ—quity that may be meant and signified in the sense of the words and then take a view of the particular evils to which it is here applyed 1 As it is a general expression of any way of iniquity that may be meant and signified in the sense of the words and for our understanding of that wâ— shall propound some considerations of the due order after which the Lord is to be sought by us 1 There is an order of Precedency in the nature worth and goodness of things after which some things are to be esteemed prized and sought for rather then other things yea with a neglect of other things for them And so to seek the Lord after the dâ—e order as with reference to all other things that are not the Lord nor of his appointment for our rest is to esteem and prefer him above all things and to seek him before all things and with a neglect of all things for him and for the things of him Sâ— we are instructed to esteem and prefer wisdome in the knowledg of
that so we may be found in him for the knowledge of him in what he hath done and is become for us while we were yet out of him being heartily imbraced leades the heart and mind into him and to be stayed in him See Phil. 3. 8 10. 1 Joh. 5 20. And to that purpose the first thing in all the commandements as brought to us by the glorious Gospel is to hear that word or doctrine of faith that presents the Lord our God to be one Lord as evidenced in that one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all a testimony in due time which shews him to be light and in him no darkness at all See and compare Mark 12. 29. 1 Timothy 2. 4 5 6. 1 John 1. 5. Whence also we are exhorted to be swift to hear that word of truth in what condition so ever we be come as we are to it listen to and receive it with all acception as a faithful saying full of truth and goodness for us at all times that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners To hear alwayes before we speak or do that thence we may be rightly taught strengthned and qualified so to speak and do as those that shall be judged by that royal law of liberty Be more ready to hear then to offer the Sacrifices of Fools James 1. 19. Eccles 5. 1. Prov. 22. 17 21. And so the way to seek righteousness profitably that we may attain it is to seek it by faith in Christ Romans 9. 30 32. To believe in him that we may be justified by the faith of him Gal. 2. 15 16. For as by his knowledge or skill so also through the knowledge of himself through his name he gives the forgiveness of sins and justifies the believer Isaiah 53. 11. with Acts 10. 43. and 13 38 39. And so likewise if we would get victory over sin and Satan cleanse our hands from sins our hearts from guile be made partakers of his holiness without which no man shall see him The way to seek it is also in the knowledge and faith of him and to that purpose to be exercised in beholding the glory of the Lord as shined in that glass even in the face of Christ through the glorious Gospel 2 Cor. 3. 18. with chap. 4. 6. Whence the Psalraist tells us That they that have clean hands and a pure heart are onely the Generation of them that seek his face and so seek righteousnes and strength there Psalm 24. 4 6. with Isaiah 45. 24 25. And therefore also calling upon us to seek the Lord and his strength leads us to this as the way to it in his fundamental instruction seek his face evermore Remember his marvellous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgments of his mouth Psam 105. 4 5. They then seek him not after the due Order that first seek to frame or work up their own hearts to a belief or hope in God or confident expectation of good from him before they hear or dare receive and consider the word of faith as true for them but seek to find the act or grace of faith first in their own hearts that from thence they may conclude the truth of the word of faith to themselves that first seek to work up their own hearts to love God before they will know or believe his love to them in Christ as and while sinners and enemies which onely is fit and able to get true love and good affection to him that so from the imagination of their love and good affection to him they may conclude his love and good affection in Christ â—o them Now herein is not love saith the Apostle that we have loved God herein Gods love is not rightly perceived But in this that he fiâ—st loved us even while enemies and sent his Son the propitiation for our sins And therefore and from thence we indeed love him because he fiâ—st loved us and from thence also that being first known and believed springs true love one to another 1 John 4. 9 10 19 and 3 16. They therefore do greatly err as likewise in seeking to get victory over sin and strength against their corruptions before they dare receive the report of his comming into the world to save sinners and the victory and conquest obtained in his resurrection over sin and Satan as faithful and true for them And then from what they imagine they find in themselves they conclude the truth of that done in him for them In this preposterous and disorderly way of seeking the Lord men make iâ— their first and great inquiry whether they be elected or in a good condition before God which they strive to guess and to conclude to themselves from some imagined gracious frames good affection victory over sin or the like or from some particular assurance that hath no better ground for the bottom of it then some testimony of their own or some private spirit before they will believe Gods testimony of his sending his onely begotten Son by his grace to taste death for them and giving him glory that their faith and hope might be in God And then gather up conclusions of the truth of that for them from their imagination of the truth of the former Namely that Christ by the grace of God tasted death for them because they find themselves such as before Hence it is that the way men too generally walk in to comfort themselves and others in distress is to labour to perswade them that they are in a better condition then they think they are Their sins less their Hearts Desire Frames and Works better or else from some signs or testimony of their owne spirit or of others that they are of the Elect and that therefore Christ and all his things belong to them Behold a more excellent way then any of these crooked paths in which who so walketh shall know no true or lasting peace First inquire in the light of Gods testimony and consider diligently what Jesus Christ by the grace of God hath done and what an infinite rich provision of all things pertaining to life godliness is in him for such vile sinners and wretched ones as at the worst thou mayest suppose thy self to be even for such as yeâ— are not of the Elect or chosen Generation that through him they might be saved and in finding him find Life Election Sonship and priviledges of Sons in him and so be made of that Generation that were chosen in Christ from the beginning of the World to be his peculiar treasure even of the chosen generation the Holy Nation Beloved with peculiar manner of love who before were not so as Rom. 9. 24 25. 1 Peter 2. 9 10. Instead then of striving to conclude thy self in a good or safe condition see and consider in the testimony of Christ what there is for such as are in a bad and lost condition like
the woman to whom our Saviour said It s not meet to cast the Childrens Bread to Dogs Truth Lord sayes she yet the Dogs eat the crums c. That being heartily considered will bring the into a better condition For God made him that knew no sin to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him And he came to seek and to save that which was lost Oh! That men were willing to know that unspeakable gift of God and the infinite grace of God in it to every man that would deliver them from this disorder and confusion in which instead of building on Christ that onely true foundation which God hath laid they seek to lay a foundation of their own and would build Christ and his things upon it 3 There is an order of regularness to be observed in the manner of our seeking And so to seek the Lord after the Due Order is to walk according to that rule in all our seeking which is already delivered as that is grounded upon and opened by the word of the beginning of Christ which is the vision of all the foundation of all ordinances of divine worship and the key of knowledge for opening them the particular precepts concerning them and not to have our fear towards God taught by the precepts of men which is an evil found with all those worshippers or seekers to whom the vision of all is a sealed book who perceive not their ground in that nor receive their instructions from thence unto all their fear and worship but make the word of the Lord to them precept upon precept line upon line c. Isa 29. 11 13 with chap. 28. 12 13. To seek him after the Due Order as under this consideration is 1 To seek him fear or worship him remember and acknowledge him in his wayes Isaiah 64. 5. not to chuse our own wayes Isaiah 66. 3. or to receive our conversation in that respect from the customes or traditions of men or to be determined by their precepts That will render our worship vain unacceptable and fruitless Matthew 15. 9. 1 Peter 1. 18. But in the instruction and direction of the Apostles main Doctrine the preaching of the Cross to observe all things whatsoever our Lord and Saviour commanded them and hath delivered to us by them to remember them in all things in their word and doctrine and so to keep the ordinances as they have delivered them to us to stand fast in the grace of the Gospel by and into which we are called and so to hold the traditions which they have in his name delivered to us Matthew 18. 20. 1 Corinthians 11. 2. 2 Thessalonians 2. 14 15. Alwayes acknowledging as the commandements of the Lord the things so delivered by them 1 Corinthians 14. 36 37 By whom the preaching was fully made known that all the Gentiles might hear 2 Timothy 4. 17. and in the instruction and incouragement of the word heard come into his house and rejoyce with his people that call on him in truth and so to acknowledge him to pray unto him to remember him and wait on him and wait on him in his house with his people where his name is truly acknowledged as opportunity is vouchsafed in his ordinances as by the Apostles in his name delivered Romans 15. 9 10 11. 1 Timothy 2 4 8. Proverbs 9. 1 5. Matthew 22. 4 10. Luke 14. 17 23. For they have delivered to us the commandements of the Lord Both what to hear Mark 2. 24. viz. That which we have already heard even from the beginning in the word of the truth of the Gospel as by them delivered Hebrews 2. 1. with ch 1. 1 3. c. 1 Joh. 2. 24 27. 1 Cor. 15. 1 3. 2 Pet. 2. 12. to the end with ch 3. 1 2. c. And also how to hear Luke 8. 18. For the trying of all things in those prophecyings which are not to be despised but respected and attended by us as well as also for the tryal of every doctrine or spirit that may come to us viz. so as retaining and holding fast that which is good Even the good word or doctrine of Christ as already come in the flesh and so as having finished the works the father gave him to do on the earth and being received up into glory in that body prepared for him in our nature in which he bore our sins on the tree as they have delivered the same unto us cleaving to and holding fast that as the Touch-stone and Rule of Tryal compare that Luke 8. 18. with 1 Thessalonians 5. 20 21. 2 Timothy 1. 13 14 c. 1 John 4. 1 6. Likewise in the same name and so by the Lord Jesus they have given us full instructions and commandements how we ought to walk in all our remembrances and acknowledgment of him and approaches to him in his ordinances 1 Thess 2. 11 12. and 4. 1 2. c. And in any thing where they have not limitted or circumscribed us to this or that thing or form we are not to fall under the judgment or become subject to the ordinances of men such as touch not taste not handle not Coll. 2. 16 20 21. Yea they have instructed us how and in what cases we are to behold Israel after the flesh for our helpfullness in the understanding and use of ordinances as well as for example and admonition to us 1 Corinthians 10. 1 18. 2 In the manner of our seeking remembring and acknowledging him in his wayes It is after the Due Order Alwayes first and chiefly to mind the greater or more weighty matters of the law of the things declared in the Apostles doctrine or instructed to thereby and so required in precepts and not to neglect the lighter matters as they are called in comparison of the greater though there is nothing in Gods law doctrine or requirings that is in it self light but to observe them according to the instruction of and in subserviency to the greater and more weighty Matthew 23. 23. Luke 11. 42. Hosea 6. 6. As 1 The end of all ordinances is the greater thing in them and more weighty then the circumstances in the manner of observance and so to be minded and preferred as the Apostle signifies both of the law as given by Moses and also of the commandement of the everlasting God in the Gospel of Christ and things instructed to therein from the end of which commandement he saith Some having swerved or not ayming at that have turned aside to vain jangling desiring to be teachers of the Law and so urging precept upon precept though without any certain ground foundation or rule of harmony not knowing what they say nor whereof they affirm The great things of his law being strange things to them Hosea 8. 12. with 1 Timothy 1. 5 6 7. Now the great end of all ordinances is to Preach or witness not our selves to our selves or to him or to others
preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness but to us that are saved its the power of God 1 Cor. 1. 14 18. So also there are other appointments for decency and order in assemblings and observance of ordinances as to say men in praying or prophesying to have their head uncovered and women to have a covering on the head as likewise we find in the Scriptures plentiful directions to the use of reverend gestures as kneeling or standing in prayer to God Yet about these or such like things the Apostle saith We have no such custome nor in any of the Churches as from them to be contentious 1 Corinthians 11. 1 16. That in all things to be contended and earnestly striven for is onely the faith of the Gospel Jude 3. Phil. 1. 27. Gal. 2. 5. with Rom. 14. and 1 Cor. 8. and 9 in and 10. 23 23. So then to seek the Lord regularly or after the due order is in all our seeking chiefly to mind and be exercised in the great things of Gods law the things in which the Kingdome standeth yea even for our understanding and direction to the usefulness of the lighter matters as may be subservient to the greater They then sought him not after the due order that spent their â—eal and laid the stress of their Religion in multiplying Altars Sacrifices and Washings yea in lighter matters as Tything mint Annis Cummin and regarded not but neglected the great things of Gods law as judgement mercy and saith Matth. 23. 23. judgment and the love of God Luke 2. 42. For he desired mercy and not Sacrifice and the knowledge of God rather then Burnt offerings but they like men trasgressed the covenant Israel hath forgotten his maker and buildeth Temples Hosea 6. 5 6 7. chap. 8. 11 12 14. In lik manner were they irregular in all their seeking and worship of God who refusing Gods councel to run into his name in Christ as witnessed in the Law and Prophets as their rest and as the foundation and key of knowledge unto all precepts did esteem and look upon the great things of his law contained in that name witnessed as strange things to the precepts for their worship or as having no relation to them or influence upon them And so made the word of the Lord to themselves Precept upon Precept Line upon Line here a little and there a little c. Isa 28. 12 13 16. Hos 8. 12. with 1 Tim. 1. 5 6 7. 3 To seek the Lord regularly or in a right way and so after the due order is To seek him in the preparation and sanctification of his Sanctuary with the whole heart prepared engaged and devoted to him in the instruction encouragement and acknowledgement of his name as by his preventing and following grace therein bringing salvation they are taught moved and strengthned 1 In the light teaching and instruction of his name to look unto and seek him in Christ according to his will therein declared viz. for such things and in such manner as we are instructed by the Spirit in that testimony of Christ and Gods name in him for so he helpeth our infirmities thereby teaching and instructing us To seek with earnestness fervency and violence the Kingdome of God and his righteousness Those things which God hath certainly treasured up for us in Christ and promised to give unto us with him as wisdome in the knowledge of him strength to receive and abide in him And so all things pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge of him these things to be sought in him with such earnestness fervency and holy boldness and confidence without wavering wrath or doubting as certainly knowing that God hath treasured them up in Christ for us and that he will freely give them with him to us and that it is his good and acceptable will that we should be made partakers of them in and through him for he made him that knew no sin to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him and hath made the witnesses of his goodness through him especially his glorious Gospel his arm or power to save us to open our eyes and turn us from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that also in turning we might through it receive the forgiveness of our sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in Jesus 2 Cor. 5. 21. Acts 5. 31. and 20. 32. and 26. 17 18. Therefore these things so to be sought in all our seekings 1 Tim. 2. 8. Jam. 1. 5 6. Prov. 2. 1 6. and 4 5 7. Matth. 7. 7 8. Ephes 1. 17 18 c. and 3. 13 17 c Psal 32. 6. And so with some degree of that earnestness and fervency of spirit to seek and beg of God such blessings of this life as by the light of his testimony we may know do most conduce unto life and godliness for ovr selves and others as the peace good and prosperity of Jerusalem Psalm 122. The preservation and encrease of a seed of faithfull labourers to serve him in the world that such may not fail from among men but more of them be raised up and thrust forth into his harvest Matth. 9. 37 38. In like manner the pardoning the iniquities and healing the diseases that procures such judgments as the cutting off such in the midst of their dayes or in the midst of their work and the healing and restoring such when there being so cut off is threatned these things may be sought and prayed for with more fervency and earnestness then other blessings pertaining to this life for as much as we know by the light of his testimony they tend more especially and directly to the promoting the things of Christ and so the good of others in the world And that therefore its Gods good and acceptable will â—o lade us wiâ—h such benefits and one of the special fruits of the mediation of Christ to preserve such and procure the continuance of them and a great judgement to have such so cut off and failing from us and such as to which he is not willingly provoked nor till by great iniquities and much stubborness in them and when so is yet ready to repent of the evils framed against us on our turning to him that smites yea ready to prepare our heart and to cause his ear to hear And the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much unto it See James 5. 13 16 c. with Isa 45. 11. Rom. 15. 30 31. Phil. 1. 19 24 27 and 2 25 28. So likewise for the saving or granting life of sparing unto such especially of our brethren in any peculiar sense as we see have sinned even to the procuring a speedy cutting off in their iniquities while yet we see it not finished unto death we are to seek and pray for sparing mercies for such with a degree of that earnestness and fervency fore-mentioned
that yet they may have space and opportunity to repent and seek him while he may be found and God shall give us life of sparing to a farther gracious end for them that sin not unto death compare 1 John 5. 14 16. with James 5. 15. 16. See also Luke 23. 34. Acts 7. 40. Romans 9. 1 2 and 10 1. with Psalm 35. 13 14. And for other things pertaining to this life concerning which we know not by the light of his testimony whether this or that may be best for us or for others or most conducing unto life and godliness Even so without carefulness earnestness or fervency for this or that to present our needs wants affliction case and matters to him and leave it with him waiting and seeking for his good will to be done and that however he deal with us he will not correct us in anger that we may earnestly beg of him as Psalm 38. 1. and 6. 1. Jeremiah 10. 24. And so committing our matters wholly to him without a will or fervent spirit for this or that of all such things as before that he may add and dispose to us what is good before him Phillippians 4. 5 6. Matthew 6. 32 33. with James 4. 13 15. 2 In the incouragement and strength of his name always retaining in the midst of the heart the believing remembrance and consideration of that which he hath already done for us in not sparing his own Son but delivering him up for us all when we were yet sinners enemies and without strength and of the plenteous redemption in him through his blood not forgetting all his benefits through that precious sacrifice of the body of Christ once for all and the powerful mediation of the sacrificeâ— who is the Great Apostle and High-Priest of our profession bestowed upon us But calling them to mind and considering how they lead into that good name and commend to us that unspeakable gift and the infinite grace in and through it there seeking our strength and incouragement and thereby ingaging our hearts to approach to him and seek his fâ—ce for such things and in such wise as is according to his will therein declared as afore-said And so waiting and staying on his name because it is good yea even when by any tryals or difficulties that befal us we are in darkness and see no light yet staying upon that and trusting in him according to it till he make that in every such case a light to us and give us to behold his righteousness according to it with hearty submission to his Government though sometimes he makes us to wait for that Alwayes relinquishing all other lights rejoycings and incouragements that may offer themselves from sparks of our own kindling or from any private grounds to come in that onely and as that ingageth and incourageth So in and unto all our seekings and striving for the faith of the Gospel standing fast in that one spirit that is in the testimony of Jesus seeking our strength in the Lord and in the power of his might even in the grace that is in Christ Jesus as revealed in the glorious Gospel and going in that strength of the Lord God making mention of his righteousness as our support incouragement and stay And of his onely Psalm 71. 16 and 4 1 and 50 14 15 and 52 9 and 95 1 7 and 100 and 103. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. 1 Tim. 2. 1 8. Isa 50. 10 11. with Mich. 7. 7 8 9. Isaiah 26. 3. with Philippians 4. 6. and 3. 3 Romans 5. 1 11. And so in the strength and incouragement of that grace and name of God in Christ to perswade others to be reconciled to God in the publishing his name because God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses to them and hath given us that word of reconciliation instructing moving and strengthning to such in deavouring the good of others in hope There seeking our strength and incouragement and not in any of our gifts parts or excellencies to the Discipling the Nations baptizing them in his name and going in that might according to our capacity because all power is given to him as Lord and Saviour and by him the word of his Grace made able especially in the faithfull ministration of it to give them repentance and the forgiveness of sins Likewise to suffer the little children to come to him and receive them in his name because of such is the Kingdome Mark 10. 14. with chap. 9. 37. And on that ground and in that encouragement instructing others according to their capacity to rejoyce with his people pray to him and seek him while he may be found and call on him while he is near observing what Christ commanded his Apostles Proverbs 9. 1 6. Isaiah 55. 1 6. 2 Cor. 5. 14 21. Matthew 28. 18 20. Rom. 15. 6 12. And whatever we do in word or in deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him Col. 3. 17. 3 In and with a hearty confession and acknowledgement of his name and of the goodness and truth of it in all that it saith so as therein acknowledging our own vileness and sins and knowing every one the Plague of our own heart as by the light and instructions of his name discovered and reproved or by his corrections according to the instructions of his name witnessed against Confessing our faults to him and one to another as discovered and reproved that so he may be justified in his sayings and proceedings and glory given to his name by us as 1 Kings 8. 33 35 38 46 48. James 5. 16. Psal 32. 5 and 51 5. Jer. 13. 15 18. And in such wise seeking pardon and healing in his name willingly giving up to him and laying apart in the light and strength of his gracious reproofs what ever secret purpose idol or way of iniquity he discovers and reproves not secretly hiding it under our Tongue or in our Heart that we may still hold it and find pleasure in it even while yet we are praying to him for help and healing of the breaches or evils procured to us by it nor shunning the light least som secret deeds and wayes of our own heart which we love should be detected by it but coming to the light giving earnest heed to the instructions of his name and searching and trying our wayes thereby that we may yet be taught to see what we see not as Job 34. 31 32. Psalm 19. 11 12 c. and 139. 23 24. Lam. 3. 39 40 c. Jam. 1. 21 25. Our unwillingness to see and confess our fins our secret designs and purposes for vain things that cannot profit us our loathness to acknowledge or be made sensible of our idolatry let go our idols hinder us from knowing and proving what is the good and acceptable will of the Lord Romans 12. 1 2 3. from reaping the peaceable fruit of his righteousness
by his chastisements Hebrews 12. 11 15 16. from gracious returns of prayers and from beholding the light of his countenance and so from victory over our iniquities and the evil of our temptations Isaiah 1 10 18. Psalm 32. 3 4. Yea the secret and wilfull retaining divers lusts disables from so coming to the knowledge of the truth that we might be saved by it 2 Tim. 3. 6 7. Therefore saith James we have not because we ask not or we ask and receive not because we ask amiss to consume it upon our lust or still secretly retain the purpose desire or idol of iniquity in the heart whence he thus admonisheth Submit resigne or yeeld up your selves to God Resist the Devil and he will flee from you draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you Clense your hands ye sinners purifie your hearts ye double minded c. James 4. Oh! That yet we were willing so to discern diligently to look into and consider the Lords body as to examine our selves search and try our wayes in that glass and to see what we see not and judge our selves as there discovered and reproved as we are instructed 1 Cor 11. 28 31. Yea so to remember him in all his wayes as to acknowledg him in all our wayes not leaning to our own thoughts or understanding But as those that call on the father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear The good Lord would yet be merciful and pardon and heal us though yet we be not sanctified after the sanctification of his sanctuary were we but willing in the light and strength of his grace and name in Christ so to prepare our hearts or suffer him to prepare and fix them to him that the iniquities and idols might be discovered and the purpose or desire to hide and hold them fast broken and we made willing to see and part with them for the excellency of the knowledge of him for he doth not onely alwayes prevent with his abundant grace in Christ to humble but will also prepare the heart of the hamble and cause his ear to hear Psalm 10. 17. Isaiah 1. 16 19. 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. James 4. 6 10. Thus have his servants the Prophets that have spoken to us in the Name of the Lord in all their earnest and diligent inquiries after God and for understanding the visions of the times and the things that in both parts of them as to the actual accomplishment bringing forth of them were then yet to come namely the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow Humbled themselves to the searching ouâ— and being sensible of and acknowledging their iniquities and the iniquities of their people as discovered in the instructions of his name and written upon the rod See Ezra 9. 6. to the end 10 1. Neh. 1. 6 7 and 9. tot Psalm 32. 5 and 38 and 39. Isa 64. 5 9. Dan. 9. 3. 20. And thus they have instructed us in the way not to be as the Horse or Male c Psalm 32. 8. But to search and try our wayes and turn to the Lord to examine and judge our selves in the true light to humble our selves in the sight of the Lord and under his mighty hand And surely such walking humbly and mournfully before him in the sence of our own vileness and searching out and giving up our iniquities and Idolls in the light and power of Gods name in Christ is found in the right worshipping in which the father is worshipped in spirit and truth in the light of the Spirits testimony given of Christ and so in Christ the truth Yea the way the truth and the life that rejoycing in and giving glory unto Christ Jesus in which the father is truly honoured and worshipped in the spirit hath alwayes in it and is it self found in a taâ—king shame to our selves and relinquishing all rejoycing in the flesh that no flesh may glory in his presence Philipians 3. 3. 4. I might here add in this seeking him after the due Order as to the manner of our seeking that there is in it a joyning and cleaving together in his name and so seeking and striving together for the faith of the Gospel even in the Vnity of the spirit with them that call on his Name in truth that worship him in Christ according to the Gospel The persons with whom we may and are to joyn dwell and walk in the Unity of the spirit and so together with whom we are to be followers of the Apostles they are such as walk as they have the Apostles for an example Philippians 3. 17 20 21. And we are diligently to mark know and distinguish them by considering the end of their conversation Compare this to the Philippians with Hebrews 13. 7 8 9. For there are many other walkers zealous pretenders to godliness mortification holiness that have also much of the form or outward appearance of it in many things who yet are the enemies of the Cross of Christ the very end of their conversation though privily carried on under a fair shew of mortification and holiness with good words and fair speeches to deceive the simple is to deny the Lord that bought them To destroy or cast down him from his excellency to render him undesireable and to corrupt believers from the simplicity of him And the thing thereto worshipped adhered to and magnified by them is their own Belly their own or some private Spirit experiments works mortifications sufferings and the like instead of the person of Christ and the works finished in his body and the grace treasured up and hope set before us in him for this life and that to come as evidenced by the spirit of truth in his testimony given of Christ They glory in their shame mind earthly things things suited to sence and in which they have their portion in this life But as for me sayes David I will behold thy face in righteousness even in Christ the true light and manifestation of the righteousness and glory of God and so in the great and precious promises confiâ—med in him For here we walk by faith that is the evidence of things not seen the confidence of things hoped for and not by sight When I awake sayes he namely in the morning of the resurrection of the just by Christ at his comming then I shall be satisfied with thine image Psalm 17. 15. with 2 Cor. 4. 17. 18. and 5 1 7 9. Hebrews 11. 1. Romans 8. 23 24. So here the Apostles conversation and so theirs that walk as they have them for an example is in Heaven exercised in and about the treasure they have there in the person of Christ with God and the expectation they have in him as now appearing in the glorious presence of God in the Heaven it self for them from whence also they look for the same Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ to
of Christ the power of godliness that creep into houses or gather into companies and societies like the Churches of Christ Then such as Timothy are advised with more diligence to follow their work and design together with them that call on him out of a pure heart 2 Timothy 2. 22. with chap. 3. 1. 6. And all of us to be followers together of the Apostles and mark them which walk so as they have them for an example considering the end of their conversation as afore-said and so knowing and owning them for our companions to strive together with Phil. 3. 17 18 19 20 21. with chap. 1. 27 28. and 2. 1. 6. c. And that in all our acts of seeking and striving for the faith of the Gospel in all our hearing speaking doing suffering yea in our prayers to God as Romans 15. 30. with Ephesians 6. 18. Acts 1. 14. and 12. 12. See the many instructions and earnest entreaties and exhortations to this seeking and striving together in the Scriptures already mentioned and in divers others Surely a good and pleasant thing is this unity of the Spirit and the generation of seekers dwelling together in it For there the Lord hath commanded the blessing even life for evermore Where ever two or three are gathered together in his name there is he in the midst of them rendring them comely as Jerusalem that is compact together and terrible as an Army with Banners Psam 103 Cant. 6. 4. Mat. 18. 20. This last branch of order in the manner of our seeking is fitly added to the latter part of the former branch For onely by Pride commeth Contention Envying and Strife And then follows confusion and every evil work Proverbs 13. 10. James 3. 13. 16. and 4. 1 6 10. Therefore our Saviour thus joyns them in his instruction and exhortation Mark 9. 50. Have Salt in your selves have peace one with another Meaning by Salt the humbling instructions of the Gospel and the reproofs of instruction and signifying that the retaining them and suffering their effecacy each of us on our Spirits is the way to have peace one with another hence also the Apostle instructs with all lowliness of mind to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace for there can be no union or perfect joyning together without suffering the desires of vain glory to be subdued and our selves to be broken off from our own purpose and desire in which we are each minding and seeking his own things nor will there be any right submission of the younger to the elder nor of all of us one to another in the fear of the Lord without being cloathed with humility in the hearty acknowledgement of his glorious name Ephesians 4. 2 3 c. Philipians 2. 2 3 4 7 20 21. 1 Peter 5. 5 6. According to these last considerations of the due order in the manner of our seeking after which the Lord is to be sought by us They seek him not after the due order that are not gathered together to him in his name and so seeking him in the instruction encouragement and acknowledgement of it and in the unity of the Spirit in it or thus They that worship not in the spirit in the light teaching and instruction of that one spirit that is in and with the testimony of Jesus taking of his things and shewing them and so teaching all things and leading into all truth For as this is the spirit of prophesie so also of faith and of grace and supplication in which all the true worshippers worship God Rev. 19. 10. They therefore worship not aright that worship not in the spirit and so that have not their rejoycing in Christ Jesus who is the truth with a relinquishing and free giving up all Idols and rejoycings in the flesh for the excellency of the knowledge of him John 4. 23 24. Phil. 3. 3. Particularly thus 1. They that run not into that name of Christ in which is the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power for their light and instruction what to seek for in him and from him and how to seek but adhere to their own or some private spirit for that which will instruct and lead to seek and wait for in him or from him such things as God hath not put in him for us and therefore not promised to give with him to us as some such private assurances or speakings of peace and liftings up as are more suited to the sensual mind and may a little gratifie the flesh that desires ease or liberty or like things which instructions cause to err from the words of Knowledge and therefore neither can they stay upon or rest satisfied with the incouragement and strength which that spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus giveth to seek him to hope in and wait upon him and so not with that rejoycing which is onely in Christ Jesus because that gives no incouragement or strength to seek hope or wait for such things in him or from him or to seek in such a way as by their own or some private spirit light word or spark of their own kindling they are led to They therefore run to such sparks for light and heat and for a time may walk in the light of them stollen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret places is pleasant But from all those sparks and rejoycings in them they must lye down in sorrow Nor can these persons while wilfully walking in this way heartily acknowledge his name or give glory to it in submitting and falling down under the discoveries and reproofs of its instruction because their deeds are evil Their principal works and wayes are so contrary to it and reproved by it nor can they be heartily united with those that fear his name and worship him in truth And truly any branches or rellicks of that way of iniquity above-mentioned will have answerable like effects of confusion and disorder upon those that retain and walk in them 2. Nor are they seeking after the due order that though in some good measure right as to the first branch That is as to the things they seek and look for in him and from him seeking according to his will yet are not content with that ground of incouragement and way of approach that is onely in and through his blood and powerful mediation with it and therefore instead of attending principally to seek farther assurance of understanding in that that their hearts might be comforted and strengthned therein are even seeking peeping into corners and waiting for some other private incouragement or ground of assurance in which to seek expect and wait for his righteousness in perfecting what concerns them and so unsatisfifyed if they cannot gather up or kindle something of that nature as if they were without hope in the World as if all that ever God hath done for them in his Son and for and to them through him were nothing to assure them
of the truth of his love and faithfulness for the carrying on his work in what remains in giving with his Son whatever is needful to the finishing his work unto the Day of Christ And therefore seeking at least to perfect that hope confidence rejoycing and strength to wait which was begun by the Spirit in and through the Testimony of Jesus seeking to perfect it by the flesh or according to its wisdome or desire and not waiting through the spirit for the hope of righteousness of faith 3 Nor yet are they seeking the Lord after the due Order who though in some measure comming in this incouragement and name having their boldness by the blood of Jesus to approach by that new and living way consecrated through his flesh yet are not found so drawing near with a true heart as in that full assurance of faith they are instructed and strengthned Hebrews 10. 19. 22. James 4. 8. But still secretly hideing retaining or regarding some way of iniquity or Idol discovered and reproved If any man of the house of Israel do so God will answer them according to their Idols Ezekiel 14. 4 5. If David do so God will not hear him Psalm 66. 18. Yea whosoever hides his sin shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsaketh findeth mercy Proverbs 28. 13. Psalm 32. 3 4 5. Yea this hiding of our sin and secret holding fast any deceit unwillingness to be made sencible of it and have it discovered and purged it hinders of profitable and orderly fellowship one with another and so of the advantage and benefit of that and to be met with in that way for cleansing us from all unrighteousness See 1 John 1. 7. 9. Comparing the Verses we shall find That walking in the Light as he is in the Light hath in it a confession of our sins in the belief and acknowledgement of his Name in Christ the true light as he is in the Revelation and opening of it discovering and reproving them And that this is the way to have hearty and profitable fellowship one with another and so to injoy together those special influences of the vertues of his Blood cleansing us from all unrighteousness Yea 4. The want or wilfull neglect of this last viz. fellowship together in the Gospel is disorder enough to fill us with confusion and make all our seekings unprofitable If we should think to seek the Lord with a full Spirit in the instruction encouragement and acknowledgement of his name in truth and yet forsake the assembling of our selves together as the manner of too many is or neglect the advantages we might have in the fellowship and help of our brethren out of an imagination that we stand no need of such help or can receive no increase by or through them or are able to stand alone and manage our affairs in the Gospel that concern our selves and other as well of our selves and without such advice and help of brethren as we might enjoy and can or may as well understand the wondrous things of Gods law contained in the Scriptures by our selves as together with the the helpfulness of our brethren that are one with us in the faith and patience of Jesus If I say we should any of us entertain and listen to any such vain thoughts we deceive our selves For two is better then one because they have a good reward for their labour if they fall the one will lift up his fellow Bnt woe to him that is alone c. Again If two lye together there is heat But how can one be warm alone And if one prevail against him two shall with-stand him and a three fold Cord is not easily broken Eccles 4. 9. 12. For where two or three are gathered together in his Name there is he in the midst of them Matthew 18. 20. And God hath so set the members in the Body that the chief strongest or most eminent cannot say to the more feeble or inferiour oves I have no need of you that there should be no Scisme in the Body but that the members should have the same care one for another and that the whole body being fitly joyned and compact together from him who is the head even Christ might by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part make increase unto the edifying of it self in love 1 Cor. 12. 12. 25. Ephes 4. 7. 15 16. We shall here add a word or two by way of particular application to our selves of what hath been hitherto spoken to this point That the Lord hath made a sad and very grievous breach upon us we have seen before and now have taken a view of some of those ways of iniquity that are the procuring causes of such judgements as they are expressed in this acknowledgement For that we sought him not after the due order Let us then search and try our wayes desiring God to teach us what we see not and make us willing to be sensible wherein we our selves have been and are polluted with any of these wayes of iniquity which indeed are such crooked pathes as in which who so walketh shall know no peace What I shall say in this application I shall rank under these three heads I Hath not such folly and iniquity been found too generally with us As when a price hath been put in our hands to get wisdome we have had no heart to prefer and prize it according to the nature and worth of it to accept and improve it with earnestness and diligence to the end for which it was put in our hands even to the provoking the Lord to take away what we had because in having we had it not And who can say his heart is clean How have we foolishly preferred things of least concernment Yea even for lying vanities the appearing beauty of which we have observed and let our eyes fly upon have we not even for them by such observing them neglected despised and forsaken our own mercies Yea even such as to whom the speaking of God by his Son through the ministration of this and other his servants hath been as a pleasant Song Yet have not they even while with their mouth they have shewed much love let their heart run after their covetousness pleasures and other lusts And even loved and preferred the praise of men before the praise of God Yea though Gospel convictions have been many times on our spirits yet how have we shunned the light Because our deeds were reproved by it smothering the truth of God in unrighteousness choaking the saving effecacy of it in our hearts with the deceitfulness of riches the cares of this life and the lusts of other things till we have it is to be feared many of us hardned our hearts to a hating instruction despising reproof not obeying the voice of our teachers nor inclining our ear to them that instructed us Yea even to a secret murmuring and indignation against
charge not onely to call others to Christ and into his house and to receive those that come as Christ received them to the glory of God Yea even to receive children in his name such as are brought by others under whose tuition they are as given from above not onely to their parents but also to the Church of Christ in his name as the price of his blood and part of his Kingdome and charge and so committed to them as part of their charge for no man can receive any thing in his name except it be so given them from above therefore the instruction to the servants to receive them in his name in their ministration implyes their being so given unto them But therefore also it is contained in their charge or service to take the care and over-sight of such as so come or are brought to them in his name or by Gods providence left and committed to their care and charge That they may be trained up and educated in the nurture and School of Christ as means and capacity thereto is afforded whence children given by Gods gracious providence to any of the Church are said to be holy Mark 9. 36 37. and 10. 13 14. with John 3. 27. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Yea they are in especial manner to watch for the soules of such as adhere or listen to the Apostles Doctrine with them as being seâ— as Watch-men and guides according to their fitness and ability given them of God over such in the Word of the Lord and as those that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief Ezâ—kiel 33. 7. Hebrews 13. 7. 17. For all such are in a sense devoted vessels committed to their charge to be so cared for born and watched over by them And so likewise more especially and as to the promoting of the fore-mentioned ends also to take heed to themselves and to the Doctrine that they continue therein that in so doing they may save themselves and others To keep themselves and so one another in the love of Christ unspotted from the world as Temples of the Holy Ghost vessels devoted to holy use building up themselves in their most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost looking for the mercy of God unto eternal life Jude 20. 21. 1 Tim. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. and 6. 13. 20. And this brings us into the next consideration 3. How they ought to sanctifie themselves or be sanctified unâ—o and in this service 1. There is a previous Sanctification necessary to fit them to this service answering tô that separation and consecration of themselves to the Lord which was in that whole Tribe of Levy gathering themselves unto Moses to obey the word of the Lord and keep his covenant in which he said unto his Father and Mother I have not seen them neither did he acknowledge his brethren nor knew his own children of which we read Exodus 32. 26. 29. Deuteronomy 33. 9. Upon which they were blessed with that blessing They shall teach Jacob thy judgements and Israel thy law They shall put insence before thee and whole burnt Sacrifice upon thine Altar Deuteronomy 33. 10. As likewise answering to that separating or setting them apart unto the Lord and for his peculiar use and service in which the Lord separated that whole Tribe from the rest of their hrethren and took them to himself as a devoted thing instead of all the first-born of the children of Israel to be his and to draw near to him to bear the Ark of the covenant of the Lord and to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and to minister unto him and to bless in his name of which we read Numbers 1. 49 50. and 3. 6. c. with chap. 4. and 18. 2. 6. with chap. 19. 9 10. Deuteronomy 10. 8. It is such as also answers to that tipical Sanctification and in the flesh by tipical washings sacrifices and anointings wherewith Aaron and his Sons were sanctified and consecrated from the rest of their brethren unto the Priests office Of which we read Exodus 28. and 29. with Leviticus 8. tot And that also with which the whole Tribe of Levy were sanctified and consecrated from the rest of the children of Israel Of which we read Numbers 8. 5 6. 22. The sanctification of and in the truth answerably necessary to go before to consecrate and fit persons to this ministry in the manifestation of the truth is the same by or through which they are made of his Spiritual House and Holy Piiest-hood 1 Peter 2. 4 5. And may be thus expressed 1. As to the meanes by which it is effected It s the Sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thess 2. 13 1 Peter 1. 2. Even of that eternal Spirit of God by which Jesus Christ in our nature of the seed of David after the flesh was raised from the dead and through which he offered himself without spot to God Romans 1. 3. Hebr. 9. 14. As the same being now infinitely and immeasurably given to put and caused to rest upon him in that spotless body in which he bore our sins on the Tree is now by him poured forth from on high in and with the Testimony of himfelf the man Christ Jesus as through sufferings entered into his glory the office of which Spirit as so sent forth is to bear witness of the truth in Christ Jesus even of the true water or washing of regeneration cleansing and separation and of the true blood of sprinkling with which through faith in it the heart may be sprinkled from an evil Conscience and the whole man in all his powers motions and actings washed and so persons purified a peculiar people to him zealous of good works See Heb. 9. 12. 14. and 10. 19. 22. Tit. 3. 3. 4 5 6. It is such a sanctificaion and consecration as is effected through the righteousness of God our Saviour as now come forth and manifested in Christ crucified as already evidenced by the spirit with which he is anointed in the same body in which he bore our sins on the Tree and so brought to light through the Gospel his arme to save and sanctifie In and through which glorious Gospel the holy Spirit takes of the things of Christ the things that he hath done and finished in his own body on the earth and the things by vertue thereof treasured up in the same body for us in the name of the Father and in shewing them glorifies him renders him precious comely and excellent for the compleat sanctifying us and making us perfect to every good word and work therein shewing him to be that perfect and compleat righteousness in which we being found through faith in it shall be made acceptable to God and meet to stand before him to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Christ and so shall be profitable to men being filled and cloathed with the fruites of that righteousness to the praise
any man love God the same is known of him 1 Cor. 8. 2. with John 14. 21. 23. And as in any measure so sealed so far forth are they approved and as it were set apart by God to peculiar service in the Gospel And to be called forth and approved by their brethren Such therefore Jude instructs and incourageth to contend earnestly for the faith of the common salvation in Christ as once delivered to the Saints to be kept held fast and held forth by them Such I say as were sanctified by God the Father Namely with this sanctification of the Spirit which is the way fore-known and approved by him from the beginning for sanctifying persons unto himself by Christ in these last Ages so sanctified unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus preserved sometime and so found stedfast in Christ and called approved fitted and so appointed to such pecnliar service in the Gospel as also to such suffering for his sake as might be occasioned by such service Jude 1. 3. with 1 Peter 1. 2 3. 2. There is a dayly sanctification of themselves in the light and strength of the Lord that sanctifies them in and unto this service necessary to render them acceptable and profitable therein answering to that dayly and continuall tipical sanctification from tipical uncleanness wherewith the Levitical order and Priesthood were to sanctifie themselves and be sanctified to their service in which they were to sanctifie themselves and be sanctified cleansed and separated from those things in themselves in their own bodyes their marriages and works which according to the law did but tipcally defile and render unclean And also to be seperate from so as not to have to do with or touch any thing or person declared unclean by the law As we read Leviticus 21. and 22. with other Scriptures So here in the sanctification of the Spirit having these great and precious promises That the Lord will dwell in them by his word and Spirit in it even to sanctifie them According to those many Scriptures I the Lord do Sanctifie you Exodus 31. 13. Leviticus 20. 7 8. and 21. 8. 15. 23. and 22. 9. 16. Ezekiel 20. 12. c. And will also walke in them to manifest the savour of his knowledge by them They are in the light and strength of the Lord in whom they are what they are as such a House and Priesthood to cleanse themselves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse so as in the feare of the Lord. 1. To lay aside put off and flee from those filthinesses and superfluities of naughtiness that are moved and rising up dayly from the old man the Law of sin still remaining and warring in the members the flesh lusting against the spirit as they have already in some measure been renewed in the spirit of their mind so to be alwayes putting off as concerning the former conversation the old man with his deeds and puting on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and holiness of truth as the anointing even the word of truth which they have heard from the begining and received of him which abideth in them as that teacheth even so by minding the things of that spirit and walking in the light and strength of it as by the mercies of God therein put to remembrance displayed and commended they are moved and strengthened so to present and yeild up their bodies their whole man in all their Actings a living sacrifice to him that so that spirit in the testimony of Jesus which hath begun to renew the mind may dayly fashion and transforme the whole man in all his actings into likenesse to him according to that renewing of the mind Jam. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 1-3 Rom. 6. and 12. 1-3 According to those many instructions and exhortations Purge out the old leaven even as yea are unleavened for Christ our passeover is sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5. 7. Seeing yee have purified your souls in obeying the truth as in the previous sanctification forementioned see that yee love one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Peter 1. 22. If we live in the spirit let us walke in the spirit seeing we have already crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts as to the spirit of our mind we have gotten victory and escaped the errors and polutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour so as not withstanding all those hinderances by the flesh with its affections and lusts we have knowne believed and owned him or rather been owned by him as his peculiar people let us not therefore suffer iâ— to reigne or yeild up our minds or members to it but let us resigne our selves to God according to the renewing of the mind as those that are alive from the dead and our members as instruments of righteousnesse unto him Be not desirous of vaine glory c. Gal. 5. 16-24 25 26. with Rom. 6. So cleansing our selves dayly and in all our actings from all filthynesse of flesh grosser filthynesse as the lusts of the flesh and of the eye as Ephesians 5. 1-18 1 Tim. 6. 9-11 and 2. 22. And of the spirit the pride of life all those desires of wisedome strength and righteousnesse in our selves or of vaine glory to our selves c. Which doe all war against the soule and make us and our works uncleane they even defile our holy things 2. They are also to come out from amongst and be separate from uncleane persons and fellowships so as not to touch the uncleane thing that God may receive and own them as vessels in whom he takes pleasure to manifest himself in and through 2 Cor. 6. 14-17 18. with Isa 52. 11. Jer. 15. 19. To have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkensse but rather reprove them to forsake the foolish to stand up from the dead c. Eph. 5. 11. 14. with Prov. 9. 6. And in this also they are to cleanse themselves from all filthyness of flesh and spirit from fellowship with men in their evill and uncleane principles and practises whether more gross or more refined whether more openly or privily denying the Lord that bought them and being enemies to the Cross of Christ the power of Godliness so as not to touch the unclean thing 2 Tim. 3. 1-5 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. Phil. 3. 17 18 19. Rom. 16. 17 18. Here this caution is warily to be observed vide that they are not to shut out such uncleane persons from them from listening to their word or doctrine or to forbid or hinder them from turning and coming in to them in their acknowledgement and worship but they the chosen generation are to separate and come out from them in their doctrines and fellowships principles and practises that are uncleane so as not to have any fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darknesse They are to cease to heare the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge
help and escape as that they lead to him yea allure back again from all our wanderings and give instruction and encouragement yet again to turn to him though we have deeply revolted to confesse our sins and do again the first works or seek the same things even rest to our souls righteousnesse and strength in the Lord and that in the same way And therefore also admonish and engage to what follows namely in this calling to mind the day in which we were illuminated and remembering how we have heard from the beginning as Hebr. 10. 32. 1 Joh. 2. 24. 27. Revel 3. 2 3. Therein to search and try our wayes in that true Glasse or Light of the Lord with willingnesse and desire to see what we see not and hearts fixed to take shame to our selves and not to hide excuse or seek to hold what we may see reprooved but acknowledge and give it up to him with whom is pardon and healing and so to repent change our minds and way cleanse our hands from our sins and our hearts from our divers lusts guile or doublemindednesse in and according to the reproofes of instruction in the true anoynting unto which we turn for light and healing and so do again the first works for there is no other way to renew our sanctification but the first good and old way in drawing nigh to God in Christ to cleanse our hands and hearts that so he may draw nigh to us again in a peculiar sense to dwell in us and walk in us James 4. 8. Isa 1. 15. 19. 2 Cor. 6. 16. 17. c. ch 7. 1. We find it many times very hard and difficult to recover our selves out of the snares of Satan when we have willingly suffered our selves to be entangled in them after knowledge of the truth received and so to recover out of relapses when we have back-sliden from him that called us into the grace of Christ to seek to perfect our peace hope joy confidence or sanctification according to the wisedom or desire of the flesh and so procured a losse of our first love and decay of his work or the powerfull efficacy and usefullnesse of his grace in us And surely its more hard than to keep our selves in it when we are in it yet the preaching of the Crosse is the power of God to save in both senses to preserve and to deliver even to seek and to save them that are lost and have wandered and gone astray lâ—ke lost sheep And that which makes it so hard to recover our selves out of such relapses and to at â—in his righteousnesse in the reviving his work it our unwillingnesse to take shame and judge our selves as discovered and reproved in the true light for so infinitely gracious is our God and such the plentious redemption even the forgive-of sins of that nature with him that he is not wanting to follow us in our wandrings all the day long while yet it is called to day and especially to meet us in our looking back to him and calling to mind the day in which we were illuminâ—â—ed remembering how we have heard and received with such discoveries of the Crosse of Christ and bringing to remmbrance his Graciousnesse tasted therein as might make â—is ashamed and then were we but willing to take shame to our selves to be sensible of and acknowledge our own wayes and doings that have not been good and so to lay apart and cast from us our iniquities and Idols that we have loved and after which we have wandered he would then farther and more abundantly poure out of his spirit upon us making known his words and leading us into the understanding and usefulnesse of his truth and grace in Christ as in the former dayes and much more abundantly According to that instruction tipically held forth Ezek. 43. 10 11. to which also agrees Prov. 1. 23. Psal 32. 3 4 5 6-9 Prov. 28 13. 1 Joh. 1. 9. with Jer. 3. 12 13. 21-25 Such is the sanctification of the sanctuary in the spirit and truth needfull to fit persons for and render them acceptable and profitable in this service and charge committed to the holy Preisthood and chosen generation 4 We are in the last place to consider What farther order is to be observed in the mannagement of the affaires of the Gospell by the holy Preisthood and chosen generation now answerable to the order appoynted to the Preists and Levites under the Law And to this we shall first briefly propound some considerations of their order 1. The whole Tribe of Levy were separated to beare the Arke of the Convenant of the Lord and the vessels of the Ministry and to keep the whole charge of the Tabernacle of the congregation to Minister unto the Lord to sing praise on outward instruments and to blesse in his name as was shewed before Num. 1. and 3. and 8. 9-22 Deut. 10 8. But these both Priests and Levites were to waite on their office in their courses according to their severall charge and set office according to to the commandement of the Lord by the hand of Moses So while the Ark of the Lord Alter and vessels of the Ministry were under curtains in a Tabernacle moving from place to place as the children of Israel also moved The Priests and Levites had their severall charges and set offices as to the keeping and bearing the vessels of the Lord and Ministring about holy things as to give some instances The Levites the Sons of Kohath were to take the charge of and beare the Ark the Table of shew bread the Candle-stick and Golden Altar with the vessels pertaining to them as taken downe put together and covered by the Priests and committed to them Num. 4. 4-15 But to the office of Eleazar the Priest partained the oyle for the light the sweet incense the dayly meate offering and the anoynting oyle and oversight of all the Tabernacle c. The Sons of Gershim were appointed to beare the severall hangings and coverings of Badgers skins c. As the Priests should appoint them their charge in all their burthens To the Sons of Merary in like manner pertained the Boards Bars Pillars Sockets Pins c. And in stead of these services when Israel and the Arke and Tabernacle of the Lord had rest They had also their divers severall set offices ordayned by Samuell David and Solomon according to the word of the Lord by Moses Severall chosen to be Porters in the Gates who were reckoned by their genealogy and had the over-sight of the Gates of the House of the Lord by wards and certain of them had the charge of the Ministering Vessels that they should bring them in and out by tale some of them also to oversee the Vessels and the fine Flower the Wine the Oyle the Spices c. but to the Sons of the Preists still it pertained to make the oyntment of the Spices Againe some had their set office over the things made in the
pans others of the Kohathites were over the Shew-Bread to prepare it every Sabbath And they had also their severall set offices and courses of singing praising and blessing in his name the Preists with Trumpets the Levites with other Instruments c. 2 Chron. 29. 25 26. each to wait on their office according to their order see 1 Chron. 6. 31 32. ch 9. 10. to the end 2 Chron. 29. 30. 31. with 1 Chron. 23. 24. to the end with chapters 24. 25. 26. totall 2 There were some appointed chief heads who were of the chief of the house of their Fathers that had the oversight of these severall offices and imployments who had themselves also some speciall service in them and were to look to the management of the rest as appeares in the verses before the text There were some chief of the house of their Fathers to oversee the whole charge and service of bearing the Ark and Vessels of the Lord c. So also we read of four chief Porters that had their set office and the oversight of the whole charge upon them who were therefore lodged round about the house as more devoted to the looking to and management of those affaires Likewise we read of chief heads of their Fathers appointed to be singers and of severall orders and courses of first and second degrees appointed by them 1 Chron. 6. 33 c. and 9. 33 34. c. and 15 16 17 18 19. c. see also Chapters 24. 25. 26. 3 The Preists the sons of Aaron and especially the High-Preist had the whole charge and over-fight of the whole Tribe of Levie and of their severall offices and service about the House of God and holy things when the Tabernacle with the Ark and Vessels of the Ministery were to be carried from place to place They were to appoint the severall services and burdens to the Levites and to cover the holy things committed to the Kohathites charge nor might the Kohathites look into touch or alter them least they dye and so to appoint and order all the other service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation And when they had rest still they were to appoint order and oversee the management of the whole businesse according to the Word of the Lord by Moses And to offer up and consecrate the Levites to their service and to offer the Burnt Offerings and the Bread of their God to make and keep the charge of the Oyle for the Lights and the Oyntments of Spices for anointing c. As in the severall Scriptures fore-mentioned may be seen and none of the Levites no not the heads or the chiefe of the heads of them to presume to doe any thing otherwise then according to and so as under their order For they the whole Tribe as they were devoted to the Lord so were given as a gift to Aaron and his Sons to minister unto them as in the fore-cited Scriptures may be seen Answerable to this their tipicall order There is an order to be observed by the holy Priesthood now in the service of the true Tabernacle and Sanctuary which the Lord hath pitched and not man And in their bearing the vessels of the Lord and Ministration about holy things in it As. 1 The whle company of them that call on him in truth being so sanctifyed by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ are therein prepared and made meete for this inheritance and called to this service to strive together for the faith of the Gospell to stand before him as an holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifices and to shine as lights in the world holding forth the word of life as hath beene shewed before but each according to their severall Abillities and Capacities by the grace given and gracious gifts bestowed and distributed to every man yet with this cautionary provisoe the women are not permitted to speak in every place not in the publick or generall assemblies of the Church where there are or may be not onely many daughters and attenders who are in some degree of simplicity waighting though yet they have received little But also many faighned as well as many halting believers and likewise many ignorant and some wilfull opposers comming in among them Nor is it seemly for them in any assemblys of believers so to speak or act as to usurp authority over the man and so not otherwise then so as they may be therein under obedience as that 1 Corinthians 14. 34. without the Translators addition is thus read It is not or hath not been permitted unto them to speak but to be under obedience c. in which saying as so read are two parts in such conjunction and the former so depending on the latter that it cannot stand without it and so this appears in the summe and scope of the saying That it is not permitted to them otherwise to speak then so as they be therein under obedience for so we find the like phrase or manner of speech in other Scriptures and in other cases carrying a like sense as John 5. 22. The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son Now that the Father doth now judge men and that without respect of persons is plainly expressed in other Scriptures 1 Peter 1. 17. John 12. 48. with 1 Cor. 11. 32. Therefore the first part of that saying cannot stand alone or without the second yea our Saviour saith in that same Chapter John 5. 19. that The Son can do nothing of himselfe but what he seeth the Father do So that the sense of the saying fore-mentioned appears to be this That the Father judgeth no man immediatly or otherwise then so as by committing all judgement to the Son and so judging and executing judgement by him like to which is that 1 John 2. 27. Ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth c. Now that they all needed the helpfulnesse and teaching of their fellow-members and brethren and that all believers do so while they are here in this present world is evident enough in the same Chapter verses 1. 12. 15-24 28. and in other Scriptures 1 Cor. 12. 21. c. Ephes 7. 12 13. c. But the sense is clear they need not that any man teach them but as that teacheth or otherwise then as that teacheth they need not any mans teaching that teacheth otherwise as 1 Timothy 6. 3. 5. So here it is not permitted into the Women to speak but to be under obedience that the first part of this cannot stand alone or without the second is evident in the Scripture for they especially the elder women are exhorted and instructed so to speak as to be teachers of good things Tit. 2. 3 4. yea women are commended for labouring with Paul in the Gospell Phil. 4. 3. and that a woman expounded unto Apollo The way of the Lord more perfectly we read Acts 18. 26. yea that
they were of the first witnesses and preachers of the resurrection of Christ the Evangelists tell us and that they may as any of them is through grace sitted thereto both pray and prophecy and that in the presence of others in some assemblys of believers is clearly fignified 1 Cor. 11. 5. and in other Scriptures but the sense of the saying in both parts together is this They ought not nor is it seemly for them otherwise to speak either in praying or prophecying as the mouth of others or in propounding questions nor otherwise to act no not in the Church or any the assemblys thereof then so as therein they be under obedience and in quiet silence and subjection to the man so as in the Lord and therein to the wise and holy order and disposition of God They then are not capable of any office of rule or oversight in the Church as Elders and Deacons but to be in subjection Yea farther I suppose That in any assemblys of believers where there are men in presence fitted for speaking in prayer or prophecy or in propounding and answering questions for the edification of others it may be convenient for the women there to be silent yea a shame for them to speak unlesse in some extraordinary cases or on some particular occasione and so as desired or appointed as to the order and time of such their speaking by such brethren in presence with them or that are also over them in the word of the Lord as they may judge it needfull and convenient for the man was first formed then the woman likewise the woman was first in the transgression neverthelesse neither is the man without the woman nor the woman without the man in the Lord. But I forbear to urge my apprehensions of these things and leave what is said to correction by better judgement The women then for decency and ordersake observing such cautions as 1 Cor. 14. 33 34 35. 1 Timothy 2. 11 12. c. with 1 Cor. 11. 5 10. and so every one man or woman keeping their place and attending that place and service to which they are sitted and called The whole Church of unfeigned believers may all prophecy one by one as God hath dealt to them such a gift or exercise any other gift they have according to their severall abillity in this shift for the faith of the Gospell that all may learn and all may be comforted according as God hath dealt to every man For as there are many members in one body and all members have not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ he who hath set the members in the body as it hath pleased him divides to every man severally as he will for there are diversities of gifts but the same spirit and differences of administrations but the same Lord and diverfities of operations but it 's the same God which worketh all in all but the manifestation of the spirit is given to every one to profit withall according to his measure for to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisedom to another knowledge by the same Spirit to another faith c. And so these severall gifts were set in the Church Apostles Prophets Teachers rancked under five heads Ephes 4. 11. there were also other gifts added with these to the Church to accompany the first proclamation of the Gospell to the Gentiles by the first witnesses which gifts were not so set for continuance as the former unto which they were added and therefore not mentioned among those which were given to continue in the Church till it come to its perfect state compare 1 Cor. 12. 28. with Eph. 4. 11 12 13. Now the Apostles themselves as they were appointed and chosen to peculiar service that by them the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear so they were not onely immediately from the Lord but also peculiarly gifted with all spirituall gifts to fit them to that service they had all the scriptures of the Prophets so opened to them and their understandings so opened and strengthened to understand them and the revelation of the mystery even of the truth of all as fulfilled come forth and manifested in Christ raised from the dead so immediately and fully given them from the Lord himselfe and were so gifted with all wisedom knowledge and utterance that they was therein perfectly accomplished and therefore sent in his name to make known the mystery as now revealed and to make it known out of the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God for the obedience of the faith among all Nations for his name and so as wise Master-Builders to lay the foundation for others to the end of the world to build on and so their gift as it was peculiar to them is yet left us in the fruit of it in their word and doctrine confirmed and set in the Church And so also their gift even the gift of Apostles in a secondary and inferiour sense is still found in the prime degree of the gift of Prophecy as set in the Church which therefore is mentioned as the head or chief of the best gifts now to be coveted by believers by other believers since or besides the Apostles such as believe through their word 1 Cor. 12. 31. with câ— 14 1. of which gift there are degrees or diversity of measure and so of administrations and operations accordingly Whence it is expressed in that to the Ephesians under these two heads Prophets Evangelists The prime degree hath in it such an understanding of the Scriptures of the Prophets even as the Testimony of Christ witnessed by them as now manifested by the Apostles is confirmed in the heart As also such acquaintance with the Scriptures and such skill in the word of righteousnesse vide The vision of all the great things of the Law or doctrine delivered by the Prophets and Apostles and as the foundation of and key of knowledge for opening all other things namely the testimony of Jesus as in which they are furnished and apted to a plain and cleare opening the foundation as laid by the Apostles and that out of the Scriptures of the Prophets by the revelation of the mistery given by the Apostles And so to shew the things of Christ by the Scrriptures even the things already done in his owne body which the Prophets said should come to passe and the powerfull efficacy of them with the Father for men and in the name of the Father unto then Through his powerfull mediation betweene God and men as also therein to shew the things yet to come in his glorious appearing and Kingdome and with this word of righteousnesse so distinctly and convincingly to instruct teach exhort reprove c. By the Scriptures of the Prophets as opened by
the Apostles that they are therein mighty through God to the opening the eyes of the blind convincing the ignorant and gainsayers of the vanity and falsenesse of other foundations in the plaine demonstration of this in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power and to the helping them much who through grace believe Acts 18. 24 25 27 28. 1 Cor. 14. 1 3 4 20 24 25. There is also an inferiour degree of this gift of prophecy called in Eph. 4. 11. Evangelizing included in Prephets 1 Cor. 12. 28. In which though there may be wanting some of that abillity and skill forementioned yet there is so much of that nature as may render their feete beautifull to the alluting and drawing to Christ especially on the barren Mountaines where men are not so setled on other objects or where they are in any measure taken off from finding content rest and feeding in them Yea they that have not this gift that are much wanting and short in such understanding and acquaintance with the Scriptures and such skill in the word of righteousnesse the great things of his Law contained in them as might apt them so to open the foundation and shâ—w the great things of Christ by the Scriptures and therewith open the Scriptures of the Prophets by the Apostles shew things to come and thence and therewith to instruct c. as before Yet they may have some word of knowledge or of faith some feeding or teaching gift in which they may be fellow helpers to the truth by confessing his name as they have proved the goodnesse and truth of it and may be helped to expresse it by the Scriptures though not so to open interpret and give the sence of the Scriptures and shew the scope of them and instructions contained in them as others that have a more excellent gift that way Each might be profitable to themselves and others to their brethren and the world and comely and usefull in their generation were they content to keep their place and so to minister as they have received the gift and as God hath distributed to every one Every one might have joy and praise from God in a right exercise of his owne gift that God hath given him if he were not seeking to have the rejoycing use and praise of anothers gift which yet is not his owne which indeed springs from a desire of vaine glory whence those admonitions Rom. 12. 3. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. with such vehemency urged 2. There are some appointed of God to goe before others as guides rulers elders or leaders in the Word of the Lord to whom is especially committed the peculiar service of Preaching the Crosse of Christ of witnessing repentance and remission of sins in his name and so of shewing Jesus Christ and the things of him out of the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles compared And therewith interpreting and opening the Scriptures giving the sence of the manifold instructions judgements encouragements reproofes exhortations c. Contained therein and contending with opposers to them also is more peculiarly committed the whole charge of ordering and managing the affaires of the Gospell in the Church and to the world-ward according to their capacity and opportunity in the severall places where they are set And these according to the instructions of the Apostles given by the one Shephard with the advice prayers and help of their brethren in the faith as they may enjoy it are to commit to others their severall charges according to their fitnesse in first and second degrees They are to commit the chiefe worke of preaching and giving the sence of the Scriptures and shewing the things of Christ out of them and contending with adversaryes for the faith unto faithfull men who shall be able to teach others also Seeing to them as they have opportunity that they teach no other doctrine instructing helping and going before them in their Ministry and seeking in a Gospell way to stop the mouths of unruly and vain talkers And to others that are faithfull though not so able nor gifted for the forementioned services as there is occasion and need they may commit the administration of the outward ordinance of Baptizeing in his Name which is mentioned by the Apostle as a lighter matter of the Law and not so peculiarly appropriated to choice instruments as also we have shewed before in 1 Cor. 1. 14-17 which likewise is signified in our Saviours committing that to his disciples before so sit to be sent forth to preach John 4. 2. And in Peters appointing that to be done by others when yet none of them but himselfe that we read of had preached the Gospell to that people Act. 10. 48. And so the testimoniall receiving in that ordinance the little children brought and presented to the Church As also some care and charge of them and of their parents that they may be kept and brought up in the Schoole of Christ and so in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Likewise according to their capacity some care and charge of other persons adheering to the Gospell with them and so also of one another Care of their souls in faithfull admonishing warning the unruly comforting and strengthening the weake exhorting one another bearing one anothers burtherns c. as 1 Thess 5. 14 15. c. Heb. 3. Gall. 6. 1-5 6. And so care of their bodyes also in visiting the sick having inspection into the wants of the needy and some more particularly as they have capacity and opportunity to see to what is needfull to the mannagement of the affaires of the Gospell as to the entertainment of strangers and otherwise helping forward the fellow-helpers to the truth and to these purposes to be ready themselves and to provoke and stir up others to love and good workes And some to receive and distribute as necessity and opportunity calls for it the liberallity of others to the reliefe of the needy as to other the forementioned purposes And those that are appointed or in any wise set apart as by way of office to such service for all that have believed in God ought to be carefull to maintaine good workes each acording to their capacity and are so to be charged by those over them in any sence in the Word of the Lord yea to stir up and provoke one another thereto Tit. 3. 8 14 1 Thess 5. 14 15. Heb. 10. 24 and 13. 1 2. 3 John 4. 5 6. But those that are in any wise set apart by way of office to such service as the takeing any oversight of their brethren in these things and mannaging these affaires in the Church and for the good of the world They especially are to be such as are knowne to be men sound in the faith honest and of good report and in some measure full of the holy Ghost and of wisedome that the name of God be not evill spoken of but gloryfied among the Gentiles and the designe of the
Gospell not hindered but farthered and promoted by each in their place Act. 6. 1-6 1 Tim. 3. 7-13 And therefore also the rich to be more vehemently charged not to be high-minded nor trust in uncertaine riches to doe good yea to be rich in good workes ready to distribute willing to communicate 1 Tim. 6. 17 18. Now those appointed of God in especiall manner to goe before others in the word of the Lord and in the ordering and mannagement of these affaires and more especially to commit to others their severall charges and burthens Who are also so to be knowne approved allowed and submitted to in the Lord by their brethren and to be prayed for and blessed out of the house of the Lord they are such as are furnished to such peculiar service and oversight of others and so also approved and appointed thereto by Jesus Christ the great Apostle and high Priest of our profession and so in and by the Apostles doctrin instructions and commandements given us by the Lord Jesus And they are such as are faithfull men upright fixed to seeke righteousnesse and strength in Christ holding fast the faithfull word wherein they have beene taught and not novices therin but elders in the faith in Christ the elders that are among them such as are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ yea such as are and have beene some time preserved blamelesse as 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. For though some mens sins rendring them unfit for such service are open going before-hand so as manifesting themselves to the judgement of others yet all doe not so but some follow after likewise also the good works or quallifications rendering meet for such service in some are manifest before-hand and may seem more then they are and they that are otherwise that is in any measure truly fitted and quallified to it and yet not so much or forward in appearance they cannot be hid but will in due time for their thrusting forth be manifested at least to the judgement of such as Timothy that should have a more speciall hand in knowing and thrusting forth such therefore Timothy was to lay hands suddenly on no man that so he might commit these things to faithfull men who should be able and fitly quallified to teach others also 1 Tim. 5. 21 22 24 25. 2 Tim. 2. 2. Such are the called to such peculiar service to such is the speciall charge of watching for others soules or keeping this whole commandement without spot unrebukeable untill the appearing of Jesus Christ Such others are admonished to know and esteeme very highly for their works sake especially such as labour most abundantly in the word and doctrine yea to obey them in the Lord and to be followers together of them as they are of Christ and so with them followers of him considering the end of their conversation which is Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever 1 Thess 5. 12 13. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Phil. 3. 17 20 21. Heb. 13. 7 8 17. 3. They all the whole body of unfeigned believerâ— with their chiefe ones Pillars or guides of one degree or another are given as a gift to Christ to be to him a company of spirituall Priests an holy Nation and peculiar people Heb. 3. 1-6 1 Pet. 2. 4 5 9. All his Saints in thy hand they sat downe at thy fcete every one shall receive of thy words Deut. 33. 3. And so therein in some sence given to the Apostles the wise Master builders that they may stand before him and Minister unto him according to the commandments and instructions delivered from that one Shephard by them It is his peculiar work and reserved in his owne hand as the great Apostle and high Priest of our profession not as Aaron and his Sons in their vailed ministry to cover the things committed to the charge of others as the vessells committed to the Kâ—hathites and so commit them covered But to open the things committed in charge to his peculiar people and to commit them unto them as so opened yea the vaile or covering is already taken away in Christ and so in his Ministration Therefore also the Apostles have used all playnness of speech 2 Cor. 3. And given us to see within the vail into the truth of things as found in Christ and brought forth by him For the Law came by Moses but grace and truth by Jesus Christ as is shewed before Yea to him pertaineth the offerings of the Lord made by fire c. He hath fulfilled and brought forth the truth of all in that one offering of his own body once for all and appears now presenting himself that one perfect sacrifice in the presence of God for us yea the great Mediator Apostle and high Priest of our profession and therefore to him pertaineth the oyle for the lights and the anointing oyle he hath prepared and made it in himselfe for us and be gives it forth to him it pertaines to give us wisedome strength and fitnesse to all service and suffering and to make manifest the savour of his knowledge by us to give the encrease and he doth so doe and give by and through the knowledge of himselfe Yea his office it is not onely to Baptize with the holy Ghost but also with fire nor hath he or will he depute any in his place for this or either of these but he will doe it himselfe faithfully and seasonably unto his holy Priesthood and to others also that they may be brought in to them and with them to himselfe he will faithfully poure out his spirituall Baptizing the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost and so give his encrease even by and through them in their observance of his charge loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Math. 28. 19 20. 1 Cor. 3. 5 9. 2 Cor. 3. 1 Thess 4. 8. Yea this promise is to us in and through the Apostles doctrine to whom pertained the revelation of the Mistery formerly hid or not so manifested that for obedience to the faith among all Nations for his â—ame among whom we are also the called of Jesus Christ by their Gospell as Rom. 1. 5 6 7. 2 Thess 2. 13 14. He is the great Master of them and us who hath already given the word by them All we are brethen and to receive the Law from his mouth yet the Apostles as wise Master-builders in his name have laid the foundation we are to build on that good foundation as laid by them and as also they have instructed us to build on it 1 Cor. 3. 10 c. And so to be followers together of Christ and thereto and therein shall enjoy those great and precious promises sorementioned as 2 Pet. 1. 3 4. c. with Job 14. 21 23. He will dwell in them and walk in them as 2 Cor. 6. 16 18 c. Yea he will seasonblic follow with his fiery Baptisme more immediately
by himselfe Noe man not any of the Fathers are to cover or put vailes upon any thing which they have opened or to open any thing otherwise then as they have opened and delivered the same unto us nor to adde any mixtures which mans wisedome teacheth in the building such mixtures or additions will occasion the losse of our work by the fire that comes from that foundation the fire of the Altar or by the fiery triall Yea we our selves cannot be saved otherwise then so as by fire suffering that to burne up our mixtures and so we may be saved by it 1 Corinth 3. 10 13 15 18. Whereas Nedeb and Abibu Leviticus 10. 1 2. And those Numbers 16. 35. were consumed by the tipicall fire so exceeding in glorious grace is this dispensation of the fullnesse of times and the administration of Gods Government by Jesus Christ under it But take heed when saved and converted from such polutions of turning againe to folly Inâ—quities of this nature are like that of Korâ—b And very much to the defiling Gods Temple and so to the procuring speedy dâ—struction For if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy see the sorementioned 1 Cor. 3. 16 17 18. According to these considerations they seek not the Lord after the due order 1. That are ready to be offering Sacrifices before they heare the word of truth the Gospell of our salvation or have so heard as in some measure to be reconciled by it and so brought into or made of his house or while they are entering 〈◊〉 not still more ready to heare then to offer the Sacrifices of fooles nor are they yet capable of considering the evill they do in such hastinesse of spirit Whence James exhorts even such as are beloved brethren yet to be swift to heare flow to speak slow to wrath for the wrath of of man the hastinesse of the spirit of a man to be speaking and offering sacrifices so as for or on the behalfe of others worketh not the righteousnesse of God wherefore laying apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is able to save your soules James 1. 19 20 21. 2 Nor they that having tasted that the Lord is gracious and proved the powerfull efficacy and force of that living stone drawing to him building on him delivering from the errors and polutions of the world consecrating and devoting them to him and his yet do not diligently mind or regard their charge and the end of their calling But either are slothfull cleaving to and embracing the things of this present world preferring profane and common affaires before these great affaires of the Gospell and so taken off and hindered from earnest striving together with them that call on him in truth for the faith of it loving and preferring Fathers Mothers Lands Livings or their own life before him or not haâ—ing them in comparison of him and for his sake and the Gospells They are not worthy of him nor demeane themselves worthy of or suitable to such a vocation as wherewith they are called yea this their dulnesse neglect and slothfulnesse may occasion errors of rashnesse in others as the like did in Vzzah 1 Chron. 13. 9. with chap. 15. 12 13. Or else retain some other Idol or way of iniquity in their hearts though oft discovered and reproved and seek to excuse and hide it from the light as some desire of vain glory or any other fiilthinesse of flesh or spirit and yet appear and stand before him in their uncleannesse yea hiding it under their tongue or setting it up in their hearts as if by him they had a dispensation or were delivered to it or might be conived at or allowed in it more then others because of their peculiar service or usefulnesse in the Church more then others something like that Jer. 7. 8 9 10 11. Be we admonished of these wayes of iniquity and confusion for he the Lord that sanctifies us is holy be ye therefore cleane ye that beare the vessels of the Lord. 3 Nor yet are they seeking after the due order that are not content with their place and service in the body in which they might be usefull but either they must do as others do or undertake the exercise of such a gift as they have not almost like them that intrude into things they have not seen vainly puft up with their fleshly mind or else sit down in a peevish discontentment as if they were none of the body because not such a principall member or might be no way usefull yea refuse to be usefull and seek their own good and the good of others as they might of they may not or cannot be usefull in such a gift or manner of administration as another 4 Nor they that are headily running on in the exercise of any gift or setting themselves apart or being set apart by some others to any peculiar service in the Gospell or undertaking any speciall charge in this Ministry to which they may think themselves meet and some others like them or weaker and younger ones in the faith that are therein out of their place may put them forward before they be called and thrust forth by the Lord and by such of his servants especially the Elders among them to whom they are given as a gift from the Lord to be loâ—ked too watched over and ordered by them in the Lord Or go an end in such exercises and in the management of such affaires as to which they may have had some previous fitnesse and due encouragements yet so as alone and in the hastinesse of their own spirit before and without the advice helps prayers and blessings out of the house of the Lord. Oh how needfull is that admonition of the Apostle to every one amongst us not to think of our selves more highly then we ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith with all lowlynesse and meâ—knesse to endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace not to be desirous of vain glory nor to let any thing be done through it but in lowlynesse of mind each to esteem other better then themselves the younger submitting to the elder and all of us one to another in the feare of the Lord Romans 12. 3. Ephesians 4. 1 3. c. Phillippians 2. 1-5 with 1 Peter 5. 5 6. 5 Yea faulty and out of order are they that are over such in the word of the Lord unto whom they have been or are given as a gift from the Lord to minister to and with them according to their capacity if they take not speciall notice of such disorders to warn the unruly as well as encourage and support the weak and timerous And although if the instructions and admonitions of sound doctrine will not prevaile to rectifie or stop the mouths of such unruly and vain talkers they cannot so well
stop their mouths or prohibit them any other way which may be meet for them to walk in as happily they might in the Apostles times or first times of the Church succeeding them while the outward Court was in the hands of true and unfeignbelievers which since is left out as given into the hands of the Gentiles who tread the Holy City under-foot Revelations 11. 1 2. yet it behooves them therefore to be the more diligent and watchfull in holding fast the faithfull word as they have been taught and making full proofe of their ministery doing whatever lies before them to be done in it and with it faithfully as unto the Lord That they may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers and that the truth and power of the Gospell may continue with others as Acts 20. 28 29 30 31. 1 Timothy 5. 20. 21 22 2 Timothy 4. 1-5 Titus 1. 9. 10. Galatians 2. 4 5. Therefore saith Peter The Elders that are among you I exhort Feed the flock of God that are among you taking the oversight c. And yet not as being Lords For 6 Most of all out of order are they that seek to exercise a Master-ship or Lord-ship over their brethren that are not content to be brought so nigh as to minister to him as a holy Preisthood and to receive the Law and that their brethren with them also should receive it from his mouth but seek the Preisthood also even the high Preisthood that is peculiar to him like that sin of Korab Numbers 1 6. 9 10 11. and so would set themselves in his place and Temple as if they were the Great Apostles and high Preists of our profession to give lawes to his Church teaching for doctrines the precepts of men and setting up their Posts by his or as if they were the Lords of their brethren and had been crucified and given themselves a ransome for them would rule over the conscience determine their faith and assume to themselves an absolute seat of judgement over them not committing that to him to whom onely it belongs or would espouse them to themselves as if they could give encrease or spirit to them contâ—ary to John 3. 28 29 30. Matthew 23. 8 9 10. 7. 1. 2 Cor. 11. 2. like him 2 Thes 2. 3 4 c. Now let us here also search and try our wayes and be willing to see and acknowledge our confusion and disorder as in these instructions it may be discovered and turn unto the Lord that hath sâ—itten us with whom yet there is mercy and healing for us And for a little farther particular application of these last instructions to such as are in any measure made of his spirituall house and holy Preisthood I shall briefly add a word or two unto such and oh that we were willing every one of us seriously to examine and judge our selves and to know every man the plague of his own heart Have we considered the nature and weight of the charge committed to us and been willing or had our hearts prepared to seek it to be sanctified to that service after the sanctification of his sanctuary Have we not defiled our selves with Idols and with many polutions of flesh and spirit Yea even then when under pretence of having no fellowship with the unfruitfull works or workers of darknesse we in our rash zeale have been seeking to hinder and keep out others for their weaknesse ignorance or sinfulnesse out of the house of God and from rejoycing and seeking the Lord with his people in his ordinances and bidding them stand aloofe from us we are holier then you yet have we not Instead of awakening rising and standing up from them in their ignorant and unclean principles and practices which we should have done and not the other I say while instead of that we have bidden them stand aloofe from us I am holyer c. Have we not walked in their wayes and so had fellowship with them in their uncleannesses in their covetousnesse pride following after the vanity of the mind in the fashions and customs of this world and according to our former lusts in our ignorance and after the Iusts of men Have we not sought after and doted on the wisedom of this world the praise of men and like things nay do we not even outstrip many of the world in these things and teach the ignorant and wicked ones these our wayes while under pretence of holinesse we will not let them learne better of us and so strengthen the hands of evill doers by our example that none of them returnes by means of us from the evill of his way Yea how little dwelling together with all lowlinesse of mind in the unity of the spirit or submitting of the younger to the elder and all of us one to another in the feare of the Lord as being cloathed with humility is there not rather a spirit of pride and thence of division yea of madnesse and giddynesse possessing us that is ever rushing us into extreames As to say 1. The younger and such as are taught in the word as Gall. 6. 6. And also fellow-helpers to the truth or such as might be so more then they are were they willing to walke circumspectly and with a right foot in the Gospell But such of us Are we not either headily slighting or dispising all helps of our brethren or at least such as we might enjoy and have much mercy in and advantage by as if we could understand the mind of God in the Scriptures as well without such helps and enjoy fellowship and communion with him though neglecting them boasting that we are of Christ as well as they and are not all the Lords people holy as Numbers 16. 3. with 1 Cor. 1. 12. As immagining that we have no need of them of their instructions advice prayers blessings and hands with us for our understanding mannaging the affaires of the Gospel pertaining to us but can as well stand alone or go one of our selves even without such of our brethren as to whom we ought more especially to submit our selves in the fear of the Lord at least if they will not fulfill our humor and say as we say Or else are we not on the other hand Idolizing and preferring them or some one or other of them before or in opposition to another As if they had beene crucified for us or had the spirit to give to us calling them or some of them our masters or fathers in such respects as Christ ought only so to be esteemed by us having our eye dependance on them as those that would have our fear regulated taught by their precepts yea as the eyes of a Servant are to his Master and of a Hand-Maid to her Mistris and as our eyes should be only unto the Lord. Yea. 2. The Elders among us Though it s not meete especially for such a younger one as my selfe to rebuke such
yet let me entreat them as Fathers to consider Is there not also too much of such a spirit as is rushing even such into extreames 1. Either sometimes to neglect that great care and oversight of their brethren as a thing not partaining to them or as if the unworthynesse stubbornesse and giddinesse found with us or any over whom the holy Ghost hath made them overseers might excuse the neglect of their care and oversight of them or give them just cause to be so angry as to cast it off Like Jeremy of old that sometimes said he would speake no more in his name because it was made a reproach and dirision to him daily But the Lord was stronger than he and prevailed to beget in him and carry him forth in a better resolution May not likewise such follyes or giddinesse in us as forementioned either on the one hand slighting or on the other hand idolizing such as are over us in the word of the Lord or being partially pustup for one against another And not rightly obeying or submiting to any of them in the Lord but willfully walking every one in the wayes of his owne heart and in the fight of his eyes and happily after our owne lusts heaping up to our selves teachers too having itching eares I say may not such follyes and giddinesse found with us sometimes move and provoke the spirits even of such as Moses to be ready to take up such rash resolutions to neglect or cast off their care and watchfullnesse over their brethren as if disengaged to let them goe on and walke in their owne way without plaine and faithfull reproving and warning of the evill of it as they see it or might see it and have opportunity soe to warne them and seeke their healing Yet to such let me say be yee entreated to consider the nature of your engagement The grace bestowed rendring you Deptors and obliging and from whom you expect your reward yea consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himselfe and such unteachablenesse and untowardnesse in his chosen Disciples least ye be weary and faint in your minds and withall bethink your selves what advantage Satan may get over others even of some more simple and upright ones though weak to rush them into errors of rashnesse like Vzzab's by occasion of your negligence or listening to such a peevish spirit provoked by others evills and happily partly also by too much looking or too single poorinâ—s on your owne weaknesse and unfitnesse to deale with or for such a people as by such occasions you are made sensible of it as Isaiah 6. 5. with Exodus 3. 11. and 4. 10. 2. Or on the other hand will not the same spirit that moves and provokes from such considerations as before to sit downe in a peevish discontent or to neglect or cast of their care or charge committed to them happily working thereto also upon their owne naturall desire of case or the like I say will not or may not the same spirit from the like considerations rush them otherwhile into another extreame happily working to this also upon some naturall inclination that may yet be found with such to honour or praise or to be some bodyes or the like that is to say when they are stirred up even by Gods spirit to take some care of their brethren and seeke some way to be helpfull or profitable to them in those things in which they are out of order even then and in those endeavours to be Lording it over Gods heritage rashly judging and upbraiding them for their follyes as if they had opened their cares nay more then he that did soe yea seeking to bring them under them or to submit to their order or if it be Gods yet as from them rather then as servants and with the meekenesse and gentlenesse of Christ seeking their being first devoted and given up to God that so they may be to him and for his use and by him be given to them according to his will To such therefore let me here farther adde Oh see I beseech you what the following such a spirit a little cost Moses or rather the people in his losse Numbers 20. 10 12. Deut. 3. 26 27. with Psal 106. 32 33. And consider how much unlike it is to the mind and way of Christ found in himselfe Isaiah 42. 18 19 20. And in his servants guided by his spirit Psal 38. 13 14 15. And give earnest heed to that vehement charge of the Apostle Paul to Timothy 2 Timothy 4. 1 5. with Chapter 2. 24 25 26. and of Peter to the Elders 1 Peter 5. 1 5. And let us all be admonished so to think on our wayes as to turn our feete unto his testimonyes and in the light and strength of them to make hast and not to delay to keepe his Commandements Psa 119 59 60. Even to doe what we should have done of this nature at the first and have prevented this harme and losse to our selves least yet a worse thing come unto us And to encourage us to listen to and receive this admonition Consider in the last place 4. That yet the Lord is our God though he hath made this Breach upon us while he is so highly provoked to punish us in such manner for our iniquityes yet there is forgivenesse wiâ—h him and help in him even for rebellious sinners that yet he may be feared and hoped in by them while yet it is called to day Yâ—a such punishments and corrections on his peculiar people may yet stand with his gracious owning them in Christ receiving and taking pleasure in them as found in Christ however punishing them for their iniquityes for he chasteneth every Son whom he receiveth Though indeed such judgements as these doe signifie him to be as one rising up out of his wonted place of mercy and are something neere to a withdrawing from a people and to a resisting and giving up And may also have some Act of resisting in them and yet stand with his readinesse to receive returne and be gracious to us For he that is so unwillingly and hardly provoked to deny disowne and put away any from that relation or neerenesse in which he hath made them nigh to himselfe as his spouse or children by faith in Christ and will not doe it till it come to that he must either deny himselfe oâ— them but still graciously receives and accepts as beleivers on Christ and so as children and heirs to be favoured with the peculiar favour of his people when as yet many unkind and unchildlike requitalls of his grace have beene found with them yea when not onely many iniquityes and polutions in their holy things are found with them but also many backslidings and departings from him by an evill heart of unbeliefe such as doe bring much losse and deadnesse upon them and procure fore corrections to them and might justly procure his utter denying and disowning them he is also so infinite
in graciousnesse that when any mans drawings back are come to that height that his soule â—â—â—â—ake no pleasure in them but that he is provoked to put them away for such iniquityes as by which they have sold themselves from him yee he doth not presently give them a bill of divorce Isa â—â—o But is yet following them in their wanderings while yet it is to day with such discoveryes of his Son and the riches of provision in his house even for prodigalls that have wasted all they had and forfeited all and with such reproofs of instruction as might make them ashamed to see if yet they will repent and remember from whence they are fallen and look back towards him who is yet waiting to be gracious to them and if any by all this goodnesse yet be ashamed and say I have sinned and perverted that which is right and it profited me not then he is gracious and saith deliver him from going down to the pit for I have found a ransome and he will farther open to him the treasures and fat things of his House and lead him into the understanding and usefulnesse of his truth in Christ and he shall returne to the dayes of his youth as Ez. k. 43. 10 11. Jer. 2. and 3. tet Job 33. 23-28 For therefore will the Lord waite that he may be gracious blessed are all they that yet in the way of his judgements wait for him For the Lord is a God of judgement He is the Lord our God his Judgements are in all the earth who hath made this Breach upon us I shall briefly propound for our farther usefulnesse of this these severall positions of instruction contained in this acknowledgement that it is the Lord and avouchment of him to be their God as Deut. 26. 17. 1. That he whose hand had made this Breach upon them and whose Kingdome in it did rule over them is the Lord our God that hath for ever the only right to dispose off and judge us 2. That he is yet able to save to preserve yea to deliver even when we are ready to perish 3. That he is then ready and willing to save nigh at hand especially to such as seek him 4. He it is and he only to whom from these considerations we may be and in looking to him are encouraged to fly for help and refuge He is the Lord our God 1 He that hath done it is the only Lord that hath for ever the onely right to dispose of and judge us He even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath committed all judgement to the Son and executeth all his judgements present and eternall by him even as now in mans nature exalted as we have shewed before and so Jesus Christ as now actually made flesh in a body prepared for him in our nature and through sufferings in the same body glorified with the Father with whom all this was vertually present and of force from the beginning of the world He even the Man Christ Jesus in the Name of the Father for all the Scriptures bear witnesse of him as it is he that hath done it as we shewed in the second instruction propounded to be considered in the text so he had the only right to do it for he is Lord of all and hath for ever in the name and majesty of God his Father the only right to dispose of and judge us not only by right of creation as Psal 95. 7. and 100. 3. for so all are his from the beginning for he was in the beginning with God and that word was God by him and for him were all things made that were made John 1. 1 2 3. Collossians 1. 16. and so he is the proper Lord and Heir of all things by right of creation and according to his divine and eternall generation but not only so nor is that all meant in those places in the Psalmes forementioned but also by right of redemption in which there is a new creation for our nature made and perfect in him for us he is Lord of all to the glory and praise of God the Father Pbill 2. 6. 11. For when we by reason of sinne were justly banished from his Kingdom in the righteous sentance of his Law and equity of his Justice shut out as accursed from him and by reason thereof must needs have been leâ—t under the power of Satan and dominion of death for all our strength was as water spile on the ground that cannot be gathered up againe even then when we were sinners and without strength in due time Christ dyed for the ungodly and according to the prupose and grace given us in him from the beginning of the world in which he in due time tasted death for every man He hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us As it is written cursed iâ— every one that hangeth on a Tree For therein he suffered and satiâ—fied the judgment of this world That judgment of banishment that came on us by the offence one so that his resurrection was for our justification and by the power of it in the vertue of his sufferings all men are given him and all judgment committed to him and power to execute judgement also because he is the Son of Man 2 Samuell 14 14. with Hebrews 2. 9. 14. Galatians 3. 13. John 12. 27. 31 32. 5. 22. 27. Romans 5. 18. By him the Kingdome of God is brought unto us for to this end Christ both dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord of all so that he is the Lord our God by right of purchase and redemption for he gave himselfe a ransome or price of redemption for all to be testified in due time and hath obtained an eternall redemption and release of all mankind from under the curse of the Law and so from under that necessary slavery to Sin Death and Satan into which we were fallen so that the Father holds no man under that condemnation or sentence of banishment as they were fallen under it but hath committed all judgment to the Son that through him they might be saved and that by him they may be righteously judged according to the Gospell according to which this is the only condemnation that when light is come men love and choose darknesse rather Therefore to day while it is called to day if ye will hear his voyce harden not your hearts but let us kneel before the Lord our Maker that hath bought us with the ransom of his owne body which the Father prepared him to that purpose for by the vertue of that ransome and so by means of his death 2 He hath yet power to save us even when by our iniquities and sinnings against the grace of God by him bringing salva ion to us we have deserved to be cut off in his righteous judgement according to the Gospell yea when we have procured to our selves such judgements as in which we are ready
to perish and nigh to cutting off and burning For by means of his death he hath obtained power to forgive those sins that deserve a second death while it is yet to day that is before they be so finished in any as to procure the utter bloting out of their names out of the book of the living and so to save us from the wrath to come and hath received gifts for the rebellious that the Lord God might dwell among them Hebr. 7. 27. 9. 15. 1 John 2. 1 2. 1 Thess 1 10. Psal 68 18 19. 20. And is therein able to save to the utmost them that come to God by him as well as to hold open the dore for rebellious sinners approach and that he might bring them back from all their wanderings to God And all this because this man continueth for ever in the name and majesty of God his Father to improve for us that one offering of his owne body by which he hath obtained plenteous redemption even the forgivenesse of sins and in which he liveeth to appeare in the presence of God for us Though good men are perished from us and being taken away by death can be of no more personall usefulnesse to us for the dead know not any thing nor have any more a portion in any thing that is done under the Sun and so no simpathy with us in our present joyes or griefes nor is there any more that they can doe for us by speaking to us or praying for us for there is no worke or devise nor knowledge or wisedome in the grave nor have the dead any capacity or opportunity to perfect any thing left undone under the Sun They cannot praise him or celebrate his truth to the living nor hope or seeke for it for them Eccles 9. 5 10. Psal 6. 5. Isa 38. 18 19. Yet the Lord liveth and blessed be the God of the Rock of our Salvation 2 Sam. 22. 47. Psal 18. 46. For because he liveth for ever in that body in which he once dyed for us therefore also they that sleepe in Jesus and we that waite for him shall live together with him in a like consideration even in these bodyes that are now vile which then shall be fashioned into the likenesse of his glorious body yea therefore all shall be raised and stand before his judgement-seate to receive in their bodies according to the things done in them whether good or bad And therefore also they that waite on him shall not be ashamed but though they heere passe through the vally of the shaddow of death and may sit in darknesse as the fruit of their owne wayes yet looking to him he will be a light to them and his rod and staffe shall comfort and uphold them For he is able to uphold support preserve and deliver them when all other helpers and Saviours fail from them even yet to preserve his Church in the world as a people to his praise when their power is gone though those pillars be removed which were a strength to them and their enemies thought were their only foundations whence they encourage themselves saying if the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do But our God our Rock of salvation foundation and high Tower is in heaven he dyed once and â—an dye no more but is alive for evermore and hath the keyes of Hell and Death yea the Lord is in his holy Temple God hath set his King upon his holy Hill of Sion Therefore saith Micha I will looke unto the Lord I will waite for the God of thy salvation For 3 My God saith he will heare me He is ready to save to forgive and heale he delights in mercy that pleaseth him he hath no pleasure in the death of any or that any should perish but that they should come to repentance and be saved And therefore will not be wanting in seasonable admonitions to rebellious ones while it is to day yea will make his rods and reproofes powerfull to the awaking unto his righteousnesse to the giving wisdome and opening the eare to discipline and turning at his reproofe will farther power out his spirit and make knowne his words as is shewed before yea he the Lord of the harvest will yet raise up and thrust forth many more faithfull labourers into his vinyard if yet we be willing to be humbled under his mighty hand and seeke it of him after the due order for because of his infinite compassions kindnesse and pitty to man-ward that they may heare of the things that concerne their peace and learne to know and seare his name therefore he will not make his peculiar people an utter desolation in the carth bâ—t will preserve a Seed to serve him in their generation for the good of others Psalm 22 30 31. and 103. 1 7. 8. c. and 145. John 17. 15 20. Yea therefore the Lord will not forsake his people for his great names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make them his people onely feare the Lord and serve him in truth with a perfect heart for consider how great things the Lord hath done for you 1 Sam. 12. 22. 24 For 4. These things considered will instruct incourage strengthen and admonish not to forsake him though all this evill be come upon us nor fly to any other mountaine or refuge for help but to fly to him trust in him and resigne our selves to his government for truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills and from the multitude of Mountaines truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israell yea he that is our God is the God of salvation and to God the Lord belong the issues from death Jeremiah 3. 23. Psalm 68. 20. And they that know thy name will trust in thee for thou Lord never forsakest them that seek thee Psalm 9. 10. But as for such as will still go on in their trespasses not regarding the work of the Lord nor the operation of his hands but still persist in their falling away and turning aside unto their crooked paths the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity he shall destroy and not build them up But peace upon Israel Psal 28. 5. and 125. 5. and 68. 20. 1 Sam. 12. 25. Heb. 10. 38 Seek we therefore the Lord and his strength seek his face evermore remember his marvelous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgements of his mouth he is the Lord our God his judgements are in all the earth Psal 105. 4 5 7. FINIS Post-Script WHereas in page 20. speaking of the examining a mans selfe and so eating the Supper of the Lord to which we are instructed 1 Cor. 11. 28. I have written That it is not to search for know or take notice of the goodnesse of our owne frames or qualifications as things rendâ—ring us worthy or by which we may come nâ—r in this case or to such an end are we so to examine or