God's Work in Founding Zion AND His Peoples Duty thereupon A SERMON PREACHED IN THE Abby Church at Westminster at the opening of the PARLIAMENT Septemb. 17th 1656. By JOHN OWEN a Servant of Jesus Christ in the Work of the Gospell Walk about Sion and goe round about her tell the Towers thereof Mark ye well her Bulwarks consider her places that ye may tell it to the Generation following For this God is our God for ever and ever He will be our guide even unto death Psal. 48. 12 13 14. OXFORD Printed by LEON LICHFIELD Printer to the University for THO: ROBINSON 1656. Wednesday the 17 of September 1656. ORdered by the Parliament That Mr Maidston and the Lieutenant of the Tower doe give the hearty Thankes of the House to Doctor Owen Deane of Christ-Church and Vice-Chancellor of the Vniversity of Oxford for his great pains taken in his Sermon Preach'd this day in the Abby Church at Westminster before His Highnesse the Lord Protector and the Members Elected to Sitt this present Parliament And that he be desired to print his Sermon And that no man presume to print it without his Leave Hen Scobell Clerk of the Parliament TO HIS HIGHNESSE THE LORD PROTECTOR And To The PARLIAMENT Of the Common-wealth of England Scotland Ireland c. ALthough I need plead no other Reason for the publishing of the ensuing discourse but your Order and Command for my so doing yet because I know that your peculiar Interest as Governors of this Common-wealth in the severall stations wherein you are placed of God is truely stated therein in the pursuit whereof your Peace and the Peace of these Nations will be found to lye I crave leave to adde that consideration also Being fully acquainted in and with what weaknesse it was composed and delivered I cannot but conclude that it was meerly for the truths sake therein contained which is of God and its suetablenesse through his wise providence to the present state of things in these Nations that it found acceptance and entertainment with you which also makes me willing to be therein your Remembrancer a second time From the day wherein I received a command and call unto the service of Preaching unto you unto this issue of it wherein it is cloathed anew with obedience to your Order I found mercy with God to have that caution of the great Apostle abiding in my heart and thoughts if I yet please man I am not a servant of God Hence I can with boldnesse professe that influenced in some measure with the power of that direction I studiously avoided what ever might be suggested with the least unsuitablenesse thereunto with respect either to my selfe or others It was for Sions sake that I was willing to undertake this duty and service rejoycing that I had once more an opportunity to give publike Testimony to the great concernment of the great God and our deare Lord Jesus Christ in all the concussions of the Nations in the World and peculiarly in his wonderfull providentiall dispensations in these wherein we live And here as the summe of all touse plainesse and liberty of speech I say If there be any thing in any person whatever in these Nations that cannot stand with that can stand without the generall interest of the people of God pleaded for let it fall and rise no more And the Lord I know will send his blessing out of Sion on what ever in singlenesse of heart is done in a tendency to the establishment thereof Farther I shall not need to suggest any thing of the designe of the ensuing discourse they who take themselves to be concern'd therein will acquaint themselves with it by its perusall I shall only adde if the generall principles asserted therein be in your hearts if in pursuit thereof you endeavour that in no corner of this Nation it may be said this is Sion that no man careth for but that those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and are by faith and obedience separated from the perishing world following the Lamb according to the light which he is graciously pleased to impart unto them and ingaged by the providence of God in that work which he hath undertaken to accomplish amongst us be not overborne by a spirit of prophanenesse and contempt of the power of Godlinesse raging in the Earth that they may be preserv'd secured from the returne of a hand of violence and encouraged in the Testimony they have to bear to the Kingdom of Christ in opposition to the World and all the ways which the men thereof have received by Tradition from their Fathers that are not according to his mind you will undoubtedly in your severall conditions receive blessing from God which also that you may in all your concernments is the daily prayer of Your humblest Servant in the work of our dear Lord Jesus JOHN OWEN ISAIAH 14. 32. What shall one then answer the Messengers of the Nation That the Lord hath founded Zion and the poore of his people shall trust in it THe Head of the Prophetie whereof these words are the close lies in v. 28. in the year that King Ahaz died was this burden which gives us the season and just time of its Revelation and delivery The Kingdome of Judah was at that season low and broken Forraigne invasions and intestine divisions had made it so An account hereof is given us 2 Chron. cap. 28. throughout as it is especially summ'd up v. 19. of that Chap. For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz King of Israell for he made Judah naked and transgressed sore against the Lord Amongst their oppressing Neighbours that took advantage at their low and divided condition their old enemies the Philistines the posterity of Cham in Canaan had no small share as v. 18. of that Chapter The Philistines also had invaded the Cities of the low Countrey and of the south of Iudah and had taken Beth-shemesh and Aialon and Gederoth and Shoco with the Villages thereof and Timnah with the Villages thereof Gimzo also and the Villages thereof and they dwelt there In this state of things God takes notice of the joy and triumphing of the whole land of Palestina that is the Country of the Philistines In that the rod of him that smote them was broken that is the power of the Kings and Kingdome of Judah which for many generations had prevailed against them especially in the days of David 2 Sam. 5. and of Vzziah 2 Chron. 26. 6. and kept them under was made weak and insufficient for that purpose v. 29. Rejoyce not thou whole land of Palestina because the rod of him that smote thee is broken It is no wonder if Palestina that was to be smitten and broken by the rod of God among his people rejoyce at their perplexities and distresses when we have seen men so to doe who pretend to dwell in Iudah To take them off from their pride and boasting their triumph and
earth only but also heaven And this word yet once more signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made that those things which cannot be shaken may remain All the shakings of the Nations are that the unshaken interest of the Saints may be established Isai. 51. 15 16. But I am the Lord thy God that divided the sea whose waves roared the Lord of hosts is his name And I have put my words in thy mouth and have covered thee in the shaddow of mine hand that I may plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth and say unto Zion thou art my people Heaven and earth and all things therin are disposed of that Sion may be built and established All Gods works in this world lye in a subserviency to this end and purpose Doth God at any time prosper an evill or a wicked Nation an Anti-christian Nation is it for their owne sakes doth God take care for Oxen hath he delight in the prosperity of his Enemies No it is only that they may be a Rod in his hand for a litle moment and a staff for his indignation against the miscariages of his people Isai. 10. 5 12. O Assyrian the rod of mine anger the staff in their hand is mine indignation This in such a season is their proper interest to glorify God in distresse Doth he breake ruine and destroy them as sooner or latter he will leave them neither roote nor branch all that he doth to them is a Recompence for the controversy of Sion Isai. 34. 9. for it is the day of the Lords vengeance and the yeare of recompences for the controversy of Sion We see not perhaps at this day wherein the concernments of the remnant of Gods people doth lye in the great concussions of the Nations in the World we know not what designe in reference to them may lye therein Alas we are poore short sighted creatures we know nothing that is before us much lesse can we make a judgment of the work of God in the midst of the darknesse and confusion that is in the world untill he hath brought it to perfection All lyes open and naked to his Eye and the beauty of all his works will one day appeare The true and proper interest of his people so as they may best glorify him in the world is that which he is pursueing in all these dispensations The Grounds Reasons and foundations of this Truth in the Counsell from the Love and Attributes of God the Redemption in the blood of Jesus I must not now pursue this one thing I shall only offer The state of Sion of the people of God being much to depend upon the disposalls of them whom God by his providence raiseth up to rule and Government among the Nations though sometimes he sets up men whose hearts and minds are upright with himselfe yet he will not trust his owne to their mercy and the variablenesse of their Wills in generall But will so dispose alter weaken and strengthen them so set them up and pull down that it shall be their interest to which they will alwaies abide faithfull so to deale with his people as he will have them dealt with that they may best glorify him in their generations If it be in the infinite wise counsell of God to give his Saints in this nation peace and tranquility they shall not have it precariously upon the wills of men For he will not leave moulding and disposing of the affaires of the nation untill it find that it is its proper interest to give and measure out unto them what is to the mind of God All that hath been done amongst us all that we are in expectation of turnes on this hinge alone But lastly Ob. 4. It is the duty of Gods preserved remnant laying aside all other aimes and contrivances to betake themselves to the work of God founding Sion and preserving the common interest of his people God hath founded Sion and the poore of the people shall trust therein or betake themselves unto it We are apt to wander on hills and mountains every one walking in the imagination of his own heart forgetting our resting place When God was bringing the power of the Babylonian upon his people the Prophet Jeremiah could neither perswade the whole nation to submit to his Goverment nor many individualls among them to fall to him in particular And when the time of their deliverance from that Captivity was accomplished how hardly were they perswaded to imbrace the Liberty tendered notwithstanding all incouragements and advantages the greatest part of them abide in that place of their bondage to this day So hardly are we brought to close with Gods peculiar work and our own proper interest although his glory and our own safety lye therein The Reasons of this frame I have in part touched before I shall adde but two more 1. Discontentment with our peculiar lot and portion in the work of the Lord and common interest of his people It is with us in our civile affaires as the Apostle saith it is not in the naturall body nor ought to be in the spirituall or Church body The foot doth not say because I am not the head I am not of the body no it doth not but is content with its own place and usefulnesse It is so with the rest of the members that are more noble and yet are not the head neither It is otherwise with us I enterpose not my thoughts as to your present constitution and the order of things amongst us I speak no more then I have sundry years since sundry times complained of to a Parliament of this Common-wealth Every one if not personally yet in Association with them of some peculiar perswasion with himselfe would be the head and because they are not they conclude they are not of the body nor will care for the body but rather endeavour its ruine Because their peculiar interest doth not raigne the common interest shall be despised and this hath been the temper or rather distemper of the people of God in this Nation now for sundry years and what it may yet produce I know not Only for the present the work of God in founding Sion in purseuing his peoples common interest is despised thought light of and all the pleasant things thereof trodden under foot Unlesse God end this frame my expectations I confesse of an happy issue of the great work of God amongst us will wither day by day 2. The suffering of our Wills and Judgements as to the products of providence to run before the Will of God This the Experience of these daies hath taught us Those who have a forwardnesse in prescribing to God what he should doe as to the modus or manner of the work which at any time he hath to accomplish Are stubbornly backward in closing with what he doth actually produce These and the like things which might be in large Catalogues
being able to abide it and so lay aside all thoughts of growing up with it in the will of God least any say is this the day of the Lord that Holinesse Godlinesse exact obedience should be prized exalted esteemed that profanenesse pride selfishnesse formallity should be despised consumed devoured we will have none of this day 3. Take heed that there rise not up a Generation that knew not Ioseph that knew us not in the dayes of our distresse and contending with those who would have destroy'd us who were not engaged with us in praying fasting fighting in England Scotland Ireland but were unconcerned in all our affaires who know nothing of the cry's teares trembling and feares wherewith this cause hath been mannaged can we expect that they should be acted by the Spirit of it or have a due sense of what they must be ingaged in what know they of the Communion we have had with God in this buisnesse all along what Answers he hath given us what Obligations he hath put upon us thereby the whole buisnesse is to them as a story only of that which is past wherin they are not concerned There are such abiding impressions left on the Soules of as many as have been ingaged in the worke of God in this Nation from the beginning to the end as will never be blotted out If a Spirit not sensible of former ways should arise amongst us and prevaile it would be sad with the interest of Christ and his people in this Nation To return to my directions 2. Make this worke of God your pole-star that you may steere and guide your course by it in all your consultations and actions what ever is proposed what ever is to be done let this consideration attend it but how will it suite the designe of God in establishing Sion men speaking of a thing of manifest evidence say that it is written with the beames of the Sun Give me leave to tell you of a thing that is written in the prayers of the Saints the feares of your enemies the condition of this nation the councels of Princes of the earth the Affaires of the Nations abroad in the world all the issues of the providence of God in these dayes all which concurring I suppose will give as good an evidence as any thing in the like kind is capable of What is this you wil say It is in brief Let the worke of God as stated be your guide in all your consultations and it will direct you to aime at these two Ends 1. To preserve Peace to compose Differences to make up Breaches to avoid all occasions of divisions at home 2 To make up unite gather into one common interest the Protestant Nations abroad in the World that we may stand or fall tegether and not be devoured one after another That these are the things which God calls you to mind and doe if you will bear any regard to his present work is I say written with all the beams of providence before mentioned If the Lord should suffer you to be regardlesse either to the one or the other know you not that it would be bitternesse in the latter end Ask your friends what they desire your enemies what they feare the Nations abroad what they are doing Consider Babylon consider Sion and if one and the same voyce come from them all not to attend unto it would be not to attend to the voice of God It is indeed an easy thing for you to gratify Sathan satiate the desires of your enemies lay a foundation of troubles it is but attending to the clamours of men without and the tumultuating of lusts and carnall wisdome within and the whole work is done But to carry on the work of God in the particulars mentioned this is not so easy a task selfe must be denied many glorious pretences laid aside contrary reasonings answered mens weaknesses miscarriages failings borne withall because they are men and which is more then all our own particular darling desires it may be let goe unsatisfied though moulded into contrivances for many years The truth is the combinations of the Antichristian party in the world are so evident their successes so notorious their designes so fixed their Advantages to carry them on so many that to perswade with them who have power for that end and purpose to make it their businesse to keep union amongst our selves on all good and honest termes and to endeavour the union of all that call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ their Lord and ours in the world were to cast a reproach upon their Wisdome foresight and zeale so that it sufficeth me to have mentioned these things Vse 4. Encourage all things that lye in a tendency and subserviency to the work of God unfolded and insisted on For instance 1. Where ever you see any work of reall reformation tending to the advancement of the Gospell discarding of old uselesse formes received by Tradition from our Fathers separating the pretious from the vile according to the severall measures of light which God in his infinite wisdome hath graciously imparted Let not needlesse objections and hinderances lye in the way but give in all due encouragements to the men of such engagements Perhaps the businesse of carrying on Reformation is grievous to some who in their anger and wrath revenge and disappointment may make complaints of it to you in private or in publique The Lord give you Wisdome that you may never weaken the hands or sadden the hearts of men who are willing to joyne hearts and hands with you to save a poore Nation and to keep life in the work of God in the mid'st thereof 2. What you find established already in this kind encourage preserve improve that the work faile not 3. Find out what is wanting and pursue it as God gives you advantage and opportunity 4. Where men under pretence of Religion make it their businesse to defile themselves or disturbe the civile peace and quiet of others let them know that the Sword is not borne in vaine I can but name these things Honourable my hearts desire and prayer to God for you is that you may be the repairers of breaches and the restorers of pathes for men to walk in that you may be the preservers of the good old Cause of England according to the growth it received in and under severall providentiall dispensations Many particulars ly in my heart to propose unto you but on very many considerations I shall name none at present of them but close all with some few Generall Directions 1. Secure your Spirits that in sincerity you seek the publick good of the Nations and the prosperity of the good people therein who have adhered to the good cause of Liberty and Religion if this be in your eye as that which is principally intended as you may pray in faith for the presence of God with you and have a comfortable expectation of his protection and favour so if in the pursuit of it through humane frailty you should erre or mistake in the choise of meanes paths ways tending to that end God will guide you and lead you and not leave you untill he hath made straite pathes for your feet But if at the bottome there ly secret animosities selfe-will desire of obtaining greatnesse or Power on the one hand or other if every such thing be not on all hands subdued unto publick good Prayers will be weakned carnall wisdome increased the Counsell of God rejected and you will wander in all your ways without successe 2. Keep alive this principle which whether any will heare or whether any will forbeare I know not but this I am sure of in the latter end it will be found to be true according as you regard cleave to promote protect on the one side or despise contemne and oppose on the other the common interest of Sion the people of God before laid downe so will your affaires either flourish prosper and succeed on the one hand or wither decay and be fruitlesse on the other In all other things that shall fall under your consideration that relate to the civile government of the Nations prudence conjecture probability consideration of circumstances and the present posture of things may take place This is capable of no framing to the one hand or other upon any pretence what ever 3. If it be possible keep up a spirit of Love and forbearance among your selves love thinketh none evill doe not impose designes on one another and then interpret every thing that is spoken though in never so much sincerity and simplicity of Spirit in a proportion to that designe this will turne judgment into wormwood and Truth into Hemlock FINIS Ob. 1. Ob. 2. Ob 4. Ob. 3.
be given in is the worke of God the Lord hath founded Sion Sion that is his Church his people his chosen ones called Sion from the place of their solemne worship in the days of David The figure and type of the Gospell Church Heb. 12. 22. Yea are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem It is generally used not for the whole body of that people unless as they were typically considred in which respect they were all holy But for the secret covenanted ones of that people as is evident from all the promises made thereunto yet with speciall regard to the Ordinances of worship 2. This God hath founded founded or Established strengthened that it shall not be removed Psal. 87. is a comment on these words He hath founded it that is in faithfull promises and powerfull performances sufficient for its preservation and establishment Now this expression The Lord hath founded Sion as it is an Answer to the enquiries of the Messengers of the Nations may be taken two wayes 1. As giving an account of the work it selfe done or what it is that God hath done in and amongst his people What is the work that is so fam'd abroad and spoken of throughout the World That being attempted in many places proveing abortive is here accomplished This is it shall one say God hath established his people and their interest it is no such thing as you suppose that some are set up and some pull'd downe that new Fabricks of Government or Ruling are erected for their own sakes or their sakes who are interested in them But this is the thing that God hath done he hath founded Sion established his people and their interest in despight of all opposition 2. As giving a Reason of the worke done whence is it that the Lord hath wrought so mightily for you amongst you in your behalf praeserved you recover'd you supported you given you successe and Victory When all Nations conspired your ruine why this is the Reason of it God hath founded Sion He bore it good-will hath taken care of the interest of his Church and people The words may be taken in either sense the issue of their intendment as to our instruction will be the same This is the Answer to be given to the messengers of the nations who perhaps expected to have heard of their strength and policy of their Councellors and Armies of their wealth and their Riches of their triumphs and enjoyments no! God hath founded Sion And well had it been for Hezekiah had he given this answer prepared for him so long before to the Messengers of Babilon 3. The great designe of God in his mighty works and dispensations in the world is the establishment of his people and their proper interest in their severall generations Give me leave to say it is not for this or that form of government or civile administration of humane affaires it is not for these or those Governors much less for the advantage of one or other sort of men for the Enthroning of any one or other perswasion gainfull or helpfull to some few or more that God hath wrought his mighty workes amongst us But it is that Sion may be founded and the generall interest of all the Sons and Daughters of Sion be preserved and so far as any thing lies in a subserviency thereunto so far and no farther is it with him accepted And what ever on what account soever sets up against it shall be broken in peices What answer then should we give to Enquirers that the Lord hath founded Sion This is that and that alone which we should insist upon and take notice of as the peculiar worke of God amongst us Let the reports from other Nations be what they will let them acquaint the Messengers of one another with their Glory Triumphs Enlarging of their empires and dominions When it is inquired what he hath done in England let us say he hath founded Sion And he will not leave untill every man concern'd in the worke shall be able to say we have busied our selves about things of no moment and consumed our dayes and strength in setting up sheaves that most bow hereunto This is the main of Gods intendment and whilst it is safe he hath the Glory and end of his dispensations 2. The other part of the Answer relates to the people the poor of his people shall trust in it The words containe either their duty they ought to doe so or the event they shall doe so or both joyntly 1. The poore of his people v. 30. they are cald the first borne of the poore and needy That is those who are very poore Now this expression may denote either the people in generall who had been poore and afflicted and so the poore of his people is as much as his poore people or some in particular that partly upon the account of their Low outward condition partly on the account of their lowlinesse of minde are called the poore of his people and so the words are excellently paraphras'd Zeph. 3. 12 13. I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poore people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord The remnant of Israel shall not doe Iniquity nor speake lies neither shall a deceitfull tongue be found in their mouth and none shall make them afraid We may take the words in a sence comprizing both these namely for the poore preserved remnant caried through the fiery triall and preserved to see some comfortable issue of Gods dealing with them though yet wrestling with difficulties and perplexities 2. What shall they doe they shall trust in it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and in it they shall trust that is being in it they shall trust confide acquiess namely in the Lord who hath wrought this work or in it that is either in the work of God or in Sion so established by God The word here used for trusting is sometimes taken for to repaire or to retreat to any thing and not properly to put trust affiance or confidence and so it is rendred in the margine of your books they shall betake themselves to it So is the word used Judges 9. 15. Psal. 36. 7. So the intendment is that the poore preserv'd people of God seing his designe to found Sion and to establish the interest of his chosen shall leave of all other designes aymes and contrivances and winde up all on the same bottome They shall not at least they ought not for I told you the words might denote either their duty what they ought to doe or the event what they shall doe set up designes and aymes of their owne and contend about other things but betake their hopes to that which is the main intendment of God the Establishment of the interest of his people and cast all other things in a subserviency thereunto The summe is It is the duty of Gods poore
destroyed cast down and rooted out for ever that the name of Israel might no more be had in remembrance This then is that which God in their dissapointment aimes to establish 5. Because the founding of Sion doth not consist in this or that form of the civile Administration of humane affaires there being nothing promised nor designed concerning them but that they be laid in an orderly subserviency to the common interest of the Saints which let men doe what they will yea what they can all Government shall at last be brought unto And who is there amongst us that in singlenesse of heart dares make such an answer to the Messengers of the Nations enquiting after the peculiar worke of God amongst us namely that it consists in the establishment of this or that form of civile Administrations though much of the worke of God lies therin in Relation to this Generall end This then is the Answer which I shall give to the Messengers of the Nations and of it there are these three parts 1. God hath broken destroyed ruined them and their contrivances who made it their buisnesse to over-throw Sion And to roote out the generation of the righteous not under this or that way or forme whereby they are differenced among themselves bnt as such as the Saints of the holy one and will continue so to doe 2. He hath given to them to the poore of his people peace liberty freedome from impositions on their consciences with much glorious light in severall degrees in his worship and service 3. He hath cast as he hath promised the power of the Nation into a subserviency to this common interest of Christ and his people in this world and hath made or will make them to understand that as the peace of Sion lies in their peace so their peace lies in the peace of Sion and what to say more to the Messengers of the Nation I know not Vs 2. If this then be the worke of God let us repaire to it the poore of the people shall trust therin or joyne themselves thereunto That you may doe this in judgment be pleased to take these directions which with all humility I offer to you and I hope from the Lord 1. Ingage in no way no Counsels be the reasonings and pretences for them never so Specious which have an inconsistency with this common interest of Sion in this generation If instead of repairing to the worke of God you should be found contending against it and setting up your own wisdom in the place of the wisdom of God it would not be to your advantage I know many things will be suggested unto you Setling of Religion establishing a discipline in the Church not to tolerate errors and the like from which discourses I know what Conclusions some men are apt to draw if no otherwise yet from what they have been doeing for many yeeres doe we then plead for Errors and unsetlement God forbid God hath undertaken to found and establish Sion to setle it and he will doe it and I pray God you may be instrumentall therin according to his mind He will also give his people one heart and one way And I pray that you by your Example of union in love and by all other good means may be instrumentall towards the accomplishment of that promise amongst us It is only the Liberty and Protection of the people of God as such that is pleaded for he that shall set up any thing inconsistent there with as so set up will lay the foundation of his building in the firstborne of his peace set up the gate of it in the utmost last of his welfaire In a word the people of God may possibly in this Nation devoure one another and wash their hands in the blood of one another by widening the breaches that are among them and woe be to them that shall be instrumentall herein but if ever they come to a coalescency in love and truth it must be by their mutuall forbearance of one another untill the Spirit be powr'd down from on high and the fruits of peace be brought forth thereby and herein the Lord make you as the mountaines that bring forth righteousnesse and the litle hills that bring forth peace unto his people There are some things that I am affraid of that ly contrary to what I am exhorting you unto I wish the event manifest that I am affraid without cause However give me leave to caution you of them Because I cannot be faithfull to my call if I doe not 1. Take heede least that evill be still abiding upon any of our Spirits that we should be crying out and calling for Reformation without a due consideration of what it is and how it is to be brought about I wish one of many of them who have praied for it and complained for want of it had endeavour'd to carry it on as they might would you have a Reformation be you more humble more holy more zealous delight more in the wayes worship Ordinances of God reform your persons in your lives Relations families parishes as to Gospell obedience and you will see a glorious Reformation indeed what mean you by a Reformation is it the hurting of others or doing good to our selves is it a power over other mens persons or our owne lusts God hath now for sundry yeeres tryed us whether indeed we love Reformation or no have any provoked us or compelled us to defile the worship of God with ceremonies or superstitions and our owne consciences therewith all have we been imposed on in the ways of God by men ignorant of them hath not God said to us you that have praied under persecution for Reformation you that have fought in the high places of the field for Reformation you that have covenanted and sworne for Reformation goe now reforme your selves you Ministers preach as often as you will as frely as you please no man shall controll you live as holily as you can pray as often fast as often as you will be full of bounty and good workes giving examples to your flock none shall trouble you be instant in season out of season preach the whole counsell of God without controll you people be holy serve God in holinesse keep close to his worship and ordinances love them delight in them bring forth such fruits as men may glorify God on your account condemne the world justifie the cause of God by a Gospell Conversation Take seaven yeares peace and plenty and see what you can doe If after all this wee still cry out give us a Reformation and complain not of our owne negligence folly and hatred of personall Reformation to be the only cause of that want it is easie to judge what we would have had we our desires 2. Take heed least any who have formerly desired the day of the Lord considering the purity and holinesse wherewith it will be attended grow weary of it and its worke as not
preserved remnant laying aside all other aimes and contrivances to betake themselves to the work of God founding Sion and preserving the common interest of his people Of the Propositions thus drawn from the words I shall Treat severally so farre as they may be foundations of the inferences intended The First is this The Nations about will be diligently enquiring concerning Gods dispensations among his people Their eyes are upon them and they will be enquiring after them In the handling of this and all that followes I humbly desire that you would consider in what capacity as to the discharge of this work I look upon my selfe and You. As you are hearers of the Word of God in which state alone at present though with reference to your designed employment I look upon you as you are not at all distinguished from others or among your selves but as you are Believers or not Regenerate Persons or coming short thereof And on this account as I shall not speake of my Rulers without Reverence so I shall endeavour to speak to my hearers with Authority I say then 1. There are certain Affections and Principles that are active in the Nations that will make them restlesse and alwaies put them upon this enquiry The people of God on one account or other shall be in all seasons a separated people Num. 23. 9. Lo the People shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the Nation yea they are seperated from them whilest they are in their bowells and dwell in the middest of them Micha 5. 7 8. whether they are amongst them as the spring of their mercies or the rise of their destruction one of which they will alwaies be yet they are not of them No sooner then is any People or portion of them thus dedicated to God but all the Nations about and those amongst them not ingaged in the same way with them instantly look on them as utterly sever'd from them having other ways ends and interests then they being built up wholly on another account and foundation They reckon not of them as a people and a nation The Conclusion they make concerning them is that of Haman Esther 3. 8. There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the Provinces of thy Kingdome and their Lawes are diverse from all people Not their Morall and judiciall Laws which were the summe of that perfection which all Nations aimed at on which account they said of them Surely this great Nation is a wise and understanding People Deut. 4. 6. and the keeping of those Laws was their wisdome and understanding among all Nations nor yet meerly the Laws of their Religious worship but the whole way interest designe profession of that people is comprized in this expression they are diverse from all people Looking on them in this state they have principles as I said that will carry them out to an enquiry into their state and condition 1. They are full of Envy against them They shall be ashamed of their envy at thy people Isaiah 26. 11. looking on them as wholly separated from them and standing on another account then they doe they are full of envy at them Envy is a restlesse passion full of enquiries and jealousies the more it finds of poyson the more it swells and feeds It will search into the bottome of that which its eye is fixed on The transaction of the whole businesse between Nehemiah and Sanballat gives light to this consideration See Neh. Ch. 4. 1 2 3 4 5 6. And ever the nearer any nation is to this people the greater is their Envy It was Edom and Moab and Ammon the nations round about that were most filled with wrath and Envy against Israell Yea when that People was divided among themselves and the true worship of God remained with Judah and they became the separated people Ephraim was instantly filled with Envy against them Isaiah 11. 13. The Envy also of Ephraim shall depart and the adversaries of Iudah shall be cut off Ephraim shall not envy Iudah For there must be a desire of the same thing as something answering it which befalls in proximity of habitation that a man is envied for in him that envy 's him This is one fountain of the nations enquiry after your affaires Through the providence of God you dwell alone that is as to your main designe and interest You are not reckoned among the nations as to the state of being the people of God so far and under that consideration They count you not worthy to be reckoned or esteemed a Nation They envy to see the men of their contempt exalted blessed The same is the condition of Ephraim amongst us men not engaged in the same Cause and way with you they are full of envy Wherefore doe they enquire of your wellfaire of your state and condition of your affaires is it that they love you that they desire your prosperity that they would have you an established Nation No only their envy makes them restlesse And as it is in generall so no sooner doth any man upon a private account separate himselfe from the publick interest of the people of God but he is instantly filled with envy against the managers of it And notwithstanding all our animosities if this hath not befallen us in our differences and divisions I no way doubt a peaceable composure and blessed issue of the whole If Envy be not at work we shall have establishment 2. A second principle whereby they are put upon their enquiries is Feare They feare them and therefore will know how things stand with them and what are the works of God amongst them Hab. 3. 7. I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble I saw it when God was doing the great work described in that Chapter with many lofty allegoricall expressions of bringing his people out of bondage to settle them in a new state and condition the nations round about that looked on them were filled with affliction feare and trembling They were afraid whither these things would grow Psal. 48 1 2 3 4 5 6. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God in the mountain of his holinesse Beautifull for situation the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion on the sides of the north the City of the great King God is known in her pallaces for a refuge For lo the Kings were assembled they passed by together They saw it and so they marvelled they were troubled and so they hasted away For feare took hold upon them there and pain as of a woman in travail The close of all the considerations of these Kings and their attendants is that feare took hold upon them Feare is sollicitous and enquiring it will leave nothing unsearched unlooked into it would find the inside and bottome of every thing wherein it is concerned Though the more it finds the more it
is increased yet the greater still are its enquiries fearing more what it know's not then what it know's what is behind then what appear's This put's the nations upon their inquiry they are afraid what these things will grow to Psalm 126. 2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing then said they among the heathen the Lord hath done great things for them They are the words of men pondering their affaires and filled with feare at the issue If God doe such things as these for them what think you will be the issue I dare say of the proudest adversaries of the people of God at this day notwithstanding all their anger they are more afraid then angry The like also may be said concerning their wrath revenge and curiositie all pressing them to such Enquiries This is the issue of this proposall If we are not a separated people unto God if our portion be as the portion of the men of the world and We are also as they reckoned among the nations if we have had only nationall works in the execution of wrath on men fitted thereunto amongst us woe unto us that we were ever engaged in the whole affaire that for some years we have been interested in It will be bitternesse and disappointment in the latter end If wee be the Lords peculiar Lot separate unto him the Nations about and many amongst our selves on the manifold accounts before mentioned will be enquiring into our state and condition and the work of God amongst us Let us consider what we shall answer them what we shall say unto them what is the account we give of Gods dealings with us and of his mighty works amongst us What is the profession we make If we seek our selves if we are full of complaints and repinings one against another If every one hath his own aimes his own designes for what we doe not what we say is the Answer we make if we measure the work of God by its suitablenesse to our private interests If this be the issue of all the dealings of God amongst us we shall not have wherein to rejoyce but of these things afterwards The second Proposition is Ob. 2. The issue of Gods dealing with and dispensations among his people shall be so perspicuous and glorious that one any one every one shall be able to give an answer to them that make enquiries about them What shall one then say whether it be for judgement or mercy all is one He will make the event to be evident and glorious He is our Rock and his work is perfect and he will have his works so known as that they may all praise him Be it in judgement see what issue he will bring his work unto Deut. 29. 24 25. Even all nations shall say wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this Land What meaneth the heat of this great anger Then men shall say because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their Fathers which he made with them when be brought them forth out of the land of Egypt MEN shall say ordinary men shall be able to give this sad account of the Reason of the works of God and his dealings with his people So also as to his dispensations in mercy Isaiah 26. 11. Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see but they shall see and be ashamed for their envy at the people yea the fier of thine enemies shall devour them He will not leave the work of his favour towards his people untill those who are willing to shut their eyes against it doe see and acknowledge his hand and councell therein I do not say this will hold in every dispensation of God in all seasons from the beginning to the ending of them In many works of his power and righteousnesse he will have us bow our souls to the Law of his providence and his Soveraignty Wisdome and goodnesse therein when his footsteps are in the deep and his pathes are not known which is the reasonablest thing in the world But this generally is the way of his proceedings especially in the common concernments of his people and in the disposall of their publick interests his Work his Will and Councells therein shall be eminent and glorious It is chiefly from our selves and our own follies that we come short of such an acquaintance with the works of God as to be able to give an Answer to every one that shall demand an account of them When David was staggar'd at the works of God he gives this reason of it I was foolish and as a beast before him Psal. 73. 22. That thoughtfulnesse and wisdome which keeps us in darknesse is our folly There are sundry things that are apt to cloud our apprehensions as to the mind of God in his dealing with his people As 1. Selfefulnesse of our own private Apprehensions and designes a private designe and aime in the works of providence is like a private by-opinion in matters of Religion You seldome see a man take up a by-opinion if I may so speake but he instantly layes more waight upon it then upon all Religion besides If that be not enthroned be it a matter of never so small importance he scarce cares what becomes of all other Truths which he doth imbrace When men have fixt to themselves that this or that particular must be the product of Gods providentiall dispensations That alone fills their aimes and desires and leaves no room for any other Apprehension Have we not seen persons in the days wherein we live so fixed on a Raigne a Kingdome I know not what that they would scarce allow God himselfe to be wise if their minds were not satisfied Give me this Child or I dye Now is it probable that when mens whole Soules are possessed with a designe and desire of their own so fully that they are cast into the mould of it are transformed into the image and likenesse of it they can see heare think talk dreame nothing else That they shall be able to discerne aright and acquiesse in the generall issue of Gods dispensations or be able to answer the Messengers of the Nations making enquiry concerning them Feare hope wrath anger discontentment with a rabble of the like mind-darkning affections are the attendants of such a frame He who knows any thing of the power of prejudices in diverting the minds of men from passing a right judgement on things proposed to them and the efficacy of disordered affections for the creating and confirming of such prejudices will discern the power of thus darkning disturbance 2. Private Enmities private disapointments Private prejudices are things of the same consideration Let a man of a free and large heart and Spirit abstract his thoughts from the differences that are among the people of God in this Nation and keep himselfe from an engagement into any particular designe and desire it is almost impossible that he should winke so hard but
reckoned up one after another detain the minds of men from acquiescing in the common interest of Sion whose preservation is the whole peculiar designe of the great worke of God in any place or season These foundations being laid in the words of the Text let us now see what inferences from them may be made for our advantage and instruction Vs 1. Let us then consider diligently what we shall answere the Messengers of the Nations some thinke that by the Nation is peculiarly intended the Nation of the Jewes themselves Whose messengers from all parts came to Jerusalem to enquire of the work of God and to advise about the Affaires of the whole In this fense you are the Messengers of this Nation to whome an Answer is to be returned and because the Text saith ONE shall doe it that is anyone I shall make bold before we close to give an Answer to your Enquirys and indeavour to satisfy your Expectations In the mean time as the words seem more directly to respect the enquiries of other Nations So it is in a speciall manner incumbent on you who will be especially enquir'd of to return an Answer to them Be provided then I pray in your own hearts to give an Answer in this buisiness and Oh that you could doe it with one heart and lip with one consent and judgement On whom are the eies of this Nation and of those round about from whom are the Expectations of men to whom should we goe to enquire what God hath done in this Nation what he is doing what are the effects of his power if not of you Some of you have been ingag'd in this work with the Lord from the beginning And I hope none of you have been engag'd in heart or hand against it and you speake still with living affections to the old and common cause If you will be able to steere your course aright If you would take one straight step have in a readiness an acquaintance with the work of God what it is that he aimes at by which you may be guided in all your undertakings Suppose now a man or men should come and aske of you what God hath done in these Nations what he hath wrought and effected what is brought forth Have you an Answer in readinesse certainly God hath done so much as that he expects you should be able to give an account of it Take heed that every one of you be not ready to speake the disquietments of your own Spirits and so cast contempt on the work of God Something els is requir'd of you I have sometimes in darknesse and under temptations my self begun to thinke that what hath been is the thing that is and there is no new thing under the Sun As it hath been among the heathen of old so it hath been amongst us or as it was with Israel 1 Kings 16. 22 22. then were the people of Israel divided into two parts half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath to make him King and halfe followed Omri But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginah so Tibni died and Omri reigned That a common thing and frequent in the world had befallen us wherein God had no hand but that of common providence in dashing one sort of men against another So foolish have I been and as a beast so ready to condemne the generation of the righteous so unbelieving and ready to cast away the faith and prayer of ten thousand Saints one of whose sighs shall not be lost But such fearfull effects sometimes trouble disquietment disappointment carnall feare will produce But certain it is none of the many cryes of the people of God shall be lost nor their faith be disappointed God hath a peculiar designe in hand and we are to find it out that we may be able to answer them that make enquiries If you lay not this foundation of your procedures I shall not wonder if you erre in your ways It is your Pole-starre and will be so by which your whole course is to be steered your shield which whilest it is safe though you dye your glory abides But you will say what then is this great designe of God among his people Let the Holy one of Israel bring nigh his work that we may know it what is that true and Generall interest of Zion that he hath founded let us know it that we may be able to give an answer to them that enquire after it 1. Aske themselves those who have prayed for it waited for it expected it are made partakers of it doe enjoy it live upon it probably they will be able to give you an account what is their peculiar and only interest as to these providentiall dispensations surely they cannot but know that which they enjoy and live upon But you will say of all others this is the most unlikely and irrationall course a way to perplex and entangle not to informe us at all Is it not cleare that they are divided among themselves Is not their language is not their voyce like that of the Jewes at the building of the second Temple some shouted for joy and some wept at the remembrance of the former Temple are not their desires rather like that and those of theirs who built Babell then of those who cry grace grace whil'st God is founding Sion Doe not many of them utterly deny any work or designe of God I mean what is peculiar in the affaires of this Nation and utterly fall away from the society of them who are otherwise perswaded And is it likely that we can gather any Resolution from them doth not the greatest danger of our own miscarriage lye in this that we may be apt to attend to their peculiar desires and so to divide amongst our selves as they are divided And is this the returne that indeed is to be made O that mine eyes might run down with water day and night on this account that my heart might be moved within me for the folly of my people Ah foolish people and unwise doe we thus require the Lord It is true many at all times have desired the day of the Lord who when it hath come have not been able to abide it it hath consumed them and all the principles whereon they have acted and upon which they did desire it But that those who have their share in it indeed should be thus broken among themselves should bite one another devour one another and scarce allow one another to be sharers in the common interest of the Saints in that day this is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation But yet something may be farther pressed on them in this businesse When one went to demand of the Philosophers of the severall Sects which was the best of them every one named his own Sect and party in the first place but all of them in the second place granted that of Plato to
be the most eminent The enquirer knew quickly what to conclude setting aside prejudicate Affections selfe love and by interests he saw that the judgement of all run on that of Plato as the best most eminent Sect which thereupon he preferred before the rest May not some enquiry of the like nature be made of the people of God amongst us Ask them what is the common interest of Sion that God takes care of that he hath founded in the days wherein we live in the great transactions of providence that have passed over us Say some that such a forme of Church worship and discipline be established such a rule of doctrine confirmed and all men whatever compelled to submit unto them herein lies that Kingdome of Christ which he takes care of this is that which God will have founded and established And what this Forme what this Rule is we are to declare That that Discipline be eradicated the Ministers provision destroyed and the men of such a perswasion Enthroned to rule all the rest at their pleasure seeing that notwithstanding all their pretended Reformation they are yet Antichristian say others Say some that a Kingdome and Rule be set up in our hands to be exercised in the name and Authority of Jesus Christ taking away all Law and Magistracy already established to bring forth the Law of Righteousnesse conceived in our minds and therein to be preserved all uniting only in this that a soveraignty as unto administration of the things of God is to be theirs Say others lastly that the people of God be delivered from the hands of their cruell enemies that they may serve the Lord without feare all the days of their lives in righteousnesse and holinesse that notwithstanding their present differences they may live peacably one with or at least one by another enjoying Rule and promotion as they are fitted for imployments and as he gives promotion in whose hand it is that Godlinesse and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ be preserved protected and secured from a returne of the hand of violence upon it Herein say some lies the common interest of the people of God this he hath wrought out for them herein he hath founded Sion Aske now the people of God in this nation I say or any of them one or more at any time What he or they look upon as the chiefe thing aimed at in the mighty dispensations of God amongst us will they not every one answer in the first place that is aimed at that is to be enthroned that so doing is the will of God the End of his works among them wherein their or his particular ingagement and interest lies But ask them now againe in the second place which of the remaining perswasions concerning the work of God and the common interest of his people they would preferre next to their own will they not all unanimously fix on that mentioned in the last place rather then any of the other Is it not then evident that setting aside prejudicate affections and such determinations as may reasonably be supposed to arise from them laying away all private animosities and desire of Rule and preheminence with other worldly and selfish designes the universality of the people of God doe answer to them that enquire that in the last perswasion lies the ayme and work of God in our generation For my own parte on this and other considerations hereafter to be mentioned I shall dare freely to give this Answer to the messengers of this or any Nation in the World who shall make inquisition after the work of God amongst us and his designe in reference to his people and it is no other then my heart hath been fixed upon for many years and which I have severall times on one account or other intimated or pressed unto the Parliament which first undertook to mannage and succesfully carried on that Cause in whose protection you are now engaged This I say then God hath founded Sion he hath taken care of the generation of the righteous the children of Sion however differenced among themselves hath broken the yoke of their Oppressors given them peace ordered the affaires of this Nation so that they doe or may all of them enjoy quietness one not envying the other nor they vexing thē but serving God according to the light which he is graciously pleased to afford them they waite for farther manifestations of the glorious Gospell and that God hath broken and will break every designe that either openly and professedly or upon specious pretences of crying loe here is Christ or loe there hath sought or shall seek and endeavour to subvert this his work to the preservation whereof he will certainly mould the Government and interest of this Nation ordering its affaires in a peculiar manner on that account only and not that he delighteth in one way or form wherein to it hath been cast more then another And what ever high minded men full of their owne apprehensions and wisdome may doe to this worke of God the poore of his people shall repaire And for my insisting on this Answer and this only I have these further Reasons to adde for my justification 1. This is an interest comprehensive of all the Son 's of Sion whose founding God intends it excludes none that can claime a share in the City of the living God God takes equall care of all the dwelling places of Sion Every dwelling place of Sion hath its beauty hath it's Glory Isa. 4 5. The Glory of one may be as the Glory of the Sun of another as the Moon of others as the Starrs and those differing from one another in Glory yet each hath its Glory and upon it there shall be a defence a coveringe a protection This is the Promise this hath been the Worke of God 2. This compriseth all them who have lived by faith and abode in supplications in reference to Gods late disspensations amongst us Who dare despise any one of those little ones and say God hath heard me not you regarded me not you you have no share or portion in the returns of supplications which we enjoy 3. This alone preserveth the dwellers of Sion from offering violence one to another from taking the work of Babylon out of its hands and devouring one another Let any other apprehension what ever of the worke of God be embrac'd and the first worke that thereby men will be engag'd in is the oppressing persecuting ruining of their bretheren which whether it be the founding of Sion or no the day of Judgement shall determine 4. This is that which the common enemy seekes to destroy It is not this or that party that he would devour it is not this or that perswasion he would cast down his hatred {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} against the whole race and kinde this is that which he would accomplish that all the children of God how ever differenced among themselves might be ruined