A SERMON PREACHED at the KIRK OF AULDHAMSTOCKS September the 28 1690. On the occasion of the Intimation of a Sentence of Deposition Passed upon Mr JOHN GIBSON late Incumbent there According to the Order of the Brethren of the Presbyteries of Dumbar and Haddingtoun By Mr J. C. one of the Brethren of that Bounds Ecclesiast 3. 1 2 3. To every thing there is a Season and a time to every Purpose under the Heaven A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted A time to break down and a time to build up Deuteron 5. 32. Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left Medio tutissimus ibis EDINBURGH Printed by John Reid Anno DOM. 1690. The Text Ezra 9. 9. For we were bondmen yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the Kings of Persia to give us a reviving to set up the House of our God and to repair the desolations thereof and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem WE think it not needful to resume what the Author of this Sermon delivered in way of Introduction to his Text it being so obvious to any that art acquainted with Scripture story that at this time when Ezra appeared so Active and concerned for the publick Interest of his Nation the People of God were now under a begun Deliverance from the Babylonish Captivity and in thoughts of improving the present Season for Restoring and repairing the Desolations in Judah and Jerusalem Therefore passing any farther Preface we come now to enter upon the Text as he Divided Explained and Prosecuted it 1 WE have in this Text a Reflection on the past Calamitous condition of the People of God We were Bondmen 2 We have a grateful acknowledgement of their present more comfortable Condition which is amplified in two or three Considerations 1 The Lord hath not forsaken us in our bondage 2 But hath extended mercy to us in the sight of the Kings of Persia. 3 Hath given us a reviving 4 Hath given us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem 3 We have also in the Text the End why God gave them a Reviving or the Improvement pointed at that they should make of the opportunity of a breathing Time put in their Hand 1 To set up the House of God 2 To repair the Desolations thereof Hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the Kings of Persia i. e. Our God who hath the Hearts of Kings and of all Men in his Hand to turn and sway them as he pleaseth hath so influenced and inclined even the Heathen Kings to Act and Do in favours of his Church that herein lies a great deal of the Wonder and Mistery of this Mercy that God hath imployed such Tools and Instruments to accomplish his Great and Gracious Purposes By the reviving in their bondage Here we may understand either Spiritual Inspirations of the Almighty whereby they were quickned from a backsliden Languide Disposition of Spirit to set about the Work of the Lord in Earnestness and Zeal hence chap. 1. v. 5. We read that God raised the Spirits of the chief of the Fathers and the Priests and the Levites to build the House of the Lord or rather we may understand the Lord's giving them Freedom and Deliverance from the Thraldom and Tyranny of their cruel Enemies who had long keeped them in hard Bondage and Captivity which was to them as a Resurrection from the Bands of Death To set up i. e. To raise out of the Rubbish and restore to a fair and more splendid Condition but more afterward for the explication of this Clause The House of God i. e. The material Temple at Jerusalem where God used to Dwell in the Symbols and Manifestations of his presence Hagg. 1. 8. 2. 7. Go up to the mountain and bring wood and build the House and I will fill it with Glory And give us a wall Some understand thereby the Favour of the Kings of Persia whose Edicts so especially concerning them were under God their Bulwark and Security against the Efforts of their malicious Enemies who essayed by all means to impede their Settlement and Welfare Others rather understand the protection of the Watchful and propitious Providence of God who is said to be A wall of fire round about Jerusalem Zech. 2. 4 5. Doctrine When God in his merciful Providence gives a Reviving and Breathing Time or a fair Opportunity we should put to our Hands to set up and repair the House of God To this piece of Wisdom and Duty Mordecai exhorted Esther chap. 4. v. 31 14. And saith the Apostle Gal. 6. 10. As we have therefore oportunity let us do good In prosecution of this Doctrinal Observation we will give some Reasons of the Doctrine which may be improven as so many Arguments and Incentives to ply the Duty pointed at in our Text and then we will come to some Use and practical Application of the Point Reasons why we should improve an Opportunity to set up and repair the House of God 1 Reason We may come to incurr the Character of Foolish and Unwise towards God if we slipp an Opportune offer of Providence to advance the House of God A great deal of Wisedom lies in knowing and discerning a fit Season for Action and no less Prudence and Discretion in the active improvement of a seasonable Juncture But he is a very Fool sayes the Wise-man who hath a price in his Hand to get Wisdom yet hath no Heart to it Prov. 17. 16. 2 Reason Opportunity is precious but passing of great value but variable like the Wind we know not how soon it may change therefore will all wise and considering Men strike in with Time and Tide that neither by Power or Policy can be gained to await our Leisure or Pleasure But moreover as Opportunity is in a moment variable so for ever irrecoverable therefore sayes the wise Cato lib. 2. distich 26. Rem tibi quam noscis aptam dimittere nolis Fronte capillata sed post occasio calva And the Apostle Paul seems to mind us of the same thing when he advises Rom. 12. 11. to be not sloathful in Business fervent in Spirit serving the Lord where for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many Greek Impressions have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Improving the present season of Service 3 Reason If we neglect an Opportunity of setting up the House of our God in this our day our Posterity may come to pay dear for our Error and will Curse and Abhor our memory our Bowels should be stirred in thoughts of these that come of our Bowels that we entail not upon them Spiritual Plagues and Punishments that ordinarly follow the want of Gospel Ordinances it were better we left them unprovided of Estates and Fortunes for their Temporal happiness then endanger them
Orbis 2. Because they are most able to perfect great things to purpose when Power and Piety make a happy Concurrance together O what mighty Feats will they atchieve when Piety without Power will avail very little I mean with respect to those who want a solid Principle of Grace to work by for the Sword of Steell will do more then the Sword of the Spirit with the most part of Men the Word of God and Ecclesiastick Discipline being much in contempt with this perverse Generation and I will not say but some Reason of this may be because the Sword of the Spirit has to do with Rebels but the Sword of steell with Subjects at least who fain subjection for fear of Hazard Now O ye Magistrates seing God hath put Power in your Hand ye should not bear the Sword in vain but imploy it in a suitable way to your calling to help foreward the work of the Lord. 3. Because God has deputed you for this effect to act as his Vicegerents and Representives so that as ye cannot but know that God is concerned to have his House set up and Repaired for the glory of his great Name after the same manner should ye account it your Concern to do in his Name and Authority what is Incumbent one you for the same Purpose And on this occasion O ye Inferior Magistrates I tell you there lies an undeniably great part of the Encouradgment to move in this Work Seeing God has given us a King in his mercie so happily disposed as to see to the Settlment and Consult the welfare of Gods Church in the Land which is one of the greatest Blessings that Gracious Bountifull Providence hath conferred on this Unworthy Unthankful Generation And to be sure all that think themselves concerned in the Peace and Prosperitie of Zion in their Daily addresses to the Throne of Grace do seriously Pray GOD Save King VVILLIAM and Queen MARY and overthrow all their Enemies Secondly Be exhorted O Ministers to set up the House of God You specially stand interessed in this Work by your peculiar Charge and Character ye may remember how Zealous was Jehojeda how active was Ezra and how concerned was Joshua the High Priest For Church-men not to be concerned for the Church were a strange thing for Builders not to help in the building what a Crime and Infamy were it deserving to be extruded the House of God for ever And first O ye Ministers a part of your work is to tell who are Enemies of the Work and what are the Stopes and Impediments of it Isa. 58. 1. Hos. 5. 1. to 7 verse 2 Tim. 4. 14 15. Another part of your Work is To pray for God's Blessing on the Work that the Labourers may come good speed and prosper with Zeal and Wrestling should ye Pray over this Prayer Psal. 122. 6 7 8 9. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem even that Peace may be within her Walls and Prosperity within her Palaces and seek the Good of the House of the Lord our God forever 3. Encourage the People with the most Proper and pressing Arguments ye can Invent that you may Excite and Stirr them up to Zeal Courage and Activity O what an Incredible back-sett may the work of the Lord sustain from dashes and discouragements at the Hands of Ministers who should lift up the Hands that hang down and confirme the feeble Knees Hag 2 4 4ly Ministers should not only say to others do thus and thus but themselves should Do as they say they must also Work and Work more aboundantly In the last roome People of all Rankes and Degrees should assist in Setting up the House of God that which concerneth all all should be concerned in not only Magistrats and Ministers share of the Priviledges of the House of God but all the People of the Lord. Ezr 1 5. 3. Vse of Caution Having exhorted to set up the House of God I would have you cautioned against two or three sorts of Folk who I fear may prove unluckie and unmeet Tools for this work if not Opposites you may see Ezra 4 What was the Temptation of the Builders of the House of God at that time and how they behaved towards their crafty disembling Adversaries They came to Zerubbabel and to the chief of the Fathers and said unto them let us Build with you for we seek your God as ye do you see here their fair plausible Pretensions but their underhand design was to weaken the Hands of the People of Judah and to trouble them in Building and frustrate their purpose but the People of God being aware of their ill designes return them this Answer You have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our GOD but we our selves together will build unto the Lord v 1 2 3 4 5. From whence we may learn that we cannot be cautious enough Therefore I have a care of these that had an active hand in casting down the house of GOD such are not to be trusted except we see some eminent appearances of their serious Repentance and grief for their former ill Deeds 'T is true Paul preached the Faith that once he destroyed and persecuted Gal. 1. 23. But it is as true he had a sound through Repentance for the Havock he made of the Church of God and gives this satisfying Demonstration of his seriousness and candor therein that to his own shame he leaves on publick record in futuram rei memoriam a particular Confession of his Impieties and Scandals 1 Cor. 15. 9. I am not meet to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the Church of God and 1 Tim. 1. 13. I was before a Blasphemer a Persecuter and Injurious And it is also true that Acts 9. 26. When Saul essayed to joyn himself unto the Disciples they were all afraid of him and believed not that he was a Disciple they were not too credulous neither would they trust before they tried 2. Have a care of Gallios and Neutralists who have laid it down as a Principle of their Religion to be keen for no Religion O but these of this stamp be Odious and Useless unworthy to live in God's World they are unprofitable burdens of the Earth Such readily in all the Stirrs and Revolutions that are about Religion carry with a piece of Carelesness and Indifferency whither Religion sink or swime Would you know Gallios Motto this is it Floreat Religio nil mihi curae Ruat Religio nec mihi curae mea est Religio curare meipsum ye need not much care for such carless ones for they care not whether ye care for them or not neither does the care of the Churches any thing toutch their Spirit and Gallio cared for none of those things Acts 18 17. 3. Have a care of the greedie mammonist whose heart and Soul seemes to be sett upon Gold not upon God or upon Gold for his God never expect that Man will give Gold to Build the Sanctuary who
makes Gold his Sanctuary trusting in uncertain Riches a gripping Worldling will not quite a gripp of any thing to Build the House of God for he is a Man much concerned to add Field to Field and House to House so That could he gett a claught of the House of God it self he would Sacrilegiouslie add it to his Inheritance they are deceived who look for a good turn in the work of GOD from an avaricious gripping worldling 4. Have a care of the craftie politician he is too politick to be pious he has his own house and familie to build though it were upon the ruines of the house of GOD Interest Interest is the great Diana of such Ephesians The Politician may pretend fair for Religion but expect it no longer than Religion has fair weather he will seem to build the house of GOD but only when the foundation is the Princes favour to the Work dyes his King his Religion dies with him and he turns Sceptick in the interreigne till he see what Religion the next King professes and of that Religion will he be be it good or bad for this is the Politicians maxime he goes by to be still of the Religion that is upmost and obtaines in the Chappel Royal. 5ly Have a care of debauched Profanists whose life and conversation is checkered with Vices and Immoralities such will be so far from setting up the work that if there were no more but their guilt and sins connived at 't is enough to procure GODS displeasure against the Builders and eat the stones of the wall and consume the timber of the house Men that have been notoriously debauched and have given no satisfying appearances of Repentance should not be entrusted or honoured with such a piece of service A very Heathen could say procul hinc procul esto profani Now to come to a close of this subject in the last place I offer to the consideration of those that are concerned to set up the house of GOD some few Directions as to the manner and way of managing their work 1. Direction Set up the house of GOD unanimouslie with that concord good agreement and oneness in mind and Measures that is desireable and necessary Vnity is the Bond of Society and keeps all the several parts conjoyned iu one firm compact Body many Hands makes light work if they draw all one way but if they draw contrare wayes one to another they will either pull the Rope in pieces or pull one another down to the Ground Many Shoulders with their united strength may carry a great Burden the which may come to break the Back of but one or two Bearers O how good a thing it is to see Brethren build a House together in Peace and also to see them dwell together in Peace in the House which they have Built as Vnity is the Cement of Society so Division is the Destructon of it a House divided against it self cannot stand so Builders divided among themselves shall never bring a Structure to the Copestone it was the division of Tongues that putt a stopp to the Building of Babel Let us fear the Errors of others who have Marred their Work with their Jarrs and Janglings therefore to this Purpose is that Text 1 Kings 6 7. there was neither Hammer nor Ax nor any Tool of Iron heard in the House while it was in Building upon which take Mr Pool's Exposition this says he is of Mystical signification that it is the duety of the Builders of the Church as farr as in them lyes to take care that no noise of contention or division or violence be heard in that Sacred Building Ezra 3 1. Tells us when the People were to meet about Building the Temple they gathered themselves together as one Man to Jerusalem Mind also what the Historian sayes Concordia res parvae crescunt Discordia maxima dilabuntur 2. Direction Sett up the House of God Prudently and Discretly Prudence forsees evil things and evites them and secures against them she also industriously provides good things and carefully preserves them Prudence freely passeth from Punctilios least there be a loss or prejudice in things of Weight and Consequence Prudence leisurely Deliberats and quickly Dispatcheth Business Prudence rather suffers Injuries then injuriously persecutes Offenders in all cases Prudence is as a Moderatrix to Consult Guide and Direct how to use the best means to attain the best Ends and Purposes what should I say more I find its Imprudence in me to essay the Commendation of Prudence I can say so little to purpose being defective in Experience But alas after all that can be said here lies a great difficulty to judge and discern What is true Prudence with the most part Carnal Policy passes for Prudence and that wisdom of the World that advanceth worldly Interests that Master-piece of truest Prudence is too much neglected he that walketh uprightly walketh surely Godly Simplicity is nick-named Silliness and Fraud and Flattery pass for Prudentials 3. Direction Set up the House of God Zealously and with a fervent mind Zeal is an active Principle that prompts to forwardness in action Zeal transcends all Difficulties and briskly carries through Troops of Discouragements Zeal makes a Man mind the things of God with the hazard of neglecting his own Zeal Alas Zeal where is it It seems to be cooled and gone yea Zeal is flâ—uted at all Hands and a strick Godly Zealot stigmatized with the most Odious Characters Zeal is buried under the Moold and Earth of Carnal Prudence and this so Deified in our Day that Zeal must be sacrificed to her Devotion and for her pleasure this Heavenly Fire extinguished However we see that a Spirit of Zeal has been wont to be at work in the dayes of Old espâ—cially in turning times Exod. 35. 21 22. 36 5 6. Ezra 2. 68. Nehem. 4. 6. And sayes the Apostle Gal. 4. 18. It is good to be Zealously affected alwayes in a good thing And what better thing can we be Zealous in then the setting up and repairing the House of God 5. Direct Set up the house of GOD dependingly looking unto GOD for Counsel Direction and Assistance 't is GOD who gives the work-men He sendeth forth Labourers 't is GOD who gives to will and to work of his good pleasure He works all our works in us and for us and to be sure if we depend not on him in all our Essayes in his work our work is but labour in vain Psal. 127. 1. Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it 6. Direct Set up the house of GOD Prayerfully ordinatly a building time with the People of GOD is also a Praying and Wrestling time upon the first Intentions that Nehemiah had of Repairing the Dâ—solations of Jerusalem he makes his Prayer to GOD to prosper his Project and Enterprize chap. 1. 11. compared with chap. 2 v. 3 4 5. and chap. 4. 8 9. when the Enemies conspired to hinder the work we made our Prayer unto Our GOD says Nehemiah 7. Direct Set up the house of GOD univeariedly going on with the work till it come to a happie Period look Nehem. 4 21 23. and 1 Cor. 15. 58. Now my Friends having thus at large Discoursed of Setting up and Repairing the house of GOD I leave you with Davids pithy Prayer and excellent exhortation to his son Solomon Psal. 51. 18 and 1. Chron 22. 16. O Lord do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion build thou the walls of Jerusalem Arise therefore and be doing and the Lord be with thee Amen FINIS
of wanting the helps and means of atchieving their Souls eternal Felicity O let us dread bringing forth a seed to the Murderer 4 R The Laws of the God of Heaven are express that we should sett up the House of the God of Heaven and should not his Charge and Authority have weight with us to Sway and Perswade us to our Work Ezr 7 23. Hag 1 8. 5 R The Lord severely Challenges and Threatnes the Negligent herein God is hudgly Offended when a People either in disrespect of him or overrespect to their own Interests and Projects are carless of his concerns O! unworthy of the Priviledge of admission into the House of God who so far contemn the God of their Privileges as to carrie Indifferent in his Work and Affairs 't is surely the greatest Priviledge the Creature can be capable of to be Instrumental for the Honor and service of the Creator yet behold as if there were not a God or God had no Work for Men in the World the People of the World mind so much their own things that the things of God has smal share of their cares Phil. 2 31. At which kind of People we may be assured God is verie angrie as may be gathered from his way of upbraiding such Hag 1 4 5 Is it time for you O ye to dwell in your ciled houses and this house lie waste and v 9 He plaugeth them because of mine House that is wast and ye run every Man unto his own House 6 Reason To obviate Dicouragments and Encourage the faint and fearful God hath graciously Promised his presence and Assistance and who would not be Workers together with God or who needs to fear the misgiveing of a Work at which is the Hand of the Almighty Hagg 1 13. 2. 4. 5. 9. 10. c. Chron 22. 11 17. 19. 7 Reason We will be Brought to an account of our Neglected slighted Opportunities every good Talent of God is a treasure committed to our Trust with our Mal and Misimprovments whereof we will undoubtedly be charged in the great day of Count and Reckoning Math 29. 19 After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh and rekoneth with them Now as we proposed we come to some practical Improvment of this Doctrine Vse 1. of Information what Setting up the House of God doth Imply 1 In order to setting up there must be a carrying away the rubbish that is ready to Impede the Work or a Purging of the House of God ye know this is very Usual and Obvious to your daily Observations that when an old Ruinous House is about to be repaired the first Piece of Work is to remove the heaps of Redd and Rubish that so there may be fair Ground to go upon for Leying the Foundation and rearing up the Superstructure and therefore 2. Chron 29 5. We read of Carrying forth the filthiness out of the holy place and also 2 Chron 34. 3 8. Iosiah purged Iudah and Jerusalâ—m from the high Places and Purged the Land and the House and then Repaired the House of the Lord his God To our purpose we may also apply a passage Nehem 4 10. The strength of the Bearers of Burdens is decayed and there is mucb Rubbish so that we are not able to Build the Wall Now my Friends with an alas I desire to make a Reflexion on this Scripture applaying it to our selves at this time I say alas for we have few Bearers of Burdens and these that are seem either to want strength or to want skill or to want will which is worst of all I grant there is need both of much Grace and of much Witt how to Manage this hard Piece of Work of Purging the House of God there are so many obvious Dangers and Insuperable like Difficulties on all hands hinc illae Lachrymae but heroick Zeal will say fiat Justitia ruat Coelum floreat Religio ruat Mundus let all go to all let Gods Honour still be minded let Gods way still be followed this is our Providence this is our Wisdome this is our undoubted Interest he that walks uprightly walks surely I would also have you to advert to what the Lord sayes Ezek. 20. 37 30. That when he brings his People into the bond of the Covenant he will purge out from among them the Rebells and who may justly be reputed Rebels by Declaring Swearing and Railing against God and Religion in the power of it c. Verbum sapienti fas est 2 Setting up doth imply a preparing of Materials for the Work and to work by 1 Chron. 22. Throughout 3. Setting up doth plainly imply a falling closs to work every Man doing something in his Place and Station for rearing up and repairing the House of God as we use to say in communi periculo omnis homo miles so in opere communi omnis homo opifex This is both a Shame and a Sin when there is so much work to be done and that of so common and great concern that yet any should be found to stand all the day idle though I wish that on the contrare extreme some may not be found to be too too busie endeavouring to cast down as fast as is built But to return again that every Bodie should contribute their share of service to their Ability within their proper Sphere I hope all serious Godly Persons will easily grant for God is calling aloud at this day to Zerubbabel to Joshua and to all the People of the Land to work and build the House of the Lord Hagg. 1. 8. 2. 4. And this leads us to another use 2. Use of Exhortation To two or three sorts of Folk to put to their Hands to set up the House of God And first be exhorted O ye Magistrates whom God hath advanced to a Sphere of Activity above others to set up the House of God 't is no disparagement to you were ye higher then the highest upon Earth to stoup if it were so low as to remove the filthiness of the Sanctuary in that way that is proper and competent for you the greatest of Men the best of Men have been thus honourably Employed as David Solomon Hezekiah Josiah Nehemiah Zerubbabel all Kings and principal Rulers eminent in their day both for Power Wisdom and Piety O Magistrates I say appear and Act foreward in this Work 1. Because your example will mightily work upon the Vulgar and may sway others to do as ye do If a Prince or Royal Person venture himself in the Front of a Battle how doth it animate the Inferiour Souldiery and put Spirits in the dullest Souls to râ—n sharers of his Dangers if the Magistrates of a City stand brisk and resolute for the Ancient Pridiledges of it what backing does there presently appear of the concerned Citizens ready to venture their All for the same cause I say again the Influence of the Magistrates example is most Forcible and Operative Regis ad exemplum totus componitur