of the Bible and of all his Servants and Reasonable Creatures mentioned therein are to this purpose The Servants of God did keep his Commandments but all his Creatures whom he had endued with Reason did not And so it is of all the Men and Women that ever trod upon this Earth whose Names though they are not Recorded in that â—ook yet they are in the Register of him Who bringeth out that greâ—t Host of his Creation by number and calleth them all by their Names So likewise besides the ordinary manner of dealing with his People he did tempt and prove Job by his great and extraordinary Afflictions who in all them Sinned not nor yet Charged God foolishly for indeed God did well and wisely as to him What is Man that thou shouldest Magnifie him and that thou shouldst set thine Heart upon him and that thou shouldst Visit him every Morning and try him every Moment Job 7. 17 18. All things are full of Temptation even to the necessary Victuals which we Eat for there may be Gluttony and to the Clothes which we wear for there may be Pride even to all our Thoughts and we do think continually for there may be and too often is Vanity and Evil. To our Words for in the multitude of them there wants not Sin and we may soon Speak Falshood or Folly and so to our Actions and Doings for there Sin Iniquity and Transgression do beset us round and it is easy falling into any of them And so all Companies and Conversation with our fellow Creatures do prove a Snare unto us or there is Man Pleasing and Perverting the thing that is Right to humour and comply with those that are above us in outward Degree or Riches As also there is a fear of Bearing Witness unto the Truth and Speaking it out least they should fall under the Displeasure of Men. Many such like things do shew that the Trial of Man is had every Moment as also it is had when he is at and amidst the Worship and Service of God and at Religious Duties It is properly and truly a Life of Probation and Trial. And we are here upon or according to our good or ill Behaviour so we shall have the Eternal Favour of God or be rejected by him Like as Apprentices are commonly put out a Month before hand for Trial to see whither the master will take them for Seven Years or not so these Seventy Years on this Earth we Men and Women are upon Trial for all Eternity God hereby Proving us whither we shall be meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light or Reprobates Reprobate Silver shall Men call them because the Lord hath Rejected them Jer. 6. 30. As it is with the Earth it self so it will be with the Men and Women the Reasonable Inhabitants thereof For the Earth which drinketh in the Rain that cometh oft upon it receiveth Blessing from God But that which beareth Thornes and Briers is Rejected and is nigh unto Cursing whose End is to be Burned Heb. 6. 7. 8. The good Fishes are to be gathered into Vessels and the bad are to be cast away So shall it be at the End of the World The Angels shall come forth and shall Sever the Wicked from among the Just Mat. 13. 41 42. So God will do at the End of World but all this mean while during which the Generations pass through here whither it be Six or Seven Thousand Years it is the time of their Probation â—nd Trial but after that is over and finished God will then proceed to a Decision and Sentence For the more effectual Trial and Probation of Mankind He hath also ordained a Life of Faith and a State of Absence from the Lord which is Grounded from 2 Cor. 5. 6 7. Whilst we are at home in the Body we are absent from the Lord for we Walk by Faith and not by Sight The right Understanding of these two things This Life of Trial and Probation and this walking by Faith do clearly open unto us the Nature of God's Kingdom and Dominion over us Men. It was never known in any Nation Country and Language that the People there should obey a King or Ruler whom neither they themselves nor yet any of his Subjects ever saw Which last it put in because whereas Earthly Kings do Rule over Countreys of vast Extent and Circumference and of Millions of Inhabitants who are dispersed all over it and he being but little and Circumscribed in Passion as other Men it seldom or never happens that he doth see all his Subjects nor yet do all his Subjects ever see him But yet a very great many do and have seen him So that all the others having them for undoubted Witnesses and Assurance that there is such an One they do and must obey him nevertheless although they have not seen him But as to God tho' he fills Heaven and Earth and all things and all places with his Presence though his Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and his Dominion endureth throughout all Generations yet no Man of any Generation or Country did ever see him No Man hath seen God at any time The Only begotten Son which is in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him John 1. 18. And yet he reqires and expects to be obeyed by all Nations Kindred and Languages yea by all the Inhabitants of the World Whom we are to Obey though we do not see him and all One as if we did see him And though God gives no present Visible Recompence but contrariwise We often sustain outward Loss Inconvenience and Hardship for performing Service unto him yet he Requires it Hereby God is Glorified and here is the Faith and Patience of the Saints to perform it nevertheless Now Faith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen And this Faith doth properly terminate upon an Unseen God as it 's Object Whom having not seen ye Love in whom though ye see him not yet believing ye Rejoyce with Joy Unspeakable and full of Glory Receiving the End of your Faith the Salvation of your Souls 1 Pet. 1. 8 9. We Read very often in Scripture of the Name of the Lord The Heathen shall fear the Name of the Lord so declare the Name of the Lord in Zion Psal 102. 15 21. And of calling oâ— the Name of the Lord. Which Name of the Lord to speak after the manner of Men doth suppose and import as much as if his Person were distant and not seen by us But here to pursue the like Reasoning as is in Psal 75. 1. Vnto thee O God do we give Thanks Vnto thee do we give Thanks for that thy Name is near thy Wonderous Works declare So here it is Unto thee O God do we yield Obedience and render Worship for that thy Name or rather thy Person included in that Name is real thy Visible Works declare which we cannot so much as look
THE NATURE OF God's Kingdom AND Dominion over MEN Clearly laid Open and Explained as the same Relates unto these following Particulars God hath Established for all Nations an Obedience of Faith a Life of Probation and Trial wherein all things happen alike unto all He hath also Permitted the Prosperity of the wicked and Ordained Adversity unto the Righteous IN A Discourse on Deut. 8. 2. Wherein is likewise shewed what Influence the Knowledge of these things ought to have upon our Life and Conversation By RICHARD STAFFORD To make known unto the Sons of Men his Mighty Acts and the Glorious Majesty of his Kingdom Thy Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom and thy Dominion endureth throughout all Generations Psal 145. 12 13. And thou shalt Remember all the Way which the Lord thy God led thee these Forty Years to Prove thee to know what is in thine Heart whither thou wouldest keep his Commandments or no. Nihil tam dignum Deo quam Salus Hominis Tertullian LONDON Printed and Sold By E. Whitlock near Stationers Hall 1697. Advertisement THese are to give Notice that I have several other Practical Sermons or Discourses of mine own Composing Lying by me in Manuscript Which if they who have the Plenty or Competency of this World would thus Consecrate some part of their Gain and Substance unto the Lord Micah 4. 13. As to be ready to Distribute and willing to Communicate towards the outward Labour and Charge of the Printing and Publishing of them it would be for the Glory of God in making known his Truth Isa 38. 19. and for the Edification and Benefit of his Church and People and consequently it would be a Good Work in such Persons who shall be Helpful and any ways Assistant herein for which they would be Rewarded by God in the Life that is to come Charge them that are Rich in this World that they do Good that they be Rich in good Works ready to Distribute willing to Communicate laying up in Store for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6. 17 18 19. This is a Faithful Saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works these things are Good and Profitable unto Men Titus 3. 8. THE NATURE OF God's Kingdom c. And thou shalt Remember all the Way which the Lord thy God led thee these Fourty Years in the Wilderness to Humble thee and to Prove thee to know what was in thine Heart whither thou wouldest keep his Commandments or no Deut. 8. 2. THE whole Oâ—conomy Dispensation and Establishment of all the Things of God and of the Things pertaining to his Kingdom in that manner as they now are do all seem to be to this very End and Intent to prove Man to know what is in his Heart whether he will keep the Commandments of God or not This also cometh from the Lord of Hosts who is Wonderful in Counsel and Excellent in Working for in great Wisdom and Contrivance hath he Ordained and Ordered Things accordingly By the Passage of the Children of Israel through the Wilderness was tipiâ—ied and signified that Passage of the several Generations of Men and Women of the several Countries through this Earth where they may remember all the way and all the several Steps and Stages of this Life which the Lord God of all Creatures doth lead or carry them on these Fourty Years in the Wilderness or these Threâ—score Years and Ten or Fourscore Years which is twice Fourty Years for so the Days of Man are computed in Psal 90. and it holds still thereabouts in the Wilderness of this Earth which is reckoned to be about the middle part of the World Where he hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men for to dwell on all the Face of the Earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the Bounds of their Habitation The Condition of Mankind whilst they are a little time Breathing on this Earth is fitly compared to that of the Isâ—aelites in the Wilderness on divers Respects But particularly from that Description which is given of it in Psal 107 4 5 6 7. They wandered in the Wilderness in a solitary Way they found no City to dwell in Hungry and Thirsty their Souls fainted in them Then they cried unto the Lord in their Trouble and he delivered them out of their Distresses and he led them forth by the Right Way that they might go to a City of Habitation Now here we have no continuing City but Heaven is that City of Habitation and this Earth is but a through fare unto it as we now go through a little Town or Village unto a great City This is now our present Condition on Earth as we stand towards God We wander in the Wilderness in a solitary Way As we are meer Men abstracted from the Assistances of his Word and Spirit Our Thoughts concerning God are but Imaginations Our Words are Mistake or Falshood Our Actions are but Errors and Turnings aside from the Right Way This appears by those Mahometants Pagans and Indians who are the Workmanship of God as well as we but for want of the Scriptures and the Light of the Gospel as to that Invisible Being who made them or as to that Invisible World they and we are all entring into They Grope for the Wall like the Blind and they Grope as if they had no Eyes Isa 59. 10. Even where is an appearance of the outward Worship of God and Christianity How many do wander in their Acts pertaining to Religion For even that of the Generality Multitude is so defiled with the things which savour of Men and comes so short off that Religion which is to the saving of the Soul that the small Remnant is either forced to come out of it and touch not the Unclean thing or else see well to it that their Righteousness do exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees that their Religion do exceed the Religion of the World as it is commonly Preached and Practised at this Day that even his Elect Children and Servants do wander here in the Wilderness in a Solitary Way being Destitute Afflicted and Tormented they are People by themselves as the usual Phrase is which indeed agrees to that Character the Holy Ghost gives of them Feed thy People with thy Rod the Flock of thine Heritage which dwell Solitarily in the Wood in the midst of Carmel Micah 7. 14. The People of God Dwell Solitarily although they are in the midst of Neighbours and Acquaintance such as they are Hungry and Thirsty their Souls fainted in them This is as to God and as to that good Satisfactory and Enduring Thing which he hath Promised to the Sons of Men which on this Earth is kept in Suspence and not actually or at least not fully given but we are all along seeking and labouring
embarke ones self in a Shipwrackt Vessel hereupon it was that Christ Crucified was to the Greeks Foolishness as his Meanness and Condescention therein was to the Jews a Sumbling Block inasmuch as they supposed that the Mâ—ssias would be outwardly Glorious and Victorious over all his Enemies for the Greeks could not think it Consistent with their Vain Philosophy or Moral Wisdom to receive and be partakers of the Afflictions of the Gospel And so far indeed it is true that consider it meerly as a Man within the Limits of this present Life short Time this Wisdom will never be justified by her Children But let Faith come in the Substance of things hoped for which are to come and the Evidence of things not seen and this will quickly weigh down the Scale and determine it and carry it for the Knowledge of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ Thus much is Universally Received and Acknowledged in this Christian Nation and Country of our Nativity and Habitation But still there is that mixture of Unbelief and so much which savours of Men and of the Worldly and Fleshly Nature that it cannot throughly relish and digest Afflictions in the Ways of God nor yet have they that Knowledge of the Most High as to perceive his Favour and Loving Kindness therein which is certainly true For whom the Lord loveth he Chastâ—eth according to what the Spirit saith As many as I love I Rebuke and Chasten Rev. 3. 19. Many are apt to doubt of the Favour of God or to think they are not in the right way of his Worship I have heard of Examples of this kind because of those great continued Afflictions and outward Crosses they meet with in the World But herein all these People do err not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God nor the Way of the Dispensation of his Kingdom towards us Men. For the Reason and End of these Afflictions are to prove and try them yet more what is in their Heart as Gold is tried in the Fire and they are designed to draw us nearer and closer to God as also to wean us the more from this present World As it was noted before concerning the Prosperity of the Wicked that they had their Portion in this Life God intending thereby to Reward them here for that little Good they had done for none is so bad but doth some little good or other So it is here on the other Hand there is a spot even of God's Children Deut. 32. 5. And there was hardly ever any one so Righteous upon Earth Jesus Christ the Righteous excepted who did not in some little thing or other put forth their Hand to Iniquity They committed or Consented to Iniquity â—ess or more but they did not make a Trade or Continuance of it For this cause they are here Chastened of the Lord that they should not be Condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 30 31. Then it is that People do err when they do not know the Scriptures For in these Scriptures very much is said concerning the Prosperity of the Wicked and the Afflictions of the Righteous So much whereof hath been here declared and alledged out from thence that the Reader may Judge and Understand in like manner of all the reâ—â— As the several things concerning it do arise up in his Thoughts or as they find from their own Experiences as also from the Observation they make from their own selves as also from others abroad in the World Seek ye out of the Book of the Lord and Read for there a Knowledge and Reason of the things of God may be had and understood To know a thing as it ought to to be known is to know it by its Consequences and with the Reasons thereof Now of the things which we have spoken this is the Sum. We have heard of the Nature of God's Kingdom and Dominion over Men as the same is to prove aâ—d try them to know what is in their Heart and in order thereto Secondly God hath Established for all Nations an Obedience of Faith And Thirdly All things happen alike to all and also as a consequent from the First he hath suffered the Prosperity of the Wicked and to Exercise the latter â—et more he hath ordained Troubles and Afflictions for the Righteous All these several Heads of Discourse do hang and depend one upon another as they are indeed and in reality linked on and connected together in the great Order and Concatenation of the things of God It now remains to shew how the right Understanding of the Nature of Gâ—d's Kingdom and Dominion over Men as it stands in this Order and on this Wise is a necessary hâ—lp towards the making a Continuing and Persevering Work of it Sin and Ungodliness do certainly hinder from making a Continuing and Persevering Work of it they being quite opposite and contrary thereunto as Transgression is contrary to Obedience and the Service of God is Diametrically Opposite and Perfectly Contrary to no Service at all And therefore in order to make a continuing and persevering Work of it we must Sin not and deny all Ungodliness The Principal I had almost said only Reasons why all the froward Inhabitants of the Earth do Sin against God are these three 1st Because God doth not Render present Punishment 2dly Because God is out of sight And 3dly Because God holds his Tongue or keeps Silence Now observe this a Right Understanding of the Nature of God's Kingdom and Dominion over us Men as before Explained doth answer all these and the like Imaginations in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience or the Ignorant Multitude For the same Word of Truth which saith Because Sentence against an Evil Work is not executed speedily therefore the Hearts of the Sons of Men are fully set in them to do Evil elsewhere speaks on this wise I will Punish the World for their Evil and the Wicked for their Iniquity Isa 13. 11. The Punishment of God is almost throughout the whole Scripture spoken of in the future Sence he will or shall Punish I do hereby tell and warn the Sinners and Transgressors and Hypocrites of this my Generation who bless themselves in their Heart saying They shall have Peace and Safety although they walk in the Imagination of their Heart to add one Sin to another Who are apt to fancy as if God could not or would not Punish Because he doth â—ot Punish them presently nor strike them dead in their â—ins Hear ye this Word and Tremble it is as easy for God to Punish them or any of us as for we to crush a Moth or kill the least Fly or Insect For he taketh away our Breath and we Dye then the sentence which was not before speedily executed upon evil doers doth begin to be executed upon them There is no need to pour down Judgments outwardly upon the Sinners Head as he did upon the Cities of the Plain for he can stir up a Disease