together it groweth up in sanctification and becometh an holy Temple to the Lord wherein he delights to dwell but division and discord in the Church is both unpleasant and unprofitable Contention and division amongst the rowers in the ship and vain presumption in the passengers to take the oars into their own hands greatly hinders the progress of the Ship in her way What is the cause the Gospel was spred so far in the Apostl's time in one age only their sound went through all the world Rom. 10.18 and the Christian Church was wonderfully enlarged The reason is they were then of one mind and heart and the spiritual Guides had nothing so much before their eyes as the glory of God that he might be known in his rich mercy and grace and in the conversion of sinners that they may be saved they sought not themselves nor their own glory and pomp in the world but the glory of Christ their Lord and Master they were of one heart and rowed one to anothers hand they did not strive one against another in a bitter emulation but did strive together one with another in a godly emulation for furthering the Gospel It is true even in the Apostles times there was division in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 1.12 but Paul and Cephas were no ways the the Authors or Abettors of these divisions they did not foment them by their own contentions or by bitter emulation and popular ambition Paul sharply reproved it 1 Cor. 1.13 and condemned it as a course not of spiritual but rather of meer natural and carnal men 1 Cor. 3.4 5. And Peter requires them 1 Pet. 2.1 2. to lay aside all prejudice and to drink-in the sincere milk of the Word like new born babes who look more to the breast than to the face of the Nurse Division and discord in a Church hath many times proven as St. Jerom observed in the Donatists the occasion of errour and pernicious heresie which eats like a canker when the stones are divided one from another in the building then the rain getteth place and though not perceived at first yet in end undermyneth the wall consumeth the timber and in end bringeth ruine a small lake in the ship at first through the joyntours of the boords if not timously and carefully stopped doth drown the ship and also the passengers Division in Churches one from another doth entertain heresie and the Authors thereof What was the cause that great Heretick Marcion whom Tertullian calleth murem ponticum the rat that did rent and consume the Church of Pontus was received and kindly entertained in the Church of Rome after he had been excommunicate by his own father The cause thereof was that division between the Roman and African Church for Rome would have appeales to be made unto them from beyond the Sea this was the cause the Hereticks fleeing from the Eastern Church got shelter in the Western that by so doing they might maintain their pretended priviledge to revise and recognosce all causes Ecelesiastical What was the cause those who fled from the Western Church were countenanced and welcomed in the Eastern Was it not their division from the Western Church and their bitter emulation that thereby they might maintain their emulation of supremacy which ambition both in the Western and Eastern Churches proceeded from the pride of some chief Church Rulers both in the one and other Church In the Eastern Church It is true some godly and learned men have given and sometimes do give connivance to errour and heresie not out of any evil intention but out of their excess of moderation and charitable inclination being deceived by the insinuations of subtile Hereticks and Shismaticks but such connivance proved oft-times very unprofitable yea exceeding harmful unto the Christian Church because those dissembling Hereticks who seemed at first to be officious followers and flatterers of those good men afterward when these godly men that did tolerate them were gathered to their Fathers these deceivers began openly to vent and violently to press upon others their opinions as doctrins and matters of Faith which formerly they had desired to be in charity tolerated as privat opinions therefore we would beware of the beginnings of division Schism and all bitter emulation for if ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another Gal. 5.15 Let us remember and consider for our up-stirring to live in peace and concord one with another 1. Our God is called the God of peace our Redeemer the Prince of peace the Holy Ghost the Spirit of peace and of spiritual Communion and the more peaceable we are we become the liker to our heavenly Father to our elder Brother and to the Holy Ghost the Comforter 2. We are all members of one mystical body How unnatural a thing is it for one member of the same body to bear another Ephraim against Manasses and Manasses against Ephraim it is called an eating of their own arm Is 9.20 Such contention and division is like two sandy-stones grateing one upon the other till they be crumbled into nothing this fury and madness is a great grief of heart to the godly and sober-minded and a matter of rejoicing to the common adversaries of the truth thereby they think to spoil us of the truth and they cry out as Moab did against Israel 2 King 3.23 They have smitten one another now therefore Moab to the spoil 3. Consider often and seriously peaceable mindedness is an individual companion of true Religion Jam. 3.17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated Let us labour for christian moderation in our Opinions and Disputes and decline extremities Basil the great said truly that divers men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through an immoderat desire of opposing and counterpoising the opinoins and assertions of others are oft-times drawn away from the golden midst and afterward cannot retire although possibly they would for fear to offend their party whose opinion they have once espoused Let us beware of that too simple credulity to tatlers and whisperers who make it their business to separate chief friends but as Solomon saith Prov. 25.23 The north wind driveth away rain so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue And above all let us pray to God for much of the Spirit of Christ for he was of a meek and lowly Spirit that he would build the walls of Jerusalem and that peace may be within her walls and prosperity within her palaces Ps 51.18 Ps 122.6 7. VERSE IX For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea IN these words is set down the instrumental cause and ordinar mean of this great conversion and change in their disposition and conversation to wit the abounding and large knowledge they shall have by the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ whereby life and immortality shall
Kings 19.14 And in the time of Athanasius the world groaned under Arianism and many sound believers were forced to hide themselves in caves and there to worship God 4. Mount Sion was firm and unmoveable so the Christian Church through the presence and protection of the Lord Jesus Christ will continue and endure even to the end of the world Mat. 16.18 Mat. 28.20 Quest It may be asked at what time this prophesie of so great peace and outward prosperity in the Christian Church was fulfilled Ans 1. That universal peace in the Roman Empire at the birth of our blessed Lord in the dayes of Augustus Cesar cannot be the peace spoken of here for that was before the preaching of the Gospel unto the Gentiles but the peace spoken of here is an effect of the Gospel preached and believed amongst them 2. This Prophesie was fulfilled in part even in the times of the holy Apostles when persecutors who sometime like wolves had scattered the flock of Jesus Christ were converted to the Christian faith and became like lambs of a meek and harmless disposition as was seen in Paul and also in the sometime malicious Priests Acts 6.7 and many of the multitude being sometime like boars enraged against Christ and his Disciples were by the power of the Gospel tamed and became of a peaceable spirit and conversation giving up themselves to be directed and guided by the Apostles in time coming Acts 2.37 38. 3. Many learned Divines think this Prophesie began to be fulfilled Anno Dom. 311. in the time of the Emperour Constantine the Great under whose happy reign there was an open and peaceable profession of the Christian Religion and freedom in a great part from the Heathen persecution at which time as many of them think was the beginning of the thousand years spoken of Rev. 20.3 during which time Satan or the Dragon was bound and restrained in a great measure from the former manner of persecution and they think these thousand years did expire Anno Dom. 1310. at the rising of the Ottoman Family among the Turks at which time Asia was overspread with Mahometism and soon after in the year 1415. Constantinople was taken by the Turkish Emperour Mahomet and the famous Temple of Sophia there was turned to Mahometan worship 4. This prophesie is fulfilled in part daily when some ungodly men who in former time hated the Church and the communion of Saints are by the preaching of the Gospel converted unto the believing of the truth unto the love of God and his holy Commandments and unto the sincere love of all Saints 5. Lastly It is probable as many learned men think who yet are not for the opinion of the Millenaries this prophesie shall be more visibly fulfilled at the incoming of the fulness of the Gentiles and at the national conversion of the Jews Because these great and frequent wars amongst Christians of one Nation against another and sometimes civil wars in one Nation among themselves are a great stumbling-block unto their conversion but when this stumbling-block shall be removed out of the way by a more universal peace amongst Christians themselves then shall the Jews dispersed now thorow the world amongst Christians joyn themselves to the Christian Church as it is prophesied Isa 2.4 Mic. 4.3 Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more This universal peace in all probability will not be untill the Gospel be preached unto many nations that are yet in heathenism according to the prophesie Isa 19.23 24. at which time the incalling of the fulness of the Gentiles and peace amongst themselves at least more than in former times will be a motive blessed of God for the inbringing of the nation of the Jews unto the Christian Church for it is said In that day shall there be an high way out of Egypt to Assyria and the Assyrians shall come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians in that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria even a blessing in the midst of the land Although the Christian Religion was planted in Assyria in the times of the Apostles for there was a Church then in Babylon 1 Pet. 5.13 and also a Church was planted in Egypt in Alexandria by the Evangelist Mark yet afterwards and at this day Assyria and Egypt are overspred with Mahometism But this text of Isaiah speaketh of restoring the Christian Religion to them before the incoming of the Jewâ— and that after their conversion to the Christian faith Israel shall be for a third companion in a Christian communion with them in the same Spiritual blessings It is true there will be still untill the consummation of the World some wicked and malicious men within the visible Church as tares mixed with the wheat untill the day of final separation but it is probable the chief Rulers themselves being converted to the Christian Faith shall be so over-ruled by the power of divine grace that they will not hurt nor destroy in all the holy mountain of the Lord and Inferiors who are malicious shall be so overawed by the wise and powerful providence of God and also restrained by Rulers fearing God that they shall not be able to destroy in all the holy mountain That the incalling of the fulness of the Gentils will go before the incoming of the Jews appears from Isa 60.16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles and shalt suck the breast of kings and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob. In these words the Prophet foretelleth that the Jewish Nation shall receive the doctrine of the Gospel from the Church of the Gentiles converted to the Christian Faith before them and the Apostle saith Rom. 11.25 Blindness in part is hapned to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in Therefore it is more than probable that the incalling of the fulness of the Gentiles shall preceed the incoming of the Jewish Nation unto the Christian Faith for although some particular persons in the times of the Apostles and also afterward received the Christian Faith yet the incoming of the body of the Jewish Nation was and is a mystery which God is his own good time will explain by bringing them into the communion of the Christian Church Oserv Men truly converted to the Christian Faith will forsake their former malice and bitter dispotion to hurt and harm others and will labour to be of a peaceable disposition and conversation this is evident from vers 8 and 9. It is evident also from the happy change which we may observe in true converts recorded in the Word of God as in the Ephesians amongst whom sometime there were men like wild beasts with whom Paul had an unpeaceable and fighting life 1 Cor. 15.32 but after their conversion to the Christian Faith there was a great change in them
sleep till they had done evil How many have taken opportunity from the weakness of others of their cruel revenge as Simeon and Levi did How many have taken occasion from the simplicity of some or from the desolat condition of others as of Widows and Orphans to oppress them and by their ruines build up an estate to themselves Such men should redeem the time by repentance and restitution in time Prov. 23.10 11. Remove not the old land-mark c. for their Redeemer is mighty Job 20.19 20. Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly he shall not save of that which he desired As for the present time we should improve it to well-doing without delay God in holy Scriptures urgeth the opportunity of the present time Joel 2.12 Therefore also now saith the Lord turn ye even to me with all your heart Psal 95.7 To day if ye will hear his voice c. 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the accepted time c. The husband-man takes opportunity of the season for plowing and sowing so should we of plowing up and renting our hearts by repentance and of sowing in righteousness the sea-faringman taketh the opportunity of a fair wind so should we take the opportunity when the Spirit of God breatheth upon us by the Word without delay to depart from our sins and to advance toward the Port of eternal Salvation Because 1. The neglect of the opportunity given us for well-doing doth provoke God to withhold the like opportunity in time coming Joh. 7.34 Ye shall seek me and shall not find me Esau came not in time to get the blessing and he never got another opportunity for it Jerusalem would not in time know those things that belonged to her peace and therefore in time coming they were hid from her eyes Luk. 19.42 Felix made not good use of the opportunity he had for hearing Paul preach and he never got another convenient season Act. 24.25 2. Though thou may have afterward an opportunity of the outward Ordinances yet through thy former neglect of them thou provokes God to reject thy offerings and outward duties the Lord would not accept of the people of Israel their offer to come up the hill afterward because they had neglected the former opportunity of Obedience when he had commanded them to come up Numb 14.40 41 42. 3. The time is uncertain in respect of the opportunity of the means of grace for thou cannot tell how short a time the mercat and offer of free grace may endure the Lord may send a famine of hearing the Word of the Lord Amos 8.11 12. The time of thy life is uncertain how many have been well and in health the one Sabbath but removed by death before the other 4. Consider seriously though the Lord may be found of thee on thy sick and death-bed after the many slightings of opportunities in the dayes of thy health and prosperity yet shall it be to thee with much pain and wrestling as the people of Israel were put to the pains of fourty years abiding in the wilderness which might have been saved by the timous pains of fourty days Num. 14. As a man that neglects the opportunity of a fair and favourable wind for sailing may possibly wait on a long time before he have the like opportunity Yea though a man may repent truly and sincerely upon his death-bed yet it is not without much fear and jealousie that he hath not so much forsaken sin through any true spiritual aversness from it as from a meer want of power to act sin in the body as he was wont formerly to do A wise Christian should redeem and improve the time in order to time coming he should make timous provision for the time to come as Joseph in the time of plenty laid up provision for the time coming of famine There be four things especially we would make provision of 1. Of the word of the holy commandment and threatning against the time and hour of future temptations Psal 119.11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee And when we are tempted to this or that sin we would make use of the commandment forbidding it and of the threatning against it we would lay up provision of the Word of gracious promises against a time of temptation to doubts and fears of acceptance as these promises Is 55.1 Mat. 11.28 Joh. 6.37 and against the fears of final Apostasie we would lay up provision from the word of promise Joh. 4.14 Joh. 10.28 We would lay up provision of gracious promises against temptations in an hour of daâ—kness and desertion as that Heb. 13.5 I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Isa 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet I will not forget thee Psal 89 31 32.33 If they break my statutes c. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail And lay up the word of admonition against a time of senseless security 1 Cor. 10.12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall Lay up that word Phil. 2.12 Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling and that of 1 Joh. 5 18. He that is born of God keepeth himself 2. Make provision of good works though not as a ground of confidence yet as a matter of comfort for time coming Luk. 12.35 Provide for your selves bags which wax not old a treasure in the heavens that faileth not 1 Tim. 6.18 19. Charge them that are rich 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 For although good works do not make way and usher us into glory for Christ the Forerunner only doth that by the merit of his death Heb. 6.20 Yet they are attendants accompanying persons justified even unto eternal life Rev. 14.13 Blest are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them 3. Lay up provision of thy observations of Gods sad dispensations upon men going on obstinatly in their sins Job 9 4. Who hath hardned himself against him and prospered as on Pharaoh Senacherib Antiochus Epiphanes Herod the great and Julian the Apostat Lay up this observation as provision against temptations to walk on in any course of rebellion against the known will of God Hezekiah advised the people of Israel well from the sad experience of great desolation brought upon their Ancestors by their great sins 2 Chron. 30.8 Now be ye