hath the key of the house of David that opens and none shuts and shuts none opens he hath set before us an open door as he did for Philadelphia Rev. 3.7.8 and although there hath been and still is much opposition and great endeavours to have this door shut and fast bolted yet still it s kept open in despight of Rome and hell and is not this just matter of comfort that God hath by his Word opened us a passage into his Kingdom which no Art or power of the Enemies can block up Doth it not revive and cheer up our Spirits in our saddest droopings that although the Lord suffers our treasures to waste our estates to be drayned our provisions and supplies brought low though he feede us with the bread of adversity and water of affliction as it is in the Prophet Esay 30.20 21. Yet he suffers not our teachers to be scattered into corners notwithstanding all opposition he still continues a fresh Spring of the Gospell and with it the cloud of his presence among us Surely we are injurious to the bounty and goodnesse of our God in this kinde and value it not aright If it beare not such weight in our estimations and thoughts as to counter-vaile and more then countervaile to out-ballance all our afflictions And though there be some that would make us beleeve That we are still in the midst of Babylon and that it is not Christ but Antichrist that hath his Throne among us yet that is not a more malicious then an ignorant slander and tends not a little were it true to the honour of that man of sin For how almost can you honour him more as a reverend and grave Author sayes well then by holding him to be such an one under whose raigne a faithfull and effectuall ministery takes place the Word of the Kingdom being purely preached the Sacraments rightly administred for substance thousands of people converted and the way to Salvation and life eternall as open as in any other place in the world Surely we should be worse scared then hurt with those expressions of horrour and atrocity which the Scripture brands the kingdom of Antichrist with if this were the condition of his raign and government Sed non sic notus Vlysses I hope we are taught of God to know the manners of that man of sin otherwise then so But to passe over this let us descend into a more particular survey and discovery of our present condition and then I doubt me we shall finde but too much ground of just mourning and humiliation for although it is true that there is a Kingdom of heaven among us which prospers and flourishes in a considerable degree yet it hath not spread and got ground in such a large manner as might have beene expected and desired A man would think that we who have been tenants in the Lords land and have had a Patent and Charter of the Gospell leased out unto us for the terme of more than fourescore yeeres with many other great advantages above other parts of the world a man would think I say we should have been long since a people so refined in Religion so ripe in knowledge so eminent for the life and power of godlinesse so exemplary for purity of Ordinances Ministery Doctrine Worship and Government as might have rendred us a praise in all the Reformed Churches and a singular pattern and myrrour to the other parts of the world But alas how far short are we of such a condition and what great cause have we of mourning and humiliation in sundry respects 1. Its matter of mourning That although there be some yet we have not workmen enough rightly fitted and furnished with ability and fidelity for the Kingdom of God if we had as many labourers as Solomon had for the building of the Temple and he had many hundreds of thousands 1 Kings 5.15.16 yet all this would be no more then sufficient in respect or the great Work of God now in hand and upon the wheeles among us But alas we have scarce the tithe of that number the harvest is great and the labourers but few as our Saviour complained in a like case Luke 10.2 The Apostle having mentioned some 4. or 5. men of principall note who assisted him in the great work of Preaching the Gospell hee doth as it were fetch a sigh and breath out his soul in an expression of some griefe for that there were no more such Col. 4.11 These onely saith he are my fellow workers unto the Kingdom of God which have beene a comfort unto me you know how our Saviour mourned and how his bowels yearned with compassion over the multitudes when he observed them to be destitute in this kinde and scattered abroad like sheep without a sheepheard Mat. 9.36 2. It s yet more to be lamented that we are clogged and cumbred with others who in stead of promoting and carrying on do indeed retard and set back the proceedings of the Gospell and Kingdom of Christ {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as the saying of Byas was their very help is a disadvantage and an hinderance rather there be no small numbers imployed in the Service of the house of God whom a man would disdaine to set with the dogs of his flock as Job hath it Chap. 30.1 of this sort are 1. Those troopes of blinde guides ignorant sots priests of Jeroboams order the scum and froth of the people Indeed the silliest creatures in the world if they were but men were good enough as one fayes to make priests for Jeroboams gods which were but calves but what hath the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ deserved that it should be put into the hands of such hucksters 2. Little better upon the matter though some of them are more learned are those Loiterers rather than labourers in Gods Vineyard who feede themselves and famish their flocks Non-residents I meane who through covetousnesse make Merchandize of the Church of God and care not what becomes of the soules of the people bought with Christs blood so they may wallow in their pomp and jollity Master Greenham wished that this Inscription or Motto might be written on their doores and posts on their beds and tables on their study bookes plate and all their furniture precium sanguinis pretium sanguinis The price of blood The price of blood 3. Worse then both the former are those sonnes of Eli or sons of Belial rather who by their corrupt Doctrine or scandalous conversation poyson those who are committed to their charge pulling down the Church and Kingdom of God with both hands but building it up with neither if the people call for bread they give them a stone and when they aske a fish reach them a Serpent are not Christs flock trow ye well provided for when they are set over to the feeding of such Wolves 4. That small sprinkling of faithfull Ministers and people that are in
of heaven and to omit the various use of the notion if yet it be taken at all in a various use for I rather hold with the Judicious Cameron that it imports alwayes one and the same thing even the Kingdom of Christ the mediator over the Church and people of the New Testament with the preaching of the Gospell and the other Ordinances of Evangelicall and Christian worship which properly belong thereunto There is first a Kingdom of power and providence which Christ hath as God over all the world Angels and men and devils being put in subjection under him and of this the Prophet speakes Psal. 102. v. 19. The Lord hath prepared his Throne in heaven and his Kingdom ruleth over all this is not meant here 2. There is a Kingdom of Grace which Christ as Mediator exercised in a more especiall and peculiar manner over the Church and Common-wealth of the Jewes before the time of his Incarnation and comming into the world for even the Jewes as well as we were unto God a Kingdom of Priests and an holy Nation Exod. 19.5 and the Lord was their King Judge and Lawgiver Esay 33.22 and Salomon after David his Father is said to raign over Israel sitting upon the thron of Jah 1 Chron. 29 23. and hence as one of the Ancients * well observes out of Josephus The Politick State and form of Government among the Jewes It was neither a Monarchy nor an Aristocracy nor a Democracy but a Theocracy or Divine Government the Son of God being in that Common-wealth Commander in Chief and ordering all things therein according to his own will Christ therefore reigned over the Jewes as mediator many hundreds of yeeres before he was born of the Virgin Mother the Kingdom and government even then was upon his shoulders yet you shall never finde throughout all the whol Scripture that State and manner of Christs Raign over the Church of the Old Testament called The Kingdom of Heaven and the principall reason seemes to be this because the whol policy and form of it was Typicall and Ceremoniall all things being carried then in clouds and shadows and mysticall prefigurations of good things to come the truth and substance whereof was not yet exhibited and revealed Hence the Apostle shuns not to call the Jewish Tabernacle a worldly Sanctuary Heb. 9.1 and their Ordinances and rites of Worship carnall Ordinances imposed onely untill the time of reformation vers. 10. the like censure he is bold to passe upon their sacrifices and offerings They were only patterns and * figures of things in the heavens and not the heavenly things themselves vers. 23. the people also were in comparison of the Christian Church a carnall people and the whole oeconomy and frame of their Religion worship and government was to be shaken and removed as with an earth-quake at Christs comming Heb. 2.27 * therefore that pollicy and ceremoniall forme of Church administration was not fit to be called by so high and glorious a Title The Kingdom of heaven But now in the dayes and by the ministery of John the Baptist the Leviticall Paedagogie with all the carnall rudiments and umbrages of it began to wax old and to weare out of date another manner of Church State much more spirituall entring then upon the Stage and comming in by degrees in the roome of it which therefore in the New Testament is commonly called The Kingdom of heaven The mother place in Scripture from which this notion was derived is Dan. 2.44 In the dayes of those Kings the God of heaven shall set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed c. this passage Aben-Ezra and the Jewish Rabbins do generally interpret as Cameron observes of the Messias his Kingdom which they were wont to call {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the Kingdome of heaven * The denomination is not taken as is commonly thought from the subject or place of residence but from the efficient rather for with them in their Dialect the Kingdom of the Messias or Son of God and the Kingdom of the heavens are termes of promiscuous use as they are also in Scripture compare Mat. 70.7 with Luke 10.9 and you shall finde that which in the former place is called the Kingdom of heaven in the latter is the Kingdom of God the difference in the thing it self being none at all but onely in the sound of words But now this Evangelicall state of the Christian Church called the Kingdom of heaven it is either Militant or Triumphant the State of Grace or the State of Glory which for kinde and nature are both one and differ but onely in degrees for the State of grace what is it else but glory begun the way to the Kingdom is not without some first fruits of the Kingdom saith * Bernard And the State of glory on the other side what is it else but grace fully perfect and consummate It is the former of these which is here principally meant to wit the Militant Estate of the Christian Church in which men are brought to live under the gracious and milde government of Christ their minds being inlightned guided and powerfully moved and over-ruled 1. To repent of all their sins and then 2. To accept of the pardon and remission of them in such sort as it is offered in the tenor of the New Covenant 3. To render back as a Tribute of thankfulnesse a free cheerfull universall and constant obedience to all the revealed Will of God The next thing to be cleered is how this Kingdom may be said to suffer violence And here Interpretors varie I shall give a touch of their severall descantings It may be the very discords will help to make the Musick better and the harmony more pleasing the sum of all or most of the tendries I have met with is reducible to these three heads The violence here spoken of may be taken either as it is opposed 1. To Natures 2. To Just and right or 3. As it is opposed to temper and moderation First it may be taken as opposed to that which is according to Nature the Philosophers are wont to distinguish of motion thus That it is either naturall or violent naturall motion springs from naturall principles and tends to naturall objects and ends but the motion saith Hierome of these enterprizers was not such but violent and strained in respect of its principles object and end It was in all these beyond the spheare and compasse of nature those that were by nature born men of an elementary constitution being upon the matter little other then mushromes sprung out of the earth were transported with a more then generous affectation to become Angels and their ambition was so transcendent and supernaturall that nothing could satisfie them under heaven and this seemed to be such an extream violence against the common course and strain of nature as if fishes should affect to leave their watery
bespeakes this at their hands wherefore else are they appointed of God and separated from others but to be both by their preaching and conversation builders of his house Stewards in his family Watchmen in his City Labourers in his Vineyard burning Lamps in his Temple the successe and fortune of Christs Kingdome depends next unto God upon the Issue of their endeavours If they whose office it is to attend the Sanctuary had but the fire of the Sanctuary burning on the Altar of their own hearts If they were like John the Baptist Burning and shining lights oh what a goodly light of knowledge and flame of zeale would be kindled in the hearts of the people How would multitudes come flowing in to borrow fire from their hearth and light their candles at their Lampes What a singular honour would this be to have it recorded as 't is here of John That from the days of such and such a Minister since the time of his arivall and continuance in such and such a Congregation with the parts adjacent there hath bin great contention much wrestling and violence for the Kingdome of heaven great trading and trafficking for remission of sinnes the Graces of the Spirit which before were scarce at all looked after How much better were this then to have it left upon record That since the entrance of such and such a Dumbe Minister or lazie Drone there hath been a great decay of Religion and piety a great famine of the Word with a Mighty Inundation of Popery Atheisme and all Prophannesse since the entrance of such Idoll Sheepheards and Priests of Baalam all vices have grown all vertues withered What a wofull account will such men have at the day of judgement when it shall be charged upon them as upon the Pharisees That they neither entred themselves into the Kingdome of God and that they hindred others that were desirous to enter molesting discouraging and doing what they could to cast them out with a rage that reached as high as heaven with such a violence as this they will finde that God was not nor ever will be well pleased I descend to that part of this Exhortation which concernes our honourable Senators If powerfull and plentifull preaching of the Gospell be the next way to bring down the Kingdome of heaven among us you see then Worthy Patriots what it is which the Lord and his people expect and call for at your hands The generall complaint is from every corner of the Land That the people have been for a long time almost quite without the true God and without a teaching Priest and without the Law as the Israelites were 2 Chron. 15 3. No Ministery no Worship no Ordinances or that which is little better then none and the generall request and desire is like to that motion of the man of Macedonia That you would send some over to helpe them If therefore the glory of Jesus Christ and the Salvation of his people bought with his own blood be deare and precious unto you as we know they are If ever you desire to have the honour of being the chiefest Instruments to plant a new heaven and a new earth in this Land Helpe every Congregation to faithfull Pastors and pure Ordinances you are as Joshuah and Zerubbabel the two Olive-branches or the two anointed ones which stand before the Lord of the whole earth Oh let the golden Oyle still stream out in abundance from you to feede the Lamps of the golden Candlestick Zach. 4.12 14. God hath made you nursing fathers and nursing mothers to his Church blessed be God we have found you such Go on still with your honour and make yet more full and liberall provisions for all the children of his family by this meanes Religion and the Church shall flourish more than ever and thousand thousands shall blesse God for you If you would straine your selves to do a work of the richest merit and grandest importance for the Churches of Christ I do not know any other that may be of superiour or but of equall consideration with this which among many things usefull is without all doubt That one thing mainely necessary Luke 10.42 The Kingdome of God cannot be held up without this The key of knowledge you know the custody of it in the Priests lips it is the key of heaven take away this and suppose the whole land were paved with gold and walled with rockes of Adamant suppose we were crowned like the fortunate Islands with the richest confluence of all worldly prosperity honour and happinesse what would all this availe whiles the heavens are shut up and fast locked against us Take away a right Ministery and what is the most flourishing Common-wealth but as a Paradise without the tree of life as the firmament without the Sun or as a goodly Palace richly furnished and hung about with stately ornaments but without any windowes to let in the light of heaven Among all the Religious and worthy Acts of Jehoshaphat this is recorded as one of the chiefe 2 Chron. 17.7 8 9. That he sent his Princes and with them the Levites to teach the People in the Cities of Judah and I neede not tell you for it s well knowne how prosperous and successefull that design prooved I doubt not but this practise of that incomparable Prince will be set up unto you as a pattern for imitation Blessed be God ye have begun well I shall neede to say nothing but as that Greek Commander said unto Teucer {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} go on and prosper Gather out of the Kingdome of our God {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} all things and persons that are offensive and that do Iniquity Mat. 13.41 Ye have displaced sundry unworthy and scandalous ones which like drones cumbred the hive and preyed upon the honey which should have served for the laborious Bees take the same course with the rest Remove the stumbling blockes prepare the way of the people lift up a standard that they may flocke to it as doves to their windowes this is the way to leave the Church a Pallace of Marble which you found as a cottage of brick I have insisted but too long upon this wherefore I passe it over and come to the next Those that would put in for a share in this Kingdome they must not be dull and sluggish but earnest and violent in pursuance of it There is indeed a violence nothing praise-worthy held out in Scripture which is either 1. In generall when men put forth themselves to the uttermost and draw out their strength in any sinfull way be it what it will As the Priests and people when Ahab-like they sold themselves over to Idols and the full bent and sway of their spirits was unto sin here was a violence such as it was Jer. 23.10 Their course was evill and their force not right Or 2. There is a violence taken in a more speciall
darknesse and shadow of death Oh the bright star of Jacobâ— the rising and Orient lustre of it to such as love darkenesse better then light it is of an Ominous and dismall presage it portends their kingdome will come downe their mis-giving hearts are afraid of the scorching Influence of it as the devills were of Christs comming lest it should torment them before the time Mat. 8.29 And now is it possible trow ye that such sonnes of Belial to whom the presence of Christ in his Ordinances and Worship is the greatest burthen and torment and as it were an hell upon earth Is it possible that such should ever expect or conceive the least hope of reigning with him for ever in heaven Oh yes they pretend for heaven as much and as loud as any others and they are for Religion too even for the true Reformed Protestant Profession and they are zealous yea violent for it and that is the reason you must beleeve them why they have drawne their swords and taken up Armes It s for no other end doubtlesse but to defend the true Protestant profession with his Majesties just Prerogative and Crown-rights which the Parliament with the faction of Brownists and Anabaptists that adhere to it endeavour to destroy It s a true saying that of the Romane Orator * There is nothing so horrid no cause so desperate which may not be palliated and covered over with glorious and glittering pretences As Herod would have the wisemen bring him word when they had found Christ for he meant to come and worship the babe when his intent was to slay it But as Tertullian wittily told the Gentiles when they contended so fiercely for the worship of Jupiter That whatsoever they pretended Caesar was their chiefe God and that they worshipped him with more devotion then Jupiter The like may I say of these Herodians or Court-zealots call them what you will and let them pretend what they list for God they are Caesars by whole-sale in Religion affection conscience soule and body and all Caesars they measure Religion by the length of the Scepter being resolved to beleeve the worst of Popery and to practise the worst of Tyranny even to the destruction of the three Kingdomes if Caesar do but please to declare the one to be the True Reformed Protestant Profession and the other The due Rights and Priviledges of Parliament much like the Boutefew that Tully speakes of C. Blos Cumanus I think it was that would to shew his affection to his friend do whatsoever he should bid him though it were to set fire on the Capitoll 2 Not all out so desperate though bad enough is another sort of neutralizing temporizers that are just of Gallios temper for matter of Religion not caring a jot whether the Arke or Dagon be set up whether Christ or Antichrist prevaile the true Religion or Popery both or neither to them is a matter of indifferency and not so much as the turning of an hand they passe not at all for such things onely they have the discretion to set their sayles as the wind blowes and to wheele about as they see occasion that they may be of the prevayling side much like the man in Macrobius who during the times of civill war betwixt Antony and Augustus Caesar had with much Art and diligence taught his two crowes their severall notes the one to say Ave Imperator Antoni the other Ave Imperator Augustâ— that so when the warres should be over and the controversie determined whether party soever prevayled he might be sure to have a bird for the Conquerour If there chance to be any such within these walls I wish they would sadly and ripely consider that speech of our Saviour He that is not with me is against me Mat. 12.30 and that grave expression of a great Prelate This cause of God is of that Nature that if a man do not appeare in it and gather with Christ he scattereth from him there being no middle condition possible in which a man can close or side with any other than the devill who joynes not with Christ 3. Such as value their wealth ease credit reputation above Christ and his Kingdome to come to Church now and then to heare the Word performe some cheape outward duties which may looke like a forme of godlinesse none will blame them for this It were disgracefull to be Atheists unprofitable to be Papists or recusants thus far they go and its faire too but to be at any expence for Christ to purchase his kingdom with any prejudice to themselves in their credit or estates he must pardon them for that they love a Religion contrary to Davids disposition which will cost them nothing these have taken the Covenant many of them onely to save charges for they spare not to professe that they will trust God with their soules though they perjure rather then the Parliament with their Estates They will lash out more in furnishing a banket or some unnecessary entertainment spend more in one cast at Bowles or Dice then ever they can be gotten to part with all their life long for the glory of God the upholding of his cause and Gospell and the preservation of an 100000. Christians in the three Kingdomes the men of this world they are violent for their Mammon Give them the fatnesse of the earth Take the dew of heaven who will A right brood of old Gadarens who can be content to have a whole Legion of Devils roost in the Kingdome and nestle in their own hearts as in strong holds rather than they will be at so much cost as the losse of their hoggs to purchase the dispossession of them 4. There be others that seeme violent in matters of Religion none more forward in appearance then they but they are not sincere and cordiall As it is with them that are sicke of a Fever while the face and outward parts burne the heart quakes and shivereth with cold so it is with these pretenders their countenance Jehu like is full of flushing heate in their face and outward carriage you may see their zeale for the Lord but if you could put but your hands within their brests you should finde their hearts Nabal-like as cold as a stone It s no new devise but an old trick of hypocriticall spirits to seeme devout onely for their owne ends to drive their own designes under a colour of being zealous for God Ignatius observed there were some of this stamp in his time who made a trade and an occupation of Christ to get wealth by him shuffling in Religon to deale themselves a thriving game in the world I know not whether it be true but the Vox Populi the Common opinion and voyce of the people is That in Country City Armies I hope not in the Parliament there are and have beene too many who in publike places of Imployment at the publike charge drive their private designes enjoying both at
once and improving the miseries of the times by dilatory proceedings dead pay false musters betraying of advantages and letting opportunities of action slip with other stratagems and feates of pollicy very depths of Sathan profound as hell which I have not wit enough to reach If there be any such Judas's masked devills here let me informe them If their bosome intelligencer their Consciences I meane be asleepe perhaps it may arouse them a little that thunderbolt Esay 29.15 Wo unto them that dig deepe and seeke to hide their Counsell from the Lord and their workes are in the darke and they say who seeeth and who knoweth us and let them take that along with them too Esay 30.33 There is a Tophet prepared of old its deepe and large the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a streame of brimstone kindles it and let me tell them yet further If this fiery gulfe be not for such I do not know whether it can challenge any guests 5. There be others zealous in Religion but not enough they have like the Laodiccan Angell and Church some heate which makes them luke-warme but they are not violent their dram of zeale is tempered with so many ounces of discretion that the operation of it can scarce be discerned they are Orthodox in opinion not much exorbitant in conversation owne the great cause of the Kingdom set their faces towards heaven are not against Reformation but then they must not be over-driven you must not put them out of their owne pace they like not a Jehu's March It s good to be zealous but not too much say any what they will doe what they can their affected moderation will never suffer them to exceede the middle temper of that wise Statesman in Tiberius his Court who to be sure would not strike a stroke against the streame nor engage himselfe so far in any cause as might tend to his prejudice how-ever the world went he would be sure to save one Such is the polititian and wordly wise-man he will move no stone though never so needfull to be removed if he suspect that there lyes a Scorpion under it or if he apprehend the least feare that any part of the wall will fall upon himselfe well fare yet the Roman Consul that incomparable patriot who in his private and retired condition when he was removed from the Helme of the Common-wealth imployed all his force and strength to keep off those waves from the great vessell of the State which had well-nigh drowned the cock-boat of his owne private Fortunes 6. There be others zealous and violent for a while but they hold not out to the end The Philosopher sayes No violent thing lasts long It s true in Divinity as well as in Nature If the violent motion proceede from some externall artificiall cause and not from a rooted stirring principle within when that which is the cause is removed the motion arising from it ceaseth If our violent stirrings and heates of zeale be not from the right fountaine of heate the heart tract of time and other occurrances will be calm them by degrees and wear them out the stony ground set forward and put on with great animosity at the first but when difficulties and unlooked for dangers when a storme of persecution arose then they plucked in the tender horne their zeale cooled their courage abated their resolutions fell like leaves in Autumne In the beginning of this Parliament when the Lord tolled us on with fresh mercies and allured us into the wildernesse as the Prophet speakes that there he might give us the valley of Achor for a doore of hope when every day we were pasti miraculis as Cyprian speakes feasted with miracles in ordinary the Lord setting himselfe on purpose to ingage us firmely in his worke by divers rare and astonishing providences that all bridges might be cut off and that we might never thinke to retire backe againe At that time many that were not sound at the heart-roote joyned with us and who more resolute then they but when the wheele of Providence seemed to turne and many sad clouds began to gather and threaten a storme now they tacked about and set their sailes backe they were willing to follow us out of Egypt when they had seene the wonders and miracles of God at our departure thence but when they came into the wildernesse and met with Scorpions and fiery Serpents and great afflictions then their hearts fainted and they fell on murmuring as the unbeleeving Jewes and that mixed multitude did Numb. 11.4 A man might as well never own the cause of God as afterwards desert it whatsoever a man hath done and suffered for Religion and there be many that have done and suffered much It s al lost and forgotten when once he begins to looke backe Ezek. 18.24 Judas and Demas and Hymaeneus and Alexander the Copper-smith with other such flinchers what were they the better for all their hopefull beginnings when afterwards they declined their zeale-being all spent their violence tyred and all their alacrity lost It s not good beginnings but perseverance in Religion that takes this glorious prize and wins the garland Be faithfull unto the death and I will give thee a Crown of life Revel. 2.10 7. I may not passe over another sort without a gentle touch such I meane as are unfeinedly cordiall in the cause of God and zealous for it yet do not a little hurt to themselves and others and the Cause it selfe too through their indescreete and unwary managing of it they desire nothing more then this That Christ might raigne and weild the Scepter of his Kingdom according to his own hearts content in all the parts of the Land they are active in endeavours for Reformation and this deserves just praise but they step out of their bounds sometimes exceede the limits of their speciall calling in which the Will of God is they should containe themselves How happy were it for us if all would keepe within their proper spheare and wherein so ever they are called therein to abide with God 1 Cor. 7.24 But there be some that do {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} overstretch themselves beyond their line and Compasse 2 Cor. 10.14 They reach and straine after a perfect Reformation of the Church and that is well but they run before the Parliament and do anticipate the worke taking it out of those able and faithfull hands unto which God hath committed it and that deserves just censure That have a great zeale of God Oh that it were a little more according to knowledge We have all entred into the bonds of a Religious Conant with God in which among other things we have vowed our utmost endeavours to reforme Religion Worship Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and withall to draw the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest
uniformity and to labour the extirpation of heresies sects and schismes which how we can make good if every one take liberty to reare up a modell and platforme according to his owne principles without respect unto publique Authority I cannot see How can it be avoyded but there will be divisions in the worke when those that should carry it on act severall wayes without any regard to one another I wish such would consider that zeale in Religion though it be exceeding good and necessary yet it needes a sober guide much wisedome is requisite to prescribe when and where and how far and in what manner and order to proceede in carrying on a worke of so great consequence as a publique Church-Reformation is Zeale except it be ordered aright in conflicting with corruptions and abuses whether reall or pretended useth the razor sometimes with such eagernesse that Religion it selfe is thereby endangered and through hatred of tares the good corne in the field of God is pluckt up That which Isocrates said of strength is as true of zeale that if it be tempered with sound wisedome and a right Judgement it doth much good but without such a mixture it doth much mischiefe to our selves and others like Granadoes and other fire Workes which if they be not well looked to and discreetly ordered when they break do more hurt to those that cast them then to the enemy no man can be ignorant of the ill effects of an indiscreet and ill governed zeale which like unto a fire when it burnes out of compasse sets all the house and towne in a combustion It may perhaps justly be doubted whether a too slack moderation or an over-violent zeale be worse seeing the one does no good and the other does much hurt discretion without zeale is slow paced and zeale without discretion heady take therefore St. Bernards counsell let zeale spur on discretion and discretion reine zeale joyne them both together and the conjunction will be lovely I would not willingly drop one word to quench one sparke of any true Heaven-bred zeale my errand is as our Saviours was rather to kindle this fire Luke 12.49 which every Sacrifice must be salted with Marke 9.4 Let us all labour to blow up and to keepe alive this Sacred fire upon the Altar of our hearts that it may inflame our devotion towards God kindle our love towards men and burne out all our owne corruptions let it never coole with age nor abate with opposition nor be quenched with any floods of persecution whatsoever 1. As the Apostle said of patience so may I of zeale we have all neede of it especially Reformers 1. Because of the glory of God which we ought to have a tender resentment of more then of our owne lives or whatsoever is deare or precious unto us in this world Our Saviour resented the injuries and reproaches offered unto God as done unto himselfe Rom. 15.2 Because of the honour and happinesse of the Church which we ought to prefer before all our owne Interests Psal. 137.6 I have read of Ambrose that he was so zealous for the Church that he wished any storme might light upon himselfe rather then the State of it should be endangered Reverend Calvin would be content to saile over ten Seas for an uniforme draught of Religion amongst the Evangelicall Churches Moses and Paul were so transcendent in this kinde of zeale that they would have redeemed the Churches losses with their owne damnation 3 Because of the great difficulties and obstructions which we must make account to encounter with If you set your faces towards Sion the Jebusites hold it which you must remove with an Host of Idolls to boote even the blind and the lame the abhorring of Davids soule or else you shall never take the Fort 2 Sam. 5 6 7. If you will endeavour with Elias to put down the Priests of Baal Jezabel will send you a message of defiance threatning to make the Land too hot for us There are many Lyons that lye in our way it s onely a zealous violence that can Sampson-like get victory over them and honey out of them If we declare our for heaven all the faction and power of hell will be up in Armes against us Therefore we have neede of much violence 2. This will stand us in much stead 1. It will make us bold and daring it will put us upon the uttermost adventures Love and zeale will if neede be run upon the Cannons mouth dare through deaths gauntlet Cant. 8.7 Esther knew not whether she should prevaile yet she would venture though to the apparent hazarding of her Crowne and life Est 4.16 Zeale and love blush at the Name of difficulty 2. It will quicken you up to mighty endeavours a bow full bent will violently deliver the Arrow and carry it home to the marke with full strength a peece full charged will go off with great force A zealous Christian is like a ship saith Clemens carried on with full sayles towards heaven 3. It will make you constant and steady That 's no heaven-borne violence which tract of time or opposition weares out True zeal is like the Philosophers {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a sparkling firy stone no floods can quench it 4. It will make us prevalent and successefull in our endeavours if any thing in the world can Love is a pleasing Tyrant saith Chrysostome the power of it is above all power it raignes over all impediments in heaven and earth prevailing both with God and man as Jacob did This zeale then being so necessary and usefull labour we to get our hearts stored with it and see that it be of the right stampe sincere and upright ayming onely at the right end Gods glory and the Churches good Let there be no sonnes of Zebedee among us to project for themselves places of honour at the right hand or the left when Christ comes into his Kingdome away with all private designes preserve we our intentions single and sincere and we shall prosper the better 2. Let our zeale flame out upon all occasions let nothing smother the operation of it Aristotle writes of the bathes in the Pythecusian Islands that they are fiery hot yet send out no flame I cannot commend such a zeale which is smothered and pent up in the heart and gets no vent hath no externall operation a treasure concealed and an hidden vertue are both alike When that prophane King had burnt the Roll the Prophet wrote it over againe with an addition of many other like words Jer. 36.32 The more Gods Worship Ordinances Servants are opposed the more will true-hearted Zealots appeare for them to assist and vindicate them They write of a fish that hath a sword but no heart but I hope better things of you 3. Let your zeale be guided by the right Rule which is the Word of God In al your consultations and
resolutions let the Law and the Testimony be your Oracle It s a Kingdome of heaven that you are bound for and therefore your course must be like that of the Mariners guided by the heavens If you steere your course by any other line sure you will never arive where you would be at the faire havens The Heathens themselves never undertooke any great worke about the affaires of state till they had consulted the face of the Heavens what they did out of blind superstition do you from a principle of true Religion 4. When you have taken your aimes right and made choyce of fit meanes to compasse them let God alone with the successe he will make good the issue and turne all to the best As Quintillian said of a Pilot so may I of you whiles you hold the stearne and guide the compasse right you cannot be blamed although the great vessell of the State should be cast away and wracked in the storme which yet I hope it never will be Furthermore it concernes us all in common but you more especially most worthy Patriots not onely to labour for our owne particulars to take hold on this Kingdom with all violence but also to prepare way for others that they may come up to it or rather indeede that it may come downe to them As David therefore in a violent ravishment of desire that the Temple might be built cryed Psal. 24.9 10. Lift up your heads oh ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doores and the King of glory shall come in So let me addresse the like desire to you that are the Heads of our Tribes and have the keyes of the Kingdome of Great Brittaine hanging at the doores of your Honourable Senate House Oh let all the gates and doores of the Kingdome and of all the Counties Cities Parishes in it be set wide open That the King of Glory may come in The eyes of many thousands in the Land and a great part of Christendome too are now upon you you are in the hearts of all the Saints in all the Churches especially those at home who are ready to live and dye with you and what is their expectation and desire other then this That Christ may raigne as an All-Commanding King over his owne house That Doctrin Worship Government may be all exact according to the Patterne in the Mount Helpe on this much-desired Work 1 By setting a faithful pious and learned Ministery Be not offended that I touch upon this string once more How meane apprehensions soever any may have of this great Ordinance of God Preaching of the Gospell yet it is no other thing then the Scepter of Christs Kingdome the Royall Mace that is lifted up and born before him his triumphing chariot in which he rides conquering and to conquer Revel. 6.2 God is wont to hang the greatest weights upon the smallest wires The Salvation of the world depends upon this foolishnesse of preaching 1 Cor. 1.21 Blessed be God he hath given us his Word and if we could but adde what is next in the Psal. 68.11 Great is the multitude of them that publish it Sathan would soone fall downe like lightning and we should have an heaven upon earth We are zealous against Babylon and it s well that we are so I will shew you a way how to storme downe the proud walls and battlements of it without any Petards or Cannon shot or Engines of warre not so much need of these The sound of Rammes hornes will serve the turne Revel. 14.6 When the Angell flyes in the midst of heaven with an everlasting Gospell to Preach the next Newes is vers. 8. Babylon is fallen This preaching it will be the ruine of the man of sin it will spring a Myne under his Thron and beat down all his power and glory into the dust 2. If you would have a learned consciencious ministry do as Hezekiah Command the people to give the Priests and Levites their portion that they may be incouraged in the Law of the Lord 2 Chron. 31.4 Let there be due provision of oyle for all the Lamps of the Sanctuary and let there be worthy incouragements for all the severall professions of learning especially the sacred If learning should decay as some I hope without ground feare it will what can we looke for but an Inundation of Popery Atheisme prophanenesse sects heresies with all manner of Barbarity In the memory of our Fathers when it pleased the Lord to raise up Luther Melancton Calvin and many other choyce spirits it was unto the Churches even like unto a resurrection from the dead the Resurrection of learning brought with it a resurrection of Religion and a fresh spring of the Gospell which blessed be God continues still and flourishes to this day 3 But now that I have made mention of learning I may not without piacular neglect passe over the two Seminaries and seed-plots of it without a word or two It was a sad complaint of Luther against most of the Universities of Europe that they were become chaires of Pestilence and the very stewes and brothels of Antichrist God forbid that any should harbour any such apprehension of ours Blessed be God they have beene worthy Nurseries and schooles of the Prophets both of them and I hope they will continue so still Howsoever it were good to cast a little more salt into these Springs that the waters of life issuing from them may be more sweete and wholesome and that there may be no death nor barrennesse nor any thing causing miscarriage in them 2 King 29.10 The common complaint is That the two breasts though they be not quite dryed up yet they yeeld neither so much milke nor so wholesome now of late as in former times that it is now adulterated and brewed with mixtures its easie to know whence The way to heale all were to plant more wholesome heavenly and powerfull preaching there St. Basil tells That when men were desirous in his dayes to store themselves with Doves in their houses they tooke some of a milke white colour and perfumed them with odours and sweete oyntments and they flying abroad allured home with their sent all they met withall oh that we had a brood of such Doves richly perfum'd with Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia men anoynted I meane with the spirit and graces of Jesus Christ which are more sweet and odoriferous then all the unctions else in the world If there were some of these sent abroad into Country City Court and University how would multitudes flocke after them like Doves into their windowes Esay 60.8 4. If you would have Christ raigne fully freely universally all the Kingdome over let the Reformation then which is intended advance freely and fully and let it be first thorow and exact that no Rome be left for a throne of Sathan in any corner we would be loath that God should put us off with halfe a deliverance why should