it And first of the Compassing of Sion Hereof I must speake Two wayes Negatively and Affirmatively First Negatively and that Tenne wayes Compasse not Sion with Dinahs compasse onely to see Genes 34.1 and be seene for pleasure admiration or discourse Nor with the Fowlers compasse to draw into your Nets Psalm 109. any of the Birds of Sion Nor with Ioabs Compasse for glorie and ambition 2. Sam. 24. Nor with Israels Compasse Iosh 6. to overthrow another Iericho even the frame of Sion Nor the Ivie his Compasse to eate out the Oake the sweetenesse and riches of Sion Nor the Sinners Compasse Hab. 1.4 who goes about the righteous onely to suppresse them Nor the Sodomites Compasse that Moses speakes of for satisfying of some extraordinarie lust Genes 19.4 Nor the Theeves Compasse to rob and kill John 10.10 and to make a spoile of Sion Nor the Pharisees Compasse which is nothing Matth. 23.15 but to make a Proselyte and pervert the soule Nor Lastly Sathans Compasse to destroy both soule Ioh. 1. â— and bodie and to bring both Sion and your selves to ruine But In the second place Affirmatively against those Ten Take me but these Five and then Compasse Sion with Iehosaphats compasse 2 Chron. 19.4 for hee went about and reformed the people causing them to returne to the Lord God of their Fathers Or with Davids Compasse Psalm 26.6 who washed his hands in innocencie and then compassed the Altar of God Or with Christs Compasse for Hee went about Act. 10.38 doing good saith Peter and God was with him Or with the Marriners Compasse that if in your spirituall sayling unto Canaan you meete with an Euroclydon or storme in the East 〈◊〉 â—7 â—â— you may cast about another way untill you come to the Haven where you would be Or lastly â—um virâ— ac vit lib. 1. par 3. tract 4. with Alexanders Compasse of whom Peraldus Lugd. writes that he compassed a certaine wood with Fire because of the Serpents Oh! That yee would also compasse about this our Sion with the Fire of Love of Wisedome and of Zeale that God may be glorified Sion benefited and your Souleâ— saved Thus much for the first Action To Compasse Sion Marke Now to the second and last To marke Sion To Tell Behold and Consider For those tearmes of Action are in the Text all which wee will reduce to a word and that a Monosyllable Marke Habakkuk Habak 2.2 tels us of a writing that Hee that runnes may reade it But here in Sions compassing let Vs make a stand and Read Behold Consider and Marke There are three remarkeable things in Sion Her endowments Her watchmen Her friends First marke the endowments of Sion In times past the Church had large Donations not like that forged donation of Constantine Distinct. 96. cap. Constantin the Decree concerning which Nauclerus affirmeth Nauclerus Chro. vol. 2. gener 11. Paleam esse nihil probare to be Chaffe as the Canonists call it and prooveth nothing But donations reall certaine through the pietie and bountie of Princes and others well affected in those ages But alas Religion brought forth riches and the daughter hath devoured the Mother I know that our mouthes in this case will soone be stopt by that of Chrsostome Chryso Tom. 7. orat 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 No man is hurt but by himselfe It is fit therefore that the Law should be unto us a bond when our conscience hath no bound But for all that this shall not excuse any of you My Christian Auditorie if ever by importunitie faire promises or as Luke Luke 19.8 Proverb 20.25 speakes by forged cavillation yee devoure that which is sanctified If there be any here that is guiltie of this sinne let them feare and tremble least the Lord put a hooke into their nostrils Isai 37.29 and so plucke it out of their jawes againe or leaving it with them for a further vengeance cause it to be vnto them Iob. 31 12. Ephes 4.20 as a fire which shall devoure all their increase But you have learned Christ better then so Prover 30. Therefore my beloved honour the Lord with your riches Be bountifull unto Sion for the repayring of her ruines augmenting of her rents adorning of her Libraries Proverb 3 1â— So shall your Barnes be filled with abundance and whensoever you seeme to want God will recompence it unto you at the resurrection of the just Luk. 14.14 Secondly Marke the watchmen of Sion Cant. 3.5 Ezec. 3.17 Isai 56.10 viz. The Pastors and Preachers of the Word for so they are tearmed Examine whether they be Seeing watchmen and not Blinde Speaking and not Dumbe that is whether they give warning against the enemies approach Where you finde good Watchmen Marke them Booke them and no mervaile Malac. 3.16 for God hath a Booke of remembrance Suffer not proud worldlings to overtop them Ezech 34.21 Ballance them even Let not great learned Augustine be Bishop of little Hippo and little learned Aurelius be Bishop of great Carthage Encourage them Reward them Hebr. 13 17. and Grieve them not for they watch over your soules They are the Towers 2. King 2.12 and Bulwarkes of Sion The chariots of Israel and horsemen thereof Thirdly Marke the friends of Sion Such as the Centurion who was worthie that Christ should doe for him said the Iewes because he had built them a Synagogue Luke 7.5 Iudg. 5 9 My heart is set upon the Governors of Israel and upon such as are willing among the people and that doe flie like Doves unto their windowes Isai 60.2 for the good of their owne soule and the increase of Sions joy Let all such be encouraged againe and againe Let them have greater priviledges of honour and respect then those that are drowned in the lees of superstition And if ever you will come to the Celestiall mount make much of them that feare the Lord Psalm 15 4. 16.3 Let your delight be in the Saints that are upon the earth and upon all such as excell in vertue I have now told you of those Three remarkable things in Sion but as talke of Heaven doth oftentimes bring in the mention of Hell so speach of Sion may worthily induce some discourse of Babylon But that field is too large in this fall of time Therefore I will contract my selfe Onely I must needes pray you to marke Two things which are against Sion viz. The Hinderers of Sion and The Haters of Sion First the Hinderers of Sion and these may be found among Two Companies of men viz. Amongst the Laytie and Amongst the Cleargie Amongst the Laytie including Two kinds of Men. Simoniacall Patrons who will doe nothing without a Dish of Master Latimers Apples or letting the thing seemingly to goe free yet will reteine from the Iâ—cumbent the greatest share Or Devourers of
speake unto you of Ahabs conâ—â—â—ding reason why he desired poore Naboths Vineyard viz. for Commodiousnesse which is the faire Havens where every man desireâ— to cast Anchor Let us follow them and cast Anchor too upon this Word which though it be long yet it is but a Word 〈…〉 It is the ground of Morall Philosophie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 All things desire a certaine good Nay it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 naturall to seeke for that which is good especially if that good thing be commodious Hereupon infinite questions are moved concerning Commoditie What place most convenient to build in What time fittest to plant in Where is the cheapest land the best Companie the neerest Market the chiefest Wares to be bought wherein the folly and hypocrisie of the world is strangely discovered They seeke for land and yet there is a land above that is never fought for Even that celestiall Canaan that floweth with better things then milke and hony Exod. 3.7 They seeke for good Company and yet behold a Citie above where there is better companie then can be found in this world Heb. 12.22 namely the companie of innumerable Angels the Congregation of the first borne the spirits of just and perfect men and Iesus the Mediator of the new Testament and yet this companie is not cared for But though this seeking world be readie to faint vnder this endlesse travaile and vexation yet I will labour to correct in you this error and unto you to propose a better commoditie then ever Ahab could get by the Vineyard of Naboth And this I will endevore to do Two waies First Negatively what false Wares which I may call discommodities are to be rejected Secondly Affirmatively what are those pure and delicate Commodities which are to be sought after by all the sonnes of Adam In order of these and first of the first The Negative Here I meete with 4 parcels of false Wares viz. The false Wares of The World A Sathan B Antichrist C Sinne. D The first parcell the wares of the World There is a resonabilis Eccho which in the concavitie of mountaines doth render and sound backe the ends of words As for example if there you aske How shall I come by a benefice the Eccho will answere buy a benefice So if we ascend up into the mount of Contemplation and aske Are the things of the world commodious The Eccho will answere odious Oh the folly of this stirring age They rise up earely Psalm 137. â— lye downe late and eate the bread of sorrow and when the purpose is atchieved it is but winde They bow unto Mammon so long as they have a knee to bow and when they come to touch it it is but earth They runne after riches which taketh to it selfe wings Proverb 23 5. and when they have caught it it is but the childrens butterfly bedawbing the fingers of our affections Oh! How deare is the purchase of vanitie got with carke kept with care lost with griefe Oh! How incommodious are the wares of this wicked world fet from farre held at a high rate bought with the losse of our time want of our quiet wearinesse of our flesh and oft the woe of our Soules proving to the buyers no other then the reward of iniquitie Aâ—t 18.19 〈…〉 or like another Acheldama or field of blood Oh! Buy not repentance at so deare a rate Râ—â— 4 2◠〈…〉 2 15. aske first with Paul What fruite Say with Isay it is but a Spiders webb Heare Christ The Gâ—â—tiles seeke after these things And then resolve with Iohn â— Iohn â— 15. Love not the things of this World The second parcell are the Wares of Sathan In the shop of this world Pâ—lm â— 5 â—0 The Prince thereof sets out his â—â—nes to saie Epâ—â— 5.11 but as in the end they are unprofitable so in the meane they are false For he sels his Water for Wine and sophisticating his commodities he sets out vice under the colour of vertue As Pride he cals handsomenesse Coveteousâ—â—sse thrist Prodigalitie goodfelloship Lust recreation Quarrelling courage Superstition devotion In all which the like he keepes but his old wont playing the subtile Serpent the lying Merchant weighing these Wares with his owne weights But you my beloved remember what he was from the beginning trust not Sathan for he is your enemie carrie his wares to the light and weigh them by the Ballance of the Sanctuarie and you shall finde them to be Lighter then vanitie or like the Apples of Sodom which have a faire rinde but within Solin Polyb. cap. 38. they are nothing but cynders and smoake The third parcell are the Wares of Antichrist The man of sinne Antichrist of Rome is the fore-man in the shop of Sathan Nay he is the grand Cape-Merchant He acteth indeede many other Artes and parts viz. He playes the Chirurgian Revel 18.24 for he lets bloud In her was found the bloud of the Saints and he scarifies the Princes of the earth He playes the Fisher-man he hath certaine escas inebriativas baytes of honour pompe ease and libertie to besott the simple Revel 17 2. and to make them drunke with the wine of her fornication and all must be sub Annulo Piscatoris The Ring or seale of the Fisher meaning Peter but indeede farre unlike to Peter for Peter was a fisher of men Math. 4.19 but the Pope a fisher of Monarchies He playes the Grazier for he feedes Buls in the Pastures of Italie and so sends them into great Britaine that they might be sold These are bad Wares and they are met withall now and then unto their cost and drawne out of the dores Hee playes the Lapidarie Hazzenmull Ios con cap. 4. for hee weares a shooe of Gold wherein there is a precious stone preservative from poyson least hee should be infected by them that kisse his soote He playes the Physitian for he hath an infinite sort of Patients to whom he ministers before they be sicke he shewes them his Drugs as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verie loathsome in taste but in shew it lookes like Manna and Pills without number whereof one is double-gilt and preserved in the Cabinet of the Church of Rome viz. That same Canon Creg 7. Can. 15 q. 7. cap 4. Sir Ed. Sands his â—â—Lit Nos sanctorum wherewith he purges Princes of choller praedominant in their hot fevers namely when they begin to waxe red against him or to swell about their prerogatives But of all trades he is the most cunning Merchant for hee discurres thorough all Europe yea Currit mercator ad Indos and by his Mart-men vents his apish Toyes drugs of Rome dreggs of Superstition counterfeite Relickes hallowed Beads consecrated Graines Pardons and Indulgences by shippes lading a share of which false Coines doe our Mint-masters of Rome send over to their Hucksters here to delude the people of this Land But this
that I intend with Bellarmine to make multitude De noti Ecclesia libr 4 cap 7 to be a note of the Church for when they have talked their fil yet Christ shal have but a little flocke Luke 12 32 and He is true of his word that said Few doe enter in at the straite Gate Math 7 14 But yet you will say Are they few whom no man can number Revel 7 9 I answere This is spoken Hyperbolically and by the way of Comparison If the King would muster his Armie and gather Twentie out of every Parish in this Kingdome it would be an admirable great Armie yet it were not a handfull to those that are left behinde so are the multitude of Gods Saints little in respect of the wicked yet they are many great too in account with God And if yet thou doe contend and thinke them to be but few as they are indeede doe thou make One and so the number will be increased 3 The third Meditation is Sions Memoriall and that may be taken Two wayes Actively and Passively Actively Sion hath the Art of memorie shee remembreth her Creator for the Time past Eccles 12 1 she remembers his wonders of old for the Time Present Psalm 77 11 Psalm 71 24 her tongue talketh of his righteousnesse daily and for the Time to come even from generation to generation Psalm 79,13 shee will set forth his prayse and here in the Text shee tels it to Posteritie this was the practise of the Saints in the Old Testament as Abraham who commanded his Sonnes Genes 18 19. and houshold after him to keepe the wayes of the Lord. Yea and of the Saints in the New for Peters care was that the dispersed Iewes should have remembrance of his doctrine 2 Pet 1 15 even after his departure And seeing that Sion is so good a Remembrancer Let our tongues cleave to the roofe of our mouthes if wee remember not thee ô Sion Psalm 137 6 Passively Sions memoriall Sion is remembred If God hath made his wonderfull workes to be had in remembrance as David speaketh then cannot Sion be forgotten Psalm 111 4. for there is no worke of his more wonderfull then his preservation of the Church Wheresoever this Gospell is preached saith Christ there shall this that shee hath done be spoken of for a memoriall of her Math 26 13 That which was Mary Magdalens lott shall befall the rest Ever shall be remembred Abels offering Noahs obedience Abrahams faith Iosephs chastitie Davids zeale Salomons wisedome The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance Prover 10 7 but the name of the wicked shall rott 4 The fourth Meditation is Sions priviledge There was Mount Sinai Exod. 19 1. Psalm 87 1 Lyrae in Psal 86 aswell as Mount Sion but yet his foundation in Sion saith the Psalmographe that is as Lyrae expounds it God layd the foundation of his Church in Sion In Sinai was the Law given but in Sion the Gospel In the Law Heb 12 21 God speaketh words of feare and trembling but in the Gospell 2. Corinth 5 18 the word of meekenesse peace When the Lord visited Elias in the Cave there came a Winde and the Lord was not in the winde 1 King 19 vers 11 12. and an Earthquake but the Lord was not in the earthquake and a fire but the Lord was not in the fire Then at last came a soft and still voyce and there the Lord was So is the Lords love to be felt not so much in the thunders of Sinai as in the comforts of Sion And though his Power is seene in the swelling waters of Iordan Ierem 13 5. Isai 8 6 yet is his delight rather in the soft running waters of Siloe a fountaine at the foote of Sion therefore mount Sion above all others is called Gods Hill Psalm 68.15 The schoolemen doe make God to be the object of Faith and it is true in his kinde but if they meane it Personally of the Father they rather draw wretched soules out of the way then direct them to the marke for without Christ the Father is an angrie Iudge therefore He saith Iohn 14.6 No man commeth to the Father but by mee Hee is Iacobs ladder Genes 28 12 Isai 59 20 which joyneth heaven and earth together and this is that Redeemer which came unto Sion So that here is our priviledge We are not come to mount Sinai Galat. 4.24 which gendereth unto bondage but to mount Sion to the Citie of the living God and to Iesus the Mediator Hebr. 12.22 whose bloud speakes better things then that of Abel 5 The fift Meditation is Sions Promises That Rom. 3.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Paul speakes the preferment of Sion for the Iewes they had the Adoption and the Promises Rom. 9.4 Rom. 3.2 Aug. in Psalm and to them were committed The Oracles of God Augustine saith that the Iewes were the Librarie keepers of the Christians and to this end it is thought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ios 15.15 they had their Kiriath-sepher the City of the Booke And in the first Councell of Constantinople being the second general by 150. Bishops Ierusalem is called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodor. li. 5. c. 9. or Mother Citie of all Churches If such tearmes and promises had beene given to Rome all the Pulpits of Italie would have rung at it but we see there is no such thing With what impudencie then did Benedict III. rob Ierusalem of her right and give it to Rome Extr. com de elect cap. 3. sanct Rom. For hee decreed Rome to be first and Ierusalem the fift among the Seas of the Patriarches and of late Trid. Conc. sect 25. de Delect the Trent-Councell hath called Rome the Mother Mistris of all Churches But by this Novell Disseisin they have weakened nay overthrown their pretended Supremacie 6 The sixt is Sions Perpetuitie For it is the Hill wherein the Lord will abide for ever and yet wee see Psalm 68.16 that God was not eternally tyed to externall Sion for now the Wayes of Sion lament Lament 1.4 and no man commeth to her solemne feasts Let our Romanists looke unto this point They stile Rome Aeterna Vrbs Am. Marcel and as the Iewes unto Ierusalem the Donatists to Affrica so these men would tye the Church to Rome The Church is called in the Creede Catholicke and in this sense justly stiled Oecumenicall scattered over all the world but they would bring it backe into a narrow roome The Romane Catholicke Church Grounds of the Old and New Religion p 1. c. 6. and The Catholicke Romane Faith But particulars are not generals Obiect And though the Catholicke Church hath his Perpetuitie yet particular Churches have their Period and so had Sion Solut But God promised a perpetuitie to Sion Hee did so but it was under a condition
Isai 1 19. Jerem 18.9.10.23.38.39 viz. The perpetuitie of their obedience as the Prophet proves at large But if Sion be desolate Shall Gods worship cease Christ hath untyed this knot The time shall come when there shall be no more worshipping in this Mount saith Christ but the faithfull shall worship God everie where in spirit and truth Iohn 4.11 Everie Land is Iudea Rom 2.28.29 everie Citie Ierusalem every House is Sion and everie Person 1. Cor. 6.19 a Temple to serve God in 7 The Last in this Septenarie is Sions qualitie viz. To be Holy Psalm 2.6 My holy Hill of Sion saith the Lord yet not holy by any inhaerent propertie but as the Place where Moses stood was Holy ground Exod. 3 5. by reason of Gods presence at that time so Mount Sion was holy by reason of his presence there at that time Psalm 132.8.13 by the Arke by his Word by his Testimonies But now to hang out the Ivie when the Wine is gone thither to runne in pilgrimage as many of the sonnes of men doe at this day it is but that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Colos 2.23 will worship condemned by the Apostle Oh! How many excellent things are spoken of thee ô Sion Yet now thou art profane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isai 13 21 34 14. Zion is turned into Zijm into their brethren the Iijm their companions the Ohim And why is all this come upon them Even for Sinne. Takeaway the O out of Sion to lament withall the remainder will shew the cause of her ruine SIN But What were the sinnes of Sion even those foure sinnes of Sodom Pride Ezech. 16.48 Idlenesse Fulnesse of bread contempt of the poore those other foure Profaning of the Sabbath Idolatry Contempt of the Word defrauding of Iustice Iudgement Let us be warned by their harmes If the Lord have not spared the naturall branches he will not spare us Rom. 11.21 Except yee repent saith Christ yee shall also perish Luke 13 3. Oh that there were in us a wise heart to turne unto the Lord by true repentance least Hee take away from us the Arke of his strength his Word and Sacraments Psalm 1â—2 â— and cause the wayes of Sion to lament And hitherto I have spoken of a double Septenarie of Meditations concerning Sion And yet me thinkes wee are not satisfied I see that Sion is the sole subject of my Text therefore I will adde one Septenarie more Not that I doe with the Schoolemen Dionys Carth. in sent lib. 4. d 2. Corn. Agrip. Occulta Philosoph lib. 2. cap. 10. Eccles 4.12 and others place anie great Mysterie or Perfection in the number of Seven but because I am transported with the love of Sion and Salomon tels me that a Threefold cord is not easily broken The last seven Meditations concerning Sion are these viz Her Safetie Her Situation Her Stabilitie Her Strength Her Succession Her Visibilitie Her Victory 1 First of Sions Safetie David saith Psalm 74.12 Lyra in locum Gloss ord ibid. Iacob de Valent. in locum that God worketh salvation in the middest of the earth By the middest of the Earth the Papall expositors doe say is meant Ierusalem and the Geographers doe place Ierusalem in the middest of the earth affirming as the Earth to be the Center of the World so Ierusalem to be the Center of the Earth Now though Geographically perhaps we may misse in this account eyther in Latitude or Longitude yet Theologicaly it is most certaine that the Church which is the Typicall Sion is in Safetie Sometimes God is said to be in the middest of His Iohn 20.19 Psalm 125.2 and sometimes They in the midst of Him and He round about Them They are then in the middest They feare not any overthrowe by tilting up on one side neyther are they over-runne by Borderers for Psal 34.7 The Angell of the Lord pitcheth his Tents round about them which feare the Lord and delivereth them Oh! That wee would be content to be compassed about and so gathered into the armes of Christ that neyther by blinde Devotion wee put our selves into the hands of Saints nor by Sinne into the clutches of Sathan 2 Secondly of Sions Situation it was to the North-side of IerusaleÌ„ for so those words Iarkethe Tsaphon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are expounded in the second verse of this Psalme Lyra in locum In times past wee were wont to say Omne malum ab Aquilone All evill comes from the North but now wee must and justly may change our note Iacobi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for we have received a Basilicon Doron from the North and here Mount Sions Situation is to the North and this affords Two Meditations Passive and Active Passive The Church of God is subject to many a blustering Boreas storme and rage of persecution when others lye open to the Sun-shine of prosperitie whereof being forewarned let us neyther envie the one nor be discouraged for the other Active As Mount Sion being on the North kept off the bitternesse of the winde from the other parts of the Citie which lay to the South So the Church of God doth keepe both her owne and others too oftentimes from many a storme Propter Ecclesiam in mundo saith one durat mundus Luther For the Churches sake the world is preserved even till the number be full Simile As the Lungs is the Fanne of the Body so the Church is the Fanne nay the Soule of the world Therfore Woe be to this misunderstanding Age. The Church is but esteemed as Chaffe Isai 59 15. the Iust makes himselfe a prey Oh! That at last wee would entertaine this point of wisedome to esteeme of Sion the faithfull ones the members of the Church whose prayers doe keepe backe the plagues of God Genes 18.12 3 Thirdly of Sions Stabilitie Doe you not see this to arise cleerely out of the Text Goe round about Sion then Sion stands upright by it selfe leanes not to this Wall or that Building This is a Type of the Church of God It must stand upright Deut 5.32 Not leaning to the right hand nor to the left not relying on Mens traditions superstitious vanities forraine amities with Idolaters Isai 36.6 All which are but as the Broken reede of Egipt Let Sion stand by it selfe Againe the World is round about Sion Sion then is In but not Of the World Let our Three mortal enemies the Flesh the World and the Devill runne ryott round about our Soules but let Vs stand upright Doe you not observe in your journeys that the Trees on the side of a Mountaine grow upright though the Mount it selfe have never so great a fall 2. Pet. 3.18 Phil. 2.15 So be you growing upright in Grace even in the middest of a froward and crooked generation Be you the
was this visibilitie two hundred yeares agoe It was not seene before Luthers time I answere That the externall visibilitie and splendor of a particular Church doth not alwayes shine alike You see Sion in the Text but yet in Time it is not seene For a long season Israel was without the true God without a Priest to teach 2. Chron. 15.8 and without Law and yet it was even then the Church of God Doe you not see that the Sun is sometimes under the clouds yet Who doth denie even then the bodie light of the same S. Augustine Aug Epist. 48. compares the Church to the Moone which sometime shineth out at another time it is deprived of a great portion of her light and sometime shineth not at all yet it is though it is not seene And doe you not observe in your owne Element that the fire is raked up in the ashes and in the silence of the night it is not seene yet in the morning when the ashes are removed it is found So That brightnesse and splendor of the Church which shewed it selfe in the time of Christ of his Apostles the Primitive Church was sometimes darkened by the clouds of creeping errors which over-shadowed it and for many yeares oppressed by fraud or force through the injury of men in the time of ignorant and sleeping Prelates Math. 13.25 Tares were sowen and all for the unthankefulnesse of men whom God gave over to beleeve lyes 2. Thes 2 10.11 because they would not beleeve the truth But yet in everie age since the time of Christ unto this day even in the season when Sathan was let loose the Lord hath raised up men Revel 20.3 of an heroical spirit divine understāding who opposed thē selves against the doctrine of the Papacie and eyther by their preaching or writing or suffering or other open testimony gave witnesse to the truth And Though the beautie of the Church of England in the blessed time of King Edward the sixt was besmeared with the bloud of the Saints in the Raigne of Queene Marie that our Sion seemed wholy to be darkened yet even then such a light was kindled by the fire of their Martyrdome that wee trust shall never be put out 7 Lastly wee come to Sions victorie Many are the sorrowes of the righteous saith David so Psalm 34 1◠Many are the sores of Sion but at length there is health Manie a wound doth it receive from them without from them within Psalm 129.5 but at last it gets the Victorie They that hate Sion Rom. 16.20 shall all be turned backeward The God of peace shall tread downe Sathan shortly under your feete Even then when Death Revel 20.14 and Hell shall be cast into the lake of fire So that now we may inscribe this propertie of Sion as David doth many of his Psalmes Lamenat seach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vincenti To him that overcommeth But Who is this Conqueror that overcommeth Is there any sensible demonstration of this victorie in the word Yes That so Graphicall and lively a description in the fourteenth of the Revelation Revelat. 14.1 that nothing can be more Iesus Christ that Lambe stands upon the top of Sion What is this that wee heare We have laboured by these XXI steps to climbe up to the top of Sion and now that wee are come thither Whom have wee found standing there Our elder brother our Saviour our Redeemer Socra Eccle. hist lib. 1. cap. 1. In hoc vince In HIM overcome Here let us cast Anchor this is our Period our Haven our Heaven That Sion which is the subject of our Text hath gotten such a crest The Lambe of God such a Christ even Iesus the righteous that nothing could be told us more to our consolation Oh! What encouragement is this to draw us unto the love of Sion when Christ lyeth not downe as overcome but standeth up as a Conqueror on the top of Sion to see us to save us to heare us to helpe us to descrie to destroy our Adversaries that in the fulnesse of time he may reach forth his hand and pluck us up unto the beaurie of our inheritance even to that Triumphant Sion which is above Wee have ended now with all these Encomia set out in a Threefold Septenarie of Meditations cōcerning Sion whereof wee make a Threefold Vse Threefold Vse The first Vse First Vse to outstrip the Papists even in their owne element They are laborious in setting forth the properties of the Church but Wee doe sound forth the Trumpet of her prayses aswell as they It is but a jest of Campian Audito Ecclesiae nomine hostis expalluit No Cāpian Campian ration red acad. rat ◠No children waxe not wanne to heare of their mothers name but wee blush to see thy vanitie being more full of Rhetoricall declamation then Theologicall demonstration Wee know that the Church is the Spouse of Christ his Love his Dove his undefiled Cant 4.7.9 1. Tim. 3.15 The house of God the pillar and ground of truth But withall wee know that a Particular cannot be an Vniversall neyther can a Romane be the Catholicke Church Oh! How many impostures doe our Romanists vent unto the world under the name of the Church making it as a rich Arras to cover the mud-walles of their deformities Leo in epistol ad Mona in Palest Their owne Leo may fitly say to them in generall as he wrote to certaine Monkes in particular Ecclesiae nomine armamini contra Ecclesiam dimicatis Yee are armed with the name of the Church and yet fight against the Church The second Vse Second Vse to observe the extraordinarie care that God hath of his Church Sion Sion againe her Towers her Bulwarkes her Palaces Hee commaunds everie Tower to be told nay to be bookt for that seemes to be the Etymon of the word Sipheru Nay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Liber The Lord takes notice of every Pot in Ierusalem Ezech. 14.20 Exod. 25.38 Yea of the very Snuffers snuff-dishes Oh! with what precise observāce ought the Princes of the earth to take notice of these things Ephes 5.1 Psal 12. ◠7 9. that they being followers of God as deere children may procure the wealth peace and prosperitie of Sion of the house of God The third Vse Third Vse is to stirre up the sonnes of men to runne into the bosome of the Church the spirituall Sion Psal 4.8 23 2 132.8 where they may have their safe repose their repast their rest that God being their Father and the Church their Mother they may be nourished in his family untill they come to their not deserved 1. Pet. 1.4 but reserved inheritance And hitherto of the Subject of this Text namely of Sion Now to the Action which being manifold according to my first Division I reduce it unto Two viz. To Compasse Sion and to Marke