the severall orbs and spheres the Interest works in and hence follow the severall degrees of radiation that the truth of God casts out in the ages past present and to come The operations fluxes of the Spirit of which there are as the Apostle sayes Diversities of gifts diversities of administrations inspirations illuminations instincts motions created powers and mights for effecting successes preservations deliverances advancements c. The purer Ordinances of Praying Preaching Prophesying Worship and Government holy Treatises Writings Discourses or any other Divine faculty like a golden candlestick conveying the heavenly light abroad V. The Engines the Interest works by THere are certain created powers qualifications spiritual natural and civil which the infinite supreme Agent makes use on here below as I hinted before the vertues gifts and graces likewise the policie power and authority and consociations all these God takes up carries on his interest by them in States and Kingdoms nor was there ever Râ—formâ—tion but God set it on by such wayes of application either by eminencie of gifts and inspirations or by eminencie of power and some of these he used more eminently at one time then at another as in Iosiahs and Asaes when the coercive authority was the greatest wheel in the Reformation To conclude this God improves Reformation by created meanes and entities which are like wheeles and springs and God moves by these sometimes in the way of his omnipotencie sometimes more connaturally and according to his way of moving the improvements are if he move in a connaturall way he works with the creature little further then its own capacity and then things may go slowly on because he puts not out his hand to bring on the creature faster then its own strength will carry it See this in Iosiahs Asa's Ezra's Reformation in Edward the sixth's Elizabeth's where the Reformation went on gradually from one obstruction to another God having thus laid in qualifications of severall orders for advancing his great work they all work in their proper subserviency subordination for the whole creation serves but this glorious end that God may have his Church compleated through so many severall ages providences according as he hath drawn it out in kis eâ—â—rnall Model or Idea which is his own wisdome or counsel and when God is upon his work of Reformation you may observe all the lower interests are set a going The stars shal fight against Sisera in their course thus shall the natural interest help on Cyrus and Artaxerxâ—â— shall send out commissions letters to their Princes and ministers of State thus shall the politick interest help on Hâ—ggaâ— Zechariah the people of God shall pray and prophesie so shall the more spiritually-organicall means help on VI The Obstructions and how removed THe Spirituall obstructions are intrinsecall and forain and extrinsecall the intrinsecall are malignity of nature carnall reasonings idolatrous superstitious principles principles of Atheisme Libertinisme there are but two wayes of removing these by a Power spirituall and a Power civil or of Magistracie and the disciplines and orbs where both these powers work and influence and here it would be well inquired how far this latter of Magistracie may be improved to remove the more spirituall obstructions and to compell up to a Reformation and how neer the interests of Moses and Aaron are seeing they were at first in one subject or person and after in two but never to be found any more in one as the Papists â—relates would have incorporated them again and it s said we clearly see not the right interest of Christian Magistracie by any practical truth in the Gospel and that which makes it so dark is this that no nations were wholly converted in Christ's and the Apostles times by which we might have experiments of their power in cooperating with the Apostles and what the true subserviencie of such a power is to a spiritual interest and in what latitude is not yet clear to some And surely here we are too low of late in our Treatises for we should first state the interest of Magistracie as we find it in the Gospel and under the Law respectively and then enquire into the secret of Gospel-propagation and why the the Gospel begun below and went up and not as Câ—sar first and so down and whether it equally respect both administrations and how far that Scripture that is not thought on in such case may be consulted You are not câ—me unâ—â— the mountain that burned with fire but ye are come unto mount Siâ—n And it would be clearly stated whether spirituall perswasion and conviction and the Evangelicall Ordinances be the onely mediums or means which were then imployed for carrying on the Gospel and the auxiliary of miracles then annexed for compelling reputation and now that of miracles ceaâ—ing whether Magistracie ought not to â—â—ply These are yet not beaten out so in our discourses as they might be The forain or extrinsecal obstructions are some Lawes Customes Traditions Adversaries or enemies to truth Confederations with Princes and States abroad a people of forain interests in their own nation These are removed by suspending â—tatutes opening Pulpits Presses and letting out the holy dispensation of the Gospel freely by State agencie and vigilancie and a kind of sending out Hushaies to sit at Councel table with Achitophels and if this hath too much of David in it yet the Iewes which dwell neer them may be treated with for intelligence as Nehemiah did Instances of mixtures in Scriptures as that of Corinth those seven of Asia the Parables improved Mat 13.29 30 of the Tares and Wheat WHen these and such like are urged in case of separation and mixt communicating in Ordinances It would be further enquired whether such a sense come up more directly or obliquely to the holy Spirit and whether Church-corruptions as Corinth's and Ephesus c. were intended any more for Proofs or Arguments or Rules then Personal corruptions as Davids lusts and Moses pâ—ssions and Peters fears and whether all such examples be not rather set down as cautions and written for our admonition that we should nâ—t lust as they also lusted further whether the name Church be not sometimes to be taken in the same sense under the Gospel as the Ark and â—emple was takâ—â— under the Law still for the places of 〈◊〉 â—â—â—idence though sometimes he was not so â—â—â—â—bly therâ— â—nd whether the â—oly â—pirit forâ—ore not to 〈…〉 them because the fault was in some particular practices about Ordinances rather then in the essential or first form of Church constitution which they had perfecter then we And whether this be a rule for the judgements of Gods people who are to go by the clear and visible Rules in Scripture according to which Churches are made up or have constitution And whether the Holy Spirit would have reputed them still Churches had they gone on in the toleration of
well studied might be exalted into a transcendent science and it is pitty that now when severall Ages of Reformation draws on few or none that I know elder or more modern that have much enquired into the mystery sublimity whereas every variety here below is drawn up into systemes and aphorismes only this wanders incompleatly under the shadow of the science Theologie which is so universall that there is not that perfection attained in it as there might be if like other Sciences it were taken in or inclosed and so studied for then some whose spirituall ingeny might be of a complexion fitter for such or such a part in Divinity would apply thither when as now they wander up and down in the unbounded wastes of Theologie and like the Philosopher who laying himself out to nature at large sits down with a narrow satisfaction whereas the â—stronomer or any other single scienced person knows every star and circle and variation and hath a more exact and particular knowledge then such an universall contemplation can give him The increated Interest FIrst then for the Interest of Reformation as it relates to God I mean the supernaturall interest or the increated interest and we must know it lies radically in the counsels of God and subsists in his power and infinity and takes not degrees and improvements here below as other interests naturall and politicall do and therefore it is that the Interest of Reformation rayes out in some ages gloriously at its very first rise then when it seems to have the least ingagement or complication below but seemes rather to flow from new created springs and originals so as that scripture holds forth Things which are seen are not made of things which do appeare and though sometimes other contraries may seem to have anticipated all the interest and taken up the advantages beforehand yet on a sudden God lets out an effusion of light and spirit and in a moment disinteresses and dispossesses all the former and this appeares in that when the people which sate in darknesse saw great light and to them which sate in the region and shadow of darknesse light is sprung up for as the appearance of Christ to judgement is implied to be momentary As the lightning that lightneth out of the one part of heaven shineth unto the other part so shall also the Son of man be in his day now the Son of man is thus in his day of Reformation as well as Condemnation and as in light there is not that graduall alteration and propagation and working for interest in the aire but a transfusion and illumination in such an interminate subject or body because there is not in it any quality contrary or obstructive that can put any impediment to so immateriall a thing as light So it is in the spirituall transfusions of grace and reformation when the power and will of God carries it and applies it irresistibly efficaciously to such and such a season or State or people for God being as it were more immediate and indistant and intrinsecal in this work he will not sometimes admit of any such grosse or inferiour artifice and preparings and consociations which argues an impotencie in the agent and work but as he is infinite and the Creator so he commands the creature to make room and the creature in an obedientiall and passive capacity opens and entertains his dispensations this is then when he would make bare as it were his glory and shew himself to his people and put off the creature and as it were devest himself of his interests here below act more immediately upon the world and then his light and dispensation is carried on without reluctancy or disputings in the creature there is a melting at his presence this divine work is sweetly insinuated in that Scripture his lightnings enlightned the world the earth saw and trembled the hills melted like waxe at the presence of the Lord the earth trembles the earth or the most grosse and opace impedimentâ— the hils or high obstructions flow down and are powred out when God powres out himselfe in any strong activity upon them The work of Reformation being of this nature in part and such an immediate efflux of God in Christ we should rise into higher conceptions and contemplations concerning it and find out the interest on which it turns in the most spirituall motions and beginnings The more spirituall effluxes of the Interest with a Caution ANd these are the very same which God brought his Dispensations into the world by at first and carried on his truths on a naked power witnesse all his miraculous actings for his Law and Church then under Moses Joshua God carrying them on by a mighty hand and after under several Judges by such sudden lightnings of mercy when all their own interest was lost overflowed by the enemies as the Scriptures intimate Then the Lord raised them up a Deliverer The sudden restoring of the worship under Asa Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Josiah And so the raising of the Temple under Cyrus and Darius the expressions all hold out the most high and divine risings and actings as those concerning Cyrus The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus and then rose up the fathers of Benjamin and Judah with all them whose spirit God had raised to go up and as these concerning Artaxerxes And the King granted me sayes Nehemiah according to the good hand of God upon me and then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me And in the time of Mordecai And in that very day that the eâ—â—mies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them it was turned to the contrary and the Jews had rule over them And thus the Reformation under the Gospel was carried on by a pure heavenly work and immediate concurrence The Lord saith the Scripture working with them and confirming the Word With signes following and many of them which heard the Word beleeven and the number of the men was about five thousand all on sudden Thus the Interest of Reformation or the Gospel lay then most in the naked and immediate power of God subsisting in his very omnipotencie and so in divers ages to this though in a particular account from Ecclesiasticall Story we may soon be led into some false experiments of this interest for it was a luxuriancie in some of them to put down some miraculous passages or stories which indeed are very questionable for the mysterie of iniquity working higher every age then other the learning of after times partly in an easie and corrupt piety and partly in a policie to preserve the reputation of so divine an interest kept up many Legends to this day But for later Centuries in France and Gormanie Scotland and our own kingdom God hath brought in himself according to the former Scriptures with an high hand with signes and wonders with raising
and stirring up the spirits of his people working even immediately by himself casting out the interest of Antichristianisme and Prelaecie and placeing his owne there as at this day we experience in the late opening of heaven and radiation upon this Kingdom when the Prelaecy was at highest and interweaving it self into Popery and fastening its interest at the very foot of the Chair in Rome How the increated Interest works to be discerned below THis increated interest of the Gospel lying thus in the counsels wisdom and power of God it comes abroad sometimes on the Wheele of some omnipotency when God hath a purpose to undo or dissolve the gatherings and strong holds the wisdom of the world and to exalt himself to the eyes of his people and his enemies Wonderfull things did he in the land of Egypt in the field of Zoan And here we may rise into this enquiry How God may be discerned in such a work though best by the Spirit which searches the deep things of God First God in making any clear discovery of this interest must assume such Agents as may not seem to stand in the way of his omnipotency I mean by casting any shadow upon it but they must be such as he may be seen in even to a carnall eye as the Magitians of Egypt who could then only discern God but his finger neither in the judgement of Lice of this nature were those things he made use on as Moses rod and Aarons both blossoming with miracles alâ—ke the Waters of Jordan rams horns lamps and pitchers a sling and a pible stone the jaw bone of an Asse clay and spittle handkerchiefs and shadows a Gideon or poorest family in Manasseh and he the poorest in his fathers house and thus the Gospel had its rise and increase God choosing the base things the weak things and foolish things fishermen and Women and laying aside whatsoever might exalt it self so as not many wise men after the flesh nor many mighty nor many noble were called Nay in the great and finall work for his Church his very word which he cals in the name of the world the foolishnesse of preaching shall be acted by that omnipotency as all the power of â—abylon seems only to fall at the noise of that I dispute not here what other concomitant God may annex yet the Word carries the reputation and it is most reasonable in this way of the Lords working that God should overthrow them by that which they in their own wisdome reputed but foolishnes The Interest suffers no change from the creature NOw this interest is only and entire in God and the Designe works only below for compleating the body of Christ and this body is made up of all nations and kindreds and though in some nations where the Gospel is God may not equally dispence successe or advancement to it but may often in his own wisdom let the interest seem to dye out as in our own Kingdom and that of Scotland he hath formerly done and in that of Ireland of late yet even then we must look at the designe of Reformation as it is in God and not in the creature and not think so far below such a glorious businesse as if the perishing or wasting in any particular had put any stop to the work of God as if any thing of the world had power to disorder the uniformity of such a work and should put God about but we must know that God hath fully and from eternity made up the glory of this businesse and though there may be unevennesse on the worldly side of it yet on the heavenly side of it there is none as in former interruptions not only when God dwelt in curtains and in a Temple made with hands but after when he took up a more spirituall habitation in his people for even then their Churches were scattered abroad throughout the Regions of Judea and Samaria except the Apostles here the Spirit hints to us how God sometimes locks up or layes up his interest in some remainder as here in the Apostles when the rest were scattered the word it self was hid in the root of Jesse and the branch the tree in the vision had a stump left in the earth and God had seven thousand unknown to the Prophet which had not bowed to Baal and the woman which he lodged in the wildernesse to whom he gave the wings of an Eagle My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your wayes my wayes God hath divers ends in making overtures of light and withdrawing it in Gods work there is nothing lost nor in vain and when the wisdom of man is not able to make any thing of disadvantages the wisdom of God can Christ is the same yesterday and to day and for ever nor in him is any variablenesse or shadow of change I shall here for a further advancement to this make a discovery of such secret principles as if clearly discussed might prove of powerfull advantage to some present and succeeding controversies A right stating of the Churches Interest of great concernment to some present Controversies IF the Churches Interest hath been alwayes below I speak now of the period from Christ then this saves the birth of a new Ministery or Ordinances and all this may stand good viz. Of receiving them out of mysticall Babylon as the Jews did the golden vessels then it would be discussed whether any such way of arguing did strengthen that of a necessary visibility and whether it did as fully advance the Attributes of God viz. his omnipotencie c. and equally comply with the revealed designe of God in his word of alwayes preserving a Church and whether the defection or apâ—â—tacie and the slaying of the witnesses could stand with such a Church-nterest and how the temple of God on which Antichrist sits her golden cups or jewels may be in the Spirits sense the true Church or Ordinances in bondage or only a counterfeiting or resembling and what the Tabernacle of God coming down may imply whether such a continued interâ—st or no and whether the Scriptures themselves being the Ark of Gods revealed will be not the conservatory of the Interest in such intervals and whether thâ—â— hurâ—h or Scriptures be the fitter Subjects according to Gods method and rule of working for preserving and propagating such an interest And if the Church hath alwayes had an interest whether this interest hath been alwayes the same from the first because some do so quarrell that and call it a going to Moses from Christ a seeking for Gospel to the Law and indeed if some stronger labours were of this nature in full not in broken Treatises then as yet we have seen they might heale many an objection about our Ministery and Ordinances which for want of it some may think lie too open and here might be opened the severall
Reformation hath in this age of ours even that visible interest which is undeniable and apparant but yet with this caution that I do not lay these open as affirming any unquestionable necessary successe but as probable und deducible a successe as ever age had because I know there may be withdrawings and retirings in God respectively to a particular State and Church and yet his Church have a fair and eminent interest both there and elswhere in other States and Kingdoms for as a Nation is not dead in the funerals of a few persons nor an house ruined in the falling of a pillar or tyle no more is the Church which is a catholike invisible spirituall body by any particular declination in such a City or State or Nation though I must affirm this That there is a most clear visible powerfull and mighty interest which Reformation hath in the Christian world and this Kingdom at this time and if it succeed not here I can accuse no want of supernaturall naturall or political interest for we are able enough in these but I must accuse some speciall sinnes that have done it which have separâ—ted betwixt us and our God and have withheld good things from us and made our God refuse to shew us the pattern and his will for here are conditionals implied If the hâ—â—â—se of Israel shâ—â—â— be ashamed of their iniquities I will shew them the form of the â—â—â—â—e and agâ—â—â— If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or no At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdome to pluck up and to pull down and to destroy it If that Nation against whom I have pronounced turne from their evil I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them Severall secrets in the Interest 1. The Interest in Christ THis Interest is laid up in Christ from all eternity and here we may rise into most spirituall apprehensions concerning it for though God causes the Interest to beam forth into the things below yet it is in Christ like light in the body of the Sun God doth so dispence himself into Christ that there is not any thing of God stowes beside him but all in him and through him All things that the Father hath are mine for Christ as he was the Word was With God in the beginning and was God without him was not any thing made that was made in him was life in these expressions the Spirit lets us see how God made himselfe over to Christ And further He was the image of the invisible God he is before all things and by him all things consist and he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning being also the bâ—â—ghtnesse of his glory And the Scripture opens this mysterie further yet God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself and in him the fulnesse of the Godhead dwels bodily and when Christ that eternal Word came to apply the Interest neerer the creature He grew up before him as a tender plant and as a root out of a dry ground yet the Lord possessed him in the beginning of his way before his Works of old he Was by him as one brought up with him The holy Spirit holds out the mysterie of laying up the Interest in Christ yet more and writes to the Church to comfort her in the acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of â—hrist in whom are hid all the treasures But if we would see a further glimpse of this interest sweetly opened by Christ himselfe let us heighten our meditations upon these Scriptures where Christ discourses with his Father implying the spirituall interest all the way All mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in theâ— and as thou Father art in me I in thee that they also may be one in us and the glory which thou gavest me I have given them I in them and thou in me that they may be made pâ—rfect in one So as now God being thus in Christ and the Church adopted so near to that infinite Unity of God in Christ the Interest is unchangeably and eternally preserved and to tâ—e all fast with the heavenly cordage of love God holds our himself in â—ovenaâ—t in an everlâ—sting Câ—venant And thus it hath pleased the Father that in him should all fâ—lnesse dwell and all our Interest should be treasured in him even to that of grace and glory that our life should be hid with Christ in God II. The Spiritual Interest in Allegory THat we may discern the Interest more nearly it is conveyed to us on the scene of Allegories for God being invisible in himself and more immediate approaches makes himself appeare through such expressions as theâ—e Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion I sate down under his shadow with great delight The Name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous run unto it and are safe under the shadow of his wings will I make my refuge Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment Walk about Sion go round about her tell the thereof mark ye well her bulwarks consider her palaces My beloved hath a vineyard c. he fenced it and built a tower in the midst And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place O my Dove thou art in the clifts of the rocks in the secret places of the stairs Thus God hides his interest in these Allegories Clefts in Rocks and secret places and chambers and wings and shadowes and bulwarks and palaces and towers and fences and pavilions and the secrets of his presence for God is so indistant and present with his that they are safe in the midst of dangers and he holds these invisible Sanctuaries over them Lo he goeth by me and I see him not he passeth on also but I perâ—eive him not Thus said Job when his sight was dim with affliction that he could not see into the Interest beyond the creature III. The Recipients of the Spirituall Interests THose things which are of neerest capacity to the receiving of the Interest are first the Covenant or eternall Paction and ingagement wherby God stands bound of his meer free grace to his Church or people and by this interceding act he and his people are brought together The next is the Scriptures of God or the Word whereby the interest is propagated being the power of God unto salvation The other is the Church of God which is the Fountain sealed the garden enclosed wherein all the sweets fragrancies of grace breath forth IV. The Recipients of the Interest THe Prophetical truths in the Prophets and the Revelation of John are
exactly compleatly sent down from Heaven with laws and cautionary precepts for the just observance and to these under the Gospel the notions in Scripture of Kingdom City Family Officers Offices Church-censures Administrations Applications with many things of spirituall policy both in principles and practice with necessary inference from Gods first method On the other side all this is acknowledged yet in a little more latitude and godly prudence is let in for making up someâ—hing where there is not a deficiency suspected but no clear principles or rulâ—s revealed Pretended Heresies Divisions AS we should not go about to excuse or defend any errour clearly convicted so not to condemn any thing for errour which seems not to beare up equally to our received principles and here wee must observe that there are many who when the notion of errour or heresie is abroad are only Pentioners to the multitude and measure the errour or heresie by those that are for it or against it and are resolved however to write that way that they see the most condemn and these are such who though they do not kindle yet they blow the fire amongst us and I have observed that these do so overwrite a cause that at length they improve an errour and arme it more against the truth then it was before by charging things on the wrong side of it as we have seen of late and thus while we think to gain by letting in such a promiscuous stream of opposers we rather lose as in the case of some present controversies who coÌ„plain that they are rather oppressed then convinced and boâ—n down then writ down certainly that wch makes us on all sides so far from peace and issue or successe the more we dispute is our intemperancy and unnaturall heats in which we spend as much paper as in the cause it self and I am sure in some differences I could name the truth stands by while we wrangle beside it and the dust that we raise in arguing makes the truth lesse discernable and that which is considerable amongst us here is the exceeding prejudice received against difference of judgement and divisions not considering that it is Gods secret or engine for discovery as well of truth as errour and for advantaging the one as well as disadvantaging the other To instance in our late debates about Government it will appear that truth is improved and hath received advancement froÌ„ those very principles that seemed to oppose it and I am sure in the case of the Antinomians that errour about Free-grace hath drawn our Divines into more studying and preaching it then before and stating it clearer and the very Heresies almost of all times have accidentally 〈◊〉 advanced some particular Scripture truth And that very controversie about the Ministery received from Bishops hath brought forth some advantage amongst many of the godly even a deep humiliation because it came to us with a mark of the beast with it and let not any jealousie or fear of derogation or disparagement cause us to fold it up without any Nationall contrition or acknowledgement now in a season when we are laying new spirituall fundamentals as in that late Act for Ordination let the Prelates own designes of connivence whose principles dare not look the Light in the face Selfe indulgency with the right use of Heresies and Errours FIrst it is impossible but Heresies and Errours should be though there be a woe upon the Authors and Abettors so as one would think this prediction of Christ should coole us in the heat of our tumults about them and we should make no wonder at that which Christ hath prepared us so long before hand to receive yet here we should do as the Disciples did when their Lord had foretold them of a treachery to befall him every one said Master is it I this reflective disposition or selfe-jealousie I finde much wanting in many while every one rather â—its armed at his own door and will neither search his house himself nor suffer another to go in without opposition and thus all count their opinions truth and will not do so much as suspect their own judgements which was not the Disciples practice and so we are forced to confute one another while no man will confute himself and thus differences are inflamed And be it that the things we condemn for Heresies and Errours be so then there is this left us to work up to Gods designe in such cases and to turn them into advantages for the truth and such a work is next to Gods who takes in every sinne and distemper and makes it act something to his glorious ends He hath commanded light to shine out of darknesse Are they Anabaptists as they call them Let it provoke us to awaken the Scriptures more for what we do let us study the substance of the Covenant more let us study Scripture inference and deductions more let us study the correspodency of the Seals under both dispensations more and we shall gain this to be able to do what we do upon clearer and stronger principles Are they Brownists or Separatists as they call them Let it stir us up to look to our Fundamentall truths better to our Ministery to our Churches to our Practices and sure while these controversies involve us more into the Scriptures we shall only come forth more refined and clearer in judgement and practice and what we might possibly have taken in under the notion of Tradition or Authority and so have engaged our selves implicitely to the truths we professe we shall now give up unto God a more reasonable sacrifice Are they Antinomians as some cal them or these that cry down Law or duties Let us draw this advantage to seek out how the riches of Free grace are offered and how the Law is established by the Gospel and what power of it is annulled how Christ is to be advanced above all and how he is all in all and the true Fountain in whom our life is hid and that our being in him and he in us is the cause of all graces and duties in us and that our life now in grace ought to be in conformity to that we shall live hereafter in glory where being filled with Christ we shall only live to the obedience and praise of him for that work of justification and redemption we had by him and let us study to give duties their right origination order and end Prayer Repentance Obedience c. as grâ—â—â—s that flow from Christ into his and back again from his into Christ and that we interpret all Scriptures that concern either Christ or the Law or Sin or Obedience or Duty into the glory of God in Christ that all our conclusions may exalt him whom God had in designe only to exalt To be a Prince and a Saviour And thus we should drive on Gods ends more then we doe in making every thing serve his glory and our own edification and not dash
Prelacie Gods voice is upon the waters again Petitions upon Petitions from City and Countries for Reformation a mighty over-powring still in the voices and votes for Reformation both in the house and elsewhere Papists and popish cast out of Interest and place in the great Counsell the Prerogative losing many State-advantages and the Prelacy many Ecclesiastical The contrary designes of Jesuites and Prelates disappointed and all turned into designes for Religion and Liberty and Vnity with Scotland The severall plots defeated and discovered which were still countermining That of bringing up the Army from the North at first That of bringing the Cavaliers to the doors of the Parliament That of betraying the Militia of City and Parliament and surprizing all The several endeavours of betraying Cities Towns Arâ—iâ—s The corrupting Parliament Agents and getting interests in their severall counsels and forces The attempts of unclasping us into several parties The restoring a Parliament from the day of small things in the generall defeatures not long since The preserving the most famous City of London which hath been like Ezekiels potters house the place where all the wheels of Reformation moved And to all these an assembly of many godly and eminent men for repairing the Temple voting out Prelacy and Superstition in the places where they sate voting not long since to establish it with Oathes and Lawes The severall successe of Battels at Keinton Newbery York c. The Protestations and Covenants like heavenly cordage to fasten both Parliament and Kingdomes and make them the more stedfast and unmoveable in the work of the Lord The many severall preservations and successes of late as that of Newcastle Thus the supernaturall interest hath wrought and things have been as it were created and supported by that naked power and wisdome of God in Christ which carried on his Church with signes and wonders in the times of its first rising The spirituall Interest THe next interest I finde Reformation to have in this Kingdome is spirituall And first the many interrupted assayes formerly by godly Divines and others in the reign both Qu. Elizabeth and King James by Petition Treatises Dayes of prayer and seeking God the seed time of which light we now enjoy light is sown fâ—â— the righteous The many assemblings of private Christians in latter times their spirituall contributions then of prayer and humiliation And now the means of grace powred out so effectually in Preaching and prophesâ—ing and prayer amongst us The effectual door which is opened of late and a seeking to Sion with our faces thitherward The return of the banished persecuted godly The daily seekings to heaven in solemn humiliations The Gospel lightning from many Treatises Discourses Expositions The sending out labourers into the harvest the springing up of many young Prophets as if this generation were the Seminary for the next and to these spirituall subsidiaries in our own Kingdome the prayers and holy contributions of all other Reformed Churches of Germany Geneva New-England the Netherlands with the Churches in France and Scotland and low Ireland these all fall in with us into the spirituall designe of Reformation we are engaged in This spirituall interest reaches to every Ordinance of God to every ministâ—ation to every grace to every spirituall facultie or power that makes towards Heaven or God in this Kingdome or other reformed States This Interest is yet stronger in the Propheticall part of it the fifth Angel now pouring out his violl on the seat of the beast and here I dare follow Expositors to this That Babylon is falling in the near parts of it and for the time of the totall ruine the Prophesie runs strongly and the Interpreters too that is not much above six years To these the meltings and dissolvings of customes traditions superstitions for the day breaks and the shadowes fly away The enemies filling up the measure and Ephah by their daily sinnes idolatries and provocations The work of God upon Sion and Jerusalem or his people in the present waâ—s or tribulation The stâ—nding spirituall remedy of many godly Divines in the conjuncture of an Assembly who like Aaron and Hur hold up the hands of Moses The Politick or Civil Interest THe power and acting of the King or Supreme in a Kingdome Monarchically constituted as this would soon give the Reformation a powerfull and spreading Interest as we see in one Cyrus and Artaxerxes and Constantine and an Edward and Elizabeth therefore Princes are called nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to the Churches of Christ yet though we want this Interest for the present and the personall actings of a King yet wee have in the meane time a supplement a Parliamentary regall power of two Kingdomes A strong fundamentall in the work of Reformation and a power very agreeable to the constitution of both and very naturall for the propagating Reformation in this Kingdom and this improved by Associations and Covenants The present power armies and successe in most of the parts in this Kingdome but the West and yet some strong Interests there to The consideration with other Protestant States and Churches though I could wish it more the commotions and troubles abroad in Denmark in States of Italie Germanie Spain Francâ— whose engagements gives them not time to apply themselves to our disadvantages distractions God making them to hear a rumour of war in their own land Further Searchings I. Non-commâ—nion anâ— Excommunication SEeing there is such a difference amongst us concerning Non-communion and Excommunication that the first is not so proportionable and â—dequate and powerfull as the latter now that which may be considerable here is whether it appear an Ordinance or no and then all such consequences are saved and the objections are but imaginary for if it be an Ordinance and spititually strenghened and armed from Heaven it is all one whether you call it Non-communion or Excommunion nor is it the weaknesse of any thing on the worldly side of it that ought to make us prejudge it for no Ordinance because there may be an heavenly and spirituall supplement to make up whatsoever may be suspected in it II. Nationall and Congregationall That which makes the difference here is a disputing about the fittest subject for Church ordinances and we differ here in point of latitude and qualification for on the one side it is thought that a people nation◠〈…〉 the â—it recipiâ—nts of all th◠〈…〉 on the other side it 〈…〉 only congreâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—cipieâ—ts and 〈…〉 diâ—ference if we 〈…〉 we shall see that such qualiâ—â—â—ations are â—â—ated by both and such cautions as the Ordinances are but neither prostituted by the one nor the other but a due regard had to the predisposing and preaccommodating to the Ordinances which are of a pure and heavenly constitution Concerning the Model in Scriptures THat which makes the controversie here is the consideration of Gods way of policy at the first with his Church under the Tabernacle and Temple which were all so