all meets in Jesus Christ and there is nothing in him but what is lovely what may kindle Love draw Hearts captivate Souls If you dislike any thing in Christ if you harbour any Prejudice cherish any Objection against him it is because Satan hath blinded your Minds and cast a Veil over your Hearts 2 Cor. 4.4 5. 2dly O run to Jesus Christ Isa 55.5 Thâ—â— shalt call a nation thou knowest not and people that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God because of the holy one of Israel that hath glorified thee O will you not run to him who is the Seat of Beauty the Fountain of Honour the Treasury of all spiritual Riches the Subject and Centre of Life Will you not run to the Captain the Author the Wells of Salvation Hebr. 2.10 Hebr. 5.9 Isa 12.3 O will you not fly from Sin Satan and Eternal Death by running to Christ Is there any shadow from scorching Heat but Christ's Cant. 2.2 Any Wing to cover you from Birds of Prey but his Psal 36.7 Any Fold to protect you from Beasts of Prey bâ—â— Christ's Fold John 10.9 He that enters by me that is into the Fold shall be saved 〈◊〉 Sinners can give no Reason why they wilâ— Dye Ezek. 18.31 surely they can give â— Reason why they should not run to Jesâ—â— Christ That Text Isa 55.5 affords cogent Arguments mighty Reasons why we should run to him 1. God is his God If ever we would have any comfortable Knowledge of God any honourable Relation to God any sweet Communion with God we must run to Jesus Christ God is only to be found and enjoyed in Christ Will you cut your selves off Will you estrange your selves for ever from God Will he not be a satisfying and an everlasting Portion when all other Comforts fail all other Friends forsake all our Lamps are put out 2. God the Father hath glorified him He hath exalted him And shall we depress debase him and keep him still in a state of Humiliation Hath the Father given him a Throne in Heaven and shall we deny him one in our Hearts Are Angels Principalities and Powers made subject to him 1 Pet. 3.32 and shall we lift up our selves against him Do the noblest Creatures worship at his Footstool and execute his Commands and shall we reject his Yoke affront his Authority and trample his Laws under our Feet Is Christ glorified and will you despise and slight him Is not a glorified Redeemer worthy of our Love Praise and Obedience Shall vile and dunghil Objects draw away our Affections and a glorified Saviour be denied our Hearts Would we not commend our Spirits to him at last and shall we not give our Hearts to him now Prov. 23.26 Shall our last Act be our first Gift to Jesus Christ Wilt thou commend thy Soul to Christ only when thou canst keep it no longer in the Body Is it not dreadful for a Glorified Christ with his Omnipotent Arm to fall on thee for Destruction Is it not desirable that a Glorified Christ by his Almighty Power should draw thee up to him for Salvation 3. Kiss the Son Psal 2. last this is a spiritual Act of Homage 1 Sam. 10.1 Samuel did anoint and kiss Saul thereby recognizing his Authority and obliging himself to Obedience and Subjection to him as his Sovereign The Promise is the Mouth of Christ and Faith is the Mouth of the Soul and when the Mouth of Faith is applied to the Mouth of Christ in the Promise then we give Christ a spiritual Kiss when Christ speaks and offers himself we should come in with our Amen of Faith 2 Cor. 1.20 to the word of him who is the Amen and the faithful witness Rev. 3.14 our Obedience and Subjection to Christ should not be seigned or forced but begin in a faithful and loving Kiss to him that is Love it self Cant. 3.5 when Christ applies his Words and Promises of Grace to us then he kisses us with the kisses of his Mouth Cant. 1.2 when we apply our Mouth of Faith to Christ's Word of Grace when we sincerely declare our Assent and Consent to it then we kiss Christ 4. We must press into the Kingdom of Christ as it were force a Passage into it and take it by violence Luke 16.16 Matth. 11.12 we must have a Room a Place in Christ's Kingdom he must reign over us or else Sin Death and the Devil will reign over us We must enter into Christ's Palace or be shut up in his Prison we must press into Christ's Kingdom that we may avoid a future eternal Storm of Vengeance Those that are hungry and famishing will force into a place where there is Plenty of Bread Poor necessitious Soldiers will storm will break into a rich City with the hazard of their Lives and shall we not be urgent to get into Christ's Kingdom where there is a Royal Feast a sweet Rest unsearchable and eternal Riches if you are not Christ's you will be Satan's Do you not fear to see God's frowning face to feel his punishing hand to drop into the bottomless Pit to be cast into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone for ever Be not cold or indifferent whether you get into Christs's Kingdom or no. Do not content your selves with loose hopes ungrounded and presumptuous Confidences lukewarm and lazy Endeavours It is said the Gentiles should fall down to the Church and make Supplication to her that is to prevail with her to be admitted and received by her into the Kingdom of Christ it is further foretold Zech. 8. last That ten men of all Languages of the Nations should take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew and so is a True Believer and a spiritual Worshipper and say we will go with you for we have heard that God is with you They would not be put by they would not be shaken or cast off they resolved they would join themselves to the Church of God and not be excluded kept or thrust out It is said the Gentiles should flow as waters to God's Holy Mountain Is 2.23 and should fly as clouds and as doves to their windows Isa 60.8 this expresses serious earnest and spiritual Violence 5. That you may be thus Earnest you must desire Christ to cast chains of Light and Love about you to subdue conquer and overcome you Isa 45.14 it is promised that the Gentiles should come over aâ—â— come after the Church in Chains Christ must fasten those Chains on and about the Souls of Sinners and draw them that they may run after him Cant. 1.4 though Christ's Name be as a fragrant Ointment Cant. 1.3 as a strong perfume though there be a drawing Beauty Excellency Treasure Love in Christ yet all these will not prevail without an Almighty and drawing Arm such is out averseness and perverseness It is prophesied of Christ That he should subdue the Peoples and the Nations under the Feet of the Church Psal 47.3 so
into the Kingdom of Christ Col. 1.14 We are born in Satan's Kingdom as our Country and Natural Soil but by Grace we are led forth as a Colony into the Kingdom of Christ which is to a natural Man a strange Land and a new Soil But how are Men translated into the Kingdom of Christ surely it is by effectual Calling and Regeneration We are called as rational Creatures and we are regenerated as corrupt and impotent Creatures God is said to call us to his Kindom and Glory 1 Thes 2.12 Except a Man be born again he cannot see he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God John 3.3.5 He cannot see or understand that there is such a Kingdom or be willing to enter into it or be fitted to enjoy the Benefits and Blessings of it As Children must be born to be the Subjects of Earthly Kings so Men must be re-born to be the Subjects of the Heavenly King This is for the Honour and Glory of Christ's Kingdom that none can pass into it but by Regeneration Those that are the genuine and true Citizens of Zion and Members of the Church are said to be born there Ps 87.4 6. Those that God writes up as Citizens of Zion are such as are born there God's Register and the Church's Roll or Catalogue do many times much differ The Church owns those for her Children that God doth not acknowledge for his Sons and Daughters The Church takes in those that God will turn out God will repute none his Jewels call none his own but they that are born again of his Word and Spirit Mal. 3.17 1 Pet. 1.23 John 3.6 And indeed How can Men possibly be Subjects in God's Kingdom except they have spiritual Minds converted Wills heavenly Affections A vain Mind a carnal Heart will only flatter and lye to Christ Matth. 3.2 Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Men cannot be Subjects in or Heirs of the Kingdom of God without Faith and Repentance The good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom Matth. 13.35 Those that receive the Word are begotten by the Word of Truth John 1.18 that have it rooted in their Souls spreading and prevailing in their Hearts these are good Seed Jesus Christ doth not only sow Doctrinal Truths but living Christians He begets Sons and Daughters to God by the Word they are changed by and born of the Word and so are called Seed That Word is styled the Good Word Heb. 6.5 and they that are born of it are therefore called Good Seed Divine Chrysostom a Grecian Orator in one of his Orations derides the Folly of the Grecians that did call that one Man's Statue which was carved to resemble and set up to the Honour of another There was no new carving of or alteration in the Statue but only the Title of it was changed And do Men so easily pass out of the Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of Christ only by the changing of a Name No there must be another kind of Alteration There must not only be a new Name but a new Heart a new Nature Ezek. 36.26 2 Pet. 1.4 O descend into your Hearts What Experience have you of the Work of the Spirit in dethroning Satan and inthroning Christ in your Hearts destroying the Kingdom of Sin and exalting the Kingdom of God Consult your own Souls about this Can you be totally ignorant of it if such a change hath been made in you Doth not every one take notice of publick Revolutions in Government if one Prince dye or be deposed and another succeed and be set up in his Place And hath there been so great a spiritual Revolution in thy Soul hath Satan been cast out and hath Christ entred to dwell and rule in thy Heart and hast thou no knowledge of it Hast thou no experience of a new light set up in thy Mind a new Byass put upon thy Will new Motions raised in thy Affections towards spiritual and supernatural Objects 3dly Are the Laws of this Holy King and of this Heavenly Kingdom writ in thy Heart according to that promise of the new Covenant Jer. 31.33 I will write my laws in their hearts and put them into their inner parts This is the Glory of Christ that he writes his Laws in the Table of the Mind and Will 2 Cor. 3.3 His Subjects not only know but love and ask his Laws Their Obedience to them is not forced or feigned but they obey from the Heart Rom. 6.17 They delight in the Law of God according to the inward Man Rom. 7.22 God's Subjects are thus described That the Law of God is in their Hearts It is not an urging Letter without but a vital Principle within Psal 37.31 The law of his God is in his heart and Isa 51.7 Hearken unto me ye that know righteousness the People in whose heart is my law Christ plants such Dispositions such Inclinations as are suitable and agreeable to the Law of God and may be styled a counter pâ—â—t of it and do answer to it Psal 119.112 I have enclined my heart to perform thy Statutes always even to the end This is a writing that doth exact and ennoble the Table thâ—â— is the Subject of it And this is an high Act of Grace when God doth not only write his Laws to us but in us Do you approve allow delight in the Laws of God Do your Souls break for the Longings yee have to and after them that they might be more revealed to you and impressed on you Psal 119.20 4thly Are you led by the Spirit of the King Rom. 8.9 14. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his As many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Seâ—â— of God This is a wonderful and a great Mystery that the Spirit of the King is in his Subjects and they all make but one mystical Body and the Spirit is as the Soul that animates this Body Were ever King and Subjects so nearly linked united related to each other Christ is not only a politick Head that gives Laws but as a natural Head that giveth Life The Spirit that influenced Christ acts them the Spirit that resides in Christ dwells also in them The People of Christ must needs therefore be a free and willing People Do not the Members of the natural Body without Regret or Reluctancy obey the Dictates of the Head How powerful yet how easie and sweet is the Government of the Head over the Members Christ's Spirit doth not only teach and direct but powerfully bend and encline the Will to walk yea to run in the way of God's Commandments Psal 119.32 Saints do not desire the way to Heaven to be made broader but their Hearts to be made larger to have their light and love encreased The Spirit is styled A Spirit of Revelation Ephes 1.17 A Spirit of Life Rom 8.2 A Free Spirit Psal 51.12 A Spirit that makes us free and forward in our Obedience We are not only
on his Holy Hill of Zion Psal 2.4 5 6. And Christ did reign over his Enemies full fore against their Wills They designed and endeavoured to break Christ's Bands in sunder but Christ did break them with his Rod of Iron and dash them to pieces as a Potter's Vessel Psalm 2.9 The Jews persecuted Christ's Apostles and Servants and sent many of them to Heaven on this Message and Errand to tell Christ how the Jews are bent against his Kingdom and would not have Christ to reign over them Luke 19.14 yet Jesus Christ did gather subdue and convert many of their Nation to be his Subjects and as for the Body of the People that continued in their Unbelief and Disobedience this Glorious King sent forth his Armies that is the Romans and destroyed them and bunt up their City Mat. 22.7 And at the last Day he will severely sentence and punish the Rebellious Luke 19.27 As for these mine enemies that would not have me to rule over them bring them before me and let them be slain in my presence Though they do not allow Christ a Throne in their Souls yet Christ will erect his Tribunal and sit 〈◊〉 Judgment on all that oppose and stand oâ—â— against him Where Grace doth not reign Justice will reign If Christ doth not coedemn and execute Sin in us he will condemâ— and execute us Either Satan's Works and Lusts must be crushed and destroyed in us or we must be cut off and perish for ever Those that Christ doth not prune he will fell those that he is not a refining Fire to he will be a consuming Fire if the Old Man be not pierced and wounded by Christ's Arrows the Souls of Men must be Christ's Mark and feel the edge and point of his glittering Sword If Christ doth not rule to save Men he will rule to destroy them The Civil Law mentions some Malefactors that are called * Vid. Paciamin 1 Lib. institut Tit. 12. Sect. 6. Servi Poenae such as were condemn'd to row at the Oar or to dig in the Mines because they did not obey the Law and live honestly they were subjected to hard Service and did live miserably So those that are not Subjects to Christ as a King shall be Servants of Punishment they shall serve the Glory of God's Power and Justice in their eternal Misery and Sufferings 5thly Consider the Nature and Advantages of the Kingdom of Christ There are sweet Fruits of the Kingdom of Grace and there are enriching Benefits of the Kingdom of Glory It was prophesied of Christ as a King That Men should be blessed in him and Nations should call him Blessed What a Glory is this to Jesus Christ that Men are blessed and shall bless themselves in this King that ever they were conquered by the Sword of his Word that ever they were brought under the Scepter of his Grace They shall rejoyce that ever they were bound with the Cords of his Doctrine and Laws and subjected to the Yoke of his Government They call their King Blessed that is raised above the reach and rage of all his Enemies and is now victorious and triumphant over them that reigns so righteously so peaceably so prosperously that dethrones Sin and Satan and inthrones God in the Souls of Men that preserves his People from sinking into an extremity of Misery and exalts them to possess an eternal Felicity They call him Blessed that hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him and that hath the Key of Hell and Death Matth. 28.18 Rev. 1.18 that hath such an unbounded Empirt and so large and such an extensive Kingdom hath power over all Flesh that he might give eternal Life to as many as the Father hath given him John 17.2 and is made Head over all things to the Church Ephes 1.22 that nothing may hinder the Salvation or obstruct the Happiness but all things may promote the Good and Welfare of the Church 1st Consider who Jesus Christ is He 〈◊〉 God's Righteous Servant Isa 53.11 and he Well-beloved Son Matth. 3.17 Is it not better to be in the Kingdom of God's Righteous Servant than to be under the power of a wicked hardned obstinate Rebel Is it not more desireable to be translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son Col. 1.13 than to be at the beck and command of God's bitter Enemy and implacable Adversary Christ the Son of God by nature grants the Privilege of Adoption to all his Subjects John 1.12 This is such a Mercy as no Son of an earthly King vouchsafes to his Subjects 2dly Jesus Christ reigns to do Right to God and to establish his Throne in the Souls of Men. He was designed to raise up those that fell off from God and sunk into Ruine Isa 49.6 Christ is God's Servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob and to bring back those that were gone astray from God Isa 49.5 and to restore such as were alienated from God Isa 49.6 Christ retrieves recovers God's Right he establishes his own Throne by Justice and Judgment Isaiah 9.7 and he is said to execute Justice and Judgment in the Earth Jer. 23.5 Christ executes Justice in restoring and giving back to God that which is his own and he executes Judgment in destroying Satan's Works and Lusts 1 John 3.8 in mortisying the vile Affections of Sinners This was one great Benefit of the Jubilee that the Servant returned to his Family Levit. 25.10 He that was alienated from his Father and served Strangers now returned to do his Duty and rendered Obedience to his Parents Even so Jesus Christ restores Men to God's Family and grants unto them as a great Favour and Privilege that they may serve him without slavish Fear of Destruction in Holiness and Righteousness all the Days of their Lives Luke 1.74 75. Yea Christ restores the Creatures unto God The Subjects of Christ use them purely they did not feed and fuel their Lusts with them but receive them with thanksgiving as their Father's Goods and Gifts and use them to strengthen and support them in the Lord's Work and Service It is a great perverting abusing inslaving the Creatures when they victual Satan's Garrisons and feed his Soldiers But then the Creatures are rescued from Bondage when they nourish God's Priests and feed his Worshippers 3dly Those that are in Christ's Kingdom are nearly related to him and to each other 1. They are nearly related to Christ They are his Seed and Children Isa 53.10 He shall see his seed Behold I and the Children whom God hath given me Isa 8.18 Jesus as a second Adam as an everlasting Father begets them Isa 9.6 He is made Sanctification to them 1 Cor. 1.30 They receive of his fulness Grace for Grace Jâ—â—s 1.16 They are Christ's Brethren Psal 22.22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren He is not ashamed to call them Brethren Hebr. 2.11 They are the Lamb's Wife Rev. 19.7 They are the Members of Christ Ephes 5.30 We are members of
hoâ— great and mighty a King is Jesus Christ that threatens so powerful and victorious a King as Death is How long hath Death reigned and how large an Empire hath it had in the World it is said Rom. 5.14 Death reigned from Adam to Moses yea we may extend the duration of its Kingdom further it hath reigned from the Fall of the first Adam to this day and how many conquered Subjects hath it had 1 Cor. 15.22 in Adam all died Death is such a King as shakes its Black Rod over and brandishes it 's sharp and glittering Sword against the whole World it hath threatned arrested and cut off the Greatest Kings and Conquerors it hath been very Terrible to them that by Oppression Violence and Cruelty caused their Terrour in the Land of the Living Ezek. 32.23 none of the Kings of the World can prevent the Fatal stroke of Death on themselves much less can they divert it from their Subjects but Christ is such a King as combates with Death and overcomes it he tasted Death indeed himself once Heb. 2.9 but it was to abolish it 2 Cor. 1.10 he became a Subject to it for a time that he might swallow it up for ever and be a Lord over the dead to raise them up Rom. 14.9 and rescue them from this Enemy And how strong yet how sweet are these Words of Christ I will be the plague of death I will be a Discase yea a mortal Disease to kill Death it self and Grave I will be thy destruction Christ fulfills his threatning when he seeks out the Dust of his People and forms it up into a Body this defeats and disanuls the Victory of the Grave that it may be said O Grave where is thy victory though thou didst corrupt putresie and dissolve our Bodies thâ—â— thou didst devour our Flesh and crumble it into Dust and take away the very shape of a Body yet we have new Bodies formed and organized again and when these Bodies shall receive their Souls and be quickened by them then it may be said O death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55 What haâ—â— thou gotten by stinging and killing our Bodies behold they are alive again Theâ—e is a Day when the Lord will make upâ—â— Jewels Malachy 3.17 And then God's Jewels are made up when immortal Souls shall be joined to and set in the Rings of Glorious Bodies Christ is such a King as will conform all his Subjects to himself both is Soul and Body When he regenerates the Soul then it bears the Image of the second Adam when he raises the Body this is â—s proper Regeneration to be begotten and born from the dead as Christ was Col. 1 1â— Revel 1.5 When old Adam's Tenour is out and quite abolished when Christ bâ— his Spirit quickens the Body Rom. 8.11 then it bears the Image of the Heavenly Adam and is held of him 1 Cor. 15.49 Saints are the Children of God as they are the Children of the Resurrection Luke 20. â—6 This is a new Ground and Reason why they should be called the Children of God the Seed of Christ When Saints awake out of the Dust they shall be satisfied with God's likeness Psal 17.15 When they are begotten again into a lively Hope 1 Pet. 1.3 4. they bear God's Image in their Souls but when they shall be raised or be begotten from the dead then they shall also bear Christ's Image in their Bodies and so shall be satisfied with the Image of Christ as an Everlasting Father O what a precious Merby What an incomparable Priviledge is this that Jesus Christ will not forget or reject our Dust for ever but seek it out and form it up as an Habitation for our Souls and an everlasting Temple for his Spirit to dwell in 8thly Jesus Christ is such a King as will gather and draw up all his sincere Subjects to him to be with him for ever 1 Thes 4.17 As he receives their Souls in a dying Hour Psal 49.15 Acts. 7.59 so he will come again to revive their Bodies and then he will receive their whole Man to himself John 14.3 What wonderful Grace and Kindness is this that where the Master is there the Servant shall also be John 12.20 That the Sheep shall for ever dwell with the great Shepherd and all the Subjects of this Glorious King shall abide with him and see his Glory so as to share in it and partake of it John 17.24 2 Thes 2.14 Christ the King is the Harbinger and Forerunner of his Subjects Hebr. 6.20 He is gone into another World to choose an Eternal Inheritance for his Brethren Psal 47.4 He shall choose our Inheritance for us And Christ by interceeding with his Father that his People may be with him doth prepare a Place for them John 17.24 John 14.2 3. Christ's Intercession is so powerful that it cannot be deny'd I would now give you some Counsels and Directions that you may stay and continâ—e in this Kingdom and not be gathered 〈◊〉 of it and deprived of the Blessedness and Glory of it 1st O come forth and see King Solomâ—â— Cant. 3.11 This King Solomon is King Jesus he hath made him a rich and gloriâ—â— Chariot to ride forth in and to visit Kingdoms Nations and People The Gospel as preached in the World is the Spirituâ—â— Chariot that Christ sits in and the whâ—â— Horse he rides on Rev. 6.2 The Church in her Ministers may be and is comparâ—â— to the Horses in Pharaoh's Chariot Cant â— 9 The Church by her Ministers do's drâ—â— Jesus Christ about the World O consider this the Gospel is not fixed to one Nation the Chariot of Christ is moving and may quickly pass by us and be gone from us It is a great Mercy that Christ's Chariots come to us that he appears among us O slight not the Opportunity neglect not the Day of Grace Come sorth from your Ignorance and Night of Darkness come forth from your slight low and contemptible Thoughts of Christ O fix the Eye of your Minds on him look with a steady Eye on Christ John 6.40 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We should contemplate the Son our Minds should dwell on him we should not content our selves with seldom and transient Glances on Christ but our Thoughts should be conversant about Christ Do we not need Christ Is he not absolutely necessary for us Must we not wander if Christ doth not guide us and fall if he doth not support us and be a Prey to Satan if he doth not guard and protect us Must we not famish if he doth not feed us and perish if he doth not fold us And be Friendless and Harbourless at last if he doth not receive us How will you look Death or the Judge in the Face if you do not first see Christ and his Salvation O view and look well on Christ Is there any thing in him to be disliked to be excepted against Is he not altogether lovely Cant. 5.16 Whatever is desireable
that they shall bow at the Feet of the Church and worship God at her Feet as her Disciples and Children Revel 3.9 And we cannot be subdued to Christ if our Iniquities are not subdued Micah 7.19 Christ cannot rule over us if Sin do reign in us the Law of Christ and the Law of Sin are contrary and inconsistent 6. We must openly own and avow Christ and most strongly engage our selves to him 1. We must openly own confess and avow Christ It is prophesied of Egypt That there should be an Altar to the Lord in the midst of the Land and also a Pillar at the Border to declare to all That Egypt was converted to and become a Worshipper of the Lord Isa 19.19 Those that stood with the Lamb on Mount Zion had their Father's Name written in their Forehead Rev. 14.1 Cyprian saith That when Christians were apprehended they did not deny but confess'd themselves Christians always to the danger and sometimes to the loss of their Lives 2. We must most solemnly and strongly engage our selves to the Lord. It is said That the Egyptians should swear to the Lord Isa 19.18 and so as it were take an Oath of spiritual Allegiance to Christ Psal 119.106 I have sworn and I will perform it that I will keep thy righteous judgments Another remarkable Expression we find Isa 44.5 One shall say I am the Lord 's another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord. Converts should as it were draw Indentures and give it under Hand and Seal That they would be the Lord's Servants That they would not start recoil or go back from him Jer. 50.4 5. Let us join our selves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten As a bought a redeemed People they are devoted and consecrated as First-fruits to God and the Lamb never to be alienated or put to a common use any more Revel 14.4 7. We must daily grow in Grace and be adding new Cubits to our spiritual Stature 2 Pet. 1.5 The new Creature must as a Tree spread and strike its Roots deeper into our Souls Hos 14.5 The Water that Christ gives us must as a Well spring up higher and higher in our Souls John 4.14 Worldly Men are still coveting more Earthly Treasure to add House to House and to join Field to Field that they might be placâ—â— alone in the Earth Isa 5.8 And is theâ—â— not more reason that we should add Grace to Grace one degree of Grace to another that Christ and the new Creature might be placed alone in our Souls without Rivâ—'ss Competitors or Enemies By growth iâ— Grace we pass and get farther into Christ's Kingdom we have an abundant Entrance into it we press even into the very Heart and Centre of Christ's Kingdom and do not stay in the Out skirts and Borders of it God hath promised to Christ the encrease and enlargement of his Kingdom Isa 9.7 with Zech. 9.10 And 〈◊〉 we restrain and straiten the Kingdom of Christ As this Stone grows and fills the Earth without Dan. 2.35 so it should increase and sill the Soul within It was prophesied of Christ That he should reign and prosper Jer. 23.5 That he should ride forth conquering and to conquer Revel 6.2 Let these Prophecies be fulfilled in thee do not stint stop or bound Christ's Kingdom in thy Soul 8. We must be diligent active industrious Servants Trade with Christ's Talents improve his Stock increase his Pounds Our Lord that is gone into a far Country yet hath disposed his Goods hath bestowed Gifts on his Servants and enjoined every one his Work Mark 13.34 with Luke 19.13 15. Christ would have no idle no lazy no droneish Servant in his House All these Talents and Gifts are bestowed that we might act for Christ enlighten and draw in others to Christ promote and advance his Kingdom and encrease the number of his Subjects Our Candle of Knowledge should tind and light many other Candles Our Fire of Love and Zeal should warm and inflame many others While the Church gave a Character of Christ's Worth a Description of his Beauty Cant. 5.9 10 11 12 13. the Daughters of Jerusalem apprehended and conceived that he was some extraordinary Person one transcendantly Excellent that she had such fervent Love to him and did so earnestly enquire after him And this so wrought on them that their Hearts did burn with desires after Christ and they would seek him with the Church Cant. 6.1 We should say as the godly Jews Cant. 8.8 We have a little sister that hath no breasts What shall we do that is to promote a Marriage between Christ and her in the day she shall be spoken for and be wooed to be espoused to Christ The Church promises she would cause Christ's Name to be remembred in all Generations that is by the preaching of the Word and thereby bringing forth a Holy Seed to continue and perpetuate Christ's Name in the World Psal 72.17 His name shall be continued for ever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jinnon that is his Name shall have Sons Thou art concerned in and bound by this Promise Every true Member of the Church is obliged by it to do what he can to propogate Christ's Interest to promote his Kingdom and continue his Name in the World 9. We must be willing to suffer for the Kingdom of God 2 Thes 1.5 The Apostle John joins the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ Revel 1.9 but Paul joins the Kingdom and Glory of God 1 Thes 2.11 First we must pass through the Kingdom and Patience of Christ before we pass into the Kingdom and Glory of God We cannot enter into and continue in the Kingdom of Christ but the World will hate and persecute us John 8.14 I have given them thy word and they have received it and the world hath hated them Saints suffered so freely so willingly so joyfully for the Kingdom of Christ that the World was amazed Cyprian tells us That Christians when their Enemies offered to apprehend them they did not resist when they asked them of their Religion they did not tell a Lye or deny their Faith they took joyfully the spoiling of Goods Heb. 10.34 rejoyced that they were counted worthy to be beaten for Christ Acts 5.41 If they were to be offer'd up to confirm the Faith of others and to evidence their own Faith they did rejoyce Phil. 2.17 They endured exquisite Torments with such undaunted Courage and such unrelenting Spirits that Natural Men would rather have denied things clear by mathematical Demonstrations than have exposed themselves to such Tortures As * In his Preface to his Disputations on Thomas Aquinas Medina truly affirms 10. You must lead Holy Lives your Light must shine before Men Matth. 5.16 you must hold forth the Excellency Power and Efficacy of the Word in your Actions Phil. 2.6 when Paul had asserted his Faith that he did believe a Resurrection of the just and the unjust he presently declares the Fruit
of this Truth Acts 24.15 16. In this I exercise my self to keep a Conscience void of offence both toward God and man he did act and practise according to this Truth it had a prevailing Influence on his Heart a commanding Anthority over his Actions you must much converse with God here Psal 139.17 when I am awake I am ever with thee and how fitly do those Two Expressions agree Devid was ever with the Lord on Earth and Paul saith Christians should be ever with the Lord in Heaven 1 Thes 4.17 there must be a walking with God on Earth Gen. 8.24 Enoch walked with God and God took him and why did God take him and for what End was it not to walk with him in Heaven Rev. 3.4 those that had not defiled their Garments should walk with Christ in white we must shine as lights in this world Phil. 2.15 that hereafter we may shine a the sun in the king dom of our Father Matth. 13.43 Jesus Christ must be glorified in us now John 17.10 I am glorified in them that we may be assured he will be glorified and admired in us hereafter 2 Thes 1.10 when he will be revealed from Heaven he will be glorified in his Saints and be admired in them the believe Christians must not be like the Heathen Philosophers Athenagoras in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Apology for the Christians charges theâ— that they sought and aimed at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Art of Words but not a Demonstration of Works but he saith that Christian Handicrafts-men and Old Women that could not discourse for their Religion did yet demonstrate its Excellency in their Works When they were beaten they would not strike again when they were wronged in their Estates they would not go to Law they would pray for them that persecuted them and love those that hated them 11. Consider how great Guilt you will contract and what hateful and abominable Creatures you will be if you reject the Word of the Kingdom and enter not into it Christ bid his Disciples to shake off the Dust of their Feet against such Luke 10.9 10 11. for a Testimony against them They that refuse the Gospel of the Kingdom and turn away from the King of Glory are such unclean Creatures that Christ's Ministers were not to defile themselves or their Feet by carrying away any of their Dust but to shake it off and leave it as a witness there that Christ's Ambassadors had been there had preached to them and been rejected by them This very Dust should remain with them to testifie and give in Evidence against them in the great Day that they would not open their Ears to Christ speaking in his Ministers but obstinately hardened their Hearts both against the Master and the Servants against the Lord and his Subjects Tasâ— heed therefore that you reject not him that speaks from Heaven Be jealous over your own Souls that you receive not the Doctrine of Grace the Word of the Kingdom in vain 2 Cor. 6.2 as the Highway the stony and thorny Ground did Let Christ's Word root in your Hearts shine and reign in your Lives Do not think to blind your Eyes stupifie your Consciences and cheat your own Souls with an outside Religion Great was the Sin of Ananias and Saphira that pretended to devote the whole Price that they sold their Land for to the Service of Christ and his Church yet kept back part of it and so lied to God and tempted the Holy Gâ—oâ—â— Acts 5.3 9. O do not dare to tread in their Steps Will you tempt Christ and his Spirit whether they are omniscient Or try whe ther you cannot put a Fallacy or Cheat oâ— them Will you make a costly and dangerous Experiment whether they cannot find out your base Metal your counterfeit Coin your hypocritical Services Though you pretend to know God Hos 8.2 yet without sincerity Christ will not approve and know you Matth. 7.23 Let not Christ's Word be received only into your Memories but let Christ himself be entertained in your Hearts to order your Affections and direct your Conversations If you do not opeâ— to Christ your Hearts below he will not 〈◊〉 pen to you his Heaven above 4. Use For Caution Take heed you do not rashly judge and hastily pass a Censure on the Kingdom of Christ and on the Church of God Turks Jews and Heathens that see the loose and wicked Lives of some Christians do presently condemn all Christians as if there were no sincere Piety powerful Religion or Beauty of Holiness among them and thereby take an advantage to reproach Christ himself and to reflect on his Gospel as if it did allow and he did approve such things When as Christ loveth Righteousness and hates Iniquity Psal 45.67 He forbids all Sin he dislikes and abhors all Iniquity Matth 22.10 11. Friend how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment Christ hath spoken plainly enough Except a man be born again unless Men repent and be converted John 3.3 5. Matth. 18.3 they cannot enter into the kingdom of God That without Holiness Men shall not see God Hebr. 12.14 These Instructions and warnings of Christ are plain yet many presume and thrust into the Church of God and give the Lye to Jesus Christ as if they should live in Glory though they be dead in Sin and see God though they are â—oid and utterly destitute of Holiness But â—â—ere will shortly be an end of all their Preâ—â—â—ptions and ungrounded Confidences of 〈◊〉 their deceitful and treacherous Hopes and those that stumble at the seandalous Persons that are in the Church let them wait but a little and these Spots shall be washed off from the Face these Wens these gangreen'd Limbs shall be cut off from the Body of the Church this Dross shall be pâ—â— away for ever Jesus Christ hath a shaip Sickle to cut those Tares Rev. 14.14 An Ax to hew down those barren Trees a Fan to purge his Floor a Furnace 〈◊〉 unquenchable Fire to burn up the Chaff Matth. 3.12 The Goats and the Sheep go in the same Pasture in the Day-time bâ— when the Evening comes there is a Separation the Goats go to their Penn and â—e Sheep to their Fold So Jesus Christ when he comes to judge the World shall separate the Goats and Sheep Matth. 25.31 32 Though they are now in the same visible Church yet Jesus Christ shall part them and set the Sheep on his Right-hand and the Goâ— on his Left Christ will disown Hypocrites and exclude them out of his Glory He wilâ— own the Sincere and call them to inherit 〈◊〉 Kingdom Matth. 25.34 Do not rashly judge those to be related to Christ that will be rejected by him They that Feign that Flatter that Lye to Josus Christ will be detected and abhorred by him his Eyes wil be as a flaming Fire to discover them and his Wrath will be as a consuming Fire to bum them up But then the true Church of Christ shall be as a Bride adorned for her Husband Revel 21.2 She shall shine with beautiful Holiness and glorious Righteousness and be without spot and wrinkle Ephes 5.25 26 27. mete to be presented and fit to be married to Christ and to be an Object of his Love for Christ to rejoice in and delight himself with to Eternity Then shall there be no more a pricking Briar a wounding or piercing Thorn no stinking Weeds no empty Vines no barren Fig-Trees in the Garden of God Nothing shall any longer desorm or defile the Church The People of the Church shall be all righteous the Branch of God's planting the Work of his Hands that he may be glorified Isa 60.21 The Image of God shall be fully drawn on them the Law of God shall be perfectly transcribed into them no Fooesteps of Sin shall remain on them no dross of Corruption shall cleave to them they shall be transformed by the perfect renewing of their Minds Then they will appear as Trees of Righteousness Isa 61.3 and bear all pleasant Fruits and the chief of Spices Cant. 4.13 14. And those that have flourish'd in God's Nursery below for a time they shall at last be transplanted into and so grow in the Heavenly Paradise for ever FINIS Advertisement These BOOKS are Published the Author of this Book 1. THE Great Duty of Christiâ— to go forth without the Caâ— to Jesus Set forth in several Sermâ— on Hebr. 13.13 2. Supplication to the Sovereâ— Judge The Duty of the best Mâ— Set forth in several Sermons 〈◊〉 Job 9.15 3. A Discourse in several Sermâ— on the 1 Peter 3.19 By which also went and preached unto the Spirits Prison