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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93085	Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances, and appointments, the best means to preserve our liberty. Together with a treatise of ineffectual hearing the word; how we may know whether we have heard the same effectually: and by what means it may be come effectual unto us. With some remarkable passages of his life. By Tho. Shephard, late pastor of the Church of Christ in Cambridge in New-England. Now published by Mr. Jonathan Michell pastor of the said church in New England.	Shepard, Thomas, 1605-1649.; Mitchel, Jonathan, 1624-1668.	1652 (1652)	Wing S3141; Thomason E1245_2; ESTC R209199	106,113	223

Lord negligently and therefore spending usually two or three whole dayes in preparing for the work of the Sabbath and having his sermons finished upon friday night He hath sometime exprest himself thus in publicke God will curse that mans labours that lumbers up and down in the world all the week and then upon Saturday in the afternoon goes to his study when as God knows that time were little enough to pray and weep in and to get his heart in frame c. He affected plainenesse together with power in preaching not seeking abstrusities nor liking to hover and soare aloft in dark expressions and so to shoot his arrowes as many Preachers do over the heads of his hearers It is a wretched stumbling block to some that his Sermons are somewhat strict and as they terme it legal some souls can relish none but meal-mouth'd Preachers who come with soft and smooth and toothles words byssina verba byssinis viris But these times need humbling Ministeries and blessed be God that there are any for where there are no Law-Sermons there will be few Gospel-lives and were there more Law-peaching in England by the men of gifts there would be more Gospel-walking both by themselves and the People To preach the Law not in a forc'd affected manner but wisely and powerfully together with the Gospel as Christ himself was wont to do Mat. 5. and elsewhere is the way to carry on all three together sense of misery the application of the remedy and the returnes of thankfulnesse and duty Nor is any doctrine more comforting then this humbling way of God if rightly managed It is certain the foundations of after-sorrowes and ruines to the Church have ever been laid in the dayes of her prosperity and peace and rest when she injoyes all her pleasant things This the watchmen of Israel should foresee and therefore what should they do but seek to humble and awaken and search and melt mens hearts and warne every one night and day with teares that in the day of their peace they may not sinne away the things of their Peace There are therefore three requests which we would desire to beg of God with bended knees for England to perpetuate the present prosperity and peace thereof and let us commend them to the mourning and praying ones amongst us that they would be the Lords remembrancers in these Petitions I. A right understanding and sober use of liberty For when People come first out of bondage they are apt to be not only somewhat fond of their liberties but to wax giddy and wanton with liberty and instead of shaking off the bloody yokes of men to cast off at least in part the Government and blessed yoke of Christ also Hence it comes about that a day of rest from persecution which should be a day of liberty to the Saints to serve God may become a day of great seduction and of liberty to seducing Spirits to deceive and damne and mislead them from the truthes and wayes of God But the machinations of men though in conjunction with the powers and gates of hell shall certainly fall at last before Truth and Prayer And of this is the first Treatise which is seasonably publish't To be fast bound to the rule with all the bonds and cords of God and Man is the Perfection of liberty Hence there is not a surer Corner-stone of ruine to a Christian Common-wealth that God will break them with unparallell'd destructions by some overflowing scourge when the day of vengeance is in his heart then to think that Religion is none of their Liberties and yet how maay sonnes of Belial are there void of counsel neither is there any understanding in them who imagine vain things and say Let us break his bands asunder and cast away his cords from us How do men run into extremes either stretching and paring every one to the Gyants bed and thereby denying liberty to the Saints to serve him according to the measure of their stature in Christ or else on the other hand opening the door so wide as to plead for liberty to all the disguised enemies and sins against Christ thereby instead of uniting the Saints in one indeavouring through a dreadful mistake to unite Christ and Belial It is a sad thing when a man is come to this passe that he is not able to resolve his conscience whether Baal be God or the Lord be God and therefore would not have the worshippers of Baal punisht for fear lest Baal should be God Is liberty nothing but indifferency irresolution of spirit in the things of God wo to the valley of vision even to a sinful Nation laden with iniquity and led away from the truth as it is in Jesus and to the Host of the high ones that sit on high in the day of his visitation if this be the spirit of these times for in the day when he visits God will visit for these things 2. That his Word especially the Word of his Gospel may be precious and powerful may run and be glorified in England Alas as there is much preaching but few serious few heart-breaking Sermons so there is much hearing but little effectual hearing Men stand like the Oakes of Bashan before the words of the God of Israel no terrour of the Lord no newes of everlasting destruction no evidence of the fierce anger of God upon them which burnes down to the bottom of hell can take hold upon their spirits or awaken their consciences to make inquiries after God in this their day yea if the barres of the pit of hell were broken and if the devils of hell should come flying up amongst us in our solemn Assemblies from the fiery corners of the Pit below with everlasting burnings about their eares and with chaines of darknesse ratling at their heels they might fright men out of their wits perhaps or from the acts of sin it may be for a time but it would not work upon their hearts their desperate dead besotted hearts The fooles in Israel will have their swinge in their lusts and go to hell in a full cariere let God do his best Oh the hardnesse of mens hearts And the maine reason of it is because they hear but a sound of words but they do not hear the Lord in that Wrrd they hear words that are spoken by God but they heare not they see not God himself therein If ever thou wouldest profit by reading or hearing take every word as a special message to thee from God and of this fruitlesse hearing and the rules of hearing aright is the other Treatise 3. Conscience of his Sabbaths Of which there is an elaborate discourse of this Author formerly publish't by himself Therefore we shall adde no more The blessing o● heaven go with these to make us a willing People in the day of his power to submit to his Word and to come under the wing of the Government of Jesus Christ as esteeming these spiritual mercies

binding to any and hence called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an ordinance of men Hence it is a foolish vanity to aske a warrant in Scripture for such a forme of Government for humane wisdome may teach this though not in Church-government Yet this supreme and inferiour Government hath been in all Kingdomes 1 Pet 2.13 14. to both which subjection is required to refuse to give it is to cast off the Lords Government and there are couched foure reasons in that place to prove this 1. Do it for the Lords sake for the name of Christ and that honour and majesty of Christ stamped on them submit hence cast them off you cast by respect unto nay the name of Christ Jesus 2. Because they are in the roome of the Lord to do the work of the Lord In punishing evildoers and for the praise of them that do well It 's true they may abuse their power otherwise bur yet their power is one thing and their abuse of it another 3. Because this is the will of Christ and you do well in it and so you shall stop the mouthes of foolish men apt to speak against you for sin 4. Because this is the liberty of Christ vers 16. and you are servants to Christ in it and to do otherwise is licentiousnesse and their liberty to exempt themselves from the power of lawfull authority was but a cloak of it For so it seems in those dayes some held it part of their Christian liberty to be free from all bonds and said that Christ had made them Kings on Earth c. So that if they did cast off subjection they did cast off the name of Christ power of Christ will of Christ liberty of Christ Jesus Even under heathen Magistrates what then do they that cast it off under others Quest 2 Quest. 2. When is Christs Government cast off in respect of the supreme power Answ Answ Those that know the questions about the power of Princes and people especially revived in these last dayes cannot but know the field is large where now I am I shall be wholly silent unlesse I saw greater cause of speaking then I do and only point out two or three particulars to prevent such sins as stand next to the door to break in upon this power 1 When men cast off secretly dread and fear and reverence of the Majesty Dominion and Sovereignty that God stamps upon authority and so come to have low mean thoughts of them and contempt of them It 's true none should be elected but such as men can honour for some eminency or other and that of God seen in them Able men fearing God chief amongst the people was the councell of God by Jethro and Moses but when they be Elected now to despise them and hence not to bow the knee or stir the hat and speak rudely before them it 's casting off not only their power in sight of God but the very root of it which is honour And hence in the 5th Commandment all duties to them are comprehended under the word Honour And who sees not but this is a sin which is apt to attend the spirits of men in a place of liberty and in our weak beginnings and day of small things Reports are abroad that no men or worth are respected and hence the Countrey is neglected I cannot say so after many thoughts for I am perswaded no place in Europe more ready to honour men of publick spirits of eminency in piety and humility without the seeing of which no Countrey more apt to vilifie because grace is the glory in the eye of a Countrey led by Religion But take heed lest such a spirit befal us lest the Lord put out our Lamps and cast our Crown down to the ground 2. When men seek to pluck the sword of revenge for sinne hurting the Common-wealth out of their hands without which the greatest power in a Common-wealth is but a pageant and a meer vanity almost a nullity Hence Rom. 13.4 He is Gods Minister yes when he gives good councell and when he is a revenger to execute wrath on him that doth evill So that be the evil what it will be if it hurt the Common-wealth or be against any wholesome Law thereof he is Gods Minister to punish it civilly In the first Reformation of Geneva there were as many heresies and errours almost as truths of God Servetus he denyed the Deity of Christ whereupon the Magistrate put him to death who died with extream horror Whereupon heresies being begun to be snibb'd and blasted Bellius writes a book 1. That men should punish no heresie at all but be merciful and meek is Christ was to the adulterous woman 2. If they did yet that Magistrates they should not punish for errors or heresies 3. If they did yet not with such severity as they begun To all which Beza hath given a most learned and solid answer detesting the hypocrisie of the man and the sad consequences of such opinions if their power should be diminished I conceive 't is calling off Christs power to take away power from Magistrates to punish sins against the first Table of which errors and heresies in Religion are part It 's as clear as the Sun that the Kings of Judah that were godly did it and were commended for it and 't is as clear they were commended for it not as types of Christ but because they did therein that which was right in Gods eyes and according to the commandment of the Lord Which judicial commandments concerning the punishing of Sabbath-breakers false Prophets Hereticks c. Gods fence to preserve morall lawes they are of morall equity and so to be observed to this day of Christian Magistrates c. To exempt Clergy-men in matters of Religion from the power of the civil sword is flat Popery by means of which Antichrist hath risen and hath continued in his pompe and power so long together The indulgence of Princes towards the Papal function in matters of Religion hath undone Christendome 'T is true every error is not to be immediately committed but when 't is like a gangrene of a Spreading nature then the Magistrate in due time must cut it off speedily Object Leave them to the Church Object Answ True leave them 1. there Answ But 2. Sometimes the Church will not sometimes they are not of any Church A Papist an Arminian may come in and leaven and damne many a soul for which they had better never been If it were but one and if he sayes I do it with a meek spirit their trick of late and none must meddle because mercy must be shewen to these wolves A wise shepherd had rather let a hunter come in and kill one of his sheep then let a wolfe or fox escape Act. 20.29 and see his people persecuted then their soules worried Heresie and Error hath this property it ever dies by severe opposition and truth ever riseth the more because Christ is against the

the Lords Ordinances and prepare himself before he come and in all it hath many weaknesses yet it doth leave it self with Jesus Christ every thing that doth touch this Altar is sanctified and is not polluted But now when men shall enjoy Ordinances and make no great matter of sins in Ordinances especially if secret such is the venemous nature of sin it doth defile the earth a man doth tread on Now when men shall have these sins and know them and yet never leave themselves with Christ and lay themselves on this blessed Altar by faith they do pollute the Ordinances of the Lord. Fourthly When the soul doth not so openly manifestly drive away the Lord but when men shall come to the Ordinances and never come to the Lord Jesus in them now the Lord is cast off A great Prince that comes to a mans house though he be not driven out of doors yet if not attended on he accounts himself cast off The Lord Jesus Christ is in his Ordinances Ezek. 48.35 The Lord is there the Saints they come to God in them and are carried to him by them Therefore 't is said Acts 10.33 34. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God and Psal 84.7 Every one of them in Sion appeareth before God Now the Saints and people of God when they do thus come to the Lord they finde many difficulties to break through a vallie of Baca. Sometimes their heart is turned from the Lord and sometimes God is turned from them so that now the Saints when they do come to the Lord in his Ordinances They go through the vallie of Baca that they may see God in Sion But now when men do never break through difficulties but give way to a sluggish heart when it is thus with a people it is certain the Lord is now cast off and ye do as good now as live without Christ in the world Amos 5.21 saith the Lord I hate your new Moons and Sabbaths For these fourty yeares ye never sacrificed to me vers 25. Did they not sacrifice those fourty yeares to the Lord in the wildernesse It was the very thing they came out of Egypt for that they might sacrifice to the Lord Yet saith the Lord ye did not sacrifice to me truely here was the thing they did sacrifice but to enjoy communion with a God that they did not the Lord he saw none of that and this is the frame of many a man ye never heard a Sermon ye never broke through your difficulties to come to a God in Ordinances therefore in truth though you had them yet it is as if you never had them because ye never did enjoy the Lord in them Therefore this is that I would say Oh Brethren let the Saints let it be the care of all the faithful and people of God the first thing that ye do before ye come to hear a Sermon or receive a Sacrament or to any Christian communion or other Ordinance of God Before thou do'st come indeavour it at least co bring thy soul to a God to Christ above all Ordinances and break through the difficulties heart is dead and minde is blinde and God is gone but yet break through difficulties and wrestle with the Lord in prayer and then ye will finde the blessing of the Lord. The great reason why we enjoy not that mighty presence of the Lord in his Ordinances it is this Men come to Ordinances and would enjoy Ordinances but they never broke through difficulties to come to a God When men shall come to Ordinances only and blessed be God we have the temple of the Lord truely this will do you no good in the world The 5th Degree of casting off the supreme power of Christ in his Ordinances many times when the soul cannot come to Christ the Lord comes to it Now then the supreme power of Christ is cast off when the soul is unwilling or carelesse to receive the stroke of the Eternall power of the life of Jesus into his heart but contents himself with some beginnings some sips and tastes and doth not lye under the stroke of the eternal Spirit of the life of Christ Look as it is with a company of Subjects they are in some great Town that stands it out against a Prince If the Prince send to them and they parlie with him and they are thankfuil for his gifts and glad of his parlie but yet notwithstanding they are unwilling to receive the Prince with all his power to come into the Town if they be unwilling to do that and are loath to joyn sides against the other party they cast him off from being King So it is here when men come to the Lord in Ordinances the Lord he parlies with them the Lord he sends promises and they are marvellous precious things and they have some taste of what the Lord do's send and it is sweet to them But now because they have lusts in their hearts the Lord saith make warre against thy lust and open the gates that I may come in If so be a man now out of secret love to his sin he content himself with the promises of Christ but the life of Christ he cares not for that he uses not ail meanes that he may finde that the supreme power of the Lord Jesus is now casl off and I know no difference between such a people and Capernaum they did enjoy the Gospel of God but now to entertain the Lord Jesus in his spiritual power this they were loath to come to therefore saith the Lord Wo to thee Capernaum the mighty work of Jesus Christ in their hearts this they never cared for Saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 10.5 The weapons of our warfare they are mighty through God As poor things as you think the Ordinances of the Lord to be they are mighty through the Lord When Christians shall not be willing to receive this mighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ truely now the Kingdome of Christ is cast off John 6.49 Your fathers are Manna in the Wildernesse and are dead that was outward Manna but he that eateth me shall live for ever In one word thus this is certaine a man never gets good by any Ordinance nor the Lord Jesus doth never attainc his end in any Ordinance till there bean everlasting power and life of Christ Jesus communicated by the Ordinance There saith he God commandeth his blessing Psal 133. ult life for evermore mercy for ever comforting and light for ever teaching and humbling for ever continuing and a man will never think he doth receive any good till he doth it For If a man be healed of his blindnesse and be blinde presently again what is be the better So if a man hath some flash of light in the Ordinance blesse the Lord for it The Lord quickens up the heart to walk with the Lord Blessed be the Lord for it Ay but when the heart now

vexing for all the estate he hath if he hath any eye or tendernesse in it so those small matters for which the Saints have suffered and for which God is provoked and under which some have roared and others have been loaded one after another 't is worth a world oh blesse God for it but consider those that be under the dominion of sin and Satan so strong and miserable sinne so dear that there is not so much as a sigh under that be thankful for that 3. Labour to maintain in the heart a holy feare of abusing liberties every one in his place for what makes them despised but principally the abuse of them in such a Congregation there was such contention such affront to the Elders there is that degenerating of spirit and back-sliding from God that men grow worse under meanes then ever I and so must be if men grow not better Deut. 6.10 12. The Lord exhorts them that when they be at liberty they would not then forget the Lord but then feare 'T is Luthers note on the place When in trouble you rejoyce but when in peace you feare I 'le only name the sins of liberty 1. Take heed of a Prayerlesse spirit and that that lamp go not out Men under some pressures cry and 't is long before they do cry under them and under their sin but then at last they do and when the Lord gives liberty though they have the guilt of the same sins and more sins lie on them yet then like Marriners when the stormes are over fall asleep It s strange that Israel under Pharaoh cried and under Gods afflicting hand in denying them water murmured True thankfulnesse will help to prize what liberty affords 2. An unloving spirit to the Saints It 's that I have oft said souldiers when they are set against a common enemy are all one but when at liberty then they fling javelins at one anothers heads differ in opinion and in heart and affection and 't is not death so to do Take heed of a rigid censorious unloving spirit 3. Extreme ignorance how to use our liberties and hence running to extremes As we say of Christ There is good enough in him but men know not how to fetch and improve it so there is great advantage in liberties but men misse of it through their ignorance and abuse Hence many times more hurt done by an Admonition then by the sin when administred in passion and without compassion Hence under pretence of liberty extream licentiousnesse 4. Imperiousnesse of spirit arising from a frothy emptinesse and an overweening opinion and conceitednesse of their own abilities and wisdome above others and hence will not be led being at liberty by the Councel and Advice of others It 's natural for man to affect sovereignty and when the time comes of liberty then it hath a vent Who made thee a Lord and Judge over us though in bondage much more in liberty they think Wills Common-wealth is in their heads chiefly and hence will not be ruled by Gods ordinances and hence if once taken with an opinion hardly ever removed c. 5. Resting with liberties and in liberties We were never in bondage John 8.33 yet servants to sin We be Abrahams seed better then all the world yet under all the power of sin and Satan and must not be told of their wayes but hate them that censure them for their sins Men in bondage are like sick men that will cry if they were in another bed oh then they should be well but they must first be cured of their disease 4. Make use of liberties He that hath them but sees not so much glory in them or gets not much good from them he wil be no more thankful then one that hath large grounds may walk at liberty but the trees for want of manuring bear no fruit nor ground corn through sloth such a man wil starve there Look as they Deut. 15.5 10 11. they were to bring the first fruits present them before the Lord and rejoyce in all so should you if ever you be thankful for them bring the first fruits to the Lord and think there is more behinde and more in heaven Object But our outward straits are many Object and temptations sad Answ If Christ himself should come on earth what would you have with him Answ would you have him come and set up an earthly Paradise would you have better entertainment then he who had not that which foxes and birds had or would you have him come from his Crosse and then you will make him King if you despise his ordinances and liberties because of wants you would despise himself if he were present But you will reply and say What if we can have both If that can be and Christ calls to take both refuse not his love But it may be an heavy indictment against some at the last day in that they forsake Christ because he is poor and naked for they are therefore called to cloath him and this will be your Peace and you will be no losers your selves another day 2. Suppose he doth keep us low yet Psal 145.13 14. His dominion is alway and raiseth up all that are bowed down Oh be humbled he is said Deut. 32.13 to make the people such honey out of the rock and oile out of the flint sweetnesse and mercy out of the hardest condition 3. They that are not recompenced for their enjoyment of liberties by the spiritual refreshings which the Lord gives shewing them more of their own hearts the Lord proclaims liberty to them to depart I am perswaded the whole Countrey would flourish the more 4. Lament rather your own vilenesse who in the midst of all mercy know not how to use but abuse our liberties and hence the Lord forsakes us as Ezra 9.8 10 11. What grace hath been shewed us what shall we say that after this c Wouldest thou not be angry with us till thou hast consumed us Psal 81.13 16. Oh that my People had heard my voice I would have subdued their enemies God would not be wanting unto us if we were not to him Take therefore that example to imitate in Acts 9.31 Having rest they were edified if we be not so truly as none have the like liberties so no bondage so sad no where such poverty no where such anguish of conscience no where such spirit and power of sin no where such sad anger if in practice we be unthankful or can mouth and speak against long Sermons and against the Countrey and Christians or in hearts undervalue them and when you see Indians rise Brambles Abimelechs and Shebnas raised c. then know this is for abuse of liberty Vse 7. Of exhortation to come under Christs Government Vse 7 and be in his service lest ye come to know the difference between it and some other by experience Mot. 1. You must be either under Christs yoke or Satans and sins Mot. 1. and so