not too mean an Employment for them to bring this Message to the Shepherds Luk. 2.8 9 10. Fear not for behold I bring you good tydings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord verse 13.14 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men And that good old Man Simeon verse 28 29. When he had seen the Child Jesus he took him up in is Arms and blessed God saying Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of they people Israel Christ himself being come they might now know that God was a great Lover of Mankind now they had an ample proof of his faithfulness in making good what he had long before promised Now they might be sure that Shadows would flee away the Substance being come Now they might be assured of the downfal of the Devil's Kingdom witness the silencing the Oracles of Jupiter Apollo and Hecate as also the locking up the Temple of Janus 3. God's goodness to the primitive Church was in furnishing them with Pastors according to his own Heart the greatness of which Mercy may appear from the Consideration of these Circumstances 1. The number of primitive Church-Officers was perfect and compleat for species and kind there was none wanting which her Condition did then call for Of extraordinary Officers there were Twelve Apostles Acts 1.1 Seventy Evangelists particular Churches had their ordinary Officers to wit Bishops i. e. Pastors and Teachers to whom the Administration of Ordinances and Oversight of the Flock was committed Presbyters or Elders who were to look to the Peoples Manners and Government of the Church 1 Tim. 5. And Deacons who were to take care of the Poor Acts 6. begin 2. There was then a parity and equality of all Officers in their kinds Amongst the Apostles none claimed a Superiority over the rest Peter's Supremacy was then unknown as the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven were given to him Matth. 16.19 so also to the rest Joh. 20.23 The very affectation of pre-eminence was in those days distastful to Christ Matth. 18.1 2 3 4. and 20.25 26 Jesus called them unto him and said Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them but it shall not be so among you but whosoever will be great among you let him be your Minister and whosoever will be chief among you let him be you Servant even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister And as it was distastful to Christ so also to themselves Matth. 20.21 22 23 24. When the ten heard what the Mother of Zebedee's Children had asked for her two Sons they were moved with indignation against them And as one Apostle was not over the rest of the Apostles so there was a parity between Bishops and Presbyters i. e. ordinary Preaching and Ruling Officers or Elders they were not two distinct Offices nor Officers as may appear from Act. 20.17 with 28. whom he had called Presbyters v. 17. he calls Bishops v. 28. 2. From Philip. 1.1 he directs the Epistle to the Bishops and Deacons Philippi being but a City it cannot be imagin'd that there were Metropolitan of Diocesan Bishops in the plural number in it therefore the Bishops there spoken of were only ordinary Church Officers This is the observation of Chrysostome on the Text. 3. From Tit. 1.5 with 7. For this cause left I thee in Crete to ordain Presbyters for a Bishop must be blameless This for must either be a reason of what is in the preceding verse or it signifies nothing the qualifications required in both are the same therefore they are not distinct Officers 4. From 1 Pet. 5.1 2. The Apostle exhorts the Presbyters to watch over their Flocks v. 5. taking the oversight of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishoping it over them The Work of both is the same and therefore the Office is the same 5. From Ephes 4.11 12. where all sorts of Officers both extraordinary and ordinary are reckon'd and if Lord Prelates be neither Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastors nor Techers They are none of Christ's Creatures but of Humane Institution 6. From 1 Tim. 3.1 to v. 8 begin where the Apostle gives Rules for the Examination and Ordination of a Bishop and then immediately he passes to the Office of a Deacon without so much as mentioning any thing of a Presbyter as taking it for granted that Bishop and Presbyter were one and the same the Rules for Examination and Ordination of both are the same And thus you see God was good to the Primitive Church in giving her such Officers as did neither Lord it over one another nor over the Lord's Heritage A Third circumstance of this Mercy was the extent of the Apostolical Commission Matth. 28. Go Preach the Gospel to all the World whereas formerly it was confin'd within the compass of the Land of Judea such is the goodness of God to the Sons of Men now that he is not willing any should perish but all should come to the knowledge of the Truth See Act. 10.28 34 35. Mark 16.15 Luke 24.47 Act. 1.8 and 20.21 Rom. 1.4 5. 4. He did furnish the Apostles with variety of eminent Gifts and Graces suitable to their Work they had such a Gift of Preaching that they needed not Read or Study but they spake by immediate Inspiration from the Holy Ghost Gal. 1.11 12. Eph. 3.3 At one of their Sermons three Thousand were Converted Act. 2.41 At another five Thousand Act. 4.4 They had a Spirit of Prayer they needed not a Book to read a Prayer by a set form They had the Gist of working Miracles Matth. 10.8 By laying on of hands they could confer the gift of the Holy Ghost upon others Act. 8.17 and 10.44 and 19.6 In matters of Faith that concerned the Salvation of Sinners and the Church's Edification they were acted by a Spirit of infallibility Joh. 16.13 They could inflict corporal Punishments upon notorious Hypocrites and Blasphemers Act. 5.9 10. and 13.11 2 Cor. 10.6 They were endued with a prophetical Spirit whereby they could foretel things to come Rom. 11.5 26. 2 Thess 2.2 1 Tim. 4.1 2 Tim. 3.1 Joh. 16.13 The whole Book of the Revelation is prophetical 4. Consider the Church it self and God's goodness was great to them in these respects 1. Of Ordinances 2. Order and Government 3. Of the Purity and Simplicity of the Truth in those days 4. Of their Gifts 5. Their Graces 6. Perseverance 7. Sufferings 1st They had no Ordinances but what were of Divine Institution these also were divinely Administred and a glorious Presence of God was that that did highly beautifie all their Administrations Act. 4.31
God's Goodness TO HIS ISRAEL In All Ages Being the Substance of some SERMONS ON PSALM Lxxiii 1. Truly God is good to Israel even to such 〈◊〉 are of a clean heart By J. F. Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1700. God's Goodness TO HIS ISRAEL In all Ages Psalm LXXIII 1. Truly God is good to Israel and to such as are of a clean heart THEY that will be at pains to peruse 〈◊〉 Psalm throughout will easily perceâ—… under what a sad tepmtation the Psalm whether Asaph or David is not materâ—… had been at this time having observed how 〈◊〉 wicked prospered and what miseries the godly 〈◊〉 undergo he did begin to conclude that it werâ—… great matter whether he followed the ways of gâ—…liness any more or whether he turned Profane 〈◊〉 Atheistical v. 2 3. As for me my feet were almâ—â—â— gone my steps had well nigh slipt for I was envioâ—… at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked v. 13 14. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency for all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning While thus he was conflicting with the temptation the Lord directed him to the use of a blessed means whereby he came to be better instructed He went into the sanctuary i.e. he consulted the Oracles of God he searched the Records of Heaven the Holy Scriptures he was diligent in the practice of all duties of Temple-worship then in use he consulted with God and his Spirit and Jesus Christ the Sactuary was the Type and he the Antitype and then he could say Surely thou hast set them in slippery places thou castest them down into destruction how are they brought into desolation as in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrours as a dream when one awaketh so O Lord when thou awakest shalt thou despise their image Having now overcome the temptation he pens this Psalm an excellent Prospective Glass for the Church and People of God in all ages wherein they may see 1. The variety and wonderfulness of the Dispensations of Gods Providence towards his Creatures 2. That its common and ordinary for wicked men to have worldly prosperity 3. That â—â—tentimes as to outward things Saints are of all â—…men the most miserable so 1 Cor. 15. to the end Psal 〈…〉 22. We are accounted all day long as sheep for the â—â—â—ughter 4 That they that are most spiritual are â—…ble to temptations and in a readiness to comply â—…erewith and therefore let him who thinks he â—nds take heed lest he fall 5. One of the best means under heaven to get victory over a temptatiâ—on is to go into the Sanctuary taking it in the fore-mentioned sense Lastly Tempted ones taking this course to wait upon God in the use of appointed means have sometime or other a glorious issue and not only so but they prove the most choice and excellent the most humble and lowly the most affectionate and loving the mâ—… Christ excelling and Soul edifying Christians thâ—… improve their temptations their Exercises undeâ— them and their issues out of them to some purpose for the glory of God the good of their own souls and the spiritual advantage of others This improvement the Psalmist made is worthy of our observation 1. He is now able with a holy asseveration to attest to this truth which he did so unbelievingly question Truly God is good to Israel 2. He bemoans his bruitishness stupidity and atheistical ignorance v. 22. So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a beast before thee 3. He did attribute his preservation from yielding to temptation to the divine supports of the free grace of God only v. 23. Nevertheless thou art continually with me thou hast holden me by thy right hand 4. By the mercy received he is engaged to act a fiducial dependance upon God as long as he lives v. 24 Thou shalt guid me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory 5. He has more sublimated raised and elevated affections than ever v. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee there is none in all the earth I desire besides thee Lastly He is fully grounded settled and established in this truth that let the wicked prosper a thousand times over yet wo shall be to them in conclusion v. 27. For lo they that are from thee shall perish thou hast destroyed it 's as sure as if thou hadst already done it all them that go a whoring from thee and on the contrary the â—owns of Providence on Gods people shall never make him out of love with holiness I shall still say It is good for me to draw near to God I have put my trust in the Lord that I may declare all thy works Thus you see how the scope of the whole Psalm â—oes so much conduce to the clearing of what is contained in the first verse Truly God is good to Israel Some read the first word Although or Yet surely i.e. Though once I was under a strong temptation the Devil and my own carnal heart would have perswaded me that God did not care for his people Notwithstanding that to sense and reason providences do often speak forth the happiness of the wicked and the godlies miseries though this be the Opinion of the vulgar and common sort of people yet now I can set my seal to this truth God is good to Israel with a surely a truly a verily In the words there are these two things that need explication 1. Who are the Israel here spoken of 2. What we are to understand by those that are of a clean heart For the first Israel was that Name which God gave unto Jacob after he had wrestled with the angel and prevailed Gen. 32.28 Thy name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel for as a Prince hast thou power with God and with men and hast prevailed Hos 12.13 The reason of the change of Name was no doubt for honours sake Sometimes it signifies all the posterity of Jacob Isa 48.1 Hear this O house of Jacob which art called by the name of Israel Rom. 9.4 2 Cor. 11.23 Phil. 3.5 Sometimes for the Church under the Old Testament consisting of the posterity of Jacob and Gentile Proselytes Psal 68.35 The God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power to his people and 125. last Joh. 1.49 Rom. 9.6 For the Christian Church under the New Testament converted to the faith of Christ Gal. 6.16 1 Cor. 10.18 He is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.28 29. When this Psalm was first penned by Israel here spoken of the Old Testament Church were principally understood but in
is under the 7th Trumpet ch 11. there was not before them any considerable visible Separation from the Church of Rome not so with us 4. There were but two then i. e. a few in comparison of what shall be after if we suffer for Christ now we shall have many Co-partners 5. That very work of God which has been begun amongst us I mean Reformation in Doctrine Worship and Discipline shall some where or other in God's own time and way go on and prosper maugre all opposition Lastly The consideration and belief of this Truth that the Witnesses are slain and risen may teach us how to demean our selves in this Day 1. Towards God 2. Enemies 3. One another 4. In respect of our selves Towards God 1. We are Monsters for Ingratitude if we do not trumpet forth his Praises aloud for bringing us forth in such a glorious Age and Time certainly if our Godly Ancestors had seen and heard what we now do especially they that Lived about an hundred Years ago would have said Now the Kingdom of our God and of his Christ is Come 2. Be very Patient under all the Corrections and Chastisements of this Good God 1. Your Sufferings are but a Flea-bite to the Sufferings of others that have gone before you 2. Your Punishments are still less than your Sin 's deserts 3. Consider what the Glorious Son of God hath suffered for you and yours is nothing 4. It 's a most glorious honourable and advantageous thing to suffer for Christ in a righteous Cause See 1 Pet. 4.13 14 15 16. with several others formerly commended to you 5. Your sufferings may be sharp for a Season but short 6. Your Sufferings after a begun Work of Reformation are for the Trial of your Faith and Patience 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Heb. 10.36 37 38. Rev. 14.12 Here is the Patience of the Saints here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus 7. The issue of your Sufferings will be Glorious to your selves but dreadful to your Enemies 1 Pet. 4.17 2 Thess 1.4 5 6. Towards Enemies 1. Look upon them as the Rod of God upon you for your sins of Ingratitude Earthly-mindedness Carnality Pride Self-seeking Hypocrisy Formality c. 2. If your Enemies are any kin to Antichrist you need not you ought not to fear them with a slavish fear for they are falling and going down even when they seem to rise 3. Seeing you can in some measure guess at the issue and event of things pity and pray for Persecutors as knowing what that Wrath that abides them is unless they repent 4. Abhor the very thoughts of a sinful compliance with any Antichristian pollutions and abominations in God's Worship if you had lived a hundred Years ago there had been some colourable excuse for your Conformity and Compliance but now there can be one 1 John 5. ult My little Children keep your selves from Idols Towards one another 1. Love and Honor all under what Name or Notion soever that have but their Faces Zion ward especially such as have Suffer'd do now or may yet Suffer for the Word of God and for the Testimony of Jesus the rebukes of God upon Professors call aloud to them to lay aside their sinful differences and divisions which have undone them and to love one another not in Word but in Deed with a pure heart fervently You have all common Enemies and why you should not love one another I know not 2. If any that bear the Name of Christ should solicit you to joyn with them in any sinful irregular course to work your Deliverance hearken not to them God himself does now stand engaged to go on with that which is God's Work indeed and therefore he needs not your hand nor help In respect of your selves 1. Tho' the great slaying of the Witnesses be past yet each of us ought to be always prepared for the greatest of Tryals because no particular Person can at any time promise himself an absolute exemption from Sufferings from this time forth to the end of the World and it stands with reason in should be so for the Destruction of Antichrist being gradual by seven several Vials when one Vial has done its work there is still something more of him to be destroyed and his utter Destruction will not be till the end of the World how can it then be otherwise but so long as he has any power or being he will he making some bustle against those that oppose Some are of opinion that even after the conversion of the Jews which will be a most glorious time the Church will have great troubles and that for forty five Years together Daniel 12. Begin Nay and after the 1000 Years Rev. 20.1 They shall be in as great trouble as ever they knew from the beginning of the World to that Day which will be immediately before the coming of the Son of God to Judgment Many have strongly fancied that the time was come that the should have nothing to do but to rule the World the Lord in mercy convince them of their mistakes certainly a glorious Day may be look'd for before this World be at an end but it is so called comparatively i.e. in respect of our present Day and Times that ar past 2. This calls aloud upon us to be deeply humbled before the Lord because of our manifold sins and unsuitableness of Spirit to the Work of our Day We may well say thus Is the Work of Reformation now upon the Wheel of Providence And is Antichrist a declining Ah how does the Work stick and go on so slowly Sure it 's my Sins and others that retards and hinders it When I consider the great Distempers of the Spirits of all sorts of Professors I do not at all wonder at what has befallen us 3. Let us therefore by all means labour for such a Spirit as may suit with the Work of our Day a Spirit of Understanding to know what is God's Work and what ours to know what is Antichristian and what not a Spirit of Wisdom to find out such Holy and righteous ways as may most conduce for the carrying on of this Work a Spirit of Humility Mortification Self-denial Sincerity Faithfulness holy Courage and Boldness a Spirit of Prayer Faith and Zeal for God's Glory They that would yet know more particularly under what dispensation we now are and what hereafter may be expected must study well the 7th Trumpet Rev. 11. End and the seven Vials Chap. 16. I will but just give a very short hint at each of the Vials and so shut up all The 1st is poured out upon that which is the Earth in the Antichristian World i. e. the Fundamentals of the Popish Kingdom are struck at and such Doctrines upon which the whole structure of Antichristianism is built without which it cannot stand no more than the Fabrick of this Universe without the Earth Erasmus says of Luther that he committed two unpardonable faults in medling with the Popes Mitre and the Monks Bellies Antichrist's Ruine is the Churches Rise the confuting of their Antichristian Doctrines did clear up the principal Fundamental Truths of the Gospel 2. Upon the Sea i. e. Their Worship and Ordinances by which they trade on with another The first Reformers were so taken up with the clearing up of the Doctrinal part of the Gospel that they could not have the while to think of mattes of Worship which was done to some purpose after in the Council of Trent by Chemnitius and others 3. Is upon the Rivers and Fountains of Waters i. e. The Romish Clergy It 's by them the Christians of the Antichristian World are moistended they come from the Sea and run into it they were Originally bred by the Romish Religion and are the great supporters of it they are Wells of Water 2 Pet. 2. And Rev. 16.5 6 7. It 's they that have shed the Blood of Saints and Prophets According to this interpretation these three Vials are at least in some measure poured forth already only more may be yet expected 4. Upon the Sun i. e. Either some that are eminent for upholding Antichrist in his civil power and jurisdiction such as the King of Spain the Pope's Eldest Son or the House of Austria or something that 's a great light to them in respect of their Ecclesiastical State such as is the whole Body of their Cannon Law or both these 5. Is upon the seat of the Beast this may be understood of the Destruction of Rome or the Pope's Principality as the 5th Trumpet set him upon his Throne the 5th Vial shall Dethrone him 6. Dries up the great River Euphrates i. e. Destroys the Great Turk and his Empire which shall make way for the Kings of the East to go up into their own Land i. e. The shall the Jews be Converted the Glory of which time I have discoursed at large in my Treatise of the Fifth Monarchy 7. and last puts an end to all Antichrist is not only utterly ruined but also Gog and Magog all sorts of Christs and the Churches Enemies The Lambs Marriage Day is solemnized before God Angels and Men and his Spouse is caught up to himself to be with the Lord for ever The Spirit and the Bride saith Come even so come quickly Lord Jesus Amen And let every Soul say Amen Truly God is good to Israel and to such as are of a clean heart Gloria perpetuo sit tribuenda Deo FINIS