of Christ are cast off as disgracefull burdens and new fashioned ornaments forged and worne with much bravery high titles rich revenues popular adoration after these they gape greedily stretch largely climbe ambitiously let soules sinke or swimme they care not so they may lift up their heads and build their nests on high and he concludes that herein the spirit of Antichrist was discovered even as a noon-day-devill Serm. 33. For those amongst us that will not follow the sonne of lesse except they may be sure of Vineyards and olive-yards and may be made captaines of thousands and captaines of hundreds that can shape their designes to no lower a pitch then a lordly dignity or a fat plurality that mind the University and the Ministery onely as a stirrop to ambition or a stale to covetousnesse 't were well if their aimes were frustrated by plucking the prey out of their teeth that they were discouraged yea rated off from the holy function wherein there is no hope they should demeane themselves conscionably seeing they enter upon it with such impure intentions And doubt not but when these offae Cerberi these bewitching baites be removed the Lord will stirre up and qualifie better spirits for his owne worke See this in one instance only Those blessed Reformers of Germany did not only drive the Popes doctrine out of their countrey but his tyrannicall Prelacie his whole rabble of full bellied Clergy whose large incomes were all put into the hands of Princes and States whom I cannot commend for dispensing them to right uses perhaps their unfaithfulnesse therein hath been one provocation to plucke downe the judgements which have since ruined them yet then were their Schooles and Academies most frequent and flourishing and I dare challenge any age within the like compasse of time and ground reserving alwayes due honour to Christs Worthies that have since abounded to paralell that in number and eminency of learned men who did not only vindicate the truth from Antichristianisme but all humane literature from blind barbarisme wherein it had long lien buried Let me not be mistaken here as if I thought there were too much dignity and maintenance for Ministers amongst us if it were duly conferred and distributed We need not imploy our own help so to betray our honour there are two sorts of engineeres that are now plotting against us Some in a prophane policy would keep us in a slavish inferiority to themselves and therefore they like Ieroboams way best they would choose Priests of the lowest of the people or make them so these hold a base condition a poore pittance fittest for us Others againe are for an eleemâ—sunary salary that Ministers being ingaged to their benevolence they may by the same bond be tied to their conceits and errours But I speake to wise Physitians who know how to purge peccant-luxuriant humours without impairing those that are vitall and benigne And I beseech you the searcher of hearts knowes I plead not for my owne belly but for your honour yea the honour of Christ whose work you have in hand I beseech you let it appeare by some speedy and cleare course that you intend not the diminution or unsettlement of the double honour of Christs servants but the establishment and enlargement thereof Isai 46.6 Idolaters lavish gold out of the bag superstition casts excesse upon its instruments let not Religion starve nor pinch them that wait upon her let exorbitancies be pared away but let Christs due be preserved and then I will not doubt to resume what I had in hand that his royalty is not advanced by the worldly height and state of his nearest attendants his throne is not supported by such painted props his Kingdome is spirituall and his Government most full of glory 2 Cor. 10.4 5. when thoughts are captivated and consciences awed by the mighty weapons of his own Ordinances and Discipline when they have free course 2 Thes 3.1 due honour and kindly workings in the hearts of men 2. Truth Worship Ordinances are glorious and beautifull when they hold their simplicity and purity Mixtures to these are not only superfluous but poysonous histrionicall and gaudy dresses of mens putting on are to these as a whorish paint to a good complexion or like that unnaturall burden of haire worne in pretence of ornament wheras there is nothing to sober judgements that can render men more uncomely or ugly Yet how doe men dote upon mixtures how have we seene the pure streames of truth mudded with humane placites and traditions Mat. 15.9 Gal. 1.8 the Commandements of men cryed up and obtruded upon the conscience for doctrines another Gospel preached and entertained though vented by persons of lesse credit beyond comparison then an Apostle or an Angel from Heaven accursed persons for their labour Wanton wits have been lavish in broaching and silly soules have been greedy in snatching up any errours Well the words of the Lord are pure words as silver tried in the furnace purified seven times Psal 12.6 as t is hellish chymestry for sublimated wits to extractor cast out the least scruple hereof as refuse so 't is damnable imposture for any cheating compounders to put tinne among this silver drosse among this pure mettall The compleat body of faith was once delivered to the Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 simul semel Jude 3. fully and wholly intrusted with them they that wilfully or remissely loose the least minute thereof hazzard thereby the eternall losse of their pretious foules and they that make or admit the least addition to it shall have added to them all the plagues written in Gods Book Rev. 22.18 19. no lesse dangerous are mixtures in point of worship yet doe multitudes run a madding after them That good old fashion of worship in Spirit and in truth is censured and hissed at as a jejune raw humour or as a fanaticall rash undertaking nothing pleaseth without a pompous outside a visible bravery though never so fond and new-fangled Yea have we not some who think themselves as much injured by paring their nailes and polling their haire as if their hands and heads were cut off that hold themselves spoiled of the very heart and braine of Religion if any of their burdensome and excrementitious superfluities the blemish and bane of Religion be purged out or lopped off And no wonder that men are in love with such trifles they affect a way of worship which pleases the eye fils the belly arrides the sensuality Those Adiaphorists or middle-men of Germany appointed by Charles the fifth to compose the Interim that monstrous miscellany wherewith he thought to please all parties did together with some shreds of truth some patches of Reformation mingle almost the whole lumber or garbage of popish rites and superstitions amongst the rest they would retaine extreme Vnction and it was wittily objected to them that they did it that they might sleeke their owne skinne Vt ipsi procederâ—nt
your own ruine Should not the Lord of hosts leave his remnant among you ye would soone be turned into a Sodome Isai 1.9 Their presence and prayers are the pillars of a Kingdomes safety the procurers of its happinesse And if malice hath not utterly blinded men let them rub their eyes and see two choice excellencies amongst many here annexed to them and those most profitable for humane societie even the spirit of judgement for Civill Administration and holy valour and strength for militarie exploits for so it followes The Lord will be for a spirit of judgement to him that c. First of the first the spirit of judgement which is the gift of governing well faithfulness ability in executing justice Doct. The Lord doth highly dignifie and blesse a people by setting over them religious and righteous Magistrates and Rulers 'T is a good argument of Gods favour to Israel which Huram deduces from the choice and qualification of Solomon because the Lord loved his people he hath placed such a King over them 2 Chron. 2.11 And when the Lord undertakes the glorious and happy reparation of that state after an wofull decay he promiseth to restore their Iudges as at the first and their Counsellours as at the beginning to reduce them to primitive purity and integrity Isai 1.26 This blessing will shine the more by setting against it the misery and mischiefe of its opposite injustice As a roaring lion and a ranging beare such an one is a wicked ruler over a poore people Prov. 28.15 Cedren In the dayes of Phocas that bloudy usurper he was the first sworn slave to Antichrist that wore a crown a holy Monk was so bold as to expostulate or enter dispute with God he asked him why he had set such an impious wretch over Christians and he was answered by a voice from Heaven if you will beleeve the story 't is related by Cedrenus because a worse could not be found and the sins of men deserved such a mischiefe Magistrates are either the common good or the common evill of them to whom they have relation In Epist ad Spalat That passage of Luther is memorable he was in great danger of death and he wishes that the Pope and his crew might be the only instruments of it he would not have Caesar involved in the cause he would not have his royall hands stained with his bloud for saith he I know how it fared with Sigismund after the burning of Huss nothing prospered with him besides his domestique infamies and calamities the weale-publique suffered exceedingly with him and under him The most exemplary judgements are upon the most eminent persons yea and they fall not alone the poore sheep smart for their dotages and delinquencies whereas the Magistrates vertues are the peoples blessings Eccles 10.17 and their vertues are comprized under this expression The spirit of judgement Quest. But what is this spirit of judgement Resp 1. It is a renewed sanctified faculty saith David with some of his last words that savour most strongly of Heaven He that ruleth ever men must be just ruling in the feare of God 2. Sam. 23.3 'T is true there are functionall abilities inlarged to men which are profitable to others though not saving to themselves You may be deep Statists learned Lawyers exact in the disquisition of truth the deciding causes c. yet all this doth not amount to the blessed property in my Text. Industry experience ingenuity morall honesty noblenesse of mind may make men dexterous in the art of judging the Lord infuses the spirit and that seasons all with supernaturall excellency Plainly he is a good Ruler indeed that is a gracious Christian to 2. The spirit of judgement is regular as it is framed by Gods finger so t is guided by Gods rule We explode the Popes Canon law Luther Ridiculum planè est Constantium Imperatorem aeternum nominare c. Sâ—â—om Eccles Histor lib. 4. cap. 16. Vâ—s Itali vultis ha here Deum in â—ane 〈◊〉 non creditu esse Deum in calis and that justly the summe whereof is this The Pope is god on earth above all things heavenly earthly spirituall secular he hath the propriety of all things and no man must dare to say to him what dost thou This we dislike not only because 't is the Popes but because 't is most lavishly irregular making up a modell of government fitter for old Persians or moderne Iurks then for Christs freed men Strange then it is that men of learning that would be called Divines should so much cry up the Law of the will Athanasius held it absurd and ridiculous in the Arrians at the Councell of Ariwinum to prefixe this title to their forme of Faith Praesente Constantio â—â—â—crno magno c. to give the stile of eternall to the Emperour and yet to deny the eternity of the Son of God And very acute is that of Melancton disputing about the Eucharistâ— You Italians will needs have God to be in the bread when you doe not beleeve that there is a God in Heaven And are not they worthier of derision then confutation who make men omnipotent and absolute and yet spoil God of his freedome in decreeing and working raze or abrogate his perpetuall commands yea and live as if there were no God in Heaven Let mortals tremble to imitate the thunder of the Almightie by the stormes of their exorbitant lusts and passions to take absolutenesse upon them which is the incommunicable prerogative of him whose throne is in the Heavens 3. The spirit of judgement is active The spirit we know is the vigorous principle of motion and action contrary hereunto is that distemper mentioned Hab. 1.4 The Law is slacked defluit lex 't is fallen into a swoune The Metaphor is taken from the slow yea imperceptible motion of the pulse in the failing of spirits And alas for us for want of activity we have expected desired magnified blessed fasted and prayed for a Parliament and we know how much time substance parts spirits bloud our Worthies have expended for the publike good what dangers and difficulties they have incountred heretofore and now they have framed for us the best Lawes humane under Heaven Would it not be a sad thing if this wonderfull power when it comes to execution should be put into paralyticall hands either quite benummed or so shaking that they can doe nothing evenly or steddily that it should be like a gunne in the keeping of an Indian a rare and forcible Engine in its selfe but made uselesse for want of good managing Oh that ever there should be any advanced to place and armed with authority who thorough the vile timorousnesse of his own spirit or the treacherous compliancy of his owne evill heart with sin or the times should not dare to act that good for which he is sure to have assistance and acceptation with the most High without the conscionable performance whereof he can never
in Gods way every one in his own way help to gaine to hold these things so absolutely necessary In the day that we let go our holdfast we loose our God and our good our safety and our subsistence our glory and our beauty 2. Take a view of the blessing of Gods returne to a Church or people This my Text expresses in fullest termes 't is glory heightened to a crowne beauty decked with a diadem We have heard loud bragges of a glorious state a flourishing Church in our Land and that from the mouthes of them who did what they could to ruine both Indeed we have had multitudes of eminent Saints brought forth nourished perfected amongst us but no thankes to them who would not willingly have afforded them a being on the face of the earth these blessed Palmes sprang and spread in despight of their pressures Of late God hath offered in a gracious way to wipe away the staines from our glory the blemishes from our beauty which were many and foule But how is this mercy entertained doe men looke upon the wellcome and admire Reformation as the rising sun dispelling our hellish darknesse rather they startle and storme at it as a formidable thing one solicitous for his ill gotten goods another for ill administred office a third for his undue promotion some for their selfe opinions which they will hold to the hazzard of all most for their beloved lusts which they preferre to the glory of God the safety of the State yea and their own soules to most would withdraw their shoulder and stiffen their necks against Christ yoke as intollerably rigorous nothing so much frights them as the erection and exercise of an exact discipline Doe men thirst after the pure fountaine of truth the cleere and spirituall wayes of worship or rather content themselves with the broken cisternes of humane inventions and delight to wallow in the puddles of profanenesse and formality Is it the joy of mens hearts that the righteous are in authority Whence then that grating of spirit that gnashing of teeth at their advancement and good successe in Gods worke Men of honour are so tender of their reputation that they will not beare a word of disgrace without a quarrell a revenge and how wary of their beauty are the fondlings of our age or if they want that which is genuine and proper they adde paints and spots and attires too often such as are monstrous and meretricious yet how wilfully doe men degrade themselves of the glory to which God would exalt them how madly doe they teare off the ornaments which he would put upon them Well though base spirited narrow hearted creatures are unsuteable and uncapeable of honour though sordid clownes neglect and besmeare their comelinesse they care not how yet let us whose hearts the Lord hath touched whose eyes he hath opened prize and pursue these blessings according to their worth And if we were but provident wise for our selves we should not account them dearely gained at any rate no thought it were an age of fasting and prayer an eternity of angelicall obedience the expence of our largest livelihoods our heart blood Ob. But alas say many when shall we see the accomplishment of this promise such glory and beauty should be more conspicuous Sol. 1. And doe you not see the every dayes wonders the Lord is working 't is for want of illightned eyes and thankfull hearts then could we rightly cast up our receipts we might find glorious advantages already upon accompt 2. Are you offended at the seeming slownesse and difficulty of the progresse 't is because you mistake the nature of the worke One way whereby the Lord commends the worth of his best blessing to us is sometimes our hard comming by them The Iewes have a tradition that God sucked Moses soule out of his mouth with a kisse that so his dissolution might be without all paine such an easie lazie good-cheape way of reformation doe most men affect they would have all the fatnesse and sweetnesse of Heaven droppe into their mouthes sleeping on take heed wake not the men fright them not with difficulties for then they will fling off in discontent or give up all as lost 'T is remarkeable what Luther writes to Spalatinus touching Melancthon In Epist â—d Spalat Melancthon was a man of excellent parts very serviceable for Christs cause but of a timorous disposition apt to be overmuch dejected in difficulties and at that time extremely pensive he was for feare of some sad issues of the great meeting at Auspurge Whereupon Luther wishes his friend to exhort and charge him in his name Ne fiat Deus that he make not himselfe a god he might seeme to be farre enough from aspiring to be a god who was cast downe below the common pitch of a man But here was his fault his projects must be like the counsells of God unerringly and unchangeably stand and be effected both in respect of time and manner or the cause he thinks was lost and his spirit utterly sunke So it is with many amongst us they must have their own mind and their own will in all things which is Gods peculiar or they are undone If they have not all that they have promised or fancied to themselves they have nothing at all If the simple gourde of their projects of conceits be smitten and wither they think they doe well to be angry to be disconsolate even to the death But 't is no disparagement nor diminution to the worth or comfort of faithfull and blessed instruments that the Lord over works them brings to passe something yea the maine in the most glorious undertakings by himselfe Have we not seene rich blessings eminent atchievements effected by the bare and immediate hand of God when councels have beene crossed endeavours tired yea hope it selfe worne out and ready to give up the ghost can we but acknowledge it to be the Lords doing to bring downe insolent adversaries to truth and peace and holinesse when they have been trapped and confounded by snares of their own setting mischiefes of their own hatching who were impregnable by all humane attempts like to the Nemean Lion which when Hercules had slaine he knew not how to get off his skinne that was so hard that nothing could pierce it neither wood nor stone nor steele only the Lions own nailes where sharpe enough to doe it So hath the Lord turned the pride and madnesse of wicked men upon their own heads to their ruine that otherwise were too tough or strong to be dealt with In great works God will be eminently seene and acknowledged yea and he carries them thorough insuperable difficulties and impossibilities to us that we may set him up and trust in him only 3. Why will you dislike the work for its hardship or tho instruments for their slacknesse and not consider rather and stand amazed at the opposition that is made against them I think the devill never played the devill more
order them with regularity manage them with activity carry them thorough with impartiality corroborate and crowne them with unanimity and the issue will be if it be not cut off by sinfulnesse and ingratitude a heape of blessings upon us and upon many generations So much of the spirit of judgement the first excellency here specified The second followes which is strength to order the battell in the gate valour and abilities for the warre This is a choice gift or blessing of God Doct. the honour and ornament of a State or people A usefull seasonable subject had I time to prosecute it I shall now handle it very briefly The Lord is a man of war Exod. 15.3 and he makes some of his servants brave warriours he girds them with strength teacheth them the use of their armes covers them with the shield of Salvation gives them undauntednesse to encounter and swiftnesse to pursuit their enemies Psal 18 32-40 till they have their necks under their feet Such were the Israelites under Ioshua's command nothing could stand before them Such were the Judges men wonderfully inspired and inabled to rescue Gods people from oppression 2 Sam. 23.8 such Worthies had David who was called and qualified to cut short the enemies of God and to erect his Worship in purity and peaceablenesse and with this blessing hath the Lord honoured pious Princes and States whom he hath set up and established in all ages This holy valour will appeare a choice honourable blessing if we consider it 1. In the habite Reas There is naturall hardinesse in bruits for which we admire them morall fortitude in meere men which renders them both dreaded and renowned but this is a sanctified sublime gift of the Spirit an admirable adorning grace 2. In the exercise Fit it is to be imployed in great matters high exploits the maintenance of Gods cause and truth the vindication of his honour the reliefe of his Saints It ingages strength and life and all upon such noble designes and services Unholy courage makes men more able to do hurt it degenerates into rage becomes lusts champion and breakes out into injuriousnesse revenge murther c. 3. In the Usefulnesse of it Mans sin filled the world with Antipathies and enmities and God hath armed many of the irrationall creatures to make defence and opposition against their Antipathists And who have so many implacable fierce enemies as the Saints as they have need of patience to beare their injuries so valour is very usefull and advantageous to repell them when they find a warrant or call Vse 1. Miserable then and ruinating to a state is the want of this gift this blessing And would you know what it is that melts the spirits dissolves the nerves enfeebles the manhood and magnanimity of a nation let me present it to your view in a home president even of the generations that have passed over us the people that have formerly possessed our places The Brittaines the ancient inhabitants of this land were a warlike nation the made stout resistance against the Romans bore their yoke with much reluctancie and threw it off upon all occasions English Chronic. yet when their Nobles degenerated into lust luxury and cruelty when falshood and faithlesnesse both towards God and man abounded in all sorts when plenty brought forth the cursed fruits of loose and wanton living when they were generally addicted to hate of truth and love of lying insomuch that if any were gentler and more given to truth then other the rest would worke him all the hurt and spight they could and this did not only the seculars but also the Clergie and the heads thereof giving themselves over to drunkennesse pride contention envie c. casting from them the yoke of Christ they are the very words of our story then they became a spectacle of reproach and misery a prey to barbarous nations Gens Saxonum sera Salvian The Saxons that succeeded them were the Imps of Mars a terrour to this part of the world they lived by their sword and were victorious almost whithersoever they went yet when they grew cold and heartlesse in the Religion which they had zealously professed English Chronic. when treachery injustice shedding innocent bloud impiety sensuality did overspread them they were wofully wasted by intestine broiles and forreigne incursions and at last swallowed up by the Norman Conquest The application of these histories be to the enemies of God and of his people Sins such sins as these weaken mens sinewes emasculate their spirits devoure their excellencie and cause the hearts of the valiant utterly to melt Cowardice and basenesse are the proper and certaine effects of sin And although wicked men may be stout and sturdy and mighty to do mischiefe either for the scourging of Gods people or the breaking each other in pieces yet is this in them but bestiall hellish fury no true valour and the more directly and impetuously it is set against God and goodnesse the sooner and more fatally shall it bring themselves to ruine 2. This gives us great occasion to magnifie the Lord for this choice honourable blessing conferred upon us Our bow hath of late recovered its strength God hath stirred up and fitted courageous spirits excellent instruments for military affaires And although the nature of the warre amongst us be calamitous and many events of it very sad yet the maine comfort is the quarrell is apparently betwixt Christ and Antichrist he that sees not so much now is wilfully maliciously blind Now the prophecies in the Revelation seeme to foreshew that the ruine of Antichrist shall in a good part be brought to passe by the sword Rev 16 6. 1â— 14 15 16,17 They that gave their kingdomes to the beast shall recover them by force they shall hate the whore make her desolate and naked eate her flesh and burne her with fire They that make warre with the Lambe shed the bloud of Saints and Prophets they shall have bloud given them to drinke as they are worthy Methinks the Lord is breeding and apting a generation of men amongst us that shall make the throne of the beast shake If any censure me for cherishing and blowing up the sparkes of valour in mens spirits 1 Cor. 4.3 With me it is a very small thing to be judged of them or of mans judgement LUTHER was called a Trumpet of sedition Tuâ—a Seditionis they said of BEZA when he accompanied the Protestant forces in France fighting for their Religion Evangelium flammeuâ—n 〈◊〉 that he preached a Gospel composed of fire and brimstone But we that are Ministers need not feare nor shame to carry the Trumpets of the Sanctuary before the Lords armies All yee whose hearts the Lord hath touched Goe on in this your might Judg. 6.14 Josh 1.7 Isai 26.4 be strong and of a good courage be not afraid nor dismayed for the Lord your God is with you whithersoever ye goe in his way Iehovah who is everlasting strength is strength in an eminent glorious manner to them that turne the battell in the gate Let me close your thoughts with one briefe consideration from the whole In all that hath been said you see verified that great Position of the Apostle indeed a Paradox to the world That Godlinesse is profitable for all things 1 Tim. 4.8 Perhaps you have accounted it needfull and helpfull for the worship of God the ordering of the conversation Peace of Conscience c. Yet further take notice here how it conduces to the flourishing and good government of a state to the managing and blessing of all affaires not Religion only but civill and military to 'T is the feare the favour the gracious presence of God that crown a people with most glorious advantages that adorne them with most precious priviledges that prosper them both in peace and warre As therefore we tender and desire the safety and honour of our state the publike and mutuall welfare of Rulers and Subjects the good and glorious successe of our greatest designes let all of us together and every one of us in our stations with our heartiest intentions and indeavours doe what we may to get and keep the Lord amongst us in the power and purity of Religion Let this be practised promoted prayed for above all by all So will it dignifie and beautifie us with all honourable and amiable excellencies it will burnish the crown and stablish the throne it will enoble our spirits and deck our heads it will strengthen our lawes with authority and justice and sharpen our swords against the faces of our enemies it will make us a blessing and a praise above all the nations under Heaven FINIS