and grace sure then the contrary must needs be interpreted as symptomes of wrath and infallible arguments of much displeasure God is angry with a people to purpose when he inflicteth upon them such a Judgement Hos. 9.7 Israel might well know and so may England now by the same token that the dayes of visitation and recompence were come when the Prophet it a foole the spirituall man mad an heavie condition God wot but hark what followes For the multitude of their Iniquity and the great hatred we are for the most part slight and shallow in searching out the true roote and ground of such a Judgement when the Prophets are fooles and spirituall men mad we shift off the blame from our selves and derive it upon others oh we may thank the Prelates for this or we may thank corrupt and Simoniacall Patrons these commonly be our thoughts but truely we may thank our selves most of all who by our manifold great sinnes have provoked our God to scourge us with such a dreadfull visitation Let us therefore sit in the dust and accept of our punishment acknowledging and owning our demerit If there be multitudes of Prophets fooles and multitudes of Spirituall men that are no better then mad or distracted take the Prophets word for it and write it down as an Oracle That it is for The multitude of our Iniquity and for Gods great but just Hatred conceived against us It was Hirams complement to Solomon Because the Lord loved his people therefore he made thee to be King over them 2 Chron. 2.11 And let me say in the same manner because the Lord was angry with his people therefore in Church and State he made such and such Lyons Wolves and Leopards to rule over them when a Religious man in an expostulatory straine complained to God of Phocas that Paracide who paved his way to the Throne by the murther of Mauritius his predecessour saying Lord wherefore hast thou made this man Emperour The story records that the Lord returned this unto him in answer enimvero quomodum non inveni pejorem Verily because I have not found a worse It seemes the sinnes of the Romane State were then grown to such an height that if God could have culled out a worse Instrument then Phocas was they should have had him to sit at the Helm and Steere their Common-wealth with a vengeance And if any should expostulate now and complaine in like manner unto God and aske Why he hath set over the Church such multitudes of blinde Seers mongrâ—ll temporizers superstitious Chemarims desperate malignants Incendiaries and furies May he not returne the same answer Because he hath not found any worse Verily the sins and provocations of our Land are risen to such an height and swoln to such a Number that if the Lord could have raked together a worse generation of pernicious and destructive instruments from any corner of the world on this side of hell It s not to be doubted but that sundry of our Parishes and Congregations should have been thought worthy to be plagued with them I know this will seeme a sad and perhaps too grievous a charge but will ye please to consider how the Lord lightens and thunders and with how tragicall an accent he ushers in such a Judgement Esay 29.9 10 11 c. Stay your selves and wonder and cry yâ—e out Wherefore is all this noise What meanes such unusuall fulgurations Sure the matter must needs be great more then ordinary when the expressions are so full of horror Indeed so it is for the Lord was now preparing a Judgement for his people little short of the damnation of Hell at the 10. vers. He powres out upon them a Spirit of slumber rockes them fast asleepe in a profound security and that they might never be awaked Their eyes were closed as dying men use to be their Prophets Rulers and Seers were covered a black and palpable mist of Egyptian darknesse enclosed and over-clouded them all learned and unlearned The visions of heaven were unto them a Sealed booke vers. 11.12 Utterly inexplicable and unintelligible and if we would know what meanes the heate of this fierce wrath see the ground and meritorius cause of it vers. 13 14 It is for the Iniquity of an hypocriticall and superstitious people which draw neere unto God with their mouth and with their lips do honour him but their hearts recede far from him and their worship of him is taught by the precepts of men Therefore doth the Lord proceede to do this marvellous work and wonder in their dayes when he would seale up a people unto destruction he strikes them with a spirit of giddinesse and makes their wisemen that should be as blinde as beetles so as they can see nothing Let me with you patience adde one place more of many others to close up this Mich. 2.6 11. They straightned the Spirit of the Lord and silenced his Prophets they liked not their Prophecies which never boded unto them any good but still as they thought put them to shame therefore to fit their humour that there might be like Priest like people If any man saith the Lord vers. 11. walking in the spirit and falshood do lye saying I will Prophecy unto you of wine and strong drink he shall even be the Prophet of this people The visions and inspirations of faithfull Prophets which like golden showers came dropping from heaven these were loathed therefore the Lord lets them have such as they best relished drunken sots setting all their doctrines abroach from their wine cellar Doe but turn the key of the speech and alter the Scene and it will suite our condition to an haire If any man walking in the Spirit and falshood will Preach against Preaching and cry up the divine right of Episcopacy with Altar and Image worship and the only lawfull devotion of May games and Morrice dances for the Sanctification of the Lords day he shall even be the Prophet of this people 4. This may reach out a word of exhortation First to all in generall and next in a more speciall addresse to ministers and lastly to our honourable Senators 1. It generally concerns us all of what degree or condition soever we be to helpe forward as much as lyeth in us the powerfull preaching and receiving of the Gospell which is the onely meanes by which the Kingdome of heaven comes in and gets possession Indeede we cannot all be Christs Scepter bearers that is an Office peculiar to some few that are design'd to it by speciall appointment we cannot all promote the affaires of the Kingdom of heaven by Preaching but there is somewhat which we may all doe 1. We may prepare and make way for the erecting and setting up of Christs Throne in our owne hearts and in our families and dependants we may do much if we put our strength to it to do our utmost If Christ raigne in our own
more and more strives if possible to get up a note above Elah sets himselfe no bounds counts all that he hath attained as nothing like the Apostle S. Paul whose zeale and covetousnesse and ambition in this kind was so beyond all measure super superlative that although he had already gotten the greatest measure of grace that ever any mortall man attained on this side of heaven yet he forgot it all and scarce thought it any competencie still pressing forward to an higher marke as if he would pre-occupate the state of glory and attaine even in this world unto the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3.11 2. In the worship and Service of God and in the use of all the Ordinances publique and private the violence of a mans spirit workes much in this the Jewes have a rule That whatsoever a man doth in the solemn Worship of God he should stretch and straine his inventions to do it with all his might else it is not currant nor allowable with God and the Apostle requires the like Rom. 12.11 He would not have a man slight and formall but fervent in Spirit serving the Lord and the word notes an ebullition or boyling up of our spirits to the height The oddes is not great if any at all between the omission of duties altogether and the remisse performance of them seeing a man is a looser both wayes Acts of worship and devotion when they are livelesse and superficiall are like a bow slack bent which will not carry the arrow home to the marke S. Basil observes further That such slighting over duties is not onely unprofitable but hurtfull and prejudiciall to the State of the soule as tending onely to nourish an hypocriticall and barren formality There is nothing in the world more unbecomming the worship of God then such a slight wanton superficiall straine of spirit when a man playes with Religion and serves God as if he served him not It was Davids just praise that the Zeale of Gods House did eate him up Psal. 69.9 And he daunced before the Arke with all his might and when Michael scoffed at him for it I will saith he be yet more vile then thus for God 2 Sam. 6.14 22. Nor was Hezekiah behind him in this of whom to his everlasting honour it is recorded that 2 Chron. 31.27 In every worke which he began in the service of the house of his God and in the Law and in the Commandements to seeke his God he did it with all his heart and prospered The ancient primative Christians when they met and crowded together with one shoulder at their devotions were so earnest that they seemed to besiege the Throne of Grace and to raise a common strength to invade and make a riot upon God in their prayers and this saith Tertullian was a violence right welcome unto God Jacob was honoured and called Israel for this because he wrestled in prayer and by main strength prevailed like a Prince with God Hos. 12.3 4 5. Gen. 32.28 3. Nor is the violence either lesse acceptable or lesse necessary which we are to use for the Word and worship of God either to maintaine and hold it up when we have it or to restore and recover it if lost or endangered S. Jude held it necessary to write unto beleevers to stir them up {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Earnestly to contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints v. 3. and the angell of Pergamos is much commended for holding fast Christs Name and not denying his faith in a time of persecution Revel. 2.13 If wicked men would rob us of the Gospell take from us the Worship and Ordinances of God plunder us of our glory our crown our Salvation here we must hold fast what we have Revel 2.25 Not giving place by subjection no not for an houre Gal. 2.5 nor yeeld to betray one sillable unto them as Basils worthy resolution was we value not the truth of God nor set a right estimate upon his worship and Ordinances if we be not violently bent to maintaine and defend them to the last drop of our blood And if there be a famine of the Word a want or losse of any part or piece of worship it must be violently striven and contended for Solomon would have us buy the truth and not sell it Prov. 23.23 at any rate to purchase it at no rate to part with it a man that is rightly principled for heaven will venture through an Army of Philistims for water of life as Davids worthies did unto the well of Bethlehem the people would part with their very Jewells the most pretious things they had for the erecting the setting up of Gods Tabernacle David would not take an houres rest till he had prepared an habitation for the Arke Psal. 132.3 4 5. and because he set his affection upon the house of God he prepared for the building of it with all his might 1 Chron. 2 3 4 He thought it a thing unbecomming him to dwell himselfe in a house of Cedar when the Arke of God dwelt under curtaines and the Jewes in the sore famine and siege of Jerusalem brought ever the fairest and fattest Cattell for sacrifices though they were constrained themselves to feede upon Rats and Mice and other worse vermine they chose rather to pine and famish their own bodies that the Altars of God should be altogether unfurnished or take up with the worst and when the Tribunes complained for want of gold in the Treasury to offer to Apollo the Romane Matrons plucked off their chaines bracelets and rings freely offering them to the Priests to supply that defect in the service of their gods This certainly was a high straine of devotion in those Jewes and Heathens And what do you think of the Primitive Christians were not they also thus violent when they sold their estates and layd down the price of them at the Apostles feete to purchase the meanes of Salvation for themselves and others If the people of this land would bid so high for the rich pearl of the Gospell The Kingdom of heaven were ours 2. And as in procuring of helpes meanes and advantages for the attainement or advancement of the kingdom of God so in removing the lets and impediments this heaven-sprung-violence will work and bestir it self to the uttermost If the Gospell of Christ the Word of the Kingdom chance to be brewed with humane traditions or the Worship and Ordinances of God adulterated with spurious institutions and impure mixtures Quid non audet amor what will not a man of violence do or suffer What labour or cost will he spare What adventures will he not make What hazards not run rather them suffer if he can helpe it such pollutions He will set his shoulders with Sampson to the pillars of Dagons house and pull them down though himselfe be oppressed in the ruines he will cut down the
we put him off with halfe a reformation 2. Let it be swift and speedy let it not alwaies thus sticke in the birth but give it quicke expedition and dispatch our Saviours rule is primum quaerite Mat. 6.33 Seeke first the Kingdome of God before and above all other things God takes it ill and shewes himselfe angry with the Jewes and chides them sore for neglect of this Hag. 1.4 Is it time for you to dwell in your cieled houses whiles this house lyes waste God gives us as he did them leave to have a due regard of our owne houses but his worke should alwayes in order preceede ours as it doth in worth and dignity Other causes may and must waite till that which is of greatest Importance be dispatched it was a worthy resolution that of Nehemiah when the enemies sent a Trumpeter as it were to beate for a parlee I am saith he about a great worke so that I cannot come down why should the worke cease whiles I leave it and come downe to you Nehem. 6.3 A word to the wise is enough I presse it no further 5. Remove all the lets Impediments and stumbling blockes which hinder the propagation and spreading of Christs Kingdom among us whether things or persons whatsoever cannot shew its pedegree from heaven out with it what should it do amongst us That which never came from heaven can never be a meanes to carry us thither the Temple of God may not be built with the materialls of Babylon we should not take a stone from thence for a corner nor for a foundation Jer. 51.16 And those persons too that pretend so high for their divine originall and cannot yet shew the Genealogy of it from the Scriptures They should be as polluted put from the Priesthood Neh. 6.64 But above all the other Impediments that which gives sourse and life unto them and is it selfe the greatest the faction I meane of Rome and Antichrist let that be removed If you be on the Lords side cast down Jezebel out at the windows when that mother of whoredome and all her merchants factors and retainers with all their Babilonish trash and trumpery the wares which they traffique in is sent packing away and cast like a mil-stone into the bottome of the Sea then and not before begins that victorious and triumphant Song of the Elders Revel. 19.6 Hallelujah the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth This is your worke oh ye worthies and to quicken you to it consider 1. How necessary it is if we let slip this opportunity in which the Kingdome of heaven seemes to come neere unto us and to knock at our doores for admission we are an undone people the Lord if not admitted now is like never to make us such another offer he will take his Kingdome from us and give it to some other Nation that will bring forth the fruits thereof Math. 21.43 The uncleane spirit which is in a good measure cast out will returne againe and bring along seven other worse ones with it to take possession of the whole Kingdome and so our condition will be worse then ever it was 2. It s a glorious prize that we are called to be violent for It is a Kingdome and who would not straine hard for such a booty which once obtained will more then countervaile all our care and cost our zeale and violence for it The heathen man thought it great reason to offer violence even to Justice and Conscience if it were for a Kingdome In other things he would have respect to just and right but if a kingdome lay at the stake and might be won he held it no discretion to be over conscientious I commend not his resolution in this our Rule is Fiat Justitia ruat caelum let Justice be done though the heavens fall we must be violent to keepe faith and a good conscience not to put them from us and this is the way to make us all Kings and Priests unto our God they are of the family of heaven and of the blood Royall that are thus affected Revel. 19.26 Christ at his last comming to destroy Antichrist is said to have his Name written not onely upon his vesture but upon his thigh too King of Kings and Lord of Lords What 's this 〈◊〉 a name Written upon his thigh somewhat an unproper sâ—ituation what should a man do with a name written upon his thigh But t is the place of generation Jacobs 70. soules are said to come out of his thigh and those choyce violent spirits that follow Christ in his warres against Antichrist as those Armies of heaven did spoken of before vers. 14. They all came out of his thigh were discended and propagated from him by a divine worke of Regeneration the Spirit of Jesus Christ refines the blood of the meanest persons and creates them a Regall pedegree 3 It s an honourable thing to be violent for the honour of our God and the good of a whole Kingdome to do good to one is honourable said the Philosopher but to do good to a City or Nation this is heroicall how much more when the honour of God and the happinesse of three Kingdomes that I may not say of Christendom too is infolded in one another Saint Paul saies It s good to be alwayes zealously affected in a good thing Gal. 4.16 Alwayes good It was intended no doubt as a marke of honour that Name which our Saviour for this cause imposed upon one of the Apostles when he called him Simon Zelotes Luke 6.15 The more zeale we have the more honourable we are at all times but to be zealous for God as Elias was in evill times to owne his cause in an adulterous and sinfull generation this is honourable indeed yea and I had almost said meritorious but howsever t is thank-worthy to be sure in an eminent degree Luk. 22.28 29 Ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations and what then I appoint unto you a Kingdom that ye may eate and drinke at my Table and sit on thrones c. You see how well our Saviour takes it when his servants cleave close to him and will stand for him in his temptations If the right hand place in his Kingdome be reserved for any more then others it shall be kept for such 5 The contrary disposition is of it selfe base and unworthy yea and of all other the most loathsome and abominable Revel. 3.15 16. Better key cold then onely lukewarme It s an argument we neither value God nor his Kingdome when we are so dull and heartlesse in our desires and endeavours as if the purchase we are about would not quit the cost nor be worth the paines that is required for it When Callidius a Roman Orator pleaded a cause very faintly and made no shew of affection Tully told him that sure he was not in earnest otherwise the tide of passion would have beene up In
bespeakes this at their hands wherefore else are they appointed of God and separated from others but to be both by their preaching and conversation builders of his house Stewards in his family Watchmen in his City Labourers in his Vineyard burning Lamps in his Temple the successe and fortune of Christs Kingdome depends next unto God upon the Issue of their endeavours If they whose office it is to attend the Sanctuary had but the fire of the Sanctuary burning on the Altar of their own hearts If they were like John the Baptist Burning and shining lights oh what a goodly light of knowledge and flame of zeale would be kindled in the hearts of the people How would multitudes come flowing in to borrow fire from their hearth and light their candles at their Lampes What a singular honour would this be to have it recorded as 't is here of John That from the days of such and such a Minister since the time of his arivall and continuance in such and such a Congregation with the parts adjacent there hath bin great contention much wrestling and violence for the Kingdome of heaven great trading and trafficking for remission of sinnes the Graces of the Spirit which before were scarce at all looked after How much better were this then to have it left upon record That since the entrance of such and such a Dumbe Minister or lazie Drone there hath been a great decay of Religion and piety a great famine of the Word with a Mighty Inundation of Popery Atheisme and all Prophannesse since the entrance of such Idoll Sheepheards and Priests of Baalam all vices have grown all vertues withered What a wofull account will such men have at the day of judgement when it shall be charged upon them as upon the Pharisees That they neither entred themselves into the Kingdome of God and that they hindred others that were desirous to enter molesting discouraging and doing what they could to cast them out with a rage that reached as high as heaven with such a violence as this they will finde that God was not nor ever will be well pleased I descend to that part of this Exhortation which concernes our honourable Senators If powerfull and plentifull preaching of the Gospell be the next way to bring down the Kingdome of heaven among us you see then Worthy Patriots what it is which the Lord and his people expect and call for at your hands The generall complaint is from every corner of the Land That the people have been for a long time almost quite without the true God and without a teaching Priest and without the Law as the Israelites were 2 Chron. 15 3. No Ministery no Worship no Ordinances or that which is little better then none and the generall request and desire is like to that motion of the man of Macedonia That you would send some over to helpe them If therefore the glory of Jesus Christ and the Salvation of his people bought with his own blood be deare and precious unto you as we know they are If ever you desire to have the honour of being the chiefest Instruments to plant a new heaven and a new earth in this Land Helpe every Congregation to faithfull Pastors and pure Ordinances you are as Joshuah and Zerubbabel the two Olive-branches or the two anointed ones which stand before the Lord of the whole earth Oh let the golden Oyle still stream out in abundance from you to feede the Lamps of the golden Candlestick Zach. 4.12 14. God hath made you nursing fathers and nursing mothers to his Church blessed be God we have found you such Go on still with your honour and make yet more full and liberall provisions for all the children of his family by this meanes Religion and the Church shall flourish more than ever and thousand thousands shall blesse God for you If you would straine your selves to do a work of the richest merit and grandest importance for the Churches of Christ I do not know any other that may be of superiour or but of equall consideration with this which among many things usefull is without all doubt That one thing mainely necessary Luke 10.42 The Kingdome of God cannot be held up without this The key of knowledge you know the custody of it in the Priests lips it is the key of heaven take away this and suppose the whole land were paved with gold and walled with rockes of Adamant suppose we were crowned like the fortunate Islands with the richest confluence of all worldly prosperity honour and happinesse what would all this availe whiles the heavens are shut up and fast locked against us Take away a right Ministery and what is the most flourishing Common-wealth but as a Paradise without the tree of life as the firmament without the Sun or as a goodly Palace richly furnished and hung about with stately ornaments but without any windowes to let in the light of heaven Among all the Religious and worthy Acts of Jehoshaphat this is recorded as one of the chiefe 2 Chron. 17.7 8 9. That he sent his Princes and with them the Levites to teach the People in the Cities of Judah and I neede not tell you for it s well knowne how prosperous and successefull that design prooved I doubt not but this practise of that incomparable Prince will be set up unto you as a pattern for imitation Blessed be God ye have begun well I shall neede to say nothing but as that Greek Commander said unto Teucer {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} go on and prosper Gather out of the Kingdome of our God {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} all things and persons that are offensive and that do Iniquity Mat. 13.41 Ye have displaced sundry unworthy and scandalous ones which like drones cumbred the hive and preyed upon the honey which should have served for the laborious Bees take the same course with the rest Remove the stumbling blockes prepare the way of the people lift up a standard that they may flocke to it as doves to their windowes this is the way to leave the Church a Pallace of Marble which you found as a cottage of brick I have insisted but too long upon this wherefore I passe it over and come to the next Those that would put in for a share in this Kingdome they must not be dull and sluggish but earnest and violent in pursuance of it There is indeed a violence nothing praise-worthy held out in Scripture which is either 1. In generall when men put forth themselves to the uttermost and draw out their strength in any sinfull way be it what it will As the Priests and people when Ahab-like they sold themselves over to Idols and the full bent and sway of their spirits was unto sin here was a violence such as it was Jer. 23.10 Their course was evill and their force not right Or 2. There is a violence taken in a more speciall
Throne that he may raigne in heaven and earth and in the hearts of men Though it be a difficult a painefull and chargeable designe yet this I must and will drive to the worlds end let other things sink or swim prosper or wither it skills not the Gospell of Christ shall prevaile with me universally let the world lye at six and seven this course I must and will follow though all the dust of the earth sands on the shore and tyles of houses were devills this I will set in hand with come what will come such a resolution as this is violent and it will overcome all resistance and make a man with a full purpose of heart cleave unto God Act. 11.29 We may see a lively portraict of such a spirit in the Apostle S. Paul Act. 20.22 He went bound in the spirit as in a chaine to Jerusalem and though he knew himselfe and others told him too by the inspiration and instinct of the spirit That nothing but bonds and imprisonments waited for him in euery City yet all this could not move him he had such a magnanimous and adamantine resolution to go through with his work and fulfill his ministery that his life was not at all deare unto him neither did he set any value on it in comparison of the service which he was now upon So true is that of the Spouse Cant. 8.6 7. Love is as strong as death zeale as hard i.e. inexorable as the grave much water cannot quench it neither can the floods drown it no difficulties or oppositions can allay or abate much lesse extinguish the heate of it If a man would give all the substance of his house for it it would be utterly contemned The whole world though vayled with the most glorious and glistering temptations would be scorned as too meane and poore a bribe to draw off the heart of a man from the kingdom of God when it is once well fixed and steeled with a firme and adamantine resolution no diswasions sloth feare policy covetousnesse ficklenesse nor any other thing can either divert or stop or interrupt him in his enterprize When a man is thus obstinately and couragiously bent unto his worke this is violence well pleasing unto God The Jewes have a saying That a man should set his face as a flint and that his countenance should be like a Leopard stout and stearn and obstinate to do the will of his father in heaven 3. This consists in strong and serious endeavours A man is not violent in matters of the Kingdome of God if he do not put forth himselfe into action trying every conclusion rolling every stone and leaving nothing unattempted that may conduce to the atchieving of his end Every man saith the Philosopher workes as he is and his acts and operations are such as his principles If the inward principles of his desires beat faintly if his purposes faulter and reele and be not steady and constant then his Actings in like manner will either be none at all or feeble and unspirited and consequently fruitlesse and bootlesse as an arrow weakely shot off will not carry home but fall short of the mark and short shooting we say looseth many a game it doth so in religion also but now when the desires are as hot as a flame and the purposes as strong as steele then to be sure vigorous and Spirited endeavours will follow unavoydably The Church in Solomons Song may serve for an instance to cleer this for a long time she lay languishing and as I may say wind-bound no excitations wooings or entreaties of her lover could prevaile to get her up out of her warme bed her secure and slumbring condition some velleities and imperfect wishings and wouldings she had but still the door was locked against Christ her will was not bowed there lay the inward impediment the will was but halfe stirred and therefore no arising no motion till Christ comes and puts in his hand to the hole of the doore and takes away the bar shoots the bolt removes the Impediments and then her bowels were affected and moved towards him Then she arose and sought him with a curious diligence every where her hands bestirred themselves till they sweat till they dropt againe her feete trudges up and down the streets to finde him whom her soule loved and a world now for them that could tell her of any tydings of him Cant. 5.2 3 4 5 c. It s a true saying That love is the roote and principle of all the motions of the soul for though there be other affections and those active yet all are reducible to love and in the strength thereof they Act and put all the wheeles of the soule in motion as David when his heart was caught with a violent passion of love towards God how doth he extend and spread out his armes and put forth all oares and sailes in a strong pursuance after him Psal. 63.8 My soule followeth hard after thee there was never a more difficult and in humane view a more unfeasible design then that of the Jewes in Nehemiahs time when they were to build the house of God they had a potent faction at Court and malignant Councellours at home to retard and stop the proceedings of the work they were faine to build with a trowell in one hand and a sword in the other yet they prevailed against all difficulties and this is given in account at the reason of it The people had a minde to worke Neh. 4.6 You see now what this violence is and wherein it consists see in the next place how it workes either in relation to the good which it reacheth after and would obtaine or else in relation to the evill which it would remove and be rid of In the relation to the good which it desires to obtaine 1. It stirreth up a generous and mighty ambition to excell in the inward gifts and graces of the Spirit which are necessary qualifications for all them that would have a share in the Kingdome of God A man that is in a violent straine he cannot rest in any mediocrities never thinkes he hath vertue and grace enough still he is aspiring and reaching after more He gives all diligence to adde unto his faith vertue knowledge temperance brotherly kindnesse godlinesse all the rest of that chaine of pearls which the Apostle stringeth up 2 Peter 1.5 6 7 as well knowing that if these be in him and abound they will make that he shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of Christ and then to be sure an entrance shall be ministred unto him abundantly into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ v. 11. As a scholler thinkes he can never have learning enough and a covetous man thinks that he can never have wealth and riches enough so is it with a Christian of a violent Spirit he never rests contented with his present pitch but labours still to abound
must be excommunicated for the Pontificall tribe had made a Canon That whosoever confessed Christ should be put out of the Synagogue John 9.22 34. If once we begin to advance in good earnest and set forward towards heaven it will not be long to be sure ere some furious storme of persecution be raised to drive us back againe if possible to the gates of hell In all these and sundry other respects there must be much fervency in our desires affectionate obstinacy in our resolutions and endeavours much wrestling and conflicting with God and our selves friends and enemies or else admission and entrance into the Kingdome of heaven is a thing to be despaired of I come now to inferences of use and practise and to omit others which offer themselves in variety I pitch upon three onely 1. For Instruction 2. For Reproofe 3. For Exhortation For Instruction in two Branches 1. This may informe us That Salvation is a prize not so easily won as it s commonly Imagined There is an opinion in the world Paulus Tarnovius calls it Novum Evangelium A new Gospell that if so be a man professe the true Religion and be Orthodox in his Judgement and not grosly notorious for any enormious crymes in his conversation if he come to Church and heare the Word and receive the Sacraments and have forme of Godlinesse though not the power and life of it why then such a man shall certainely be saved This new Gospell as that Reverend and worthy Divine calls it is an old Delusion and fallacy of Sathan which hath prevailed in the world from the beginning and in all ages jugled thousands out of their Salvation and wheresoever it is received and entertained it will be the destruction not of particular persons alone but of whole States and Kingdomes as it was of the old world and the Jewish Common-wealth and of Germany too now of late if the judgement of that learned man mistooke not its marke Oh this {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as Nazianzen speakes this new Gospell without charges this cheap Religion which would open us such an easie way with a few good words with a little wholsome breath to purchase the Kingdome of heaven we could rellish it well its marvellous pleasing and delightfull to our lazie and sluggish dispositions As Marcus Lepidus when he stretched himself and lay along on the grasse O utimam hoe essâ—t laborare Oh saith he that this were to labour and to get the Mastery so many of us when we stretch ourselves on our beds like them in Amos and live at ease in Sion denying nothing to our carnall affections and appetites which we have a minde to Oh say we that this were to be violent for the Kingdom of heaven for then we would list our Names and be as forward as who most but let us not be deceived The Kingdome of God consists not in Words but in power I Cor. 4.20 If Christianity were a soft and delicate profession were the way to heaven over green meddowes and floury plaines strewed with Roses and Violet and not beset with tryers and thornes with difficulties encumbrances and oppositions every Agrippa would then be not onely almost but altogether perswaded to be a Christian every prophane Esau would come in for a share none would sit out but heaven is not got with a wish nor Paradise with a song Remission of sinnes and the Graces of Regeneration they are not obtained with a sigh victory over all oppositions from earth and hell is not atchieved with a breath it s not dull and faint wishes cold and languishing velleities feeble and heardlesse endeavours that can hope to win the crowne of Glory there must be passionate longings and breakings of the heart with continuall desires after God the operation of Gods Word upon us must be as a burning fire shut up in our bones Jer. 20.9 Our zeale for God must eate us up Psal. 69.9 We must be valiant for the truth Jer. 9.3 Resist oppositions and temptations unto blood Heb. 12.4 Else were there as many heavens as there be dayes in the yeere we are never like to arrive in any of them 2. This may let us see what we are to judge of temper and moderation in matters of Religion In other things it is a vertue and worthy of much praise and it is not to be denyed That even in Religion too there are some things in which it may have place When there was too much heate in the Church of Rome about some matters of indifferency not much importing any way the Apostle to calme both parties and to compose them unto moderation and mutuall bearing with one another The Kingdome of God saith he is not meate and drinke but righteousnesse and peace and joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 All truth carries Gods stampe and is pretious but not alike there be some truths of such moment and consequence as that they cannot be over violently striven for but there be others of an inferiour alloy which need not be held much lesse pressed upon others with so hard a hand such are not a few speculative opinions and rituall practises in matters of externall Worship in contending about which if the excesses of zeale were corrected and allayed with a little cooling of moderation no doubt it would be much better then now it is with the Church of God It s a good rule to this purpose that of the famous Chauncellour of Paris Honey is good with the honey comb and so is the Savour of Devotion when it is seasoned with a discreete mixture of moderation But although it be true that in these punctilioes as it were in Religion moderation is a Jewell yet in the profession and practise of those maine fundamentalls of Faith and Worship with other superstructions neerly bordering and coasting thereupon it is far otherwise In these things its easie to be too moderate but impossible to be over violent If we seeme to be transported into an extasie so as the world judgeth us to be besides our selves it matters not much If we be besides our selves it is unto God 2 Cor. 5.13 Religion is a tender businesse and of great concernment the glory of God and our Salvation depends on it and as Calvin said of drawing too much water out of the well of life so may I of drawing out our Spirits in too much violence for the honour of God I do not know where any man is blamed in all the Scripture for such a fault If it were possile that in hearing the Word a man were all eare if in prayer he could be rapt up into an extasie in mourning for sin if he could melt out his soule at his eyes in all the other parts of worship and practises of piety could he be all devotion and pure pure zeale it would become him well and there should be no danger of excesse How is it possible that we should have
darknesse and shadow of death Oh the bright star of Jacobâ— the rising and Orient lustre of it to such as love darkenesse better then light it is of an Ominous and dismall presage it portends their kingdome will come downe their mis-giving hearts are afraid of the scorching Influence of it as the devills were of Christs comming lest it should torment them before the time Mat. 8.29 And now is it possible trow ye that such sonnes of Belial to whom the presence of Christ in his Ordinances and Worship is the greatest burthen and torment and as it were an hell upon earth Is it possible that such should ever expect or conceive the least hope of reigning with him for ever in heaven Oh yes they pretend for heaven as much and as loud as any others and they are for Religion too even for the true Reformed Protestant Profession and they are zealous yea violent for it and that is the reason you must beleeve them why they have drawne their swords and taken up Armes It s for no other end doubtlesse but to defend the true Protestant profession with his Majesties just Prerogative and Crown-rights which the Parliament with the faction of Brownists and Anabaptists that adhere to it endeavour to destroy It s a true saying that of the Romane Orator * There is nothing so horrid no cause so desperate which may not be palliated and covered over with glorious and glittering pretences As Herod would have the wisemen bring him word when they had found Christ for he meant to come and worship the babe when his intent was to slay it But as Tertullian wittily told the Gentiles when they contended so fiercely for the worship of Jupiter That whatsoever they pretended Caesar was their chiefe God and that they worshipped him with more devotion then Jupiter The like may I say of these Herodians or Court-zealots call them what you will and let them pretend what they list for God they are Caesars by whole-sale in Religion affection conscience soule and body and all Caesars they measure Religion by the length of the Scepter being resolved to beleeve the worst of Popery and to practise the worst of Tyranny even to the destruction of the three Kingdomes if Caesar do but please to declare the one to be the True Reformed Protestant Profession and the other The due Rights and Priviledges of Parliament much like the Boutefew that Tully speakes of C. Blos Cumanus I think it was that would to shew his affection to his friend do whatsoever he should bid him though it were to set fire on the Capitoll 2 Not all out so desperate though bad enough is another sort of neutralizing temporizers that are just of Gallios temper for matter of Religion not caring a jot whether the Arke or Dagon be set up whether Christ or Antichrist prevaile the true Religion or Popery both or neither to them is a matter of indifferency and not so much as the turning of an hand they passe not at all for such things onely they have the discretion to set their sayles as the wind blowes and to wheele about as they see occasion that they may be of the prevayling side much like the man in Macrobius who during the times of civill war betwixt Antony and Augustus Caesar had with much Art and diligence taught his two crowes their severall notes the one to say Ave Imperator Antoni the other Ave Imperator Augustâ— that so when the warres should be over and the controversie determined whether party soever prevayled he might be sure to have a bird for the Conquerour If there chance to be any such within these walls I wish they would sadly and ripely consider that speech of our Saviour He that is not with me is against me Mat. 12.30 and that grave expression of a great Prelate This cause of God is of that Nature that if a man do not appeare in it and gather with Christ he scattereth from him there being no middle condition possible in which a man can close or side with any other than the devill who joynes not with Christ 3. Such as value their wealth ease credit reputation above Christ and his Kingdome to come to Church now and then to heare the Word performe some cheape outward duties which may looke like a forme of godlinesse none will blame them for this It were disgracefull to be Atheists unprofitable to be Papists or recusants thus far they go and its faire too but to be at any expence for Christ to purchase his kingdom with any prejudice to themselves in their credit or estates he must pardon them for that they love a Religion contrary to Davids disposition which will cost them nothing these have taken the Covenant many of them onely to save charges for they spare not to professe that they will trust God with their soules though they perjure rather then the Parliament with their Estates They will lash out more in furnishing a banket or some unnecessary entertainment spend more in one cast at Bowles or Dice then ever they can be gotten to part with all their life long for the glory of God the upholding of his cause and Gospell and the preservation of an 100000. Christians in the three Kingdomes the men of this world they are violent for their Mammon Give them the fatnesse of the earth Take the dew of heaven who will A right brood of old Gadarens who can be content to have a whole Legion of Devils roost in the Kingdome and nestle in their own hearts as in strong holds rather than they will be at so much cost as the losse of their hoggs to purchase the dispossession of them 4. There be others that seeme violent in matters of Religion none more forward in appearance then they but they are not sincere and cordiall As it is with them that are sicke of a Fever while the face and outward parts burne the heart quakes and shivereth with cold so it is with these pretenders their countenance Jehu like is full of flushing heate in their face and outward carriage you may see their zeale for the Lord but if you could put but your hands within their brests you should finde their hearts Nabal-like as cold as a stone It s no new devise but an old trick of hypocriticall spirits to seeme devout onely for their owne ends to drive their own designes under a colour of being zealous for God Ignatius observed there were some of this stamp in his time who made a trade and an occupation of Christ to get wealth by him shuffling in Religon to deale themselves a thriving game in the world I know not whether it be true but the Vox Populi the Common opinion and voyce of the people is That in Country City Armies I hope not in the Parliament there are and have beene too many who in publike places of Imployment at the publike charge drive their private designes enjoying both at
resolutions let the Law and the Testimony be your Oracle It s a Kingdome of heaven that you are bound for and therefore your course must be like that of the Mariners guided by the heavens If you steere your course by any other line sure you will never arive where you would be at the faire havens The Heathens themselves never undertooke any great worke about the affaires of state till they had consulted the face of the Heavens what they did out of blind superstition do you from a principle of true Religion 4. When you have taken your aimes right and made choyce of fit meanes to compasse them let God alone with the successe he will make good the issue and turne all to the best As Quintillian said of a Pilot so may I of you whiles you hold the stearne and guide the compasse right you cannot be blamed although the great vessell of the State should be cast away and wracked in the storme which yet I hope it never will be Furthermore it concernes us all in common but you more especially most worthy Patriots not onely to labour for our owne particulars to take hold on this Kingdom with all violence but also to prepare way for others that they may come up to it or rather indeede that it may come downe to them As David therefore in a violent ravishment of desire that the Temple might be built cryed Psal. 24.9 10. Lift up your heads oh ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doores and the King of glory shall come in So let me addresse the like desire to you that are the Heads of our Tribes and have the keyes of the Kingdome of Great Brittaine hanging at the doores of your Honourable Senate House Oh let all the gates and doores of the Kingdome and of all the Counties Cities Parishes in it be set wide open That the King of Glory may come in The eyes of many thousands in the Land and a great part of Christendome too are now upon you you are in the hearts of all the Saints in all the Churches especially those at home who are ready to live and dye with you and what is their expectation and desire other then this That Christ may raigne as an All-Commanding King over his owne house That Doctrin Worship Government may be all exact according to the Patterne in the Mount Helpe on this much-desired Work 1 By setting a faithful pious and learned Ministery Be not offended that I touch upon this string once more How meane apprehensions soever any may have of this great Ordinance of God Preaching of the Gospell yet it is no other thing then the Scepter of Christs Kingdome the Royall Mace that is lifted up and born before him his triumphing chariot in which he rides conquering and to conquer Revel. 6.2 God is wont to hang the greatest weights upon the smallest wires The Salvation of the world depends upon this foolishnesse of preaching 1 Cor. 1.21 Blessed be God he hath given us his Word and if we could but adde what is next in the Psal. 68.11 Great is the multitude of them that publish it Sathan would soone fall downe like lightning and we should have an heaven upon earth We are zealous against Babylon and it s well that we are so I will shew you a way how to storme downe the proud walls and battlements of it without any Petards or Cannon shot or Engines of warre not so much need of these The sound of Rammes hornes will serve the turne Revel. 14.6 When the Angell flyes in the midst of heaven with an everlasting Gospell to Preach the next Newes is vers. 8. Babylon is fallen This preaching it will be the ruine of the man of sin it will spring a Myne under his Thron and beat down all his power and glory into the dust 2. If you would have a learned consciencious ministry do as Hezekiah Command the people to give the Priests and Levites their portion that they may be incouraged in the Law of the Lord 2 Chron. 31.4 Let there be due provision of oyle for all the Lamps of the Sanctuary and let there be worthy incouragements for all the severall professions of learning especially the sacred If learning should decay as some I hope without ground feare it will what can we looke for but an Inundation of Popery Atheisme prophanenesse sects heresies with all manner of Barbarity In the memory of our Fathers when it pleased the Lord to raise up Luther Melancton Calvin and many other choyce spirits it was unto the Churches even like unto a resurrection from the dead the Resurrection of learning brought with it a resurrection of Religion and a fresh spring of the Gospell which blessed be God continues still and flourishes to this day 3 But now that I have made mention of learning I may not without piacular neglect passe over the two Seminaries and seed-plots of it without a word or two It was a sad complaint of Luther against most of the Universities of Europe that they were become chaires of Pestilence and the very stewes and brothels of Antichrist God forbid that any should harbour any such apprehension of ours Blessed be God they have beene worthy Nurseries and schooles of the Prophets both of them and I hope they will continue so still Howsoever it were good to cast a little more salt into these Springs that the waters of life issuing from them may be more sweete and wholesome and that there may be no death nor barrennesse nor any thing causing miscarriage in them 2 King 29.10 The common complaint is That the two breasts though they be not quite dryed up yet they yeeld neither so much milke nor so wholesome now of late as in former times that it is now adulterated and brewed with mixtures its easie to know whence The way to heale all were to plant more wholesome heavenly and powerfull preaching there St. Basil tells That when men were desirous in his dayes to store themselves with Doves in their houses they tooke some of a milke white colour and perfumed them with odours and sweete oyntments and they flying abroad allured home with their sent all they met withall oh that we had a brood of such Doves richly perfum'd with Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia men anoynted I meane with the spirit and graces of Jesus Christ which are more sweet and odoriferous then all the unctions else in the world If there were some of these sent abroad into Country City Court and University how would multitudes flocke after them like Doves into their windowes Esay 60.8 4. If you would have Christ raigne fully freely universally all the Kingdome over let the Reformation then which is intended advance freely and fully and let it be first thorow and exact that no Rome be left for a throne of Sathan in any corner we would be loath that God should put us off with halfe a deliverance why should