〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he saith that the Elephant loves men I would have all these properties meet in every one of these Worthy Citizens that are any way betrusted with the Government of the City The God of Heaven give you wisdom and give you to remember all Providential Dispensations that are past and deliver you from passion and gall and make you flock together and head together and teach you to love men All this would still engage you against a common Enemy Love men as men love the bodies of men and you have given a most glorious accompt of that this year to your praise I must report it here is this year c. why here is a glorious proof of your love to men Love their bodies love their souls love them as Christians especially love them as Saints have a care to breed them up in Callings train them up in some degree of learning this is most honorable and I hope being done with an honest heart it will further your accompt at the great Day I yet dare take the boldness to adde the Rules which I chiefly intended Some Rules now for your pursuance of Truth and some for the pursuance of Love that they may be happily married this day For Truth let the Word of God be Rule and Judge when you enquire after Truth study the revealed will of God and make use of revelations in concurrence with the Word of God but do not set up revelations against the Word of God It was a desperate expression from Valde in a Book of his in great request now adays it is true he had many things good in him considering the darkness of the times wherein he lived a Spaniard saith he We must use the Scriptures as we use Pictures he was a Papist use Pictures for a while till we get apprehension of the thing or person realized to us then throw them away because now we can pray without Pictures So use the Scriptures till we have got our mindes raised and elevated and then we need no Scriptures The Lord deliver us from this Opinion which tends to undermine the very Word of Christ. Far be it from me to say any thing against New-Light properly so called though there is some so called which is I doubt Darkness nor against all Revelations for there is a Spirit of Revelation but I desire it may be wisely considered how the Spirit of Revelation discovers it self Thus chiefly not in bringing in a New Gospel and such New Dispensations to us as many talk of but in Discovering that Word which he hath revealed and we have by us in raising our mindes to understand that word more fully and those works of God that are in it more clearly I would heartily bless God for it in my self or in others if it were such a Spirit of Revelation as should help me to see any Word of God or any Work of God in me more clearly This is the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation the Apostle to the Ephesians speaks of but if you 'll talk of Revelations that you have Revelations beyond the Word and it may be sometimes in a maner contrary to the Word surely this is not the way of truth There is a poor old man Hero in Cassianus that thought he had a Revelation that when he was in the bottom of a pit he should get out but for all his Revelation he was deceived I desire such things may be considered The next thing is this Minde Truth wisely I would say under this head 1. Be sure it be Truth that you contend for not for unwarranted Ceremonies not for trifles for those things that deserve not the name of Divine Truth And then 2. Proportion your zeal to the nature of Truth There are some Truths de fide circa fidem and in some sence praeter fidem I must not allow the like zeal for all I will have the Substantial part of my zeal for Substantial Truths and for other Truths so much zeal as the nature of them calls for This is to minde Truth wisely this is that that becomes you And then withal Minde Truths according to the directions of Truth 1. Meddle not with things too high be sober A Spirit of Sobriety in Divine things and Modesty in Secret things is most suitable to a Saint Rom. 12.3 2. Minde not Curiosities with neglect of those things that are necessary Affirm constantly saith Paul to Titus that those that are believers maintain good works but as for fables let them go Tit. 3.8 3. If you 'll do what becomes you concerning Truth Do not clap a Jus Divinum rashly upon every one of your Opinions O that brings us into a great deal of bondage divers things may be very good and yet better and more safely settled as Prudentials as Humane Constitutions then as Divine Constitutions unless we be sure we are upon Scripture-grounds then I say nothing against it What is the reason now that the Pope cannot alter I have heard it from some that have spoke with learned sober Papists asking them What think you of Transubstantiation or the like Opinions they profess Though we would yet we cannot alter them the Pope having asserted them who is infallible so that if we change one Point of our Religion we spoil all Truly if we clap a Jus Divinum we cannot alter it for we are engaged to hold it though we were mistaken I had rather settle too little then too much then we leave room for New Discoveries We may better adde then diminish I cannot take away a Jus ` Divinum without a great deal of disparagement Do not presently obtrude with confidence your own conceits upon others but rather mistrust them Learned men have had their Errors the wisest men have been deceived and do not rashly run from one Extremity to another Chrysostom he would and others they would run from the Manichees so far that they went too far towards Pelagius Many of us run so far from Popery and Prelacy that we run into other Extremities very dangerous and unhappy O take heed let me adde this further as you would be friends to truth Know that you have to deal with those men that will bring in Errors sensim sine sensu as the Devil dealt with Adam and Eve at first how did he beguile them he corrupted their mindes by degrees take heed of his methods from the simplicity that is in Christ You shall first have a little step and something like a Truth and that may be disputed at first then comes another and then comes another and so at last you are involved in inextricable Errors But the sixth and last thing I shall say under this head Take heed of being too far engaged in a party it is the way to sell a mans judgement for if I be one of a party I must strain hard to say as they say and subscribe as they
heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels Authorities and Powers being made subject to him he hath a universal and absolute regiment over all things in heaven and earth over men and Devils but then 3. In regard of that Influence that he doth convey to the bodies Sence and Motion is derived from Christ as the spring it is true that in the natural body there the heart is primum vivens but in the mystical body the head is primum vivens and he gives life to us and we derive our life from Jesus Christ the head he hath life and he hath it abundantly in himself and he lives that we may live as I remember there is such an expression in John 10.10 4. In regard of Vnion he doth tie altogether the nerves and sinews would not unite the members of the mystical body unless Jesus Christ were the Head As he is the Foundation stone and so supports the building so he is the Corner stone both the beauty and strength and union of the building Fundatio fundatissima as Junius renders it in Isa 28.16 a most sure foundation and the Corner stone as Peter hath it in 1 Pet. 2.7 8. with reference to that place and so in these four particulars Jesus Christ hath a Headship the next thing is now The appropriation of this Headship to whom is he a head He is an external Head to all the members of the visible Church to all professors as he is a vine and doth communicate some sap to those that are in him no way but by an external profession as you have it intimated in John 15.2 Every branch in me that bears not fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire and therefore there are some branches in him externally as he is an external Head to the Church as he is a vine but indeed he is properly the Head of his body the Saviour of his body he is a Head to those to whom he is a Saviour in Ephesians 5.23 As the King hath a common relation to all his Subjects but a more pecular relation to the Queen who is a Subject and a Spouse and so hath Jesus Christ to his Church and the reason is this because there is a full commensuration betwixt all the three glorious persons in the Trinitie they are grossly mistaken that will make Jesus Christ to dye for all and yet will not in their sence so as to make them Salvabiles if they will and yet cannot say That either God hath given Christ to all or given all to Christ or that the Spirit of God will apply that Redemption to all for there is a commensuration there is an adaequation betwixt the three glorious Persons in the Trinity and their workings for the Salvation of the Saints Jesus Christ dyes for those whom God hath given to him with purposes of Salvation I do not deny but all the wicked in the world may have some benefit by the death of Christ as all have some common pledges of the bounty of God and all may have some common operations of the Spirit of God but if you 'l speak of any thing as to Salvation there is a commensuration betwixt the three persons in the Trinity and their workings Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father Sanctification of the Spirit and the sprinkling of the blood of Christ in 1 Pet. 1.2 indeed in 1 John 2.2 He is a propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but for the sins of the whole world to whom did John write that Epâ—stle to the Jews and therefore to shew that they had not all Religion now engross'd amongst them and that the Election of God did not still run amongst them only he speaks in that dialect he did not intend every particular man in the world for then he must intend men that sin against the Holy Ghost which is impossible that they should be saved No man will say that understands any thing even in Catechistical Divinity that Jesus Christ dyed to save them which he must do if he dyed for every man in the world with such purposes to save them and so in 1 Tim. 1.4 5 6. He is given a ransom for all why all There is one God and one Mediator now Jews and Gentiles as Jesus Christ did take our nature upon him both Jews and Gentiles all estates shall have the common priviledge and benefit and advantage of being in a capacity to receive blessings from him spiritual saving blessings that is all conditions whether Kings and all in Authority or Servants or others not every particular person but as in one place Jews or Gentiles so in another place not this or that condition but all estates and all relations and all conditions but still the Appropriation is to the Church as here he saith from whom the whole body is joyned together in the 16. Vers. from whom from Christ the whole body is joyned together so it is the body that hath this influence from him but then 3. What is his Title to his Headship it is threefold First The designation of God and the Father God the Father hath sealed him he gave him to be a Head to the Church over all things in Ephe. 1.22 23. and then Secondly His personal fitness Of his fulness we all receive grace for grace In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and then Thirdly His own propitious readiness We were not in any degree so willing to be saved as he is to save us He came down to seek and to save that which is lost the Spirit of the Lord was upon him and anointed him to preach the Gospel it was his business and as he had a Commission from his Father and came under the Broad-Seal of Heaven so he had a strong inclination â—â—â—m his own bowels to engage him to it there is his Title the use of this 1. To trie the title of the Popes Headship to the Church how comes he by it for a Church to have two Heads one body to have two heads it is a Monster you 'l make it Monstrous we do allow in a good sence That the Supreme Magistrate is Caput politicum in the Church to command good things according to the Word of God and to restrain evil according to that Word we hold forth confidently that Jesus Christ he is the onely proper Head of the Church that doth convey all saving spiritual blessings life nourishment direction and all those admirable advantages to the body we cannot allow a Caput Vicarium a Ministerial Head there is no need of that Jesus Christ is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Head here is an Article that gives an Emphasis what needs it any other Jesus Christ is present always in his Church when he withdrew his Corporal presence he would then requite his Church with his Spiritual presence and that presence of his Spirit it should
Pulpits are not for News onely and to lead people this way and that way upon politique designs and sometimes upon our own carnal interest Pulpits were never intended for passionate invectives to cry up this party or cry down that party in a vehement passionate manor let us rather use hard reasons and soft words If we conceive they be in an Error undermine their Error and avoid any exasperating provoking names which rather alienates them hardens them then recovers them This is not the method to preach men unto Christ but rather to preach away the most and best of our hearers Is it thus that Jesus Christ intendeth this entertainment of-the Ministery that we may grow up into him in all things then I beseech you give me leave to call upon you I do not know where I could speak more fitly in any place of the world then in this famous City and never more seasonably then when the Representative of the City is met namely that you would consider What means you enjoy what Gospel-light the Lord hath entrusted you with and what he expects from you will it not be much easier for Sodom and Gomorrah then for London another day you that have been lifted up with Capernaum to heaven if you improve not the means make account if one place in hell be hotter then another to be thrown down into it And all I have to say is this Let it be your care so to improve the Gospel that you may derive more from Christ and live more in Christ and express more of Christ that you may be inclined and enabled to do more for Christ Here accept these two short hints 1. Growth must be proportionable to the means you do enjoy Brethren let me confidently say it That measure of growth that might please God in some parts of England will not satisfie God from you that live in London why because as you have higher food and more spiritual and more glorious Gospel-discoveries the Lord expects proportionable improvements And let me say this 2. There must be a growth of all the members of the body that is a rule Philosophers give Augmentation is of all the parts and therefore to grow upwards and downwards to grow more humble more in faith more in love to the Saints more in activity for God this it is the Lord expects 2 Pet. 3.18 This may rectifie our judgements concerning the Ministery of the Gospel and that in two great points First Behold it in its Original it is the Ordinance of Christ and it is the fruit of the ascension of Jesus Christ they are to be instructed and pitied I believe many of them may go according to their present apprehensions and therefore it were happy if they might be with a spirit of meakness reduc'd that will cry down all our Ministery as Antichristian why because there were or are some defects in Ordination by Bishops or whoever admit that to be true but I beseech you what is the Original from Christ and if any man will ask an able godly Minister in England where had you your Ministery you 'l say from the Prelates he will say from Jesus Christ though it is true the maner of conveying the power of exercising the Ministery be by men for Paul saith He was an Apostle neither of men nor by men not of men so he differ'd from false Apostles not by men so he differ'd from ordinary Ministers Now suppose I or any other Minister of the Gospel have had our Ministery conveyed to us from Christ by men and there hath been some defects in the maner will you say that that defect in the maner destroys the thing I think not any body would say the Marriage was null because they were not so rightly married in every particular as to the maner or to say that a Magistrate is no Magistrate because in every particular it may be he received not his Magistracy in the due form according to the Statutes c. there is a great deal of difference my brethren betwixt the grounds of nullifying and reforming a thing we are all sensible of it and desire God to pardon what hath been amiss and to heal what is still out of frame there hath been defects in the maner of conveying our Ministery or else why do we desire to reform it but we confidently affirm our Ministery is from Jesus Christ Christ gave gifts with the office and Authoritie but what not onely Prophets and Apostles but Pastors and Teachers then 2. Behold the Ministry in Christs intention in giving it Why did he give it it were a sweet thing to consider and I am perswaded it were a good method to cure some of London distempers no marvel if you that have such admirable gifts be still so lean and crazy in spirit what will cure that distemper look at the Ministry of the Gospel as the Ordinance of Christ and the fruit of the ascension of Christ therefore when you go to a Sermon say not I 'le not hear this man or that man because he is a fierce Independent I 'le not hear that man because he is a rigid Presbyterian nor such a man because he is a vehement Independent away with all such unseasonable words but say this I 'le go and attend upon the Ordinance of of Christ and I 'le go and attend upon that which is a fruit of the ascension of Christ and withal let me adde this and I desire it may be remembred I wish I had more strength to insist upon it because it is a most dangerous opinion and doth undermine the very foundation of the Gospel namely to hold as some do and vent it with much boldness That the Ordinances and the Ministery cease and because that Popery did once overspread the world now we have no Ordinances and now we have no Ministery and what place do they bring it is a most strange confidence and it is in Print and many of you know the Book it is cryed up sufficiently One interprets this place of Scripture I beseech you let us consider it in the fear of God and with the spirit of meekness Christ promises he will be with them he gives his Apostles commission to go abroad and saith He will be with them to the end of the world Mat. 28.20 the Lord pardon and heal all wresting of Scripture if it be his will and prevent it for time to come To the end of the world saith he in print that is to the end of this age of Ministration they are his own words to the end of this dispensation Now he makes account that this Gospel-dispensation is ended and now we are come under a third Dispensation or Administration we were all under low Administrations the Gospel is in a maner at an end and God is all in all immediately in his Saints O that Scripture should be made to serve our purposes
have said enough to wise men and I 'le end all with that Prayer of John in his second Epistle to the elect Lady and her Children Grace be with with you mercy and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Father in truth and Love And hope you 'll all say Amen to it FINIS To his very worthy Friend JOHN BROWN Esq One of His Majesties Justices of Peace for Middlesex and Clerk to the Right Honorable the House of Peers More intimacy with Jesus Christ. Most worthy Gaius AS there are some Capital Sins for which we must abase our selves all our days such as have broken our Consciences should often break our hearts As there are some Cardinal Vertues to speak in the Moralists language which must be our every-days work as being the Essentials of Christianity so are there some Providential Dispensations in the course of our lives which must be acknowledged even to Eternity amongst which we may well reckon loving and faithful friends constant mens affections being of themselves meer weather-cocks very mutable which are Gods Vials by which he pours his favors upon us And here Sir I must rank you with those for whose acquaintance I have much cause to bless God having received in few years more real love from you then divers do from some of their friends in many years Your hearty kindeness hath made so deep an impression upon me that I cannot satisfie my self without some publike Acknowledgement of that whereof so many have been witnesses I can confidently and indeed have very much reason speak to you in the language of John The Elder unto the welbeloved Gaius whom I love in the Truth far be it from be in a glorying way onely to complement with him who hath expressed so much affectionate reality unto me And without flattery I do pray That you may prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers through the rich mercy of God in Christ to you Pray let me adde this by way of thankfulness to God it being a return of weak Prayers I rejoyce greatly to hear so many of the deserving Brethren testifie of the truth that is in you and that not onely in your tongue or outside profession onely but that you walk in the truth making the truth your path which leads to Christ who is the Way the Truth and the life Joh. 14.6 And I trust through the goodness of your God I may have occasion in his time which is always the best to rejoyce as John also did that yours walk in the truth But your love to me together with your dear and gracious Consorts puts so much the stronger obligation upon me it being not onely personal both in my former health and time of present sickness but indeed to my dear Mother the University of Cambridge which I must ever love and honor whose welfare you have in your Sphaere most happily promoted and that with such laborious and bountiful respect as stands upon Record with thankful Acknowledgement amongst us Go on beloved Sir to love Jesus Christ in and for himself love him in his Ordinances and in his Saints value all the outward comforts with reference to him and his glory Ride on prosperously in your Zeal for Truth and in the exercise of meekness and moderation of Spirit which is a Scripture expression of the Spirit of Jesus Christ and for want of which many great pretenders to Reformation look too too much like as if they were acted by a Diabolical Spirit therein The Lord multiply his Graces in you and yours and his Blessings upon you all Accept this from him Who desires as a faithful friend to serve you in love Thomas Hill From your own house in Westminster Apr. 28 1648. The SPRING of Strengthning Grace IN THE ROCK of AGES Christ Jesus 2 TIM 2.1 Thou therefore my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus WEll might Solomon among other of his Divine Oracles publish this in the 30. verse of the 11. of the Proverbs The righteous is as a tree of life and he that wins souls is wise and Daniel who in Ezekiel was ranked amongst the chiefest of wise men They that be wise and they that turn many to God in Dan. 12.3 they shall shine like stars Paul likewise is a most glorious instance of this who took a great deal of pains though he met with many crosses in fishing for souls he became all to all that is in the use of indifferent things not to venture upon any thing which is unlawful as many wrest the place to gratifie their own lusts that he might save some Paul himself it seems did not expect to gain all he preached unto doubtless this is a very high point of wisdom for hereby they trade most for Gods glory and best for their own Eternal good being glorified with him and by him And I do not believe there is any that was a meer man to say no more that will bring more Troops more Regiments of Children such as have been victorious Soldiers over the Devil and his Agents at the day of Judgement then Paul will he will have a large flock as Behold here am I and the children thou hast given me and none of the meanest of these will be his Son Timothy which leads me to the first part of the words The persons Exhorting and Exhorted Paul the Father and Timothy the Son it may be a Son not so much because he beg at him to the Faith it is probable he found him a Disciple for ought appears in Acts 16.1 there the first time that I can remember that Paul met with Timothy and there he calls him a Disciple and you finde in 2 Tim. 1.5 how Paul blesseth God for the Faith that is in Timothy which dwelt first in thy Grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice therefore he may be his Son rather in regard of his Spiritual Education then by being begotten As a Master or a Tutor is a Father though he did not beget his Children his Pupils or his Schollers but onely train them up 2. Here is the Exhortation The substance of it Be strong as becomes a Soldier of Jesus Christ. 3. Here is the Rock of this strength Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus It is not by any intrinsecal strength but in the grace that is in thy Head Christ Jesus 4. Here is the Engaging illation the particle that comprizeth an Argument that engageth him to it Thou therefore my son Therefore Why because thou hast so great a trust committed to thee Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus and That good thing which was committed to thee ver 14 keep by the holy Ghost that dwelleth in us Still he leads him to seek strength from above Keep by the holy Ghost Be strong 〈◊〉