Homer that God is the Father of Spirits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Father of Angelical Beings and of the Souls of men of Spirits hath inspired into our immortal Souls an infinite appetite that no finite excellency created comfort or earthly thing can possibly fill Gold Silver Riches Honours Crowns Kingdoms are no fit matter or adequate object for such an immaterial and heaven-born Spirit to repose and feed upon with delectation and contentment but it would still be transported with a passionate disquietness ‖ Non satiat animum nisi incorruptibilis gaudii vera certa aeternitas S. August until it fasten and fix upon an object infinite both in excellency and endlesness wherein is contained the whole latitude of Entity and Goodness the ever blessed and only adored Trinity Which doth convince men That compleat happiness in this Life is a meer Speculation and it is not to be had in the valley of tears but in the possession of superlative Felicities let us therefore besiege Heaven with our united forces * Mat. 11.12 Faith is instrumentum ad scandendum coelum and Prayer is clavis coeli the Key that opens the Cabinet where the Jewel lies no other Artillery but this can batter the Citadel of the great King for Heaven it self can't be proof against Petitions often darted towards it but the violenâ—â— will take it by force Faith and Prayer and raise such batteries against Gods gates that we may break open those everlasting doors and take the Treasures of Eternity Livy tells us That the Gauls when they had tasted the Wines of Italy were so much taken with the pleasantness and lusciousness of them that they would not after rest contented with a bare Commerce and Trade thither but fixed their resolutions by Conquest to get possession of the Land that brought it forth Thus the Antepasts of Glory do but provoke the desires and erect the appetite of the believing Soul he is so far from being satisfied by foretastes or comfortable intercourse which it enjoys in part with the blessed Trinity by the Word Sacraments and other holy Ordinances that they do but augment his thirst after a plenary fruition out of the during Well-springs of Life and Immortality therefore his resolves are by a holy violence and conquest to get a possession in that spiritual Canaan from whence these Grapes are brought as Prelibations that he may drink of that Wine of the Kingdom and of those Rivers of pleasure Whom have I besides thee Thou O God dost far surpass all the contents of Israel as light doth pitch'd darkness thou art the joy of my heart and my portion for ever aim then at delights which transport Souls ravish Angels and force Seraphims into ecstasies Thirdly Quis mihi Who is for me Who pleads my cause in Heaven not any Saint or Angel nor yet the Holy Virgin * The Church of Rome gives 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Saints in Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more Worship to the B. Virgin But the Church of England 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the glory of religious Worship is not to be given to any Saint or Angel though never so blessed and glorious S. John falling at the feet of the holy Angel with an intent to worship him Rev. 22.8 9. met with a timely prohibition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See thou do it not if that Spirit no less humble than glorious bright had not given him to know that he was hiâ— fellow-servant that honour belongs to our Master only and not to me worship God Here let us remember those excellent words of S. Austin Tutiùs jucundiùs loquar ad meum Jesum quà m ad aliquem sanctorum Spirituum Dei I can speak safer and more pleasantly or chearfully to my Lord Jesus than to any of the Saints and Spirits of God If praying to Saints or Angels or the Holy Virgin had been a useful piece of Christian devotion that during above 4000 years that God had a Church in the World not one example saith the Reverend Dr. B. in his Missale Romanum is recorded in Scripture of any Holy man who ever called upon any created Saint or Angel And how is it like or possible that the universal Church in after times should learn either new ways towards Heaven or new ways of true help and comfort which neither Patriarchs nor Prophets nor Apostles ever taught or knew As the Pagans took the Idea of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Demonology from the Scriptures account of the true Messiah so in like manner the Papists received the original Idea of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saint-worship from this Pagan Demonology as 't is evident from 1 Tim. 4.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rarely demonstrated by Mede in a Treatise called The Apostasie of the latter Times but thou O Lord. And do not some dote on Images ‖ Lactantius says in relation to Images Dubium non est quin religio nulla sit ubicunque simulacrum est Where-ever an Image is meaning for Worship there is no Religion for it robs God of honour who will not have his glory given to another nor his praise to graven Images promulgated by his own holy Law The Greek Church speaks emphatically We do not forbid Pictures the Art is noble 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but their adoration and worship we detest as forbidden by the Holy Ghost in holy Scripture Hab. 2.18 19. lest we should ignorantly adore Colours Art and the Creature instead of our Creator They worship the Creature saith S. Paul Rom. 1.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 besides the Creator so it should be read if we worship any Creature besides God worshipping so as the worship of him becomes a part of Religion is a direct Superstition therefore it is good reason that the Watchmen who stand upon the Lords Tower and tell what of the night should decry the darkness of Idolatry and Superstitition and warn the people that they may neither be taken into the whirlpools of danger nor carried down the stream of ungodliness but walk in the ways of Scripture and Christianity contending for that Faith which forbids all worship of Images with the Romanists and others on Imaginations with Factionists who fall into the heat of contention the fire of Schism How few are in the right way of Gods prescriptions which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord our God is one Lord. Unity is written in the high Court of Bliss in Letters of Glory and ought it not to be in golden Characters or capital Letters here below to be seen and read of all men and be set as a Copy for others to write after Christians should live on Earth as Angels do in Heaven not disagreeing among themselves Many that would be lookt upon as living stones in the spiritual building go about to demolish so fair a structure by bringing into the Temple the noise of axes and hammers and when they may be sharers in the
a perfum'd breath and richness of Language as if they were made with the first Adam speak of the Dictates of the Patriarchs and Testimonies of the Prophets but in vain do any boast they are descended from Abraham since he is not a Jew who is one outward in the flesh bur inward in the Spirit as our Saviour told the Pharisees vaunting of Antiquity Joh. 8. except they did the works of Abraham and abide in the Truth Truth then is the Child of Time and as there is Antiquity of Time so also of Truth and Doctrine And so long as the Romish Church continued in the profession and practice of Apostolical purity i. e. of Faith and Doctrine which was once given to the Saints all other Christian Churches held Communion with her for the Church of Rome did not anciently in former Ages hold all these Doctrines which now she owns The ancient Church of Rome was but a Member of the Catholick Church of God of which Jesus Christ was Head But the now Roman Church does at this day what S. Augustine * De Vnit Eccles cap. 6. told to the Donatists inclose the Catholick Church within their own circuits and usurps it wholly to her self of which the Pope is Head And the Papacy will have their Pope by reason of the Kingdom of Christ to be the Head and King of the Church in ordine ad Spiritualia and consequently the Supreme Civil Power over the Monarchs of the Earth in ordine ad Temporalia to be the Head and King of the Church Such a Church was never in Rome for many hundred years after our Saviour no Bishop ‖ Gregory Bishop of Rome Ego fidenter dico quia quisquis se universalem Sacerdotem vocat vel vocari desiderat in elatione sâ—â Antichristum praecurrit Pope Pelagius distinct 99. Vniversalis autem nec etiam Romanus Pontifex appelletur Cyril Patriarch of Constantinople 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did assume Christs Title to be the Head of the Church till Boniface the Third who not contenting himself with his Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical and fulness of Spiritual Power but his towring Ambition aspires yet higher and with much contention obtained of the Rebel Phocas about the year 604. who murder'd Maurice the Emperour the Title of Universal The Pope looking for Primacy on Earth is very unlike his heavenly Master whose Vicar he pretends to be Christ paid Tribute unto Caesar Luke 20.25 but the Pope that Prevaricator of the Apostolick See exacts it from them and Caesar pays unto him Our Saviour wash'd his Disciples feet but the Bishop of Rome in these days with imaginary Supremacy causes the greatest Princes and mightiest Emperors do him Homage and swear Allegiance * Clement the Fifth call'd a Council at Vienna An. 1311. in which it was ordained and decreed That the Emperour his Lord should give his Oath of Allegiance to the Pope for being not content with his Primacy abused Religion into Policy and casting off all moderation the Pope devoured the Emperour Thus the Head of the Church degenerated into a Monster and in reaching at Temporal Soveraignty he broke the Spiritual Unity contrary to the Divine Authority and Majesty of the Scripture Let every Soul be subject to the higher powers Rom. 13. and to the King as Supreme 1 Pet. 2.13 As Heathen Rome under the Emperours Domitian and others would be adored as Gods though never so impious so Rome Christian falls under the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Apostle Sitting in the Temple of God as God 2 Thess 2.4 and exalting himself above all that is called God * Zacharias Papa ex authoritate Sancti Petri Apostoli mandat populo Francorum ut Pepinus qui potestate Regiâ utebatur etiam nominis dignitate frueretur Ita Hildericus ultimus Merovingorum qui Francis imperabat depositus est in monasterio missus est Marian. Scot. Hist lib. 3. Lambertus Danaeus in his Response to Bellarmine the great Master of Controversie contending that Childerick was lawfully deposed by Pope Zacharias Can Zachary saith he have Authority in France being a Stranger Can he depose the publick Magistrate being but a private person though he were Bishop of Rome or transfer that Principality to Pepin that he hath no Right unto and commit so many Sacriledges and Impieties stealing from Childerick and giving to Pepin another mans Right Authorizing Subjects to violate their Oaths which they had sworn to their King Transposing Kingdoms from one man to another whereas it doth only belong to God to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdoms Thou mayest see Bellarmine how many outrages this thy Zachary hath committed Resp Danae ad Bellar. lib. 2. cap. 17. pag. 316. in a superlative Greatness and that not of order and precedency only as to Ecclesiastical Regency stretching his Diocese over all Bishops and Churches in the Christian World but of absolute Authority claiming universal Jurisdiction in a Monarchiâ—al Superintendency or Regality over all Christendom with a Power to depose Kings and dispose of Crowns and Kingdoms for the benefit of the Church is a Title only of Usurpation without any ground of Scripture or Antiquity First Christ was no Temporal Monarch but an Eternal King to rescue us from the thraldom of sin the sorcery of the flesh and the Curse of the Law Christ was no earthly King and left no Regal Power to S. Peter therefore the Pope can have no Civil Power or Temporal Dominion as the Vicegerent of Christ and consequently overturns and destroys the Doctrine of Supremacy The Lawgiver himself even Ipse Ille that bare rule in Heaven the incarnate and crucified Messias Joh. 12.36 saith My Kingdom is not of this World Whereas that Sect of Politicians the Romanists turns the Kingdom of Christ into outward Pomp and Bravery and they to have the Managery and Government of it as if the now See of Rome should be known to be the most Christian Bishop not in having with Christ no Temporalties but an absolute Soveraignty to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdoms which is nothing less than a strange Usurpation for the Son of God did never impose such a hard duty and condition to Kings that were to become Christians as to forsake their Imperial Crowns and Diadems except in their hearts and affections and in comparison of the Kingdom of God O Eternal Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Light of Truth inspire the Universal Church with the Spirit of Truth Unity and Concord and grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the Truth of thy holy Word and live in unity and godly love Secondly View it in relation to the Apostles who were the Patriarchs of the Church And the Evangelists make special mention of their Names as those to whom we owe great honour and veneration being conversant with Christ and daily instructed by him who continued with him unto his Passion and Crucifixion and after his Resurrection
have I in Heaven but thee All the Blessings that we do enjoy are the sweet influences of Heaven upon us Spiritual or Temporal First Spiritual Blessings in heavenly places arise from no other Spring and are Irradiations of the Trinity and the great kindness of Heaven to Mankind in relation to these Souls of ours The Father Son and Holy Ghost have all done their parts for them The Father gave his only Son the Son gave himself left his Glory and endured the bitter Death of the Cross meerly to keep our Souls from perishing The Holy Ghost is become as it were our Attendant waits upon us with continual offers of his Grace to enable us to do that which may preserve them These things all the Persons work equally and inseparably in respect of the Cause and Effect It is a Rule in Divinity That all the Works of the Trinity ad extra are common to the whole Trinity God the Father Son and Holy Ghost do co-operate and work together for what one doth all do yet in congruity we attribute a distinct Act in regard of the Order and Object 1. The Father Creates Gen. 1.1 In Order the original of Action is ascribed to the Father Joh. 5.17 19. 2. The Son Redeems Gal. 3.13 The Nature and Manner of Working to the Son Joh. 1.3 Heb. 12. 3. The Holy Ghost Illuminates 2 Pet. 1.21 The Efficacy and Power to the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 11.12 The Father is to be adored as altogether of Himself The Son to be glorified as that Consubstantial Word The Holy Ghost to be magnified as that Co-essential Spirit eternally proceeding from Both. The Three Persons in the Trinity is the Object of our Faith and we daily owne it in our Creed 1. We believe in God the Father who made the World 2. In God the Son who redeem'd all Mankind 3. In God the Holy Ghost who sanctifies all the Elect People of God An Unity of Essence and a Trinity of Order Ordo Originis though not Regiminis Co-ordinativus though not Sub-ordinativus of Priority though not Superiority a First a Second and a Third though not a higher lower and lowest Deut. 6.4 1 Cor. 8.6 for the Lord our God is one Lord the Godhead or Essence of God is one undivided * This Tradition of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was a point of great discourse amongst the Ancients it was the great Principle on which Parmenides founded his divine Idea's delivered by Plato Platonicae ideae ortum habuerunt ex Parmenide cujus magnum principium fuit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one and many one in the Architype Idea God many in their individual Natures or otherwise it relates to the Unity of the Divine Essence and the Plurality of Persons for the Platonists speak much of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Trinity Parmenides who followed Pythagoras is brought in by Plato philosophizing on that old Axiom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One and Many and determined thus That God was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. one Divine Essence he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one immutable Being he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Eternal Being This Plato discourseth in his Philebus at large shewing how 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One was Many and Many One. And it is not only good Philosophy but sound Divinity the Godhead considered diversly for the manner of Being is Three Persons in One Essence the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost 1 Joh. 5.7 The Father is the First Person of the Trinity having Foundation in none of Personal Substance 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not begotten to the Father The Son is the Second Person of the Trinity having Foundation of Personal Substance of whom he is eternally begotten Joh. 5.26 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Begotten to the Son The Holy Ghost is the Third Person in the Trinity having Foundation from the Father and the Son from both which he especially proceedeth Joh. 14.26 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Proceeding to the Holy Ghost Here is a threefold Unity of Persons in one Nature of Natures in One Person of Natures and Persons in One Quality In the First is one God In the Second one Christ In the Third one Spirit All this Unity is but to usher in a single Deity S. Paul concludes all with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is one God Eph. 4.6 And the Soul carrieth an Image of the Unity of the Godhead and Trinity of Persons in that there is one Soul with three Faculties of Understanding Will and Memory Let us all now lift up our heart and voice and praise God chanting forth the Anthem of the Seraphims for the Redemption of the World by our Lord Jesus Christ the Second Person of the Trinity concluding with S. Basil's Liturgy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O God our God who hast sent this heavenly Bread the Food of all the World Our Lord Jesus Christ to be to us a Saviour a Redeemer Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all the Company of Heaven we laud and magnifie thy glorious Name evermore praising thee and saying Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts Heaven and Earth are full of thy Glory Secondly As Spiritual so Temporal Blessings are the product of Heaven This Day is a signal Instance and carries with it the Pomp of Blaze and Splendour as it is the Anniversary of His Majesty's happy Birth and Nativity And that Divine Providence that brought him this Day into the World hath led him by the hand of his visible goodness Ever since he entred the porch of life and walked upon the pavement of the Earth he has had the Royal Charter of Heaven and enjoy'd the testimony of Gods special care even a Writ of Protection 1 Chron. 16.22 Touch not mine Anointed do my Prophets no harm His Life hath been a continued Series of Divine Favour The Adversary hath not been able to do him violence the Son of wickedness could not hurt him but he hath smitten down his Foes before his face cloathed them with shame and wounded them that hated him The great Majesty of Heaven was a Helmet of Salvation unto him a strong Tower of Defence against his cruel Enemies Domestick and Foreign at home and abroad First Cruel Enemies at home who invested their Sword with the Authority of Law and made themselves after the Image of a King and usurp'd the Seat Royal chang'd the Kingdom into a State and Monarchy into a Common-wealth This was in the time of our late Troubles and Confusions when Monarchy was shaken off Religion and Property were lost and Laws and Liberty were with no small violence invaded being as in the days of Jeroboam whoever would 1 Kings 13.33 were consecrated Priests of the high places And when Souldiers turn'd Preachers every act of Providence that seems to favour their Designs shall be the voice of God Every opportunity to do mischief to such as they
oppose shall be interpreted a Command from Heaven to do it Judg. 5.23 Curse ye Meroz was the Text Rapine and Plunder the Comment and the Use Wars sounded as loud from the Pulpit as the Drum as if it had been the task of the Heavens to kill and slay and for its Arms hung in the Zodiack Man's Anatomy to shew they were born with those that arose oâ— the Dragon's Teeth in the Poet Mutuis perire gladiis to bleed to death on one another's Swords And here I may lead your thoughts to the unnatural Civil War in our British Isle when Tribe did rise against Tribe Brother against Brother Marte cadunt subito per mutua vulnera fratres Ovid. And the sight of one Aceldama one field of Blood will raise mens careless thoughts to a due valuation and grateful apprehension of the comforts we enjoy under our most Gracious Soveraign He that has escaped with him in Job to bring news of rapine and violence can best tell us what it is to see a flourishing Land become a Sea of Blood because War playes Pliny's Cockatrice annoying whatsoever it doth touch He can tell us what it is to see the Horse in equal state with its Rider both of them weltering in their own gore He can shew us what it is to see the obedient Son run over his slain Father to escape the hands of his own Executioner He can shew us what it is to see the burning of Cities and the woful Inhabitants martyr'd in the flames Is not every Siege the Funeral of a City * Quot obsidia tot urbium funera quot pugnae tot hominum lanienae quot agmina tot ruris supplicia quot turmae catervae cohortes acies tot suriae ad exitium agrorum hominum armatae Putean in stat bell pacis lit every pitched Battle a Massacre If a Samuel 1 Sam. 15.33 hew Agag in pieces a David in the heat of War falls a cutting Ammonites 1 Chron. 20.3 Sin Satan and War have all one Name Evil is the best of them The best of Sin is deformity the best of Satan enmity the best of War misery * The Turkish History makes mention of the Scythian Tamâ—rlane when he walked amongst the slain aâ—ter a bloody Victory against the Muscovites He accounted those Princes unhappy which by the destruction of their own kind sought to advance their own honour protesting himself grieved even from his heart to see such sorrowful tokens of his Victory It is no wonder now to complain as the Orator to the Athenians whatsoever they gain in their thrifty Peace they are deprived of by those consuming Tumults for what Paradise is there under Heaven which a lasting War will not easily turn into a Wilderness Many in this Nâ—tion have witnessed the truth of it with their eyes and its horrour with their tears by these inconveniences we may judge of the benefits of Peace and may see what gracious opportunities it doth yield for the practice of Religion and Godliness We may behold with joy and thankfulness that the Ark the Testimony of Gods presence which was long held captive among the Philistins is now returned and happily setled among us and that his Worship is duly performed in his Word and Sacraments Let his lungs waste in his breast let his spirits decay let his tongue languish to a perpetual silence that will not beseech God to establish this blessing as firm as the days of Heaven and wish its continuance O then pray for the Peace * Pulchriùs vomer quà m ensis splendet bidens quà m hasta meliùs ferro vervacta agrorum quà m agmina agricolarum proscinduntur saith Puteanus of our Jerusalem that love her and consequently for the life and prosperity of the Monarch of Great Britain King Charles II. our dread Soveraign the light of our eyes and the breath of our nostrils Lam. 4.20 who causes malignant vapours to vanish and dispels those clouds of mischief by his Princely power that would turn Religion into Rebellion and Faith into Faction cry up Priviledge to invade Regal Prerogative and under the notion of the Preservers of our Peace and Defenders of our Liberties reach out their hand to turn the stream of Royalty and subvert an excellent Monarchy into a Tyrannical Republick The Fallacy having been put on the Kingdom and Cheat acted once before it will not easily prevail with men of sober and rational judgments to renounce their Religion the best in the world or their Loyalty and obedience to the best of Kings whose Princely Goodness is not more tender of the Imperial Crown and Dignity than of the Peace and tranquillity of the Subject The one as it regards Royal honour the other the care of his People to cause Religion happily to flourish and Liberty Laws and Property to be safe and inviolable with the Blessings of Heaven notwithstanding the subtile insinuations and cunning stratagems of the old Enemies of Monarchy and the Church to throw us back into a relapse which reminds us of the late Rebellion when men in Buff durst proclaim themselves the only Legal Authority of the Nation and these like a mighty Torrent did drive all before them with an unruly violence brake down the banks of Ecclesiastical Discipline making no difference betwixt things Sacred and Common swallowed up Churches with their Revenues and laid desolate Sanctuaries of Piety and Religion Here we may wail out an Epicedium War and desolation poverty and paleness and garments roll'd in blood hearing the woful groans of dying men and bitter lamentations of Children for their Parents The Orphan blubbers his cheeks and sighs with Elisha O my Father my Father Now David breaths out an Elegy and O Absalom Absalom my Son my Son And Rachel likewise weeps and will not be comforted because they are not These were the miseries this Kingdom groan'd under after the Barbarous and horrid Murder of that Glorious Martyr King Charles the First of ever Blessed Memory And so it continued under the heavy yoke of an insolent Usurpation till his Majesty's happy Restauration actual Government and gracious Reign over us in peace and quietness security and freedom We owe the happiness of these temporal enjoyments under God to the prudent Conduct of Regal Majesty And here take this Thesis or Doctrine by way of affirmative Position If the Church be depriv'd of Kingly Majesty she is as apt to be infected with home-bred Errours as Foreign injuries for when there was no King in Israel Judg. 17.6 every man did what was right in his own eyes We see then the Office of a King is attended with as much burden as Jurisdiction He must encounter with Adversaries For has the holy Oyl been pour'd upon his Head and the Crown setled upon it by Divine Providence which over-rules Nature He that has given him the Crown gave the Sword also to secure and guard it and as it was Judah's Prerogative to