30. 11. or at least fitted them for the external pressure of such a judgement and comforted them with the promises belonging unto the remnant according to the Election of grace of which we finde many in this our Prophet For either the meek of the earth shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger Zeph. 2. 3. or though involved in the outward judgement yet it shall go well with them Isaiah 3. 10. Now from all this we learne 1. To Blesse God for the glorious benefit of his Presence yet amongst us now for above an hundred yeares for the possession of his Oracles the Ministry of his Word the Seales of his Covenant the Liberty of his Ordinances the Mysteries of the Gospel and unsearchable Riches of Christ set forth before us continually which things the Angels look into which Kings and Prophets and righteous men have desired to see and have not seen them This is so great a mercy that the Scripture calls it by the name of salvation it self Joh. 4. 22. Act. 28. 28. Heb. 2. 3. 2. To walk worthy of this glorious mercy to adorne the doctrine of the Gospel by lives answerable unto it as those that have avouched the Lord for their God and Christ for their King Phil. 1. 27. Tit. 2. 10 14. It was a pious and devout Meditation of Picus Mirandala who professed himself amaz'd at the studies or rather frenzies of men both to be wondered at the lamented for if it be a great madnesse for men not to believe the Gospel the truth whereof hath been confirmed by the witnesse of Apostles the blood of Martyrs the power of Miracles the attestation of Elements the confession of Devils It is then certainly a greater madnesse Si de Evangelii veritate non dubitas vivere tamen quasi de ejus falsitate non dubitares to professe to believe the torments of hell and the joyes of Heaven and yet so to live as if we feared nothing lesse then Hell or desired nothing lesse then Heaven Certainly our plagues will be answerable to our Talents if we have not improved them Luk. 12. 47. 3. To tremble at the judgement here threatned of Gods departing from us and giving us a Bill of Divorce and casting us out of his family and removing our Candlestick as a very preface to Goe ye cursed If we have ever duly thought of the horrours of Caine the howlings of Esau the distresse of Saul the despaire of Judas we may passe some judgement what it is to forfeit God and to have him nolonger for our God What great reason we have to feare this judgement and lay this matter close to our hearts may appear if we consider 1. The sinnes which provoke Gods departing from a people amongst others such as these 1. Divers and strange doctrines which corrupt the truth of God Heresie in the Easterne Churches made way for Mahumitanisme And therefore when the Apostle makes mention of the dayes of Apostacy when God was in great measure departed from the Church we finde him still mentioning delusions lies doctrines of Devils resisting of the Truth 2 Thes. 2. 11. 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 8. 2. Incorrigiblenesse under former judgements for the Lord will not alwayes strive either by his Spirit or by his Rod but will overcome when he judgeth Amos 4. 12. though he repent once and again yet he will at last take the plumb line into his hand Amos 7. 1 7. 3. Contempt and scorne of his Messengers and their message which he hath sent rising early and sending them 2 Chron. 36. 16. when the servants were beaten and stoned and the sonne slaine then quickly after the Kingdome was taken away Mat. 21. 33 43. Mat. 24. 34 38. Certainly since the reformation of Religion the Ministers of the Gospel have never been under more reproach and contempt and that by a Generation of men that think themselves perfecter then others then in this Age they are heretofore they were the song of drunkards now of such as own themselves for Saints 4. Remisseness and backsliding from our first love Rev. 2. 5 7. falling away from that high esteeme which once we had of the Ordinances of Christ of the communion of Saints and earnest zeale for the faith once delivered to the Saints 5. Neglecting the day and season of grace and the voice of Christ in the Gospel playing the wantons with so great a depositum as the Jews did not considering in this our day the things which belong unto our peace Luke 19. 42 43. when men will not receive Instruction God threatneth to depart Jer. 6. 8. 2. If we consider the Symptomes of Gods threatning to depart from us besides the forementioned sins As 1. Loosning the joynts of Government and making continual changes in a State It is a signe of sicknesse in the body when it knows not how to rest but is in perpetual agitation from Chamber to Chamber from Couch to Couch from Bed to Bed and so it is in a State when a Parliament doth not please we try a piece of it then down with that once and againe and try new experiments a certaine signe of a sick Nation It was in the ten Tribes a forerunner of this judgement threatned by our Prophet when they so often pulled down one another and it may justly make England tremble when they compare their condition and that of the ten Tribes before their deportation together 2. Divided interests and intestine dissentions amongst the people Manasse Ephraim and Ephraim Manasse and both against Judah this the Prophet makes an evidence that Gods anger would not turne away from Israel Isa. 9. 21. These kinde of doleful intestine commotions were sad forerunners of the fatal destruction of Jerusalem of which we read in Josephus 3. Confusions and divisions in the Church brethren biting and devouring one another and thereby opening a wide doore for the common enemy to enter in at for union strengthens the interests of those united and divisions betray them Jerusalem is a City compacted the Coat of Christ a seamlesse Coat and therefore the Apostle bids us mark those that cause divisions and offences and avoid them as men that drive an interest and do not serve Jesus Christ Romans 16. 17 18. 4. Multitudes of seducing spirits and Emissaries of Satan who go up and down without controle sowing tares and laying levens shaking the mindes of credulous and simple people who are apt to be turned about with every winde of doctrine and slyly insinuating under disguises and other shapes such doctrines as in their own proper colours would be rejected 5. The uselesness of many men eminent for piety and prudence by whose great perspicacy and grave wisedome dangers might be discovered breaches healed difficulties removed expedients offered paths restored to walk in A sad providence when the Lord maketh the tongues of such men to cleave to the roof of their mouth and layes them in his displeasure not to them
whereby Christ dwells in believers illightning their mindes bending their wills subduing their lusts erecting a tribunal and judgement seat in their hearts giving accesse unto and communion with the Father and the Son Gal. 2. 20. Ephes. 3. 17. for the work of the Spirit is to bring God and Christ unto the soul as his Temple wherein be delighteth to dwell Isa. 57. 15. 3. In works of Peace and Comfort in which respect he is called the Comforter John 14. 16. 16. 7. and the Reports which he makes of God and Christs to the soul are called the Comforts of the holy Ghost Act. 9. 31. Now the Spirit doth bring the consolations of God to the soul of a beleever as a Witness A Seale An Earnest A Seed 1. As a Witnesse He testifieth our Adoption and the truth of the promises causing the heart to acknowledge Gods fidelity in them Rom. 8. 16. 1 Joh. 5. 6 8. 2. As a Seale he ratifies our title and Gods grant to those promises so attested Eph. 4. 30. God by his Spirit sealeth and marketh his own children for himself Isa. 43. 21. Ezek. 9. 4. and so secureth their hearts that he is theirs 1. Joh. 4. 13. 3. As an Earnest and pledge of those glorious things the truth whereof he witnesseth and the property whereunto he sealeth to believers giving livery and seizen and in part possession per primitias gloriae unto them Rom. 8. 23. Eph. 1. 14. 4. As a Seed of God or vital root of grace and comfort when through corruption grace may be abated or comfort overclouded Psal. 97. 11. 1. John 2. 9. In these things standeth the presence of God in his Church The greatnesse of this mercy to have the Lord thus graciously present with a people is more then the tongue of a man or Angel is able to expresse These are some few of those unspeakable benefits which usually come along with it 1. Manifestation of himself and of the secrets of his love and counsel to the Church John 14 21. he shews unto a soul the salvation of God Psal. 50. 23. comes and sups with it Rev. 3. 20. brings it into the banquetting house Cant. 2. 4. unto a feast of fatted things The Ordinances make the Church an Eden a Paradise no tree of life nor meanes of salvation out of that garden 2. Cohabitation and gracious converse with the soules of men having his abode in them John 14. 23. It is a rich mercy as Galeacius said to have but one hours communion with God but when he dwells in his Church as in setled place 1 Reg. 8. 13. Psal. 68. 16. and makes a soul or people his Temple this is truly the glory of such a soul or people 1 Sam. 4. 21. 3. Protection and defence If God be with us who can be against us If he be in the midst of us we shall not be moved Psal. 46. 5. the Lord will cover his people all the day long the beloved of the Lord shall dwell by him in safety Deut. 33. 12. 4. Intimate delight and dearnesse where the Lord dwells he delights He taketh pleasure in those that feare him his desire is towards them Psal. 147. 11. Prov. 11. 20. Cant. 7. 10. 5. Supplies of grace strength ability and assistance unto duties Christ comes not to nakes walls he beautifies the place of his abode and makes it glorious Psalme 149. 4. Isa. 11. 10. and makes us strong in the power of his might Eph. 6. 10. 6. Victory he comes to the soul as Joshua to Canaan to dispossess the ancient Inhabitants Zac. 14. 21. Ezek. 28. 24. We have briefly considering the Glory and honour of a people who have God thus with them as their God owning them comforting blessing defending encamping about them for it is nearnesse unto God and the enjoyment of righteous Lawes and holy Ordinances which makes a Nation great and honourable Deut. 4. 7 8. Isa. 43 4 5. Let us now proceed to consider what it is for God to depart from a people and how great a woe it bringeth along with it 1. We must remember that the Catholick and universal Church is indeficient though not in its own Nature for by the same reason that any particular Church may fail all may yet in regard of the promises which are made unto it That the Gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it Matth. 16. 18. That Christ will be with it to the end of the world Mat. 28. 20. Of the Kingdome of Christ there shall be no End Luke 1. 33. Christ will alwayes have a people on the earth to serve him His Throne shall be as the Sunne and as a faithful witnesse in heaven Psalme 89. 36 37. These are promises made to the universal Church and to all who should throughout the world believe in Christ as Chrysostome Austine Prosper and others have expounded them 2. We say that particular Churches are defectible They may fall from God and God may depart from them He hath not to any particular Church or Nation made an absolute promise of abiding with them for ever No Church ever did challenge this Priviledg but the Romane Church which yet the Apostle warneth to take heed least God spare not them as he spared not the natural branches but brake them off Rom. 11. 20 21. This Truth we finde verified in the examples of the ten Tribes who were at last Lo-ammi quite unchurched and cast off by God Hos. 1. 9. and of the Jewish Church the natural branches from whom the Kingdome of God hath been taken and wrath come upon them to the uttermost Matth. 21. 43. 1 Thes. 2. 16. according as God threatned if they forsook him he would forsake them 2 Chron. 15. 2. And in those famous Churches of Asia from whom the Candlestick is removed and they swallowed up in the deluge of Mahumetanisme 3. For opening this sore judgement of Gods departing from a people we may observe That the Scripture setteth forth Desertion unto us three manner of wayes In a way of propitiation In a way of probation And in a way of punishment 1. In a way of propitiation So God the Father forsook Christ in his Agony and Passion when his soule was made an offering for sinne not because he ceased to love him or to delight in him there was no solution of union nor substraction of love or favour but a with-drawing and hiding of Vision and comfort whereby Christ was to make an attonement for us by bearing for us the weight and sense of Divine wrath Mat. 27. 46. Isa. 53. 4 5. 2. In a way of probation when the Lord in some particular case departs from a man to try him and discover his own weaknesse unto him for if God never so little turne away his face and supportance from us and suspend the operations of his Spirit upon us we quickly finde by sad experience that of our selves we have no sufficiency to think or do any thing
but to the nation aside as Rejected stones unfit for the building Lastly the General Senselesness of Judgments past or present the sleep of slumber and security which is upon most of us as upon Jonah in the Tempest few awakening themselves to cry unto God or to poure out their Confessions Complaints or Supplications at the throne of Grace The Lord open our Eyes and perswade us in this our day to lay to heart the things which belong unto our peace to prepare to meet our God to hold him fast with strong cryes and love of his Truth and not to let him go till he preserve three sinful Nations and snatch them as Brands out of the burning or at least that we our selves may be hid in the day of the Lords Anger I shall Conclude with a few words of Exhortation both unto the people in generall and unto you who are Magistrates of this great City in particular unto such things as seeme necessary Remedies of our great danger and Means to keep our glory in the midst of us still First to the people 1. Repent and do your first works else Iniquity will be your ruine Even after a bill of divorce God allows an adulterous Church to returne unto him Jer. 3. 1 22. Hos. 2. 2 19. In a day of darkeness and gloominess of horses and horsemen of fire and Earthquake of Armies and Terrors the Lord calls on his people to Turne to him with intimation of a gracious Answer Joel 2. 12 13 14 18 19. With a peradventure of mercy Zeph. 2. 3. This means God prescribeth unto Ephesus to preserve their Candlestick amongst them Rev. 2. 5. If this be neglected no people nearer unto Cursing then those who have enjoyed the light and presence of God ripening only thorns and briars Heb. 6. 8. Amos 3. 2. 2. Wrestle mightily with God be not refused nor rejected let the Lord know you are Resolved to hold fast and not to let him go without a blessing Gen. 32. 26. Lord rather no Canaan no milk no honie no houses no vineyards no heards no flocks no Angel then No God Exod. 33. 14 15 16. Lord whither shall we go to mend our selves thou only hast the words of eternal life Joh. 6. 67 68. Will changes in Government mend us will a Democracy or Aristocracy or any other form of Politie mend us if God be going away from us Ask the Prophet Now saith he they shall say we have no King because we feared not the Lord What then should a King do to us Hos. 10. 3. if we feare not the Lord if we sweare falsely in a Covenant if we be an empty Vine and if our heart be divided and we are found faulty the best Governments can do us but little good 3. Resolve every man with Joshua As for me and my House we will serve the Lord Joshua 24. 15. I will tread in the steps of my father Abraham I will command my children and my houshold to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. as David did Solomon Prov. 4. 3 4. If they be my children and my servants if they expect from me the love of a Father or the care of a Master My God shall be their God I will shew the love of a Father and Governour unto them in not suffering their souls by any neglect of mine to be poisoned or endangered by any perverse or Heretical doctrine The way to keep God in a Nation is for every man to keep God in his own heart and in his own family first 4. Prize highly the presence of Christ in his Ordinances the communion of Saints the assembling of your selves together Heb. 10. 24. Contend earnestly for the faith Jude v. 3. Buy the truth sell it not Prov. 23. 23. Let no interest no party no policie make you willing to part with any truth of God for promoting any designe of man If any man speak disgracefully of the Scriptures if any man tempt you to forsake the Ordinances or to beget any low or base esteeme of them in you say unto him as Christ to Satan get thee behinde me Christ will not forsake those to whom he is precious The more value we set upon him the more careful we will be to keep him the more willing he will be to continue with us 5. Pull off the vizard and look through the disguizes which are put upon false doctrines to render them the more plausible Hereticks will bring in their opinions privily and by faire words and good speeches will deceive the hearts of the simple they have Mystery on their forehead Rom. 16. 17. Eph. 4. 14. Col. 2. 8 18. 2 Thes. 2. 3. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Rev. 17. 5. When Agrippina poisoned Claudius she mingled the poison with the meat that he loved as men gild over bitter pills and as Lucretius speaks tip the Cup wherein there is a bitter potion with hony Satan knows how to transform himself into an Angel of light and under pretentions of higher perfection like painted Sepulchres to veile over and palliate rotten and unsound opinions 6. Judge of Ends by the Meanes which are used to compass and promote them there never wants good meanes to advance good Ends We shall never need to do evil that good may come of it Rom. 3. 8. the wife in the Law was not to do an undecent thing in defence of her own husband Deut. 25. 11 12. If you see men revile Ministers decry Ordinances broach Heresies foment Divisions disrespect and lay aside Wise Religious Sober Serious Grave Orthodox Patriots Latet anguis in herba certainly the ends may justly be suspected that make use of such expedients as these to promote them 2. To you that are Magistrates in this great City 1. Study your Character your Authority and your Duty carry your selves like Gods Ministers to be a terror to evil doers be men of courage loving truth c. Exod. 18. 21. 2 Sam. 23. 3 4. Rom. 13. 4. Beg wisdome of God as Solomon did that he may shew you the right way that you may have him his house and glory nearest to your heart If you intend Gods house he will preserve and build yours 2 Sam. 7. 11. If you appeare for him he will engage for you If you ask wisdome to serve him in your places he will give honour and other good things without your seeking 2. Be zealous and valiant for the glory name worship interests Truth of God as Phineas was His zeal for God put a stop to the wrath which was gone out against Israel A Moses a Phineas may stand in the breach and turne away wrath when God seemeth a departing Numl. 14. 12 17 20. Psal. 106. 23 30. put forth your selves be willing to shew your selves nursing Fathers to Gods Church Nurses will do all they can to keep poison from their children do you in your places labour to preserve the Church of Christ in this City from the leaven of
dangerous and pernicious doctrines When you are clearly satisfied and convinced That this is your duty to own God and his Truth to promote protect incourage countenance Orthodox Religion to withstand and counterwork the projects of seducers resolve as Nehemiah did that no fear shall weaken your hands Nehem. 6. 9 11 13. Shew your selves Gods Vice-gerents in publickly owning his truth and Ordinances to all the world This is our God whom we resolve to serve this is his worship and Religion which we own this the truth we will live and die in these the dangerous doctrines we resolve in our places and stations to withstand and by all righteous means in Gods way to prevent the growth and progresse of them What an honour would it be for such a famous City as this to be a President to all these Nations in letting the world see and know their zeal for God and love to his Truth in these backsliding dayes when many Religions do threaten the extirpation of All How highly they value how stedfastly they cleave to the unity and purity of that Religion under which they and their Fathers flourished in piety in peace in plenty in tranquility in prosperity in honour for above fourscore years together maugre all the power and policy of adversaries till of late years we our selves by our sinnes have loosened the joynts of Religion and Government and done that with our own hands which our enemies by all their machinations did in vaine attempt Oh that now when the Lord saith seck my face we would all say Thy face Lord we will seek when the Lord saith Turne ye back-sliding children and I will heale your back-sliding we would all with one heart with one soule with one shoulder answer Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God If prayers if teares if strong cries if reformed lives if zealous purposes if united Counsels will get a reprieve and keep our God amongst us we will stand in the gap we will hold him fast we will give him no rest till once again he make these Nations a praise in the earth and this City a Jehovah Shammah the Lord is there 3. Believe not those Donatistical and Pontifician spirits who go about to perswade you That Magistrates have nothing to do with Religion Nothing to do with Religion What then made David think of building God an house 2 Sam. 7. 2. and to set in order the courses of the Levites 1 Chron. 23. 6. and Priests Chap. 24. How came Solomon the Wise to build a Temple for Gods worship which he had nothing to do with 2 Chron. 6. How came Asa so bold to command Judah to seek the Lord God and that in order to the quietnesse of his Kingdome and victory over enemies 2 Chron. 14. 3 4 5 6 11. How came Jehoshophat so much to mistake as to take away high places and groves to provide that the people might be taught 2 Chron. 17. 6 9. and to command the Priests and Levites to do their duties 2 Chron. 19. 8 9. How came Hezekiah to be so zealous to purge the Temple to command the Priests and Levites 2 Chron. 29. 4 11 27 30. to Proclaime a Passeover 2 Chron. 30. 1 6. to appoint the courses of the Priests and Levites Chap. 31. 1 2. to command the people to give them their portions and not as we endeavour in this Age to take them away that they might be encouraged in the Law of the Lord ver. 4. How came young Josiah to take so much paines in reforming Religion 2 Chron. 34. 1 7. to cause all the people to stand to a Covenant v. 32. to command and encourage the Priests in the work of the Passeover 2 Chron. 35. 2. How came Nehemiah to Seal a Covenant Nehem. 10. 1. to 8. Enter into an Oath to keep the Sabbath and maintaine Religion v. 29. to take care of the portions of the Levites Chap. 13. 10. to threaten the violaters of the Sabbath ver. 21. to command the Levites to cleanse themselves ver. 22. to contend and curse and smite those that had married strange wives ver. 23. 30 31. to say nothing of the Laws and Edicts of Christian Emperours to restrain Heresies and Idolatrie of which we read in Saint Austin Was it zeale and duty in these men to take care of Religion and to purge corruption out of the Church and is it not so now was it a fault in the Church of Thyatira to suffer Jezabel to teach and seduce unto Idolatry Rev. 2. 20. And is it holinesse now to leave all men free to write proclaime publish without controle doctrines wholly contrary to the interests of Christ and the truths of Religion It were no hard matter to shew you the rise and to dive to the bottome of this dangerous opinion I shall onely give you a Marginal Note in Baronius nulla facultas Imperatoribus de rebus Ecclesiae decernendi just the language of Donatus That Emperours have no power to determine any thing in Church-matters and elsewhere that nothing is valid which a King ordereth in Churches without the Bishop of Rome 4. Reverence the Oathes and Vowes of God which are upon you they are not as Lysander profanely said to be plaid with as boyes do with skittle-pins It is the Character of good men to fear an Oath Eccles. 9. 2. and a most severe punishment was brought upon Zedekiah for violation of an Oath and Covenant Ezek. 17. 13 19. How observant was Joshua of his Oath though fraudulently procured by the Gibeonites Joshua 9. 19. It is not safe to distinguish our selves out of the obligation of solemn Oathes or after Vowes to make inquiry Prov. 20. 25. a good man though he sweare to his owne hurt changeth not Psalme 15. 4. How much more when he sweares to endeavour the preservation of pure Religion and other the great Interests and Priviledges of a Nation Lastly consider in this our day what are the things which belong to our peace Luke 19. 42. It is a great wisdome in evill dayes to redeeme Time Ephes. 5. 15 16. It is noted of the men of Issachar that they had understanding of the Times to know what Israel ought to do 1 Chron. 12. 32. As Mordicai said to Ester who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdome for such a time as this Ester 4. 14. Surely in such a time as this a day of trouble and rebuke it is necessary for every man to beg of God to shew him his way to advise with the Word of God what wisdome or counsel or help he may put in to keep God with us and to prevent this dismall Woe of Gods removing our Candlestick and departing from us Must I write must I speak must I counsel must I pray must I do Judgement and Justice Lord we seek of thee a right way be thou intreated of us Ezra 8. 21 23. In evil and dangerous dayes as all