Bastards shal not be receiv'd i. e. Hebr. Mamzer one that is of an Whore viz. the Whore in Rev. 17.5 the fruit of uncleannesse Too too many of them it is to be feared enter in as yet that have relation to the Whore and that don't heartily hate her and all her trumperies and toyes but then it shall be that none but those that hate the Whore and that shall labour to lay her open to all the World and burn her with fire Rev. 17. And such as shall be glad of the day wherein they may dash her little ones against the stones Psal 137.8.9 and may serve Babylon as she hath served Sion that shall enter indeed in that day and not the bastards that are born of the Whore But such as have gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and his marks and over the number of his name Rev. 15.2 Then will be the great and apparent distinction indeed Yea then v. 3. The Ammonite and Moabite must not enter in c. yet the Edomites shall v 7. being turned Proselites and received into the faith by Idumea or Edom I would understand the red people as the Word signifies and as it relates to the latter dayes I do believe it may take in the bloody Jewes who have so â—ong lay under the guilt who will e're the third generation enter apace into the Churches in the mean time Remember O Lord these children of Edom the Jewes in the day of Jerusalem the gathered Churches in the day of Jezreel who sayd and so they shal say as zealously as any of Babylon rase it rase it even the foundation thereof O Daughters of Babylon who ought to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us Psal. 137.7.8 In that day every eye shall see and every ear shal heare that â—srael is a people distinct from all others and so made by the instinct of the spirit which leads them out of Babylon into Zion and into all truths To conclude all the Prophesies Promises Precepts Practises of Primitive Saints Preachings and Epistles and Acts of the Apostles which is our Directory yea all the Types and Titles of the Church as Mount Zion Jerusalem Temple Tabernacle spirituall house peculiar people royal Priesthood City Spouse Vineyard Paradise and Garden of the Lord and golden Candlesticks and Kingdome of Heaven and all other titles that belong to her do call aloud in our ears to come in unto her and out of false adulterine wayes of worship Wherefore Hosea 2.1.2.3.4 Say to the brethren come my people and to the Sisters we will joyn with you arise sing for there is mercy offered us Wherefore let us all plead Plead with your mother plead for she is not my wife neither â—â—n I her husband saith the Lord Wherefore let her put away her whoredomes out of her face and her adulteries out of her brest Plead strive against her Litigate Et rixamini Zanc. in loc viz. your mother the Nationall Church so called and her children v. 4. viz. parochiall Synagogues which are full of whoredomes and adulteries and are not the Lords Churches or his Spouse but Adulteresses and as Churches the Daughters of the Whore the Quean the soul strumpet who shall be burnt up Therefore awake O ye people of England Ireland and Scotland and plead and expostulate in good earnest with them For their Whoredomes are in their faces and their adulteries in their breasts in their face that is their externall worship and ordinances and discipline And in their breasts that is in their hearts For Parish-Church Members are ful of whoredoms uncleaness idolatry superstitions and adulteries in their hearts They love the Whore in their hearts Yea furthermore most impudently and imprudently like the most brazen faced Whores they will commit sin incest adultery in open sight and without blushing for shame call for their Lovers in the open congregations and will have their Sacraments their Services their Idols and wil-worship in their Synagogues yea and they have their Priests too to preach up and paint out their idolatry as Whores are painted to give them the Sacraments in their sins O sad dayes I like Sodomes but the Lord will judge her I remember Mr. Cawdrey in 's storehouse and similles sayes to this that his high felony as 't is for a subject to counterfeit his Kings Letters or Seales so for men to make new Lawes and Orders and not to take Christ's but to alter the word to counterfeit the Sacraments and most impudently with the Whores forehead to maintain traditions Customes though of long standing which are not Christ's but Anti-Christ's and to administer the Sacrament and Seales otherwise then the Lord hath appointed and then Christ hath instituted in his Gospel yea and to aggravate their wickednesse too to do it in the Kings Christs name too and to pretend his Commission which they have counterfeited and invented is horrible felony and high treason and renders such as so receive them from their Ministers an Harlot of Anti-Christ What can the Parish Ministers and Presbyterians then say for themselvs or any that receive from them Seeing it is Felony Treason and Harlotry Her Whoredomes and adulteries are so open as makes a modest man to blush and detest her whilst other lewd ones and her Lovers that seem yet to carry a fair face do defend and professe her to be honest and honorable Aye 't is for their credit so to doâ— who trade with her as long as they can keep it which will not be long now For the Lord sayes v. 3. Let her put away thâ—se her stinking whoredomes lest I strip her naked and set her 〈◊〉 in the day that she was born c. The Lord hath promised to strip these strumpit-Churches and Temples of Dagon The whore and her children the Daughters of Babylon viz. Nationall and Parish-Churches as naked as they were the first day they were born they shall be as poore and miserable as ever they were yea as in the time of their nativity how is that Why thus First They shall be quite stripp'd of cloaths for covering and ornaments and not have so much as men of gifts i. e. Learning that is graced or abilities of the spirit that shall plead for them but all against them even those that are as yet the Whores Lovers and commit adultery with her they shall loath her when they see her lâ—wdnesse and nakednesse so that she shall be stripp'd of all and bee as naked as ever she was borne 2. When these Parishes and Sinagogues and false Churches were borne as they were naked so they were besmear'd in bloud begun in bloud and born in bloud so the Lord will shew their abominable filthinesse in the very eyes and sight of all her Lovers v. 10. and lay her crimes and iniquities and contamination
hath a few Friends and tryed Subjects but such Craterus's are rare too wherefore let all the faithfull friends of Christ of what judgement soever that are under his Command and Lordship come and enter into these Gospel-wayes of Worship into Christs order and path ordinance and Discipline for the Lord of the Mannour I meane the God of this world will take up all wefts and straies that are out of this way and empound them wherefore for shame friends make haste Hye out of Babylon flye into Sion into the Fellowship and Church-way of the Gospel wherein Christ is King and Lord and where this Sunne is highest brightest and swiftest in his ascendent motions wherein Christ appeares in his richest perfection and fulnesse For as Nature who hath drawne with her Pencill a perfect Grasse-greene in the Emerald as Pliny sayes a skie-colour in the Saphire a fire colour in the Carbuncle a sanguine in the Rubie and a starry in the Diamond hath also drawne all these together in one viz. the Ophal so hath Christ by his Spirit in his Church for there is one gift and grace in one Saint another gift in another and other graces in others and blessings in the Gospell and power in the Word and sweetnesse in the Ordinances and all in one viz. the Church Some excell in one thing some in another but the Church is the summary of all all excellencies are there in one viz. in one Christ who is in every Church the fulnesse and perfection of all Christ sayes Bernard De advent serm 2. is the Bee which flew into the City of Nazareth which is interpreted Flower and there he alighted on the sweetest flower of Virginity that ever the earth bore and so doth Christ now in the Churches finde sweet flowers who hath Et mel aculeum sayes Doctor Rawlinjon on 's Mercy to a Beast p. 13. both Mercy and Judgement yea he is both Love and Law in all his Churches yea the Law of Love and the Lord grant we may finde it so in these dayes Heare O Ireland heare the Lord run into his Courts live in his Sanctuary for in a special manner I speake to you from the Lord for whose sake I dare not bury these truthes as dead or in silence which doe so much concerne you and seeing I am now with you I wish from my soule that most of your Professors prove not Moone-sicke I meane Lunaticks that sometimes fall or plunge into the water and sometimes into the fire of persecuting the Saints that wil not over head and eares with them in the waters yee know what I meane for I shrewdly feare this wherefore I say forsake not Aegypt to fall into Babylon nor Babylon to fall into the forme againe and to make a Church of forme meerly and to drive in or draw in poore hearts through ignorance and folly into a formall Discipline by urging the forme or tying others to such a judgement with you for this is clearly against God's designe and Christs Gospel-Discipline which is to be in the Spirit and in truth and therefore I have many precious and pregnant truthes to hand forth and handle to you as they are hearted in me from the Fathers bosome of light in this ensuing Treatise especially in Lib. 2. but in the meane time make haste into Sion into a pure orderly Gospel Spirituall way of Worship and the Lord be with you and speed you But if before I have done some doe say Why then we shall be persecuted by Presbyterians or some call'd Independants or the bitter ones of the Anabaptists or the like as well as by Malignants and open enemies I say that they shall be but like Sampsons Foxes who were themselves burnt amongst the Corne which they fired but the Land brought Corne againe and the ground was made the better by it and the fruitfullâ—r but the Foxes came up no more so be yee sure that such will by their persecutions burne up themselves but better the true Churches though it may be some members may suffer in the fire first yet take us the Foxes the little Foxes saith the Lord Cant. 1. he will not suffer them to escape scot-free Phil. 1.28 for it is to them a token of perdition sayes Paul but to you of salvation the true Churches shall maugre all their might and malice appeare again and triumph the more and be yet the more glorious and fruitful but these persecuting Foxes can never come up againe but must lye buried in the field which they have fired and so be the Authours of their owne end Wherefore feare not my Friends their frownes nor crownes but as Alexander was wont to say to his Souldiers when they were in danger or went on any designe Sed habebis Alexandrum my brave Blades you shall have Alexander with you so say I you shall have Christ with you in the midst of you and engaged for you feare not and then you shall no more be termed desolate or forsaken but be called the Lord's Hephzibah and Beulah but thus for the second chapter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Midbar CHAP. III. That the Churches full deliverance drawes nigh and is upon entrance at first gradually her Discipline shall be restored as at first First proved by parallel from the Wildernesse wherein she hath been long lost as to true Discipline and Doctrine TO proceed the Call continues to hast us out of Babylon It is Historied of Darius's Generall that when he had Orders from Darius his King to revenge the wrongs done him by the Athenians that he commanded his Servants every day at every dish of meat they brought in to the Table to say Sir remember the Athenians Now Christ hath sent to us and calls upon us every foote to Remember the ruine of Babylon and the rising of Sion for Babylon must fall and Sion must fill and grow up apace to perfection-ward but although this is graduall at first yet the restauration shall be universall at last In the interim we heare how long and how lamentably the poore despised Church hath been in the Wildernesse wofully bewayling but now followes what hopes we finde of her deliverance now Mr. Brightman the brightest man of his age that I have met with lends his Light to this Age out of Revel 12.14 where we read the Church was to continue in the Wildernesse for a time times and halfe a time besides the thousand two hundred and threescore dayes in ver 6. which is all one with that in Rev. 11.2 of forty and two months for at thirty dayes to the moneth it comes to one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes which if we account from Christ's time was to begin one thousand sixe hundred and ten dayes viz. three hundred and fifty and one thousand two hundred and sixty and the thirty three yeares that Christ lived makes it one
that mourne for Tammuz who say as Agrippina Neroe's Mother did when she was told by Astrologers that her sonne should be Emperour indeed but he should slay her in the time of his Empire well saith she Occidat modo imperet So say many of the Beast and of Babylon let them reigne though they ruine for they cannot abide to heare of their fate Some old Jades there be that if they be put out of their shuffling pace they will doe just nothing neither amble nor trot so some old Soules there be that are but shufflers in Religion and their duties very unevenly brokenly and imperfectly unsetledly and superstitiously performed but take them off of their old pace and customary courses and think to put them into a well-ordered way and Discipline they cannot endure to be so checked but will either stand still and leave off all or else will goe on and in againe in their old wonted way and confused order without rule or reason Such as these are terribly prejudiciall against the worke which our God is going on with and in that I shall shew you a little of their temper that they may be knowne As first these Wildernesse-spirits have their dennes and habitations in the Wildernesse but Strangers I meane the Saints thinke it strange to stay there though it be but a little they cannot endure the thoughts of continuance in such a condition they take no joy nor content nor comfort as long as they are in such a Wildernesse-state and Wildernesse-ones doe feed and fill themselves with what they finde growing in a Wildernesse which others cannot doe nor endure So O how greedily doe some men swallow down the Doctrines and devices of men Ceremonies and Superstitions Traditions with abundance of such old trumpery and trash Jer. 14.9 10. enough to choake us Further as for your Wildernesse-ones they never complaine that they are lost in the Wildernesse for as long as they are there they are never out of the way come what will come this or that this religion or that this worship or that so it be in the Wildernesse where they may run and range about at liberty and as they list whilst the Saints alas are soone sensible that they are not in the way but that they are out of the way Psal. 38.3.5 they know not where they call and cry and sadly complaine all the day long and goe about lamenting for deliverance and every step they take they tread with teares and sighs Psal. 85.9 and full of cares Ephes. 5.15 with teares and prayers Hosea 14.8 Psal. 80.3.7.19 Jer. 17.14.16 c. yea and the rather for that they see such company is not according to their principles but that there is an apparent and vast difference between them and such wilde Beasts and bruits abroad Againe the Wildernesse-ones will agree well enough among themselves although they all set upon a poore Soule a bewildernessed stranger and will not agree with him unlesse to ruine him But lastly this marke never misses that the Wilderness-creatures are best content with darkness and doe most heartily affect and welcome the night of darkness for then are they in their element then they appeare most and meet oftenest and prog and pry and run and rant about most busily for their prey c. as the text sayes They love darknesse because their deeds are evill Joh. 3.19 they hate light and hide themselves from it no wonder then they cannot abide the Gospel and that the approaches of Christ perplex them and the appearances of Christ torment them who cry out as Matth. 8. Why comest thou to torment us before the time These hate the true Sonne and all light that shines immediately from him unlesse it be the Moon the light of nature the Candle of the Lord they will not allow of that light the Sun of the Lord wherein he appears most excellently and eminently nay the very Ordinances that are most speciall and refined they are offended at and under the notion of new light they loudly exclaime against true light and Ordinances and explode all Gospel-doctrine and Discipline the way and worship of Christ as precisenesse novelty and what not for indeed they cannot endure an element so neare them wherein the Sunne moves or whence he shines whilst the Saints who have sat sobb'd and suspir'd their hearts out almost in the former dayes of darknesse whilst they were in the wildernesse and durst not stirre for fear of stumbling in the darke they are glad at the heart the Sunne is up and that that light which hath been long sowne for the righteous they are now about to reap off But as to the vulgar people the Apostle sayes for mee in Gal. 3.1 O foolish people who hath bewitched you from the truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what Basilisk hath look'd upon you what hath cast a mist before your eyes as if ye were bewitched what makes you so grossely mistake as to call good evill and evill good light darknesse and darknesse light Antichrist for Christ and Christ for Antichrist what makes yee thinke you see what you see not and take the flames of fire even of Hell for the beams of the Sunne even as your heaven and the true beams of the Sun the Ordinances Doctrine and Discipline of Christ as flames of fire your torment and hell O miserable wretches what Sorceries and Witchcrafts hath the Devill used thus to delude you who hath bewitched you that you yet love the Wildernesse Darknesse Barrennesse and Bruitishnesse to be without Gospel-government or Order Many are so in love with the Beast that no other company can content them And as Xerzes was so zealously affected to the Plane-tree that he would needs adorne it with most precious Jewels so are they with Babylon that they give up all their Crowns and Comforts and Credit and Riches and Liberties and all to adorne Babel But are yet yee so foolish saith the Text vers 3. or mad or wild wildernesse-headed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have yee lost your wits are yee so senselesse to runne ruine-ward to keep in Babylon to wait for the plagues of Babylon or to tarry in the wildernesse till the Sunne appeares and the Hunter pursues you into inevitable destiny distraction and destruction The Lord give yee light in the love of his holy truth to see at last what belongs to your peace but blessed shal be God and that for ever who hath called his Saints with an holy calling to separate from such wildernesse-creatures as distinct from them c. and not to be reckoned among them Numb 23.9 and that they may become a curious Garden for the beloved to live in Wherefore to conclude the Spirit and the Bride saith Come and whosoever will let him come Oh obey the call of Christ and come running and rowling Bowl-like well byassed for Christ into
another Wherefore to the second Vse Vse 2. Then we see such as are honoured though some vse 2 thinke naucified by the name of Independents I meane the Members of the Congregationall Churches and Presbyterie which we hold with although the Prelaticall be too presumptuous and usurping for us I say such are not without the Word for their warrant nor are they without Christs rule for their refusing the commands of men or their proud precepts tending to embondage the Saints by their usurping power One Church having as plenary power as any other Master Paul Baines that precious holy man and light of his age in his Treatise printed 1621. pag. 13. sayes plainly We affirm it that no such Headship of or in any Church was ordained by Christ our only Head over us either actually or virtually but that all Churches are equally INDEPENDENT being his owne word without any kinde of subjection one to any other Sweet Sibbs in his breathing c. pag. 94. speaking how amiable the Tabernacles were applies them as Types to particular Churches of Christ having equall beauty and glory and the said Sibbs in his said Treatise lib. 2. chap. 9. uses the very word also Independents Robinson in his Reasons discussed is large upon this point and Bullinger in the 5. Decad. Serm. 1. sayes it at large also That the power of governing and ordering all affaires and Church-matters belonging to the body is within the body whither with relation to the calling or chusing Church-Officers Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Ministers Act. 6. Act. 14. 15. or for binding and loosing and Censures and Sacraments examining of Doctrines admitting of Members and in all other Church-matters and that they have besides power to call Synods to consult upon weighty occasionâ— Ames in his Medul Theol. lib. 1. chap. 37. sect 6. sayes All power of Discipline De jure according to Christ's Institution is the Churches in Common and none ought to usurpe power over any such particular Church A many more Witnesses and eminent mens Certificates under their owne hands in their Writings might be produced to prove these truthes as Reynolds in his Conference with Hart Ainsworth in his Guide to Zion Willets Synopsis Cottons Keyes Bartlets Modell Taylor on Titus Cum multis aliis c. But by this you may see how unseemly it is for and how little it doth become our unbrotherly and unkind Kinsmen of the Presbyterians to be so bitter against us as to say only a few simple upstart fanaticks and giddy-headed illiterate fooles are of this opinion Why produce your cause bring forth your strong reasons saith the King of Jacob Isa. 41.21 it is no upstart Novelty but a truth of equall standing with the Kingdome of Christ and in all Ages the most eminent Lights were of this opinion though they had not the like liberty to put it into practise Besides should we not be worse then mad men to expose our selves poore Wives with little Children to the contempt of all to be reproached by all our persons to be hated of all and to be abused in the open streets our names to be all be spotted with the foulest filth and duâ—t which can bee cast upon them our Families and Friends to the ill-will of all almost and we our selves continually to feed upon afflictions and palpable injuries whilst none dare or doe appeare on our behalfe this was and yet is in many places in the Countries where we are in daily dangers and troubles Now I say what a madnesse were it we should enter into so strait a gate and run into the rage of all almost whether prophane or Professors were not the testimony of a good Conscience our continuall feast and refreshing and rejoycing if a meere head-strong will should hurry us on to such a way of thornes and bryers But beleeve it and the Lord is our witnesse it is our Consciences that carrie us on Now Conscience being a conjunct Science and a knowing of the Act with the Rule doth render us happy in this That we most faithfully and unfeignedly seeke the satisfying our Souls in the revealed Wil and declared minde of God to that which we know But thus we must and wil if the Lord please walk according to our light and as we are fully perswaded in our breasts that we may have peace at home though perils abroad and warres without continually See Rom. 14.5 Phil. 3.16 and let not the Saints be in the least discouraged at our sufferings which are a token to us of Salvation and that we are of God in Phil. 1.27 28 29. For we shall come shining out of the fire and in glistering glory 1 Pet. 1.6 7. although indeed so subtill is he that can transforme himselfe into an Angell of Light that Spirituall wickednesses are set up in holy places wickednesses that seeme Spirituall and carry a face and forme of holinesse For in every age have your formall Professours run posting to that Religion and worship which hath been in most request and highest esteem and hence it is whilst their Presbytery was best accepted of most of your Prelaticall ones proved Presbyterians and now Independency is in date and hath the day of it your Presbyterians turne Independents omnia pro tempore nihil pro veritate saith one or at least they gather together in the name of Independent Churches and such as are so called who are commonly the cruellest Persecutors and Petty-Popes over the poore Saints and over the Independents indeed Veram Ecclesiam non sequens sed persequens these being in their Judgements as rigid and inraged against the true Churches of Christ as the Presbyterians or Prelates And as one who hath the name of another great man therfore hopes to be the heire and have the day is in hot pursuit for the estate and will not compound for peace unlesse upon some unequall termes although hee hath no right thereunto so they and by their party they prevail to justle aside the just and true Heire indeed and to set him a begging for his livelyhood And yet it is possible a true Church of Christ shall bee prosecuted under another name too and that which is most odious it may bee But yet we will say as Isa. 63.16 Doubtlesse thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel know us not Whilst our Cause is good our confidence is great our interest will hold when others forged Titles will not be worth two pence yet how impudent are some that like Praxiteles who made the poore people worship his Strumpet instead of Venus and under her name so they gull poore soules with a forme appearance and painted Picture These worshippers of the Forme are enemies to the Spirit and Power but let us not feare their frownes menaces nor malice but let us goe on though the bawling Curs run railing after the gallopping Passenger yet let
and the end of it be bitter and not blessed Prov. 20 21. All things in the Creation as well as in the Re-creation have one and the same ultimate end which all Saints should have in all their practices purposes and proposals to themselves The end though last in the execution yet is first in the intention in omnibus agendis c. and this is an undoubted truth Now agere prudenter to do wisely is adhibito certo fine to have before us fixed an honorable end and answerable to the business we are about Now our end in all things must be the same with Gods end in all viz. The glory of God no other end is honorable enough for us to aim at Hence it is said He created every one for his glory Isa. 43.7 and in Prov. 16.4 The Lord made all for himself yea the wicked c. i. e. The final cause of the Creation was his praise and glory so is it of his gubernation our redemption and salvation and whatsoever we can say hath all the same end which we are to aim at viz. The setting forth the praises of God Hence in so many Psalmes especially in Psalme one hundred forty eight David doth invoke all things and all Creatures in heaven and earth to praise the Lord but above all he calls on the Saints which is as much as to say in especiall manner it must be their end in all and by all and to doe all to his praise and glory 1 Cor. 10.31 so that Gods Angels Saints and all men and all Creatures humane or heavenly as they are God's all have the same end and that end is the honour and glory of God Now Saints have most especially this finall cause commanding them unto and commending them into this Gospel-Church-state this being their maine end and mighty designe to set forth the praise and glory of God This truth triumphs in armour of proofe out of Prophecies Precepts and practises with others For first in Isa. 35.10 The ransomed of the Lord shall come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy Isa. 51.11 ver 3. joy and gladnesse shall be found therein thankes-giving and the voyce of melody and they shall mention the Lords loving kindnesses and the praises of the Lord c. Isa. 63.7 thus in Cant. 8.2 the Church gives her Beloved to drinke of her spiced cup i. e. praise composed of the spices or graces of his owne Spirit and here is also juyce of the Pomegranats running out like little Rivers most sweet and acceptable unto the Lord. So Cant. 7.12 13. and Cant. 4.16 the end of her request is for the spices to flow out and that the Beloved may eate of his pleasant fruits This promise is also in that Prophecie of Jeremy 15.19 to comfort the cast-downe Prophet in his affliction the Lord promises when the precious are taken from the vile they shall be as his mouth i. e. filled with Hallelujahs of praises and honours and glory unto God So in Jer. 30.17 19. This is Zion whom no man seeketh after shall set forth his praises ver 19. And out of them shall proceed thankesgiving and the voyce of them that make merry thus Zeph. 3.9 I will turne to the people a pure Language a lip and what then they shall call upon the name of the Lord often read they shall praise the Lord with one consent This is fore-told in many chapters of the Revelations chap. 11.15.17 chap. 14.2.3 and in Revel 21.11 This new Jerusalem which is now coming downe hath the glory of God to fill her and ver 23 c. you shall finde the Types both of the Arke Tabernacle and Temple to fore-tell this was to be the end of every Church under the Gospel in 2 Chron. 5.13 14. wherein they had Musicke and Melodies Trumpets and Singers all as one shouting out one sound of praises and thankesgiving to the Lord and then the house of the Lord was filled with his glory Now much more is this new Jerusalem and so are these Gospel-temples for the praises and glory of God Praise waites for thee in Zion Psal. 65.1 and to thee shall the vowes be performed i. e. to thee in Zion as if Zion only were for the same purpose and in Psal. 67.2 3. Let thy way be knowne upon earth and then followes Let the people praise thee O God So Psal. 70.4 Let all those that seeke the Lord rejoyce and be glad in thee and let such as love thy salvation say continually Let God be magnified Thus is that in 2 Thes. 1.11 12. We pray for you that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and yee in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ by all which it appeares Praises are expected and required from all the Saints in Zion So Hebr. 13.15 Let us offer praises continually with all the cohabitants in the Gates of Zion which hath been in all Ages being it is for that purpose they are enchurched as in 1 Pet. 2.9 yee are a chosen Generation a royal Priesthood a peculiar purchased people and why for what end That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light c. So in Isai. 64.10 11. Zion our holy and beautiful house where our fathers praised thee c. So Matth. 11 25. Heb. 2.12 sayes Christ I will sing praise unto thee in the midst of the Church Eph. 3.21 Vnto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Amen So that by all these Scriptures appears the final cause of Gods calling out of darkness into light out of the world into the Kingdom of Christ out from them without to Saints so embodied as before within I say the supream and ultimate end is to the setting forth of the praises and glory of God as a peculiar people in a peculiar manner Although I deny not but we are to aim at the edifying one another in Christ furthering of one another in the things of salvation watching over comforting and counselling of delighting and rejoycing in one another and having fellowship with the Father and the Son 1 Joh. 1.3 enjoying his presence there more especially 1 Cor. 6.26 and provoking one another to love and good lives Heb. 10.24 1 Cor. 1 9. Yet this of glorifying of God is the main most and moving end and all other things we aim at are but in subordination unto this in ordine ad gloriam Dei and good reason for it as will hereafter appear for they have most cause for it being the Redeemed reason 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and openly and apparently the Ransomed ones as in Revel 5.9 And they are most capable of it too Psal. 33.1 3. 53.6 being they have most reason 2 understanding Psal. 47.7 and are most
sweet unity love and harmony was among the Puritans and Professors when they were under persecution how they priz'd one another and so it will be again and much more Secondly This Vnity of the Churches will be honoured from Heaven with a large effusion and powring out of the spirit upon them for in that day they shall know the Lord to be their God and as one people they shall acknowledge and never be ashamed and then shall it come to passe that he wil powr out of his spirit upon all Joel 2.27.28 And by this they will bee yet more one then ever before as appears Act. 2.17 and 4.31.32 when those that were filled with the holy Ghost were of one heart and one mind and of one soule neither sayd any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own and then great Grace was upon them all Great grace then indeed Having favour with all people Act. 2.47 This blessed day is hard by us when Jerusalem shall be a praise in the whole Earth round about us but we must be purged first In Ezek. 37.7 as the bones there came together by the shaking bone to bone so will the Churches by the shaking before mentioned in the time of triall cling and come up closer together then ever before Church to Church and all as one Though they were before as the bones scattered so in their affections and far asunder they shall bee shaked together beleeve it and then they shall receive life and breath from God more then ever before v. 9.10 Yea they shall not only be shaked together but tied together with sinewes and cords and lawes of Love that shall never break and this is to be before the full winde from all 4. parts blow upon them and fill them with breath and life So I am assured from the Lord and the Churches shall find it that they must be united together with strong ties and lawes of Love even with the liveliest sinews and strength of affections before they shall enjoy that great and notable effusion of the spirit which is the winde that blowes where it lists in such a measure as from all parts in all gifts graces and admirable administrations as from all quarters to enliven them and multiply them for in that day they will be as an exceeding great army Eze. 37.10 Lastly consider the great and notable day of the Lord is then the next that comes upon us Ioel 2.31 and Zion shall be glorious In the mean time as the lines of a circumference the nigher they come to the center the more they are united and the nigher they are one to another So for certain Sirs the nigher we are to that time the more we are united and the nigher we are one to another So that we shall see every yeare the Churches more and more united and that in the spirit untill the dispensation of the fulnesse of times when all things shall be in one Ephes. 110. The Lord hasten these happy daies I was pressed in my spirit to acquaint the Churches thus much and to call upon them to unity that the enemies might not have such advantages against us as they doe take for our defect in this duty and that our unity consist not in formes but in the spirit as for practicall rules heerto I shall refer the Reader to the following book But thus I have shewn wherein the Presbyterians and Papists agree and are alike in Discipline Doctrine Ordinances and Practises In Discipline for the Church Catholike Head of the Church matter of it force of it foundation of it and in laying their foundation and about the Keyes and Synods and in Officers to all which we have declared our dissent and abhorrance and so for Doctrine and Practises in all in neere fifty particulars wherein I have clearly instanced the Lord make his people in England wise enough to avoyd such Popish tenets and doctrines and give our Brethren that power and will to cry Down with Antichrist Down with Babylon as we do that hear the voice lest pertaking of her sins they pertake of her plagues Rev 18.4 And let them not think me their enemy for telling them the Truth Gal. 4.16 But to the 3. Consid. The 3 Consideration to come to a Conclusion is that the consideration 3 Gospel Order in the Congregationall Church-way which wee have treated of restored to its primitive purity and beauty is one of the great promises of these latter dayes and the spirituall glory of it sparkles in sight of the saints out of many promises prophesies and varietie of the richest types and is to stand apparently distinct by its selfe from all other orders wayes worships or Churches whatsoever as the visible Kingdome of Jesus Christ for his subjects to walk in That it is one of the great promises to bee accomplished in these latter dayes appears Isa. 2.2.3 Micah 4.1 Isa. 35.1 8 9.10 Isa. 30.21 Psal. 110.3 Ps. 46.2.3.4.5 and 48. P. 3. Malach. 3.17.18 Isa. 51.3.4 Dan. 2.32.33.34 Act. 3.21 Dan. 8.3 The higher is last the best wine at last and the glory of the latter house shall be greater then the former Hag. 2.6.7.9.21.22.23 For further Explication though I have beene full in former Chapters yet to conclude this I shall name these 6. speciall Heads which ensue to prove this Generall Assertions without exception The Prophesies and mproises are full for Christs reigne as Head and alone Ruler in his Church especially and most visibly in these latter dayes He alone shall reign over them in Zion and for ever Micah 2 17. Psal. 99.1.2 Isai 9.2.7 and 22.23 Psa. 2.6 And is set up King in Sion He will be greatest in Zion· Rev. 2.26 Yea and rule the nations to Rev. 11.15.17.18 Zach. 14.9 Therefore all power is given him in heaven and earth Church and State Mat. 28.18 to rule all as being more excellent then the mountains of prey Ps. 76.4 till all be under him 1. Cor. 15.25 Thus he â—ides in our dayes conquering and to conquer But to speak to his Headship In his Zion his most speciall habitation and Kingdome Hee is the alone Head of whom all members aptly joyned receive life and growth And this he is to us as he is one with the Father Jo. 17.21 From whom we have life and grace In especiall maner hee is to bee manifested such a Head in these dayes of restauration Hosea 1.11 the children of Judah and Israel though they differ as to form as Independents and Anabaptists c. shall be gathered together and appoint to themselves one Head and come up out of the Land for great shall be the day of Jezreel So the Churches of Christ shall be all one as we said before in Vnity under one Head viz. Jesus Christ. For although the Churches have stood off hitherto one from another as the 10. Tribes did from Iudah and
more in and by the spirit of the Lord John 4.25.24 But God is very exact as appears by the strictnesse of the woâ—d to have his Saints the Churches and Members thereof subject to his Laws even in Paradise even in the best reformed restored dayes Heb. 8.10 Ezek. 43.11 and 44.5.24 Yea the Royal Law James 2.8 And Law of truth Mal. 2.6 Yea the Law to go forth out of Zion to others Mich. 4.2 And seale the Law among my Disciples Isay. 8.16 So that God especially looks for it from them for they have more reason to live under the Order and Law of God then any others for they are to be Examples to others as lights on a hill and as the Salt to season others that are without They have it first that are in Churches most excellently as from the Lord and others as from them Micah 4.2 Adam had the Law first in Paradise as from the Lord most excellently of all and Eve afterwards as from him Besides the Majesty Authority of God is promised hereby especially in the Churches as Paul said 1 Cor. 11.23 For I have received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you c. so it shal be especially in the last days as Micah 5.4 He Christ shall stand and feed and rule in the strength of the Lord in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God and they the Churches shall abide For now after this shall he Christ be great unto the end of the Earth But yet marke this that the Man was first made and then commanded he had first a Principle and then a Precept the first is to the adesse and then the other to the bene esse So that to the singular Comfort of Saints and all Church Members here is much promised that he will first create and then command that he will first give them a power to do it and then give them a Precept to do it And then they shall be upon the Chariots of Aminadab First he 'l write his Law in them and then receive his Law of them i. e. that which is written in them in these latter days so that the Churches Saints shal not be yea caÌ„not be without Law nor without liberty nor without the perfect Law of liberty Jam. 1.25 5. Man though in Paradise must not be idle therefore v. 15. God put him in to dresse it and to keep it viz. it Garden for the word is hortus which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Feminine Gender with this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 affixed and it is not without signification to all the Churches and Saints for as Zanchy sayes Paradisuâ— illa typus fuit Ecclesiae ergo qui in Ecclesiam positi sunt discaâ—t se non esse hîc positos ut otiosi vivant sed ut pro suâ quisque virili colat Ecclesiam camque custodiat Paradise was a Type of the Church and it concerns every Member of the Church to remember he must not be idle but up and about to work in the Vineyard to dresse and keep it for the manifestation of the spirit is given to every one to profit withall 1 Cor. 12.7 To doe something or other to the edifying of the Church 1 Cor. 14.12 Rom. 14.19 to instruct exhort build up and dresse it Ephes. 4.29 1 Thes. 5.11 Jude 20. Heb. 10.24.25 Yea and to keep it too from the Foxes of the Field and the Wild Bores of the Wood yea to keep out all Beasts and such as would hurt this Paradise and to keep in good Orders the Fences and Hedges the Lawes and Liberties of the Church Jude 3. Gal. 5.1 Heb. 12.3.4 Ephes. 4.3.4 Phil. 2.1.2.3 1 Cor. 1.10 2 Cor. 13.11 This Care lies upon all the Churches and Members thereof the Lord make them good Husband-men carefull and watchfull and painfull as he hath promised for the benefit of the Church and the good keeping of this Typified Paradise as Hosea 10.11.12 Obj. But Labour and Worke was poena peccati a Curse Gen. 3.17 and a Bondage Ans. Not every Labour and Worke but anxious vexatious grievous pains and labours but not to labour in Paradise in the Lords Garden or Vineyard to such as the Lord hath set therein his Yoke is easie and his Service is sweet to them Prov. 3.17 The Wayes of wisdome are pleasantnesse to their Souls they delight to be doing for the Lord for Christ for the edifying of his Church Psal. 1.2 and 16.3 and 40.8 Psal. 119.16.24.35.47.70.77.174 Duties are a Delight and Ordinances a Delight to them Cant. 2.3 Isay. 58.13.14 6. Man though in Paradise yet upon open Breach of Gods Law he was cast out and excommunicated Gen. 3.23.24 Therfore the Lord sent him out from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken and he drove out the man or expelled cast and shut him out which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a hard word and a clear Excommunication whilst the former word he sent out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is but a kind of command to him to pack away but now he 's thrust out and banish'd Paradise for indeed his offence was the greater that it was in Paradise after he was so blessed and had tasted the fruits of it c. So must Offenders though Members of the Church 1 Cor. 5.45 be dealt with their sins are of the greater aggravation by how much the longer they have been Members and by how much the more they have tasted of the Fruits and found of the Benefits of being inclosed and in the Garden of the Lord viz. Church-fellowship wherefore let Members beware of the forbidden Fruits and they may live diu die long and happily in the Churches of Christ in these last dayes 7. Man in Paradise might eat of every tree v. 16. of every tree of the Garden thou mayest freely eat that is of the Fruit of every Tree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex quavis arbore except as v. 17. of the tree of knowledge thou must eat freely is an excellent Hebraisme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eat and eat again yea comedendo comedes you may eat by eating there be some that say under these words lye a Command upon the Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he must eat of the Fruits of every Tree without making difference of clean and unclean c. This shows the great advantage and priviledges of Saints and Members of the Churches in these last dayes they feed upon the Fruits of every Tree in the Garden not out of the Garden of every Ordinance of every Administration of every Gift Grace of every Saint or Member not putting of Differences making Distinctions or having of the Faith with respect of Persons or Opinions Micah 4.5 And they shall sit every one under his own Vine and they shall walke every one in the name of his God c. Yea then as every Tree