now take them comparatively and if you ask Why doth God reveal Divine Mysteries to two or three wise Men only in an Age and not to the rest Acts 26.24 Why to Paul the Scholar whom tho as Festus imagined much Learning had not made mad yet Rage against the Gospel made him exceedingly so and not to Gamaliel the Master a moderate and sober Man that gave very gentle Counsel in favour of the first Preachers of Christianity and was in great Reputation among all the People Or if you ask Acts 5.34 Why should God pass by the generality of wise Men pitch his Love upon and give his saving Grace unto inferiour Persons for the most part What could he not have torn off the Veil from the Heart of the one as well as of the other Was not the refidue of the Spirit with him Yes surely Mal. 2.15 for he is Lord of Heaven and Earth and hath all Power and all Hearts in his Hands He could have made the Dews of his saving Grace as Universal as the Drops of the Morning He could have made his Ministers have blown the Gospel Trumpet with such a Breath made it give so loud a sound that like the last Trump at the Mouth of an Angel it should have awakened all that are dead in Trespasses and Sins and made them to revive Why therefore hath he not done it If you answer he shews his Power Wisdom and Justice in leaving them under spiritual Darkness it may be replied these very Attributes of Wisdom and Power besides that of his infinite Goodness he might have glorified the other way and his Justice had a large Field to display it self in the punishment of Apostate Angels Why therefore hath he not done it You must Center in this at last because his Grace is free he is debtor to no Man he doth with his own what seemeth good in his own Eyes he fashions the same Lump of filthy and untemper'd Clay into what Vessels he pleases And who art thou Rom. 9.20 21. O Man that darest to dispute or reply against thy Maker Be still O proud Dust and know that he is God and a great King over all the Earth Bowels of Mercy made the Motion at first the Eye of Wisdom directed the Management of the whole the right Hand of Power was there to assist Justice did not open its Mouth to contradict and Soveraignty as it became that Attribute sate upon a glorious high Throne far above all the Heavens and from all Eternity selected the particular Persons whom according to the Counsel of its own Will it resolved should be infallibly brought to Salvation through the knowledg and belief of the Truth III. In the last place I shall briefly apply all 1. By way of Information in six Things 1. Hence learn 't is no great wonder there are so many Follies Weaknesses and Miscarriages among the sincere followers of Christ They are a plain simple illiterate sort of People for the most part that mind the Power of Religion and but few of the prudent Ones of this World among them And therefore tho they are wise as to the main in as much as they avoid the greatest Dangers and secure their biggest Interest yet it can't be expected they should manage themselves and all their Affairs according to the exact Rules of human Policy which they generally want and 't is not strange if in many single instances of a lower nature they frequently mistake their VVay and take many a false Step. A Mariner may have so much skill in Sea Affairs as to be able to steer his Ship thro' the main Ocean and make a good Voyage even to the Indies escaping the great Rocks and mighty Sands and yet not know the way into a particular Port so well as an ordinary Pilot of the place but be apt thro' mistake to run his Vessel a-ground where it may receive great Damage and be very difficultly brought off again 2. See one reason why the ablest Ministers are seldom so successful in their Work as those that are more meanly furnish'd Like Canon mounted too high they shoot over the Heads of inferiour Persons whom generally God hath ordained to eternal Life and so they beat the Air but batter down no strong Holds and are qualified to deal with the wise and more rational part of Mankind among whom God hath not much People nor Christ many Sheep The most Soveraign Remedies prepared according to Art shall have no Success John 9.6 when Clay and Spittle if Christ will but use it shall restore Sight to those blind Creatures on whom he hath resolved the Works of God shall be made manifest v. 3. 3. See the Vanity of that Objection against serious Religion drawn from the meanness of those that sincerely embrace it when the far greatest part of the famous Men are on the other side This is an old Engine of the Devils John 7.48 Have any of the Rulers or the Pharisees believed on him The weakness of this Argument appears from what hath been said And indeed if it be of any force against a sincere embracing of Christs ways it will hold good against the practice of common Morality For 't is very evident that multitudes of the wise and prudent Ones of this World are wholly eaten up with their Lusts as the choicest Trees are devour'd by Caterpillars 4. See the reason why weak Christians more stedfastly adhere to Christ his Ways and Truths in times of danger than the wise and prudent This saving Revelation of Divine Things fixes and establishes their Hearts and keeps them faster in the Faith than others can be held by meer dry Reason and naked Arguments so that tho they are none of the great Scholars of the World nor able to answer the specious Arguments of subtil Hereticks Mat. 24.24 yet 't is not possible that all the craft and policy of Hell should finally deceive them For they that are thus taught of God have a spiritual Sense and Judgment to discern between Good and Evil they inwardly know 1 John 2.20 21 27. and have a Witness within themselves of the truth of what this Vnction hath taught them And therefore as all Creatures Plants as well as Animals have a natural instinct whereby they draw to them what is proper for their Preservation and Nourishment but avoid what is destructive to them So these Persons to whom God hath spiritually reveal'd his Truths have a supernatural Instinct whereby they turn aside from pernicious Errors and unmovably retain the great Things of the Gospel with a mighty relish and savour They can't be beaten out of that Truth which hath been so plainly discover'd they know these things to be great Realities that have made such a deep Impression on their Hearts and tho they can't learnedly dispute they can couragiously die for them rather than deny them They will not be disputed out of them no more than a Man will
A SERMON Preached before the RIGHT HONOURABLE Sir JOHN SHORTER Knight Lord Mayor OF THE CITY of LONDON AT GROCERS-HALL February the 12 th 1687 / 8. By Nathanael Taylor Published by his Lordships Command LONDON Printed for Thomas Cockeril at the Three Legs in the Poultry 1688. To the Right Honourable Sir JOHN SHORTER Knight Lord Mayor OF THE CITY of LONDON MY LORD HAD I been at liberty to have followed my own Inclinations the ensuing Discourse had been thrown by and lain neglected in my own Study only But having received your Commands for the Publishing as well as the Preaching of it I here present it to your Lordship being resolved there shall be no defects in my Obedience how many soever there may be in my Sermon But it 's not the design of this Dedication to make Apologies or which is another common place usually insisted on write a Panegyric They are generally Hypocrites that blow Trumpets before other Men as well as they that of old did it before themselves If you take care that your Works shall praise you and your own Conscience approve and commend you this will afford you a solid Satisfaction when the good Words of Men only will no more comfort than the Breath wherewith they utter them will nourish you And that your Lordship and your Honourable Brethren may manage your Selves and all your Affairs in that Station wherein Providence hath set you so as to secure this to your selves prevent the Reproaches of Conscience and live down those of malicious Men that this great City and Religion may flourish under your prudent and just Administration is and shall be the Daily Prayer of MY LORD Your most Obedient and Faithful Servant Nathanael Taylor A SERMON Preached before the RIGHT HONOURABLE THE Lord Mayor c. LUKE X. 21. In that Hour Jesus rejoyted in Spirit and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight HE that shall seriously consider the many express Prophecies concerning the Messiah the great and incredible Diligence wherewith every Iota and Tittle of them was preserved and the general Expectation among all forts of men in Judaea of his Coming and Kingdom about our Saviour's Time would be apt to think that our Lord would have been as joyfully welcomed and entertained by them as the first Approaches of the Sun are by those that have been buried in Darkness for many Months together in the remoter parts of the Earth And that as he was usher'd into the World with the Hallelujahs of Angels so he would have been received with the Hosannas of the Wisest of Men. But he that is in the least acquainted with the History of our Saviour as recorded by all the Four Evangelists will easily see Joh. 1.11 that tho he came to his Own yet his Own received him not and that tho when he went out of the World the Dead indeed arose as if they would present him with their Sepulchres yet as for the Living while he was in the World they would not afford him a Place wherein to lay his Head. He had indeed approved himself to be a Teacher sent from God for never did any Man speak the Words or do the Things which he had done and yet the Generality reject him and especially the Sons of Wisdom and of Learning did most furiously oppose him He opened the Eyes of the Blind yet the Pharisees would not see the truth of his Doctrine He cured the Dumb but this was his Reward from the Scribes he himself was spoken against He unstopped the Ears of the Deaf but yet the Rulers would not hear him He removed the Diseases of their Bodies with greater ease than the Errors and Prejudices of their Minds The Spiritual Wickednesses in those high places were the only Evil Ones that would not be subject to him Ephes 6.12 Nay as if those raging Devils which he had cast out of others had entred into them they blaspheme and revile him and their Doctors sate in the Chair of Scorners as well as in the seat of Moses Whilst they that followed him were few in number mean and ignorant despicable as well for their understanding as for their quality Both of which things were very popular prejudices and mightily improved against him to discourage men from owning and submitting to him But yet our Blessed Lord was so far from being dejected and troubled in mind at this that on the contrary as the Evangelist tells us in the words I have now read In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit c. wherein we have these five things 1. The inward motion of Christ's Soul and the external effect or expression of it He rejoiced in spirit and such a passion must have some vent makes him break silence and with an audible voice give thanks 2. The time when this happen'd In that hour which calls us to cast our eye back on the foregoing Verses Ver. 1 And therein we find our Saviour sending forth his Seventy Disciples to preach the Gospel and giving them directions how to behave themselves towards those that receiv'd their Message From ver 3 to 11. From v. 12 to 16. and those that rejected it Then he upbraids and threatens the Cities of Corazin Bethsaida and Capernaum for their impenitence under all those means of Grace which they enjoyed And immediately upon this St. Mat. 11.25 26. V. 17 Matthew brings in our Saviour uttering the same words with those in my Text. But St. Luke that gives us an account of our Saviour's using these expressions at a different time from what St. Matthew speaks of inserts an account of the return of the Seventy Disciples and their being puft up with the success of their Ministry because not only V. 17 diseases but Devils themselves were subject to them Our Saviour hereupon corrects that carnal joy and turns this wandring stream into its right channel and directs them to rejoice in that which was a solid reason and foundation of joy viz. because their Names were written in Heaven V. 20 And then he instructs them by his example as he had done by his words for seriously reflecting upon that scorn and contempt wherewith the Scribes and learned Pharisees rejected his Doctrine and the meanness of them that embraced it in that hour he rejoiced in spirit for that revelation of Divine Mysteries that God had made unto them which he denied unto others 3. The subject matter or reason of Christ's joy and thanksgiving Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes These things i.e. the knowledg of thy self and me which he mentions in the next Verse and those Mysteries of thy Kingdom which I have declared V. 22 and on which eternal salvation doth depend Thou hast hid from some revealed to others By considering
the latter of these words we shall the better understand the former of them Thou hast revealed them He doth not speak of an external revelation for that was not the peculiar privilege of some few only Christ having preached them publickly and plainly in the ears of all the people but of an internal revelation enabling them in a spiritual and practical manner to apprehend those Divine Truths that were outwardly proposed to them And consequently by the hiding these things from others we must understand the denying them that special Grace which might open their minds to see the glory of Divine Mysteries and their hearts to feel the transforming power of them leaving them to their own obstinate wilful ignorance to the lusts of their own hearts and the power of Satan to blind and harden them Thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent Men of great Parts worldly Wisdom humane Learning such as the Scribes and Pharisees were And revealed them to Babes The word properly signifies those that are young in years but being opposed to the Wise and Prudent must be understood of those that are as young Children use to be weak in understanding as Christ's Disciples were 4. The notion under which Christ directs his thanksgiving to his Father for this thing that of Lord of Heaven and Earth which is a title very sutable to the matter insisted on and denotes his absolute Dominion and his infinite Power q. d. It was not for want of ability or of right that thou hast not done otherwise Thou didst act like one who hadst all power in thy hand in thus revealing these thy Mysteries unto Babes and by the same Almighty Power couldst have shined into the hearts of the Wise and Prudent who are thy Creatures also But thou art at liberty to chuse or pass by according as seems good in thy own eyes 5. Christ's approbation of and acquiescence in this dispensation on this account because it was the gracious pleasure of God. Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight From the words thus open'd many Doctrines might be raised but I shall take notice of one only Doct. The saving revelation of divine things is usually bestowed on mean and inferior persons and denied nied to the wise and prudent that enjoy the same outward means with them In the handling this Doctrine I shall I. Explain and confirm this Truth II. Shew upon what account this was matter of joy and thanksgiving unto Christ III. Apply all I. I shall explain and confirm this Truth And here 1. As to a notional Knowledge Divine things are so far from being hid from the Wise and Prudent that they are more fully understood by them than any of these weaker ones Daily experience shews us there are many of the Disputers of this World that have a more exact scheme of Divine Truths in their heads than thousands of holy Souls They have such an understanding of Divine Matters as they have of Humane Arts and Sciences Can talk acurately and learnedly about them to the reviving the hearts of some and stopping the mouths of others Tho indeed the great things of God and Christ the Precepts Promises and Threatnings of the Word have not that sound in their ears nor that holy influence on their hearts and lives as they have on many inferior persons They do not see them with life and affection they do not tast the sweetness nor feel the power of them they have not the relish and savour of them on their spirits They do not receive them with respect and veneration with that love delight and holy obedience as those of weaker capacities do All the knowledg that is in them is but like those Lamps that have been discover'd in some Tombs still there are dead bones stench and rottenness within and there the Carcase lies dead and unactive in the very same place and posture notwithstanding all that light that surrounds it 2. Wisdom and Prudence do not in themselves obstruct the saving revelation of Divine Things nor doth the want of them qualify any for the receiving it Humane Wisdom and Learning are the Gifts of God and the proper ornaments of our rational Faculties like a crown of flame to a burning Taper And therefore so far are such excellent qualifications from hindring any in their own nature from an hearty embracing Christianity that if we consider how plainly the Doctrines of the Gospel are revealed how undeniably they are proved to be from Heaven how excellently suited to the distressed state of an Apostate World with what exquisite Wisdom the whole is contriv'd to the admiration of all the glorious Angels how reasonable its commands are how glorious its promises how terrible its threatnings 't is a very amazing thing that men of parts and abilities to weigh and consider things and discern their own Interest should not readily entertain them These noble things are not obstructions to it in themselves but those lusts and that pride that too generally accompany them like rust cleaving unto silver and gold Nor doth the want of these qualify any man for saving Knowledge Nay on the contrary it renders men naturally more unapt and uncapable as well as more unworthy of it As the Woman of Samaria said to our Saviour the Well is deep John 4.11 and the shorter the line is so much the more unlikely it is in it self to reach to the bottom for the drawing up of living Waters If any have the advantage it should be men of quick parts for such generally take a thing presently as spirits immediately catch fire whereas things do not enter so easily nor pierce so deeply into those that are naturally dull and slow of understanding If the Iron be blunt much pains must be taken in whetting the edge Eccl. 10.10 or more strength put forth in the using it 3. The saving knowledge of Divine things is not denied to all that are wise and prudent nor given to all inferior Persons Some renowned for wisdom and learning have been of Christ's Retinue Some curiously carved Pieces have been in our Father's House that have exceedingly grac'd and adorn'd it Sacred Records inform us of Joseph of Arimathaea a rich man and an honourable Councellour Acts 13.7 of Nicodemus a Master in Israel of Sergius Paulus a prudent man of a profoundly learned Paul an eloquent Apollos and in the succeeding Ages there have been some others of a great name that have known the truth as it is in Jesus Eph. 4.21 Some that have had the advantage of the higher ground have breath'd in a clear Air and been refresh'd with the beams of the Sun while more inconsiderable Persons like them that dwell in low and marish Grounds have been wrapt up in fogs and thick darkness The very dust of the Earth being raised by the Prince of the Air flew in Christ's face the common people I mean among the Jews who cried out Crucify him which
be persuaded that Honey is not sweet which his Senses tell him is so tho some Sophistical Arguments may be propounded against it which he has not skill enough to answer This Divine Knowledge like polished Armour adorns them in the sight of God and defends them from the fiery Darts of wicked Men. 5. See what the faithful Ministers of Christ must expect and not be discouraged at it They are the poor only that for the most part will receive Us and our Message And 't is no very great Service that we do our Master or his Interest by bringing in such as these But yet tho they are the poor the maimed the halt the blind such as we can pick up in the Streets and Lanes Luke 14.21 or gather up by the High-ways or Hedges he refuses not them for his Table nor will he be angry with us unless it be because his House is not filled with them v. 23. For our comfort if we are but faithful in our Work we shall be a sweet savour to God in those that are saved tho they are but inferiour Persons and in those that perish too tho they are the great and honourable Ones of the Earth 6. Hence I infer we should not idolize the greatest nor contemn the meanest This is what the Apostle reproves and to take Men off from it he propounds this Question to their serious consideration Hearken my beloved Brethren James 2.1 2 3 4 5. hath not God chosen the poor of this World rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him 'T is great Folly not to prefer a rough Diamond before a counterfeit Stone tho curiously cut and set to the greatest advantage We should not judge according to outward Appearance for those that seem but little in our Eyes may be and frequently are of mighty value as the Stars that look like small Sparks in the Skies only are in truth very great and glorious Bodies 2. Vse Exhort To those from whom these things are hid and those to whom they are revealed 1. To those from whom these things are hid chiefly the Wise and Prudent tho not excluding Persons of a lower Station 1. Be not proud of nor satisfied with any Wisdom or Knowledge while the great things of God are not savingly understood by you Some that have drunk as largely at those Fountains as any of you have solemnly professed they have found more sweetness and satisfaction of Soul in one drop of a Spiritual Knowledge of Divine Mysteries than in a whole Ocean of other Learning They have looked on the deepest insight into all other things to be in comparison of this but as congealed Drops of Water that may look bright and pleasing but 't is to Children and Fools but this this alone hath been the Pearl of great Price in their account All human Wisdom and Knowledge tho useful and valuable in its due Place and Order yet is but like an Eye of Chrystal in the Head of a blind Man which may hide his Deformity from the observation of his Neighbours but can't direct him one step in the way wherein he ought to go The Devils have as much and more of this than the best of us and yet are the most miserable of all Gods Creatures Why will you highly value your selves on the account of that which leaves you in as bad a Condition as those wretched Apostate Spirits and in a worse State than the most ignorant Man that hath a spiritual Understanding of heavenly Things If you have no more than this you shall perish at last for lack of Knowledge For at the last Day it shall fare with those curious Wits that are ignorant of God and Christ as with carved Statues about a House that is set on Fire down they drop into the Flames and are consumed there being none at hand to pluck them out 2. Seriously meditate on the deplorable State of those from whom these things are hid 'T is a sad thing when God hides common Wisdom and Prudence from Men as to the Affairs of this Life VVhen God infatuates 't is a sign he intends to destroy VVhen Hamans Face was cover'd with a Cloth he was near his Execution VVhen God throws a Veil over the Face of Mens Minds and hides from them the things that belong to their Peace they are on the very Borders of ruin 'T is sad to be given up to judicial Blindness as to any Objects but to be so as to Divine Mysteries so as to see no Glory nor Beauty in them is the worst of all If our Gospel be hid 2 Cor. 4.3 't is hid from them that are lost they are lost Men indeed and undone Creatures unless infinite Mercy speedily give them an Heart to perceive to whom such a Blindness hath happened 3. If you are wise and prudent be provoked unto a godly Jealousie by those that are comparatively a foolish People be not out-stript in matters of the greatest Moment by those that in other things are so much below you If you are inferiour Persons let not your meanness discourage you seeing of such as you is the Kingdom of Heaven Princes on their Coronation days use to scatter rich Medals among the common People so doth Christ these Gifts of his Do not you lose them for want of striving for them 4. Renounce all your Wisdom and Learning which you really have or fancy you are possessed of 1 Cor. 3 1â— If any Man among you seemeth to be wise in this world let him become a Fool that he may be wise II. To those to whom these things are revealed 1. Be humble Flesh and Blood hath not revealed these things to you Had not the Dew of Heaven fallen upon you you had still been dry Trees and withered Branches Out of free rich undeserved Grace to you it is given of God to know these Mysteries to others it is not given Mat. 13.11 be not proud and lofty as tho you did not know your selves 2. Rejoyce and give thanks If you are wise and prudent adore that Soveraign Grace that stept out of it's usual Rode to meet with thee what art thou better than others that sate as high as thou dost that God should single thee out to anoint thee with this Oyl above thy Fellows and thine Equals whom he generally overlooks If you are meaner Persons what are you that so rich a Treasure should be put into such an earthen Vessel Stones should not hold their peace but cry out aloud with the voice of Joy and Praise Luke 19.40 when they are turned into Children of Abraham Holy Men in all Ages have admired and adored this distinguishing Grace Judas saith to him not Iscariot Lord John 14.22 how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self to us and not to the World The Holy Ghost takes care that we should not mistake the Person that was thus affected with these special