Remember the stars are in the right hand of God and he appoints them where they shall shine and one of the saddest Judgements that can befall a people in this life is for God to seal up the stars that 's Jobs expression in Job 9. that they shall not bring out a beam of light but the people shall be left in the dark continually Thirdly the stars are in the right hand of Christ then surely there is protection for them and a merciful care over them they do but lose their labour that think either to pluck the Saints out of the right hand of God or the stars out of the right hand of Christ Surely he will preserve a Ministery in his Church unto the end of the world or else blot that text out of your Bibles Eph. 4.12 He hath given gifts for the work of the Ministery for the gathering and perfecting of the Saints until we all come c. Why did the Lord institute the Ministery For a double end the one for the Gathering the other for the Perfecting of the Saints then so long as there are any of the Saints to be gathered or any to be perfected the end of the Ministerie is not accomplished God will uphold it until it hath attained the end of its institution Consider therefore what enemies those are unto the Church of God that endeavour to remove the stars out of their Orb for it s that leaves a people under pure darkness and a perfect night and therefore it s the worst and the most pernicious design that ever was set on foot in the world one strikes at their calling another at their maintenance though the truth is the intent of the work is the same the Ministery whatever the design of the workmen may be Well suppose God should grant your desire for there is a generation of men that have been long hacking at the Ministery Suppose it should be as you would have it give me leave to tell you two things one is when the stars are darkned in Scripture it denotes great judgements great plagues to come upon a people Ioel 2.10 The Sun and the Moon shall be darkened and the stars shall withdraw their shining But further to clear what kind of Judgement you must look for and pray mark for I speak nothing but Scripture unto you in Dan. 8.10,11,12 When the stars were cast unto the ground the text adds The daily sacrifices were taken away because of transgression cast down truth to the ground the daily sacrifice the worship of God and truth the word of God Both will soon go down if once the stars be cast to the ground and trampled on by the feet of pride Lastly take this hint from it too It s a great judgement not only to have the stars sealed up from you but to have the stars to fight against you an expression that you have in the 5. Judges the stars in their courses fought against Sisera there is not a worse Army can be engaged against a people observe Psal 68.12 The Lord gave his Word and great were the number of them that published it What follows Kings with their Armies did Flie It relates to the Ascention of Christ that is plain by ver 18. thou hast ascended on high c. the Lord did give his word at his ascention and there were a multitude of them that published it and by this means Kings Armies were put to flight they conquered by the word there is not such another way to rout Kings and their Armies Look into the 47. of Ezek. ver 10. and you shall see this shall be the glory of the last times the most glorious and most flourishing times of the Church And there shall be Fishers the text saith and the fish that shall be taken by them shall be like the fish of the great Sea exceeding many a number of converts take heed of the stars fighting against you for you have need of these stars in the best and purest times But the second thing I mainly intend the care that Christ takes of the body which is described in the latter expression he walks in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks he takes care as well of the meanest Member as of the greatest Officer Psalm 45. The unction doth run down upon the sâ—irts of his Garment so doth his protection and his provision also to explain this here are three things to be opened Why the Church is called a Candlestick Why a Golden Candlestick And what is it for Christ to walk in the middest of it First Why is the Church called a Candlestick In Revel 1. ult The seven Candlesticks are the seven Churches there are four notions in it and you must take in all or you will not understand the meaning of the Word First A Candlestick hath no light in it of it self but light must be put into it and therefore the Candlestick under the Law to which this here is an allusion the Priests were to light the Candles a Candlestick hath no more light then is put into it and it must be continually maintained by a new supply of oyl as you see it described in Zach. 4.11 There are Olive-trees that grow on each side the Candlestick and they drop the oyl c here is no oyl prepared by the art and industry of men but it is Natural Olive-oyl that doth of it self drop and therefore the supports and supplies of the Church are compared unto the rain and unto the dew that waits not for man and tarries not for the Sons of men Secondly The use of a Candlestick is for no other end then to hold up and hold out the light and to this very End the Lord hath instituted Churches the great Ordinance under the Gospel is the Church though alas we little consider it now pray observe the great End why God instituted Churches was this that he might have a company of Saints that might hold forth his Word and hold up his Worship and for this Cause the Church is called the pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. 3.16 The pillar of truth why so as one well observes as a pillar holds forth a Proclamation truth that upholds the Church but the Church holds out the Worship of God Thirdly A Candlestick is a thing moveable and with the removing of the Candlestick you carry away the light also and therefore the thing that the Lord threatens is that he will remove the Candlestick out of its place the Lord removes the Candlestick from place to place though the Land remain the Church is gone that is a dangerous Judgement not only an immediate removing of the Ordinances but of the Church for which all Ordinances were appointed the Kingdom of God shall be taken from them he will call them Loammi they shall be no more a people to him the Lord will remove the Candlestick and the glory of the Lord shall depart Lasty It s an allusion unto the Candlestick under
Eph. 2.20 Churches are said to be the great interest of Christ in the world and indeed it is true that for the Saints sake and the Churches sake the world stands but he now that would destroy truth overthrows the foundation upon which the Church is built we speak of persecution and there is a great cry of persecution but the greatest persecution that ever was or can be to the Church was not in destroying their persons but in over-throwing the truths upon which the Church is built therefore Hereticks have been the greatest persecutors c. Thirdly truth is that by which holiness is maintained in the world Ioh. 17.17 sanctifie them by thy truth thy word is truth Now for men to cry up holiness and decry truth it is oppositio in adjecto the Lord loves his people but he loves his truth above all and it is dangerous to set a mans self against that which Christ specially will own and advance he hath exalted his word above all his name Secondly no Nation did ever prosper that did ever set themselves against Truth and no Magistrates did ever prosper in their Government that did set themselves against Truths and did countenance and favour them that did it to give you a few instances First consider the Jews Idolatry before their captivity was their great sin but afterward they departed Non prius facti sint haeretici quam esse Idololatrae destissent then here sies sprung up and it will appear that their opposing of truth and suffering these to get ground and make merchandize of the people was the destruction of the City rather then the Army of the Romans that came against them as Josephus c. The Rulers they favoured those that opposed Truth and did aide themselves and took their parts and contended for them the Roman Empire it was the flood the Arrian heresie their Emperours favoured it and taking part with them that brought in the Goths and the Barbarous Nations upon them and extinguished all the glory of their antient Government the Star wormwood in Augustulus falling from heaven And the Eastern part the seven Churches of Asia the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans and the doctrine of the woman Iezebel brought the Saracens upon them I might instance in many other but here at home though there was a persecution before and it may be in regard of restraint as great well nigh as was afterward but yet their sins never came to a ripeness till they did begin to make void the Law of God and labour to bring in the Doctrine of Poperie amongst us and Arminianism and the Rulers took part with them and favoured the Doctrine and Teachers and that brought in corrupt worship and this filled their measure and then did God awaken the souls of his servants to cry to him and indeed what can the righteous do when the foundations are destroyed and the Lord was pleased to hear and to awake when men in authority will favour and countenance those that endeavour to overthrow truth then God will pour contempt upon them c. and if there were no more but this it will clear it that the Churches are the great interest of Nations which have been formerly and if destroying of the truths of God be the greatest persecution of Churches that can be and the greatest wrong that is done or can be done unto them and let the Churches be corrupted let me tell you the end will be with a flood they were the sins of the sons of God that in a special manner brought the flood upon the world We may speak of Poperie and cry out of Antichrist but for the Antichrist that denyes the Father and the Son that they never did directly but consequentially and yet if the main Doctrine of Antichrist be received favoured and countenanced and the Teachers of them surely the greatest part of Antichrist is amongst us Bernard speaks of one Peter Aboliardus in his time Bernard Cum de Trinitate loquitur sapit Arius cum de gratia Pelagius cum de persona Christi Nestorius There are some men that are nothing else all their Religion is a bundle of old and absolete herisies I speak not this to stir you up to an imposition of Doctrines upon the consciences of men which is commonly objected and that all our dictates must be received a liberty and an indulgence I pray you to allow in those things wherein it may be granted but a bounding of mens spirits by the word is not bounding of the spirit an imposing those things at least not to be disputed which the Scripture saith without the believing of them men cannot be saved this is no dangerous imposition but yet this I press not but only that as you are in authority you would not countenance such Teachers and that you would give your testimony unto the truths of God and let the Nation yea all the Nations of the earth know that you are not departed from the faith to follow such lying vanities and this should I look upon as a glorious answer of the prayers of this day and that you do not involve your selves and the Nation in the ruine of these things threatned and feared in the judgement of most that are godly and considering Christians Thirdly hence also I cannot but infer that they are the greatest enemies unto the Church of God and to any Nation that do endeavour to corrupt the Doctrines of Religion and are to be looked upon as such though they may be men of great parts and otherwise for a State interest useful yet if the bent of their spirits do run out this way to corrupt the Doctrines of godliness to oppose and decry them that do support them let me tell you all the service that they can do you will not countervail this loss for though they may be cryed up for Saints yet these are the great Engineers for Satan in the world as Iraeneus hath a story of Cerinthus whom he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iraeneus and they are the greatest designers for Popery I will not say it is finis operantis but operis it is as Contzen the Jesuite Error cui patrocinium deerit sine pugna concidet This I speak as that which I am perswaded in my conscience will and doth provoke God both against you and your Government c. Secondly keep close to the word in the matter of worship services tendred unto God must be word-service and if not you will never prosper for else First it is worshiping of Devils and not God Rev. 9.20 Now to bring in worshiping of Devils amongst you and not God will be that which will cause the Lord to depart from you Secondly it is an image of Idolatry and so much the greater if there be a hand of the antients of Israel in it Ezek. 8.3 it will provoke God to depart from a Nation Thirdly this hath destroyed the most flourishing Churches and Nations Hos 8.5,6 Thy Calf
the Law in the Tabernacle in Exod. 25.31 which was a type of the Church of God for all things were done unto them in types and yet with this difference Under the Law there was but one Candlestick in the Tabernacle but here are seven Candlesticks what is the reason there is a double Ground and both of them Considerable First Because the Church of God under the Gospel should be of a larger extent then under the Law and for that Cause happily it is that the dimensions of Johns City go so far beyond that of Ezekiels though it be spoken of the same thing and of the same time yet Ezekiels City that is but 4500. Cubits and Saint Johns is twelve thousand furlongs A great difference But Ezekiel saw it with Legal apprehensions he had a sight of Gospel-Ordinances by a darker light only But John saw it with a Gospel light and he describes the latitude and the dimensions thereof according thereunto Secondly And that is the main reason there was but one Candlestick in the Tabernacle because the Church of the Jews was but one and though they had many Synagogues yet they met all in one stem they were united all in one shaft but the Churches of the Gentiles are many and for that Cause though there was but one Candlestick under the Law yet there are seven under the Gospel and that is the meaning why a Candlestick Secondly Why is the Church is called a golden Candlestick Upon a double Ground First Because Gold is the purest mettal and the Lord will have his Church such they shall differ as much from other men as Gold doth from the common clay in the streets the Lord is very exact in every thing in the Church he is very curious of what mettle such Candlesticks be made of and therefore it is not every society or constitution of men that will be lookt upon as a Church to Christ but when the Lord lays the Foundation of a Church he doth it with Saphirs Isa 54. Non est de doctrina sed hominibus there is a double Foundation of Churches as Divines do observe doctrinae personae the Church is founded on doctrines but here of persons the First founders of which the Church is built they must not be common stones for if the Church become corrupt if the Gold become Dross if the house of the Lord become an outward Court then the Lord will take no care either to build or to measure it and there is Golden Doctrines 1 Cor. 3.12 The light that doth shine forth in this his Candlestick and then the Lord is curious with what oyl the Candlestick is maintained for the Lord will not have it maintained with common oyl that Persons may put in themselves but God will not delight in them It is a strange expression that in Zach. 4.12 These empty golden oyl out of themselves their parts their pains and all it must be golden oyl Secondly Because Gold of all other mettals is the most precious and of the highest esteem there is as much difference between the Church of God and other men as there is between Gold and Dirt in the street as between Diamonds and Pebbles in the Lords esteem make Israel a Church and then all the earth is mine saith the Lord but thou art my peculiar treasure in Exod. 19.5 they are to God above all people the truth is they are the first fruits of all the creatures the Church is called so Iames 1.18 The first fruits were best and were dedicated to God and they did also consecrate the whole crop you all claim a title to Church-membership look they be golden Candlesticks the Lord hath his scales to weigh you and his touchstone to try you and let me tell you the less Gold there is in any Church the less value God sets upon it Thirdly How is Christ said to walk in the midst of the Golden Candlestick It denotes a promise of especial presence and fellowship this is the promise that the Lord made unto the Jews Lev. 26.12 I will walk among you and I will be your God and my soul shall not abhorr you 2 Cor. 6.16 I will dwell and walk amongst them it notes his presence with them in all ways of love and Communion for Amos 3.3 Two cannot walk together unless they be agreed When God hath Communion with us he is said to walk with us therefore we read of his goings in the Sanctuary this then is the meaning he affords his especial presence and Communion Now here is an observation that I shall hint unto you There is a gratious presence of Christ with his Church in all Church-administrations Two Scriptures hold forth this gloriously unto you one is Psalm 27.4 I would see thy beauty and glory as I have seen in thy sanctuary thy beauty what is beauty It is a symmetry and a proportion of parts now when you look abroad on the works of God you see one Attribute manifested in one work and another in another you see not these parts put together and so the beauty of them doth not appear God doth great things when he manifests an attribute when he would shew his love he gives his Son when he would manifest his mercy he pardons sin so that in the Works of God the Atributes of God are thus scattered you cannot see them together But come to the Sanctuary and there you see beauty all the Attributes of God are displayed there for as Christ as Mediatour is the stage on which all the Attributes of God are acted for he is the Image of the Invisible God so is the Church the stage or scene on which Christ acts all these Attributes Rev. 11. There is the special presence and beauty of God to be seen there beyond what there is in all the world beside Secondly There is the great Glory of God to be seen in heaven and you shall find that there is a great resemblance between his presence in his Church and in Glory In Heb. 12.22,23 When you read it you will see but little difference between that and heaven that you can scarce know it from heaven we are come to the heavenly Jerusalem to the General assembly of the Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven to God the Iudge of all to Iesus the mediatour of the New Testament c. Let us compare a little the presence of Christ with his Church with that of his presence in Glory take the parrallel in these five particulars First Christ in heaven is present in Majesty and Glory It is called the throne of his Glory and such is his presence in his Church too And therefore observe it he is said to sit upon a high Throne in the midst of his Churches Rev. 4.3 The name of the Church is called Iehovah Shammah on that account the Lord is there Ezek. 11. Christ doth nowhere but in heaven discover so much of his Kingly Majesty as he doth in
the poor they are all the work of his hands they shall be all judged alike and shall all stand up alike before the Judgement Seat of Christ distances amongst men may perswade the vain mind of man that there is something that makes them differ but with the Lord it is not so and it is a small thing as well as a vain to profess we know God when in works we deny him And the fruit of all this is that thou maist make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success the words have many efficacies prosperous that is to have all things go well with him and his undertaking to answer his design whereas many times it doth not but the contrary and the counsels of wise men are turned backwards and though they conceive one thing yet another is brought forth it is as the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a man that goes well on in his way and it is the same word used Psal 1. Whatsoever he does shall prosper and the other word for good success it doth signifie to do wisely the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viam tuam diriges intelliges eam Jerom. Jerom. Res tanta est ex qua omnis ratio Magistratus bene gerendi pendebat inculcanda est Massius Massius in loc Doctrine The only way for a godly Magistrate to rule wisely and prosperously is in all his government to have respect unto the word and to keep close thereunto First this is the way to walk by an un-erring rule let me tell you the policies of men will deceive you for they do many times deceive themselves the wise are taken in their own craft and burnt as Bees in their own hives and the Devil doth commonly make use of the wisdom of the wise also cupit diabolus c. Satan hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any man can act the Devils lusts but all men cannot understand and reach his depths therefore the Devil will make use of wise men in the world this way but this is a rule in which a man shall never err never miscarry Prov. 19.16 he that keeps the Commandments keeps his soul and as many as walk according to this rule peace be upon them it is the way to peace only Secondly this is the only vvay to rule with God Hos 11.12 they rule for God ye Iudge not for men but for the Lord and it is a great happiness to have God rule with them there are tvvo great Judgements that in a special manner vve should fear the one is to have God to depart from our Magistrates and the other from our Ordinances 2 King 18.6,7 Hezekiah clave to the Lord and departed not from him but kept his Commandments so the Lord was with him and he prospered in all things he took in hand every Government doth stand upon a double Covenant First between God and the Magistrate Secondly between the Magistrate and the people 2 King 11.17 between the Lord and the King and the people that they should be the Lords people likewise between the King and the people So that a people coming under the authority of men and obeying them for conscience sake it is still with respect unto the authority of God that they will so be under government as they wil be the Lords people still therefore the care of Magistrates should be not only that they rule in a way of providence Dan. 4.17 but in a way of grace Magnus Caesar sed Deo minor and whilest the Magistrate rules according to the word of God and hath respect to it in his Government so long God rules in and with the Magistrate and therefore all that he doth undertake shall prosper Thirdly this is the only way to have the spirit to be their guide in Government he hath undertaken to his people to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Leader not only as Saints as he is to all the Saints in general but also in their particular places and callings and imployments Ioh. 16.13 he shall lead you into all truth it is not to be understood in omnem veritatem absolute but necessariam all that is necessary to your calling imployments and condition in which he hath set you and where shall a man hear the voice of the spirit speaking but in the word it is in the Sanctuary of the Lord there David found the rule he was shewed the way the way of the spirit is in the word it is the light that shines in a dark place unto which you do well to give heed Fourthly this is the way to come under the favourable aspect of many gracious promises of success and prosperitie in your undertakings and administrations 1 King 2.3 Keep the charge of the Lord thy God his Statutes his Commandments his Judgements his Testimonies that thou mayst prosper in all that thou doest and whithersoever thou turnest thy self 2 Chron. 22.13 Only the Lord give thee wisdom that thou mayst keep the Law of the Lord thy God then shalt thou prosper c. 2 Chron. 24.20 Zachary was cloathed with the spirit and he had need be so that speaks to an apostatizing Magistracie and to a revolted and backsliding people and he said that they did transgress the Commandment of the Lord and therefore they could not prosper and Zach. 11.16 there is an Idol Shepherd or a foolish Shepherd it points unto the folly of the Government that was afterward to arise that is when they did forsake the Law of the Lord and what wisdom was there in them then Their Arm their power and authority with the people and their Eye their counsel shall be nothing but they shall err and cause the people to err in every work of their hands the Lord will mingle a perverse spirit upon them c. Use Then surely this is the way for you to prosper and this will be your wisdom in the sight of the Nations to keep close to the word and here I shall exhort you to keep close to the word First in the Doctrine of it Secondly in the worship it holds forth Thirdly in practice First for Doctrine Let the word be alwaies before you that you may receive it and give a testimony to it there is a form of Doctrine a pattern of wholsome words there is a personal foundation and there is a doctrinal foundation Heb. 6.1 Rev. 21.14 which the Saints ought to build upon all the superstructures let them be for clearing the truth and establishing not for subverting of the faith Sit profectus fidei non permutatio under persecution Satan acted another part Cogit homines negare Christum nunc docet Austin Austin Here are three things that I shall speak to First that the great interest Christ hath in the world is Truth First it is that by which Christ rules and conquers Psal 110.2 Rev. 6.2 Secondly it is that upon which the Church stands