neglected She is not set on the top of the Mountains but somewhat else preferred to Her Half Reformations are often condemned when the high places were not removed though many things were commendably Reformed there is alwayes a mark set on that Reformation as Sinfully defective 3dly The promoting of Holiness is one chief way of advancing Religion and making the Church Glorious Holiness is Her Beauty and Cognisance Psal 93. 5 Ezek. 43. 12. Let Laws be made and executed for restraining the horrid Immoralities that have defaced the Church and for encouraging true Piety 4ly Let no Interest be preferred to or come in competition with the concernment of Religion As it can never Clash with any of the true Interests of Men So where it is so apprehended that men think that either it or they must suffer inconveniency let it alwayes have the preference as being of most value and on account that due regard to it is the way to engage the Lord to take care of mens other Interests even when they seem to be in hazard See for this Exod. 34 24. For I will cast out the Nations before Thee and enlarge thy Borders neither shall any man desire thy Land when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year This should be minded mainly with the greatest zeal with the greatest tenderness lest any wrong step be made about it An error about other matters should be look'd on as of less moment and less dangerous consequence If any thing must run a venture let it not be Christs Interest 5thly It belongeth to this preference that Religion should have that it be postponed to no other concernment As we are to seek the Kingdom of God first with respect to our own Souls Matth 6. 33. So must we use the same Conduct with respect to the publick and more general advancement of that Kingdom This is to be understood when the time of considering this Affair may import either its esteem its safety or any other advantage to it Then all things should yeild to it even in that circumstance Let it not be thought when we thus plead that they who do most concern themselves in the Church are either Impatient under necessary delayes or would prescribe to them whom the Lord hath entrusted as the Nursing Fathers of the Church They can with confidence Trust this to the Wisdom of such Worthy Patriors But we are confident that zeal for the Church the consideration of her present Confusions and regard to the Souls of Men will suggest this to them If David was allowed to plead with God as Psal 70. 1 5. That the Lord would make hast to deliver and help him and that he would make no tarrying I hope we shall not be blamed if we so plead with men 6thly They that are truly zealous for advancing the Interest of the Church and Religion will also be careful that the State be well settled There is a connection betwixt these two as between the Soul and Body The illness of the one affecteth the other If the Government be not supported if that Establishment of it that is Friendly to Religion be not secured if it be in the hands of either open Enemies or false Friends to Truth and to the right wayes of God the Church cannot be safe It is true the Lord can support her and hath done it amidst her most Bloody Foes But a Godly Magistracy is the ordinary means for that end They are Nursing Fathers Christ hath committed the care of his Spouse as to externals to them And this Trust they cannot well perform if they let the House go to ruine over Her head Wherefore if men will establish the Mountain of the House of God above other Mountains They will also be duely careful of the Interest of the Nation and that for the Churches fake for the sake of the Protestant Religion here and elsewhere as well as for theit own sakes The fourth thing proposed to be Discoursed is to give the Reasons why the Interest of Religion should be so minded and that with preference to all other Interests I may confidently affirm that few Reasons will be needful to perswade them of this and to incline them to it who in leed understand what Religion is and who are truely concerned in it But that I may give you a few hints to this purpose Consider First The advancement of Religion is that whereby God is more honoured then by any other way The Riches Power Splendor of his People or of a Nation or of great Ones doth not so much honour him as this doth Neither doth their meaness and contempt and low condition in the World so dishonour him as abounding Sin Idolatry Superstition Church Confusion or other sinful courses do see Psal 48 1 2 3. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God in the Mountain of his Holiness Beautiful for Situation the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion on the sides of the North the City of the great King God is known in her palaces for a refuge Christ is King of Kings and therefore his interest is to be preferred to that of all the great men on Earth 2ly The Salvation of men is nearly concerned in this the advancement of other interests may be conducive to their riches power and Worldly greatness But this is the mean to save their Souls The soundness of Doctrine the purity and liveliness of Ordinances yea the order of the Church of God is of great use for this end Even that tendeth to preserve the truth and ordinances of God To curb vice and to engage men in the wayes of God And therefore they who desire to be holy or to see holiness promoted among men cannot but think it of high concernment that the Church be well setled If then ye have any regard to your own immortal Souls If ye value the Souls of People more then your Worldly concernments make it your care to advance Religion rather then any other interest 3ly True Religion and the flourishing of it among a people is the greatest Glory of a Nation The poorest most contemptible People may by this means have their reputation advanced in the sight of God and in the esteem of all good men Yea often in the Eyes of them that are but moral and intelligent though Enemies Deut 4 6. 7 8 v. 6 Keep therefore and do them for this is your Wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall hear all these statuts and say surely this Nation is a wise and understanding People v. 7. For what Nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for v 8. And what Nation is there so great that hath statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this Day And not only so but 〈◊〉 is
A SERMON Preached before His GRACE the Kings Commissioner And the Three ESTATES OF PARLIAMENT May the 25th 1690. By GILBERT RULE Minister of the Gospel at Edinburgh EDINBVRGH Printed at the Society of Stationers Printing-house in Harts-Close over-against the Trone-Church for George Mosman Bookseller at his Shop on the South-side of the Parliament-Close 1690. READER IT was not Choice but the Appointment of the General Meeting of the Presbyterian Ministers which made me with much Reluctancy to appear before so Great and Discerning an Auditory I was led to the Subject here treated of by observing that the Affairs of this Church and its Settlement after a long time wherein things hath been not of Course in it were under the Parliaments consideration And I was moved to allow the Printing of this Discourse only by the Command of Authority without which nothing could have prevailed with me to have made it so publick wherein there is nothing to commend it save the Divine Truths that are the matter of it As the Interest of Religion was our solicitude when these Thoughts were conceived and delivered So now we are filled with Joy while we behold the Religious regard that the High and Honourable Court of Parliament have shewed to the Mountain of the Lords House above other Mountains which they truly are and ought to be concerned about in the great step towards the establishing thereof that they made by their Vote 28th Instant Settling the Protestant Religion and the Presbyterian Church Government and their proceeding to consider the other things needful for promoting Religion in this Church and Nation That the Lord may help them to go on as they have begun and hitherto acted and reward them for their Good Deeds toward his House and that he may bless what here followeth for Soul advantage to them who read it is the earnest Prayer of Thine and the Church's Servant G. R. Edinburgh May 30th 1690. A SERMON ON Isaiah 2. Chap. 2 ver And it shall come to pass in the last dayes that the Mountain of the Lords house shall established in the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills And all Nations shall flow unto it REligion and the Church which is the Chiefe mean of propogating it in the World is the most contemptible thing to many men â—hat can be and that which most men are least concerned about But as it alwayes ought to be otherwayes so the Lord here promiseth that there shall be a time when it shall be more regarded This promise was made to the Church before the Captivity in Babylon that it might be a support to the Faithful in that dark Hour And it is repeated Micha 4. and 1. As that which was needful and yet hard to be beleived We are here to consider First the certainty of the event It shall come to pass Or be Whatever unlikelyhood or letts may be in the way God hath said it Secondly the time of it the last dayes the dayes of the Gospel Or when God hath exercised his People with Tryal he will at last put an end to their trouble and bring this about for their comfort Thirdly The subject spoken of the Mountain of the Lords House By this no doubt is meant the Church or the Religious interest of Men Mount Zion that is one of the two tops of it called Mount Moriah where the Temple was built was a name ordinariely given to the Church of God And from the Dialect of the old Testament it is transferred to the new Testament Wherefor by the Mountain of the House of the Lord is meant the Church It is she It is the Religion owned and professed in her and Gods ordinances whereby she is distinguished from other Societies that is here promised to be exalted so high The Church or the concernments of Religion may well be called a Mountain both from her Eminency and also from her stability Fourthly two things are said of this Mountain her preference to other things and her increase are both asserted For the former it is to be considered First absolutely that she shall be Established 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth both preparation and fixedness And indeed hath a great Emphasis in this place The Church shall be prepared That is Men shall use the greatest application the greatest Care the greatest Wariness Consideration and Zeal they shall imploy all their Wit all their Activity and Care And not only so but the Lord will imploy his infinite Wisdom and Goodness for her being setled on lasting Foundations Rashness Headiness Indifferency and worldly Designs are not like to make good work when Men are about settling the Church It will make an ill contrived building that will not stand long The Church saith the Text also shall be Established That is fixed made impregnable so as the Malice and open enmity of Enemies nor the treachery of false Friends shall not be able to brangle her Constitution And the Lord will make her firm on the Rock that the Gates of Hell shall not prevaile against her It is also said that she shall be exalted or be made great and glorious God will put a Lustre on Her And men when the Lord poureth out the Spirit on them that seemeth to be promised in the Text will contribute what they can to promote her Spiritual Glory 2ly Comparatively The Church must be fixed and exalted above the Mountains and Hills That is preferred to all the other Interests of Men however great they he in the Eyes of the World the Lord will make Her more Glorious then any other Society or false Church And men will when this promise is fullfiled prefer Her Interest to all that can be dear to them or great in their Eyes The other thing that is said of the Church is that all Nations shall flow to Her when God shall thus exalt Her and when men shall thus shew their zeal for Her many will come to Her joyn with Her submit to Her it will be a Terrour to Enemies and an allurement to Strangers Diverse practical and important Truths might be observed from this Text But I pitch upon this one as of great use and necessity to be considered by this Audience at this time to wit That God will and Men ought to prefer the Interest of the Church and Religion to all other Concernments whatsoever Let us for our more distinct procedure consider First What this Religious Interest is and what are the great things to which it must be preferred Secondly How God will prefer it Thirdly How men should do it Fourthly Why it should be so For the First we must consider that Christ is a King Psal 2. v. 6. And though his Kingdom be not of this World Jo. 18. 36. Yet it is in this World And his Royal Power is exercised visibly among Men. Math 28. 19 20 with the 18. And that as distinguished from though no way opposite to and far less inconsistent with the Kingdoms
the way to bring down National blessings as the neglect of Religion bringeth National Curses and Ruine As may be observed in the whole current of the Writings of the Prophets and in the History of the Judges and Kings of Israel and Judah If ye will set Christ on high in this poor Church he will set the Church and Nation on high Scotland hath in former times been renowned and esteemed among the Churches of the Reformation upon this account It may be an honour in after ages to your Posterity that such a man was active and Faithful in that happy Parliament that settled Religion and the Church when it had been almost ruined 4ly Yea this is the way to secure us that we need not fear our Enemies or them that are unfriends to our way But rather shall be feared by them Religion well settled and flourishing in a Nation will render it more formidable then strong Armies or Navies could do Gods presence among a People and that is best obtained by the advancement of Religion amongst them useth to strike terror into the minds of their Enemies 1 Sam. 4 7 8. And the Philistines were afraid for they said God is come unto the Camp And they said wo unto us for their hath not been such a thing heretofore Wo unto us who shall deliver us out of the hands of these mighty Gods These are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the Wilderness Psal 48. 4. 5 6. For lo the Kings were assembled they passed by together they saw it and so they marvelled They were troubled and hasted away Fear took hold upon them and pain as of a Woman in Travel Cant. 6. 4 Terrible as an Army with Banners And now to conclude with a few words for applying of what hath been said Ye see what the Lord giveth us hope that he will do for his Church Ye see what he calleth you in your present Station and in the high trust that God and the Nation have reposed in you to do for Religion That ye should be careful to set this Mountain on the top of the Mountains and advance it above the Hills Wherefore let me beseech you and obtest you in the Lord that ye would bring home all that hath been said to your own practice in these three things First beware of being defective in this either by luke warmness neglect and indifferency or by preferring any thing else to the well being of Religion Beware of venturing it for a Worldly interest either publick or private and selfish For your humour to maintain a Sâ—iekle or in pursuance of private Piques Let all Christs friends lay by their animosities that they may secure and promote his interests Religion maketh a small figure in our account if it cannot thus far influence us Beware also of enmity and â—ll designs against that which the Lord will thus advance For it will prove a Burdensome stone to any who so designe or endeavour Zech 12. 3 And a Cup of Trembling to them Vers 2. How this texr suteth with a Maxim that some men advance that the Government of the Church should be modelled as is most sutable to that of the stare let any Judge For this were to set the mole hils of this World above and on the top of the Mountain of the Lords House It was not so under the old Testament For the Government of the State was often changed but that of the Church remained the same And if this were alwayes observed Popery behoved to be under Monarchy Episcopacy or Presbytery under Aristocracy and Independency with Democracy Which I think none will plead 2ly Let this encourage every one to venture and Act for Religion The text telleth us that interest will be uppermost If we believe this it will inspire us with courage and zeal Gods hand is at this work and therefore men may be encouraged with the greatest resolution to put their hand to it Hag. 2 4. Yet now be strong O Zerubbabel saith the Lord and be strong O Joshuah Son of Josedech the high Priest and be strong all ye people of the Land saith the Lord and work for I am with you saith the Lord of Hosts Most of the Prophesies of Zechariah are to this purpose See Chap 8 9 13. 3. Let this engage you to contribute all your endeavours to promote the Interest of Religion get your heart engaged to it and then your hand will not be wanting Love the Truths and wayes of God and labour to get your Hearts bent for Holiness Without this and where Mens own Hearts are nor first gained to God their actings for him are like to be faint and unsteady Pray and wait for Light and Guidance from the Lord and for his help that ye may do him service in this matter Resolve to be Faithful and that ye will thus lay out your selves for the Lord And be careful to lay hold on the happy occasion that the Lord hath put in your hands to do him service in promoting of true Religion Consider what peace it will yield you in the day of trouble and at Death that ye have sincerely appeared for God and Religion And what a terror the contrary will bring What a Blessing it may entail on you and your Families And what a Curse will be on all them who are Enemies or false Friends to Religion Also that the Work will be done deliverance and establishment will come to the Church The Text assureth us of that As also do other Scriptures And if ye be wanting in your Station and when opportunity is put in your hands Mordecai hath pronounced what will be the issue of it Esth 4. 14. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews rom another place but thou and thy Fathers House shalt be destroyed And who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for such a time as this I have not in this Discourse been very particular in bespeaking your Care and Zeal for the things controverted among us Partly because time doth not allow to insist on such Debates and partly because I am confident that were men cordially for the Advancement of the Life and Power of Religion and unbyassedly for Christs Kingdom among us they would readily fall into accord about the things that have been the matter of our Differences FINIS