we may be quickly shaken again but when the righteousnesse of the Persons and cause meet all the rest will follow 2. Set your selves to oppose that overflowing flood of prophanesse and opposition to the power of Godlinesse that is spreading it self over this Nation Know you not that the Nation begins to be overwhelmed by the powrings out of a profane wicked carnal spirit full of rage and contempt of all the work of Reformation that hath been attempted amongst us Do you not know that if the former prophane principle should prove predominant in this Nation that it will quickly return to its former station and condition and that with the price of your dearest blood and yet is there not already such a visible prevalency of it that in many places the very profession of Religion is become a scorn and in others those old formes and wayes taken up with greedinesse which are a badge of apostacy from all former ingagements and actings and are not these sad evidences of the Lords departing from us if I should lay before you a comparison between the degrees of the appearances of the Glory of God in this nation the steps wereby it came forth and those wherby it seems almost to be departing it would be a matter of admiration and lamentation I pray God we loose not our ground faster then we won it Were our hearts kept up to our good old principles on which we first ingaged it would not be so with us but innumerable evils have laid hold upon us and the temptations of these dayes have made us a woful prey gray haires are here and there and it will be no wonder if our ruine should come with more speed then did our deliverance O then set your selves in the gap by all wayes and means oppose the growth of an evil prophane Common malignant spirit amongst us But I hast 3. Value encourage and close with them in and with whom is this presence of Christ They are the Glory of the Nation it's peace safety and prosperity will be found wrapped up in them I know there lie divers considerable objections against the practise of this duty I shall name some few of them and leave the exhortation unto your considerations 1. Who are those persons in whom is this presence of Christ are they such as professe indeed Religion but neglect all Rules of righteousnesse that would be accounted Godly but care not to be honest the markes of whose miscarriages are written on their foreheads are not these so far from being the Glory that they are the shame of any nation I pray give me leave to endeavour the rolling away of this great stone of offence in these few ensuing considerations 1. Then I shall willingly lay this down for a principle that he is not Religious who is not also Righteous as also I shall not much value his Righteousnesse who is not Religious He that is righteous doth righteousnesse he doth so in the bent of his spirit and course of his wayes and walkings If a man be froward heady highminded sensual unjust oppressive worldly selfseeking a hater of good men false treacherous let him pretend to what he will that mans religion is in vain he may have a form of Godlinesse but he hath not the power of it This principle we shall agree upon 2. There have been in the dayes wherein we live many false professors hypocrites that have thought gain to be Godlinesse by reason of whose wicked lives wayes and walking the name of God hath been evil spoken of and woe to them by whom these offences are come but yet also woe to the world because of offences if these offences turn off men from an esteem of the Remnant of Christ in whom is his presence woe to them also I acknowledge these dayes have abounded with offences but woe to them who are turned aside by them from owning the portion and inheritance of Christ 3. It cannot be denied but that many of them who do belong unto Christ have woefully miscarried in these dayes O tell it not in Gath publish it not in Askelon Oh that our souls could mourn in secret on that account that we could go backward and cover the nakednesse and folly of one another but alasse this hath been far from being our frame of spirit we have every one spread the failings of his brother before the face of men and devils but yet not withstanding these miscarriages those that are the people of Christ are his people still and he loves them still whether we will or no and commonly those who are least able to bear with the miscarriages of others have must of their own 4. That differences of judgments in civil affaires or Church matters ought not presently to be made Arguments of men not being Righteous Some men think that none are Righteous that are not of their principles then which principle there is nothing more unrighteous Let men that differ from them walk never so holily professe never so strictly yet if they are not of their minde they are not Righteous If men are offended on such accounts it is because they wil be so 5. This hath ever been the way of the men of the world that when any have been unblamable and zealous upon the account of Religion they will attempt their Reputation though without any ground or colour upon the account of righteousnesse So suffered the Christians of old and so the Puritans of former dayes unjustly and falsly as God will judge and declare The world then in this matter is not to be beleeved the common reports of it are from the devil the accuser of the brethren who accuses them in the same manner before God night and day These are but pretenses whereby men ignorant of the mystery of the Gospel and the power of Grace harden themselves to their ruine 6. This remnant of Christ with whom his presence is who are the glory of a nation is to be found onely amongst the professors of a nation For although of those who are professors there may be many bad yet of those that are not professors there is not one good Where there is faith there will be a profession If I should not know well where to finde them I am sure I know where I cannot finde them I cannot finde them in the wayes of the world and conformity to it in darknesse ignorance neglect of dutie and utter unacquaintednesse with Gospel truths the gifts and graces of the spirit there I cannot finde them I shall not say of them behold the Lords anointed let their outward worldly appearance be what it will now by the help of these considerations those who have in themselves principles of life and light in Christ will or may be seting aside their temptations inabled to discover this generation of the Lords delight and for others I cannot take down the enmity that God hath set up So then notwithstanding this objection I shall certainly esteem this
Covering the law from the eye of justice as to those that are interested in him he was the tabernacle and temple wherein dwelt the Glory of God and which was recompenced with all pledges of his gracious presence Apply then this promise to Gospel times and the substance of it is comprehended in these two propositions 1. The presence of Christ with any people is the Glory of any people This is the glory here spoken of as is evident to any one that will but read over the second verse and consider its influence into these words The branch of the Lord shall be to them beautiful and glorious and upon all the glory shall be a defence 2. The presence of God in special providence over a people attends the presence of Christ in grace with a people if Christ the glory be with them a defence shall be upon them what lies else in allusion to the mercy-seat not drawn forth in these propositions may be afterwards insisted on For the first what I pray else should be so This is their Glory or they have none is it in their number that they are great many and populous God thinks not so nor did he when he gave an account of his thoughts of his People of old Deut. 7. 7. The Lord did not set his love upon you nor chose you because you were more in number then any people for you were the fewest of all people God made no reckoning of numbers he chose that People that was fewest of all He esteemed well of them when they were but a few men in number yea very few and strangers Psal. 105. 12. You know what it cost David in being seduced by Sathan into the contrary opinion He thought the glory of his People had been in their number and caused them to be reckoned but God taught him his error by taking off with a dreadful judgement no small portion of the number he sought after There is nothing more common in the Scripture then for the Lord to speak contempt of the multitude of any people as a thing of nought and he takes pleasure to confound them by weak and despised means Is it in their wisdome and counsel their understanding for the ordering of their affairs Is that their glory Why see how God derides the Prince of Tyrus who was lifted up with an apprehension hereof and counted himself as God upon that account Ezek. 27. 3 4 5. 6. c. The issue of all is Thou shalt be a man and no God in the hand of him that slays thee God will let him see in his ruin and destruction what a vain thing that was which he thought his glory Might I dwell upon it I could evince unto you these two things 1. That whereas the end of all humane wisdom in nations or the Rulers of them is to preserve humane society in peace and quietness within the several bounds and alotments that are given unto them by the providence of God it so comes to pass for the most part through the righteous judgment and wise disposal of God that it hath a contrary end and bringeth forth contrary effects throughout the world Do not the inhabitants of the earth generally owe all their disturbance sorrow and blood to the wise contrivances of a few men not knowing how to take the Law of their proceedings from the mouth of God but laying their deep counsels and politick contrivances in a subserviency to their lusts and ambition And what Glory is there in that which almost constantly brings forth contray effects to its own proper end and intendment 2. That God delights to mix a spirit of giddinesse error and folly in the counsels of the wise men of the world making them reel and stagger in their way like a drunken man that they shall not know what to do but commonly in their greatest concernments fix upon things as devoid of true reason and sound wisdom as any children or fools could close withal He taketh the wise in their own craftinesse and the Counsel of the froward is carried headlong Job 5. 13. 14. so at large Isa. 19. 11. 12 13 14. and now where is their glory I could give instances of both these and that plentifully in the dayes and seasons that have passed over our own heads The like also may be said of the strength the power the armies of any people if their number and wisdom be vain be no Glory their strength which is but the result or exurgency of their number and wisdom must needs be so also But you have all this summed up together Jer. 9. 23. 24. Thus saith the Lord Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom neither let the mighty man glory in his might let noâ— the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord It is neither Wisdom nor might nor riches that is our Glory but our interest in Jehovah onely This I say is in the presence of Christ only Now Christ may be said to be present with a people two wayes 1. In respect of the dispensation of his Gospel amongst them the profession of it and subjection to the Ordinances thereof The Gospel of Christ is a blessed Gospel a glorious Gospel in its self and unto them that embrace it But yet this profession seperated from the Root from which it ought to spring is not the Glory of any people Christ is not their glory who are his shame Empty profession is the shame of Christ in the world and shall not be others glory The Apostle tells us that this may consist with a litter of unclean lusts making them in whom it is abominable to God and man 2 Tim. 3 4. c. If the bare profession of the truth would render a nation Glorious Oh how glorious were this nation So would have been the people of old who cryed the temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord But when men professe the truth of Christ but in their hearts and wayes maintain and manifest an enmity to the power of that truth and to all of Christ that is in reality in the world this is no Glory 2. Christ is present with a people in and by his spirit dwelling in their hearts by his spirit and faith uniting them to himself I do not distinguish this from the former as inconsistent with it for though the former may be without this yet where this is there will be the former also Profession may be without union but union will bring forth profession There may be a form of Godliness without power but where the power is there will be the appearance also Now when Christ is thus present with a people that is they are united to him by his spirit they are members of his mystical body that is their glory Be they few or many in a nation that are so they are the Glory of that nation and nothing else and
remnant of Christ to lie among those who haveing received Gospel light and gospel gifts evidently do make also profession of Gospel grace union and communion with Christ seperation from the world and the wayes of it in a conversation acceptable unto God in Christ and to this portion shall I say as Ruth to Naomi Let what will be glorious or uppermost in the world whether thou goest I will go where thou lodgest I will lodge thy people shall be my people and thy God my God the Lord do so to me and more also if ought part thee and me with them let my portion be and the portion of my family whatever their lot and condition in this world shall be and the Lord say Amen Obj. 1. But it will be said secondly we are still at a losse for what woful divisions are there amongst this gegeneration of professors some are for one way and some for another some say one sort are the people of God some another some say the Prelatists are so some the Presbiterians some the Independents some the Anabaptists some the fifth Monarchy men some others and on whom should the valuation pleaded for be cast Ans. 1. Some do say so and plead thus it cannot be denied but the truth is the greater is their weaknesse and folly It is impossible men acquainted with the spirit of Christ and the Gospel should say so unlesse they were under the power of one Temptation or other But it is no party but the party of Christ in the world and against the world the seed of the woman against the seed of the serpent that I am pleading for that men as to their interest in Christ should be judged from such denominations as though they make a great noise in the world yet indeed signifie very little things in themselves is most unrighteous and unequal nor will men finde peace in such rash and precipitate judgments 2. There may be many divisions amongst the people of God and yet none of them be divided from Christ the head The branches of a tree may be entangled by strong winds and stricken against one another and yet none of them broken off from the tree its self and when the storm is over every one possesses its own place in quietnesse beauty and fruitfulnesse Whilest the strong winds of temptations are upon the followers of Christ they may be tossed and entangled but not being broken off from the root when he shall say to the winds peace be still they will florish again in peace and beauty 3. Let not Sathan cheat you of your duty by this trivial objection If he can keep you from duty whilst he can make divisions he hath you sure enough They of whom I speak be they under what reproach or obloquies soever they are all true men all the children of one father though they are unhappily fallen out by the way Vse 2. Of incouragement to those that have the presense of Christ with them in the manner declared they shall be safe In vain it is for all the world to attempt their security either they shall not prevail or they shall mischief themselves by their own prevalency Mich. 5. 8. As they shall be a dew where they are appointed for a blessing so as a Lion where they are oppressed Destruction will come forth on their account and that terribly like the destruction of a Lion speedily in passing through it shall be done And whence is it that this feeble generation shall be as a Lion It is from the presence of Christ among them who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah and to honour them he assignes that to them which is his own proper work let men take heed how they provoke this Lion for the present Gen. 49. 9. he is gone up from the prey he stoopeth down he coucheth as a Lion and as an old Lion who shall rouse him up He hath taken his prey in these Nations in the destruction of many of his enemies he seemeth now to take his rest to couch down his indignation being overpast but who shall rouse him up Why what if he be provoked what if he be stirred up why he will not lie down untill he eat of the prey and drink the blood of the slain Numb. 23. 24. There is no delivery from him No but what if there be a strong combination of many against him will he not cease and give over Isa. 31. 4. Be they who they will the sheaperds of the people be they never so many a multitude of them let them lift up their voice and rage never so much all is one he will perform his work and accomplish it untill you have him in the condition mentioned Isai. 63. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Blessed are the people that are under his care and conduct yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lord FINIS A CATALOGUE of other Books published by Dr. OWEN and sold by Philemon Stephens at the Gilded Lion in St. Pauls Church yard 1. A Display of the Errors of the Arminians concerning the old Palagian Idol Free will the new Goddesse Contingency c. in 14. Chapters 4. 2. Salus electorum Sanguis Jesu A treatise of the Redemption and reconciliation that is in the blood of Christ with the merit thereof and the satisfaction wrought thereby wherein the whole controversie of Universal Redemption is full dicussed in four Books with an Apendex upon occasion of a late Book published by Mr. Joshua Sprigge containing erronious doctrine 3. The Duty of Pastors and people distinguished touching the means to be used by the people distinct from Church Officers for encreasing of Divine Knowledge 4. Eshcol or rules of Direction for the walking of the Saints in fellowship According to the order of the Gospel 5. A fast Sermon to the Parliament Aprill 29. 1646. on Acts 16. 9. A vision appeared to Paul in the right c. with an appendix touching Church Government 〈…〉 6. Eben ezar being an exposition on the first ten verses of the third Chapter of the prophesie of Habbakkuck in two Sermons one at Colchester and the other at Rumford in memorial of the Deliverance of Essex County and Committe 1648. 7. A Fast Sermon to the Parliament Jan. 31. 1948. on Jer. 15. 19. 20. Let them return unto thee but return not thou unto them with a discourse about Toleration and the duty of the Civil Magistrate about Religion 8. A Fast Sermon to the Parliament April 19. 1649. on Heb. 12. 27. And this word Yet once more signifieth the removing of those things c. 9. The glory of the Church in its Religion to Christ in two Sermons one at Barwick the other at Edenbrough on Esay 56. 7. For mine house shall be called an house of Prayer for all People 10. The labouring Saints dismission to rest A Sermon at the Funeral of H. Ireton Lord Deputy of Ireland on Daniel 12. 13. But go thou thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand in the lot at the end of the dayes 11. A Sermon to the Parliament at their Solemn Fast held October 30. 1656. on 2 Chron. 15. 2. And he went out to meet Asa the Lord is with you c. 12. A Treatise unfolding the Saints Fellowship with God the Father Son and Holy Ghost each person distinctly A Commentary on the 12. small Prophets by Mr. John Trap A Practical Exposition on these four Psalmes viz. The 27. 84. 85. 87. by Mr. Thomas Pierson Mr. George Herberts Poems reprinted with an alphabetical Table together with the Synagoue being divine Poems the third time enlarged in imitation of Mr. Herbers Poems Paralipomena Orthographiae Etymologiae prosodiae una cum Scholiis ad eanones de genere substantivorum de Anomalis praeteritis et supinis verborum Syntaxi carminum ratione et figuris collecta ex optimis autoribus in quatuor libris per Joh. Danes 4. The holy life and happy death of J. Bruen of Bruen Stapleford in Cheshire Esq exhibiting variety of memorable passages useful for all sorts of people as a path-way to Piety and Charity By W. Hind Five books published by Mr. Robert Abbot viz. 1. A Mothers Catechism wherein chief principles of Christian are Religion briefly propounded fully expounded usefully applyed with 3. Sermons 1. on Psal. 19. 12. Who can understand his error 2. on Mat. 13 45. 46. A Marchant seeking pearle c. 3. Psal. 31. 5. Into thy hand c. 2. The young mans warning peece at the burial of W. R. with a History of his sinful like and woful death with a discourse of the use of such examples 3. 4. Sermons 1. On Judg. 11. 27. The Lord the Judge c. 2. Mat. 7. 12. Whatsoever you would men should do to you c. 3. 4. 1 Tim 1. 19 Holding faith and c. 4. A trial of Church forsakers prooving the Church of Eng. to be a true church hath a true Ministery and true worship Heb. 10. 25. Not forsaking the assembling 5. A Christian Family Builded by God a Treatise directing all Governors of Families how to act on Psal 127. 1. Mr. E. Wingates Arithmetick the 3 Edition digested into a more familiar method and very much augmented by John Kersey