THE BRANCH OF THE LORD The Beauty of SION OR The Glory of the CHURCH in It's Relation unto CHRIST Opened in Two SERMONS one preached at Berwick the other at Edinburgh By John Owen Minister of the Gospel PSAL. 48. 12 13 14. Walk about sion and go round about her tell the Towres thereof Mark ye wel her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that you may tell it to the Generation following For this God is our God for ever and ever he will be our Guide unto death EDINBURGH Printed by Evan Tyler in the year 1650. To His EXCELLENCY the Lord General CROMWELL c. MY LORD IT was with Thoughts of Peace that I embraced my Call to this Place and Time of Warre As all Peace that is from God is precious to my spirit so incomparably that between the Father his Elect which is established and carried on in the Blood and Grace of Jesus Christ The Ministeriall dispensation of this Peace being through free Grace committed even unto me also I desire that in every place my whole may be to declare it to the men of Gods good pleasure That this was my chief design in answer to the Call of God upon me even to poure out a savour of the Gospel upon the Sons of Peace in this place I hope is manifest to the Consciences of all with whom since my coming hither in the Work of the Ministery I have had to do The Enmity between God and us began on our Part The Peace which he hath made begins and ends with himself This is the way of God with sinners when he might justly continue their Enemy and fight against them to their Eternal ruine he drawes forth Love and beseeches them to be reconciled who have done the wrong and them to accept of Peace who cannot abide the Battell Certainly the bearing forth of this Message which is so worthy of all Acceptation and ought to be so welcome cannot but have sweetnes enough to season all the Pressures and temptations wherewith it is somtimes attended This hath bin my desire to pursue and that with the weapons which are not carnal And though some may be so seasoned with the leaven of contention about carnal things or at best the tithing of Mint and Cummin as to disrelish the weightier things of the Gospel yet the great Owner of the Vineyard hath not left me without a comfortable assurance that even this labour in the Lord hath not been in vain The following Sermons which I desire to present unto your Excellency were preached one at Berwick upon your first advance into Scotland the other at Edinburgh My willingnes to serve the Inheritance of Christ here even in my Ablence caused me to close with the desires that wercheld out to this purpose And I do present them to your Excellency not only because the Rise of my Call to this service under God was from you but also because in the carrying of it on I have received from you in the weaknesses and temptations wherewith I am encompassed that dayly spirituall Refreshment and support by inquiry into and discovery of the deep and hidden dispensations of God towards his secret ones which my spirit is taught to value The carrying on of the Interest of the Lord Jesus amongst his Saints in all his wayes which are Truth and Righteousnesse the matter pointed at in this Discourse being the Ayme of your spirit in your great under-takings it bears another Respect unto you I am not unacquainted with it's meannesse yea it 's coming short in respect of use and fruit of what the Lord hath since and by others drawn forth but such as it is having by Providence stepped first into the world I wholly commend it to him for an Incense who graciously supplyed the seed to the sower beseeching him that we may have joy unspeakable and glorious in the Acceptance of that Peace which he gives us in the Son of his Love whilest the Peace whose desire in the midst of warre you continually bear forth to him and to others is by them rejected to their hurt Edinb. Nov. 26. 1650. Your Excellencies most humble servant in our dearest Lord John Owen ISAIAH 56. Chap. 7. verse For mine House shall be called an House of Prayer for all People FRom the 3d verse of this Chapter to the 8th you have Promises and Predictions of calling in Gentiles and Strangers to the Church of God notwithstanding any Objections or hinderances laid in their way By Ceremoniall and Typicall constitutions they being all to be removed in the Crosse of Christ Ephes. 2. 13 14 15 16 Colos. 2. 14. making way for the accomplishment of that signall Promise which is given in the 2 Chapt of this Prophesie 2 3. And it shall come to passe in the last dayes that the Mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountaines and shall be exalted above the hills and ALL NATIONS shall flow unto it And MANY PEOPLE shall go and say Come ye let us go up c. The words of the 7th verse are a RecapiTulation of the whole holding out summarily the calling of the Gentiles to the Holy Mount or spirituall Church of Christ Where also you have a description of the services performed by them upon their coming Their burnt offerings and sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine Altar Answerable to that eminent prediction of the solemne worship of the called Gentiles Mal. 1. 11. For from the rising of the Sun even to the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place Incense shall be offered unto my Name and a peace offering for my Name shall be great among the Heathen saith the Lord of Hosts The Spirituall services of the Saints of the Gentiles are in each place set forth by those Ceremoniall Ordinances of Incense Altar and Sacrifice as were then most acceptable from the Lords own appointment Now this whole promise is once again straightned without losse of life or beauty and comprized in the words of the Text That which before he termed sacrifice and burnt-offerings here he calleth Prayer and those who before were the sons of the stranger are here all People some many of all sorts the whole world all men without distinction the Partition Wall being broken down My House shall be called c. The Thing here spoken of is Gods House described 1. By its Appropriation unto him it is his peculiar My House 2. By its extent of receipt in respect of others it is for all People 3. By the employment of its Inhabitants that is Prayer it shall be called an House of Prayer House here may be taken two wayes 1. Properly as it was in the Type for the Materiall Temple at Hierusalem whereunto these words are applyed by our Saviour Math. 21. but that is no farther concerned herein but as the spirituall Holinesse of the Antitype could not be represented without a Ceremoniall Holinesse
out of themselves which they receive from the Candlestick For this Candlestick hath seven lamps v. 2. which lamps that burn before the throne are the seven spirits of God Rev. 4. 5. seven spirits that is the perfection and compleatnesse of the Spirit of God in all his Graces and Operations Now who hath these seven spirits Even he who received not the spirit by measure Joh. 3. 34. being the stone upon which are the seven Eyes Zech. 3. 9. He alone then is this Candlestick and all the light which this House hath it is from him There are two wayes whereby Jesus Christ makes out light to this House 1. By way of Doctrinall Revelation 2. Of Reall Communication 1. He alone discovers light to all the Stones of this Building No man hath seen God at any time the onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him Joh 1. 10. No saving discovery of God of his Nature his Will his Love but what is by Christ The Moon and Starres give light but it is only what they receive from the Sun The Prophets and Apostles held out light but it was all received from him They spake by the spirit of Christ that was in them I have received of the Lord that which I have delivered unto you 1 Cor. 11. 23. The same Apostle curses every one that shall bring in any other light into this House be they Angels or Men Gal. 1. 8. 9 Christ alone fully knowes the minde of God as being alwayes in the bosome of his Father Joh 1. 18. Yea he knowes it to the uttermost being one with his Father Joh. 10 30. And he is willing to reveal it for even for this end came he into the world that he might bear witnesse to the truth And he had Ability enough to do it for in him were hid all Treasure of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2. 3. He alone is the Author of all light to this his holy Habitation Many Attempts have been to set up light in this House and not from Christ Some would kindle their Traditions or the Doctrine of this House Some their Prudentials for the Government of it Some their Ceremonials for the Worship of it All Candles in the Sun Shall men think to compasle themselves with sparks and walk in the light of the fire which themselves have kindled in the face of the Sun of Righteousnes shall not such men ly down in sorrow Beloved take heed of such ignes fatui foolish misguiding fires 2. By way of Reall Communication He is the true light which lightneth everyman Joh. 1. 9. Every one that hath any spirituall light really communicated to him hath it from Christ It is part of his work to recover sight to the blind Luke 4. 18. And therfore he adviseth the Church of Laodicea to come to him for eye salve that she might see Revel. 3. 18. At his coming Sion shines forth Isa 60. 1. because his light ariseth upon her v. 2. The former Doctrinall Teaching of it self wâ—ll not suffice That light may shine in darknes and the darknes not comprehend it Joh. 1. 5. All the light the Sun can give will not make a blind man see There must be a visive faculty within as well as light without The Stones of this building are by Nature all blind yea darkned yea darknesse it self If the Lord Christ do not by the mighty efficacy of his spirit create a visive Power within them as well as reveal the will of his Father to them they will never spiritually discern the things of God The naturall man discerneth not the things of God nor indeed can do 1. Cor. 2 14. It is true men by the help of Common Gifts with the use of the former Doctrinall Revelation may attain to such a knowledge of the mind of God as may in a sense be called Illumination Heb. 6. 4. Far may they go much may they do by this light They may teach others and be cast away themselves They may dispute for Truth yea dye for Truth and all this while have but the first common Anointing see nothing clearly but Menwalking like Trees A spiritual Insight into the mind of God is not to be obtained without an Almighty Act of the Spirit of Christ creating a new power of Life and Light upon the Soul Some indeed think that they have this seeing Power in themselves Do but shew them outwaraly what is to be seen and let them alone for the discerning of it Well then let them alone if ever they are stones of this living House I am deceived Thou that art so know whence is all thy light and if thou art any thing in the dark draw nigh to the Candlestick from whence all light is Thence must thy light come yea and thence it shall come the secrets of the Lord shall make their abode with thee And this is the fourfold Relation wherein the Lord Christ stands unto this House as it is a Spirituall building In Respect of State and Condition Jesus Christ stands in a fivefold Relation to this House which I shall unfold in order 1. He is the Owner of it He cals it HIS Upon this Rock will I build my Church Math. 16 18 Moses was faithfull in all c. but Christ as a son over his OWN House whose House are we Heb. 3. 4 5. And that you may see that he doth not owne it as His without good Right and Title know that in the great Oeconomie of Grace Jesus Christ hath a threefold Right and Title to this House 1. Of Inheritance He is by his Father appointed Heir of all things Heb. 1. 3. By Inheritance he obtains this excellent name to be Lord of this House God sends him to the Vineyard as the Heir after his servants were refused And he hath an Engagement from his Father that he shal injoy his whole Inheritance upon demand Psal. 2. 8. For the Father appointed in the fulnesse of time to gather together all these things in Christ both which are in Heaven and which are in Earth in him Eph. 1. 10. So that as Christ is the first begotten of the Father Heb. 1. 6. and the first born of every creature Col. 1. 15. the Right of Heirship is his But this will not do for 2. When He should come to take possession of this House He findes that it is morgaged and that a great Debt lyes upon it which he must pay to the uttermost farthing if ever He intend to have it To the former Title there must also be added a Right of Furchase He must Purchase this House and pay a great Price for it And what is this Price what is required of him No lesse then his dearest blood Acts 20. 28. Yea he must make his Soul an Offering for sin and charge himself with the whole Debt all the Curse and Punishment which this House had in part actually contracted upon it self and wholly deserved He must put his
Grace 3. By his Ordinances Where two or three of his are assembled together there is he in the middest of them The Ordinances of Christ are the great Ornaments of his Kingly Court by them he is glorious in all the Assemblies of mount Sion Some would faine cast out this Indwelling of Christ from among his Saints In due time he will throughly rebuke them Some againe would thrust him out into the world but he will make men know that his Ordinances are given unto his it is true the benefit of some of them extends to the world but the Right and enjoyment of them that is the priviledge of his Saints Thus Christ dwels in his House Hence Observe 1. The Intimacy of the Lord Jesus with his Saint and the delight he takes in them Hedwelleth with them he dwelleth in them He takes them to the nearest Vnion with himself possible He in them they in him that they may be one He hath made many an admirable change with us He took our sin and gives us his Righteousnesse He took our Nature and gives us his Spirit Neither is it a bare Indwelling neither He thereby holds with us all acts of the choâ—sest communion if saith he any man haere my voice and open to me I will come to him and what then I will sup with him and he shall sup with me Revel. 3. 20. 1 I will sup with him I will delight and satisfie my self with him Jesus Christ takes abundance of delight and contentment in the Hearts of his Saints When they are faithfull when they are fruitfull He is marvellously refreshed with it Hence is that Prayer of the Spouse Awake O North winde and come thou South blow upon my Garden that the savour of my spices may flow out let my boloved come and eat of his spices Can. 4. 16. she would have the Spices the Graces she hath received breathed on by a fresh gale of the Spirit that they might yeeld a sweet savour And why so that her Beloved may have something for his Entertainment that hee may come and sup and eat of his pleasant fruits A poor Soul that hath received Christ hath not any desire so fervent as that it may have something for the Entertainment of him that He who filled it when it was hungry may not as it were be sent away empty And the Lord Jesus is exceedingly taken with those Refreshments The King is held in his Galleries Cant. 4. 5. Hee is detained yea bound with delight He knowes not how to passe away Therefore He rests in his love Zeph. 3. 17. Hee is exceedingly satiated in the delight he takes in his Saints Neither is this all that when Christ comes he will sup with us though this we a great deal o what are we that we should entertain our Lord but also 2 The saints sup with him He provides Choyce Refreshments for them also When Christ comes in unto us he will entertaine a soul bounteously He provides love for us When the Spirit of Christ is bestowed on us he sheads abroad the love of God in our Hearts Rom. 5. 5. He sheeds it abroad powers it out abundantly Friends love is a Choyce danty He that knows it not is a stranger to all spirituall banquets It is a choyce dish in the feast of fatt things that Christ prepareth He povides Righteousnesse and Peace and joy in the holy Ghost for us That his Kingdome Rom. 14. 17 and this Kingdome of his is within us Of such precious things as these doth Christ provide a supper for them with whomhe dwells It Christ be in you more or lesse you shall not want this entertainment We are indeed sometimes like made Guests that when meat is set one the Table cast it all downe without tasting a morsell When Christ hath prepared sweet and precious dantyes for us we cast them on the Ground We throw away our peace our joy by folly and unbeliâ—fe But this makes not the Truth of God of none effect 2 Doth Christ Dwell in us by his Spirit should we not be carefull least we grieve that Spirit of his The Spirit of Christ is very tender Did the Saints continually consider this that Christ dwells in them that he is grieved and troubled at all their unbeliefe unruly passions worldy desires foolish Imaginations surely they could not but be much more watchfulover themselves then generally they are He is refreshed when we walk with him and hold fellowship with him To turn aside from him to hold fellowship with world or flesh this grives him and burdens him Oh grive not the Spirit of God whereby you are sealed to the day of Redemption And let me tell you if you doe though he will not utterly depart from you nor take his kindnes away for ever more yet he will do that that shall make your heartake your joynts tremble and break all your bones in peices For 1 He will depart from you as to all sense of his presence that you shal have neither joy nor comfort nor peace He will hide his face and make you believe as we say that he is gone utterly from you And this he will doe not for a day or a night or so but for a great while together You shall goe to seeke him and you shall not find him Yea beg and cry and have no Answer Now all the world for one smile from Christ for one impression of his presence upon my Heart and all in vain When the Spirit of Christ was thus departed from David upon his miscarriage as to the sense and joy of it how doth he cry out Make me to hear the voyce of joy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Psal. 51. 8. If thou valuest the presence of Christ at no greater rate but to jeopard it upon every Occasion thou mayst haply go without the comfort of it all thy dayes Examine your selves is it not so with some of you have you not lost the sense of the presence of Christ by your folly and uneven walking Perhaps you value it not much but go on as Sampson with his hair cut and think to do as at other times but if the Philistines set upon thee it will be sorrow and trouble In every Assault thou wilt finde thy self a lost man Sooner or later it will bee bitternesse to thee 2. He will depart as to the Efficacie of his working in thee and leave thee so weak that thou shalt not be able to walk with God His Spirit is a Spirit of Grace and Supplications He will so with-draw it that thou shalt find thy Heart in a poor condition as to those things To be cold in Prayer dead in Hearing enstranged from Meditation sleight in all dutyes this shall be thy portion A frame that a tender Soul would tremble to think of Ah! how many poor creatures are come to this state in these dayes by their neglect and contempt of Christ dwelling in them they have