teare his Enemies in pieces as a Lion rents his prey He stouped downe he couched as a Lion and as an old Lion That notes a full victory over all his Enemies The Lion's couching is not for feare but because he hath conquered his prey and scattered all opposition and now lyeth downe by it in tryumph feeding and resting himselfe in peace So shall Judah tread on the neck of all his enemies and sit downe in peace But to raise it to the height it signifies that Judah shall be the Kingly Tribe in which should be the Regall power 1 Chr. 5. 2. Judah prevailed above his Brethren and of him came the cheife Ruler This signified Vers 8. Thy fathers Children shall bow downe before thee Vers 10. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from betweene his feet untill Shiloh come And this was fulfilled in David first and in Solomon But though the Prophesie were in part fulfilled in the temporall Kingdome of Judah yet chiefly all is verified in Christ and it hath its complement in the Kingdome of Christ and is interpreted and fully fulfilled in my Text. Jesus Christ is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah which words are nothing but a Periphrasis an elegant metaphoricall description of the Kingdome of Christ Jesus Christ is a Lyon that is Jesus Christ is a King Christ a King Promised Jerem. 23. 5. Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reigne and prosper and shall execute judgement and justice in the Earth Born Matth. 2. 2. Where is he that is born King of the Jewes Proclaimed Zechariah 9. 9. Rejoyce greatly Oh Daughter of Zion shout oh Daughter of Jerusalem Behold thy King cometh unto thee he is just and having Salvation c. Inaugurated Matth. 21. 5. Crowned Psal 21. 3. Thou settest a Crown of pure Gold on his head Cantic 3. 11. Go forth yee Daughters of Zion and behold King Solomon That is Jesus Christ with the Crown wherewith his Mother Crowned him in the day of his Espousals Revel 6. 2 He had a Bow and a Crown was given him Cap. 19. 12. On his head were many Crowns And verse 16. Thus runs his royall Title KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS He was qualified with all Kingly graces and gifts He was annointed a King The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 45. 7. God thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse above thy fellowes Of old they did annoint their Kings but Christ had an Unction above all other Kings Saul had a Viall of oyle poured on his head Jehu a box of oyle David a horn of oyle every one had their measure But Christ was annointed not with materiall oyle as they but with the Holy-Ghost and that with all fulnesse God gave the Spirit unto him non ad mensuram Not by measure He was annointed within and without all over 1. Within his inward Unction was with Kingly graces There are certain gifts and qualifications requisite for the discharge of the Kingly Function without which no Monarch can weild the Scepter happily 1. Strength and Courage the King must be a mighty and a valiant man to defend his people and fight their Battels 2. Wisdome and understanding to discern between good and bad and to judge his people 1 King 3. 9. 3. Justice Prov. 16. 12. The Throne is established by righteousnesse 4. Mercy Prov. 20. 28. Mercy and truth preserve the King and his Throne is upholden by mercy All these were eminently yea infinitely in Jesus Christ and therefore he was meet to be a King He was a Lion 1. The Lion is strongest among Beasts Prov. 30. 30. Courageous and Magnanimous So Jesus Christ he excelled all others in power might and courage The Government is upon his Shoulder And he is called the mighty God Isa 9. 6. All power is given him in Heaven and Earth Matth. 28. 18. He is the Almighty Rev. 1. 8. Christ is the generous Lion of undaunted Courage and invincible strength to grapple with the Hunters and savage Creatures 2. The Lion is an Emblem of Wisdome as well as of Strength a Creature that hath great Sagacity Strange things are written of the wisdome and policy of the Lion by and by you shall meet with some of them He is crafty in waiting for the Prey watching his opportunities Psal 10. 9. He lyeth in wait secretly he lurketh in his Den. He is subtle in deceiving the Hunter When he is hunted sometimes he goeth forward sometimes backward and sweeps out his footsteps that are from the Hunter with his taile that no track of his may be found Whence it became a Proverb Leonis Vestigia quaeris In this grace also Christ excelled all others Solomon was famous for wisdome for he had sought it of God for there was none like him before nor after But behold here is a greater then Solomon a wiser then Solomon the Lord Jesus Christ In him are hid the treasures of Wisdome and Knowledge Col. 2. 3. And wisdome for Government is better then Strength 3. In the Lion is observed strict Justice Non punit ultra condignum If any one hit him or throweth a dart at him hurts him not the Lion will onely rush against him that strook the blow throw him down but not hurt him If any wound the Lion and draw blood the Lion will turn again and teare him but not to death but if any kill the Lions Whelp the Lion will slay him In this grace of Justice Christ excelled all others He shall order his Kingdome and establish it with Judgment and with Justice for ever Isa 9. 7. He loveth righteousnesse and hateth wickednesse Psal 45. 7. A Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of his Kingdome Heb. 1. 8. He is Melchesidec King of righteousnesse Heb. 7. 2. 4. In the Lion also is clemency and mercy He is benevolent to mankind spares them that prostrate to him and will not hurt Women nor little Children And in this grace also Christ exceeded all others Matth. 21. 5. Behold the King cometh unto the Meek and sitting upon an Asse and a Colt the fole of an Asse Isa 42. 2. He shall not cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the street 3. A bruised Reed shall he not breake and the smoaking Flax shall he not quench He wept over Ierusalem and had compassion on the multitude He was a faithfull and a mercifull high Priest And he was a faithfull and a mercifull King See the oyle with which he was inwardly annointed poured upon his head altogether Isa 11. 2. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of wisdome and understanding the Spirit of Counsel might the Spirit of Knowledge and of the feare of the Lord. Here are his Kingly graces his Lion-like qualifications whereby he was fitted to weild the Kingdome No man
keepe nothing of Gods counsell back He must lift up his voyce like a Lyon and roare in the eares of Kings Potentates and the greatest States-men The Lyon must roare though the Doggs bark and the Wolves howle and all the Beasts of the Forrest do yell and grin A soule-searching Ministry is gall and wormwood to unreformed persons Ministers that cast the Pearles of reproofes before Doggs and Swine must expect that such brutish creatures will fly in their faces and if it be in their power will rent and teare them But what saith the Lord Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speake Be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee Jer. 1. 7 8. Make thy face strong against their faces and thy forehead strong against their foreheads Ezek. 3. 8. Ministers must have undaunted resolutions ahd be as bold as Lyons 4. Ministers of the Gospell must not forget the stately gate of the Lyon The Lyon is comely in his going Ministers should be carefull above all others to walke as becomes the Gospel of Christ A holy walking that is the comely walking I beseech you behold how the high Priest is adorned and how he walks He had a plate of pure Gold upon his forehead and upon that Plate was ingraven HOLINESSE TO THE LORD Upon his Brestplate the URIM and the THUMMIM Viz the light of knowledge and the perfection of holinesse these were upon Aarons heart when hee walketh when he goeth in before the Lord. He had a Robe down to his feet and towards the bottome beneath upon the hemme of it a golden Bell and a Pomegranate a Golden Bell and a Pomegranate round about The golden Bell signifies the sound of pure Doctrine and the Pomegranate a sweet and savoury fruit notes that holinesse of Conversation that was in the High-priest view him well and you see him adorned with holinesse Cap a pe from head to foot It is the duty of Ministers Vivere concionibus concionari moribus to live Sermons Melius docemur vita quam verbo Examples prevaile more with men then Precepts In all things shew thy selfe a Pattern of good Workes saith Paul to Titus in Doctrine uncorruptnesse gravity sincerity In the frame of the Temple upon the borders were painted and ingraven Lyons Oxen and Cherubims To shew what kind of persons they ought to be who serve in Gods house As Angels for knowledge to dive into the Mysteries of the Gospell laborious and painfull as the Oxe They must be Lyons also for courage and boldnesse and they must be comely in their going their Conversation must be holy and lovely I shall commend at this time but one thing more to my Brethren of the Ministry and that is Prayer Let us be much and earnest in Prayer Alas we shall never be able to open the Book except the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah help us verse 4. John wept much because none was found worthy to open the Book and to read it We must weep and pray pray and weep that we may be enabled to open the Booke For there are sublime things in the Book and hard to be understood Alas our hearts will faile us and we shal be afraid of the faces of men if the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah do not strengthen us and put Courage into us keep up our Spirits to him therfore we nought to make our Addresses Yea in this let me beg help for my selfe and others wel-beloved I speak to you all that are before me this day in the words of Saint Paul Eph. 6. 18. Pray alwaies with all prayer and supplication of the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance supplication for al Saints 19. And for me and for all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell that utterance may be given unto us that we may open our mouths BOLDLY to make known the mystery of the Gospell Exhortation 3. I passe on now to the third Exhortation and that is to all in generall men women and young ones And there are various and sundry duties which I shall endeavour to perswade you to And first Is Jesus Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Then prostrate bow to this Lyon tremble at his voice Is Christ the King of his Church and People then come all in shake off all other yoakes Satans Dominion and Sins Reigne and list under this King be his Subjects kisse his Scepter and kneele to him know your King be loyall to him give him your whole heart honour feare and obey him give to Caesar that which is Caesars pay him all his Tribute of time of your Estates of every thing Fight for him contend for the faith the truth the honour of Jesus Christ Let the Lord Jesus Christ have a Throne in all your hearts say We have no King but the Lord Jesus Christ To move you hereunto consider the excellency of this Kingdome above all other Kingdomes in the World It hath the best King He is fairer then the Children of men He is the supream the absolute King of himselfe all other earthly Kings are but Vice-roys Lord-deputies All other Kings are but meer men he is God and man all other Kings have but a little peice of earth to set their feet upon he is the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth all other Kings weare but a corruptible Crown but his Kingdome endureth for ever Such a King there is not another What the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon the Type hath its Complement and perfection in Jesus Christ Happy are the Servants and Subjects of this King Blessed be the Lord thy God Oh thou Lyon of the Tribe of Judah which delighted in thee to see thee on the Throne of Israel because the Lord loved his Israel for ever therfore made he thee King It hath the best Scituation I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion There is the nether Zion and the upper Zion both pleasant Of the nether or lower Zion the Pilgrim Church upon Earth it is said Beautifull for scituation the joy of the whole Earth is Mount Zion the City of the great King And what is the beauty thereof The presence of God dwelling in the midst his people and protects them God is known in her Palaces for a Refuge Of the upper Zion the triumphant Church in Heaven it is said Yee are come unto Mount Zion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first-borne which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus Heb. 12 22 23 24. It hath the best Lawes What Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day
Againe Dost thou repent unfeignedly of all thy sins and transgressions be of good comfort the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah will have mercy upon thee They say if the Lyonnesse defile her selfe and commit adultery with the Libbard the Lyon will not accompany with her suddenly but if she go and wash her in the water the Lyon will receive her again So the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Hast thou defiled thy self with sin look that Christ shall stand aloofe off till thou wash thy selfe in a bath of penitentiall teares and then he will receive thee to Communion again Wash you therefore and make you clean repent and be converted and your sins shall be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Act. 3. 19. Solomon tells us that a living Dog is better then a dead Lyon But I say unto you my Beloved that a dead Lyon is better then all the World besides Christ crucified is this dead Lyon unspeakable are the Consolations that spring out of the dead Tree of the Crosse Here is Sampsons Riddle declared Out of the Eater came forth meat and out of the strong came forth sweetnesse what is sweeter then honey and what is stronger then a Lyon Judic 14. 14. 18. Christ crucified is sweet Christ crucified is sweet Christ crucified is sweetest of all Thus have you heard the Trumpet sounded The rare Sight hath also been presented to your view And by this time verily you think it is high time that I should dismisse you I will have done by and by yet I must take a little liberty more As the Trumpet sounded when this glorious Shew was first brought in so now at the close I sound the Trumpet once more Behold behold behold I come to that which hath been my designe and which I have driven at all this while viz. To exhalt Jesus Christ Here in my Preaching I lift up an Ensigne to the people I lift up the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah in this Standard And I if I be lifted up from the earth saith Christ will draw all men unto me I lift up the Lion of the Tribe of Judah before you that I may draw all your eyes and all your hearts to him Eye Christ know Christ gaze continually upon Christ and why for this end that you may be drawn to love admire and adore the Lord Jesus Christ My Beloved My heart is inditing of a good matter I will speak the things which I have made touching the King I will sound forth the Praises of the King of Christ the blessed King of his Church Thou art fairer oh King then the Children of men grace is powered into thy lips Thou art full of Majesty truth meeknesse and righteousnesse all thy Garments smell of Myrhe and Aloes and Cassia Jesus Christ is the chiefest among ten thousand He is the GOLDEN LYON His head is like the most fine Gold his Locks are bushy So is the Noblenesse generousnesse and statelinesse of the Lyon discovered by his shaggy haire covering his head neck and shoulders His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely The tongues of men and Angels cannot expresse the excellency of Jesus Christ in himselfe therefore love admire adore him Yet eye him a little further and behold what he is relatively in relation to us and then you will see much more to endeare you to him Behold he is not onely a Prophet but your Prophet not onely a Priest but your Priest Not onely a King but your King Behold your King And what is he to you what Rejoice oh daughter of Zion Behold thy King cometh unto thee he is just and having Salvation He brings Salvation along with him for thee if thou beleive in him and receive him He is our Mediator our Redeemer our Saviour He hath called us with a holy calling out of the Kingdome of darknesse into his holy and heavenly Kingdome He hath given us divine Lawes and rules us with the Scepter of the Gospell and with his holy Spirit He is the Cloud and the defence of his Church A shelter to it against all Enemies spirituall and corporall He will utterly subdue all the Enemies of the Church of his people and he will certainly glorifie them and receive them into an everlasting Communion with himselfe and make them all Kings O then let Christ be precious to you all beleive in him love him honour and reverence him This is my aime the Lord give me the desire of my heart herein to kindle in all your hearts a greater flame of love to the Lord Jesus Christ Antoninus Caracalla Rom. Imp. had a Lyon to which he gave an honourable name he nourished it and doted on it He would not onely kisse his Lyon in publick but he did admit it to his Table and his Bed yet doubtlesse his Lyon was not without his stinking breath and deformities How much more should you set your hearts on the Lyon of the tribe of Iudah whose mouth is most sweet and who is altogether lovely I will do but one thing more The chiefe Magistrate hath had his Shield Now I will give to every one in the Assembly an Escoucheon a Coat of Armes That you may behold it afterwards and view it for ever Ever gaze upon it to engage your hearts more and more to Jesus Christ I will give you the Armes of Iudah The Beleiver must beare Mars that is red The charge must be a Lyon Sol that is Gold The Sun of Righteousnesse is the Golden Lyon in a red field a field of blood To speak plain English the Beleiver must ever beare in his heart the memory of Christ crucified But as for the posture of the Lyon in your Banner or Shield Let me tell you the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah hath gone through all postures for your sakes for your Salvation He was conceived in the Womb of the blessed Virgin Then he was a Lyon Latent She brought forth her first-born Son Christ in his Birth was a Lyon Issuant In his whole life he was a Lyon Salient Behold he cometh leaping upon the Mountaines skipping upon the Hils Cant. 2. 8. It was his meat and drink to do his Fathers will and to finish the work of our Salvation He was a man of sorrowes persecuted and pursued and when he was chased he was a Lyon Passant he went on and turned not his head a side for any In his Propheticall Office he is a Lyon Rugient he roares in the Preaching of the Gospell In his Priestly Office upon the Crosse he was a Lyon Combatant he encountred the Enemies of our Salvation He spoyled Principalities and Powers he made a shew openly triumphing over them in his Crosse He was laid in the Grave there he was a Lyon Dormant quiescent yea to speak properly in the Grave he was a Lyon Couchant when hee had conquered hee laid down and rested by the Prey