the Founders and Conservers of Cities Countreys and Kingdoms to the end and purpose of defending and preserving them from Evils in a cordial and blessed Submission to the ever-ruling and over-ruling Peace of God If the Peace of God did bear rule in the Hearts of all Christians which our Apostle requires in these of Colosiae all the World would become Christians A digression as if it had been in the presence of his Majesty for exercise sake And here let me with all Humility use the Psalmst David's Expression I will speak of thy Testimonies also before Kings and will not be ashamed Psal 119. 46. and therefore in the first place methinks this Scripture gives me just occasion to speak to Their Majesties in a word or two that which I am sure their noble minds will take more pleasure to hear than to be profuse in their praise which no Man can lightly pass over if the Peace of God rule in your Hearts whom the supream Ruler of the World hath chosen and sent to rule over us his People O happy shall ye be and it shall be well with you and happy shall all your Subjects in these three Kingdoms be that by you are redeemed from thraâ—dom and brought again from the Depths of the Sea of misery Psal 68. 22. that were sold for nought to the Man of sin to be destroyed to be slain and to perish as Queâ—â— Esther speaks to King Ahasuerus in a like case concerning Hamnus's Plot Esth 7. 4. Sir You were called many years ago by God himself into one Body conjugal with your Royal Consort that is all glorious within and without and now by the same God to the ornamical and Political to lead these three Nations as also to lead the Military Body of the Confederates of many Nations as Captain general of the Lords Hosts like another Moses that led the Children of Israel out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of Bondage or another Cyras that enlarged God's People out of the Babilonish Captiviry as it is no small Honour to be God's King upon so high and honourable Account as none of your Royal Predecessors were ever called unto so it asks no small Duty Reverence and Thankfulness at your hands to himwards Sir Thus it is you Princes as well as other Folks be accomptable to God as arise your Receipts to a higher proportion so must your Allowances and Payments be greater or less You will find in a greater Arrearage when it comes to a reckoning where much is bestowed much is called for again Consider if your self advance any Man above others upon equal and perhaps less desert if you do not think you ought more to repose in the Faithfulness and Loyalty of such a one be ye well sure God looks for the like at your Hand It behoves you therefore to be mindful of his Honour which I dare be bold is the greatest that you have that you are God's King as eminently as he of whom the Lord said yet have I set my King or as it is in the Hebr. anoynted my King upon Sion the hill of my holiness Psal 2. 6. that so in the Regiment of his People your Subjects and of your self you may demean your self as God's King There is no need that I descend to particulars in general I say that God's King may not behave himself as the remnant of Kings do that are either Paganish or Popish that rule only for their own Pleasures and Appetites without regard of Justice Peace or Honesty that presume to make Religions of their own to appoint a God or any thing as a service of God which he hath not commanded which is to tye God to their baubles as Jeroboam to the Golden Calves at Dan and Bethel 1 Kin. 12. and Nebuchadnezzar to the Golden Image in the Plain of Dura Dan. 3. to appoint a service in the Latin whom the People understand not contrary to the rule of Edification set down 1 Cor. 14. 26. When Men presume to bind Consciences to their Knees under pain of sin and forbid to reason of their biddings under severe Penalties this is a tyranny against God True it is that Penal Laws may be made to bind in many respects But let Men beware lest they exact with greater severity obedience to their own Precepts than God's there is but one Law-giver that can save and destroy saith James 4. 12. when they forbid what God commands and commands what God forbids its Tyranny as did Antiochus and other Heathen Emperors forbid to Circumcise to read the Law and commanded to offer to Idols and to eat Swines Flesh and all under pain of present Death 2 Macc. 7. Rulers must know their places have moderate and just and Godly Government not usurp on God's Right on their Subjects Conscience and tho' Faith be the Gift of God and cannot be taught nor forced nor Conscience be compelled to assent yet Men may be obliged to the outward hearing of Gods Word and Factious Fire-brands repressed and quenched Sozomen tells us That Athanasius the Patriarch of Alexandria was upon a time walking in the Streets in that City and that a Raven did flee towards him croaking which the Heathen that stood near observing began to deride him and reproach him as if he had been a Praestigiator or Conjurer and so making towards him asked in derision what the Raven said to him He modestly smiling answered in Latin Eras for he dictates unto you That to morrow will be a most bitter day for to morrow you shall receive the Emperor's Edict that you shall celebrate no more your Heathenish Solemnities And acaccordingly it came to pass for the next day the Magistrates received orders from the Roman Emperor that their Heathen Gods should be no more worshipped but destroyed utterly with all their Idolatry and Superstition in which they were bred Which being abdicated they immediately embraced the Gospel Blessed is the people that know this joyful sound Psal 89. 15. And thanks be to Jesus Christ in many things already you have shewed your self God's King in coming out to help the Lord against the mighty Jer. 9. 3. in being valient for his truth at home and abroad in scattering the Proud in the Imagination of their Hearts and bring the Wheel upon them in taking down 〈◊〉 Partition Wall of Separation that your Subjects might not destroy one another for fashions sake you have put your Life into your Land to fight the Lords Battles that teacheth your hands to war and your fingers to fight Psal 144. 1. and have wrought with God this great Salvation in our Israel as all Israel said of Jonathan that overthrew the vastest Army that ever the Philistines had consisting of thirty thousand Chariots six thousand Horses and people like the sand which is on the Sea shoar for Multitude 1 Sam. 13. 5. In his name that giveth Salvation unto Kings and that hath delivered your Royal Person from the Sword like another David
never entred into his Thoughts of appearing in Print as contenting himself with doing his Duty to God in teaching of his Flook at home and preaching Christ and him Crucified with in his own Precinct and Province the care of those Souls under his Tuition being the ultimate of his VVork and Study where accordingly he took occasion to lay hold of so Heavenly an Admonition and Preached to his Parishioners on the very Text so warn'd by the Voice of a Raven but when in a remoter station in the Country he had understood that several little trivial Penny-Books and Ballads had been printed and dispersed here in London giving a Narration of the said wonderful thing and considered that so great a Truth was published in such a manner hereupon as he very well knew how many Notorious Fictions and Fooleries are daily imposed upon the VVorld in such trifling Pamphlets searce one in three truth Therefore to rescue this serious Narration from falling under Scandal and Reproach from such a Publication as such may render it doubted and suspected he perswaded himself together with the prevailing importunity of Friends to let this Discourse of his contrary to his usual modesty be made publick in the VVorld as indeed hoping in some measure to do some good Christian Service therein as far as lay in his Powâ—r 'T is on this Account Christian Reader that this following Discourse is presented to thy Hand and under such Credentials 't is hoped with the Grace of God that the seasonable Precepts contained therein may be of Efficacy and Force to work a lively sense in thy Heart of that just and high value we ought to set upon the Peace of God here offered by the Apostle to thy most earnest seeking and desire And withal though this Voice of a Raven thus Commission'd from above in the utterance of such a Heavenly Admonition seemed to direct his stupendious Language to a particular private Family which Private Family through God's great Goodness and Mercy have since received the wonderful effects of the said Heavenly Admonition being all reconciled and united in a most perfect Love and Amity undoubtedly the purport of that Language so marvellous in our Ears had a further and larger Extent as being indeed a general Awakning Alarm to all Mankind Union and Concord being the fairest and largest Branches of that greatest of our Divine Apostolical Instructions Charity Most certainly this wondrous Warning piece though more immediately pointing to a single Family was intended for an Universal Call and Thou and We and all the Professors of Christianity are thus called by a gracious God from the highest to the lowest from the Cottage to the Throne to Unity and Love as the effectual means of attaining the Peace of God which is the Fundamental and Basis of our Happiness both in this VVorld and the VVorld to come the Blessing both of Heaven and Earth As such therefore kind Reader be pleased to accept it and if it may be any ways instrumental towards that great end the obtaining the Peace of God to thy Soul the Author has his Labour more than rewarded And so Farewel COL Chap. III. Ver. xv And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be yo thankful THese Words well Beloved in our Lord have ever since run in my Mind since we were in so unusual and miraculous a manner directed unto them by the unsearchable wisdom of God that doth nothing in an extraordinary way but for most excellent Ends and Purposes And although the more I have thought of them the more Difficulties have presented themselves unto me insomuch that I have endeavoured to remove my Thoughts from them to some other place yet I know not how I have been still rowled back to them again for to use the words of the Prophet They were in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones and I was weary with forbearing and I could not stay Jer. 20. 9. I resolved at length to make them the ground of my Speech to you at this time which the Lord grant may be with as much profit to you all as both I bring desire unfeigned and the Scripture it self affords occasion thereto And that indeed is very remarkable in many regards They are first the words of God not only as all other holy Scripture from Divine Inspiration 2 Tim. 3. 26. in which sort the words of holy men yea of wicked men yea of wicked Spirits themselves at least as far forth as to the recital of them are the words of God but these of my Text have been pointed at of late by a new Inspiration from God in the Mouth of a Raven in a distinct and audible Voice He that spake of old from Heaven on Mount Sinai in the sight and hearing of all Israel hath commanded us to look seriously into this Scripture If Paul said to King Agrippa That he was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision Acts 26. 19. Why should I or you be disobedient to the heavenly Voice of this Text and not say with the Psalmist I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace unto his people and to his Saints Psalm 85. 8. Never more necessary than in this Contentious Age but let them not turn again to folly Now because this Voice came not because of me or the Childs sake only that heard it but for your sakes also and for all that are a far off Isa 57. 19. that are concerned with us in this peace of God I will endeavour to look into and open this Scripture unto you that all that have an Ear to hear may hear with Reverence what the Spirit of God speaks to the Churches 1. Sam. 3. 19. Rev. 2. 17. in it that we may not let it fall to the ground That which Chrysostom hath in his Entrance to entreat upon this Epistle seems to me not untruly nor unfitly said These Epistles which the Apostle writeth out of Prison such as are to the Ephesians whereto this hath wonderful likeness to the Philippians to the Hebrews to Philemon the 2d to Timothy have I know not what more than ordinary Portion of the Power of Pauls Spirit appearing in them 1. Whether because he was now come near to the end of his Life and so the Graces of God's Spirit in him to perfection Or 2. that Afflictions have a special power to enlarge our hearts and make them apt for heavenly Exercises as indeed the Truth never thrives better than under the Cross Or 3. that the Auditor now conceives Paul as the same Chrysostom speaks like a noble Conquerour Inditing or Writing amidst his slaughter'd Enemies amidst his Trophies the durable Monuments of his Glory Now if you please I will add a word or two touching the Argument or general scope of this whole Epistle before I come to the particular handling of the Words of the Text It may appearby
and embrace this present Popish World 2 Tim. 4. 10. and a great many in Church and State ready to swim with the overflowing Tide of Anti-christ the Apostle tells Timothy That he knew that all they that are in Asia had turned away from him 2 Tim. 1. 15. and speaking of the Apostacy of the latter days he saith They shall turn away their Ears from the Truth and shall be turned unto Popish Fables 2 Tim. 4. 4. God be merciful unto us I dare not trust my own Heart when I think of Peter but I hope there would be found even among us that enviously are styled Conformists tho' our Works are not found perfect before God Apoc. 3. 2. as many and more that would have laid down their Lives for the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus as laid down their Livings to avoid Men's Traditions and Commandments that they might not mingle with the Fountain of Israel to defile the Waters of the Sanctuary Such Imputations as these must needs cause the Ambassador of Peace to weep bitterly as the Prophet speaks Isa 33. 7. But we expect better things of them and accompanying Salvation that thus censures us though they differ from us in the outward mode of Religion which is various in all Countries and speak ill of us our Mothers Children being angry with us Cant. 1. 6. They sit and talk against their Brethren and slander their own Mothers Sons Psal 50. 20. we know that we are passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren saith St. John 1 Joh. 3. 14. and with Christ's Brethren we hope to go to their Father and our Father to their God and our God Joh. 20. 17. with as sincere Affection and Brotherly Love Gen. 33. 16. as Joseph shewed that was separated from his Brethren for a while that he might enjoy them for ever Philem. 15. But besides all this they have somewhat else against many of us that if throughly weighed and laid in the ballance of the Sanctuary would be heavier than the Sand of the Sea as Job's Pathetick Phrase is Job 6. 2 3. That we leave our Flocks and starve them being called by God and Man to the Ministry of the Gospel to no other end and purpose but to feed them to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood saith the Apostle Act. 20. 28. to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus in his last Visitation at Miletus And whereas it appears by the first verse of the second Chapter of this Epistle that the Apostle had never been among these of Colossae that they had not seen his Face in the Flesh Col. 2. 1. It is to be marked how careful Paul was that being now in Prison at Rome under the Bloody Tyrant Nero when he might well have been excused from writing to other Churches which himself had planted yet takes no liberty to himself of ease but writes even to these that he had never seen and had not seen his Face in the Flesh that if he could not by reason of his Endurance speak to them yet his Letter might instruct them and confirm them in them in the truth of God and what punishment shall they be worhty of who being tied to special Charges have no regard to any thing saving to the receiving of their Profits As for the instruction of their Flocks they think it enough to allow one Ten Pounds a Year the Tenth part perhaps of the whole Living to read them Prayers and if they once or twice in a year shall come to them and give them a Sermon they think they have discharged their full Duty with advantage I wonder how such should not blush to hear of the Apostle's diligence who is thus careful even in his Prison-house and so far off for those he never saw When they are thus careless for those whom by all Laws of God and Men if not for Conscience yet for their Friends sake they ought to regard and not task them out to Journey-men and Hirelings but the Unjust knoweth no shame saith the Prophet Zephaniah Zeph. 3 5. and their own Shepherds pity them not saith the Prophet Zephaniah Zach. 11. 5. And to use the Phrase of St. James in another Case My Brethren these things ought not so to be Jam. 3. 10. and that of Job also in another Case This is an heincus crime yea it is an Iniquity to be punished by the Judges Job 31. 11. and therefore it cries aloud to King and Parliament for Reformation as much if not more than any common Nusance whatsoever yea to God also that sees not as Man sees for Wrath and Indignation that by a just resentment of this common Error practiced continually by a high Hand His wrath may turn away from us 2. Chron. 29. 10. as King Hezekiah speaks to his Ministers My Sons be not negligent be not now deceived for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him to serve him and that you should minister unto him and offer burnt Incense and Sacrifice That of Ezekiel is very terrible ye eat the Fat and cloath you with the Wool ye kill them that are fed but ye feed not the Flock Ezek. 34. 3. The Prophet goes on to the 11th verse with severe Comminations that concern the Shepherds under the Gospel that are such as well as under the Law for their Unfaithfulness to so great a trust being the greatest under Heaven even no less than the Souls of Men redeemed with the precious Blood of Christ as St. Peter speaks 1 Pet. 1. 19. My Ground of this Application is a Rule and Maxim of Philosophy and right Reason Agente eodem modo existente eadem materiâ idem effectum God changeth not Mal. 3. Now as God is the same and Sin the same so we must expect the like effects from the like causes the Principals of Sciences are external and the Rules of guiding Souls to Blessedness most immutable of all the rest As God dealt with Israel his peculiar People so will he deal with us if we be like them in their Sins we must thank his Goodness for this much we are too impudent if we desire or pretend more therefore as he punished them for all their Iniquities Am. 3. 2. from the Land of Egypt to this day so hath he just cause to visit us for our Iniquities that are swoln to as great a bulk as they were before the last War Give me leave to use here the words of Elihu to Job At this my Heart trembleth and is removed out of his place Job 36. 1. Let us not flatter our selves upon the gracious Assistance we have hitherto found in our miraculous Restauration An. 1660. which we could not have lookt for no not in a Dream to be after so many signal Defeats on a sudden made more than Conquerors with all the faults that followed us even forgetting that we had twenty Years time for repentance allowed us to wash us from our
old Sins Let us not be high-minded saith the Apostle but fear indeed If God be for us who can be against us saith the same Apostle Rom. 8. 3. But how can he be Friends with us when we walk so cross and perversly with him His Name that ought not to be mentioned without highest Reverence is continually Blasphemed Isa 52. 5. Nothing hated but Holiness and the Lovers of it made the Song of the Drunkards and By-word of the People and a desire to walk with God according to our Christian Profession Soberly Righteously and Godly Tit. 2. 12. made a derision all the day c. Neither let us think to appease him and hold his Friendship with a few Sermons and Ceremonies of outward Service as the tything of Mint Cummin and Dill when we neglect Justice and Fidelity a Gospel Reformation of our Lives and Conversations and the weighty things of the Law and Gospel as our Lord speaks Matth. 23. 23. See what the Lord speaks by the Prophet Jeremiah For I spake not unto your Fathers nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the Land of Egypt concerning Burnt-offrings and Sacrifices But this thing commanded I them saying obey my Voice and I will be your God and ye shall be my People and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you that it may be well unto you Jer. 7. 22 23. When in the mean time we hold his truth in Unrighteousness when I know not for what politick respects we prefer Musical Delight Am. 5. 23. and Solemnity in his Service before the Spirit and Understanding 1 Cor. 14. 15. and Justifie by our practice the Idol-Service which we accuse in our Books and Preaching And now O ye Priests this Commandment is for you saith the Prophet Malchi If ye will not hear and if ye will not lay it to heart to give glory to my Name saith the Lord of Hosts I will even send a curse upon you and will curse your Blessings yea I have cursed them already because ye do not lay it to Heart Mal. 2. 1 2. I will dash them a Man against his Brother the Father and the Son together saith the Lord I will not pity nor spare nor have mercy but destroy them Jer. 13. 14. and 16. Give Glory to the Lord God before he cause Darkness and before your Feet stumble upon the dark Mountains and while ye look for Light he turn it into the shadow of Death and make it gross Darkness These things are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the World are come 1 Cor. 10. 11. Excellently doth Ezra express the Affection Resolution and Reformation of the Jews after their Escape and Deliverance from Babylon and return to Zion with these words And after all this is come upon us for our evil Deeds and for our great Transgressions seeing thou our God hast punished us less than our Iniquities deserve and hast given us such a Deliverance as this should we again break thy Commandments and joyn in affinity with the people of these Abominations Wouldst not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us so that there should be no remnant nor escaping Ezek. 9. 13 14. Let us take heed that we fulfill our Ministery as the Apostle exhorts Timothy 2 Tim. 4. 5. that we lose not our Church it self wherein Men glory so much your Glorying is not good saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 5. 6. that it flee not away like a Bird as the Glory of Ephraim from the Birth and from the Womb and from the Conception as the Prophet Hosâ—a speaks and our selves also The Dissenters as we call them are like to steal it away from us and leave us naked and bare to read Prayers to bare Walls and empty Pews as many do already in City and Country Behold your house shall be left unto you desolate saith our Lord to the Jews What house The Prophet Isaiah tells us Our Holy and Beautiful House where our Fathers praised thee is burnt up with Fire and all our pleasant things are laid waste the only Cathedral that God had in all the World wherein was the Glorious Symbol of his Presence and the great Mystery of Godliness that praefigured Christ with all his Benefits This was done afterwards by the Caldeans He tells them further Therefore I say unto you the Kingdom of Heaven shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof Matth. 21. 43. What is meant by this Kingdom of Heaven The Church visible the Phrase often used in the beginning of St. John's Preaching and Christ's Matth. 3. 2. and 4. 17. and in the Parable of the Sower This Phrase is taken from Daniel And in the days of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom and the Kingdom shall not be left to another People but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever Dan. 2. 44. The Church visible is now to be made up of the Gentiles as of old of the Jews chiefly our Lord having taken down the Wall of Partition that was set up by God himself between them why may not Men take down and demolish even to the Foundation the Wall of Separation dawbed with intempered Mortar of Malice and Envy set up in their Heart against their Brethren unless there be such a great Gulf fixed between them by it so that they which would pass from hence cannot nor can they pass to us that would come thence as Father Abraham speaks to the rich Man in Hell that would fain have changed his Quarters and Post for any Ease or mitigation of pain Luk. 16. 26. The Evangeilst Matthew tells us That this saying is commonly reported among the Jews to this day Matth. 28 15. that Christ's Disciples came by Night and stole him away while the Watch-men slept Mary Magdalen upon a double mistake thought that the Gardiner had stolen him out of his Grave Joh. 20. 15. We read of a great quarrel between the ten Tribes and the Jews about the stealing away of King David in his own Presence And behold all the Men of Israel came unto the King and said unto the King why have our Brethren the Men of Judah stolen thee away 2 Sam. 19. 41. The good and wise King could not decide the controversie without a Mutiny and sad Dissention as follows in the Text Moses tells us that Jacob stole away the Heart of Laban the Syrian when he fled from him Gen. 31. 20. upon the fall of his Countenance towards him with all that he had and that his Daughter Rachel stole away his Teraphim his Gods there was a Heartless and Godless Man left and what had he more Judg. 18. 24. as Micah speaks to the Men of Dan yet after all his fierce pursuing after Jacob with all his forces and overtaking him and searching all his stuff he found nothing of his to accuse Jacob of