bridegroome Iesus Christ And shall not this little flock haue a certaine euidence thereof euen in her condition in this life May she not assuredly perswade her heart that the Lorde will make good his word as aduancing his free loue giuing him the glorie of all his mercies 1. And doth not the Lord reserue the glory intirely to himselfe when hee brings light out of darknes and shewes his power in weaknes working by none or most vnlikely meanes Consider wee I pray you to this purpose the Condition of the Church of Christ militant heere on earth yet further shadowed out vnto vs in these Tents of Shem. What great outward beautie was there here when the house of God was in Tents what pompe and visibilitie in this simplicitie and meeknes Behold then another marke and cognisance of the true Church of God in this life The glorie that she hath is especially within Her beautie is that which God hath imparted vnto her Shee is faire by my beautie which I haue put on her Spirituall beautie frō an inuisible God As for her shewe in the world she is blacke and contemptible 1. euen as her head Christ Iesus that had no forme nor beautie in him and other she cannot be so long as she is a Stranger a Souldier in this worlde She must needes haue blowes and falls too How can shee choose but be soyled being to trauell in such slippery myrie places 1. And is it not good she should be thus blacke to preuent spiriruall pride Doth not this manifest the carnall desposition of the wicked who stumble at this outward basenesse Are not the Saints hereby purged of corruption and so prepared to glorie Is not the Lord glorified in accepting such blacknes doth not his free mercie triumph in sauing such deformitie Is not Christs sacrifice auaileable to heale such infirmitie Can a true member be discerned by sence Is not our greatest part in Heauen 1. How deceitfull then is that Church which is alwayes glorious and visible How doth the pompe and brauerie of the strumpet deforme defile the chaste spouse of Iesus Christ Is not the word of God truely glorious in the spirite doth not the outside kill Is it not the spirite that quickeneth doth not the Authoritie of man abase and annihilate the power thereof Are not the Prophets iustly vile before the people because they are partiall in the law adulterating the same by the intentions of men obscuring deprauing the simplicitie and inward beautie of the gospell by theyr outward vernish and carnall pollishing And shall not Dagon fall before the Ark of the Lord Is it not enough that the foūdation of God stands sure the Lord knoweth who are his Though wee bee as Wonders yea as the Off-scowring in the reputation of the world Are wee lesse dearer vnto God then the apple of his eye Are wee not all faire in his sight and no spotte to bee found in vs Is not the Church euen then the glorie of God when shee is most inglorious in the world Is it not because wee are accepted with God that wee are despised of men And are wee not despised of men that so wee may hate the worlde and cleaue more firmely to our God that so wee might be more and more cleansed to bee made fitte for our glorious God Doth not our inglorious estate in this life prepare vs to the glorie of the life to come Let it therfore content vs that we are knowne vnto our God and let it be our comfort that our life is hid with Christ in God that so when Christ which is our life shall appeare wee may also appeare with him in glorie Let them begge Honour of the people that are cast out of Gods fauour And let such build vp resting places and mansiōs in the earth that are runnagates from God castawayes from his fauour hauing no hope nor right in the heauēly māsions If God cast these things vppon vs wee haue a right in them and so haue grace to vse them The Church obtains honor in Aegipt Babilon euen in the lād of her captiuity she prospers is renowned Only let vs not ambitiously seeke this worldly greatnes It must not be so with vs. The seruant is not aboue his master and the Master though Lord of all yet was seruant vnto all that so wee might learne of him to bee humble and meeke that wee might learne to be abased as well as to abound that we might become all vnto all to win some vnto CHRSIT IESVS Let vs not therefore much lesse stand peremptorily vpon this outward pompe as if the Church were but in her infancie when she was in her natiue puritie and simplicitie but the more outward glory she hath gained the more she growes to perfection and therfore as the times are cannot be without worldly dignitie All things are lawfull but all things to all sorts not expedient Greatnesse breeds enuie not loue vsually and how shall wee winne them if they doe not loue vs Fulnesse breeds securitie and securitie idlenesse how then shall we plucke them out of the fire if wee will take no paines How shall wee giue vp our account with ioy if we bury our talent in a napkin How shall we make our Ministerie fully knowne without suffering afflictions The Lord giue the Church more and more fauour with Princes that as it hath begun so it may increase euen in outward peace and prosperitie and a florishing estate which may serue as a good meanes for the propagation of the Gospel that Iapheth may dwell for euer with Shem in his fathers house Thus though Iapheth dwell herein tents meanely and obscure yet shall both Shem and Iapheth shine gloriously for euer in most durable mansions euen in the Kingdome of heauen which shal not fade nor be diminished Shall we consider yet further the ground thereof Must not Iapheth dwell in the tents of Shem the first borne of his father the sonne of the inheritance the stocke of the promised seede And are any then of the true Church of CHRIST but they alone that haue the priuiledge of the first borne who are of the election of God for whom the father hath ordained a kingdom And will the Sonne loose any that the Father hath committed vnto him Did he die for any but for his Church who is the Sauiour of his body which is his Church Is he the Sauiour of any especially but those that doe beleeue 1. Tim. 4. 8. And doe any beleeue but those that are ordained to euerlasting life Acts 13. Behold here the true members of the Church of Iesus Christ euen they alone whose hearts are purified by Faith onely such are they that are dead vnto the world and know no man after the flesh that haue their conuersion in heauen whose names are written in heauen whose head CHRIST IESVS is ascended to
receiue the end of thy Faith which is the saluation of thy soule Thus must thou assure thy selfe that thou art not a reprobate 1. Cor. 1◠5. 6. But where is this Malignant Church to be found Surely reprobate Cam suckes of the same breasts with chosen Abel both Shem and Cham are nourished in the same Familie and preserued in the same Arke The Lord is the Sauiour of all men but especially of those that doe beleeue 1. Tim. 4. The malignant Church is sorted euen with the Elect and chosen Generation The hypocrite and true beleeuer make one Militant Church The Tares must grow vp with the wheat vntill the time of haruest least in plucking vp the tares we plucke vp the wheat also and there must be deceiuers to try and purge the Elect Yea to assure the Saints that the house doth of right appertaine to them when those that are in the Church shall willingly goe out thereof howsoeuer for a time they haue roosted therein that it may appeare they were neuer truely of vs. Shall not the hypocrite hereby be made inexcusable Must he not be beat with many stripes because he knowes his masters wil doth it not Doth not the admirable power wisdom of God appeare in ordering these two contraries in the same fold that ech may further other to their contary end Shall not the iustice of God be made glorious in seuering the Sheep frō the Goats at that great day That vnto the Lord alone may be ascribed the glory of all his works And therefore as this serueth to reprooue such as dreame of such a Church in this life which may be free from this mixture because it is onely proper to the Church tryumphant to haue all her vessels holy vnto the Lord to haue euery member truely sanctified So it also condemneth those which shroude themselues vnder pretence of this mixture assuming therefore their state to be good because they are onely members of the visible Church They are Professors They will come to the Church They are Christians they heare the Word partake of the Sacraments c. Haue not those which haue boasted of greater matters bene truly interressed in more glorious outward priuiledges yet not withstanding heard that fearefull voyce I know you not depart from mee ye workers of iniquitie Hath not the court which is without the Temple bene cast out and giuen to the Gentiles Haue they not troden vnder-foot the holy Citie Haue sinners in Sion liued afraid Hath not shame come vpon the Hypocrites could they bee able to dwell with the deuouring fire could they indure the euerlasting burning because the common priuiledges be abused Surely as we may not leaue a Church because of this mixture lest we also depriue our selues of the true speciall priuiledges thereof So we must not content our selues onely with the outward euidence lest in the day of reckning we be foūd too light And therefore labour wee so in the Church that we may bee also true and liuing starres euen liuely members and true branches of the Vine CHRIST IESVS And that we shall doe if not despising and reiecting the outward meanes as the word Sacraments because the hypocrite abuseth them vpon pretence of reuelation or a more Spirituall worship Wee doe not yet rest and content our selues heerewith but rather try all things by the blessed Spirit praying in the Spirit and vnderstanding by the Spirit what the Letter deliuereth and by the grace of the Spirit abiding in the Spirit and not onely in the outward man still hungring in the spirit after the best graces and walking by Faith and not by sinne ayming aboue all at the glory of our GOD and endeuouring that our whole spirits and soules bodyes may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of out Lord IESVS Thus may wee approue our selues to haue chosen the better part Thus may wee discerne our selues to be chosen to the better part not to loue the world though wee must needs be in it Not to be of the hypocrites though in the same Church wee are conuersant with them Comforting our selues that as there is a time that the sonne of the bondwoman shall be cast out so while yet it is our Lot to abide in the flocke to be troubled and tryed with this viperous generation Yet shall Canaan be but a seruant to Iapheth The Hypocrite so long as he abides in the Church is subiect to the true Beleeuer All his gifts shall serue onely for the good of the Elect though for his owne further condemnation Though hee should heape vp siluer as the dust and prepare Rayment as the clay He may prepare it but the iust shall put it on and the innocent shall diuide the siluer Hath he knowledge for any other end but to confound others though himselfe be a cast away Doe his gifts abused serue to any other end then for a touch-stone whereby to trie and compare the gifts of the elect that they may not rest in any outward gifts but onely vpon IESVS CHRIST Is he not the purse-bearer for the good of the Church doing good for vaine-glorie or by respects that so hauing his reward already he may be excluded the reward to come Is he any other then a stoole to dresse foode for the children well may hee licke his Fingers hee may haue a taste and glimpse thereof but his Stomacke is ouer-cloyed with the loue of the worlde It is enough to taste and it will be too much that hee hath tasted And is hee not in the day of trouble a seruant to the Elect Doth hee not prooue a ransome for the iust Is hee not for his prosperitie and vaine-glorie the obiect of the enemies malice Him they enuie for the pride of his holie Mountaine Him they thirst after for his pompe and riches And while they are rifling him doe not the righteous escape Is not that desire of the wicked satisfied Is not Gods purpose accomplished for the purging of his Church for the preseruation of his chosen Lo thus Canaan is a seruant vnto Iapheth And therefore 1. let this serue to humble the Hypocrite in his greatest pompe hee is no better then a slaue for the Churches good So that the more hee enioyeth the greater shall be his condemnation And let this comfort the Elect in theyr greatest abasing their greatest Enemies shall serue theyr turne And can the LORD then faile them or forsake them Onely be wee wise not to loose our right let vs not despise the Hypocrites gifts because hee abuseth them Neither let vs cloase with him in his shewes and yeelde our selues to be measured by his line least now hee insult and reioyce in our flesh and so bring vs into bondage But in the Name of GOD stand wee fast ' in the libertie which CHRIST hath purchased for vs and bee wee not Seruants vnto men but to winne them to Christ So shall Canaan still bee a
It auoucheth the Conuersion of the Iewes Lastly it confirmeth that Iewe and Gentile shall be vnited together in one Visible CHVRCH Together with many particular Obseruations incident to these as appeareth by these particular Doctrines and Instructions following Obseruations in these Meditations are 1 GODS Decree ordereth second causes 2 Prayer the most effectuall meanes to accomplish Gods will for our good 3 God onely the authour of the Conuersion of a Sinner 4 The Conuersion of a Sinner is by perswasion of the sweet promises of the Gospell 5 The Faithfull haue onely right in Gods blessings 6 The Gentiles to be conuerted 7 The Posteritie of the Church to be respected and prouided for 8 Good Parents may haue a wicked Generation 9 The faithfull shall be recouered out of their greatest falles 10 The Iewish Religion True 11 The Church a little Flocke 12 The Church obscure and invisible in the world 13 The true Invisible Church consists onely of the Elect. 14 The Church of God moueable not tyed to any place 15 The Church weake and corruptible subiect to infirmities 16 The Church Militant in this life 17 The Church is the resting place and safe-gard of the Elect. 18 The Church a stranger and Pilgrime in this life 19 Constancie and Perseuerance a note of a true member 20 The Saints shall abide and dwell for euer 21 The Iew to be conuerted and finally gathered in 22 The Churches Vnitie and so perpetuitie and perfection 23 There is a Malignant church as well as a True 24 The Malignant church mingled with the true beleeuers 25 The wicked and Malignant shal be in subiection to the true THE BLESSING OF IAPHETH God perswade Iaphet that hee may dwell in the Tents of Shem. Genes 9. THAT these words may the better tend to our edification wee are to consider First the Occasion and Coherence of them Secondly the words themselues The Occasion is layd downe in the 7. former verses Namely 1. Noah his first sinne of Drunkennesse with the Occasion of it vers 20. 21. And therevpon his other sinne of Inciuilitie he lyes naked vncouered euē briutishly in the Tent. Secondly C ham his sinnes 1. Of beholding his Fathers Nakednes Not with griefe as hee should haue done but with a kinde of delight and derision thereof 2. His malice and crueltie in acquainting his brethren with this infirmitie of his Father Thereby both to make his aged and reuerend Father despised in the eyes of his Children and also to make them partakers with him in this sinne of reioycing at and deriding the corruption of the Ancient 3. The pietic of the other two Sonnes of Noah Shem and Iapheth discouered 1. In their courage and constancie that would not be drawne by his example to fellowship in euill 2. In their modestie that they would not so much as looke vpon their fathers nakednes as also 3. In their wisedome that by a strange gate of going backwards and putting a garment vppon their shoulders by this meanes without offence they performed a Christian and ciuill dutie of couering their Fathers nakednes Vers 23. Herevpon it followeth that Noah being thus fitted to sobrietie partly in that his Distemperature is well qualified by rest partly also his nakednes being couered as a figure no doubt also of his sinne couered and pardoned by the LORD Is saide to Awake from his wine that is frō his sinne that was caused thereby as appeareth plainely by that which followeth Namely because he not onely knewe what his younger Sonne had done vnto him wherevnto because hee was enabled by the spirite of Prophecie therfore his sin had not depriued him of the vse of that gift which not being repented of it must needs haue done for the present But further also as the Father of the Familie yea as the Prince and Iudge of the worlde euen in Gods stead he both executeth his Authoritie ouer his Sonnes and that in cursing this wicked Cham as also in Blessing the other two gracious Children orderlie First Shem as the eldest both in age and religion Blessed be the God of Shem and let Canaan be his Seruant therein bestowing a double blessing vpon Shem One vpon his soule that he might continue in the worship of IESVS CHRIST his GOD and Sauiour That the God of Shem being blessed of Shem constantly might continue to blesse Shem the father of the Iewes performing his faithfull promises vnto them euen to their last conuersion and restoring in the last dayes when All Israel shal be saued as it is writtē The delieuerer shall come out of Sion and shall turne away the vngodlines from Iacob And this is my euerlasting Couenant with them when I shall take away theyr Sinnes 2. Shem is also blessed in his outward estate in that hee shall be Lord ouer his cursed brother his posteritie The true Church of God shall preuaile and ouercome all the enimies of the same Thus Noah hauing blessed his eldest sonne Shem partly in recompence of his present well-doing but especially as in Gods steed discouering the free loue of God in confirming an infinite reward farre beyond all proportion of an imperfect and finite obedience Proceedeth yet farther to blesse his other sonne Iapheth as being partner in the good action and therefore in equitie to be partaker of the recompence thereof And this blessing vpon Iapheth is not so much personall vnto himselfe that as he had begunne so he would dwell in the Tents of Shem that is continue in the true worship of God But because the holy Patriarke by the spirit of prophecie did foresee that the posteritie of Iapheth as fell out within few hundreth yeares after should fall from God to Idols Therefore hee not onely prayeth vnto God for the restoring of the Gentiles which were the posteritie of Iapheth to the sincere worship of GOD in IESVS CHRIST but prophetically also declareth therein the will of God that Iapheths seede should belieue in the Promised-seede and withall addeth the Ioynture of this new-married Bride vnto her Sauiour Namely that the belieuing Gentiles shall also be enlarged farre and neere vpon the face of the earth as rulers and conquerors of the world and all the enemies of the Church And let Canaan that is the posteritie of the wicked for euer be subiect vnto the seruants of Iesus Christ Thus is Iapheth also blessed by his father Noah being the mouth of God himselfe both declaring what was to come to passe concerning the posteritie of Iapheth euen the Gentiles confined especially in this parte of the world which wee inhabite called Europe and extending to all those nations in all partes of the world that are not eyther properly Iewes or of that cursed race of Cham scattered towards the South in Affrica c. As also auouching the certaintie thereof as by the riches of Gods mercie hath bene alreadie for this sixe hundred yeares accomplished and is daily persiting vntill the comming of the Lord
vs wings as to auoyd vnnecessary and desperate extremities so to flie speedily in the execution of the will of God That by this willing minde we might not onely be comforted in respect of our outward failing seeing the Lord hath promised Not to quench the smoaking Flaxe nor breake the bruised Reede but encouraged also and enabled to constancie and perseuerance that so continuing to the ende the Crowne may not be taken from vs. Thus by the marks of conuersion is the manner thereof confirmed vnto vs Thus by this manner thereof are we assured of the continuance of the same And is our Conuersion then a worke of grace and free compassion from the Lorde Is it accomplished by the word of peace and sweet promises of the Gospell applyed to the fainting soule by the Spirite of grace and Compassion Is it conueyed vnto vs by vessels of Infirmitie which might better haue compassion on vs and allure vs to mercie as being subiect to it and therefore hauing experience of our miserie Is it effected by melting the heart with the apprehension of the loue of God Is is perfited by enlarging the heart to the obedience of our God Well then may fire and fagot confound both bodie and soule well may Antichrist enlarge an earthly monarchy with sword and outward violence but the milde voyce of the Gospell must conuert the soule The meanes to fill Heauen must be the alluring of the spirit Oh why dispaire we to conuert though now miracles are ceased seeing by the power of the Word the secrets of the heart are made so manifest that God wil be acknowledged to be in vs that so we may conuert vnto God If they will not belieue Moses and the prophets neither will they belieue though one come from the dead and yet to coÌ„uert a sinner is more wonderfull theÌ„ to raise froÌ„ the death How vainely do they bragge of a Church that exclude the word of God how can we hope for the continuaÌ„ce of a Church where the sound therof doth not coÌ„tinne what hope is there of coÌ„uersion where doctrine is not deliuered by which the mind is perswaded what feare of further peruersion where lawes are not executed to coÌ„pell men to perswasion where deceiuers are permitted to poyson with corrupt perswasion Who so is wise let him consider this Let him see the plague and hide himselfe Let him trie his conuersion by the perswasion of his Iudgement that he is rooted in knowledge not wauering in opinion Let him examine his effectuall calling by the readinesse of his minde and cheerfulnes in obedience euen to all the will of God not a part thereof that constantly and continually not being weary of well-doing being more ready to doe well then for the present he is able and so enabled to well doing that at length he may attaine his desire as of perfect obedience which he shall attaine so of perfect happinesse the recompence of his labours full contentment of his vtmost desires And therfore let him pray for the continuance of the gospell to quickeÌ„ his desires Let him earnestly desire the confusion of Antichrist that sonne of darknes enemy to this glorious light Let him be wise to discerne betweene the chaffe the wheate to trie the Spirits and hold what is good Let him especially make much of the Annoynting and hearken to the voyce behinde him not grieuing the Spirit nor quenching the motions thereof that still there may be light in the Land of Goshen in the dayes of Famine hee may haue enough Exod 8. Iob 5. Comforting himselfe that seeing his conuersion is from Gods alluring of free loue and perswading by a power vnresistable not desired by him therefore being conuerted he shall surely hold when Heauen and earth shall passe though thousands fall daylie at his right hand and ten thousands at his left hand yet shall not this plague of Apostasie seaze on him who is kept by the mightie power of God vnto that great day that hee may be presented blamelesse vnto the Lorde Iesus And therefore not being discouraged for theyr going out from vs that were neuer truely of vs but rather enlarged with continuall praise vnto his God that leaues not him also to himselfe to fall away with this present euill worlde but still humbles his flesh to keepe life in his soule and counts him worthie to suffer with his Christ that so the life of Christ might daily appeare for his approching to glory Thus doth God perswade Iapheth to dwell in the Tents of Shem. Thus is a Christian conuerted by perswasion And thus doth God giue him a Dowrie with his marriage Iapheth being perswaded is also enlaged The kingdome of heauen being bestowed interesses also the Faithfull in the possessions of the earth The true belieuer alone is the right owner of all Gods blessings He that first seekes the kingdom of heaueÌ„ shall haue these things also cast vpon him Matth 16. 33. So profitable is godlines aswell for this life as that which is to come 1. Tim. 4. 8. 9. So Christ being ours who is Lord of all in heauen earth Math 28. all with him is ours both in heauen and earth 1. Cor. 3. Rom 8. So haue wee onely grace to vse those well and therefore are only fit for them So are those onely fit for vs as being sanctified by vs vnto vs. Oh how vaine then is theyr boasting and labour that toyle for these things without grace how fearfull is their account that possesse them without Christ What comfort haue we in the least seeing it is vnto vs as all what hope of that which shal be sufficieÌ„t for vs What wisedome ought wee to vse to make first sure of the best what conscience in approuing our right by our holy vsing of these things What Faith in a better right by renouncing Confidence in these by our williingnes vpon iust occasion to part with them either to the good of our brother though we cast our bread vppon the waters or to the glorie of God though wee euen cast our liues after them Shall not hee which thus leaueth House or lands haue recompence an hundred-folde shall not hee finde his life that thus is willing to loose it Oh how can we better shewe our free power ouer these things theÌ„ by keeping them short that they may haue no power ouer vs neither ouer our hearts by Couetousnes which is Idolatrie nor ouer our bodies by pinching and niggardlines nor ouer our Coâ—sâ—â—â—nce by making difference where God hath made all good nor ouer our libertie by abiectnes and scrupulositie Oh that we would learne to renew and increase our soueraigntie ouer the Creature by our daily subiection vnto God in acknowledgment of our unworthines of the least in crauing his blessing euen vpon the greatest As by the sense of our vnworthines renuing our right in Christ
and disavowing confidence in the greatest by submitting the blessing thereof vnto our God that so giuing God the glory of his mercies hee may enlarge himselfe vnto vs to the making of vs meete to be vessels of glorie And thus are the Saints Lords of the earth And thus is the Church of IESVS CHRIST spread farre and neere ouer the face thereof That not onely the God of them may be blessed by one Nation at Ierusalem but that Iapheth also may be enlarged and diffused to dwell in the Tents of Shem that the Gentiles being dispersed farre and neere might receiue the Gospel and also being Conuerted might Conuert their Brethrem euen all the Nations vpon the face of the earth GOD enlarge IAPHETH So then Iapheth must bee perswaded and enlarged aswell as Shem. The Gentiles must bee conuerted aswell as the Iewes And why Surely God hath so decreed it from all Eternitie and reuealeth the same by his eternall Word long before the accomplishment thereof Hee accomplisheth it in particulars as pledges of a more plentifull Haruest and he permitteth obstinacie to come vpon the Iew that the wilde Oliue might be engraffed So in the fulnesse of time was this harnest brought in in part by the Husbandmen of the Lord IESVS and in the fulnesse of time shall the fulnesse of the Gentiles be brought in that the remnant of the cast-away Israel may be reaped in with glory And are not the wayes of God most equall herein Shall not the winde blow where it pleaseth Hath God any respect of persons Is not God the Lord of all the earth Was not the blood of Christ auaileable to saue euen a thousand worlds Must not the Church to this end be a Traueller vpon the face of the earth shall not the sound of the Word goe to the ends of the world Must we not pray for all sorts because God will haue some among all sorts to be saued Is not this our little sister that hath no breasts yet shall giue sucke Is not this the barren that shall bring foorth and haue more children then the married wife Are not these the infinite number which none could reckon which should stand before the Throne and the Lambe with long white robes and Palmes in their hands Thus shall the Gentiles imbrace the Gospel 1. And is not the word of God Yea and Amen Is not Iapheth perswaded and the Kingdome of Christ enlarged among vs Hath it not a long time rested in the tabernacles of Iapheth 2. And was it remooued from the tents of Shem that so it bee planted in the inhabitants of Iapheth Oh then let let vs consider that Shem is to be replanted 3. Let vs desire the restoring and reclaiming of the first born 4. Let vs feare the casting off of the Little sister seeing the elder was cast off and is to be recalled 5. And let vs looke for the remoueall of the Gospel from one nation to another where it is not retained with conscience profit And if God will not forsake vs till wee forsake him take heede then we put not from vs the word of life And what if we be preparing a place in Virginea or Ireland to receiue the same 6. These must haue a calling and we a cooling for the time that we may be prouoked to zeale euen by foolish and forlorne nations and recouer our first loue by extending it to our brethren That as the falling of one Nation may bee the raising of another so this revniting of the Gospel may bring in the number of the Elect that so our war-fare being finished our glory may begin neuer to haue an end Thus shall Iapheth bee perswaded to dwell in the moueable tents of Shem that Shem and Iapheth may dwell for euer in full and constant happinesse But some will say what neede Iapheth to bee perswaded to dwell in the Tents of Shem who already was a member with Shem of the true Church as performing the duties of pietie to God and men Wee answere that the holy Ghost not onely entendeth the person of Iapheth as desiring his continuance particularly in the true worship of God but especially hath reference to Iapheths posteritie as foreseeing their declination from true Religion to Idolatrie which fell out not long after and therefore directing the Spirit of holy Noah not onely as a Father to desire the returne of his posteritie to the Church of Christ but especially as the mouth of God to pronounce their restitution in the ages to come Whence wee learne many notable Lessons As first that godly parents and beleeuers ought not onely to haue care for the present but also for the future estate of their posteritie the true Church of God that so it may abide in the Faith of IESVS CHRIST So do they imitate GOD who prouides for Eternitie so doe they approoue their Faith when they see a far off so do they testifie their loue which abides for euer 1. Cor. 13. So doe they manifest their hope in the full accomplishment of the Elect So do they further the propagation of the Church to her perfect consummation Communion in heauen To this end are they commanded to declare the will of GOD vnto their children To this end did they set vp Monuments of Gods speciall loue and memorials of his will and fauour not only to testifie their thankefulnesse for the present but to teach the Generations to come that the people which were to bee created should prayse the Lord. And if they were worse then Infidels that prouided not for the outward estate of their posteritie where is then their Faith that neglect the soules of their successors Oh what a curse then is Barrennesse and depriuation of posteritie How much greater a plague to make wicked our posteritie by preposterous worldly prouision and neglect of Spirituall Legacies How happy those parents that sendssuch wicked seed before thē But thirce vnhappy they that reioyce in their wickednesse prouoking them by euill example to imitation of euill and applauding euill imitation vnder pretence of ligitimation as if to differ from them in sinne were to bee degenerate and bastards How can they call GOD their Father that neglect to bee nursing fathers to his Church either caring for their owne as if the time to builde Gods house were not yet come and therefore they neglect the restoring of it or else lay it further desolate as eclipsing their glorie and confounding their pleasures Oh where shall such Iulians appeare that seeke to repaire Babylon againe and deriding the poore members of CHRIST that they must suffer affliction doe therefore adde affliction to affliction and cry downe with it downe with it euen to the ground Surely though Abraham know vs not and Israel hath forgotten vs yet the Keeper of Israel doth neither slumber nor sleepe He is our Father and will haue compassion on vs and
for the present that so many combats so many conquests so many conquests so many crownes to establish vs for the time to come Oh what a comfort is here vnto the Saints of GOD that though they haue pitched their Tents yet still they dwell in Tents the place of their war-fare is the place of their safetie The Church exposeth to the combate and prouideth means for the conquest being their retyring place in their falles resting place for their refreshing Their Armorie to serue them with weapons and their forge also to whet and sharpen them to the battell Shee that presseth them to the warre-fare teacheth their hands to fight and bindeth vp their wounds and giueth rest vnto their soules The Church is the safegard and shelter of the Elect. No saluation without it though no carnall rest within no true happinesse but from it though to bee of it is of all men if our hope were onely in this life most wretched and miserable Here is no rest to corruption that incorruption may bee obtained Heere is all peace in CHRST IESVS though in the world wee must looke for nothing but afflictions from the world yet the Church is in the world and therefore shall haue Kings and Queenes to bee her Nursing Fathers and Foster Mothers that the Elect may be gathered and the reprobate conuinced Heere shee sleepes with her beloued and findes his yoke easie here shee is refreshed with his Flaggons and rauished with his perfumes heere shee delights in his presence and is Loue-sicke with his beauty What shall I say the Church is Gods House yea the gate of Heauen and can there bee greater safetie where GOD is the Owner Can there be happier securitie where heauen is the purchase The Church is Christs spouse his beloued his vndefiled And can there be danger where sinne is not imputed Is there any lacke or losse in Loue shall not all the worlde be forsaken to cleaue to the wife of our bosome to giue her rest and contentment to delight in her beautie to giue her honour as the weaker vessell to prouide aboundantly for her to spread the wing of the garment ouer her for protection to dwell for euer with her to reioyce in her loue continually Is not the Church the Lordes portion and inheritance giuen by God the Father to his sonne Iesus Christ by him to be preserued vnto perfection and glory Psal 2. Ioh 17. Is it not the bed of Salomon wherein the Christian soule takes his sweete and sure repose as being garded with the Lord worthies his blessed Angells to put off all daungers and preuent disquietnes 3. Cant 7. Psal 34. Is it not the mountaine of the Lorde euen as Mount Syon the place of his Holines that shall neuer be remoued Psal 125 1. 2. Is it not the pillar of truth 1. Tim 3. 57. contenting and establishing it followers therein Psal 2. 6. 3. 5. Is it not as a cup of poyson and as coales of fire to confound and deuoure all the enemies thereof Zach 12. Is it not as an heape of stones to breake in pieces whomsoeuer shall oppose thereto 1. Pet 3. Is it not the Arke to preserue the true belieuer in amidst all the Tempests and ouerslowings of sinne and sorrowes Is it not the Market-place that affords the childrens food euen milke for babes and strong meate for men Hebr 5◠Is it not the priuie Chamber of Iesus Christ wherein he communicates that ioy vnto his Elect that the world hnowes not of which is vnspeakable and glorious passing all vnderstanding Cantic 1. 3. 1. Pet 1. 8. Is the Church otherwise blacke but that shee is also comely and acceptable in the eyes of our Sauiour Doth shee remaine in the Tents of Kedar any otherwise but that still there is light all safety in the land of Goshen though all Aegipt be filled and consumed with the Arrows of Gods vengance Is not Peter a sleep sweetly euen in the prison laden with bolts Act 12. Do not the Apostles reioyce in Tribulation Doe they not gaine and thriue in theyr greatest troubles Act 5. Doe they not liue though they die daily Possesse they not all things though they haue nothing in comparison Doe not the weake gaine by theyr sufferings to speake more boldly Are not the wicked confounded by their meruellous protections and deliuerances Is not Heauen sealed vp vnto them by theyr Heauenly and gracious conuersation by theyr mighty preseruation in and out of all ther troubles And is not the Church the bodie of Christ Is not hee our head and wee his members And did euer any hate his owne flesh Will not Christ preserue and cherish this mysticall bodie that to redeeme and purge the same spared not his naturall bodie but gaue it euen to the death euen the cursed death of the Crosse that hee might sanctifie and wash vs to present vs as a pure Virgine vnto himselfe to make vs glorious perfect without spot or wrinkle 1. Why are wee then fearfull Oh wee of little Faith why awake wee this beloued with our contentions and outcryes seeing our Husband hath deeepely charged his beloued should not be awaked Why seeke we not our peace in the peace of Syon why hasten wee not the confusion of Antichrist why doe wee not labour the peace of Iesusalem and well-fare of Syon Why dream we of carnall peace seeing our beauty is within why plot we for the flesh which is an enemie to our peace whose peace is perdition contentmēt confusion Shuld we not ioyn together against the common enemie Oh let our vnitie bee in the spirit to maintaine the true bond of peace Surely if wee could pray vnfainedly for the peace of Ierusalem and take these little Foxes that destroy the vineyards If we shall cast out those whippes of scorpions that haue made the breach giue way vnto the power of the word which is the onely procurer of this peace Setting vp the Lord and his ordinance onely to raigne ouer vs and subiecting and compelling man by holy discipline to the obedience therof maintaining continuall warre against sinne corruption and making glad the hart that God hath cōforted If wee would ease the Church of all vnnecessary eye-soares and pray for such Nursing-fathers as God hath raised vp for the maintenance of it peace If the messengers of this peace be had in due estimation for theyr workes sake And the friends of the Church be nourished aduāced This is the way to procure peace to the Church thus shall the prosperitie of Sion be maintained And then if we we liue by faith we shall delight in these Tents howsoeuer moueable fraile to a carnall eye It shall be our comfort that Gods power shal be seene in weaknes his wisdome in humane infirmitie that God may haue the glorie and we further informed so to rest in these Tents as still to
the Iew must come in and Antichrist must be destroyed And then let vs lift vp our heads Because our saluation draweth nigh Euen so hasten thy Worke O God for the glory of thy great Name Thus shall the Iew bee gathered to the Gentile and so they shall bee one sheepe-fold and one Shepheard Thus shall Shem be restored that Iapheth may dwell in his Tents so though the Church consists of Iew Gentile yet shal both dwel in the same tents contentions shal cease the partition wall shal now surely downe that both Iew and Gentile may serue God in one pure language and worship their God with one shoulder Behold now the Churches VNITIE and consent though differing in the fleâ—h yet still agreeing in Spirit though diuided for a time yet at length againe so compact and knit together as that as one man it shall be ready to meet their Sauiour and for euer to be with him This the God of Vnitie in his good time shall accomplish and that by one Baptisme to vnite them by one Word to engâ—affe them againe by one spirit to incline them by one faith to confirme them that so they may bee one body though consisting of many members seruing one God and Father of al through the gift of IESVS CHRIST their alone and all sufficient Sauiour And threfore though outward Vnitie can be no certaine note of a true visible Church where in there must be heresies that the faithfull may be tryed wherein there must be hypocrites to prouoke to soundnesse and sinceritie especially where veritie is excluded or miserably corrupted As it falleth out in the Romish Synagogue which must necessarily therefore fayle as wanting this pillar of Trueth as being a kingdome fearefully diuided against it selfe Yet when the Lord in mercy shall ioyne both Iew and Gentile together by one bond of Truth euen to kisse the blessed Sonne of righteousnesse then shall they bee also of one minde and heart consenting happily together in the pure worship of the Lord and so waiting very wisely their Masters second comming to Iudgement euen as they sweetly continued together in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship in breaking of Bread and Prayer to confirme their holy entertainement of the Lord IESVS first comming in mercie So faithfull is the Lord to performe hereby his promise that the gates of hell shall not preuaile against this little flocke so wise to confirme our Faith in the accomplishment of this promise to waite vpon the Lord for the performance of all the promises that are reuealed in the word that so we might bee made meete for the inioying of them and by the power of Faith lay hold of eternall life THE SECOND PART THE SVBIECTION OF CANAAN And let Canaan be his seruant WELL thus haue wee heard the nature and properties of the True visible and militant Church Thus haue wee also discerned the Priuiledges thereof Now let vs consider further of the Church malignant It followeth And let Canaan be his seruant That is Seeing Canaan is the sonne of the bond-woman and therefore must haue no inheritance with the sonne of the free woman howsoeuer he may for a time abide in the familie and enjoy both outward communion and priuiledges with the sons of Adoption Yet let Canaan bee seruant to Iapheth and to his posteritie the malignant Church shall be in subiection to the true though for a time the hypocrite may prouoke and insult ouer the true member yet shall this both serue for the good of his Saints to purge out their drosse and prouoke them to perfection and when their war-fare is accomplished all their enemies shal be brought in subiection Psal 72. So then first it appeareth that there is as well a Cham to mocke and curse that he may be accursed as a Shem to blesse that he may be blessed as well a Cain to murther that hee may heape vp damnation to himselfe as there is an Abel to offer vp an acceptable sacrifice and so bee made a sacrifice that he may be freed from corruption that he may be so crowned with incorruption and eternall glorie not the Familie of our Sauiour CHRIST himselfe shal be free from a Iudas â—tray or to betray his master that he may offer vp his soule a sacrifice for sinne and performe a plentifull redemption for his mysticall body A malignant Church there hath bene and must be to the worlds end It is the decree of the mightie God that some shall be on the left hand euerlastingly appointed to bee vessels of wrath And therefore the fall of man is also determined and so disposed that the malignant Church may bee left in that estate which it hath willingly chosen and may be ripened thereunto by refusing or abusing the meanes of saluation And therefore vaine is that dreame that al shal be saued vainer their conceit that though in their daily practises they are hastening to destruction yet still they are confident their estate is as good as any their hearts are good they meane well they are but flesh and blood the Lord is mercifull And will the Lord be mercifull to presumptuous sinners If the heart be good will not the fruit be according can we gather grapes of thornes or figs of thistles Surely no They are of their father the deuil because they doe his works they are led captiue at his will into all maner of wickednes And therefore his seruants they are to whom they obey he will pay them their wages euen the wages of sin the second death And therefore if thou wilt know that thou art not of this accursed race diue not into the secrets of God say If thou art damned thou canst not do withal It is in vaine to striue against Gods will in vaine to wash thy hands in innocency But in the Name of God goe to the reuealed word and therein discerning what thou art by nature labour by the power thereof to feele this thy woâ—ull condition yea to feele it a burden that thou canst no way endure and so hunger thou after Iesus Christ to be eased thereof apply him by faith for the acceptance of thy person into the fauour of thy God and put him on by faith that so thou mayst be renued in the spirit of thy minde towalke worthy of so great saluation yet stil labor how to be found in him not hauing thine owne righteousnesse that so renuing thy repentance dayly for former failings thou mayst receiue continuall vertue from this fonntain to the daily cleansing of thy polluted nature to enable thee daily to more constant obedience that so thou mayst grow vp in him which is the head into all holines in the feare of God when thou hast finished all things yet standing fast in him that thou mayst with patience expect the recompence of the reward patience may bring forth the perfect worke in the tryal of thy Faith that so thou maist