several Companies yet the Corporation is but one or as it is with the body which consists of many parts and members yet t is but one body Thus it is in the Church it consists of many Christians is made up of various Professors but still the Church is but one and all the people of God where ever they live they are all united in this own body for there are many members 1 Cor. 12.20 Eph. 4.4 Eph. 3.6 but one body There is one body and one spirit c. Jew and Gentile all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but one body Now upon this union it should be in the body Mysticall as it is in the body Naturall all the members in the body conspire for the good of the whole The Eye sees not for it self the hand takes not for it self the Stomach digests not for it selfe but all their Organical acts tend to the benefit of the whole body Thus I say it should be in the body Mystical or politique the members wherof must not keep their Graces their Comforts their Abilities singly and seperately to themselves No but all must be layd out in a blessed subserviency to the publick and common good Paul having made a large discourse in setting forth the Church by allusions to the naturall body shuts up all thus 1 Cor. 12.25 That there should be no schisme in the body but that the members should have the same care one for another Let me onely say this further under this head The self-seeker the Gallio that cares not what becomes of the body Acts 18.17 this man is but like a Glassie Eye or a wooden Leg he is no living member in this body he is a prodigious Monster rather then a genuine Member Nothing more unsuitable to our common union then a private spirit Fourthly This publick spirit discovers much of that excellent grace of love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Rhetor. l. 20. c. 40. Faith and Love are the two great graces of the Gospel Faith is a getting grace Love is a spending grace Faith layes up Love layes out Faith layes out from Christ Love layes out for Christ Faith receives all Love returns all Now I say this serviceable active spirit for generation good discovers much of love for love is a diffusive communicative grace t is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sociable and publick grace Love is noble and generous it keeps open house wil not eat its Morsels alone if it hath good if it can do good Job 31.17 others shal be the better for it 1 Cor. 13.5 Love seeketh not her own its designs are vaster then so Nâ—rrowness of heart argues much scantness of love I may set this reason higher A publick spirit discovers the truth of grace t is an inseperable adjunct from saving grace David was a man after Gods own heart and he serves his Generation The true Israelite cannot but pro modulo lay out himself for the good of others if any be weak he must strengthen him if any be sad Luke 22.32 he must comfort him if any walk disorderly he must reprove him T is the voice of a Caine to say Am I my brothers keeper What have I to do with my brother Gen. 4.9 I 'le mind my self The Children of God say with the Lepers We do not wel this day is a day of good tydings 2 Kings 7.9 and we hold our peace We have received many mercies shal we bury them We have many opportunities shal we not improve them This is the language of grace Do not mistake me here I do not say that every publick spirit is a gracious spirit but this I say every gracious spirit is a publick spirit Fifthly This publick spirit is our due conformity to God to Jesus Christ to the choicest and most excellent Saints First This is our due conformity to God He is Summum bonum summe bonus the cheifest good and cheifly good infinitely good and therefore infinitely communicative He is a Fountaine full and overflowing and all the creatures in Heaven and in earth do all participate of his goodnesse so far is he from ingrossing all to himselfe The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his workes Psal 145.9 Psal 33.5 The earth is full of the goâ—dnesse of the Lord. There is not the meanest creature but it receives something from this inexhaustible treasury nay there is not the vilest man the most wicked man but God doth good to him Hee causes his sun to arise upon the bad as well as the good Matth. 5.45 Nieremberg Vt nemo sine illius gustu vixerit And as for his owne people his goodnesse there is written in the beames of the Sun there we must say Truly God is good to Israel even to them that are of a cleane heart Psal 73.1 And why doth God thus open his hand and his heart unto us why such bounty why such bowels the reason is cleare He is good and therefore he doth good He might injoy himselfe in his owne fulnesse Matth. 5. ult 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marc. Anton and keep to himself the sea of his owne blessednesse but he will not no his poor empty creatures also shall receive from him for he looks upon his goodnesse as his glory What then makes a man more like to God then a publick Spirit To be good to do good this is to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect Do you see a man that aimes at nothing but himselfe that never lets the Cock run but when it is for his own advantage that envys every drop that is not for his owne use that limits and confines all to himselfe and none shall be the better for him how contrary is this man to God and how little of God appears in him Here 's Walking indeed as man but here is no walking as God 1 Cor 3.3 But on the other hand do you see a man that makes it his businesse and designe to do good to communicate to others t is not well with him if others be not the better for him this man is a lively image and representation of God himself Secondly This is our conformity unto Jesus Christ who as he is a publick Head so he is of a publick spirit Acts 10.38 He went about doing good Why did he come downe from Heaven into the World To save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Why did he set himself apart to the work of his Mediatorship For the good of others John 17.19 For their sake also sanctifie I my self that they may be sanctified by the truth Why did he lay downe his life Not to merit any thing for himself but for his sheep I lay downe my life for the sheep Why did Christ arise againe John 10.15 Rom. 4. ult For our justification For whom doth he intercede at the right hand of his Father
THE ACTIVE and PUBLICK SPIRIT HANDLED In a SERMON Preached at Pauls October 26 th 1656. By Thomas Jacomb Minister at Martins-Ludgate LONDON When Sanballat the Horonite c. it grieved them exceedingly that there was a man come to seek the welfare of the Children of Israel Nehem. 2.10 And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not As we have therefore opportunity let us do good to all men especially to them who are of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6.9 10. Nihil habet fortuna magna majus quam ut possit nec natura bona melius quam ut velit bene-facere quam plurimis Cicer. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marc Antonin LONDON Printed by T. R. for Philemon Stephens at the gilded Lyon in S. Pauls Church-yard and Abel Roper at the Sun neer S. Dunstons-Church in Fleestret 1657. Titchborne Major Tuesday 4. of Novem. 1656. It is ordered that Mr Jacomb of Martins-Ludgate be desired from this Court to Print his late Sermon at Pauls TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR JOHN DETHICK lately LORD MAJOR AND To the Right Worshipfull the Aldermen of the famous City of LONDON Right Worshipfull YOUR Order brought this Sermon some few moneths since into the PULPIT and now into the PRESS Might I have been mine owne Chooser I should have wished that this slender Discourse like David in the Text after it had done some small service to its Generation might have fallen asleep and seen the light no more But obedience to your Commands must make me to break through all my owne private desires I hope the Matter here handled did not nor will not give you or any other person any occasion of offence I know Truth is biting where there 's guilt Veritas loquendi grande praesagit malum Lactant and therefore to some it is very dangerous to preach it but yet the sound back will endure to be touch'd Amara est veritas quisquis eum praedicat amaritudine satiabitus Hieron and there 's no kicking at it I humbly beg your candid acceptation of this poor Mite such as it is and your pardon for two things First That so much time is runn'd out since your Order before it was obeyed which hath not been occasioned from an elaborateness in the Work as every Reader will easily perceive such Mushroomes as this may grow in a very little time and a few daies are enough for so mean a Birth But partly by many occasions interveniug partly by some threatning tryals in my Relations which have much distracted me in my Studies and partly by my very great backwardness to appeare thus in Print unto which during my present yeares and abilities nothing should drive me but meer necessity I further beg your favour in excusing some variations that possibly you may take notice of in the Printing and in the preaching the substance and matter is the same here and there some expressions and enlargements are altered which I have done because I judge that which is presented to the Eare may with greater advantage be presented to the Eye when it is a little put into another dress The drift and designe of my Sermon was to quicken you up to an active and publick Spirit And I pitcht upon this Subject not in the least to reflect upon you as being slothfull and selfish in your places but that I might stir you up yet to abound more and more in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 35. â—â—â— and in your activenesse for the good of your Generation Should I say the former I should very much wrong you and should I say there was no need of the latter I should very much wrong my self It is observed of the Planets the higher they are in their scituation the quicker they are in their motion God hath set you in very high places a low Monstrosa res est gradus summus animus infimus sedes prima vita ima Bern. de consid l. 2. and lazie and un-active Spirit is very unbecomming to your places I beseech you therefore with indefatigable diligence lay out your selves for God and the publick trade your Talent of power to the utmost advantage Let your Spirits be as publick as your Places are Hath God set the Sun in a publick Orbe to give light to its self Self-seeing was alwaies naught but in such times as these it is naught with a witnesse Seekest thon now great things for thy self Jer. 45.5 seek them not Let the blessing of many come upon you for your zeale and sincerity in serving your Generation It is better to have the Prayers of the publick then the Profits of the publick Do you work for the people of God in the Court they will work for you in the Closet let them have your Power you shall have their Prayer do you rule for them they will pray for you To you Right Worshipfull in whose hands the Sword of Authoritie hath been latelie held at the laying down of which this Sermon was preached I hope you find the comfort of what Service you have done Generation-work is like the gathering of Roses which in the gathering may be they prick the fingers but when they are gathered they are very sweet I think he went too far that writing the life of Anastatius said thus Stella de vit Pontif. Aquo haud quicquam habetur quod merito reprehendi queat I am sure I should not go far enough as to your Government if I should not say much was done by you which deserves justlie to be commended you are not yet fallen asleep though as to that Office you are The Lord heighten your zeale and make you yet more instrumentall for good that your Life may be comfortable to others and your Death comfortable to your own self Which is the heartie prayer of Febr. 26. 1656. Your worthlesse Servant in the Work of Christ Tho. Jacomb Errata Epist p. 2. l. 16. r. any in the Margent r. eam satiabitur Sermon p. 13. l. 7. r. up p. 18. l. 17. r. disserve in the Margent r. temporum p. 22. l. 13. add did AN ACTIVE PVBLICK SPIRIT HANDLED In a SERMON preached at Pauls October 26. 1656. Act. 13 36. the former part For David after he had served his own Generation by the will of God fell on sleep THIS Text is part of a Sermon preached by Paul at Antioch v. 14. the drift and argument whereof is to prove this fundamental truth that Jesus Christ is the onely and the true Messias And this the Apostle makes good v. 25. partly by the testimony of John partly by the prophesies or promises which were made to the Fathers but fulfilled in Christ v. 32.33 And these prophesies do principally relate to Christs resurrection for that being proved the truth of his Messiah-ship would evidently appeare And therefore I find the Apostles in the proving this main Doctrine of
is done that let men be who they will or doe what they will still all is carryed on in a streight Channell to the doing of Gods worke and the fulfilling of his will And not onely a David but a Cyrus also he serves by the will of God Isai 44.28 Ezek 29.20 for even he is but Gods Servant to performe his pleasure Nebuchadnezzar too serves by the wiâ—l of God for he doth but work for God Nay not onely the services but also the very sins of men are in some sense by the will of God that even in their sinfull actions the will of God is done not the will of his command but the will of his decree As in that grande nefas Acts 4.28 that sin of the first magnitude Haeâ— sunt magna oâ—era Domini c. etiam per â—andem creaturae voluntatem quafactum est quod Creator noluit impleret ipse quod voluit c. ut miro c. ut miro ineffabili modo non fiat praeter ejus voluntatem quod etiam contra ejus fit voluntatem Aug. Enchir. ad Laurent c. 100. de Civ Dei l. 22. c. 1. Multa fiunt a malis quidem contra voluntatem Dei sed tantae est ille saepientiae tantaeque virtutis ut in eos exitus quos bonos justes ipse praescivit tendant omnia quae voluntaei ejus videntur adversa vid. Lombard C. 10. D. 47. the crucifixion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Herod and Pontius Pilate did but what Gods hand and counsell had determined before to be done But so much for this point David served by the will of God God cut out his worke David was but his Journiman to make it up Propos. 2 The second proposition is this Vsefull and active men in their generation shall not dye before they have done their worke or thus God will not take away any Instrument of publick good before he hath finished his service David after he had served his generation then he fell a sleep but not before Serviceablenesse exempts none wholly from death the most usefull man must dye as the Sun must set notwithstanding its publick influence but serviceablenesse prorogues deÌ„ath that throùgh mercy it shall not arrest an active man before he hath done that worke which God hath allotted him T is in the world as t is in a Comaedy there are severall actors that have their severall parts which when they have acted they goe off from the Stage and others come on thus t is here with men upon the Stage of the world Lombard c. 1. D. 47. in the acting of their severall parts as to service God hath this businesse for that man this for another Disce quod homines non citius moriuntur neo diutius vi vunt quam donec nou possunt amplius servire consilio Dei Stres the Magistrate is to doe so much the Minister to doe so much when they have done it then the all disposing providence of God removes them and others are raysed up in their roome to beare up the name of God and to be Instruments of his glory But I say never till they have dispatched their task of service a Moses a Joshua an Eli a Nehemiah first serve then dye first finish their worke Phil. 1.23.24.25 then and not till then their days Take the instance of Paul for this he was in a streight betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is farr bettér what is Paul in a streight as to his being with Christ surely his whole soul could not but pant and breath after that True but his eye is upon service to others neverthelesse to abide in the flesh is more needful to you to me death is most gainful to you life is most needful that in my ministry I may further your joy and faith Well here is work to be done for Paul his ministry is not yet fully discharged see what he says upon this having this confidence I know I shal abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith as if he had said I see God hath more for me to doe I must not go to heaven yet I must stay and serve a little longer till your grace be pèrfected Pray observe me in this God wil not wicked men shalâ— not out off one that is useful in his generation till his worke be done I say God will not and wicked men shall not let them rage and fret never so much and be their power never so great they shall not hurt a godly Magistrate a godly Minister a godly Christian if God hath more for them to doe some come to Christ and tell him Herod would kill him what kill me now before I have finished my worke goe saith Christ Luke 13.31 and tell that fox for I fear him not behold I cast out Devills and I doe cures to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected he cannot touch a haire of my head to day and to morrow that is whilst I have work from my father to doe in deed when this is done then they shall take away my life the third day I shal be perfected when my service is perfected but not before Propos 3 The third Proposition David in suae c. i. e. postquam perfecisset ca quae Deus in hoc mundo ipsum agere coustituit placide desunctus est Geâ—hard de morte death is and will be very sweet and welcome to that man who in his life hath been faithfull in the serving of his generation David after he had served his generation fell asleep death was nothing to him but a sleep sleep is welcome to the weary man the labourer that hath been toyling and sweating all day how sweet is rest to this man so is death to him that hath laid out himself for good in the place where God hath set him Whatsweetned death to Hezekiah I beseech thee O Lord to remember now Eccles 5.12 2. Kings 20.3 how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight to Paul I have fought the good fight I have finished my course 2. Tim. 4.7.8 I have kept the faith henceforth is c. To Christ himselfe I have finished the worke which thou gavest me to doe Joh. 17.4.5 and now O Father glorify thou me with thine owne selfe with the glory which I had with thee before the world was When God the Father had finished the work of creation and looking back upon what he had done saw that it was very good the Scripture says Gen. 1. ult Gen. 2.2 he rested Not only so as to work no more but he found great rest and complacency in what he had done because all was very good T is thus with men when they can reflect upon their lives and can say
and State What shal I say of these men Men did I call them they are not men they are Devils incarnate Devils in mens shape Jam. 3.6 Hell is broke loose in these persons they are set on fire with Hell it self Acts 13.10 These are Elymasses the very Children of the Devill Job 1.7 1 Pet. 5.8 and as like their Father as can be who goes about to and fro to do mischief I say they are the very Children of the Devil for he that doth not do good is not the Child of God but he that doth de industria study how to do mischief this man is the first born of the Devil and one of his prime Instruments or Factors that he imployes in the world David serves his Generation by the will of God they that disserve their Generation t is by the wil of the Devil But I hope I speak to no such spirits at this time and therfore I forbear let me only add this one word The unprofitable man is to be censured but the mischievous man is to be abhorred Secondly they are to be reproved and I pray you suffer this word of reproof submissively who instead of serving their Generation serve themselves upon their Generation who I say instead of serving the publick serve themselves upon the publick These may be are not altogether so bad as the former but they are bad enough Many of your Heathenish barbarous people that live upon the Sea coasts have a wicked custome When there is stormy foul weather they will fall down upon their knees and pray for a wrack t is no matter what becomes of the lives and estates of others the wrack wil be for their advantage and therefore they pray for it T is little better with these whom I am here taxing may be in civil Wars and publick distractions they do not pray for a wrack of the State but if such a thing fall out through Gods sore indignation it is welcome enough and they wil make the best of it for themselves Doth not this reproof reach to too many in our times in our late never enough to be deplored Calamities have not many advanced themselves by the publick sufferings and built their faire houses out of the common ruines have not many spun their fine cloth out of the Nations Fleece when it was torne in peeces and are grown fat like the Child to the Mothers leannesse have not many got Estates by the publick losses and are made rich by the generall poverty May not England say to many as once a great man said to his Servants Lord Bacon Your rise is my fall It was wont to be said The publick Treasuries were encreased by private losses Regia privatis crescunt araria damnis Claudian but now it may be said The publick Treasuries are diminished by private mens gaines Hath it not been with us as t is too often at your fires in the City where many come pretending to quench the fire but indeed it is to steale and to get something in the common confusion I feare such hath been the practice of too many in our State they have medled and acted pretending nothing but the quenching of the sire whereas in truth enriching of themselves hath been the main thing they have looked after Two things are to be much lamented amongst us and I know not which of the two most whether this That the times have made so many poor or this That the times have made so many rich Nehemiah was in a great place but he buyes no Land Nehem. 5.16 we have had many in very meane places but they have made a shift to buy great Estates I do not here aime in the least at those who have been very instrumentall for good whose Salaries have been much inferiour to their deserts I only speak to those who by corruption and cheating and dishonesty and self-seeking have out of the publick built their houses and fill'd their Coffers But let such know God wil make them vomit up their Morsels againe Prov. 23.8 And their third Hâ—ire shal never rejoyce in Estates thus gotten but as the Prophet speaks Jer. 17.11 As the Patridge sitieth on Eggs and hatcheth them not so he that getteth riches and not by right shal leave them in the midst of his dayes and at his end shal be a foole Thirdly this reproof reaches to those who do little or nothing for the service of their Generation and here I speak to those that are dul heavy spiritlesse unactive men meer Droanes and Cyphers Fruges consumere nati that take up so much room in the world they eat and drink and wast the good Creatures but they do no work their Generation is never the better for them O that our Hives our Cities our Congregations our Families were not too ful of these Droanes but these uselesse men these walking Ghosts these lumps of flesh that are not animated with an active Soul these I say abound every where Pardon me if I speak a little tartly for I confesse my heart rises at these men The state of Athens judg'd that man a Monster that did in republica sine publico fructu versari Osor 7. H. Curpi mareecentes otio non tam vitam agunt quam praeteâ—vetunâ—ur nec vivunt sed in vita morantur nec sero tales moriuntur sâ—d diu Morus to suo Calvino we have too many of these Monsters amongst us I do not here only mean your dull men who do rather sleep then live but such also as have parts enough and life enough and opportunities enough but yet as to Generation-works are meer stocks and shadowes The Polititian hath wisdome enough but he wil sit still and save one t is good sleeping in a safe skin The voluptuous man is active enough but how He games and pursues his recreations so his time runs out what doth the publick get by him I wish too many of our Nobility and Gentry and Gallants not fal within this charge The Magistrate hath power enough but he leâ—s the Sword rust in the Scabbard The Christian pretends to grace but he keeps it to himself Matth. 5 15. puts his Light under a Bushell he doth not with a vigorous activity lay out himself for God and his fellow-professors good Let me tell you an unserviceable life will end in an uncomfortable account when God shall come to account with you Friend I gave you a Talent Matth. 25. where is it how is it improved I let you live so many years in the world what did you do all that time Redde legiorsâ— vare you did not hurt but what good did you do how were parts and gifts traded with zeal towards me and love towards your brethren you had such an Office what did you do in it such an estate what did you do with it what nothing Take that unprofitable servant and cast him into utter darknesse Matth. 25.30
these you shall finde in this David Psal 78. ult So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands Secondly Do all with Sincerity There must be the sincerity of the Work as well as of the Person Do never so much if you be not sincere in it 1 Cor. 3.15 your Work shall be burnt and you shall suffer losse Others may be the better for it but you your selves shall not Do never so little if it be done in the integrity of your Hearts God will accept of it and reward you for it Jacob serves Laban a great many years but all that while his eye was upon his Rachel It was not love to Laban but love to Rachel that made him undergoe so much Many take much pains in Generation-work but all that while the heart is not right It is not the publick good that they aime aâ— but something of self for many serve and advance Self by serving the Publick What brave things would Absalom doe if he was upon the Throne 2 Sam. 15.4 and all this was but to make himself more popular We have too many such popularis aurae vilia mancipia as Hierome speaks Ep cd Julian I speak to Magistrates to Ministers to all Let Sincerity runne through the Veine of all your Service and that thus Doe all from Love according to the Word for the Glory of God For three things make up this Sincerity Aright Principle A right Rule A right End When Love is the Principle the Word the Rule the Glory of God the End here is Sincerity The Truth is The Hypocrite doth but make use of God and God doth but make use of him He doth but make use of God for though he looks and pretends to Gods Glory yet he rows another way And God doth but make use of him for he hath nothing within him to incline him to any Service onely God overrules him and so makes use of him Well be sincere that when you shall be laid open at the great day 1 Cor. 3.14 Rom. 2. ult your work may abide and your praise may be not of men but of God Thirdly Serve your Generation with Courage Goe on through difficulties and dangers with undaunted Resolution Doe men scoffe and reproach you Care not for it Nehemiah is not discouraged at the scoffes and taunts of Tobiah and Sanballat It is no new thing for Dogges to barke at the Horse that goes apace Active men shall have many to snarle at them but so long as they act for the good of others it is nothing May be Estate Liberty nay Life it self may be in danger Esth 4.16 yet hold on If I perish I perish said that Heroicall Spirit Can you Sacrifico your Lives better then for the Cause of God and the Publick Good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I would to God it might be so said Basil Whatever you lose here Matth. 10.30 will not Christs Hundred-fold make up all to you Fourthly Persevere in your activity for Publick good Many are like your Bells that strike very fast till they be raised and then but very seldome Many Magistrates and Ministers are very diligent and sedulous till they have got a Name and are up in the esteems of the world and then they can put their hands in their bosomes and do as little as who doth the least This is base We must hold out with an even pace in our Service Indefatigableness and Perseverance is the Crowne of all If any man draw back my soul shall take no pleasure in him Heb. 10.38 Be not weary in well-doing ye shall reap if you faint not He that endureth to the end he shall be saved Gal. 6.9 Matth. 10.22 If the house be not covered all over and the tiles well joyned together the rain will come in Benefacta benefactis pertegito ne perpluat saith Plautus If there be gaps and flaws in your good service censures will get in and to be sure the wrath of God will get in and fall upon you Oh Mar. 9.50 be not like Salt that hath lost its savour Fifthly Doe all humbly And that in two things Fetch all your strength from God Ascribe the Glory of all to God Enter upon all things by Prayer Shut up all by Praise Nehemiah in order to publick Service first prayes So I prayed to the God of Heaven Paul ascribes all to God by praise Neh. 2.4 1 Cor. 15.10 I laboured more abundantly then they all yet not I but the Grace of God which was with me Never set about any thing in your own strength Luk. 17.10 Valdè perfectorum est sic ostenso opere gloria a authoris quaerere ut de illatâ laude privaâ—â nesciant gaudere Gregor Go to God for Wisdome Direction c. When it is done never ascribe any thing to your own parts And when you have done all say You are unprofitable The Ear that is full of Corn and the Bough that is loaden with Fruit bowes down towards the Earth The most serviceable are the most humble They that do most think they do least and this is a rare thing to see men high in service and low in spirit Direct 4 Fourthly Serve your Generation By your Example as well as by your Power Men live more by the Examples of others then by the Precepts of God not squaring their actions by quà eundum but quà itur not by what ought to be done but by what is done especially the examples of such as are great have a great influence upon them A wry neck in Neroes Court was the mode because he himself was wry-necked Facore reclè cives suos princeps optimus faciendo docet cumquesit imperio magnus exemplo major est Vellei Pater Tit. 2.7 You that are Magistrates Let me humbly tell you Good Laws without good Examples will do but little good Would you have the Sabbath observed strictly see you doe not prophane it at home You cannot better serve your Generation then by being Patternes of Good Works unto them Direct 5 Fifthly Serve your Generation but Doe not neglect work at home One Duty must not justle out another You have your Callings minde them You have Relations provide for them for he that provides not for his owne hath denyed the Faith and quoad hoc is worse then an Infidell Aquinas 1. Tim. 5.8 You have Salvation-work to minde Serve your owne Generation but in the first place Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling phil 2.12 You are to be laying up as well as laying out Magis mihi me debeo quam hominibus caeteris quamvis Deo magis quam mihi August Retract l. 1. c. 8. And indeed upon these two things as upon two Poles all Religion turns Doing good and getting good Direct 6 Sixthly In all Service look to your Call otherwise you will be but Busie-bodies and Intruders upon those things which doe not concerne you 1 Pet. 4.15 Vid. Bez. in Phil. 2.4 Your Service must be regular otherwise it will End onely in scandall to the Gospel and in Judgement upon your selves Uzzah got nothing by laying his hands upon the Ark when he had no Call to it Direct 7 Seventhly In serving your Generation keep to that great rule of the Scripture Do not do evil that good may come of it Will you lye for God Job 13.7 and speak falsly for him Direct 8 Eighthly Serve your Generation but do not comply with your Generation in that which is evil This is to serve the Times not your Generation In bad times In bad places be you as Lots and when you can doe no good to your generation let your generation do no hurt to you Direct 9 Ninthly In the carrying on of Gods Providentiall will doe not swerve from Gods Preceptive Will for it is not Providence but the Word that is your Rule Providence without the Word is doubtfull but Providence against the Word is dangerous Direct 10 Lastly That you may thus serve your Generation Mortifie Self get large Affections Great Service in the Life 1 Chr. 29.3 begins with large Affections in the Heart These things I thought to have insisted upon more fully but I see the work grows to too great a bulk therefore I break off The Lord blesse this Sermon to all that heard it to all that shall reade it that we may be all men of Davids Spirit Serving our Generation that having so done we may with comfort fall asleep FINIS
of men What a Chaos of confusion and cruelty What a wildernesse of wilde beasts would the world be was it not for Laws Liberty is good for it is one of the sweetest flowers in the Nosegay of our civil happinesse Peace is good for as the wreath of the Fagot bindes all the sticks together so doth this all your comforts break this in peeces and all your comforts fall asunder And therefore stand up in your places for the defence of these things and do not easily part with that which cost your Fore-Fathers sweat and bloud Epaminondas will either dye with or for his buckler he would either defend it or it should defend him the Application is obvious But yet what are these things to the Gospel to the grand Concernments of Religion The Gospel is the Glory of a Nation 1 Sam. 4.21 Florente verbo florent omnia in Ecclesiâ Luther 2 Sam. 6.12 the very Nerves and Sinews of a Kingdom it makes not onely the Church to flourish but the State also where it is It brings all blessings along with it not onely spirituall but temporall too as the Ark made Obed-Edoms House to prosper Religion is the Cement or Bond and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Plutarch Ligament of all Societies When that is lost no Comforts can make up the losse of it Phinehas his Daughter hath a Childe but what is a Childe when the Ark is taken You may have peace and plenty and all outward enjoyments but if the Gospel be removed call them all Ichabod for the Glory is departed 1 Sam. 4.21.22 And therefore in the first place be active and zealous for these things of Christ Phil. 2.21 that the Gospel may yet be continued that the Protestant Religion may yet flourish notwithstanding all the contrivances of Jâ—suites amongst us 2 Sam. 14.19 for Is not the hand of Joab in all this that the Truths of God may prevail that the Worship of God may be administred in its spiritualnesse and purity that the Ministers of Christ may have due honour and maintenance that the Government of Christ may be setled Government did I say I did and doe not recall it though we live in an Age very zealous as to the Government of men very cold as to the Government of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch Sympol What is the Ship without a Pilot What is a City without a wall What is a Vineyard without a Hedge and what is the Church without a Government I think no Government is so bad as no Government at least wise Some Oppression is better then Ataxy and absolute Confusion God shew us the Pattern of his House Eze. 43.10.11 Quoties est ut populus aliquis posteaquam disciplina religio corruerint salvus stererit Zwing De Provid that we map all know what is that Forme of Discipline which is to be erected But I digresse though the Lord knows not out of any bitternesse of Spirit I say In the first place Lay out your selves for these things this will be to serve your Generation indeed Nay the Generations that shall succeed you will reap the Benefit of this Service Your Posterity and Childrens Children will blesse God for such Progenitors The Advantage of this your activity will remain when you are dead and gone Direct 2 Secondly Labour to be good your selves as well as to doe good to your Generation There is a great difference betwixt a good man and a good Magistrate betwixt a Gracious Christian and a Serviceable Common-wealths-man There are many that are but bad men as to their inward state and yet they are good men in their places as to outward Service God makes use of Gifts sometimes where there is little or no Grace The Raven was an unclean Creature 1 Kin. 17.4 and yet God fed the Prophet by it 1 Kin. 5.10 Hiram was but a Heathen yet he sends Timber to the Building of the Temple And so it is in this case Gracelesse men are not alwaies Uselesse men nor Usefull men alwaies Gracious men God in his over-ruling Providence useth many whom he will never save How many Ministers are eminent in Service and yet they shall be but Cast-aways 1 Cor. 9. ult Oh! that is a terrible and awakening thing How many Magistrates are very active for good that God will never own in the matter of Salvation Many in publick places are but like the Carpenters that built the Ark for others but were drowned themselves They doe good to others but themselves shall perish to all Eternity And therefore I beseech you rest not in serviceablenesse for Generation-good but get Grace in your hearts for your own good Be upright men as well as usefull men There are two things in this Chapter where my Text lyes The Spirit of God sayes of David He was a man after his own heart ver 22. ver 36. and He served his Generation That is a blessed thing indeed and let it be your care that sincerity towards God and serviceablenesse for God may go together Direct 3 Thirdly In all your activeness for publick good see that you doe all in a right manner As the object must be right and the person must be good so all must be done in a regular manner What 's that what you doe do it with zeal with sincerity with courage with perseverance with humility I might much inlarge upon these heads but I must not First Doe all with zeal be not lukewarme indifferent lazie slothful in publick concernments but what ever you finde in your heart to doe Eccl. 9.10 doe it with all your might as Solomon speaks Jehosaphats heart was lifted up in the way of the Lord. 2 Chro. 17.6 2 Chro. 31.21 Hezekiah in every work which he began to doe in the service of the house of God c. He did it with all his heart Even Artaxerxes commands whatsoever is commanded by the God of Heaven Ezâ—â— 7.23 let it be diligently done for the house of the God of Heaven what a shame is it to see the common Enemy so zealous to doe hurt and we so cold and lukewarme in doing good that Jesuites should cross sea and land to make one Proselyte Mat. 23.15 that when we see their zeal in their way we may well wish as once Agesilaus did of Pharnabazus Cum talis sis utinam noster esses That I say these men should be so active and we so careless and secure Where is your zeal for God for Christ for the Gospel Oh that zeal and wisdome might goe together Some have zeal and no wisdome and they are too hot some have wisdome and no zeal and these are too cold Zeal with wisdome is like a Diamond set in a ring of gold When wisdome regulates the zeal and zeal acts and animates the wisdome when zeal is the spurre and wisdome guides the reine there is much done for publick good Both