flourishing but at this time declining both in her inward affection and outward conversation called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies remisness she abating of her first Love and declining from her first Works Now the words of the Text are a gracous and sweet promise given out to encourage her to repentance and a recovery of her self Having used threatning arguments he concludes with this excellent and full promise if by any means she might be brought to remember whence she was fallen and might get Victory over her present dangerous Distempers To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God Here is 1. The matter of the promise to eat of the Tree of Life which is described by the scituation of it in the midst of the Paradise of God 2. The condition of it overcoming The Doctrine is this Doct. That Overcomers shall eat of the Tree of Life in Gods Paradise Here is something implied and also something expressed of these in order 1 That which is implied is that we have Enemies who fight against us and seek our destruction for ever against whom we are to manage a Spiritual Warfare and though none under twenty years old in Israel went forth to War yet here none are exempted not only are Ministers called to act and quit themselves as good Soldiers of Jesus the Christ 1 Tim. 2.4 as Timothy was the Weapons of whose Warfare are not Carnal but Spiritual as St. Paul speaks 2 Cor. 10.4 They are to fight by the preaching of the Word weilding well that sword of the Spirit by Church censures by enduring hardship and the like yet is not the War limited to them but every one must come out to the battel even young ones must strive to fight this good fight wherein the glory of God and the cause of their Souls are eminently concerned This world is the field in which the Battels are to be fought and the War managed In Heaven there are no Enemies nor shall they there learn War any more 'T is true we read there was war in Heaven Rev. 12.7 and the Dragon and his angels fought but it is meant of the Church here often called Heaven in Scripture and in this Book of the Revelation This world is the Enemies Country and while the Church is here it must be militant in a conflicting and warring condition and this without intermission the Enemies are restless and implacable and will admit no truce no cessation of arms In Heaven above they are Triumphant having Crowns on their Heads and Palms in their hands in token of full Victory but here we must all hold swords and labour to be expert in war every one having his sword upon his thigh Cant. 3. 8. because of fear in the night this war is both defensive and offensive we must not only be standing upon our guard in our own defence but God hath provided armour by which we may overcome our Enemies and worst them in the Combate as they said of old to your Tents O Israel so let me say to your arms to your arms O all ye children of men especially O all Believers take to you the whole armour of God whereby ye may be able to withstand in every evil day and having done all to stand For this is not an arbitrary business but of that absolute necessity that we must either fight or dye kill or be killed conquer our Enemies or be finally and eternally overcome by them The Trumpet of the Gospel gives no uncertain sound 1 Tim. 6.12 but requires us to prepare our selves to the Battel If any say who or where are our Enemies I answer the Flesh the Devil and the World are the professed and avowed Enemies of our Souls 1. The Flesh our carnal and worldly lusts these are our worst Enemies the greatest fight is within quot vitia tot inimici as many Adversaries as there are corruptions 2 Kings 11. 13 14. when Athaliah heard the noise of the Guard and of the People in the Temple She came into the Temple and seeing them in their Warlike posture she rent her Clothes and cried Treason Treason when we look into our hearts which should be the Temples of God and find so many lusts gathered together there that are Enemies to Christ and would not he should reign in us and seek to betray our Souls to the Enemies without us we may well cry out Treason Treason Proud lusts covetous lusts unclean lusts lying and hypocrisy distrust and infidelity with a great Regiment besides these war continually against our Souls and fight against the Government of Christ and the Dominion of his Spirit and Grace in us against these therefore we should bend our main Forces more especially 1. Against the sin of our Nature This is called the Law in our Members and is said to war against the Law of our mind Rom. 7.23 This enemy is ever present with us as the Apostle St. Paul complained when we should doe good it is present either to divert us from it or distract us in it This is a very importunate evil a wrestless and unwearied Enemy we may cease evil acts when we cannot avoid inward motions this was it which made that excellent Apostle cry out O wretched man that I am Rom. 7.24 who shall deliver me 2. The special predominant and most beloved Delilah the sin that doth more easily beset us we should bend our utmost strength against this every one hath a peccatum in deliciis a darling sin a right eye of pleasure a right hand of profit and though no true Believer can have a beloved sin for he hates every false way yet some sin there is by which he is most easily overcome and against this the heat of the Battel should be directed As it was said of old fight neither with small nor great but with the King of Israel 1 Kin. 33.31 So say I fight above all with the Ruling lust and predominant corruption the sin that we cannot well hear reproved can hardly tell how to part with are most delighted and pleased in the thoughts of it is first in a morning and last at night with us Oh this is that Enemy which when it kisseth is ready to kill us we may easily see the dagger it hath ready to strike us under the firth rib even when it fawns and flatters most as Joab did to Abner we can never be too careful here to stand upon our watch to keep guard against it as David did Psal 18.23 I was also upright before God says he and kept my self from mine inquity No better means of safety no greater sign of integrity then to keep our selves from our iniquity Let our chief war be against these indwelling Enemies especially against the sin of our Nature and the evil we are most apt to indulge and are most addicted to and the Victory over the rest
PRECIOUS PROMISES The Portion of OVERCOMERS BY JOHN LOVGHER Minister of the Gospel Vincenti Dabitur LONDON Printed by A. Maxwell and R. Roberts for Edw. Giles Bookseller in Norwich 1681. To my Honoured and Worthy Friends and Brethren in and about Southrepps and Alby in Norfolk Grace and Peace be multiplied through the knowledg of God and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Dear Friends and Brethren UNder Christ whose I desire chiefly to be and whom I would firstly serve you are nearest to me in spiritual relation and dearest in Christian affection having upon your call and invitation thereunto given my self to the service of your Souls and though through much infirmity I have preached the Gospel to you being the most unworthy of them who Minister in holy things yet my weakness you have not despised nor rejected but received me as an Angel of God yea even as Christ Jesus And though I have spent nigh Eighteen years amongst many of you yet I have not reason to put that question to you which St. Paul did unto his Galatians Where is then the blessedness you speak of For your respects to me and my weak endeavours continue fresh and vigorous at this day even as at the first To some of you I am obliged in many bonds of gratitude to all in love and duty to others I owe much to you my self and therefore I could make a dedication of these Discourses to none so fitly as your selves The many imperfections in them may render them contemptible to others yet I know your love will cover my defects and will receive them with as much candour and kindness from the Press as you did attend them with diligence and affection in the Preaching of them especially considering that some of you importuned me to it judging them seasonable I cannot easily wish the subject treated of greater or better but the manner of explaining and applying these excellent Promises I could desire were much better for your sakes But where there is a willing mind it is accepted with Christ and I doubt not but you will be conformable to his example in this particular As the following Sermons were at first Preached for your instruction and now published for your edification so let them be well digested by meditation and practised in your conversation You are called a Church of Christ O study to be so indeed viz. A Congregation of faithful ones faithful to God and with the Saints Be not like Ephesus declining in your love and first works or if you be abated therein remember whence you are fallen and labour to recover Be not like Pergamos and Thyatira seduced by erronious Principles or debauched by evil Practises Above all be not like Laodicea self-conceited and proud of your attainments and enjoyments or luke-warm in the great things of salvation for such are loathsom to the heart and spirit of Jesus Christ But be you a sweet-smelling Smyrna let the savour of Christs good Ointments be manifested in all your words and ways and shew your selves Philadelphians of humble meek loving dispositions towards one another unto all the Saints yea even unto all men In a word Labour to approve your selves good Soldiers of Jesus Christ look to him who is the Author and finisher of your faith yield not to compound not with fly not from your spiritual enemies but resist stedfastly for Christ stands by you fights for you and will give victory to you in the end 'T is reported of the ancient British Nation that they never ran away in Battel till their General first forsook them Let us all demean our selves valiantly in our Christian warfare till Christ the Captain of our salvation desert us which will never be for we have his faithful Promise saying I will never leave you nor forsake you To his blessing and holy protection I commend you desiring the continuance of your Prayers for me and your acceptance of this small testimony of my respects to you by which I may speak to you when I shall go from hence and be seen no more I am March 26. 1681. Your weak but willing Servant in the work of the Gospel John Lougher THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Christian Reader THE end of my prefixing these few Lines to the following Sermons is not because I think they need any commendation or attestation from me or that any thing I can say of them will render them at all the more acceptable to any one into whose hands they may come for I doubt not but they will approve themselves to every judicious intelligent and spiritually minded Reader but only to answer the desires of my dear and worthy friend the Author of them As to this Book of the Revelation the precious promises to the Seven Asian Churches in the second and third Chapters thereof being the foundation of the ensuing discourses it hath been observed by some that it is Symbolical and Prophetical containing in it Predictions of many things to come both in the Church and in the World symbolically represented so that the Apostle John as in his Gospel he appeareth to be an Evangelist in his Epistles an Apostle so in this his Revelation a Prophet It is indeed penned in somewhat obscure phrases borrowed some of them from the Prophets of old whence the understanding of it at least of some part of it have been found difficult even to the godly learned thence some have refused to read it privately others have declined the publick reading of it others have forborn to expound it and some have refrained from Preaching out of it yet it being a part of the holy Scripture dictated by the Spirit of God for the instruction and consolation of the Church in these last and worst days and there being also such a gracious promise of blessing made to the reading and hearing the words of it but especially to the keeping the things written therein Chap. 1.3 I cannot but judge the labours of those much to be commended who have either by their Sermons or Interpretations endeavoured the elucidation and illustration of it And that the Author of these following discourses hath by the gracious assistance and guidance of the Lords holy Spirit been directed to the true and genuine sense and meaning of the same Spirit in those choice and precious promises whereof he treats As to the subject matters contained in these promises here discoursed I look upon them as some of the most necessary and substantial truths of the Gospel for what indeed can be more necessary profitable and useful to Christians than the right understanding of the most precious and glorious promises thereof those exceeding great and precious promises as the Apostle Peter calls them 2 Pet. 1.4 which are as so many breasts full of sweetness and consolation to all the heirs of them The new Covenant to which all the Promises relate and in which they are all contained called therefore the Covenant of Promise Ephes 2.12 and which
20.27 That they have not shunned to declare unto us all the Councel of God And whilst others are daubing with untempered morter sowing of pillows under their elbows and healing the hurt of the Daughter of my people slightly crying peace when there is no peace yet we have some who are found faithful Moniters as to our approaching imminent dangers by whom instrumentally the silver Trumpet of the Gospel giveth forth a most certain sound causing the Saints and people of God to see and understand that now it is high time to prepare to the Battel Amongst whom this worthy and faithful servant of Jesus Christ the Author of these excellent ensuing discourses diservedly ought to be reckoned and rancked not in the meanest place whose design herein next unto the glory of God I doubt not confidently to affirm is the spiritual good and benefit of all his people whilest it evidently appeareth that he endeavoureth the good of all but especially the houshold of faith of some he hath compassion making a difference others he saveth with fear pulling them out of the fire that if possible he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus To this end our Reverend Author in delivering the mind of God in this Discourse so speaketh as stooping down to the meanest capacity so manifesting much of a sweet Self-denying and Soul-saving Spirit whose Preaching is not with inticeing words of mens wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and with Power who though he could speak with Tongues God having given him the Tongue of the Learned that he might know how to speak a word in season to every weary soul yet I am sure that in the Church of Christ he had rather speak five words with his understanding that all might he edified and comforted than five hundred in an unknown Tongue But I need not say any more in this matter the Work that is before thee Christian Reader doth sufficiently speak for him wherein he as a good Steward of the manifold Grace of God doth labour to give to every one a portion for here thou hast both milk for Babes and strong meat for strong Men in Christ Such as are yet strangers to Christ he labours to bring them into a measure of Spiritual Acquaintance with him and such as do in measure savingly know him he labours to put them into a more full enjoyment of him In order hereunto in the first place he wisely and faithfully acquaints all who desire to set their faces Zion-ward what things they may meet withal in travelling thither letting them understand the worst first that meeting with such things in the way they might not be discouraged so as to be turned out of the good way of the Lord. Moreover in those sweet Discourses he as a Son of Consolation doth speak comfortably labouring more and more to confirm and encourage all the godly to keep on in their way considering that all who are now in Heaven that Haven of Rest and Happiness have more or less trod in the same path viz. of Active and Passive Obedience Yea our Lord himself who is the Captain of our Salvation in his bringing of many Sons to Glory was made perfect through Sufferings and is through Sufferings entered into Glory In which way all that will be found good Soldiers of Christ must be willing to follow him Now as a strong enducement or as a mighty encouraging and perswasive argument hereunto our reverend Author doth hold out in these divine discourses many sweet promises as being proper and peculiar to all and only to such as shall be found overcomers Thereby intimating unto us first That here while we are in the body is the time and place for managing of this spiritual combat and conflict and then secondly here is laid before us what these Enemies are with which we are to encounter in this spiritual combat namely Sin and Satan the World and the Flesh Thirdly by what means every Christian shall be enabled so to manage the great engagement as they may undoubtedly be Conquerers in the end I more then Conquerers viz. Through the faith of Christ who loveth all that are his which love of his being shed abroad in a soul will be in it such constraining love as will be stronger than death causing the soul so to exercise faith in Christ that through the strengh of Christ it shall certainly prevail and wholly overcome and so come in the end to see and share in the comfort of those sweet promises viz. 1. To eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God 2. Not to be hurt of the second death 3. To eat of the hidden Manna and to have that white stone c. 4. To have power over the Nations and to have the Morning-star 5. To be cloathed in white rayment c. 6. To be a pillar in the Temple of God and to go no more out c. 7. To sit with Christ in his Throne yea to inherit all things Now good Reader That thou maist be helped to do thy duty faithfully so as thou maist obtain all these things promised effectually and so be made happy in the Lord everlastingly is the earnest prayer of him who is thy sincere well-wisher in the Lord. T.W. SERMON I. REV. II 7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God THE order of giving this Book of the Revelation is very observable For God the Father gave it to his Son Jesus Christ Christ to his Angel the Angel to John and John to the Seven Churches in Asia Rev. 1.1 4. It 's observed that this John was honoured to be an Evangelist in his Gospel an Apostle in his Epistles and a Prophet in his Revelation It is a Book of singular use to Christians to the end of the world And though many things in it are very mysterious which Christ will reveal to his Servants in their proper seasons yet many things are more clear and obvious The Epistles to the Churches though directed to the Angel of each Church yet concern the whole body and each member and therefore it 's said He that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit speaks unto the Churches This is spoken to each particular Church which plainly shews they were all bound to attend the voice of the Holy Ghost in all that is delivered yea all the Churches that have been since now are or ever shall be are concerned in it for all that is written is for our learning upon whom the ends of the world are come Rom. 15.4 The Text is the conclusion of that Epistle directed to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus By the Angel some understand the Ministers so stiled to shew both their dignity and duty This Ephesus was that famous City Acts 19. where the great goddess Diana was so much esteemed in which a Church was planted at first vigorous and
God Coessential and Coeternal with the Father with their blood How few would dare to appear to own it as it is said Athinasius did when the World was in a manner over-run with Arianism When St. Peter had maid that excellent confession Matth. 16.16 17. Thou art Christ the Son of the living God what says Christ to this Blessed art thou Simon c. and though he was afterwards foiled yet he overcame all in the end Acts 4.19 Quest 2. What is that Paradise of God promised here to Overcomers Answ Heaven even the third Heaven the true Celestial Paradise For what in one verse 2 Cor. 12.2 4. St. Paul stiles the third Heaven in another he calls it Paradise And thus to be taken in the Text and Doctrine now before us Here seems to be an allusion to the Garden of Eden where God disposed of Adam after he had created him Gen. 13.10 stiled the Garden of God which was a large circuit of ground richly furnished with all good things as became so excellent a Workman and was every way answerable to the ends for which it was prepared Cant. 4.12 Some judge it was a type of the Church which is called a Garden enclosed and a Figure of Heaven It was doubtless the choicest spot of ground in the World there were all sort of pleasant Trees and delightful Fruits and free liberty to eat of them all one onely excepted Who can declare the delights of the Celestial Paradise Eden had a very famous River that ran through it and watered it Psal 46.4 So there is a River in Heaven far excelling that the Streams whereof make glad that City of God It doth overflow to refresh the Church here but runs with a full current there and ravish the Inhabitants of that Paradise with unexpressible pleasures for evermore In Eden of old the Covenant between God and Adam was perfect till man brake it In Heaven the new Covenant and all the mysteries of Grace therein are accomplished Adam was without sin and sorrow and might easily have so kept himself when he was in Eden But there is no possibility of sin or trouble in the heavenly Paradise In the Garden of Eden Adam had free access to and fellowship with his Creator but in Heaven they have it with God as a Father and more fully and durably then Adam had by which we may see the Paradise what it is Quest 3. Who and what is the Tree of Life mentioned in the Text Answ Christ himself and he onely is the true Tree of Life Pro. 3.18 So stiled by Solomon under the name of Wisdom thus he speaks of Christ She is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon her an allusion to that Tree of Life which was in the Garden of Eden which is made by some a Sacrament and Seal of that Covenant by which God assured Adam the continuance of his natural Life during his abode on Earth and Eternal Life when he should be removed from hence in case he kept this Covenant They who lay hold on Christ by true Faith have the best Seal that can be of Spiritual and Eternal Life 1 Jo. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life the Fountain of Life the Bread of Life the Water of Life the Well of Life the Tree of Life That Tree in Eden was as some judge both alimentum and medicamentum food and physick so is Christ he is the Tree of Life that is said to bear twelve manner of Fruits every month and whose Leaves are for the healing of the nations Rev. 22.2 That Tree of Life in Eden stood in the midst of the Garden Gen. 2.9 that it might be often in the view of our first Parents which way soever they went either to their Food or to their Employment Christ is in the midst of the Paradise of God and will be in the view of all Believers for ever Those Trees of Righteousness will be round about him to all Eternity But you will say Quest 4. What is it to eat of this Tree of Life Answ To eat is to press forth the vertue and sweetness that is in our Food that we may partake of the benefit thereof Overcomers shall participate of the fulness of Christ to their own joy In eating there is a natural delight arising from the taste of our meat 't is said They did eat Neh. 9.15 and delighted themselves in thy great goodness so of others that they did eat and were all filled 1 Kings 19. Elijah did eat and was strengthened of another 't is said 1 Sam. 30. he did eat and his Spirit came again and he revived They that get Victory over their Spiritual Enemies shall feed and feast themselves upon Jesus Christ the true Tree of Life in Heaven whereby all their desires shall be satisfied and their Appetites quenched and they everlastingly strengthened to behold his glory and to follow him whethersoever he goeth Quest 5. Why does the promise run in these terms That he will make them eat of the tree of life in the midst of the paradice of God Answ Partly to mind us of that first sin by which we were overcome in Adam as he was the publick head and representative of all mankind that we may be humbled for it and partly to shew us that this happiness then lost is recoverable by Christ the second Adam and shall be the portion of them that overcome Not that they shall return again to the Garden of Eden as some have concluded from this Text but a far more excellent estate and felicity than we should have had if Adam had never fallen which caused some to cry out O felix peccatum O happy sin of Adam which has occasioned the bringing in of a far better estate The Uses follow Vse 1. Are these things true Behold here the misery of all such as are totally and finally overcome by the grand enemies of their souls they are excluded for ever from the good of this promise as Christ said of them who slighted the invitation of the Gospel Luke 14.24 They shall never taste of my supper So he speaks of these here I will never give them to eat of my fruits those fruits which grow upon me the tree of Life They have temporal delights which are a paradise to them and are so well satisfied with these things That a Noble man in France is reported to say He would not change his part in Paris for a part in Paradise Such a one was the young man in the Gospel who would not quit his earthly treasures for heavenly and these assured by Christ himself Worldly contents are their chief joy though but a Fools paradise Thou fool says Christ to him that bid his soul take its ease for he had goods for many years Luke 12.20 Solomon among other vanities planted Orchards and Gardens with variety of Trees Eccles 2. but not a Tree of Life amongst them all Oh! that men could believe how sad their end
how much the Mercies promised in it exceed the things alluded to The Manna God rained down to Israel was Material this is Spiritual That came from the Clouds this from the highest Heaven from the bosome of God the Father That was hidden in the Dew and in the Golden Pot this in the Virgins Womb and now in the Heavens that fed the Body this the Soul That was apt to breed Worms and stink this can see no corruption That preserved none from Death Your Fathers did eat Manna in the Wilderness and are dead Job 6.49 But he that eats of this hidden Manna lives for ever So of the White Stone They were material the Romans gave this is Spiritual They were inanimate this is a Living Stone Those were Tokens of a Temporal Election and Absolution this of a Spiritual and Eternal Those its probable were given sometimes to vile and wicked persons this to none but true Believers So for the new Name it is a name of Dignity and Honour excelling the names of the great ones of the Earth Let Believers labour to drink in the Comfort of these things Vse 3. If this Doctrine be true Then let all the Saints from these Promises wax valiant in fight quit themselves like men yea like good Soldiers of Jesus Christ endure the greatest fight of Afflictions Heb. 10.32 Put on and handle well your Armour of Righteousness to repel and repulse Temptations on the right hand and on the left Set your Watch and keep it strictly as Soldiers must do upon Pain of Death A Soldier being asleep when he stood Sentinel his Officer ran him through thinking it an act of Justice to leeve him as he found him It 's a time of War and our continual dangers should move us not to sleep as do others but to watch and be sober Let Christians keep close to the Standard 'T is Death by Martial Law for Soldiers to run away from their Colours they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed Follow Christ your Captain in all ways dirty and clean in all weathers fair and foul in all Ordinances in all Providences If any man serve me let him follow me saies Christ Joh. 12.26 And strive to make good your ground yield not to your Spiritual Adversaries Divines observe there is no armour provided by Christ for the back to shew that we must give no ground to our Enemies A Captain delights not in Renegadoes If any man draws back my Soul shall have no pleasure in him Heb. 10.38 They are the Prophets words say some but God's say others It's true both ways Neither God nor his People can take plea-pleasure in Apostates Fight couragiously against your Spiritual Enemies as for your Bodily Enemies you have another Rule Love your Enemies pray for them that persecute you Mat. 5. And if your Enemy hunger feed him if he thirst give him drink Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good But as to your Soul Enemies fight manfully and stoutly against them give them no Quarter If you spare them your Life your Soul must go for it It was the Saying of a Captain to his Soldiers having the Spanish Army before them and the Sea behind them Either you must drink up this Sea or eat up these Spaniards So it is here either we must fight and overcome our Sins or drink up the Sea of God's Wrath. O cease not combating till all your foes be made your foot-stool This Church of Pergamos was overcome by the Doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans holding both Adultery and Idolatry lawful Doctrines pernicious to sound Truth and a holy Life only some held fast Christ's Name and did not deny his Faith Antipas resisted unto Blood the rest are called upon to strive to overcome these Doctrines by these sweet Promises in the Text And hath not the Dragon poured out a flood of Errors amongst us of late Are not many carried away with divers and strange Doctrines Do not some go about to null the Eternal Decrees of God to make void the Satisfaction of Christ to deny and deride the Imputation of his Righteousness to Believers in the matter of Justification to maintain the Doctrine of Free-will and final Apostacy from Grace And doth it not then concern us to keep the word of Christ as Soldiers must keep the Word their General gives them so let all Christ's Soldiers keep the word of Precept the word of Promise and the word of his Patience that he may make the same honourable report of you which he doth of them Joh. 17.6 And they have kept thy Word Who knows how soon the same Trials may be upon us that were upon Antipasâ— â—ere in his Church Oh! that we may be found faithful Martyrs as he was Know our Call to the battle is clear our Cause is good and our Comforts sweet when we have been slaying our Lusts conquering Errors and Temptation from the Devil and the World Christ will meet us as Melchizedek met Abraham when he came from the slaughter of the Kings bringing forth bread and wine supports and comforts to our souls Melchizedek's Bread and wine were to Abraham Pawns and Pledges of Canaan the Land of Promise and Christs supports and comforts shall be to us Earnests of Heaven and Glory See what consolations flow in these promises to the Overcomer as the Manna of old fell about the Camps of the Israelites and was preserved in the Golden Pot so hidden Manna falls about the Overcomer and is preserved in his heart Pardon is the white stone and Adoption the new name and all these though secrets to others are well known to himself Let all that are listed to fight under Christ's Banner encourage themselves and one another with these words To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it SERMON IV. REV. II. 26 27 28. He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations And he shall rule them with a rod of Iron as the Vessels of a Potter shall they be broken to shivers even as I received of my Father And I will give him the Morning-star HERE is another of those gracious Promises Christ makes to the Overcomers though directed to the Officers and Members of the Church in Thyatira yet is written as the other are for the common benefit of these seven Churches and of all others to the end of the World This Thyatira was a City of Lydia not far from Ephesus called Thugateira which doth signify a Daughter as Mr. Brightman observes for as a Daughter new-born is always growing in age and stature till she comes to full ripeness so it was with this Church which he therefore stiles Growing Thyatira The true Believers went on from faith to faith and so consequently conquering and to conquer Not like languishing Ephesus
to them in their appointed time Vse 3. Let all be perswaded to wax more valiant in fight and strive to be Overcomers that we may inherit the Power and Glory here set before us in this Text What desperate Designs will some venture upon in hopes of worldly Power and Glory Christ knowing how tempting and taking these are with the Sons of Men sets these suitable Promises before them to animate and encourage them to quit themselves like Men in this holy War and be strong unto the Battle and that they who are engaged and have begun well may not be turned back and give ground to the Enemy To this end could we overcome God and get his Presence Influences and Assistances we should overcome all others with ease If God be for us saies St. Paul who can be against us Rom. 8.31 'T is true many are actually against us all the Powers of Hell and Earth But Quis efficaciter who can be against us to any purpose so as to effect their Designs against us If God take our part we shall see our desire upon them that hate us Now there are two ways men prevail with God that is to speak after the manner of men he yields himself conquered by the Reflection of their Graces and the Importunity of their Prayers 1. By the Reflection of their Graces Turn away thine eyes from me saies Christ to his Spouse for they have overcome me Cant. 6.4 they have exceedingly wrought and won upon me like that Cant. 4.9 Thou hast ravished my heart My Sister my Spouse thou hast ravished mine heart with one of thine eyes Excordiasti me so some Gloss thou hast unhearted me thou hast taken away my heart from me An Allusion to Lovers who are overcome with the Beauty of those whom they affect 2. By the Importunity of their Prayers One faith of prayer Ligat Omnipotentem Vincit Invincibilem It overcomes him that is indeed Invincible as Moses Jacob and others have had Experience This is the best Victory and the foundation of all other Victories Make we him our Friend by the exercise of Faith upon him and fervent Prayer to him and no matter who be our Enemy It was once said to Israel Ye need not fight for the Lord fighteth for you Exod. 14. But we are to fight and not be terrified by our Adversaries For more are they that are with us than they that are against us 2 Kin. 6.16 Let us then prevail with the Almighty and we are in some sense almighty and shall overcome all in his Strength and have that Power over the Nations and the Morning-Star here promised to him that Overcometh SERMON V. REV. III. 5. He that Overcometh the same shall be cloathed in White raiment and I will not blot out his Name out of the Book of Life But I will confess his name before my Father and before the Angels THese words contain another of those Promises made to Overcomers 't is the Conclusion of that Epistle to the Church in Sardis The Officers and Members were mostly unsound hence stiled Hypocrical Sardis by some She had a name to live but was dead verse 1. A name she had in the World and a name amongst other Churches but nomen inane crimen immane as one said an empty name is a great crime Alexander the Conquerour commanded him that was of his name but a coward either to lay down his name or fight couragiously so in some respects it's better not to have the name of Christians upon us when nothing of the life and power of Christianity is in us What could a shew of vivacity and vigorousness profit them when indeed they were little better than dead in a spiritual Lethargy or dead Palsey or like a Body some Members whereof are dead though not all This was the case of this Church she was dead whilst she lived seemed alive to others but dead to God I have not found thy works perfect before God says Christ to her verse 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 full as the word signifies They might be full before men who can see only the outward appearance but otherwise before God life-less heartless services in his sight who looketh chiefly there Omnis Sarmatarum virtus extra ipsos as Tacitus of old spake of them Thus it was here their works were fair and spacious in shew but shored up by popularity or other low respects and so could not with their dead works acceptably serve the living God The taint and infection of Hypocrisy if predominant is pernicious to all good works This being their condition Christ gives directions for their cure and recovery He calls upon them to be watchful and strive to strengthen that which is ready to dye verse 2. as if he had said some among you have yet some good in you though it be but in a languishing condition in a swound and ready to expire now when persons are to dye the watch-candle had not need go out those about them had need be waking and diligent so when good is declining and dying then need there is to be watchful least the little remaining spark be quite extinct To move them to this and other means of recovery he threatens if they did it not he would come upon them as a thief when they were secure unexpectedly as thieves do upon men asleep and Calamity the more sudden the more terrible partly because it exanimates a man makes his heart faint and fail as an unexpected storm doth a Marriner Partly because it can as little be prevented as a weak Family can prevent thieves breaking in upon them at unawares by this he moves them to rouse up themselves and shake them out of this sinful Lethargy as Sampson went out and shook him when the Philistines were upon him which if they did not he would come in an hour when they looked not for him and take away all their desirable enjoyments from them and leave them spoiled and destitute On the other hand he subjoyns a comfortable promise to all such as should overcome those predominant distempers now upon them which the Text holds forth to them and to us in them The sum of which you have in the Doctrine which is Doct. That Overcomers shall be eminently clothed their names indelibly recorded and openly acknowledged by Jesus Christ Here are three things 1. Overcomers shall be eminently clothed The same shall be clothed in white Raiment says Christ here They shall not be found naked being covered with the Covering which is of Gods Spirit Isaiah 30.1 This clothing is no other than Christ himself who is the spiritual Garment every true Believer puts on according to that exhortation of the Apostle Paul to the Romans Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13.14 A Text by reading and pondering whereof St. Austin confesses he was converted This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 does imply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Christ is the Christians Vestment his Spiritual clothing and
spoken of thee O thou City of God 3. There is the Mystical Jerusalem which is the whole company of Believers here this is the City set upon a Hill Mat. 5.14 and it is called The City of the Living God the Heavenly Jerusalem Heb. 12.22 in regard of the Original of it and by Right of Inheritance as a Learned man speaks This is said to come down from God out of Heaven because the Power and Mercy of God shall signally appear in building his Church and making it glorious in the World The two latter may be taken in here though some wholly carry it to the last The sum is Overcomers shall be enrolled as free Denison and Citizens of the New Jerusalem No more to be Forreiners and Strangers but Fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Ephes 2.19 Even here on Earth their City is in Heaven as is said Phil. 3.20 Our Conversation our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our City-converse and Behaviour is above Some account it much to be Free of such a City as London is to have free Liberty to trade therein O what a Favour is it then to have liberty of Access to the great God of Heaven To drive a free and full Trade Heaven-ward to be Spiritual Merchants who deal for goodly Pearls of great price This is better than the Merchandise of Silver and the gain of those things than fine Gold They are more precious than Rubies and all we can desire are not to be compared with them as Solomon speaks Prov. 3.15 16. And after all you shall be taken up into the Celestial Jerusalem You that have been Fellow-Soldiers here and Overcome shall be Fellow-Citizens there and Triumph And though it will be a very glorious state he will bring his conquering Church into here yet Heaven will be Heaven when all is done Notwithstanding this the state here promised that they shall trade freely Heaven-ward and be helped to order their Lives here as Citizens of Heaven is an inestimable Priviledg To have their Hearts in Heaven their Discourses of Heaven as the Primitive Christians had the Kingdom so much in their mouths that their Enemies were jealous they had evil Designs against the Civil Government but it was the Heavenly Kingdom they talked of their daily recourses to Heaven their being Heavenly in earthly things their desires to be in Heaven and the like shew that Christ hath written this Name upon them that these are the Citizens of the New Jerusalem so that he that runs may read it This is the most sublime and noble state the most pleasant and delightful the most profitable to perfect Divine Discoveries to strengthen their Graces to encrease their Comforts this is the most safe estate for prevention of Temptations because hereby their Souls are taken up with high things and not so apt to be taken in Satans snare as the Bird that mounts aloft is not in danger to be caught in the Fowler 's Net And in a word It is the most suitable estate for they look to go to Heaven when they dye and expect a Saviour from Heaven at the last Day Almost all they have of any worth is there already Their Names are written in Heaven their Treasure is in Heaven their chief Relations are in Heaven their Inheritance is in Heaven and therefore to have a way and course of Life here that is becoming a Citizen of that City must needs be a choice and precious Mercy and this is here promised to him that Overcomes 3. Christ further promiseth to such That he will write upon them his new Name Some understand it of the Honour they shall share in with Christ When he had overcome God gave him a Name above every name the name of a King and Conquerour So Overcomers shall be made Kings and Priests unto God and shall reign on the Earth Phil. 2.9 Rev. 1.6 Others take it to be meant of Adoption and Regeneration But of this I have spoken in a former Sermon A new Name written in the white Stone Rev. 2.17 I come to the Vse of this to our selves Vse 1. See here the different estate of Believers and Unbelievers of them that Overcome and of them that are Overcome by the Enemy Unbelievers have no part no lot in these Promises They may be in the Temple of God and seeming Pillars there but they will not continue long but either go out or be cast out for ever none of the promised Names shall be written on them but Names of Contempt and Reproach Believers shall have the Stability Beauty and Perpetuity and all the excellent Names here set down O the Misery of the one O the Felicity of the other Who would be an Unbeliever still What should discourage Believers Vse 2. Let us all then strive for the Victory If a man strive for Mastery he is not crowned except he strive lawfully saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 9. 2 Tim. 2.5 and therefore much less they that strive not at all To move us unto Courage in this War many things might be urged Consider 1. the Justness of the Cause Though Soldiers be never so strong and well furnished yet if their Consciences tell them they fight in a bad Quarrel it will abate their Valour and make them timerous But our Cause is most just and our War lawful for God who is Justice it self hath proclaimed it by his Heraulds the Apostles saying Fight the good fight of Faith Endure hardship as good Souldiers of Jesus Christ Put on the whole Armour of God that ye may be able to stand and withstand in the evil day Resist the Devil and he will flee from you 2 Tim. 6.12 2 Tim. 2. Ephes 6.10 11. Jam. 4.7 Besides the Glory of God and the Salvation of our Souls lye at the stake our Enemies Design is to dishonour God and to destroy us And can there be a Cause of greater Importance If we would not treacherously betray these by our Sloathfulness and Cowardice into the hands of our Enemies let us enter the field and never cease our couragious fight till we have obtained a full Victory 2. The Enemies at this day are full of Rage and Wrath and a time of great Trial seems to be at hand terrible shakings there are already upon us Philadelphia is warned of an hour of Trial which was the Persecution under Trajan the Emperour as Expositors judge Some write that Philadelphia was Terrae motibus concussa often shaken with Earthquakes whatever of these proper natural Earthquakes as a City she was liable to she was as a Church shaken by the violent Assaults of enemies And it is the judgment of many Learned and Godly Men that an Hour of Temptation is drawing on upon the present Reformed Churches of Christ in Europe wherein they are like to be extremely shaken Satan's rage and wrath he is come down in is very great and his great Agent the Beast spoken of Rev. 13. is very powerful and his Worshippers
be given If a man hath Faith in the Habit only though it were as strong as Abraham's yet it will do little towards a Victory but Faith though but as a grain of Mustard-seed yet in lively exercise will do wonders Hence it is a strong Believer that suffers sloth and security to grow upon him will fall before the Enemy when the weak Christian improving his little Strength shall be victorious and get the better of him If any object we find the Enemy too strong for us as the Sons of Zeruiah were too strong for David so may some say The evil Heart within Satan and the World without are too hard for me I shall never overcome I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul by the Policy and Power of my Adversaries Let such look to their Captain for fresh Auxiliaries and fear not God gave St. Paul and will thee Victory not for or by thine own Endeavours though they must be used but through Jesus Christ Particularly 1. Through the Strength of Christ I can do all things and suffer all things too saith the Apostle through Christ that strengthneth me Phil. 4.13 A Christian in Christ walks up and down the world like a Conquerour but without him they can do nothing John 15.5 2. Through the Blood and Cross of Christ 'T is said that when Constantine was going to fight against his Enemies the Sign of the Cross appeared to him with these words written upon it By this shalt thou Overcome I know no Vertue to be in the Sign of the Cross but I read the Saints overcame the Dragon by the Blood of the Cross that Blood of the Lamb shed upon the Cross Christ's Blood is Sin-conquering Satan-subduing and World-overcoming Blood 3. Through the Word of Christ The Apostle saith That Young men having the Word of God abiding in them overcome the wicked One 1 Joh. 2.14 Young Saints by this applied and improved overcome old Adam yea that old Serpent the Devil 4. By the Love of Christ Believers are said to be more than Conquerours through him that loved them Rom. 8.37 Many waters cannot quench the flame of this Love nor the floods drown the sense of it Love is strong as Death and Death overcomes all none can stand before it 5. By the Victory of Christ Hence he doth cheer up the hearts of his troubled Disciples ready to faint at the consideration of his Departure from them and the Hatred of the world against them Be of good comfort I have overcome the world This he did as a publick Person for himself and for his Church and every Member of it When Satan conquered the first Adam he overcame all Mankind all being in him their Head and Representative So all in Christ the second Adam do and shall Overcome by his victory Therefore be of good cheer I have overcome the world As if he had said My Victory is yours and for you else if they had no Interest in it what support could this give to them Well then Let all that are of a fearful heart be perswaded to fight as if they had no Captain no Christ yet to rely on the Strength Blood Word Love and Victory of Christ as if they had not struck a stroke so shall they certainly Overcome their Enemies and enjoy the good of these Promises SERMON VII REV. III. 21. To him that Overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also Overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne THis is the last though not the least of those Seven Promises made to Overcomers in this and the former Chapter It is directed to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea vers 14. This Angel some think was Archippus who had declined from his first life and activity in the work of the Ministry Hence the Apostle Paul bad some say to Archippus Take heed to thy self and to thy ministry that thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it Col. 4.17 Laodicea was a City nigh to the Collosians and the Church planted there seems more corrupt than any of the other In some there is much commended and something reprehended In others nothing reproved but much commended Here much reproved nothing of commendation The sum of the Epistle is to discover her Sins and perswade to repentance The sins were two 1. A detestable neutrality in their Christian profession at the 15 verse Thou art neither cold nor hot as if he had said thou art indifferently affected neither eager for the truth nor an open Enemy to it Neither a zealous professor nor a professed Enemy to Religion but a neuter halting betwen two as they 1 Kings 18.21 2. Pride and self-conceit in the 17 verse Thou sayest I am rich and encreased with goods and have need of nothing c. as if he had said Thou dost boast as if thou wert rich in all manner of spiritual Grace that nothing need be added to that perfection thou hast attained when thou vauntest thus being ignorant of thine own lamentable state not knowing that thou art poor and beggarly yet poor and proud like a beggar boasting of wealth so true of her was that of Solomon There is that maketh himself rich and yet hath nothing Prov. 13.7 And some think that the reason why no fault was mentioned in some Churches was not because there was no imperfection in them but to shew how much the Lord favoureth humble modesty and nothing commended in Laodicea not because there was nothing good among them but to shew how much the Lord disliketh a luke-warm temper and a proud vain-glorious disposition These were her sins Now Christ perswades to repentance by many arguments 1. From his own Omniscience verse 15. I know thy works that thou art neither hot nor cold as if he had said though thou beest careless yet I care though thou takest no notice yet I do I observe what temper thou art of and how doubly thou dealest by me 2. By an argument drawn from the loathsomness of this sin verse 16. Because thou art neither cold nor hot I will spew thee out of my mouth Though they might think it were nothing to deal thus deceitfully with God they might account it a piece of wisdom to be thus moderate as some call it But I have other thoughts of it it is a filthy abominable sin I will spue thee out of my mouth for it if thou beest not zealous and repent a plain expression intimating the loathsomness of it as we spit at that which is loathsom to our Stomach so does the Lord by this declare how much he abhors this sin in our Religion 3. From the present inconvenience it brought upon her verse 17. It brings them into a miserable condition They had a seeming shew to be rich and wife and happy and full when they were poor and blind and wretched and naked A shew of Religion makes men think they are in a good estate and want
not at all understand them Whether there shall be a personal continuance of Christ on earth for a Thousand Years as some hold is very hard to be proved from the Scripture Yet that there will be a glorious time for the Church on Earth before the end of all things is very clear The 60 Chapter of Esay speaks it fully those Promises wait for the full accomplishment Great shall he the day of Jezreel Hos 2. ult This is the world to come as some judge mentioned Heb. 2.5 Then shall Knowledg abound and cover the Earth as the Waters do the Sea Some observe that the Girdle was about the Loins Ezek. 23.15 But then about the Paps Rev. 1.13 to signifie how Knowledg shall rise higher in the last than former Ages of the World Then will Holiness encrease All the Pots in the Lords House shall be holy and Holiness written on the Bells of the Horses Zech. last Then there will be an end of differences amongst God's people Now Ephraim is against Manasseh and Manasseh against Ephraim and both against Judah but then the the Lord shall be one and his Name one Then will come down the new Heavens and the new Earth wherein shall dwell Righteousness Now men say Quod libet licet Sic volo sic jubeo but then Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning Kings Nursing Fathers c. Justice shall run down as Waters and Righteousness as a mighty Stream then shall Antichrist's Throne be utterly broken That implacable Enemy shall fall and rise no more And then will the Kingdom of Christ be enlarged The Kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 The Kingdom of Christ shall be more observable and visible than ever We are not to expect a Kingdom de novo but the encrease and enlargement of that already extant And though the Glory of his Kingdom is eclipsed yet it will be rendred conspicuous to all when he shall not Reign in a corner but over the whole World God hath set his King long since upon his holy Hill of Sion all Power in Heaven and Earth was given to him at his Resurrection so that Christ hath been in his Throne many hundred years yet it shall grow and prevail till all implacable Opposers be put down and his Kingdom appear in its Beauty in this world though it will not be of the world neither will the Saints have worldly Troubles nor worldly Joys but shall have Heavenly Thrones I mean their Thrones shall be in Heaven upon Earth Then shall Overcomers know better than now they can apprehend how great the Mercy here promised is to sit with Christ in his Throne If any ask why Christ will thus priviledge them the Answer is from his free Grant so saies the Text To him that Overcometh will I grant Nothing more free than a Grant from a King All this Charter contained in these seven Promises is from the Royal Grant of the King of Saints Not for the Battles they have fought not for the Victories they have gotten but all flow from the Fountain of Free-Grace All that was done well was done by his assistance So then it will not be their Merit but his Mercy not of Debt but of Grace when they are sate down in his Throne with him they will and must cry Grace Grace The Vses follow Vse 1. If these things be thus Then let us all examine whether we be in the number of those that shall inherit the good of this and all the Promises we have heard of If any say How shall we come to an assured Interest in them The Answer is All depends upon our being victorious they are all entailed upon Overcomers Let us then to secure our Title to the one clear the truth of our being in the number of the other by discerning the soundness of our Regeneration for the Apostle saith Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world 1 Joh. 5.4 and all that is in the world the God of the world the Men of the world and the Lusts of the world without this work wrought in us any of our Enemies will ruine us When the Sons of Sceva thought to prevail by adjuring the evil Spirit by the Name of Jesus whom Paul Preached the Spirit answered them Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are ye And the men in whom the evil Spirit was leaped upon them and overcame them so that they fled naked and wounded Acts 19.14 15 16. As if he had said I know Jesus to be the Son of God and Paul to be the Servant of God the one may command me the other may in his Name compel me but who are ye Have you the Power Grace and Spirit of Jesus or Paul He knowing they wanted this overcame them And so will Satan conquer all unregenerate ones Let us then be looking diligently to our selves lest we fail of this Grace of God All depends upon it as to Victory O let us take heed lest our New-birth prove a false Conception lest Ephraim-like we be unwise Sons that stay long in the place of breaking forth of Children Hof 13.13 Many throws and pangs some have Convictions tending to Conversion yet they go away and the Soul not born of God Many go on in a way of Profession all their days and yet are not New-born are not in the Spiritual Genealogy And what do an Hundred Cyphers signifie without a Figure Just nothing To the same reckoning will all our external Religion come without the New-birth Above all things let us be careful lest we be deceived herein And truely he had need be as wise as Solomon to find out the true Mother Three or four things there are that deceive People 1. They have been convinced of Sin in a Legal way and much troubled and therefore hope they are born of God But this is many a mans mistake to rest in them They are troubled for Sin under the Word or Rod yet sin again The Children of Israel when God slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God Nevertheless they flattered him with their mouth and lied to him with their tongue For their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant Psal 78.34 36 37. 2. Some mistake in the point of good disposition They are well-enclined men good-natured and hopeful men but was not Christ's words to such an one Joh. 3.3 Verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Why did Christ put him in mind of this Why because he was a well-enclined and disposed man and did rest too much upon it therefore Christ tells him where his danger lay 3. Some plant the bottom of their Christianity upon Forms in things that are but the husk the Varnish and Plaistering of Religion They think it enough to go to an Ordinance to keep their Church to
that better informs him speedily returns into his way is more circumspect to prevent wandering for the future and mends his pace for the time he lost He that thus keeps the Works of Christ and that to the end to the end of the present Trial yea to the end of his Lise this is he that overcometh That 's the first Quest 2. What is that Power Christ here promises to give to Overcomers Answ Some think it extends only to the present Enemies of this Church of Thyatira viz. Jezebel and her adherents which although it hath much Comfort in it to the Members of that Church Yet this Interpretation is too narrow For the Text saies He that overcometh to him will I give Power over the Nations a Term of a very large extent Yea to shew the largeness of the Power it is said to be the like Power to what Christ received of his Father Now God the Father hath given Christ Power over all flesh Joh. 17.2 And though Believers are not capable of having a Power every way equal with what Christ hath received yet some share in it or shadow of it is here promised to be given them Now Christ hath received 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which does import Rule and Authority This is Threefold 1. There is Potestas Dispositiva a Right to order and dispose all things and persons in the Nations which some call a Providential Power on this account he is stiled King of Nations Jer. 10.7 Because he ruleth by his Power for ever His eyes behold the Nations Psal 66.7 He disposeth of his Enemies For he hath bought them though they deny him 2 Pet. 2.14 He gave the price of his Blood sufficient for them and hath Right to dispose of them and to expect service from them He hath this Power over his Friends he hath received Gifts for them though at present rebellious yet he will subdue them to himself that he may dwell in them Psal 68.18 Power to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God Act. 26. He hath the Key of David he openeth and none can shut and shutteth and none can open Rev. 3.7 called the Key of the house of David Isa 22.22 that is of the Church as some interpret A Similitude taken from those that keep the Keys of a City Castle or Pallace the Gates whereof cannot be opened without their leave and Order Thus Christ had opened a Church-door in Philadelphia vers 8. which no man can shut There was an open door though many adversaries 1 Cor. 16.9 He openeth the heart-door also so opened he Lydia's heart Acts 16.14 He openeth the door of faith as he did to those Gentiles Acts 14.31 He openeth the door of hope in the valley of Achor Hos 2.15 And makes the Soul that is filled with trouble and despairs to evade to hope against hope He openeth a door of deliverance from the greatest dangers and extremities A shadow of this power is promised to Overcomers for by Faith and Prayer they engage the Power and Providence of Christ to work for them Jacob had by prayers and tears power over the Angel viz. Christ the great Angel of the Covenant and prevailed so that a strange change was wrought in his Brother who though he breath'd out threatnings and slaughter against Jacob yet meeting together Esau embraced him so lovingly contrary to his expectation that he accepted it as a plain token of Gods presence Hence he saith I have seen thy Face as though I had seen the face of God Gen. 33.10 In his Brother 's reconciled countenance he saw the gracious face of God smiling upon him This Victory God granted to Jacob as the fruit of his Wrestling and Weeping in Prayer suffering himself to be overcome by him and subduing his Brother's rage and malice against him David's Prayer prevailed with God to defeat Achitophel's evil Cousel 2 Sam. 15.31 and 17.23 Stephen's Prayer prevailed for the Conversion of many of his Persecutors Faithful and fervent Prayers have made wonderful Turns in the Nations of the World as might at large be shewed While Moses lifted up his praying and believing hand Israel prevailed against Amalek Exod. 17.11 when he let them down Amalek prevailed and the Israelites hands were enfeebled where we see how dangerous it is to faint in Prayer and how powerful Prayer is against the Power of Warlike Enemies When Esther and her people were solemnly engaged in this work what a strange Turn was made thereby A great Turn there was upon the King's heart he recalls all his Orders granted out for the destroying of the Jews and the whole Plot was turned upon Haman's head who contrived it against God's people This way they have great Power over the Nations 2. There is Potestas Legislativa a Legislative or Lawgiving Power which Christ hath received of his Father Thus he is stiled the Judge the King the Lawgiver to his people Isa 33.22 There is one Lawgiver saith St. James Jam. 2.12 viz. Christ Lycurgus Solon and others had Potestatem vitae necis Power of Life and Death and many now there are who make and give Laws yet there is but one Supreme and Absolute Lawgiver whose Will is the Rule of Justice and this is Christ none can give Laws that directly bind the the Conscience but he 'T is true We are to submit our selves to every Ordinance of man but it is for the Lord's sake 1 Pet. 2.13 'T is God's command that lays an Obligation upon our Consciences to observe man's yet withal if mens Laws be contrary to God's though we must submit unto not resist the Higher Powers yet active Obedience must not be given We are to obey God rather than men saies the Apostle Act. 4.19 For men to impose Laws upon the Conscience to be observed ex intuitu voluntatis upon the bare sight of their Will is to set themselves down in the Throne of God and speaks the very Spirit of Antichrist Now a shadow of this Law-giving Power may be given by Christ to those that overcome the Enemies and live in the times of the Churches Exaltation upon the head of them all When Christ was invested with all Power in Heaven and Earth he said to his Disciples Go ye and teach all Nations to observe whatsoever I have commanded Mat. 28.19 20. And when Christ shall have exalted the Mountain of his House above all the Hills and Mountains of worldly Power and Glory then shall the Law go forth from Sion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem and all Nations shall flow unto it Behold here a shadow of this Law-giving Power given to his Church even as he received of his Father All Nations shall either professionally or really stand in an awful respect of and to the Church and bow to the Laws of Christ therein established for they primarily receive the Law from Christ's mouth and secondarily from the Church There is Potestas Distributiva which is
a Power to distribute Rewards and Punishments This some call a Judiciary Power a Power of judging all Nations giving Eternal Live to Believers and Eternal Death to all the world besides The Father judgeth no man but hath cammitted all Judgment to the Son Joh. 5.22 Before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divides his Sheep from the Goats Mat. 24. As many Divisions as now there are all will then come under that one Division either Sheep or Goats and will have their Judgment passed by Christ to whom the Father hath given that Power Such a Power over the Nations is here promised to Overcomers Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 6.2 Not Authoritatively and principally not by pronouncing Sentence this is peculiar to Christ but they shall joyn with him in judging them at the Last Day giving their consent unto and applauding his righteous Sentence This seems here chiefly intended for it is such a Power as whereby the Nations are broken as the vessels of a Potter are broken to shivers so the Text expresseth Now earthen Vessels are easily and irrecoverably broken especially by an Iron Rod. Other Scriptures speak the same This honour have all his Saints saies David To execute the Judgment written Psal 149.8 What Judgment and where written Some refer it to Enoch's Prophecy mentioned by St. Jude v. 14 15. Behold the Lord cometh with ten Thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all c. To adjudge the wicked of the Nations to eternal Misery This dominion over the Nations shall the upright have in the Morning of the resurrection Psal 49.14 Quest 3. What is that eminent Glory Christ here promiseth to him that Overcometh Answ I will give him the Morning-star saies Christ A sweet and full promise the sum of it take in the following particulars 1. Some understand it of Christ himself who is stiled The bright and Morning-star Rev. 22.16 Thus he calls himself The sense then is I will communicate my self wholly to him and make him conformable to me in glory Always the proportion of the head and members observed The Morning-star is the most bright and shining of all the stars of Heaven and communicates its light to the world Christ excels all men and Angels as far as the Morning-star all the Stars of Heaven and he communicates all Light of Grace and Glory to the world of Believers He is stiled The Star of Jacob Numb 24.17 this notes his two Natures A Star in its Original is from Heaven which points at his Divine Nature who is the Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15. yet a Star of Jacob as a man of the Posterity of Jacob so we must conceive him both God and Man And thus considered He is full of Grace and of his fulness do all Believers receive even Grace for Grace The Morning-star dispels the Nights darkness When this Day-star arises fully in our hearts all mists of Ignorance and Errour are dispelled wherein we were wrapped in our night of sin and imperfect condition here 2. It may intimate that Christ will give him that overcomes a glorious Resurrection at the Last-Day The Prophet Daniel hints at this They that turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament even as the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 There will not be the same measure and degree of this For as one Star differs from another in Glory so it shall be in the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.41 yet all will be adorned with resplendent Lustre and Brightness far exceeding the beauty of the Stars For then shall the Righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Mat. 13.43 Those that have here lien among the pots smutched and sullied shall then outshine the Sun in his strength Shine they shall in their Bodies which shall be conformed to the most glorious body of Christ Phil. 3.21 And in their Souls those Spirits of just men made perfect and in their whole persons as the Spouse of Christ Vxor fulget radiis Mariti she shall shine with the Beams of his Beauty A glimpse of this Glory was seen in Moses's Face in Christ's Transfiguration in Stephen's Countenance But the full manifestation thereof is reserved to the day of the Resurrection 3. It may imply That the Overcomer shall have the next degree of Glory to Christ as the Morning-Star is next the Sun and is called as some think The Son of the Morning Isa .. 14.12 Because it usually appears in the Morning a little before the Sun-rising as if it were by the Morning produced Victorious Souls shall be very near to Christ in Place and Glory When one requested her two Sons might sit the one at Christ's right hand the other at his left in his Kingdom He answers It shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of his Father Among others those that have encountred great Troubles and come off Conquerors shall share in this Honour For upon this request of the woman Christ said Are ye able to drink of the Cup I am to drink of and to be baptized with the Baptism I am to be Baptized with Mat. 20.20 c. Implying they must come under a Baptism of Blood and Suffering that would come to this Honour to be so near to me as you desire This honour hath he reserved to give to him that Overcometh All the Saints shall be with him but these so near to him as the Morning-Star to the Sun 4. This Phrase may also intimate that Christ will give the First-fruits of Glory Foretastes of Heaven even whiles in this world to assure of the full enjoyment in another The Morning-star is Anteambulo Solis the Suns Harbinger and Fore-runner of a perfect Day Christ will give such as overcome Prelibations and Pledges of future Happiness assuring them That their path shall be as the Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4.18 This Morning they will not exchange for the brightest Noon-day of worldly Glory which ends in a Midnight of Trouble and Misery but their Morning-Light is in a full Sunshine of Happiness Hence the Saints are said to have received the first-fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 Though in regard of quantity the First-fruits under the Law were but an handful in comparison of the whole yet in their signification they were an evidence to them that they should receive a good crop of the rest So the Graces and Comforts of the Spirit of God Believers have here are not only sweet to their apprehension for the present but also in their reflection as to what is future they are a pledg of the full Harvest Christ is said to be The first-fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 Because his Resurrection was a forerunner of the Resurrection of all his Members so are the first fruits of the Spirit here an assurance of a