Reverence and Devotion in the Publick worship of her daily service and Sacramental administrations as is really attractive of every eye and heart except what is prejudiced by Error and Interest Wherefore though the unparalel'd prophaneness of the present age throw contempt upon the Sanctuary and House of God yet do we there acknowledge a Beauty of Holiness as the object of our desires and delight So that we can say with David in a zeal to Gods Publick worship One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after c. The second Reason of Davids Petition That of Devotion To enquire in his Temple As Cities had their original from single Families so Temples their beginning from single Altars We no sooner read That the holy Seed became propagated into several Families but we presently finde those Families met in a Publick Congregation For so in the days of Enosh did men begin Gen. 4 26. publickly to call upon the Name of the Lord then even in the morning of the World did the Church keep her first Mattins for so doth St. Chrysostom and the Antients yea the best and most of Modern Expositors all interpret that of Mens calling upon the Lord as to his Publick worship and service So that we may well plead Church Liturgy as antient as Church Communion and Church Communion as to Gods Publick worship contemporary with the third generation of mankinde and the third century of the World And if the Church had then their Publick service they had also some publick place to be a Bethel an House of God Gen. 28.19 22. where was consecrated an Altar unto the Lord. No doubt from the beginning of the World God had his Sabbaths and his Sacrifices his Priests and his Altar and his Tithes and therefore times persons place and things consecrate and appropriate to his Worship Of this and all this we are assured from Reasons dictate and Scriptures proof And as it was thus from the beginning so it shall be also unto the end of the World though not in the same kinde yet in the like Analogy for which we have St. Johns prophecy in his Revelation and Christs promise in his Gospel Altar and Priests to the most high God we read to have been from Adam to Melchisedech but a Tabernacle and Temple we finde not till Moses and Solomon The Tabernacle that a Type of our Earthly pilgrimage and temporary sojourning as still flitting and removing in the Wilderness The Temple a Figure of our heavenly rest and eternal habitation as founded and fixt in Canaan When Moses framed the Tabernacle Exod. 25.40 it was according to the pattern in the Mount which pattern was that of Spiritual Mysteries which God shadowed forth by Moses in Mysterial Representations This Tabernacle being pitcht Exod 40.34 38. Moses goes up no more to God in the Mount but God comes down to Moses in the Cloud which Cloud was light and fiery and in that Clem. Alex. â—taâ— adhort ad Gent. as Clemens of Alexandria observes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a token of grace and fear If Israel were sincere and constant in their obedience God was a light to lead them but if froward and perverse in their iniquity he was a fire to consume them And though God is not now present in our Churches by a visible light and fire which was but a Type yet is he present in grace and fury which is the thing typified grace to accept the prayers of his people and fury to avenge the prophanation of his Sanctuary From which fury it is that never any Nation or Family or Person prospered to the third Generation John 2.16 which either made Gods house a place of Merchandise by prophaning it or Merchandise of Gods house by destroying it The Eagle that takes flesh from the Altar carries coals to fiâ—e his own Nest and never did any man seek to build his house with the stones of Gods Temple but his honor was laid in the dust and his ruine hath been remarkable Of this it were easie to give you multitudes of sad examples in Gods late and severe judgments upon this Nation and in some neighboring Countreys by which judgments he hath sealed this truth That he owns our Christian Oratories for his holy Temples vindicating their prophanation and mens sacriledge by most dreadful punishments I might set before you the examples of Gods vengeance but I shall wave that and present you rather the evidence of Gods Word confirming to you the relative holiness of Gods Sanctuary and this from that one place of St. Paul where he makes it an Argument unto holiness 1 Cor. 6.19 That we are Gods Temples Which how vain had it been 2 Cor. 3.11 if either God hath no Temple or those Temples be not holy Besides it is St. Pauls argument If that which is done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious If the Gospel then excel the Law and Christs presence in his Sacraments his presence in the Sanctuary then must our Christian Churches excel the Jewish Temple as excel in glory so in beauty even the beauty of Holiness Psal 93.6 For Holiness becometh the House of the Lord for ever And therefore Psal 96.9 the Psalmists admonition still stands good Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness And worship him not onely by praying at his Altar but also by inquiring at his Oracle Both the inseparable parts and appurtenances of his Temple for saith David I will dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the Beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his Temple To inquire in his Temple Inquire of what why of our right way to Heaven for we are Pilgrims and Travellers and that in the World too as in a Wilderness where it is easie to lose but hard to finde our way Therefore it is well worthy our diligent and frequent inquiry whether we be right or no Now Jacobs Vision will tell us Gen. 28.17 That the House of God it is Scala Janua Cali the Ladder and Gate of Heaven So that our sure way to ascend and enter Heaven it is to hold Communion with Gods Church in the Profession and Devotion of his Publick Worship And to confirm us in this truth we may behold the Servants of the Family who know well the way to their Masters house we may behold the Angels ascending and descending Heb. 1.14 in their several Ministries for the good of those whom God makes Heirs of Salvation And O how much need have we to inquire in Gods Temple seeing David himself is in so great a hazard of being dejected with the tribulations of the godly and seduced by the prosperity of the wicked till he goes into the Sanctuary of the Lord Psal 73.17 there to inquire at his Oracle But what is then Gods Oracle Why it is his sacred Word the sure Interpreter of his holy
are thy heavenly visits and how short their stay given they are either to comfort after affliction or strengthen against temptation 1 Kings 19.8 Yea like Elijahs repast they are to sustain the soul for many dayes Ye then that do not know the pleasures of Gods Sanctuary do but get them and ye cannot but love them and by their taste the more ardently long after them yea your inward affection will break forth into an eager prosecution by prayers and meditation by frequent humiliations of soul by daily mortification of sin and by a worthy participation of the Blessed Sacrament by these and all other holy means diligently seeking what you so earnestly desire even the blisse and joy of Gods Sanctuary and service And indeed we must know to have desires without endeavours is to be like him that lies at anchor expecting a winde but never hoiseth sail Many there are which have a secret ardour desires fly from their hearts as sparks from a furnace they break forth in heaps but suddenly dye Thus they are strong in desires but sluggard-like weak in endeavours and so presently quench the Spirit which gives them motion They desire much to be saved but they like not to practise S. Pauls precept Phil. 2.12 To work out their salvation But David he is of a right temper and in a right order His hands second his heart his eager prosecution his inward affection he seeks what he desires So are the words of his Petition in his Unum petii One thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life c. Know then Beloved we have spiritual delights in their sacred source no where so full so free as in the house of God Applic. as in the service of the Sanctuary One day in thy Courts saith David are better then a thousand Ps 84.10 I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of the Lord then to dwell in the tents of wickedness The delights of Gods Sanctuary like the waters of Bethlehem they are pure but the pleasures of the World like the puddles of Egypt they are polluted Whilst the Tradesmen then hie them to their Shops Merchants to their Change Mariners to their Ships Wantons to their Chambers Covetous men to their Chests Revellers to the Taverns all men to their delights David too will haste to his but it is to the Temple to the Sanctuary there 's the object of his joy there 's the Theatre of his delight there 's the Center of his desires even the Beauty of the Lord and the glory of his Worship Wherefore then O ye wretched souls how are you become enemies not only to the Cross of Christ but also to the Comforts of his Spirit Enemies to Reason and Religion Enemies to Gods Sanctuary and his Ordinances Enemies to Christs Church and chosen O how are you enemies to all these Ye that prefer a Tavern before a Temple and a Strumpets arms before your Saviours imbraces ye that prefer Bacchus Bowls before the Cup of Salvation and carousing healths before your Saviours blood Oh how are ye become the shame of Christians and the reproach of Protestants 〈◊〉 the scandal of the Churches cause and service Oh how is it that for the cursed carrion of bestial delights ye renounce the communion of holy joys O profane and licentious wretches which delight to live with that mad Legion in the filthy Sepulchres and dark Tombs of carnal concupiscence Mat. 5.2 3. and this with a sordid and sottish contempt of Angels fellowship Saints communion heavenly dainties and holy delights all which are the bliss of Gods Sanctuary and the Ravishments of his holy Worship 2. Be we exhorted so to give up our selves unto God at his Altar that he may make us to dwell with him in his Temple so resign up our selves to him in his Sacrament that if it be his blessed will he may continue his Service to us in his Sanctuary resign we up our selves to him in his Sacrament that blessed Sacrament of the holy Eucharist And when we come to Gods Altar prepare we our Sacrifice aright Act. 15.9 P. 26.6 purifying our hearts by faith in sincere humiliation and washing our hands in innocency by fervent supplication And thus compassing Gods Altar he will accept our Offering even through the merits of the Lamb Christ Jesus which was offered up for us Heb. 11.4 In this oblation of himself it was that Abel◠offered a more excellent sacrifice then Cain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more full sacrifice Plurimam hostiam so the Vulgar but how this Why Rupertus tells us Rupert l. 4. in Gen. c. 2. Abel primo cor suum deinde rem suam offerendo plurimam hostiam per fidem obtulit Abel by faith offered as a more excellent so a more plentiful sacrifice then Cain in that he offered himself as well as his Lambs whereas Cain offered sua but not se his goods but not himself Abel offered his heart and himself as well as the Firstlings of his Flock And thus if we will be accepted as Abel was we must offer as Abel did our Hearts unto God these the Firstlings of our Flock indeed the Heart being the primum vivens the first that lives in grace and the chief that is accepted in prayer And that coming to Gods house and his Altar we may bring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more plentiful sacrifice we must remember that the Measures of the Sanctuary are double to those of common use Exod. 16.22 Wherefore with double diligence do we prepare our hearts our devotions join we eager prosecution to our inward affection seek as well as desire So does holy David in his unum petii One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after c. Now to close this Sermon observe that of the Preacher Look to thy foot when thou goest into the house of God Eccles 4 1. Look to thy foot that is order thy affections even with humility reverence and devotion Ps 22.6 1. With humility Bow thy knee low with David I am a worm Gen. 18 27. and no man Fall down even to the ground with Abraham I who am but dust and ashes have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord. Ezod 4.5 2. With reverence Put off thy shoes says God to Moses for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground Holy ground because of Gods holy presence which must not be approached but with holy fear Ps 99.1 God that sitteth between the Cherubims he here hearkens to our prayers and speaks to us in his Word and his Majesty then requires our reverence Ps 122.1 3. With devotion That of David's I was glad when they said unto me We will go into the house of the Lord. And as we come with chearfulness so continue we with watchfulness not letting the fire
with Gods displeasure Thus how often is it that God prepares man to become some excellent structure even when he seems to be turning him into a ruinous heap As men intending to repair seem to demolish the building they take away some beams but it is to put in stronger they stop up some lights but it is to make larger Thus is it with the faithful who are Gods building 1 Cor. 3 9. He removes their props of sense to fix the pillars of faith He darkens the light of their spiritual joys but it is to enlarge their fuller comforts The Rules of Direction 1. Search what root of bitterness it is that hath taken away the taste of all heavenly sweetness what guilt of sin that hath depriv'd thee of the comforts of the Spirit Enter the Court of thy Conscience where God hath set up his tribunal and hear what charge is there laid against thee Is it not some stubbornness of spirit some unrepented disobedience which God chastiseth with those rebukes of conscience and terrors of soul For commonly God deals with his backsliding Saints as a King with his rebellious Subjects when neither the proffers of grace nor the promises of pardon when neither the edicts of command nor the threatenings of wrath when neither gracious counsel nor a bearing patience can prevail then does God arm himself to the battel letting flie the arrows of his indignation into their soul Job 6.4 as Job complains The arrows of the Almighty are within me the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrors of God do set themselvs in array against me This is certain upon all known experience that disobedience and impenitence they are the bitter springs of much spiritual distress And truly God need not go far for a rod to chastise our disobedience if he withdraw his comforting Spirit we shall soon find and feel our own will become an afflicting Spirit our own dreadful thoughts will be our sorest scourges 2. Is it not some spiritual lethargy of remisness and sloth that hath seised thine inward man If so no wonder if the Physitian of thy soul prescribe thee so sharp a medicine administer thee so strong a potion all being little enough to rouse thy drowsie spirits and quicken thy dead heart Holy performances whether in the Closet or in the Church they are not only debts we pay to Gods justice but also oblations we owe to Gods mercy Ps â—1 18 19. and therefore either wholly to omit them or slightly to slubber them over is not only unfaithfulness but also unthankfulness both the majesty and the mercy of God being despised and where his majesty and mercy is despised no wonder if his favor and presence be withheld 3. Is it not the want of reverence and godly fear And therefore by the rebukes of his Spirit God severely tutors thee to what he requires of thee to serve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear Heb 12.23 Heb. â— 16 God likes well that we come with boldness to the throne of grace yet a boldness of humble confidence not of a careless irreverence The awe of Majesty is much preserv'd by avoiding too much familiarity and therefore some Monarchs have withdrawn themselves from vulgar eyes to keep up the more sacred esteem and awe of their Soveraignty Thus God he deals with his Saints when much indulg'd they become wanton proud and irreverent God intermixeth Majesty with Mercy and tempers their favours with frowns he withholds his comfortable presence and awes their souls with secret rebukes that they may learn to put in practice what the Church gives in pattern even to walk in the fear of the Lord Act. 9 31. Phil. 2.12 and comfort of the Holy Ghost yea work out their salvation with fear and trembling This is indeed a sure Maxim that he who bears his spiritual afflictions with a distrustful impatience it is more then probable that he stains his devout enlargements with spiritual pride and pride and irreverence go together 4. Is it not thy heart playing false with thy God leaning in its affections too much to the world For that then God usually comes with bitterness to wean the soul when we are upon making the world our Home which should be our Inne when we are upon taking our rest in these earthly things then God brings on an evil day of temptation and trial upon us to discover how vain Earth is when Heaven is clouded how insufficient to sanctifie which cannot comfort When the soul will prove disloyal Jâ—m 4.4 and enter an adulterous league with the World then comes God with his Bill of Divorce that she may know what is the vanity and folly the guilt and curse of her falling off to such wretched beggerly and worthless lovers for that in a day of terrors the soul will know that there is none but Christ none but he that can bring comfort peace and safety Thus then search whether it be not some stubbornness and disobedience some lethargie of sloth some wantonness irreverence or spiritual pride some love of the world Search whether they are not these or some other enormous iniquities which have separated betwixt thee and thy God Isa 59.2 whether they are not these or some such hainous sins which have hid his face from thee and if so no wonder if he who does the works of the Devil find an Hell in his Conscience And to still the clamor and quench the flashes of this Hell observe the second Rule of Direction which follows 2. Confess and bewail thy sin in the deepest of humiliations The reason indeed oftentimes why God puts the soul to the rack it is because it will not confess it is so loth to leave that it is unwilling to acknowledg its sin But as there is no full discovery of sin without examination Prov. 28.13 so nor is there any full pardon of sin without confession Wherefore set thy sins in order before thee and if thy Conscience pleads guilty to none other impiety yet thine ignorance diffidence passion and impatience in thy trial of spiritual afflictions do bring guilt enough for the deepest of humiliations Job 40.4 Thus it was with Job he confesseth unto God saying I am vile what shall I answer I will lay my hand upon my mouth And humbly submitting to the justice of Gods plea Job 42.36 and the reproof of his conviction in the sense of his impatience and pride he abhors himself and repents in dust and ashes And after God gives testimony of his love in accepting a sacrifice from his hands Thus then having set thy sins in order before thee let their guilt affect thine heart with sorrow that sorrow affect thine eyes with tears and then in the anguish of thy soul do thou crouch and crawl to the Throne of Grace solliciting earnestly with strong cries the mercies of thy God through the merits of thy Saviour for the pardon of thy sin the peace
engines for the Churches ruine Ignat. ad Trall They are says Ignatius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not followers of Christ but hucksters of Christianity they cry up their opinions as Mountebanks their Salves and promising strange Empyrical cures they cheat simple souls with their adulterate wares The Antients to shew their hate of Heresie compare it to those diseases which are most deadly and those Beasts which are most dangerous They call it that contagious Plague which killing one infects an hundred that Hectick Feaver in the Churches Body which is at first facilis curatu but diffici is cognitu easie to be cured but hard to be discovered afterwards becomes facilis cognitu but difficilis curatu easie to be discovered but hard to be cured Further The Antients call Heresie that Scorpions sting which invenoms whilst it wounds that Hyaena which deceives and devours this subtile and cruel Beast as it is reporâ—ed will imitate the voice of a man and oftentimes calling at the Shepherds Cottages doth seise and devour them Such a thing is Heresie counterfeiting the voice of Christ as the Hyaena does the voice of a man it deceives and destroyes Souls yea its malice and rage is especially against the Pastors of the Church as the Shepherds of the Flock on purpose the more easily to scatter and spoil to raven and devour the Sheep I might enlarge in setting before you the bitter fruits of this cursed stock of Heresie even Sedition Murder Sacriledge Oppression and the like to witness which I might bring you the sad experiences of Christs Church under the Arrian Nestorian and Macedonian factions yea and under the rage of the Anabaptists frenzies and above all under the unparralel'd fury if these days have not out-vied them of Papal persecutions The Orthodox in their just prosecution of Hereticks still tempered Severity with Charity they not onely called them Brethren but applied themselves to them as Brethren convincing their judgments with the evidence of truth and winning their affections with sweetness of love Thus did the Orthodox in their prosecutions of Hereticks but how much different were the Hereticks in their persecutions of the Orthodox Non ex dialecticorum locis sed ex carnificum officinis argumenta solvebant The Prison the Dungeon the Stake the Gibbet these were their Topicks from whence they argued Socrat. l. 2 c. 22 30 Sâ—zâ—â— en l. 4. c. 2. 20. and by which they convinced thus Socrates of the Macedonians And such the confutation from the Spanish Inquisition and the Marian Persecution Notantur articuli parantur fasciculi saith Erasmus The Articles are read and the Faggots are ready and yet certainly to bring to the Stake and cut off with present death was a mercy to this cruelty of pineing the whole Family with want and exposing not onely the persons to the hardships and sufferings the names to the ignominy and disgraces but also the souls the precious souls oâ— their Brethren to the snares and temptations of beggery and necessities It is a mercy indeed to give life but it is a cruel mercy unless that life be suffered to have its livelihood To close Amongst the Heathen Ingratus superbus unâ—hankful and proud were thought a compendium of all reproachful language Ingratum si dixeris omnia dixeris If thou callest un hankful thou speakest all evil saith Seneca and to set forth Tarquinius in the deepest dy of basest ignominy the Romans named him Tarquinius Superbus Tarquin the Proud Now as for ingratitude what greater then that of the Heretick who Viper-like eats out the Bowels of his Mother that gave him birth And as for the pride of the Heretick it is that of Lucifer truly Diabolical a preferring the spirit of error before the Spirit of Truth as in Pertinacy of Will so in Pride of Judgment And those whom Satan hath fast in the Chain of Heresie he can easily lead if it suit with his further ends into any other enormous impiety though never so bloody and cruel never so filthy and carnal Thus we have given you the Exposition of the second particular The quantity of the guilt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even or also Heresies 3. The certainty of its event 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There must be also Heresies Must not in an Oportet of right and duty but of fact and necessity not of right and duty as to obedience but of fact and necessity as to event 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith St. Chrysostom Chrys Tom. 5. Serm. 21. in loc Luke 9.22 The words are a Prophecy not a Precept a Prediction not an Exhortation the Oportet is like that of our Saviours The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected of the Elders An Oportet equivalent to a necesse est a necessity not absolute and fatal but upon supposition and conditional even Positâ causâ ponitur affectus the cause being granted the effect doth follow this being supposed That Satan is malicious against the Church and truth of Christ envious at the grace and peace of Gods chosen and irritated by this malice and envy he will not fail to endeavor whatsoever may corrupt the truth disturb the peace and destroy the grace of the faithful And it being further supposed That suâ—h is mans unconstancy curiosity pride self-love and the like that he is easily swayed readily prompted to what is evil and irreligious Lastly this being also supposed That Gods will is not wholly to suppress the Devil and his agents but in wisdom to order and in power to moderate their subtilty and rage so as may make for his Churches tryal his Saints honor and his Truths advancement All this being supposed we may be assured the Oportet stands firm 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There must be also Heresies How often was there an Oportet in the New Testament for a fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Now as concerning these last days How many are the prophecies which foretold false Prophets how many are the prophecies from Christ and his Apostles Many false Prophets shall arise Matth. 24.11 and shall deceive many so our Saviour foretells us And this began betimes to be fulfilled for not many years after 1 John 4.1 St. John witnesseth Many false Prophets are gone out into the world the whole world is the false Prophets diocess And now as for the latter days which though it take in the whole Chronical account from our Saviours Ascension yet more especially does it point to our times upon whom the end of the world is come As to these then our latter days the Spirit speaks expresly That some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils so St. Paul 2 Tim. 4.1 Yea we may observe the very Apostles are put to weed whilest they plant the Church of Corinth and of Ephesus even in St. Pauls time have those that deny the resurrection 1 Cor. 15.12 2 Tim. 2.18 Galat.
the Church Triumphant by some excellent glory According to that of the Prophet Dan. 12 3. They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever To close then in days of persecution St. Paul tells us That the suffering Saints of Christs Church 1 Cor. 4.9 they are made a Spectacle unto the World and to Angels and to Men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says the Apostle We are brought forth into the World as upon a stage to play a prize in the view of Heaven and Earth So that being approved we cannot but be manifest yea performing our parts well the Angels themselves shall give a plaâ—dite at our exit they shall with triumph conveigh our Souls into the Heavenly Presence Heb. 2.10 where Christ the Captain of our Salvation as Arbiter of the Combate shall bestow a Crown of Glory as the reward of Victory 1 Cor 9 25. In days then of tryal and trouble from the persecutions of Heresie Quest How may we best order our lives as such who are approved for constancy in the Faith Answ In the exercise of these Christian Duties Answ fervent Prayer sincere Obedience devout Meditation strict Watchfulness and holy Zeal 1. Fervent Prayer That God would be pleased in mercy to open the eyes and incline the hearts of the Seducers and of the seduced O Beloved you know not the vertue and efficacy of Prayer for the Conversion of Souls Prayer may do it when Preaching fails when the religious and tender mother Monica applied her self to St. Ambrose with this humble suit That he would by his learned Conference reclaim her son Augustine from his Error seduced into the blasphemous Heresie of the Maniches Though she urged her suit with sighs and that Pathetical Oratory of flowing tears yet the pious and prudent Father waves her request and returns her this answer Thy sons heat of youth and pride of sp rit does render him uncapable of my Conviction to his Conversion but thou continuing thy Prayers earnestly soliciting the Throne of Grace Aug. Confes l. 3. c. 12. Ille legendo reperiet quis ille sit error quanta impietas He shall finde by reading in how great an Error and Impiety he is involved For that Tot lachrymarum filius the son of so many tears shall not perish And that this was seasonable and saving advise the manner and method of St. Augustines Conversion evidently declares Let this then be a part of their Prayer who are approved in the Faith That God would open the eyes and incline the hearts of the Seducers and the seduced or if their Seduction be a Judgment of Reprobation and irreversible by Prayer let this be our supplication That God will defend and deliver his Church from the Policies and Practises 2 Thes 3 2. the Pertinacy and Persecution of such unreasonable men as the Apostle calls them And in our Prayers let not our hearts fail nor our faith faint for notwithstanding the thick mists and threatning storms yet God will be seen in the Mount a present help in our pressing troubles and a saving deliverance in our deepest distresses With Jehoshaphat when we know not what to do then Let our eyes be towards the Lord 2 Chron. 20.6 and if our eyes be towards God in Prayer his eye will be towards us in pity and his compassion shall bring Salvation 2. To our fervent Prayer we must joyn a sincere Obedience I doubt not but that we have many of us poured forth many Prayers breathed forth many sighs But what is the reason they have not returned as Noahs Dove Gen. 8.11 With an Olive branch of peace a gracious answer of mercy Is it not because we have sought our selves more then our God Our ease and rest more then his truth and righteousness Psal 65.2 God is a God that heareth Prayers this is a title in which he glories a glory of which he boasts So that our narrow hearts stop his flowing streams and we become straitned in our selves not in our God His Mercies are free and full our Prayers empty and vain and why are our Prayers empty and vain but because our lives are sinful and vile God is not unwilling to give but we uncapable to receive he not backward to bestow but we unfit to enjoy we seek Consolation but not in the way of Sanctification we desire Peace and rest but pursue it not in the way of Truth and Holiness Renewed hearts and reformed lives O how well how well Beloved do they suit the old Faith and antient Truth That truth in which we profess to be constant and that Faith in which we desire to be approved But oh when our sins out-cry our Prayers and our Conversations confute our Supplications no wonder if an Orthodox Church languish And a few Suppliants at the Throne of Grace have their Prayers returned into their own bosoms not availing for the publick good being strongly overborn by a publick guâ—lt Wherefore when we implore God in Prayer imitate we the Church in the Lamentations Lam. 3.41 By lifting up our hearts with our hands unto God in the Heavens Hieron in loc Now Cor cum manibus levat qui orationem operibus roborat he lifts up hâ—s heart with his hands who strengthens his Prayers with his works his hearty Devotion with his sincere Obedience 3. Devout Meditation This in the sacred Scriptures the Pandects of Divine Law from whence we argue the Panoply and Magazin from whence we arm our Tongues and Pens against all that is Heretical Onely our Meditation here must be accompanied with Humility 1 Cor. 8.1 that Knowledge puff not up with Pride And therefore herein especially do we exercise our Humility in not being over-confident of our own knowledge for alas when the best know most how far are they from knowing half of what is contained in the Mysteries of the Grace and Gospel of Christ For that Hierom in Eph. 3. Singuli sermones syllabae apices puncta in divinis scripturis plena sunt sensibus so St. Hierom every word every syllable every letter every title Chrys Proaem Câ—m in Ep. ad Rom. Dam Scripturae bonae intelliguntur non bene quod in eis non bene intelligitur etiam temerè audacter asseritur Aug. Tract 18. in Joan. Id. Aug. in the sacred Scriptures is full of mystery and divine meaning Now from hence are all Heresies even 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from a not knowing the Scriptures so St. Chrysostome and St. Augustine more fully hereby men become Heretical when they have not a right understanding of the sacred Scriptures and what they rightly understand not through ignorance they rashly assert with boldness Wherefore when we meditate upon the sacred Scriptures meeting with some more secret and amazing mysteries let our humility teach us that there Melior est fidelis ignorantia
fast to them and to their doctrine keep firm to that profession of Faith which the Orthodox Clergy have preached in their Sermons and still preach in their sufferings such as never yet renounced or contradicted their subscriptions The sum of our Churches Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government contained in the Liturgy in the Thirty nine Articles the Book of Homilies and of Ordination These every Minister did subscribe to even those Ministers did set to their hands in subscription to justifie them who after lift up their hands in Covenant to destroy them But God grant them Repentance and us Perseverance them Repentance of their Revolt and us Perseverance in the Faith that at the last day the Church may say to us what Christ said to his Apostles Luâ— â— 28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations and then shall Christ in the view of the whole World reward our Patience and crown our Constancy making it manifest fully manifest That we are approved Thus have we done with the several particulars of the Explication and of the Application what remains but your practice Halleluiah THE FIRST SERMON UPON Matth. 28. V. 19. and part of the 20. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you Introduction IF we who serve in the Sanctuary do as men intrusted in greatest Affairs and Imployments should do often view our Commission from our Saviour as his Ministers 1 Cor. 4.1 Matth. 10.24 2 Cor. 5.20 from our Lord as his Stewards from our Master as his Servants yea from our King as his Ambassadors This frequent view will animate our Ministry with a zealous vigor encouraged in our Service by the authority and presence of our Lord and Master See the Preface to my Text and we finde our Saviour victoriously risen from the Grave and before he triumphantly ascends into Heaven he orders the affairs of his Church on Earth speaking unto his Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the things concerning the Kingdom Acts 1.3 The Kingdom of which he is Soveraign All power being given unto him in Heaven and in Earth which power he hath promised shall never fail his Church For so says Christ unto his Apostles and all their Successors in the close and compline of the Text Behold I am with you unto the end of the World I am with you in the work of your Ministry with you to prosper your labors and protect your persons To prosper your labors making Disciples not to your selves but to me You I have deputed to the Office of Preaching my Word and administring my Sacraments and therefore they who own me their Master shall acknowledge you my Ministers But further I am with you Matth. 10.40 as to prosper your labors so to protect your persons I will plead your right vindicate yo r authority punish your contempt and avenge your injury If any sleight and despise the office of your ministry if any question or doubt the efficacy of mine Ordinances my Word my Sacraments see my power behold my presence maugre all the malice and rage of men and devils of earth and hell the ministry of my Gospel and Grace shall stand let this then be your encouragement and comfort let this be your assurance and establishment I will justifie your Office and make good your Commission for All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth and lo I am with you unto the end of the World And therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go ye teach all Nations c. The words they are the very basis and foundation of the Gospels Ministry to us Gentiles Observe in them three parts a Mission Division a Commission and particular Instructions for the exercising that Commission First The Mission delivered in an usual Grecism of the Participle for the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go ye Secondly The Commission not barely no nor properly teach but more fully 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make Disciples Dìscipulas facìte omnes gentes as Beza Disciple ye all Nations Thirdly The particular instructions for the exercising this Commission 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Baptising and Teaching admitting into the School and Church of Christ by Baptism and then tutoring and training up by Doctrine which Baptism is instituted as to the form of its ministration to be In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and the Doctrine is prescribed as to the extent of its object to be All things whatsoever Christ hath commanded the end of wh ch Doctrine is obedience even to observe and do Thus Go ye disciple all Nations baptising them in the Name of thâ— Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you 1. The Mission Go ye The three Offices of Christ as Mediator Explic. his Prophetick Priestly and Regal Office These he now exerciseth in his Church on Earth in the outward Ministry by her Pastors and in the inward Ministraâ—ion by his Spirit In the outward Ministry of the Church her Pastors do expound the Word of God Preach the Gospel of Truth unfold the Mysteries of Grace which is that part of their Ministry committed to them of Christ in the execution of his Prophetical Office Again they offer up the Sacrifices of Prayers and Thanksgivings Baptize and bless in the Name of Christ and celebrate the Sacramental solemnity of the holy Eucharist which is that part of their Ministry committed to them of Christ in the execution of his Priestly Office Further yet they bind the unbelieving and loose the Believer they excommunicate the scandalous and absolve the penitent they govern by Discipline and correct by censure which is that part of their Ministry committed to them of Christ in the execution of his Regal Office Now no part nor portion of this Ministry may any man take upon him Heb. 5.4 but being called as was Aaron that is called even with an inward and outward call as thus A man hath been brought up in the Schools of the Prophets or else where devoted himself to the study of Divinity whereby he is become in a competent measure fitted for the service of the Church 1 Pet. 5.2 when now he findes St. Peter's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a willingness of spirit and readiness of minde to employ his gifts this is the inward call of God But further to testifie and declare this there must be the outward call of the Church Christ receiving him into the Office of the Ministry by the regular Ordination of his Substitutes who alone in this representing his person can give us our Mission of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go ye But alas the disorder and confusion of Sacriledge and Schism What was the Prophets complaint is now our Churches groan