Apostle would hold forth the immediate way of Saints Communion with God in love without the least help or assistance of any creature concurring Even all the Angels had nothing to do in it And as no Angel could ever procure Gods love or bring a Saint into Communion with God so none shall be able to separate Secondly we are to consider how the good Angels may be supposed to endanger believers in their Communion with God 1. The good Angels by their continual Attendance and Watchfulness about Saints must needs be privy to all their open sins in words actions duties and cannot but conceive a holy indignation at the unworthy or unbeseeming carriages of believers as that text 1 Cor 11.10 shews Saints miscarriages and sins grieve offend the Angels and hereby may be supposed to endanger their state in Gods love when they sin against love Secondly the Angels in zeal to God glory are always in a readiness to revenge the injuries that are done against God Psal 104.4 and they have ofteâ— executed the righteous displeasure oâ— God against his own people 2 Sam. 2â— 16 17. When David saw the Angel hâ— cried out O Lord I have sinned Wheâ— Isaiah saw God on his Throne with hâ— Seraphims about him the Executioneâ— of his Justice upon the Transgression of his own people he cries out Wo me I am undone Isa 6.1 2 5. Thirdly the Angels are made servanâ— to believers Man in his first Creatioâ— was made a little lower then the Angels but in Christ he is now exalted to glory and honour above the Angels Christ hath not taken Heb. 2.16 our nature is exalted in the Person of Christ far above all Principalities Ephes 1.20 21. That Angels should be servants to them who by nature are inferiour to them is ground of a temptation to them had not grace over-powered nature to take all occasions against Saints to bring God out of love with them and to bring themselves again into the highest place of Gods favour Fourthly the Angels may be supposed to endanger Saints not industriously but occasionally by reason of the corruption that remains in our natures What through the excellency of their Natures their nearness to God and the many good services they perform to us Saints have been endangered to commit idolatry with them See Rev. 19.10 Rev. 22.8 hence that caution of the Apostle Col. 2.18 19. hereby some are in danger to quit Jesus Christ the Head Thirdly we are to shew that Angels shall not be able to separate I. They will not First in regard of their Office they are all ministring spirits sent forth Heb. 1. ult Secondly they will not be enemies to them but are in a readiness to execute the wrath of God upon all that offend them Mat. 18.10 Thirdly they have a charge to keep them in all their ways Psal 91.11 12. not to lead them out of Gods way II. They cannot if they would First their subjection to Christ they are under his dominion and sovereignty Heb. 1.6 7 8. Secondly their dependance upon Christ for the execution and performance of all they do The vision of Jacobs Ladder compared with Jo. 1. ult Angels attended Christ at his Birth in the Wilderness when tempted in the Garden at his Resurrection and Ascension Thirdly they can do nothing but what God commands them Psal 103.20 III. If they could they dare not First they have their establishment in Christ They were by nature as mutable as the rest that fell they are fetled in a state of love in God by Christ testified by the Cherubims on the Mercy-Seat Secondly they are by Christ brought into the same Fellowship and Communion with God as we Eph 1.10 see what the Angel himself declared Rev. 19.10 Rev. 22.9 and we are said to be brought into Communion with Angels Heb. 12.22.23 if they should endeavor to separate believers from Communion with God in his love they should also separate themselves 1. Vse This informs us that no creature ture in Heaven not the purest Angels can be any part of our essential blessedness These Angels may in case of disobedience actually instict the Tokens of Gods displeasure against us And occasionally through our own corruption prove snares and temptations to us such as may endanger our state in Gods love much less then caâ— any creature on earth the holiest the purest Saint the sweetest and dearest relation be part of our essential blessedness This alone consists in our Immediate Communion with God in love through Iesus Christ our Lord from which nothing can separate us 2. Use This serves to confirm the faith of believers in the assurance of their unchangeable state in Gods love there is an utter impossibility to separate them from it The Angels excel in strength Psal 103.20 if they cannot do it much less can inferiour creatures Men or Devils what is beyond the power of good Angels is an absolute impossibility to other creatures 3. Use By this we are informed that those things those Agents sometimes we greatly fear as enemies that may endanger us in our chiefest concernments are often our greatest friends and such as really design our greatest good good angels are but supposed enemies and are real friends beloâ—s of our Ioy and such as Endeavor to keep us fast in the love of God 4. Use This fully convinceth Popery to be Apostacy an Apostacy of such who were never truly or really in a state of Love and Communion with God through Christ For though not actively yet occasionally through good angels they are utterly fallen from that love of God that Communion with God in Christ they professed They are fallen into the worship of Angels which is flat Idolatry Rev. 22.9 and they hold not the head Col. 1.18 19. Had they real Communion with God in Love they had never been separated by the means of Angels from the love of God in Christ Iesus our Lord. ROM 8.38 39. I am Perswaded Nor Principalities BY Principalities I understand as I shewed in the Explication the Magistrates Princes Rulers of the Kingdoms of this world with their subjects Armies Associates whereby they become potent enemies to the Church which is the Kingdom of Christ Doct. None of the Princes or Principalities of the Kingdoms of this World shall be able to separate What great opposition the Princes and Principalities of the World have made at all times against the Church and how much persecution the Church hath suffered under them how much Saints have been endangered thereby to Apostacy and so to a separation from their Communion with God in love is upon record in Scripture How much the Church the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints under the Old Testament suffered from the Principalities of the Kingdoms of the World appears Psal 2.2 How often are Kings said to be assembled against Sion Psal 48.4 How oft did Christ put them to â—ight with their Armies Psal 68 1â—,14 destroy them Psal 136.17.18 No sooner did Christ appear under
the New Testament but the Principalities of the World rose up against him Acts 4â—25 26. what began in his Person would be continued in his Saints Luke 21.12 what first befel the Apostles was continued to the Churches for three hundred years under the Principalities of the Roman Heathenish Empire when the Church after many pangs and hard Travel had brought forth the Man-Child Christ mystical in the Romans Empire No sooner were the Principalities of the Empire turned Christian but they turned Arrian and raised a new and more fierce persecution against the Saints that kept the Testimony of Jesus Here Christ sent in the barbarous Nations to ruine the persecuting Christian Empire and they brake the Western part of it in the European World into ten Kingdoms which helped the Church against the flood of Arrian persecution Rev. 12.16 But then they set up Antichrist and with one minde these ten Kings give their Power Rev. 17.12 13 14. and how much ever since the Saints of God have suffered under the Principalities of these ten Kingdoms is notoriously manifest What will be the fate of the Saints of the Church and Kingdom of Christ under all or any one of the Principalities of those Kingdoms while devoted to Antichrist is clear Let us consider what are the grounds of this great opposition the Princes Principalities and Lords of the Kingdoms of this world make against Jesus Christ and his Saints Reas 1. Christ and his Church Christ and his Saints which are his subjects are a Kingdom a great Principality set up by the God of Heaven in the days and â—n the midst of the Kingdoms of the â—orld Dan. 2.44 Therefore no wonâ—er â—t finds such opposition If one Kingdom be set up in the midst of another there will be continual Conflicts between the Princes and Principalities of both beâ—ween the Principalities of the world on the one side and Christ and his Saints on the other for every Kingdom Parem â—nec patitur nec superiorem can brook no Competitor in it self much less a Superior Secondly the Kingdom of Christ is of a growing increasing property Isa â— 7 It enters upon the World by Conquest and where it conquers it goes forth conquering Rev. 6.2 and never leaves till the seventh Angel sounds Rev. 11.15 God the Father hath given Christ a Kingdom Psal 2.6 a Kingdom that is extended over all the Kingdoms of the world verse 8. by the irreversible decree of God he shall rule them by a Scepter of grace as subjects or with an iron Rod â—s Rebels v. 9. no wonder it s so much â—ated and opposed Thirdly it is Regnum Crucis the Kingder of his Patience Rev. 1.9 It began in â—re form of a servant the first Throne on which it was set up was a Cross the first Crown that was bestowed on it was a crown of thornes and no way into this Kingdom but by many afflictions Acts 14.22 The Prince of this Kingdom was the Lord of Glory whom the World knew not and therefore crucified in the ignominy of a servant 1 Cor. 2.8 for they knew him not The Nobles and subjects of this Kingdom are none of the wise mighty and noble of the world but 〈◊〉 1. Cor. 1.26 27. The great Royalties and present Rewards of this Kingdom are two afflictions and persecutions Luke 22.28 29. Oâ— how contrary is this to the lusts pleasures sensual delights the Principalities of the Kingdoms of this world their only value No wonder therefore if the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints be vilified slighted opposed derided persecuted by the great the mighty the Principalities of the Kingdoms of this world Fourthly it is Regnum Nihilitudinis A Kingdom of Self-denial To which the Principalities of the World are most absolutely averse God hath sworn every knee shall bow to him Rom. 14.11 not only of the meanest but of the highest Potentates in the World He hath commanded Kings to Kiss Psal 2.11 He will have Kings to bring Presents to him Kings must throw down their Crowns at his feet Kings must have their Wills in subjection to his Will all their lusts to be his Vassals to be subdued spoiled condemned and crucified by him No wonder they say We will not have this Man Reign overus Fifthly it is an invisible Kingdom unconspicuons not attended with outward pomp and visible glory as the Kingdoms of the world which glory is yet but a Magical Inchantment which Satan the old Magician and god of this World hath put upon it Mat. 4.8 Christs Kingdom is not attended with worldly Pomp or Glory Luke 17.20 21. it is within you The Church the Kingdom of Christ is all glorious within The Principalities of Christs Kingdom are Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 all internal things The subjects of this Kingdom are put to walk by saith not by sight to believe things they have not seen to hope for things they know not the Kingdom of Christ in appearance is an ignoble thing Sixthly it is a heavenly and spiritual Kingdom it is not of a worldly Constitution John 18.36 it s frequently called The Kingdom of Heaven It s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in Heaven Phil. 3.20 All its Laws from Heaven all its subjects gathered out of the Kingdoms of this world and translated into the Kingdom of Gods deaâ— Son Col. 1.13 no wonder the Powers of Hell and the Principalities of this World oppose it Now I shall shew that no Principalities of the world shall be able to separate the Church from Christ or the Saints in the Church First the Church hath Emanuel God with us Isa 8.10 and in him more for her then are against her 1 John 4.4 The world hath Power therefore her Principalities are called Hornes Zach. 1.18 Rev. 17.12 Jesus Christ is furnished with all Power â—niversal Power Power and not weakness no Power without him and what can any Power do against him The World and its Principalities are furnisht with Wisdom and Policy much is spoken of the Wisdom of the World Psal 83.2 5. Christ hath all the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2.3 Wisdom by foolishness to bring to nought the understanding of the Prudent The World hath malice Jâ— 17.14 Christ hath more love love that amounts to a jealousie if Christs love â—â— angred displeased woe to them thâ— stand in opposition against him Zach. 1.14 Secondly because Christ ruleth still though in the midst of his enemies Psal 110.2 The Church of Christ which â—â— his Kingdom is like a Garrison besieged round about with enemies but is invincible by all oppositions for Christ râ—leth in the midst of her and her enemies He will rule in the spight of all his enemies and will rule securely in the midst of them none can separate believers believers from Christ who cannot first lead Christ captive or separate Christ from them Thirdly because Christ is both King of Saints and King of Nations Jer. 10.7 Rev. 15.3 This renders him and
his Saints invincible Rev. 17.14 Christ is an immortal King 1 Tim. 1.17 so is his Kingdom that which breaks in pieces Dan. 2 4â— 1. Use This informs us that how contemptible soever the Church seems and how inconsiâ—erable soever Saints appear yet there is something â—ormidable in them would else the Principalities of the World bend all their Power Wisdom Malice against them The Church is not only the object of the malice but of the fear of the highest Potentates of the world the hatred of the world against Saints is not like that with which a man hates a Toad he can easily crush but that with which a man hates a Lyon by whom he doth fear to be devoured Have we not seen the Principalities of the world mustering their strongest Armies engaging all their Allies and Confederacies laying deep Plots and Confederacies and against the poor Saints of Christ Certainly there is somthing formidable The Church is said to be terrible Can. 6 10. This is the Presence and Appearance of God in them Psal 14.5 2. Use Then Saints may well pray for their enemies as Christ commands them though the greatest the mightiest the Principalities of the World for though they may exercise much malitâ— towards them in their lesser Concerâ—ments they can never hurt them in their Communion with God nor separate them from Jesus Christ therefore the Apostle strengthens Christs Exhortation 1 Tim. 2.1 2. Besides such as now may exercise enmity against Christ are under great Promises in the last day Kings shall bring Presents as Testimonies of their Homage Psal 68.29 those that have persecuted the Church shall minister to her glory Isa 60.3 10. Those King that made Warr with the Lamb Goshall make hate the Whore Revâ— 17.16 And it s said Kings shall bring their glory into the New Jerusalem Revâ— 21.24 3. Use How much should this engagâ— Saints to be faithful to Christ in the highâ— est oppositions from the highest Power and Principalities of the World for he is faithful to them engages with them and for them and will bring them off invulnerable invincible Rev. 17.14 for they that are with him are faithful Resolve never to leave Jesus Christ who hath engaged that none of the mightiest oppositions of the world shall separate you from him 4. Use This may serve to strengthen our faith and quiet our fears concerning the issues of all the Councils Endeavors Projections of the great Polititians and Principalities of the Kingdoms of the World nor murmure against the wise dispensations of God thereby though sometimes they seem severe to his Church Nothing more unquiet then a Rock in the sea because ever assaulted with winds and waves yet nothing more safe nor immoveable God hath gathered believers into Communion with himself he hath founded this Communion on a Rock viz. the love of Iesus Christ nothing more unquiet because this Rock is assaulted in the midst of seas winds and storms of persecutions yet nothing more safe more inviolable because founded on à Rock ROM 8.38 39. I am Perswaded Nor Powers BY Powers I understand the Powers of Hell the Devil and his Angels called the Powers of Darkness Doct. Not all the Power of all the Devils in Hell shall be able to separate a Believer I. The Devil is a profest enemy to mankind as Rev. 12.9 but he exerciseth his greatest enmity against those God hath gathered in Communion with himself in love through Christ Therefore your Adversary 1 Pet. 5.8 your Adversary above all others This name Satan signifies an enemie and not only the Prince of Devils but every Devil is a Satan as that Text shews Matth. 12.26 First for the exercise of this enmity he is furnished with great power he is called a strong man arm'd a mighty Goliah that comes forth to defie the whole Host of Saints Luke 11.21 you read of the Power of Satan Act. 26.18 the Power of darkness Col. 1.13 Secondly great subtilty therefore call'd a Serpent the Serpent thus beguiled Eve 2 Cor. 11.3 now an old Serpent Rev. 12.9 Thirdly great Malice Rev. 12.12 17. hence call'd a Lion a roaring devouring Lion 1 Pet. 5.8 A Dragon a red bloody Dragon and a great one with seven Heads Rev. 12.3 to note his Power Policy and Principality II. This Power Policy and Malice of devils is manifested and exercised in his Temptations he is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Tempter Mat. 4.3.1 Thes 3.5 as men are called Lawyers or Physicians from their Profession or Employment It is his trade for this end he is said to have 1. His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or devices 2 Cor. 2.11 a word that signifies Crasty Counsels stratagems witty and fallacious Conceptions composed on purpose to deceive sophistical Argumentations acute Distinctions to elude the truth Satan manageth his temptations with great subtilty and dexterity Secondly his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or wiles Eph. 6.12 as Professors in Arts or Sciences use to bring all the Principles of that Art into a methodical Order So hath Satan his tempting Art in a method he hath reduced them into common places he knows what temptations fit with every temper every degree of grace every condition in Christianity Thirdly his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Depths Rev. 2.24 mysteries profundities hid under ground not easily discerned doctrines that have a shew of light humility knowledge wisdom holiness learning spirituality as himself and his Ministers and doctrines appear as Angels of light so his temptations Thus he deceived Eve Secondly in his Accusations he is call'd The Accuser of the Brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word signifies an Accuser an Impleader in some Court Rev. 12.10 I. He accuseth us in the Court of Gods Justice First somtimes by way of Complaint and Narration of sins they have committed he is the great tempter to sin and the first Accuser Zach. 3.1 This is call'd a drawing up of a thing against them Rom. 8.33 Secondly somtimes by way of suspicion and preconjecture Job 1.9 10 11. he charged him of hypocrisie II. He accuseth them in the Courts of men as David Psal 35.11 Acts 25.7 Act. 24.5 III. He accuseth them in the Court of their own Consciences by making them to question their Pardon by impleading their Evidences by misrepresenting their states by charging them as hypocrites unsound Christians thereby endeavoring to fill them with vexation sorrow and discontent Thirdly let us consider how much these Powers of darkness engage their power policy malice by all their temptations accusations to separate For we are said to wrestle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 6.12 about heavenly things not that these Rulers of darkness abide yet in heavenly places so it may be rendred Eph. 1.3 1. They oppose to the utmost the love of God to us in which we have Communion with God that kindnesse and love of God to mankind Tit. 3.4 is matter of everlasting envy and malice of devils that God should have love for fallen man
all things which have a true real being and subsistence there is life and there is death The Apostle doth not fight with his own shadow or in fighting only beat the Air he doth not propound to himself or us dangers evils enemies which have only a notional aiery empty existence but such as have a real solid being not one of them but believers may expect to encounter with at one time or other Secondly the multitude of them the Apostle reckons up but the chief Heads Leaders and Commanders of these evils enemies and dangers eight in number Death Life c. How many Armies of dangers evils enemies may march under the Conduct of every one of these Commanders are innumerable Psal 40.12 how many under death how many under life c. Thirdly the variety of them they are of divers kinds some arise from life some from death They are managed by variety of Agents and Instruments some by Angels good and bad some by Principalities and Powers They are inflicted at divers times some from the present some from the future They come from divers places some from the heighth some from the depth Fourthly the strange contrariety in them Death is opposite to life good Angels to bad the Principalities and Powers of the World opposite to one another things present opposite to things to come heighths to depths Here is Ephraim against Manassch and Manassch against Ephraim but both against Iudah here is Herod and Pilate at variance between themselves but both against Christ from these opposite interests arise dangers to the people and how contrary soever each to other yet they all one way or other endanger the salvation of Saints and most of them vigorously endeavor and design their destruction to the utmost These are the evils afflictions which may befal them who are in the love of God Little less the Apostle had declared before verse 35 36 37. should befal them upon the account of Christs love which is Tribulation Here the world is mustering up all its forces and arming it self with all the weapons of its indignation against them who are loved of Christ 1. Observe from hence all the evils the power and malice of the world can inflict may befal them that are under Christs love These here reckoned are the worst and they comprehend all the evils the world can inflict Secondly not only the worst of evils in the world may befal such but this in the highest degree not only tribulation but tribulation with distress not only distress but distreâ—s with persecution nor only persecution but persecution with famine nor only famine but famine with nakedness nor only nakedness but peril of life nor only peril of life but the destruction of the sword Not only to be troubled but to be distressed nor only distressed but persecuted nor persecuted only but famish'd nor only famish'd but stript naked nor only stript naked but in peril of life nor in peril only but killed by the sword killed all the day long This is misery to the height There are two evils which are commonly made to comprehend all the miseries in hell The pain of loss and the pain of sense Both these in their kind may befal those in this world who are under the love of God First Pain that ariseth from loss loss of all their outward comforts dearest relations and sweetest enjoyments of the world Mar. 10.28 29 what hath a man to lose more Paul Phil. 3.8 I have suffered the loss of all Secondly Pain of sense Heb. 11.35 36.37 Tortured You say these were of the Church of the Old Testament the New Testament Church hath greater Priviledges No compare Psal 44.22 with Rom. 8.36 the Apostle speaks in the same words as the Prophet as the words are the same the conditions are the same no difference between that Church and this and this in respect to afflictions We are killed all the day not one day but every day nor one part of the day but all the day though this slaughter do not befal every one in the Church every day yet it is probable no day passeth wherein more or fewer are slain in one place or other the Church suffereth every where in her Members and every day though every particular Member doth not We are counted as sheep sheep are killed to feed and to feast the ungodly world hunger and thirst as much after the blood and flesh of Saints feed and feast on it with as much delight as men do on slaughtered sheep hence that 1 Cor. 15.19 Secondly we are to demonstrate that all the evils afflictions that Saints suffet in this world either from God or from the world are upon the account of Gods love to them in Christ I All they suffer from God or his more immediate Instruments and Agents is 1. Because he hath loved them all his chastisements are from love Heb. 12.6 Rev. 3.19 Secondly as they are from love so they are for love for the further manifestation of Gods love to them and for the strengthning of their Communion with God in love Zach. 13.9 I. All they suffer from the power and malice of Satan and the world is upon the account of Gods love to them First either because God loves them there is an irreconcileable enmity between God and the world God hates the world and the world hates God and all that God loves and because God loves them Wherefore did Cain hate his brother because God shewed more love to Abel in accepting his offering wherfore did Ishmael persecute Isaac because God shewed more love to Isaac why did Esau hate Iacob because God loved Iacob and Secondly or because they love God more then the world wherefore did Pharaoh persecute Moses because he loved Christ the reproaches of Christ and the sufferings of his people above all preferments pleasures of sin in Pharaoh's Court or the rich treasures of Egypt Heb. 11 24 5 6. Thirdly or because hereby they might bring them out of love credit favour with God so much is imported Rom. 8.35 But they are never more in account with God more in Gods love then in and under the sufferings Heb. 11.38 Fourthly or because hereby they design to bring them out of love with God and Christ and the ways of God So much seems to be implied Psal 119 87. Psal 38.20 No Courtesiâ—s will oblige the ungedly except the godly will leave doing good The Grounds of this Point 1. To make all the Children conformable to his own Son and all the Brethren conformable to their elder Brother Rom 8.29 All our sufferings and afflictions are Christs Cup it is one and the same Cup Christ and his disciples drank of Mat. 20.23 And Christ saith Te shall indeed drink Now this Cup of Christ had in it not one or two only but a mixture of many bitter ingredients Secondly to conrâ—m Saints in the faith of Gods love and the love of Christ Acts 14.22 Consider here First the Apostles did