having a Dispensation from Heaven which the Pope keeps the Keys of and fearing no Power on Earth for she hath the Beast the Secular Power under her she sits upon him and rides him and is not only distinct from the Secular Power but above it so as what of the Secular Power is still left at Rome is under the Conduct and Management of the Church there being no Civil Administration of Justice or Exercise of Laws but what is authorized and allowed by his Unholiness the Head and the Cardinals the Shoulders Breasts and Arms of the Church or State Ecclesiastical To make this fully evident the Pope doth not only exercise a Power of appointing Seculars in Rome and near to it but he claims the like Supremacy abroad in the Islands far off If the Secular Princes fall off from him or if they will not be reconciled to him as Head of Holy Church he will excommunicate and depose them and dispose of their Crowns Thrones and Scepters from them That the Pope is a Temporal Prince as well as an Ecclesiastical Bishop i. e. makes Laws exacts Tribute raises Souldiers and acts as a Monarch which fairly affords him the Title of Beast that his Royal Robes Chair he sits in to his very Hose and Shooes with the Vestments of Cardinals is Scarlet no Man can reasonably doubt That what the Civil Power claims and the Ecclesiastical Power exercises are not incorporated or entirely mix'd that the Princely Pope is in the Masculine and his Spouse the Church in the Feminine is owned by all Parties That the Church-State doth sit upon ride and govern the Secular at Rome Italy and all its Territories that the Church of Rome owns that she is no Widow but hath a Head called his Holiness or Supreme Ruler of the Church is so evident that we cannot find them upon any File or Record of Controversy There remains therefore no more to be done at this time but to frame our Argument upon the Premises and leave the Reader to prove the Weight thereof in the Ballance Argument If there be no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or a great Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Then is Rome Papal or Church of Rome the Whore of Babylon here treated of But there is no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the Whore of Babylon here treated of To reinforce this Argument we challenge any profest Papists Atheist or any else to shew where any other People or Parties are to whom these Characters agree and then we shall be content to let fall our Argument X. This Beast that Babylon sits upon commands and governs is not only cloathed with Scarlet but is full of the Names of Blasphemy c. Which may be taken in a threefold Sense 1. For reproaching the Name of God 2. For telling Lies in Divine Things 3. For ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God And tho we will not excuse the Beast from the two former yet for brevity's sake we shall take the latter viz. the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to Him that saith I am God and my Glory will I not give to another X. Rome Papal or Church of Rome sits upon commands and governs that Beast or Scarlet Power that is not only cloathed with Scarlet Vestments but is full of the Names of Blasphemy which appears by his receiving allowing and encouraging the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God and to his Son of which we give you but these Instances 1. When this human sinful and wicked Head is called our Lord God the Pope whether this is not Blasphemy against God 2. When he is called Universal Head of the Catholick Church which none is but Christ 3. When he is called the Lamb of God the Light of the World the Root of David the Lion of the Tribe of Judah whether this is not Blasphemy against the Son of God 4. Whether when the Orders of the Church Oral Tradition the Decrees of Councils are said to be of greater Authority than the Scriptures which they call a Nose of Wax the Hereticks Ink-Rule are perniciously mischievous to the People whether this be not Blasphemy against God that spake and the Word of God spoken 5. When Angels the Virgin Mary and other unknown Saints shall be invocated with Addresses only becoming the Divine Majesty as if these Creatures were infinite and could hear us at so great a distance as is Earth from Heaven which they could not do if perpendicularly over us much less from all parts of the World over which they cannot be whether this ascribing Infiniteness and Adoration to the Creature that is only due to the Creator who is over all God blessed for ever be not Blasphemy 6. To conclude Whether making a God of a piece of Bread and calling the prophane Priest the Maker of the Creature be not ascribing that to the Creature which only belongs to God Is not this the vilest Blasphemy in the World worse if possible than Atheism it self For as Philosophers observe 't is better having no Opinion of God than such an one as is unworthy of Him which we shall close with this Argument Arg. If no People in the Christian World are born up and supported by a Beast full of Names full of such Names or Inscriptions of Blasphemy as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome must be this Babylon treated of But there is no People in the Christian World born up and supported by such a blasphemous Beast as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Ergo c. To reinforce this Argument let it be considered that none can pretend to fix this Character or Mark upon any Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome called Hereticks who have no such Beast to support them nor ascribe such blasphemous Titles or Adoration to any Creature in Heaven or Earth For they acknowledg the one God the Object of Divine Worship one Mediator between God and Man the Lord Jesus and God's sacred Truth to be the only Rule disowning all Principles and Practices contradictory thereunto Ergo 'T is not the Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome that are here meant XI Babylon that sits upon a Scarlet-coloured and blasphemous Beast is adorned with great Pomp and outward Glory very well fitting that Spirit that delights in Grandure Rev. 17.4 And the Woman was arrayed in Purple and Scarlet and deck'd with Gold and precious Stones and Pearl having a Golden Cup in her hand full of Abomination and Filthiness of her Fornication Which must be such as none of her Neighbours can match her in else no Note of Distinction XI
Emblem of Power c. And because in ancient Times as the Learned observe they were wont to make Scepters of such Rods and all Scepters have the Form or Shape of a Rod therefore the Original expresses the Rod and the Scepter by the same Word Gen. 49.10 The Scepter Shebet the Rod shall not depart from Judah c. This Scepter saith Mr. Caryl denotes two things 1. Authority to judg or command 2. Power to correct or punish 3. The Word sometimes refers to Ecclesiastical or spiritual Discipline or Censure of the Church Shall I come with a Rod c. 4. The Word is often used in Scripture to signify Punishment or Correction because Correction is often given with a Rod and therefore to be under the Rod is to be under Punishment or Affliction c. The Rod and Reproof give Wisdom Prov. 29.15 There is a Divine Rod of Chastisement for the Godly and an Iron Rod of Wrath and Vengeance for the Wicked And in this Sence the Words are to be taken in the above-cited Texts Parallels A Rod puts to pain if it be sharply laid on it makes the Person to smart and cry out c. So Afflictions are grievous and painful to Flesh and Blood they wound and pain the outward Man whilst the inward Man takes pleasure in them 2 Cor. 12.10 I take pleasure in Infirmities in Reproaches in Persecutions in Necessities in Distresses for Christ's sake Yet in another place the same Apostle saith No Affliction for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous Heb. 12.11 As the Spirit would not do those Evils which the Flesh would and doth so the Flesh would not endure those Evils of Sorrows and Afflictions which the Spirit gladly yieldeth to As a Believer delights in the Law of God after the inward Man when the Flesh is vex'd and troubled at it So he delights in the Rod after the inward Man when his corrupt Part is most impatient and unquiet under it Rejoyce when ye fall into divers Temptations that is Jam. 1. into divers Afflictions The Flesh hath its Sense and feels Smart but the Spirit is armed with Faith which overcomes the Smart Afflictions were not so much as a Rod Caryl if they did not pain and make smart and we are not so much as Christians if we cannot bear the Smart with Patience c. II. A Rod is used to correct not to kill Affliction is called a Rod in regard of the Hand that useth it a Sword is in the hand of a Judg and a Rod in the hand of a Father God deals with his People as a Father with his Children in chastizing them When we offend him he doth not take a Sword into his hand to slay us but a Rod to scourge us III. A Rod is used by a Father when no other Means will reclaim the Child So God never afflicts his People but when he sees there is need of it he seeing no other Means will do He doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the Children of Men. Lam. 3.33 IV. A Father hath divers Rods if one will not do and make the Child bow submit and humble himself another shall So God hath divers Rods He sometimes corrects with the Rod of Sickness Losses Crosses c. Sometimes with the Rod of Poverty sometimes with the Rod of Desertion and sometimes he uses the Wicked in his hand as a Rod to afflict and chasten his own People which is one of the worst of God's Rods and therefore David chose rather to fall into the immediate Hand of God than to be scourged with the Rod of the Enemy The Assyrian is called the Rod of God's Anger Isa 10.5 V. In using the Rod the tender Father always designs the Good of the Child So God in afflicting and chastening his People designs their great Good 'T is not for his Pleasure Heb. 12.8 but our Profit that we might be Partakers of his Holiness Inferences LEt those Christians who are under the Rod confess they have deserved it He hath not punished us according as our Sins have merited at his hands II. Let us from hence also learn to submit to the Rod and not strive and struggle with God O how uneasy are some Men and Women under Affliction O I could bear saith the Soul any thing but this Alas is it necessary that thou shouldest chuse thy own Rod God will correct us with what Rod he pleases according to his good pleasure it must be for the degree and kind of it too and are you troubled at the Rod at this Rod It may be you had rather God should afflict you some other way but God sees this is the best and no other will do the work upon your Hearts It may be if we had committed some other Sins and not such and such a Sin we should have been corrected but with such and such Rods and not with this which seems most cross and grievous to us Lam. 3 40. III. Let us labour to find out what God speaks to us by the Rod Let us search and try our Ways Many times we may find out our Sin in the Punishment of it Jer 8.6 Psal 51.4 IV. Let us confess our Faults when we are under the Rod God hearkens to hear what we say Against thee only have I done this thing and in thy sight V. Let us labour to be throughly humbled when under the Rod. Quest Some may say Why does God use the Rod Answ 1. Because Believers are his Children Fathers will look after the Good of their Children Prov. 22.15 To spare the Rod may be the Ruin of the Child Amos 3.2 2. Because the Sins of God's own People are grievous in his Sight You have I known above all the Families of the Earth and therefore will I punish you for your Iniquities VI. Hear the Rod The Lord's Voice crieth to the City and the Man of Wisdom shall see thy Name Hear ye the Rod and who hath appointed it 1. The Man of Wisdom is one that fears God Prov. 9.10 A holy Man is a wise Man and a Sinner is a Fool Holiness is the best Wisdom and Wickedness is the greatest Folly 2. He that escapes the greatest Evil and chuses the greatest Good is a Man of Wisdom 3. He that prefers the Good of his Soul before the Good of his Body is a Man of Wisdom 2. The Man of Wisdom will hear the Rod. 1. He will commune with his own Heart to find out the Cause of God's Anger the Cause of Affliction 2. He will tremble at God's Judgments 3. He will justify God under the Rod. 4. He is one that finds out God's Name in the Rod He finds out Anger in the Rod Mercy in the Rod Wisdom in the Rod Power in the Rod Faithfulness in the Rod c. 3. A wise Man under the Rod will endeavour to turn away and pacify the Anger of God There is it appears a Voice
Sacrifice of the Bullock and He-Goat a Type of Christ opened in nine Things Page 432 The Scape Goat a Type of Christ ibid The red Heifer a Type of Christ Page 433 Circumcision what it was a Type of ibid The Rock that was smitten a Type of Christ Page 434 Pillar of Cloud and Fire a Type of Christ ibid Passeover a Type of Christ Page 435 PHILOLOGIA SACRA The Second Part. The Schemes or Figures in Scripture opened OF the Figures of a Word Page 1 Of a Paranomasia Page 3 Of Antanaclasis Page 4 Of the Figures of a Sentence in Logism Page 5 to 11 Of an Erotesis or Interrogation Page 12 Of Figures of a Sentence in Dialogism Page 14 Of other Schemes of Sentences and Amplifications Page 15 to 25 A Learned Discourse of TYPES PARABLES c. wherein you have 1. The Definition of a Type Page 25 to 28 2. The Division of Types Page 28 3. Prophetical Types and typical and symbolical actions ibid. 4. Prophetical and Typical Visions Page 29 5. An Historical Type and its first Division Page 31 6. Other Divisions of an Historical Type Page 41 7. Nine Canons or Rules expounding Types Page 41 to 45 Of PARABLES Wherein shall be given 1. The Definition of the Word and Thing 2. It s Division 3. Canons respecting it Page 46 c. ERRATA PAge 25. line 35. for Faith read Hope P. 27. l. 29. for he undertook read he hath undertaken P. 269. l. 2. dele for P. 336. l. 27. dele viz. Tropes and Figures OR A TREATISE of the METAPHORS ALLEGORIES TYPES c. contained in the Holy Bible of the Old and New Testament The Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures asserted and vindicated and the groundless Cavils against the same detected and confuted THE main Scope of this Work being to offer some Assistance towards the explaining and finding out the true Sense and Meaning of the Holy Scriptures it will be convenient according to our Promise in our Specimen of this Undertaking to premise something touching the Divine Authority of that blessed Book For tho it be commonly own'd by Christians to be the Word of God yet since on the one Hand there are especially in this Atheistical Age too many amongst us whose Love of Sin and Resolutions to continue therein tempt them to seek for shelter in bold Contempt of or subtile Cavils against those Heavenly Oracles and on the other hand not a few poor Souls are sometimes shaken with Temptations and know not how to discharge themselves from the ensnaring Questions that they are often attaqued with touching the Divine Original and Authority of those Sacred Records Not so much for want of Assent thereunto as of a right Understanding or Consideration of the Grounds of that Assent and the true formal Reason thereof Therefore that with a perfect Security to our present and future Wellfare we may rely on that Book as the infallible Store-house of Heavenly Verities that great and only Revelation whereby God does Inform Rule and will Judg the World we shall set forth some Considerations evincing this most important Truth But finding that divers able and worthy Men have of late wrote most learnedly and excellently upon this Subject we shall upon that account be the more concise and tho we have said but little yet we hope enough to satisfy any rational considering Man and confute the vain Cavils of the Adversary for all along in this Essay we strive to join Perspicuity with Brevity and to speak so plainly and familiarly that the weakest Capacity may with ease gather it up the neglect hereof having rendred the Labours of some others on the same Subject less serviceable to the vulgar unlearned Reader It being our great Design to endeavour the Help and Establishment of the Unskilful and to assist weak Christians knowing that if Satan can once bring them into a diffidence of the Truth and Authority of God's Word he at the same Instant shakes the very Foundation of all their Hope and Religion And if the Foundations fail what shall the Righteous do Psal 11.3 That the Scripture or Book called the Bible is of Divine Original Inspired by the Spirit of God and therefore of infallible Truth and Authority Appears 1. The sublime Matter of the Scriptures shew them to be Divine I. By the Contents or Matters therein discovered and treated of which are so transcendently sublime and mysterious that they could never be the product of Human Invention or Discovery and therefore tho written by Men as Instruments must needs be revealed from above for what Human Brain could ever have imagined a * Ma◠28.19 1 Joh. 5.7 Trinity in the Deity or such an Existence of one simple Essence as this Book acquaints us withal It describes the Person of Christ so plainly fitly and excellently that if the Mind of Man consider it attentively of necessity it must needs acknowledg it doth far exceed the reach of a finite Understanding It discovers unto us the Misery and Corruption of Man by Nature together with that general defect of the whole Creation which tho some of the Heathen had some glimpse of yet could never find out the Cause nor how it came to pass No finite Intellect could ever have travell'd into such Heights and Depths touching the Nature of God and his Eternal Counsels that stupendious Contrivement for the Salvation of Man that the second Person should descend from Heaven and assume Human Nature into a Conjunction with the Divine take upon him in his own Person the Sin of Mankind and die for the World thereby making a satisfaction proportionate to infinite Justice so that God may show the utmost Act of Mercy in a Conjunction with the highest Exercise of Justice Nothing less than an Infinite Understanding could have found out Expedients to reconcile those two infinite Attributes in his dealings with an Apostate Creature It unfolds the Covenant of Grace which God made after the Fall all which can be drawn from no other Fountain but Divine * 1 Cor. 2.7 Eph. 3 4 5. Revelation it contains the Law of God which is wise and just the Gentiles themselves being †Dan 4 5 6 7. Judges In its Precepts shines forth its Divinity 1. The surpassing Excellency of the Act requiring that we should deny our selves in all those things which the corrupt Nature of Man cleaveth to and hateth to forego 2. The wonderful Equity that doth appear in every Command 3. The admirable strangeness of some Acts which a natural Man would account Foolishness and yet prescribed as absolutely necessary ‖ Joh. 3 36. 8.24 shews its Divine Original 4. The manner how Obedience is required viz. that it proceed from a pure Heart a good Conscience and Faith unfeigned * Deut. 6.5 1 Cor. 13.1 1 Tim. 1.4 5. Take a view of the Ten Commandments are they not plain brief perfect just extending to all binding the Conscience and reaching to the very
of the Mind Will and Counsel of God as is sufficient by the Blessing of God upon a consciencious reading thereof to acquaint a Man with the Mysteries of Salvation to work in him a true Faith and bring him to live godly righteously and soberly in this present World and to Salvation in the next The Translators generally as they have been Men of Learning so likewise have they been honest and for the most part godly Men and thâ—refore would not for their own Honours sake and much more for Conscience sake abuse the World with any wilful false Versions to lead Souls into Error in a Matter of that importance Or if some shoulâ— have â—een so wicked others as learned and of better Principles would soon have discovered the Imposture Nor if we consider how many Men of different Persuasions have translated the Bible and harmoniously agree in all things of moment is it possible to imagine they should all combine so impertinently as well as wickedly to put a Fallacy on Mankind which everry one that has but bestowed a very few Years in the Study of the Languages can presently detect Object 5. How can we think the whole Bible to be of divine Inspiration when some parts of it contradict others The Divine Spirit cannot be contrary to it self yet is there any thing more opposite than the two Evangelists in reckoning up our Saviour's Genealogy St. Matthâ—w (o) Mat. 1.16 says Jacob begat Joseph the Husband of Mary (p) Luk. 3.23 and St. Luke says Joseph the Son of Eli. Answ The seeming Contradictions of Scripture for they are really no more are an Argument that in the writing of this Book there was no corrupt Design or Confederacy to engage the Opinions of Men and upon a due Scrutiny there will appear in them a deep and unthought of Concord and an unanimous Tendency towards the great End of the Whole 'T is our Inadâ—ertency or shallow Apprehension makes us think the Scripture is at variance with it self In the two Texts cited a natural Father is one thing a legal Father another For you must know that Joseph and Mary were both of one House and Family he descended from David by Solomon she by Nathan but in the Posterity of Zerobabel they were divided into two several Families whereof one was the Royal Race and that Linage Joseph was of which Matthew follows The other Family Luke follows whereof Mary was whom Joseph marries and by that means is called the Son of her Father Eli. So that here is no Contradiction but on the contrary an excellent Discovery of our Saviour's Line drawn down on bâ—th sides whereby it appears that as he was Joseph 's reputed Son so he had a Title to be King of the Jews and as he was born of Mary so likewise on her Side he descended from David as was promised of the Mâ—ssias But for reconciling all such seeming Contradictions see Mr. Streat 's Book entitled The dividing of the Hoof a very useful Piece and worthy Perusal I have but one Argument more to add from a very learned Author and then I shall close up all with the Testimony of the Reverend and Learned Mr. John Calvin 17. The internal Evidence of the Spiâ—it XVII And now it may not be amiss to add one Thing more which I could not pass by i. e. Notwithstanding the great Force and Strength of external Arguments and Motives to evince the Divine Authority of the Holy Scripture yet it is absolutely necessary to the stability and assurance of our Faith in order to eternal Life to have the internal Testimony of the Holy Spirit upon our Hearts or the effectual Operations thereof for if he does no otherwise work in and upon our Hearts but by the common Communication of spiritual Light unto our Minds enabling us to discern the Evidences that are in the Scripture of its own divine Original we should be often shaken in our Assent and moved from our Stability Therefore considering the great Darkness and Blindness which remains upon the Minds of Men all Things believed having some sort of Obscurity attending them besides the manifold Temptations of Satan who strives to disturb our Peace and weaken our Faith and cause Doubtings Happy are such who can experience the powerful Establishment and Assurance of the Holy-Ghost who gives them a spiritual sense of the Power and Reality of those Things believed whereby their Faith is greatly confirmed This is that which brings us unto the Riches of the full Assurance of Understanding (a) Col 2 2â— 1 Thess 1.5 and on the account of this spiritual Experience is our Perception of spiritual Things so often expressed by Acts of Sense as Tasting Seeing Feeling c. which are the greatest Evidences of the Property of Things natural 'T is the Holy Spirit that assists helps and relieves us against Temptations that may arise in us so that they shall not be prevalent And indeed without this our first prime Assent unto the Divine Authority of the Scriptures will not secure us but the Influence and Assistance of the Spirit in the midst of Dangers so strengthens the sincere Christian that it makes him stand as firm as a Rock who has no skill to defend the Truth by force of Arguments against those subtil and sophistical Artificers who on all occasions strive to insinuate Objections against it from its Obscurity Imperfection Want of Order Difficulties and seeming Contradictions contained therein c. Moreover there are other special and gracious Actings of the Holy-Ghost on the Minds of Believers which belong also to this internal Testimony whereby their Faith is established viz. his anointing and sealing of them his witnessing with them and his being an Earnest in them Wherefore altho no internal Work of the Spirit can be the format Reason of of our Faith or that which it is resolved into yet it is such as without it we can never sincerely believe as we ought nor be established in believing against the Temptations of the Devil and Objections of evil Men. It hath been already declared Dr. Owen saith a Reverend Divine that it is the Authority and Veracity of God revealing themselves in the Scripture and by it that is the formal Reason of our Faith or supernatural Assent unto it as it is the Word of God It remains only that we enquire in the second place into the Way and Means whereby they evidence themselves unto us and the Scriptures thereby to be of God so as that we may undoubtedly and infallibly believe them so to be Now because Faith as we have shewed is an Assent upon Testimony and consequently Divine Faith is an Assent upon Divine Testimony There must be some Testimony or Witness in this Case whereon Faith doth rest and this we say is the Testimony of the Holy-Ghost the Author of the Scriptures And this Work and Testimony of the Spirit may be reduced unto two Heads c. 1. The Impressions
forbidden but now through Christ there is a free Trade opened again to Heaven Convinced and repenting Sinners may be stored with all Things they need as Pardon Peace Union and Communion with God and eternal Life even all the Riches of Grace and Glory Ho every one that will Come buy and you that have no Money come buy Isa 55.1 and â—at yea come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price VI. Those that honour an Ambassador honour the Prince that sent him but those that abase slight or despise him do also despise the Prince or State that sent him We cannot despise this Messenger and yet honour his Master saith Mr. Gurnal VI. So those who receive and shew all due respects to Christ's faithful Ministers honour Christ whose Deputies they are and whose Person they represent Few are so bold as to say with that proud King Who is the Lord Exod. 5.2 that I should obey him Yet many dare say Who is the Minister that I should obey his Message or repent at his Summons or tremble at the Words he speaks What 's he Do I not know him What 's he better than us Shall I mind what he says A Rush for his Doctrine c. But let such read that Word He that heareth you heareth me Luk. 10.16 and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me VII An Ambassador should take heed he cast no Indignity upon his Office by any base or unworthy Practice he should behave himself with all Wisdom and Gravity and avoid all dirty and unseemly Actions for in so doing he would bring much Honour and Renown not only to himself but to his Master also that sent him VII So Ministers must be holy Men that they bring not themselves and the Dignity of their Function into Contempt A wise grave and gracious Behavior exceedingly becomes a Minister Paul saith he magnified his Office O then let others take heed they do not vilify and debase it That which another Man may do without much Reproach you cannot do but it will be to your great Blemish and Dishonour nay and to the Dishonour of Christ and of his Truth also VIII An Ambassador is to do his uttermost endeavour to negotiate and accomplish such Matters he is sent about he must see to his Charge For if the Treaty of Peace or Marriage or Ambassy for Commerce and Trade succeed not the Ambassador is sure to be called to an account how he hath discharged his Place c. VIII So Ministers must see the Work of their Place and Function They are saith Gurnal ' called Ambassadors in regard of their Duty as well as Dignity where there is Honor there is Onus Places of Honour are Places of Trust Many like well enough to hear the Ministers Dignity with Diotrephes they love Preheminence yet would willingly be excused the Work that attends it None have a greater Trust reposed in their Hands than Ministers 't is tremendum Onus a Weight that made the Apostle tremble under it I was among you saith Paul with much fear and trembling They have the Charge of Souls committed to them one of which is more worth than all the World no less than the Price of Blood the precious Blood of Jesus Christ To them is committed the Word of Reconciliation Hence they pray and beseech and use all Means imaginable to bring the Souls of Men to Terms of Peace and Reconciliation with God through Christ they knowing the sad and dreadful Effects if they speed not in their Ambassy Knowing the Terror of the Lord we persuade Men. And in another place saith Paul We pray you in Christ's stead be you reconciled to God For if the Treaty of Peace between God and Sinners doth not succeed the Minister is sure to be called to an account how he discharged his Trust in the Business c. IX An Ambassador is to keep close to his Instructions he is in nothing to act contrary to or derogate from his Commission IX So Ministers must see they keep close to the Word of God they had need to take their Errand well before they come into the Pulpit or Assembly of God's People I have received of the Lord what I delivered unto you They must speak nothing require nothing preach nothing but what is according to the Authority of God's Word which is above the Church Senates General Councils or any Authority whatsoever These Ambassadors must act and do exactly according to their Commission c. X. An Ambassador must not only act according to his Commission as to Matter but must deliver his Message also with much Zeal and with all due respect had to his Master or Prince that sent him He must not prosecute his Business coldly or after he hath had Audience give himself to the Pleasures of the Court where he is resident and mind his Affairs no more or not regard how his Master's Business succeeds What Answer will he be able to return Surely if he should do thus he could not say he had done the Work of a faithful Ambassador c. X. So Ministers must be fitted with Zeal and act diligently in their Places or prosecute their Business vigorously their Hearts must be deeply engaged in their spiritual Ambassy They are to preach with all fervency as having the Sense of Christ's Honour and the Worth of immortal Souls upon their Hearts and not only say Thus and thus saith the Lord and be satisfied to see People willing to give them the hearing Tho they may thank them for that Civility yet they must not quit them unless they see they accept of the Terms of Peace and Reconciliation offered to them in Christ's Name through the Gospel They must shew them the Profit that will accrue to them if they do comply and the Danger on the other hand if they do refuse and that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for them XI It behoveth an Ambassador to be faithful in all things to his Master's Interest and not to become a Pensioner to a Foreign Prince for such an onâ— is utterly unworthy of such an honourable Employment XI So Ministers must not comply with Christ's Enemies or seek for Reward from them such as would betray his Interest whatever is proffered them But as we are allowed of God to be put in Trust with the Gospel even so we speak 1 Thess 2.4 5. not as pleasing Men but God which trieth our Hearts For neither at any time used we flattering Words as ye know nor a Cloak of Covetousness God is Witness XII An Ambassador ought to seek the Interest of his Fellow-Subjects and shew much Love Care and Tenderness to them so far as the Interest of his Prince will bear and not to do any thing to the spoiling of their Trade c. XII So Ministers ought to seek the Good and Welfare of all the Saints and
delivered themselves into the hands of Justice 6. That Man can never have good Days that keeps an evil Conscience 7. On the other hand he that hath a good Conscience needs never be sad nor can he be without good Days for as Trouble and Horror of Conscience is the greatest Trouble so Peace of Conscience is the greatest Joy That Man can never want Musick saith Mr. Caryl that speaks in Consort and is harmonious with himself A good Conscience is the poor Man's Riches and the rich Man's chiefest Jewel a Jewel worth keeping It is saith one the best Pillow to sleep on and the best Dish to feed on A good Conscience is a continual Feast so the Geneva-Translation Prov. 15.15 Dan. 5.5 A good Conscience with a Dinner of Herbs is all Varieties but a bad Conscience makes all Feasts and Pleasures like the Hand-writing on Belshazzar's Wall 8. Labour to get and keep a good Conscience because an evil one spoils all the good and best Actions of thy Life it renders thy Prayers to be sinful 9. Consider Conscience is privy to all thou thinkest knoweth what Evil hath been done by thee in private seeth all the Evil thou hast committed and all the Good thou hast omitted the doing of and one day if evil Rom. 2.15 it will lay all open before the Eyes of God Angels and Men and come in as a Witness to charge and condemn thee for ever O therefore get a good Conscience 10. Take heed how thou carriest thy self towards Conscience because it hath a Regal Power in thy Soul a Commission either to accuse or excuse and if he condemns thee as an Unbeliever or as a false Hypocrite by the Light and Authority of God's Word 1 John 3.20 God will also assuredly condemn thee unless thou dost repent in the great Day 11. Consider what a glorious Mercy it will be to have such a Friend as Conscience witness for thee when thou art wrongfully accused and condemned by Men. This was that which bore up Job and holy Paul in their Troubles Job 27.6 2 Cor. 1.12 My Heart shall not reproach me c. This is our rejoycing the Testimony of our Conscience Quest Some possibly may enquire here How a good Conscience may be known or what Characters may be given of it Answ I shall give you some Rules to judg of a good Conscience both Negatively and Positively First Negatively 1. A blind ignorant and misguided Conscience is not a good Conscience Some think that God concerns not himself with their Actions takes no notice of their Hearts Words or Lives Others think that God is made up wholly of Mercy and tremble not at his Justice and so conclude it is an easy thing to get to Heaven One that I have heard of said That if it were as easy to get the Riches of this World as it was to get Heaven he would not care or to that effect not remembring that it is as hard to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven especially for rich Men as it is for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle Mat. 19.23 1 Pet. 4.18 and that the Righteous shall scarcely be saved Others think that those Men are Fools that make such a Stir and Ado about Religion thinking that is the best Religion that is easiest to the Flesh and is most free from outward Trouble whereas the Scripture saith 1 Tim. 2.12 that whoever will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution Some think the Laws of Men must be their Rule in all Matters of Faith and Religion and whatever Magistrates command must be done c. 2. A drouzy and sleepy Conscience is not a good Conscience A Conscience that is not throughly awakened will let a Man alone in Sin such can sleep upon the Brink of the greatest Danger tho they are just falling into the Gulph of Eternity yea can sleep under the most awakening Ministry tho Hell-Fire be thrown as it were in their very Faces yet Conscience giveth them not one Jog 3. A guilty Conscience is not a good Conscience when Conscience flies into a Man's Face for this or that Sin Tit. 1.15 some horrid Pollution or other loved and lived in 4. A seared Conscience a Conscience that hath no feeling in it is not a good Conscience 5. A despairing Conscience is not a good Conscience Such as think their Sins are greater than God can or will forgive Mat. 12.31 notwithstanding Christ hath said All Sins and Blasphemies against the Father and the Son shall be forgiven unto Men and those that believe not there is Life for them in Christ make God a Liar Secondly Positively 1. That Man hath a good Conscience that walks uprightly and faithfully to his Light according to what he knoweth If he hath only a natural Light and walks up faithfully to that then he hath only a natural good Conscience there is Moral Sincerity spoken of in the holy Scriptures Joh. 20.4 as well as Godly Sincerity Abimelech in this respect had a good Conscience In the Sincerity of my Heart and Innocency of my Hands Gen. 20.5 have I done this Here I might shew how a natural good Conscience may be known from a Conscience evangelically and spiritually good take two or three Hints 1. He whose Conscience is only naturally good is usually a proud Man Lord I thank thee Luk. 18 11. I am not as other Men c. Such seek their own Glory they sacrifice to their own Net and burn Incense to their own Drag all centers in Self the Principle of their Action is Self A Saint when his Gifts are highest his Heart is lowest when his Spirit is most raised his Heart is most humble 2. A Man that hath only a natural good Conscience his great endeavour is to still the Noise and stop the Mouth of it but never looks to have the Guilt removed and Filth washed away by Christ's Blood he seeth no need of a Saviour I was alive once without the Law Rom. 7.11 c. He is like a Child that hath got a Thorn in his Flesh who wipeth away the Blood but taketh no notice or thought how to get out the Thorn If bare Performance of Duties whether natural or divine will still or quiet the Conscience the Conscience is but naturally good 2. When Conscience compares a Man's Ways by the perfect Rule of God's Word by which he walks and finds it agreeable thereto 3. An evangelical good Conscience findeth a Man as careful of his Duty towards God as he is of his Duty towards Man and as careful of his Duty towards Man as of his Duty towards God Acts 24.16 Herein do I exercise my self to have always a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man 4. An evangelical good Conscience always stirs up to Obedience and Conformity to God's Word from the sight of the Excellency of it and Purity that is in it Thy Word is very
I dwell for I have desired it And as for sanctified Ones they are not only Dwellers in it but the very Materials of it so that it can never be without them It being also founded upon a Rock cannot fall Mat. 16 1â— The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it IV. Other Houses are liable to be destroyed either by Fire or razed by an Enemy so that one Stone may not be left upon another IV. But the House of God hath stood ever since it was erected notwithstanding the many Plots and Designs of Satan and his Instruments by one means or other if possible to have destroyed it so as that there might not have appeared so much as the Dust or Stones no nor so much as any Sign left in any Part or among any People in the World whether there had been such a Building or no. But blessed for ever be Jehovah that it may yet be said Walk about Zion Psal 48.12 13 14. and go round about her tell the Towers thereof mark well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that ye may tell it to the Generation following For this God is our God for ever and ever He will be our Guide even unto Death Inferences THis calleth aloud upon all the Members of God's House to strive more and more not only to be a meet Habitation for God but to beautify and adorn this House by their holy and heavenly Conversations Holiness becometh thy House O Lord for ever 2. Let all take heed how they defile or deface this House either by plucking out a Stone or a Pin or touching a Hair of the Head of any that are of this Building 3. Let all God's People examine what their Zeal is for God's House or whether they do truly prize the very Dust and Stones thereof The Church compared to a Family or Houshold Amos 3.2 You have I known above all the Families of the Earth 1 Tim. 3.15 The House of God which is the Church of the Living God Gal. 6.16 As we have Opportunity let us do good unto all Men but especially to the Houshold of Faith Eph. 2.19 Now therefore ye are no more Strangers and Foreigners but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God A HOUSE in the holy Scripture is sometimes put for the Family or Houshhold and sometimes for the Structure or Building it self In both these respects the Holy-Ghost runs the Parallel in respect of the Church Metaphor Parallel 1 Tim. 2.20 IN a great House are not Vessels of of Gold and of Silver only but of Wood and of Earth some to Honour and some to Dishonour SO in the Church of God there is a Mixture of Good and Bad Sheep and Goats sincere Christians and Hypocrites like as in a Eield there is a Mixture of Wheat and Tares and in a Floor of Grain there is Chaff as well as Corn tho when any appear unsound drossy and ungodly she turneth them out When the Family of Christ consisted but of twelve Men there was a Judas amongst them II. In a great Family there are Persons of different Ages of different Strength of different Relations to the Master of the Family and of different Employments II. So in the Church of God there are little Children young Men 2 Joh. 2.12 14. Heb. 5.11 12 13 14. and Fathers there are weak and stronger Christians some that stand in need of Milk some that are fit for strong Meat some that need to be led and carried in Arms some that are Teachers and Rulers and others that are taught and ruled III. The Master chief Head or Governor of a Family provides and takes care of all that belong to him 1 Tim. 3.8 hence the Apostle saith He that provides not for his Family is worse than an Infidel and hath denied the Faith III. So God the great and good Master of this heavenly Family doth and will provide for all and every Soul that belongs to him Mat. 6.25 to 30. Take no thought for your Life what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink nor yet for your Body what ye shall put on Why take ye thought for Raiment Consider the Lillies of the Field how they grow they toil not neither do they spin Therefore if God so cloath the Grass of the Field which is to day and to morrow is cast into the Oven shall he not much more cloath you O ye of little Faith The young Lions do lack and suffer Hunger but they that fear the Lord Psal 84.11 shall want no good thing He will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly My God shall supply all your Wants c. Phil 4.19 Casting all your Care upon him for he careth for you c. IV. A Family is also under the Government of him who is the chief Head and Ruler thereof IV. So is the Church under the Government of Christ and every Member is subject to that Authority Order and Rule which he hath left therein V. The Master of a Family defends his Family to the uttermost of his Power against all Enemies V. So doth the blessed God defend and preserve his Church whose Power is infinite So will the Lord of Hosts defend Jerusalem defending Zech. 9.15 also he will deliver VI. Every Person in a Family is privy to all such things as are publickly done in the House many of which ought to be concealed and not divulged to others It is a Reproach to a Person of an honourable Family to make known any thing that is done in the House which ought by all means to be kept secret VI. So each Member of the Church is privy to all such things as are done publickly therein and many things done therein do so particularly relate to the Family that it is an evil thing and justly to be reproved for any Member to divulge or make such private Matters known to others The Church of God in this respect as well as in some others should be as a Spring shut up Cant. 4.12 as a Fountain sealed c. VII It is a great Honour to a Family when it is well governed It was this very thing that the Queen of Sheba was so much taken with when she came to see Solomon 2 Kings 10.1 2 3 4 5. It is said When she saw his Wisdom and the House which he had built and the Meat of his Table and the Sitting of his Servants and the Order of his Ministers and their Apparel and his drinking Vessels and his Burnt-Offerings that he offered in the House of the Lord she was astonished c. In a Family the Governor ought to know his Place and all the rest to be in subjection or else great Confusion and Disorder will break forth Hence a Bishop ought to be one that rules well his own House having his Children in subjection with all Gravity What is more lovely in a Family than
Pilgrim but he had such a cruel Burthen upon his Shoulders that he tired before he came to the end of his Journey Covetousness or an unsatisfied Desire after the Things of this World is compared to a Burthen or Load of thick Clay Who enlargeth his Desires as Hell and cannot be satisfied c. Wo to him that encreaseth that which is not his how long Hab. 2.5 6 And to him that ladeth himself with thick Clay Would not a Man that hath a long Journey to go be laugh'd at should he carry with him a heavy Burthen of Dirt and Rubbish Such Fools are many Professors See Runner III. A Pilgrim in his Travels goes up-hill and down-hill sometimes he meets with good Way and sometimes with bad Way Sometimes he passeth over Stiles and through dirty Lanes and then again through green Fields and pleasant Pastures and delightful Paths till he comes to his desired Place III. So the Pilgrim that would travel to the New Jerusalem meets with various Ways and Passages 1. He must go out of the horrible Pit of Prophaneness that is Work enough for the first Day 's Journey 2. Through the Brook of sincere Repentance or true Contrition for every one that leaves open Prophaneness is not truly penitent 3. Down the Valley of Self-denial a very difficult Passage 4. Over the Mountains of Opposition for the Devil and all will straitway make head against him 5. Over the Stile of carnal Reason Immediatly I consulted not with Flesh and Blood 6. Into the pleasant Ways of the New Covenant 7. So upon the Top of the Rock of Ages and there he may take a Prospect of his own Country IV. A Pilgrim that hath a long and difficult Way to travel is very thoughtful how to find the right Way being a Stranger in that Country through which he must pass And besides being told there are many cross Ways and Turnings and hard difficult Passages to find he takes care therefore to get a good and skilful Guide lest he should lose his Way IV. So the spiritual Pilgrim spares no Cost omits no Study to get the best Information imaginable of the ready Way to the Land of Promise He ceaseth not to enquire of such as pretend themselves to be Guides and such as know the Way but finding them to be short-fighted and ignorant of the Way themselves he seeks further And as he goes along one cries This is the Way Mat. 24.23 another That Some bid him believe as the Church believes and he shall never go astray Others bid him coâ—form to the Laws of Men and do whatever the Supreme Authority of the Nation doth enjoin in Matters of Faith and Religion Others call upon him to be led wholly by the Light of his Conscience and that will bring him unto the Land of Promise the Place he longs for And at last he meets with another that seems yet to differ from them all and greatly to slight and condemn one grand Fundamental God's Word holds forth under plausible Pretences He cries up Holiness and just Living which all confess is required but in the mean time strives to persuade him to cast off the Satisfaction of Jesus Christ and trust to his own Righteousness or to refined Morality rendring Faith in Christ crucified little more than a Fancy and that the main Design of Christ in coming into the World was only to be a Pattern of Holiness and Humility But he perceiving the Danger great upon this account and that none of these Pretenders could give any convincing Evidence why they should be believed and their Counsel followed above others he rejected all their Directions and resolved to be led by none of them further than their Doctrine agreed with a certain Directory which through the Grace of God he hath obtained namely the written Word of God and that tells him plainly The Way is Christ viz. Christ as a Priest dying for him to appease the Wrath of God Joh. 14.6 and make Atonement for his Sin fulfilling the Law and bringing in everlasting Righteousness Christ as a King to subdue his Sin and to rule and reign over him Dan. 9.24 according to those blessed and wholesom Laws Ordinances and Institutions given forth by him and left in his Word Christ as a Prophet to teach and instruct him Christ as a holy Pattern and Example to imitate and follow so far as by the help of Grace he is able See Surety Sin a Debt The Word compared to Light The Spirit to a Teacher and Guide He hath learned of Christ to be holy and is helped therein by the Holy-Ghost to excell his Neighbour and denies all his Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and yet casts himself only on Christ relying upon his Merits labouring to be like him in all things as the Apostle observes 1 Joh. 3.3 He that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure He lets his Sins go nay loaths that which is evil he lives a mortified Life unto the World and yet trusteth not to any thing that he hath done or can do for eternal Life Acts 4.12 knowing there is no Salvation but by Christ alone He is as godly as any Socinian in the World and yet magnifies the Riches of God's Grace and Christ's Merits so as not to expect Justification any other way V. A Pilgrim often meets with Trouble and great Difficulties in his Way by Winds Storms and Tempests hard Weather Cold Frost and Snow deep and bad Ways and many Dangers which he narrowly escapes V. So the spiritual Pilgrim is also exposed to many Difficulties in his Journey Heaven-wards Terrible Storms sometimes arise Winds of Persecution and Temptation blow so hard that he is scarce able to stand upon his Legs Psal 73.2 My Feet were almost gone my Steps had well nigh slipt c. He is often beset with Crosses and Afflictions that he is as a Man in the Mire and can hardly get out VI. A Pilgrim is a Stranger in the Country through which he passeth and being not known he is much gazed on and sometimes abused by the rude Rabble all which he takes with patience and makes no resistance VI. So the Godly are Strangers in this World And confessed Heb. 11.13 that they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth David breaks forth Hold not thy peace at my Tears Psal 39.12 for I am a Stranger with thee and a Sojourner as all my Fathers were Hence they are made oftentimes a Gazing-stock to Men by Reproaches and Afflictions Heb. 10.33 And how grievously have they been abused by the wicked Rabble of the Earth as Jesus Christ himself testifieth If ye were of the World the World would love its own Joh. 15.19 22. but because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you All these things will they do unto you because they know not him that sent me VII A
constituted Watchmen by the Lord Son of Man Ezek. 33.7 see I have made thee a Watchman to the House of Israel 'T is Christ's Prerogative to appoint Watchmen c. V. Watchmen are not for themselves but for the Flock for the whole Flock Town Parish or Army where they are set as Watchmen V. So a Minister is appointed to watch not only himself but God's Flock the whole Flock that is committed to his Charge yea every Member of the Church he is to look after the poorest as well as the richest and not seek theirs 2 Cor. 11.28 12.14 but them VI. Watchmen are to give an account of the time of the Night Men go to the Watchman to enquire he says 't is such or such an Hour Watchman what of the Night Isa 21.12 c. The Morning cometh and also the Night VI. So Christ's faithful Ministers are to give an account of the Night they ought to be well-skill'd in the Times to shew what Israel ought to do O that our Watchmen had more Knowledg upon this account that they could but tell how long Paul told the Romans Rom. 13.10 11. the Night was far spent and the Day was at hand Our Watchmen begin to speak after the same manner The Morning cometh the Morning of that longed-for Day of Christ's Kingdom and the Night that eternal Night of Babylon's Ruine VII Watchmen are exposed to Danger and much Hardship they are oftentimes set upon and basely abused in the Night whilst they are upon their Duties by evil quarrelsom and mischievous Persons and endure many cold Blasts VII So the Ministers of the Gospel are often set upon whilst they are upon the Watch. See how it befell Peter and John Acts 4. and Stephen chap. 7. and the great Minister of the Gentiles St. Paul himself Acts 16. whilst he was preaching Christ The Magistrates rent off their Clothes and commanded them to be beaten and when they had laid many Stripes upon them they cast them into Prison c. VIII Watchmen many times through their Care and Diligence by discovering approaching Evils prevent much Danger and Misery from falling upon Men. Some by this means have been delivered from being burnt in their Beds when a violent Fire hath broken out suddenly in the Night they cry out Fire Fire to awaken People when they are asleep VIII So Christ's Ministers by opening the State and miserable Condition of poor Sinners to them and of the Necessity of speedy Repentance in turning to the Lord and closing with Jesus Christ have prevented great Danger that was near them I mean as Instruments in the hand of God By this means many poor Souls have been delivered from eternal Burnings in Hell Ministers cry out Fire Fire Hell is exceeding hot to rouse secure Sinners Inferences WE may infer from hence That God takes great Care and shews much Pity to the Sons of Men in that he hath provided his faithful Ministers to watch over them II. It also shews that all true Ministers are Ministers of God's making Ezek. 33.7 Son of Man I have made thee a Watchman c. There are many that God never made Ministers nor doth he approve of them III. It shews what the Work and Office of a Minister is also that their Work is hard A Watchman's Work is an hard and difficult Work Many endeavour to avoid coming upon the Watch shifting it off to others and rather chuse to pay their Money than serve in their own Persons Watchmen are upon Duty when others are asleep in their Beds Thou shalt give them warning from me Ezek. 3.17 Ministers must not come in their own Names but in Christ's Name As they come with God's Word they come in his Name in his Authority to reprove admonish comfort c. Ministers must learn as well as teach What I received from Christ I delivered to you c. Greenhill on Ezek. 3.17 Thou shalt hear the Word at my Mouth They must not come with Man's Word or warn People to be subject to the Traditions Inventions and Doctrines of Men I will stand upon my Watch and set me upon the Tower Hab. 2.1 and will watch to see what he will say unto me Ministers compared to Trumpeters Isa 58.1 Cry aloud spare not lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet Joel 2.1 Blow ye the Trumpet in Zion 1 Cor. 4.8 If the Trumpet give an uncertain Sound who shall prepare himself for the Battel MInisters may fitly be compared to Trumpeters as divers worthy Men have observed from these and some other Texts of Scripture They were the Priests of the Lord in the time of the Law that blew the Trumpets c. Simile Parallel A Trumpeter ought to have Skill and be well instructed to blow a Trumpet before he take upon him that Employ SO a Man ought to have much Wisdom and be well-instructed in the Mysteries of the Gospel and also with the Work Care and Office of a Minister before he take upon him that great Employ Ministers ought to be experienced Men. II. A Trumpeter ought to be one that is strong to blow for that weak and defective Men cannot sound a Trumpet II. So Ministers ought to be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his Might endued with much of the Spirit that they may lift up their Voices like a Trumpet III. A Trumpeter is called to that Place and Office by the Captain or chief Commander of the Troop A Man is not to force himself upon a Troop and say I will be your Trumpeter but must be tried listed and orderly entred into that Troop III. So every true Minister must have a Call to that Place and Function by Jesus Christ that is to say ought to be a Person well-gifted and qualified for the Work and that in the Judgment of the Church and there to be chosen and called forth by them How shall they preach except they be sent A Man Rom. 10. or Member of a Congregation must not force himself upon a Church or People and say I will be your Preacher I have a Gift and can serve you but must be tried by the Church who is the competent Judg of his Fitness for that Work and so be orderly admitted IV. One or two Trumpeters usually belong to every Troop of Souldiers IV. Every particular Church hath one or more Ministers or Gospel-Preachers belonging to it V. A Trumpeter is to sound to prepare Men to Battel V. So the Gospel is to be preached to prepare and fit Souls to fight the spiritual Battel against Sin Satan the Flesh and the World VI. A Trumpeter ought to know all the distinct Notes or Sounds he is to sound sometimes to sound a Call sometimes an Alarm sometimes a March sometimes a Battel c. There are many certain and distinct Sounds and every Souldier as we have elsewhere shewed ought to be well acquainted with it and to know them all If the Trumpet
made the Clouds as useful as so many Buckets to draw up Water out of the Sea and the Wind is made use of as an Hand to carry these Buckets or Clouds whithersoever the great Creator pleaseth to distill it down upon the Earth that the Earth might be replenished and made fruitful by it SO Ministers receive all their spiritual Rain out of the great Fountain of all Fulness Of his Fulness have we all received c. and that by the Spirit that so their Doctrine might drop as the Rain upon the tender Herbs Deuâ— 32. â— and as Showers upon the Grass 'T is according to the Gifts and Operations of the Spirit be it more or less that these spiritual Clouds are filled and as God is pleased to distil and bless the Word it becomes profitable and makes this or that Man fruitful in Grace and Holiness What abundance of Fruit have the Saints brought forth under the dropping of these Clouds II. Clouds are prepared by the wise God as fit Mediums to let Rain down that so it might fall gradually as the Earth is able to take it in to the benefit of all things that grow thereon and not to its detriment as possibly it would were it not that God made use of the Clouds II. Ministers are appointed by the Lord as Instruments to communicate of his Grace and Divine Goodness to the Children of Men. If he should make use of other Mediums it might be to our hurt should he speak to us himself we could not 't is possible be able to bear the hearing of his Words The poor Israelites desired Moses to speak to them would not that God should speak to them any more lest they died III. Clouds let down their Water more freely at one Time than at another now and then it falls down wonderfully III. So the spiritual Clouds sometimes pour down or rather out the Divine Rain in a plentiful manner at other times they seem much straitned in their own Spirits IV. Clouds let down their Water at God's Command and they obey his Voice IV. So Ministers preach at God's Command 't is He that openeth their Mouths 't is as the Spirit gives them utterance V. 'T is a great Judgment upon a People when God commands or restrains the Clouds from raining upon the Earth or upon this or that particular Nation Field or Vineyard V. So 't is a severe and sore Judgment upon a People or Congregation when God suffers his Ministers to preach no more unto them or makes their Ministry of no advantage or profit to them I will command the Clouds Isa 5.6 that they rain no Rain upon it c. VI. Clouds are of great profit to those who have weak Eye-sight in that they are as a Vail between the bright shining of the Sun and them for the Light must be proportionable to the Sight or else the Eyes are confounded VI. So the Ministers of the Word of God are of infinite use and advantage to poor Mortals For we have all but weak spiritual Sight and cannot behold the Glory of God nor take in Divine Mysteries without these blessed Mediums God is pleased to make use of in his gracious Condescension to us and therefore God speaks to us by Men like our selves and opens heavenly Things by earthly Similitudes c. Inferences LEt us pray that these spiritual Clouds may be full of Divine Rain 2. It shews us the great Wisdom and Condescension of God to Mankind and what great Profit we receive by the Preachers of the Gospel 3. It shews the great Folly of all those that go about to stop these Clouds from raining when God hath given them a Command Will they attempt to hinder the Light from shining or the Clouds from raining at their pleasure Even thus they attempt spiritually when they strive to hinder Christ's Ministers from preaching the Word or obstruct the Showers of Gospel-Grace from falling upon the Souls of Men. Ministers compared to Fathers 1 Cor. 4.15 For tho you have ten thousand Instructors in Christ yet have ye not many Fathers for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel MInisters are Fathers spiritual Fathers to Believers Metaphor Parallel FAther is a Name of Dignity Headship and Authority hence the Rulers of Israel were called Fathers MInisters are Men of Name Power and Dignity they are Christ's Substitutes hence called Rulers II. Some are called Fathers because they beget Children this is the common Appellation and Notion of the Word II. Ministers by the preaching of the Gospel in a spiritual way beget Christians to Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 4.15 I have begotten you through the Gospel III. Fathers train up and nourish their Children shewing much Tenderness and Compassion towards them they are said to pity their Children III. Faithful Ministers also train up those Christians they have begotten to Christ in the further Knowledg of the Truth being very tender of them As you know how we exhorted and comforted 1 Thess 2.11 and charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children IV. Fathers have Power to command their Children I know him that is Abraham that he will command his Children c. IV. So Ministers of Christ have Power in his Name to command those Christians who are under their special Care and Charge to do their respective Duties These things teach and command 1 Tim. 4.11 2 Thess 4.6 Now we command you Brethren in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you withdraw from every Brother that walketh disorderly c. V. Fathers ought to be reverenced and honoured by their Children Honour thy Father and thy Mother c. and their just Commands to be observed and obeyed V. So faithful and worthy Ministers ought to be highly esteemed and honoured by the Saints Mal. 1.16 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be accounted worthy of double Honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine VI. A Father ought not to be rebuked by his Children it becomes them not so to do tho he may be in a Fault and blame-worthy but entreated VI. So the Minister of Christ ought not to be rebuked by any particular Members of the Church to whom he belongs tho in some things he may be blame-worthy Rebuke not an Elder 1 Tim. 5. but entreat him as a Father Tho I doubt not but that the Church after a due and orderly Proceeding with an Elder if he be under Evil and obstinate may be rebuked nay not only so but further proceeded against also VII 'T is the Honour of a Father to rule and govern his Children and whole Family with Wisdom and Discretion VII So 't is a great Honour to a Minister or Pastor of a Church to rule and govern the Congregation where he is placed wisely behaving himself in all things not to be soon angry peevish nor self-conceited but to study the Rule and impartially to carry it with an equal
the Word reflects back upon himself as it were Physician heal thy self Paul could say in the truth of his Heart to the Saints It is not yours but you I seek This was the beastly Sin which God so loathed in the Prophets and Rulers of Israel You are greedy Dogs which can never have enough that cannot understand they all look to their own Way every one for his Gain from his Quarter Compared with that of Micah 3.11 The Heads thereof speaking of Zion judg for Reward and the Priests teach for Hire and the Prophets divine for Money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst us VI. Faithful Rulers are a great Blessing to a People and ought to be cheerfully obeyed reverenced and submitted to 'T is a great Sin to speak evil of Dignities or despise Dominions Râ—m 13 1. Let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers c. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake 1 Pet 2.13 14. whether it be to the King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Foundation and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the People the Foundation of a People as Supreme or unto Governors c. VI. So Ministers faithful and able Ministers are no small Blessing and Sign of God's Favour to a People yea great Benefit we receive by them in many respects as might be shewn They feed guide counsel and pray for us as well as rule and govern us and therefore they ought to be with all readiness obeyed Obey them that have the Rule over you Heb. 13.17 and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give an Account c. And to speak evil of Ministers is to despise their high and holy Function 't is a God-provoking Evil. There were some in the Apostle's Times who were crept into the Church who like Corah spake against the Dignity and Power of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who in a sence are said to be the Foundation of God's People whom the Apostle characterized and shews what their End is like to be Who were presumptuous self-willed and were not afraid to speak evil of Dignities Their Hearts rose against the Servants of God for exercising Authority in Christ's Name which is given to them What said Korah All the Lord's People are holy c. as if he should have said Is this Moses more than others But we see what became of him Numb 16. VII Some Rulers or chief Magistrates do not cannot pass any Act or Law such is the Nature and Constitution of the Government where they live without the People No Law can be made but with the Assent and Consent of the People in their Representatives in Parliament as it is here in the English Nation VII So Christ's Ministers or Pastors of Churches cannot by virtue of any Authority given by the Lord Jesus pass any Act either for the receiving in or casting out of Members c. without their Brethren c. They must have the Assent and Consent of the Church Many Reasons might be given for it which I shall omit If he neglect to hear the Church Mat. 18.17 let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man or Publican VIII Rulers should rule their People in Love shewing all Tenderness and Bowels to the Disobedient like tender-hearted Fathers unless it be towards those that are notorious Criminals VIII So should Ministers labour to act in their places towards the Saints in Love and to shew all Tenderness and Meekness with Compassion to such who through weakness transgress See Fathers and not to be severe to any unless obstinate and capital Offenders on such Justice ought to be executed IX Rulers that rule well are worthy of double Honour IX So faithful and laborious Ministers that rule God's House well ought to be greatly respected 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double Honour X. Rulers are very needful there is a great Necessity in all Societies and Communities of Men of Government and Rulers What is a Nation City or Family without Rule Rulers or Government but Disorder and Confusion X. The Need there is of Rulers in God's Church is very great God being a God of Order and not of Confusion in all the Churches of the Saints The Necessity of them appears by considering the Nature of divers of the Metaphors we have opened concerning them What would become of a Flock of Sheep if they had no Shepherd c. Rulers Disparity RUlers or earthly Governors are commonly Noble-men Men of great Name cloathed with outward Glory and Grandure CHrist's true Ministers are of little or no esteem in the eyes of the Men of the World they are commonly accounted base low and contemptible c. Ye see your Calling Brethren 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28 29. how that not many wise Men after the Flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish Things of the World to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak Things of the World to confound the Things that are mighty and base Things of the World and Things which are despised hath God chosen yea and Things that are not to bring to nought Things that are that no Flesh should glory in his Presence II. Many earthly Rulers are Lords and lord it over their Brethren II. But Christ's Ministers are contented to be Servants Even as their Lord and Master came not to be ministred unto but to minister and was on Earth as him that served So his Ministers must not assume the Title of Lords nor must they lord it over God's People Neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Ensamples to the Flock 1 Tit. 5 3. Inferences ANd now to conclude with this Head from the Whole we may infer these Particulars following 1. That a true Minister of Christ is one that is truly converted a gracious holy and sincere Person one that hath the experience of the real Work of God upon his own Heart 2. A Member of a true constituted Church i. e. a Community of godly Christians that have given up themselves in a solemn Covenant in the Fear of God to walk in Fellowship and Communion together according to the Rule of the Gospel amongst whom the Word of God is truly preached and the Ordinances duly and in a right manner administred 3. That he ought to be chosen by the Church according to the Direction left by the Apostle 1 Tim. 3.1 to 6. Tit. 1.5 to 9. 4. That he ought to be a discreet Person endued with considerable Gifts and Abilities by the Holy-Ghost 5. If called to be a Pastor or Elder he ought to be ordained by the laying on of hands of the Presbytery or Eldership 1 Tim. 4.14 1 Tim. 4.14 6. That he ought to be very laborious and give himself wholly to the Work of the Ministry making the Word of
only a Woman and a City but a very evil Woman and a City of Confusion There is the Name of the Lamb much spoken of but his Doctrine undervalued and slighted his Laws trampled upon and violated his Example not regarded for Imitation either by the Bishop himself his Cardinals or inferior Orders having his Humility and Self-denial only in Words like those the Apostle speaketh of that in Words profess God but in Works deny him For under this verbal Humility here is the greatest Pride in the World under this verbal Meekness and Self-denial the greatest Oppression and Cruelty Covetousness and Love of the World as appears by their pompous Garbs their cruel Punishments and the vast Sums of Money brought in from all parts of their Dominion by Sleights and cunning and deceitful Cheats Besides a meer Hodg-podg of Principles one Order or Fraternity professing that which another writes against and cries down which is the more strange to come from a Church infallible Besides the strange Mixtures in their visible Worship of Traditions and human Inventions of lying and diabolical Tricks of blessing by a Cross consecrating holy Water and cleansing by it which are too numerous and tedious to relate and the less needful because every Man that hath seen their Ways hath an imperfect Book of it in his own Mind and can read the Truth of what we say within himself And let any People in the Christian World pretending to Religion be compared to them for supernumerary trifling and insignificant Ceremonies crouded into their pretended Worship nay let all the People in the Christian World be laid in the Ballance against the Church of Rome in this respect and they will be found inconceivably wanting for which we have this Reason to judg her to be Babylon and the City of Confusion If there is more Confusion in Contrariety of Principles Practices contradicting Pretensions crouding in Supernumeraries and Mysteries of Unscriptural Inventions into visible Worship in Rome Papal or the Church of Rome than is to be found amongst any or all People pretending Religion in the Christian World besides Then is Rome Papal or the Church of Rome the great Babylon or City of Confusion But there is more Confusion in the forementioned Respects to be found in Rome Papal or the Church of Rome than in any or all People pretending Religion in the Christian World besides Ergo c. IV. Babylon is not only a Woman and a City a City of Confusion but she is a Whore which is a strange Word to be applied to a great and famous People a Word that carries in it one of the highest Impeachments but no other than was given to Israel Isa 57.3 16.17 Hos 4. 5.3 Judah and Jerusalem in the Days of old upon a very good Reason for they being joined in Covenant with God to serve him in Obedience and Subjection did like to an adulterous Woman break Wedlock and set up other Lovers or Idols in his stead Ezek. 16.38 Hos 1.9 2.2 5. and continued so a long time till a Bill of Divorce was given and God proclaimed them not married to him as his Wife but a Whore and divorced yet it is observable that they used his Name tho they worshipped Idols and cried The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are we IV. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not only a Woman and a City a City of Confusion but according to Scripture-History and notorious Matter of Fact she is a Whore also and may be justly so called for in the Apostles Time she joined her self to the Lord by firm Ties of a Gospel-Govenant and Profession and was the renowned Spouse of the Son of God owned and profess'd him in the Time of Heathenism received the Apostles and Servants of God amongst them withstood the Fury of the Emperors suffered Persecution had their Faith spoken of throughout the whole World and yet after all this like Israel of old she left God and his holy Laws made Idols to her self of Saints Angels Reliques and Images upon which she doted and forsook the Son of God upon the working and appearance of the Man of Sin who exalted himself into the place of Christ and became her Head by which means she is so far degenerated from what she once was that she retains nothing holds fast nothing of what really appertains to true Godliness but the bare Names of God and Jesus Christ having corrupted the true Worship of the Son of God her first Husband and notoriously abandoned Obedience to him taking this vile Person to be her Head and chief Guide and setting him in the Place of and Dignity above her first Head and true Guide of her Youth and yet like Israel of old still cries The true Church the Catholick Church the Mother-Church are we having on her Forehead a strange Mystery written i. e. God Christ Truth Verity Infallibility and next to this there lies nearest her Heart Devil Pope Lying Deceit Perjury Idolatry and horrible Cruelty towards the best of Men professing Christ and Religion in Uprightness and Truth For which Change of her first Head Husband and Guide of her Youth for this vile Person with which she commits most abominable Lewdness together with the Kings of the Earth she is ranked by the Angel amongst the worst of Women and stiled as her Type and Predecessor of olâ— a well-favoured Harlot or of the Angel a Woman a City and notorious Whore which ill and black Characters we conclude with this Argument If there be no Body of professing People in the Christian World that hath so apparently deâ—lined or adulterated from what they once were deserted the holy Doctrine Example and right Government of Jesus Christ and set up another visible and publick Head of the Church in room and stead of him whose Power and Laws are preferred above and before the Authority and Laws of the Lord Jesus as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath done Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this Whore spoken of But there is no Body of professing People in the Christian World that hath so apparently declined or adulterated or deserted the holy Doctrine Example or right Government of Christ ut suprà Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is this Whore spoken of To reinforce this Argument let it be shewed by any Man that any People different from the Church of Rome hath made such a Change in point of Religion and Headship and Matters thereto pertaining so as that this black Character of Whore can more fitly and fully be made to meet upon them and we must confess our Argument not weighty but till then we conclude it carries Conviction in the Bowels of it V. Babylon this Woman this City of Confusion this Whore is a very great Woman City and Whore And the great City was divided Rev. 16.19 Chap. 17.18 chap. 18.10 Verse 16. And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City