savorie doctrine and holy example they season others changing and altering them for the better And on the other hand being bad themselves they infect others So as what the Lord speaks of the Prophets and people of Israel in another sense Hos. 4. 9. We may use it in this Like Preist Like people Surely it was not without cause that the Lord sending his destroying Angell to Ierusalem he orders him to begin at the Sanctuarie Ezek. 9. 6. From thence came the rise of all those Abominations that were done in the midest of that Citie of which he speakes verse 4. they began at the Preists who if they had not been first corrupted themselves the people had not been what then they were Thus are the Ministers of God like Stars for those Influences which they have upon the people To which I might add did I not feare the straining of this string as an enlargment or further improvement of this Resemblance Stars having such an Influence upon the earth they have also a power of Binding and Loosing Such are the properties of those two a foresayd Constellations Pleiades and Orion The one bindeth the earth with the hard frost the other looseth it by the warme ayre and showres And such a power hath Jesus Christ given to these Stars the Ministers of his Gospel a Binding and a Loosing power This power he gave to Peter Mat. 16. 19. I will give unto thee the keyes of the Kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth shall be bound in heaven whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth shall be loosed in heaven But not to Peter alone but to the â—est of the Apostles and Disciples as well as to him So you shall finde it Ioh. 20. 23. Where explaining what he meant by binding and loosing with their solemn Mission he giveth them this Commission Whosoever sinnes ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosoever sins ye retayne they are retayned This power did Jesus Christ give unto them and their successors putting the Keyes of the Kingdom of heaven into their handes the Keye of Doctrine and the Keye of Discipline whereby they open and shut binde and loose binde the Obstinate loose the Penitent both which they doe in a Ministeriall and declarative way Even as it may be conceived of those two foresayd Constellations Orion and Pleiades the one bindeth the earth the other looseth it But how Not meerely by their owne influence as being the sole or yet principall Cause of that Change for that is to be attributed to the Sun which by his Recess and returne maketh that alteration but they by their rising notifie those changes Even so is it with these Stars the Ministers of Christ what herein they doe they doe it not by their owne power or vertue as Peter said of his healing the Cripple Act. 3. 12. but by Anthoritie from Jesus Christ in his name declaring what his will and pleasure is Here is a sixth Resemblance To which I might yet add some other which are reached unto me by other handes But I would not seeme to straine the Allegorie by drawing that from it which it will not naturally and voluntarily yield And I shall have occasion to touch upon some and diverse other in the Application Which let it be directed both to Ministers and People 1. For the former were the Audience sutable I might from hence take a just occasion to speake largly to the men of my owne Tribe minding them of their Duty and exciting them to the discharge of it But however give me leave here to present to you what more immediately and properly concerneth them Hirein I shall preach to my self and you must give us leave sometimes so to doe Whereof you may have the benefit afterwards Besides you hearing what the duties of Ministers are may be the better able to doe what you are 〈◊〉 onely allowed but in some cases required to doe viz. to say to Archippus as Paul biddeth them Col. 4. 17. take â—â—â—de unto the Ministery which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfill it I meane in a Christian and becoming way to excite and admonish those whome God hath or shall set over you in case they shall be found remiss or negligent in their Ministerial duty and service Upon this account I shall give an account to you of what more properly concerneth my selfe and others of my Brethren To whome the sum of what I have to say is onely thus much that seeing they are set by God as Stars in the firmament of his Church they would performe the like offices to those committed to their charge as the Stars doe to this Inferiour world But before I come to prosecute this Exhortation let me first premise one or two Premonitions Let them first see that they be Stars such as are so placed by God in the firmament of his Church Therein do true Stars differ from Comets The one is fixed by God the other ascends of it self Let not the Ministers of the Gospell doe so Let not them ascend into Mose's Chayre as that new starre is sayd to have done into Cassâ—â— pâ—â—â—s in the yeare 1572 of themselves thrusting themselves whether upon the Ministeriall function or yet particular Charge without a regular and warrantable mission So did those false Prophets in Ieremies time of whome the Lord complayns Ier. 23. 21. I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran I have not spoken unto them yet they prophesied Thus did they all on their owne heades having neither Mission nor Message from God Let it not be so with Gospell Ministers They who take that office upon them let them looke to their calling Noe man taketh this honour to himselfe but he that is called of God as Aaron was saith the Apostle of the Priesthood Heb. 5. 4. speaking not de facto but de jure not what men doe but what they ought to doe Uzziah though a King must not take upon him the office of a Preist 2 Chron. 26. 16. No more ought any to usurpe upon a Gospell ministerie taking upon them to dispence Ordinances in a ministerial way without a warrantable calling from God Let them see that they be Stars not Comets that they be set by God in the firmament of his Church 2. And being thus set let them now seeke after Illumination that they themselves may be inlightened So are the stars being set in the firmament they are inlightned without which they would be of no use And this let these mysticall stars seeke after even a supernaturall illumination God hath shined into our hearts saith the Apostle that we should give the light c. Ministers that they may inlighten others they must first be enlightned themselves And this let them seeke after And where shall they have it Why where have the stars their light but from the Sun And where should Gospel Ministers have their light but from Iesus Christ. He
in the Church yet is there but one Sun but one Lord. One Lord one faith sayth the Apostle Ephes. 4. 5. True it is there have been others which have been so called and owned This the Apostle elswhere taketh notice of 1. Cor. 8. 5. There be Gods many and Lords many saith he viz. so called as he there explaines himselfe Such were the Gods of Baal to which the Apostle may be conceived there to allude all which were called by their masters name Bagnatim which signifieth Lords As Baal-Zebub Zebub Baal-Peor Baal-Berith Baal-Berozim and divers others These were the Heathens Lords which they worshipped and served as their Patrons and Protectors But these were all as the name of the first of them Baal-Zebub imparts Flye-Lords Mock-Lords not unlike some of those Lords which were wonte to be set up at this season of the yeare a strange honour to such a Master Lords of misrule as they were vulgarly but truly called Lords in name nothing less in truth In truth in the Church there is but one Lord In the Church I say In the common-wealth indeed there are many Lords and those not only Titular but Reall Thus we read of the Lords of the Philistines and of the King and his Lords Dan. 5. 10. Such are all Rulers and Governours who have Authoritie and dominion over the estates liberties lives of others But in the Church but one Lord which is Iesus Christ. So the Apostle there goeth on in that Text forenamed 1 Cor. 8. 6. Vnto us there is but one God One Lord Iesus Christ. Whatever there be to others to us Christians there is but one Lord One Mediatour There is one God and one Mediatour betwixt God and men the man Christ Iesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. One Saviour Neither is there salvation in any other for there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved Acts 4. 12. But one Sun One true Sun I mean sometimes indeed there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they call them half Suns appearing in the heavens which are nothing but reflections of the Sun shining upon some thick clouds And so there are false mediatours such as those which Romish superstition hath set up as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 partners with Iesus Christ as sharing with him in the office of his Mediatourship But one true Sun and one true Mediatour both of Redemption and Intercession even the Lord Iesus who upon this account is fitly resembled by the Sun Sol quia solus 2. As the Sun is but one so it far exceedeth and excelleth all the other stars Exceedeth them in Quantity excelleth them in Quality In Quantity in the magnitude of the Body which is vast and great even beyond belief being as by the masters of the Astronomical science it is voted no less then one hundred and sixty times bigger then the whole Globe of the Earth and Sea and far exceeding any other of the Stars And so in Quality in the greatness of the light which is greater not onely then the light of any one star but of the Moon and all the stars being put together And such is the transcendency of Iesus Christ above all other creatures whether men or Angels All which he excelleth in dignity and power in majestie and glory To him is given that nomen super omne nomen that name above every name Phil. 2. 9. supereminent power transcendent glory and that above all creatures Yea even above those Angelical spirits which in themselves are glorious creatures yet compared with Jesus Christ they are but as stars to the Sun So the Apostle setteth forth his transcendency and preeminence Ephes. 20. 21. where speaking of the exaltation of Christ he sheweth how God the Father having raised him from the dead set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not onely in this world but also that which is to come In the whole firmament of heaven no star to be compared with the Sun Among men and Angels in earth or heaven none to be compared with this Son of man the Lord Iesus 3. Again the Sun it is as it were Oculus mundi the Eye of the world seeing and beholding what is done upon earth As it were viewing all places and passages His going forth saith the Psalmist speaking of the Sun is from the end of the heaven and his circuit unto the ends of it and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof Psal. 19. 6. And therein is it a fit Embleme of Iesus Christ who whilest he keepeth his residence in heaven yet hath a universal inspection and oversight of all things here upon earth being absolutely omniscient taking notice of all persons in all places and of all their several transactions and actions I know thy works saith this Son of man to the Churches in the Chapters following And not onely their actions but their thoughts their counsels When he was upon earth he was able to look through the Breasts of men He needed not that any should testifie of man saith St Iohn for he knew what was in man John 2. last And elsewhere we read of his seeing and knowing the thoughts of men Matth. 9. 4. 12. 25. And this he still doth Like as the Sun looketh through the window and so as it were discovereth what is within doors which those that stand without take no notice of Even so doth the Lord Iesus he being as God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the searcher of hearts he looks into the most secret corners of them looking through whatever lattices whatever specious pretences their words or actions are glazed with taking notice of their most secret counsels and intentions seeing their thoughts yea before they arise in their hearts Thou understandest my thoughts a far of Psal 139. 2. This was the mystery of those fiery eyes of the Son of man in the verse before the Text. His eyes were as a flame of fire intimating the perspicacity and omniscience of the Lord Jesus 4. Yet again the Sun is an Emblem of Purity Being pure in it self and not capable of contracting any impurity from elsewhere Though the beams of it pass through the impurest channels yet they receive no taint but still retain their native purity And such was this Son of man the Lord Iesus in the dayes of his flesh He then passed through the womb of the Virgin which was not so pure as those that Idolatrize her would make it she being no more free from that Original contagion then others of the sons and daughters of Adam yet he received no tincture from it Whilest he partaked of her nature taking flesh from her yet he was free from the taint of that corruption which cleaved to her nature Thence called by the Angel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That holy thing that shall be born of thee Luke 1. 35. Such he was
in his Conception and Birth And such he was in his Life During which he continually conversed with sinners yet he received no infection from them Being every way such as the Apostle describeth him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy harmless â—ndefiled separate from sinners viz. in respect of any participation in that sin which is common to all other of the sons of men Heb. 7. 26. Thus Jesus Christ was and is as the Sun in respect of his personal properties From them come we to his operations and effects And here we shall find the like resemblance Christ being unto his Church as the Sun is to the world present with it Even as the Sun is in the midst of the Planets and being in his strength at noon day it is in the midst of the heavens and yet so as it is vertually and vigorously present in all places of the hemisphere that part of heaven and earth wherin it appears Even so is the Lord Iesus in the midst of his Châ—rches So this Son of man here appeareth unto our Apostle in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks A representation of the presence of Christ in the midst of those seven Churches as the last verse of this Chhapter expounds it And so he is in all other his Churches in the midst of them Being present not only with his Ministers to whom he hath promised his presence after a special manner Behold I am with you alwayes to the end of the world Math. 28. 20. But also with all true worshippers That is his promise to his Disciples and in them to all believers Matth. 18. 20. Where two or three are met together in my name there am I in the midst of them Coming together in the name by Authority with commission from Iesus Christ and being occupied about the business of his worship and service there is he in the midst of them viz. by his grace and spirit Even as the Sun whilest the Body of it is in heaven yet by the beams of it it is upon earth Thus the Lord Jesus whilest his body is in heaven yet by his grace and spirit he is present with his Church upon earth and that efficaciously present not only eying and observing but acting Exercising many operations in for and upon his Church resembling those offices which the Sun performeth unto the earth Of these instance in three or four of the principal 1. Enlightning it This doth the Sun being the fountaine of light it inlightneth both earth and heaven as the dark places here below so the moone and stars above all with what light so ever they have they receive it from this great Luminary the Sun This is Iesus Christ the light of the world So he stileth himselfe once and againe I am the light of the world Ioh. 8. 12 and 9. 5. viz of the Reasonable world the world of mankinde In him was life and the life was the light of men Ioh. 1. 4. Of all men What ever light they have whether Naturall or Supernaturall they receive it from Iesus Christ. For Naturall light even that common light of reason and understanding that is a beame from this Sun So that Text is commonly understood Ioh 1. 9. where it is sayed of Christ. Hee is that true light that enlightneth every man that cometh into the world viz with that common light of Reason which as their Creatour he bestoweth upon them Much more supernaturall light And that both of Grace and Glory The light of grace where with the soules of Gods elect are inlightned it is an effluxe from this Sun The light shineth in darkness sayth Saint Iohn in the fift verse of that Chap Thus doth Iesus Christ inlighten the minds of men with supernaturall knowledg which of themselves are full of darkness of ignorance And so that ninth verse there may be read and construed That was the true light which coming into the world inlightneth every man So Grotius following Cyrill and Augustine there looketh upon it referring the participle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coming not to the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Every man but to the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Light This Iesus Christ coming into the world inlightneth every man viz. that is inlightned Communicating the light of divine and supernaturall knowledg to the world And that as the Sun doth his light unto the earth which in a little time in the space of twentie-foure howers inlightneth the whole world So the Psalmist setteth forth both the swift motion and vigorous operation of it Psal. 19. 5. In the heavens God hath set a Tabernacle for the Sun which is as a Bridgroome coming out of his Chamber and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race His going forth is from the end of the heavens and his circuit unto the ends of it and there is nothing hid from the heat therof Even thus the Lord Iesus coming out of the womb of the virgin his Bride-chamber in a little space by himself and by his Apostles caused the light of his gospel to shine forth through the world in so much as the Apostle saith that in his time it was and had beene preached to every creature under heaven Col. 1. 23. So as in this he was like unto the Sun So the Apostle applyeth that of the Psalmist concerning the Sun unto him Rom. 10. 18. Thus doth the light of grace come from Iesus Christ in whome as the Apostle saith are hid all the Treasures of wisdom and knowledg Col. 2. 3. And that as of Common so specially of saving grace This light cometh from the face of Iesus Christ being beheld by faith So much we may learn from that Text of the Apostle 2. Cor. 4. 6. God hath shined into our hearts that we should give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ. The glory of God shineth in the face of Iesus Christ which being held forth unto Gods elect in the Glass of the Gospel and there beheld by them by faith they come thereby to be changed into the same Image from glorie to glory as the same Apostle hath it 2 Cor. 3. last By thus beholding of the face of Christ they come to be made like unto him in the glory of holiness which work is still in progress here untill it come to perfection in heaven Thus is the light of Grace derived from Iesus Christ. And so is the Misticall Glory Which is but as it were a reflex from that glory which is in the face of Iesus Christ which being beheld by the Saints of God in that beatificall vision they thereby are made partakers of the same glory Even as so many looking glasses being set before the Sun by the reflex of the Beames thereof every one is changed into the same Image and made like unto it Even so shall it be with the Saints in heaven We know saith Saint Iohn
that when he shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Ioh. 3. 2. Like him in Glory When Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall yee also appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Thus is Iesus Christ fitly resembled by the Sun in regard of his illuminating property being fons luminis the fountaine of all light inlightning all that are inlightned in what kind so ever 2 And inlightning hee also enliveneth quickneth This doth the Sun in a naturall way it quickneth vegetables hearbs and plantes and trees and some other creatures which seeme dead in the winter yet by the returne of the Sun they are quickned in the spring And the like doth Iesus Christ in a supernaturall way Hee quickneth men Thence called their life in that place last mentioned When Christ who is our life shall appeare Col. 3. 4. Quickning them and that both in their soules and Bodies Their soules The Son quickneth whome he will Ioh. 5. 21. This doth he here to the soules of men Finding them dead in trespasses and sins Chap. 2. 1. hee quickneth them Which he doth by sending his spirit into their hearts as the Sun quickneth the hearbs and plants by sending his warme beames into the bosome of the earth And as the soules so the Bodies of men Having quickned the soules of his elect here he shall quicken their Bodies hereafter This is the Fathers will who hath sent me saith our Saviour that of all that he hath given me I should loose nothing but should raise it up againe at the last day Ioh 6. 39. And this shall he doe by the same spirit So the Apostle tels his Romanes C. 8. 11. If the spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodyes by his spirit that dwelleth in you That spirit of Christ which here quickneth the souls of his elect in the first resurrection shall by the like power also quicken their bodies in the second Upon which double account he is called by the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Quickning spirit 1. Cor. 15. 45. The last Adam was made a quickning spirit The last Adam Iesus Christ who is the head and roote of all his elect as the first Adam was of all mankind he is ordained by God to be the fountaine and Author both of a spirituall and Eternall life unto them quickning them by the Communication of his spirit unto them quickning their Souls here and Bodyes hereafter Thus is he as the Sun vivifiying quickning 3. Quickning he also cheareth and comforteth This doth the Sun which is as it were the Ioy and comfort of the world without which there is nothing but melancholie darkness and sadness Such is Iesus Christ the joy and comfort of his Church The Consolation of Israel as he is stiled Luk. 2. 25. refreshing chearing comforting the hearts of his people Even as the Sun by the warm beams of it cheereth and refresheth the herbes and plants making them lift up the head which drooped before Even thus doth this Sun of righteousnes arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4. 2. Comforting the hearts of his people chearing up their drooping and dejected spirits comforting them I even I am he that comforteth you saith the Lord Christ to his people Isai. 51. 1. This is the proper office of Iesus Christ as the same Prophet sets it forth Isai. 91. 1. 2. The spirit of the Lord is upon me and hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meeke He hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted to comfort all that mourn To appoint unto them that mourn in Sion to give unto them beauty for asshes and the oyle of joy for mourning the garment of gladness for the spirit of heavines Even as the Sun arising upon the earth putteth a new garment upon it instead of that sable mantle of darkness wherewith it was covered it put on it a robe of â—ight and so alters the habit of it making all things chearfull and comfortable So doth Iesus Christ coming to a dejected soule he causeth light to shine forth into it even the light of spirituall joy and comfort so changing and altering the state of it Which also he doth by his spirit Even as the sun whilst the body of it is in heaven yet by sending downe its beames it cheareth and comforteth those creatures which are here below Thus doth the Lord Iesus though he be in person in heaven yet by sending his spirit he comforteth the hearts of his people That is the Promise which he maketh unto his Apostles when he was to take his leave of them as to his bodily presence yet he would not leave them comfortles Ioh. 14. 18. I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you viz. by his spirit Even as the Sun though at a vast distance from the earth yet daily cometh to it viâ—iteth it by sending down his beams upon it Thus â—he Lord Iesus though keeping his residence in heaven yet he cometh to his people upon earth by sending his Spirit to them which is their Comforter When the Comforter is come whom I wil send unto you even the spirit of truth c. Ioh. 15. 26. 4. Againe Thus chearing the hearts of his people he also maketh them to fructifie So doth the Sun to the earth to trees and plants by â—hining upon them it maketh them beare fruit which otherwise standing in the shade would be barren What ever fruites the earth bringeth forth it may thanke the Sun for it And thus the Lord Iesus by sending his spirit into the hearts of his people he maketh them fruitful who otherwise without him would be barren as he himself setteth it forth fully Ioh. 15. 4 c. By this meanes they who of themselves are not sufficient so much as to thinke a good thought as the Apostle hath it 2 Cor. 3. 9. come to abound in good workes and to be filled with the fruites of righteousness which are by Iesus Christ to the Praise and Glory of God as the same Apostle prayeth for his Philippians Phil. 1. 11. Which fruits are the fruites of the spirit so called Gal. 5. 22. 5. To which I might yet add As he causeth them to fructifie so also he purifieth them Thiâ— doth the Sun rising upon the earth it clarifieth purifieth the ayre freeing it from those annoyances which in the night season had fallen upon it And this doth the Lord Iesus rising upon the heart of his people by his spirit he purifieth them Thence compared to a refiners fire Mat. 3. 2 3. But I shall not give way to further inlargments Thus you see how Iesus Christ is as the Sun to his Church performing the like office to his people that the Sun doth to the world I might yet goe on and shew you how he is
by every of us Not to the end that we should abuse this mercy turn this grace into wantonnesse as Saint Iude saith of some in his time did Iude 4. taking occasion thereby to go on and continue in sin What shall we say then Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God forbid saith the Apostle Rom. 6. 1. Shall we therefore go on to provoke this God because he is so compassionate towards us so loath that we should perish what were this but to abuse this his lenitie and goodnesse to our own just condemnation But on the other hand let this goodnesse of God lead us unto repentance This is the right use of it as we may learn from the same Apostle Rom. 2. 4. Be we hereby provoked to break off the course of our waies provoking sins and to come in unto this God by serious and unfeigned repentance This use will an ingennous child make of the indulgent affection of a tender hearted parent When he seeth the bowels of his father or mother yearning towards him bewailing his destructive courses if there be any spark of ingenuity left this cannot but work upon his heart and make him think of betaking himself to a new course which may be pleasing and contenful to so affectionate a parent Behold thus is our heavenly Father and thus is our blessed Saviour affected towards poor sinners And therefore let it have the like work upon every of us to provoke us to break off those sinfull wayes and courses which are so offensive to those pure eyes and come in unto our God by serious and unseigned Repentance So doing now doubt not but we shall have comfortable experience of his grace and mercy What was the Lord Iesus so affected towards a stubborn and rebellious people that he so earnestly wisheth their good and so passionately bewaileth their calamity and will he not shew the like affection to poor penitent sinners such as by coming unto him seek for mercy from him Surely the Lord Iesus hath carried his bowels to heaven with him still retaining the same affection tovvards poor sinners that here he had upon earth Hovv ever he be not capable of expressing it in the like vvay He can hence forth weep no more All tears being wiped from his eyes as they shall be from the eyes of all his Saints vvhen they shall be translated to that blessed and glorious condition Yet still he retaineth the same affection towards poor sinners He that wept over Ierusalem here wishing that it had been othervvise vvith them then it vvas and vvas like to be he doth earnestly desire that those tears and that blood vvhich he here shed in the dayes of his flesh may be made effectual for the vvashing avvay the sins of poor sinners Which also they shall be to all those who turning away from them come unto him receiving him as their Saviour and Lord. But I shall not any longer dwell upon this which I take up from the general consideration of the words or from the manner of speaking Come we now to the matter taking a nearer and more particular veivve of this Lamentation Wherein we shall take notice of two things the Evil of sin it self which our Saviour here bewaileth and secondly the Aggravations of that evil The evil bewailed is their stupidity their not knowing of what belonged to their peace The aggravations of that evil are two the one taken from the persons the other from the time The persons who were thus stupid Ierusalem If thou even thou The time the day of their visitation At least in this thy day These are the severals we have now to deal with Begin with the first The evil lamented their not knowing the things which belonged to their peace Here by way of explication three things are to be unfolded 1. What is here ment by peace 2. What were those things which belonged to Ierusalems peace 3. How it is said that they did not know those things Q. For the first by Peace here understand we prosperity felicity So the word was familiarly used among the Hebrews In as much as Peace is a comprehensive blessing they set forth all blessings under this Thus in their ordinary salutations they were wont to wish Peace Peace be unto thee and peace be unto thy house and peace be unto all that thou hast It is the salutation which David sends to Nabal 1 Sam. 25. 6. And thus our Saviour sending forth his Apostles he puts this word into their mouthes directing them to salute the families where they came after that manner with an apprecation of peace Into whatsoever house ye enter ye shall first say Peace be to this hous Luk. 10. 5. i.e. all kind of happinesse And so look we upon the word here in the text By peace understanding here all kind of felicitie Omnes foelicitatis partes as Calvin hath it all the parts and kinds of happinesse Happinesse both present and future temporal and eternal Q. 2. But what were the things which belonged unto this their peace A. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why in one word Christ himself and the doctrine of salvation by and through him Christ and his Gospel These were the things which conduced to their peace to the making of them a happy people and that both here and hereafter Other things there were which in a Political and civil way might have tended to the outward peace the temporal prosperity of that place But none like this none like Christ who is the Prince of peace Isai. 9. 6. And our peace Ephes. 2. 14. In him is the salvation of a people bound up This it is which maketh a people truly happy The knowledge of Iesus Christ. And this knowledge the inhabitants of Ierusalem were destitute of They neither did nor would know this their Peace-maker Moses they knew he being read in their Synagogues every Sabbath day Act. 15. 21. But Christ they knew not Q. 3. But what did not they know him had they not heard of him Nay had they not both heard and seen him heard his Doctrine seen his Miracles A. True but they did not receive him He came unto his own and his own recived him not Joh. 1. 11. He came unto his own to Israel his own peculiar people to the land of Canaan his own Countrey he being of the seed of Abraham to Ierusalem his own City he being the Son of David but they received him not they would not own him they would not acknowledge him to be their Messias they would neither believe on him nor submit unto him This it is truly to know God and Iesus Christ to know them in an affectionate way Not barely to know and believe that there is a God and a Christ no nor yet to know that Jesus is that Christ. This knowledge the Devils had and have I know thee who thou art even that holy one of God saith
Stars Such are the Ministers of the Gospel Mark it This is that which I am now to prosecute Gospel Ministers are stars Such was their Lord and Master Iesus Christ himself he was a Star There shall come a star out of Iacob saith Baâ—â—â—m in his prophecy concerning Christ Nâ—mb 24. 17. I am the bright and morning star saith Christ of himself Reâ— 22. 10. A Star having his birth manifested to the wise men by a Star Mat. 20 2. to shew that he was that star foretold A bright star excelling all others in glory and a morning star bâ—â—ging the day of grace and glory to the Church after the night of ignorance and misery And as the Master so the Servants They are also stars Such were the Apostles whom Saint Iohn saw so represented Râ—â—l 12. â— where he tells us of the woman 〈…〉 with the 〈◊〉 having the Moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars And who was this woman why the Church the true Church of Christ which being cloathed with the righteousness of Christ who is the Sun of righteousness and trampling under foot all earthly glory is beautified and adorned with the doctrine of the twelve Apostles who were as so many stars Such were they and such are their successors all the true Ministers of Jesus Christ. Gospel Ministers they are as stars So called and represented in regard of the resemblances betwixt the one and the other which are divers I shall onely single out some of the chief and principal which as I conceive to be most plain proper and genuine 1. Stars are set by God in the firmament of heaven So we find it Gen. 1. 16 17. He made the stars also And God set them in the firmament of heaven And even so hath he set the Ministers of the Gospel in the firmament of the Church which is often called by the name of Heaven So the Apostle setteth forth their original 1 Cor. 12. 28. God set some in the Church speaking of Gospel Ministers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Constituit he Constituted and appointed them to their places in the Church the Church Catholick visible for so it must be there understood So then a Gospel Ministry is a Divine Institution not a humane Invention He that set the stars in the firmament hath set his Ministers in the Church And he hath set them there as stars fixing and setling them by a perpetual ordinance That is the difference betwixt Stars and Comets Comets though they blaze for a time yet it is but for a time and that a short time but Stars are for perpetuity to continue to the end of the world Such Stars are the Ministers of the Gospel How else saith our Saviour what he doth that he will be with them to the end of the world Mat. 28. 20. 2. Stars though they be set in the same firmament yet they have their several Orbs to move in And so is it with the Ministers of the Gospel though they be set in the same firmament of the Church being all Ministers of the same Church Catholick visible yet they have their several Orbs their several Charges committed and assigned to them for their inspection and oversight Thus Paul willeth the Elders the Ministers of Ephesus to feed the flock over which the holy Ghost had made them overseers Acts 20. 28. And thus those seven stars in the Text the Ministers of the seven Churches of Asia had their several Charges which were as their several Orbs. And so it is with ordinary Ministers That being one difference betwixt them and the Apostles The Apostles were universal Pastors having the care of all the Churches committed unto them This was Pauls daily cumbrance as he tels his Corinthians 2 Cor. 11. 28. Even the care of all the Churches Thus were they universal Bishops But so are not their successors That of the Bishop of Rome is but a groundless usurpation Ordinary Ministers have their severall charges 3. Stars have their different Altitudes and Magnitudes Some above others and some greater then others One star differeth from another star in glory 1 Cor. 15. 41. And so is it in the Gospell Ministerie In the firmament of the Church there are such different stars Ministers of different Orders and Dignities So much we may learne from the Apostle in that place forecited 1. Cor. 12. 28. God hath set some in the Church saith he first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers c. Severall Orders and Degrees So there were then And still there are severall Magnitudes even among Ordinarie Ministers Who differ in respect of theire gifts and ministeriall abilities even as one Star differeth from another in Glory Thus are these Stars set in the firmameut of the Church having their sevearll Orbes Altitudes and Magnitudes But wherefore are they thus set That is a fourth particular which I conceive to be here principally eyed and intended 4. Stars are set up for Lightes like so many Tapers in the firmament of heaven to give light to this inferiour world in the night season So you have the end of their first Creation set down Gen. 1. 16. God made the stars also and he set them in the firmament of heaven to give light unto the earth This is the office as of the Sun and the Moon so of the Stars to give light unto the earth and that in the night season And such is the office of the Ministers of the Gospel-God hath set them up in the firmament of the Church to a like end that they should be Lights So it is said of Iohn the Baptist He was a Burning and a shining light Ioh. 5. 35. And such all the Ministers of the Gospel either are or ought to be Ye are the light of the world saith our Saviour to his Apostles Mat 5. 14. True it is such all private Christians in their measure ought to be This is that which Paul saith of his Philippians Phil. 2 15. Yee doe shine or shine yee for so the word may be and is read either Indicatively or Imparatively 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This they did or should have done But this the ministers of the Gospell ought to doe in a speciall manner They being Lights by office which requireth this at their hands that they should give light to others Which they are to doe two wayes By Doctrine and by Example 1. By Doctrine Holding forth to others the word of truth the word of Life that so those which yet sit in darkness may see a marveiloâ—s light This was Paules errand whereupon he was sent to the Gentiles viz. to open their eyes and so turne them from darkness to light Act 26. 18. Which he was to doe by preaching of the Gospell unto them whereby they might have their eyes opened to see the sinfulness and miserie of their natural condition and so might be brought to the light of Grace here
and glory hereafter And such is the office of all the ministers of Jesus Christ. Which the same Apostle sets forth 2 Cor. 4. 6. God hath shined into our hearts speaking of himself and other Gospel Ministers that we should give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ that being our selves effectually illuminated we might be instrumentall in the inlightning of others This are the Ministers of Christ to doe by word 2. And as by word so by worke As by Doctrine so by Example Thus are they to shine before others in an Exemplarie Conversation So indeede ought all Christians to doe It is the Commendation which the Apostle giveth of his Thessalonians 1 Thes. 1. 7. They were ensamples to all that beleeved in Macedonia and Achaia But the Ministers of Christ in a special manner They beeing by their office shepheards they should as shepheards anciently were wont to doe go before their flocks Or to hold to the Emblem in the Text from which I would deviate as little as may be as that Star did which was given for a guide to the wise men to direct them to the place of Christs nativity It went before them saith the Text until it came and stood over where the young child was Matth 2. 9. Such Stars should the Ministers of God be unto the people Being given them for Guides they should not onely shew them light which that star also did to them but they should go before them till they bring them to heaven being Ensamples to them So was Paul to the believers of his time Marke them saith he to his Philippians which so walk as ye have us for an ensample Phil. 3. 17. Whereupon he there propounds himself unto them as a pattern for their Imitation Brethren be followers together of me And such all Gospel Ministers either are or ought to be This is that which Paul requires from Timothy 1 Tim. 4. 14. Be thou an example to the believers in word in conversation c. And the like from Titus Tit. 2. 7. In all things shew thy self a pattern of good works And it is Saint Peters charge to all of that Tribe Neither as being Lords over Gods heritage but being ensamples to the flock 1 Pet. 5. 3. The Ministers of Christ though they be as stars set over others by God yet they may not as Astrologers tell us some of the stars do Lord it over their Brethren Whether over their Consciences or Personâ— by an imperious obtruding of their own dictates instead of Gods Commandements as the Pharisees did or by carrying themselves Magisterially towards any under their charge But Patterns they should be teaching the people as by Doctrine so by Example Here is a fourth resemblance to which add a fifth 5. Stars have light and give light but it is a borrowed light In that differing from the light of the Sun whis is originally in the body of it The Sun being the fountain of light it hath light in and from it self But so have not the stars Their light is a borrowed light which they receive from the Sun And such is the light which the Ministers of Christ communicate unto others it is but a borrowed light Therein differing from that light which is in Christ who is the Sun of Righteousness as he is called Mal. 4. 2. the fountain of all spiritual light That was that true light saith Saint Iohn speaking of Christ Iohn 1. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 light it self Original light So was not Iohn the Baptist as the verse foregoing hath it He was not that light A light he was and that a shining an eniment one but not that light that Original light This was onely Iesus Christ. He is the Sun As for his Ministers they are but stars receiving their light from him I have received from the Lord that which also I delivered unto you saith the Apostle to the Church of Corinth touching the Doctrine of the Sacrament And the like may be said of the whole doctrine of the Gospel This the Ministers of Christ receive before they can deliver it Being themselves enlightned before they can enlighten others God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined into our hearts saith the Apostle that we should give the light c. in that place fore-named 2 Cor. 4. 6. Hence is it that sometimes they are compared to Candlâ—s or Lamps Ye are the light of the world saith our Saviour to his Apostles Matth. 5. 14. But what light why not Sun-light but Candle-light So the verse following explains it Neither do men light a Candle and put it under a bushel meaning that he had not communicated unto them that light to the end that they should hide it And thus it is said of Iohn the Baptist that he was a shining light John 5. 35. But what light why a Lamp or a Candle for so the word there properly signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whence cometh the Latine word Lychnus and the English Linke And such were these Angels the Ministers of these seven Churches of Asia the Churches being the Candlestick as they are here represented to Iohn in this vision they were the Candles in them Now a Candle or Lamp how great soever the light be that it giveth yet it is but a borrowed light And so is it with the Ministers of the Gospel Their light is but a borrowed light Here is a fifth resemblance Take one more 6. Stars are Influentiall As they all give light and the same light so they have their severall Influences What those Influences are it is in a great measure a Mysterie a secret to us But that they have such Influences it is not to be questioned So much we may learne from God himselfe who Putteth the Question to Iob Cap. 38. 31. Canst thou binde the sweete Influences of Pleiades or loose the bands of Orion Pleiades and Orion two of the Constellations of heaven Pleiades the seven stars which rising in the spring bring warme showres for the moistning and refreshing of the earth Orion a winter Star which brings with it hard frosts which are there called the Bands of Orion because the earth is as it were bound with them Thus are they both Influentiall changing and altering the Earth and the Ayre And like Influences have these Stars the Ministers of the Gospell upon the Persons and places over which they are set working upon them as by their Doctrine so by their Examples Both which are very Influentiall and operative for the changing and altering of the people either for the better or the worse Hence is it that they are compared to salt Mat. 5. 3. Ye are the salt of the earth Salt being layed upon a peice of flesh it hath in a little time a great influence upon it in altering the taste of it seasoning it and making it savorie And thus the Ministers of Christ by their wholesome and
13. Thus should the Ministers of Christ in evill times in the darke night of Persecution stand by the people committed to their charge And standing by them they are then to shew themselves then appearing for Christ. That was Peters resolution and it was a good one had he not taken it up in his owne strength Though all men shall be offended because of thee saith he to his Master yet will I never be offended Mat. 26. 33. And such should be the resolution of the Ministers of Christ which they should take up in the name and strength of their Lord and Master Though all others should forsake him yet to stand by him Though Sun and Moone withdraw the Rulers and Potentates of the earth doe not appeare for him but it may be against him which too often they doe as the Psalmist sets it forth Psal. 2. 2. then let these stars shew themselves the Ministers of Christ then appearing then shining shining as lights in the midest of a froward crooked perverse generation Thus have I showne you the duty of Ministers in reference to the people over whome God hath set them Before whome they are to shine as stars as Lightes both by doctrine and Example To these I might yet add some other vsefull admonitions One in reference to themselves And two in reference to their fellow Brethren And yet one other in reference to their Flocks I shall still hold to the Emblem in hand prosecuting the same Allegory 1. In reference to themselves Let them be heavenly minded Stars are inhabitantes of heaven having their abode there not descending upon the earth nor coming near it So should it be with Gospell Ministers Our conversation is in heaven saith Saint Paul Phil. 3. 20. True it is such should the Conversation of all Christians be Being heaven-borne borne from above 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as our Saviour hath it Ioh. 3. 3. they should minde and seeke the things which are above as the Apostle elsewhere exhorts them Col. 3. 1 2. But the Ministers of Christ in an especiall manner They should have their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Converse in heaven Thither it was that Paul was once wrapt in an Extasie 2 Cor. 12. into the third heavens And thither should the Ministers of Christ frequently ascend by divine Meditation and Contemplation Entering into that holy of holies not as the High-Preist did into that Typicall one once in the yeare but often daylie nay living there having their constant abode there Not being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men of the earth plunging themselves into the affaires and business of this world but so using it as if they used it not living a bove it This in reference to themselves Secondly In reference to their fellow Brethren let them take heede of two things 1. Of Clashing with them Who ever saw the Stars doe so True indeede Meteors we may see sometimes spitting and shooting and darting but not so the stars Among them what a constant harmonie and agreement doe we see And O that there were the like amongst all the true Ministers of Jesus Christ that there might be no such clashing no such spitting darting or shooting one against another whether from the Pulpit or the Press But that all of them might thinke and speake and write the same thing so keeping the unitie of the spirit in the bond of peace Which all Christians should greatly affect so the Ministers of Christ in a speciall manner In the meane time all cumbring against the common Enemie even as the Stars in their courses fought against Sisera Iudg. 5. 20. But having peace one with another as our Saviour giveth it in charge to his Apostles Mark 9. last Not but that in some cases Ministers both may and ought to reprove their Brethren So did the Apostle Saint Paul who not onely appeared against the false Brethren who went about to introduce their dangerous doctrines to whome as he saith he gave not place by subjection no not for an houre Gal. 2. 4. 5. But even Peter also When he saw that he did not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 walke with a right and even foot but inclined to an vnwarrantable separation tending to a dangerous schisme in the Church now he with stood him to the face appeared openly against him Gal. 2. 11. 14. And the like the Ministers of Christ not onely may but ought to doe When they see the fundamentall truthes of God undermined or the peace and unitie of the Church indangered in these cases they not onely may but ought to speake who ever it be that appeares against them But in the meane time let them not affect such clashing nor yet undertake them unless it be in matters of great and weightie concernment Secondly Let them take heede of being Pragmaticall Busy-bodies As of running into other Professions which are Eccentricall to their owne of no affinitie with their Ministeriall function so of intermedling in other mens charges This is that which Saint Peter forbids all Christians Let none of you suffer as an evill doer or as a Busy-bodie 1 Pet. 4. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word properly Signifieth a Bishop in another mans Diocess Such should not private Christians be Such let not Ministers be Being Bishops let them keepe within their owne Diocesses even as the Stars do within their own Orbs and Spheres Thirdly In reference to their Flocks Let them be vigilant watchful Hereof also as Lapide noteth it the Stars are Emblems which watch over the earth in the night season And so vigilant should Gospel-Ministers be over their Flocks Even as the story tels us of those shepheards to whom the Angel appeared with those joyful tidings Luke 2. 8. They were keeping watch over their flocks by night And such watchmen should these spiritual shepheards be To this end are they set over their flocks by God that they should watch over them Son of man I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel saith the Lord to his Prophet Ezekiel Ezek. 3. 17. To watch over their souls Obey them that have the rule over you saith the Apostle for they watch for your souls Heb. 13. 17. And this let them do That is the word which Saint Paul giveth to the Elders of Ephesus Acts 20 31. Watch. And this let all the Ministers of Christ do And that as at all times so specially in the night in times of danger when Foxes Wolves false Teachers Heretical seducers walk abroad seeking to make a prey of the flock Such was that time when Paul gave that watch-word to those Elders as we may learn from the verses foregoing verse 29 30. I know this saith he that after my departure grievous wolves wolves in sheeps-cloathing false teachers shall enter in among you not sparing the flock Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking pervese things broaching and venting false and Heretical doctrine to draw away Disciples after
them Therefore Watch. Ministers should be vigilant at all times knowing that that Roaring Lion is still walking about But when such Wolves and Foxes subtile and dangerous Seducers are abroad they had need then to look out sharp as the STARS heavens sentinels do in the dark of the night But I fear I have wearied your attentions with what I confess doth immediately concern but a few of this present Audience You have have heard what ones the Ministers of Christ ought to be But shall we now give way to an Enquiry Are the Ministers and Teachers in this our Church I mean the Church of England at this day such Such Stars Blessed be God such there are and that not a few But how many far otherwise Such as go for Stars being set in the firmament of the Church but are unworthy of that name having little light or if they have yet hiding it less zeal no purity but are rather like those spots in the Moon no small blemish in the Churches face I might go on But I have no pleasure in discovering of what I have here no opportunity to rectifie Besides these how many Meteors such as would be taken for Stars but are nothing less in truth Comets they are 1. Being first not set in the firmament of the Church ascending of themselves But meer Exhalations ascending of themselves and drawn up by some sinister respects of Honour or Profit or the like and fed with those earthly vapours I mean men taking this office upon themselves not being called thereunto by God not being set apart to the work whether Actually or yet Intentionally 2. Blazing-stars Such were the false Apostles in Saint Pauls time and such there are too many in ours Men who make a great glare a great shew and as Gamaliel once said of Theudas Acts 5. 36. they boast themselves to be some body no ordinary Teachers And thereupon they hold forth new and strange lights new and strange doctrines such as the world cannot but stand amazed at the beholding hearing of as much as in them lieth setting the Church on fire therewith By which means it cometh to pass that the truly Orthodox Ministers with their old light their old truths comes to be the less regarded and by some slighted Even as it is when there is a blazing-star flaming in the heavens the world stands at gaze at that all tcome out of their doors to look upon that whilest the true Stars in the mean time are little passed by without any observation 3. To these add in the third place Falling-stars Such are Comets they shine for a time and that it may be very brightly out-shining all the stars about them but in a little time having spent their stock of vapour they fall down to the earth from whence they came and thereby are discovered to be what they were not stars but Comets Quae cecidit stella non fuit Cometa fuit And such stars how many have we seen of late times falling-stars Time was when they shone and that brightly like Lucifers sons of the morning but now how are they fallen from heaven as the Prophet saith of the Babylonion Monarch and Empire Isaiah 14. 13 Fallen from their Principles Such a Star we read of Revel 9. 1. I saw a star fallen from heaven saith Saint Iohn which some understand of some eminent Minister of the Church who fell from the true Religion of God and turned Apostate And elsewhere he tels us of the Stars of heaven falling to the earth Revel 6. 13. Ministers falling from the truth into Errours And such stars how many have we seen or heard of Men sometime of special note in the Church shining like Stars in the firmament thereof But now are they fallen from heaven to earth I had almost said to Hell but I would be as charitable as I may hoping however desiring that God would give them repentance unto salvation that they remembring from whence they are fallen may repent and do their first works as the spirit counsels the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Revel 2. 5. fallen from the truth of God into dangerous desperate damnable Errours and Heresies some of them even denying the Lord that bought them as Saint Peter foretelleth it of some 2 Pet. 2. 1. Besides these how many fallen from their purity and how many from their zeal being with the Laodicean Angel grown remiss Luke-warme having lost their first love as the spirit chargeth it upon the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2. 4. 4. To these I might yet add many more Among other I take notice of one star which being fallen from heaven was a bitter star Of this you read Rev. 8. 10. 11. There fel a great Star from heaven and his name was called Wormewood Of whome that is there meant I shall not now stand to enquire which if I should I should finde it verie mysterious Verely I wish there were but one such a star to be found in this our Horizon But alass how many of this kind such as being fallen from their principles do now justly deserve that name to be called Wormwood as it is for the most part with Apostates having their spirits imbittered against the truthes of God and the wayes of God and the servants of God sometimes their fellow Brethren against whome they shoote their Arrowes even bitter words as David saith his Enemies did against him Psal. 64. 3. upon all occasions letting flye bitter Invectives against them And others there are who though they be not so fallen but may be looked upon as stars still yet they have too much of this Wormwood in them too much of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Apostle speaketh of Iames. 3. 14. Bitter Zeale Which upon all occasions they are readie to express against their Brethren who differ from them though it be but in matters of lesser concernment Now surely this doth not favour of a truly Ministeriall spirit which should be as I have showne a spirit of gentleness and meekness Not a bitter spirit But I will not wearie you and my selfe in following of this Chase any further I shall rather now come to that which may be more usefull unto you And that shall be to shew you what your duty is in reference to these starres in reference to the true Ministers of Jesus Christ. Which take in three or foure particulars 1. Take notice of them as set over you by God So are the Stars and so are these Stars both set over you by the same hand And that both to a like end viz. to overlook you and to guide you To these ends are the Stars set over this inferiour world as Ouerseers and Guides to overlooke it and Governe it which in some sense they do Astra regunt homines And to a like end are the Ministers of God set over the Church as Overseers as Guides Overseers so Saint Paul calleth
them Act. 20. 28. Take heed unto the flock whereof the Holy ghost hath made you Overseers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishops which properly signifieth as there but how properly I will not say it is rendered Supervisors Oversâ—ers Guides So the Authour to the Hebrews stiles them Heb. 13. 7. 17. Where speaking not of Magistrates but of Minister as is playn enough to those that will not festucam quaerere seeke straws to put out their owne eyes with all he calleth them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rulers Guids Such as have the rule over you Such the Ministers of Christ are thus set over you by God and doe you know them as such That is Pauls request to his Thessalonians 1 Thes. 5. 12. We beseech you brethren to know them that labour among you and are ouer you in the Lord. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 set over you Ministers being set over their flocks in the Lord by God himselfe to deale in those things which concerne his worship and service let them be known and acknowledged for such This take you notice of 2. And secondly thus taking notice of them bless God for them This we have all cause to doe for the Stars Which are not onely an Ornament to the heavens but verie beneficiall to the Earth And this do you for the Ministers of God which are not onely an Ornament to the Church but verie beneficiall to your souls Many are the Benefits which men receive from the stars which they take little notice of And many are the benefits which you do or if you be not wanting to your selves may receive from the Ministers of Christ. And therefore bless that God who hath set them over you These are the Gifts which Jesus Christ upon his Ascension is said to have given He gaue gifts to men saith the Apostle viz. Some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers Eph. 4. 8. 11. And a greater next to himselfe he never gave unto his Church So looke you upon it blessing God for this Gift Bless him for the office of Ministers And if they be in measure able and faithfull burning and shining Lights Stars bless him for their Persons And with all bless him for their Libertie that these Stars are not so clouded but that yet they may shine forth It was a sad time with the Marriners in Pauls voyage to Rome when they could not see so much as a Star for many nights together Act. 27. 20. And it is a sad time with the Church as in time of Persecution it sometimes fals out when these stars appeare not Such stormes there have beene But blessed be he who holdeth these Stars in his right hand that it is not so with this Church at this day Astorme it hath felt and that sad one but blessed be God these Stars yet shine forth 3. Which that they may still do be you earnest with God on their behalfe It is a mercie which the Lord maketh promise of to his people Isaiah 30. 20. Though the Lord give you the bread of Adversity and the water of Affliction yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into corners any more but thine eyes shall see thy Teachers And that this promise may be made good unto you and to your Brethren in this Nation be you earnest with God in this behalf This Paul begs from his Colossians on his own behalf Col. 4. 3. And this let me beg from you as in my own and fellow-labourers here so in the behalf of all the Ministers of Christ in this Nation that God would open keep open unto them a door of utterance to speak the mysterie of Christ. Fourthly Thus praying for them give unto them those respects which upon the account of their office is due unto them Whatever their persons be yet their office is venerable Stars are no despicable creatures And for their office sake have also a respect to their persons Giving unto them that double honour which upon the account of a double work their Teaching and Ruling the Apostle tells you is due unto them 1 Tim. 5. 17. This yield you unto those who desire and endeavour to be found faithful in this Ministration This Paul begs from his Thessalonians and in them from you 1 Thes. 5. 12. We beseech you know them that labour among you and are over you in the Lord and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake Fifthly and lastly having them thus in respect now shew this respect as in other ways so specially by making that use of them for which God hath set them up Making use of their light First Their light of Doctrine Not playing by it as children sometimes do by their Candle till they are fain to go darklings to bed And the like let them make account of who shall so play by this light not regarding not making use of it whilest it is held forth unto them let them make account to go to bed in the dark to die without comfort Neither secondly think it enough to gaze upon it to let this light into the eye of the understanding I mean content not your selves with a meer speculative knowledg Nor yet thirdly think it enough to be a little affected with it So was Herod with looking on that burning and shining light hearing Iohns Doctrine He observed him saith the Text and when he heard him he heard him gladly Mark 6. 20. And the like did many of the Iews They were willing to rejoyce in his light for a season as our Saviour tels them Iohn 5. 35. But do you walk by this light Such use men make of the Stars in the night season they walk by the light of them And such use make you of the light of these stars While you are here in the night of this world walk by the light of their Doctrine As ye have received Christ Iesus the Lord so walk ye in him saith Paul to his Colossians chap. 2. 6. 2. And as by their Doctrine so also by their Example Such use Seamen make of some of the Stars they stear their course by them And such use make you of the Examples of the faithful Ministers of Christ whose lives are truly exemplary Stear your course by them follow them This Paul calleth for from his Corinthians 1 Cor. 4. 16. Wherefore I beseech you be ye followers of me And the like from his Philippians Brethren be ye followers together of me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 joynt imitators and mark them which so walk as you have us for an Example Phil. 3. 7. And thus should Christians be of their Ministers Remember them which have the rule over you saith the Apostle to his Hebrews chap. 13. 7. who have spoken to you the word of God whose faith follow the faith which they preached and professed considering the end of their conversation viz. that you may imitate them Onely here remember that Limitation
onely to him as Romanists would have it but to other his Apostles and Disciples and in them to their Successours even to all the Ministers of the Gospel as I touched before Into whose hands he hath put a double Key The Key of Doctrine and discipline of Doctrine giving them not onely leave or allowance but power to preach the Gospel Go teach all Nations Matth. 28. 19. Go preach the Gospel to every creature Mark 16. 15. And that in measure as himself is said to have done Matthew 7. last with Authoritie These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all Authoritie saith Paul to Titus Tit. 2. last And as the Key of Doctrine which is elsewhere called the Key of Knowledge Luke 11. 52. because it openeth the door and letteth men into the saving knowledge of God in Christ so of Discipline and Government Jesus Christ having given a Ministerial power to them partly by the Application of that Doctrine to the consciences of men and partly by the censures of the Church as it were to open and shut the Kingdome of Heaven the Kingdome of Grace and Glorie to open it to penitent believers to shut it against obstinate sinners Whatsover ye bind on earth c. Whose sins ye remit c. Thus have Gospel Ministers their Office from Christ their persons also being sent by him with Authoritie from him And upon this account are these stars here placed in the hand of this Son of Man to intimate the interest and propertie that Iesus Christ hath in the Ministers of the Churches who are his Ministers Here is a first thing hereby signified Pass we to a second Secondly As they are Ministers his Officers so they are ordered and governed by him And upon this account again they may be said to be in his hand in as much as they are disposed of and directed by him As are Ambassadours by their Masters that send them together with their Commission they receive particular directions and instructions both whither they are to go and what they are to say and do Even so it is with the Ministers of Christ being sent by him they are also directed by him As whither to go so were the Apostles whose Commission was first restrained to one particular Nation viz. to the Jewes Go not into the way of the Gentiles Matth. 10. 15. afterwards inlarged Goe teach all Nations Matth. 28. 19. And so was S. Paul sent to the Gentiles by Christ who appeared to him Acts 26. 18. And so are ordinarie Ministers though not in so immediate a way yet still they are directed by Christ viz. by his special Providence whither to goe where they are to be imployed It is this hand that fixeth these Stars in their several Orbes that placeth Ministers in their particular charges where also he continues them during his good pleasure disposing of them both for life and libertie as he seeth fitting So also what it is that they are to speak in his Name To which end he as it were putteth his word into their mouths So the Lord is said to have done into that fals Prophet Balams Numb 23. 16. The Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth And so he did in the mouths of his true Prophets Behold I have put my word into thy mouth saith the Lord to the Prophet Ieremy Jer. 1. 9. And the like doth the Lord Jesus into the mouthes of his Ministers he putteth his word into their mouthes sending them to preach he ordereth them what they are to preach Goe preach the Gospel Thus he giveth them directions and instructions from his Word the Scriptures whereby the Man of God cometh to be perfect as the Apostle telleth Timothie 2 Tim. 3. last And with his word he giveth them his Spirit This is that which our Saviour maketh promise to his Apostles and Disciples John 14. 16. 17. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth which Spirit he afterwards tells them should guide them into all Truth chap. 16. 13. And this Spirit Christ giveth in measure to all their Successours the true and faithfull Ministers of the Gospel whereby their Heads and Hearts come to be enlightned with those saving and usefull truths which they are to hold forth uuto others God hath shined into our hearts saith the Apostle in that place forenamed Thus are they in their ministerial work and service disposed of ordered governed by Christ. And upon this account again may be said to be in his hand Thirdly They are in his hand his right hand being powerfully supported and upheld defended and maintained by him In this sense all the Saints of God are said to be in his hand All his Saints are in thy hand saith Moses Deut. 23. 3. Gods Saints in the hand of Jesus Christ under his custody and protection But so are his Ministers after a special manner They are in his right hand under his powerful and gracious protection and support So the Psalmist often useth this phrase Thy right hand upholdeth me Psal. 18. 35. v. 63. 8. O thou that savest by thy right hand them that put their trust iâ— thee Psal. 17 7. The right hand is a member strong and active whereby a man sheweth and putteth forth the whole strength of his body And thence is it that Gods power manifested in the protection or deliverance of his people is called the strength of his right hand The Lord saveth his anointed with the saving strength of his right hand saith the Church speaking of David her king Psal. 20. 6. And such is the salvation which the Lord Christ sheweth unto his servants his faithful Ministers First maintaining their office which he will do in despite of all opposition to the end of the world I am with you alwaies to the end of the world And then so far as he seeth it expedient defending their persons continuing their lives and liberties Thus was this Son of man with those stars the Ministers of the Asian Churches He held them in his right hand protectiug them keeping them either from or in the hour of Temptation That is the promise which he maketh to the Philadelphian Angel Revel 3. 10. I will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world Such was the state of the Church then under the reign of that cruel Tyrant the Emperour Domitian it lay under a general persecution yet the Lord Iesus promiseth to the Church and in particular to the Ministers thereof an exemption and immunitie And thus doth Iesus Christ hide his Ministers sometimes as it were in the hollow or shadow of his hand Thus was he himself hid by his Father as the Prophet Esay saith of him Isai. 49. 21. In or with the shadow of his hand hath he hid me So protecting him against all the might and malice of his capital enemies that they could not lay hold upon him or do ought
surpassing all other Churches that ever were or shall be But I find him herein deserted by his fellows who though ready enough to crye up the glory of their mother and to lay hold upon ought that may seeme to looke that way yet in this they are not willing to owne such palpable flatteries And not without cause for as Pareus animadvertes upon it If that had been our faviours designe and meaning in this his Apparition to set forth the glorie of that Church how is it that he should be so forgetfull as not to direct aparticular Epistle to it as well as to those seven Asian Churches 3. In the ninth place our Mr Brightman looketh upon it as a representation of the spiritual Glorie of these Churches in the midst wherof this son of man now appears manifesting his presence there in the midst of his Ordinances and that after a glorious manner all things being there so constituted and ordered both for worship Dicipline as made those Churches at least some of them truly glorious There did the face of Iesus Christ shine saith he So the worship of God saith he is somtimes called his face Instancing in that of the Psalmist Psal. 105. 4. Seeke his face evermore To which that other Text answereth Psal. 27. 8. when thou saidest seeke yee my face my heart sayed unto thee thy face Lord I will seeke Where by the face of God is understood by divers Expositors the Arke where God manifested his presence in the Temple And The like he doth still in his ordinances which where they cease God may be sayd to with draw his face And where any are excluded from them they may be sayd to be banished from the face of God So that of Cain may be expounded Gen 4. 14. where he complaineth that he was driven from the face of the earth and hid from the face of God By the former understanding the place of his habitation where he had kept his former residence or the societie of men the inhabitants of the earth who would now be afraid of his company By the latter the presence of God in his Ordinances from which he was now secluded beiug under the sentence of excommunication cast out of the Church But I shall also let that pass though having somewhat more colour then the former 4. Some others in the fourth place looke upon this as a representation of the glorie of the Church under the Gospel which is a transcendent a surpassing glory for exceeding that under the Lawe A mysterie not unfitly represented by this shining of the face of this Son of man here after this manner which is sayed to shine as the Sun Under the Law we reade of the Moses's face Exod. 34. 40. Moses his face shone A passage which the Latine Enterpreters by a mistake of the word in the Originall Karan for Keren renders Cornuta erat Facies his face was horned From whence some infer that Moses's face at that time was like the Moone which in the increase and decrease appeares in that forme and fashion But here the face of Iesus Christ saith one was like the Sun Leting that gloss pass as grounded upon a false bottom In the mean time for the maine it is true Moses's face at that time did shine and that gloriously insomuch as the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold him for the glory of his countenance as the Apostle clearly expounds it 2 Cor. 3. 7. yet did it not shine like the face of this Son of man the Lord Iesus whose face shone as the Sun yea as the Sun in his strength at noon day So far doth the glory of the Gospell excell that of the Lawe There was a glory in that Legall ministration but not like the Evangelicall So the Apostle setteth forth the difference most fully by comparing one with the other in that place last named 2 Cor 3. 7 8 9 10 11. under the Gospell there is a far more glorious light broke forth then that was under the Lawe The one as the Moone the other as the Sun So the Prophet Isaiah expresseth that surpassing glorie that should come upon the Church in Gospel times as it is contained Isai. 30. 26. The light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sun Such is the glorie of the Church under the Gospell far exceeding that which was under the Lawe So not a few expound that of the Prophet Haggai chap. 29. where he foreteleth that the glory of the Later house or Temple should be greater then the former Major erit Ecclesiae gloria quà m Synâ—â—gogae the glorie of the Church under the Gospel should be greater then under the Law And this Interpretation I confess may learne to fuit more fitly with the Text then any of the former but yet I cannot look upon it as so genuâ—ne and Proper as to fasten upon it 5. And therefore to hold you no longer in suspence what was hereby signified refer we it unto Christ himselfe looking upon this as a Representation of some Perfections and Excellencies in the Person of Christ whose face is here said to be as the Sun as the Sun shining as the Sun shining in his strength Three particulars each of which hath is severall Emphasis and will afforde us some what worth our taking notice of Begin with the first 1. His face was as tho Sun A fit Hieroglyphick or Emblem of Iesus Christ who is sometimes so called the Sun the Sun of righteousnes Mat. 4. 2. It is spoken of Christ who is fitly resembled by the Sun and that in many respects Of these Analogies and resemblances I meete with noe less then eleven reached forth by one hand writing upon this Text. But of them I finde some so far fetcht as that I shall leave them where I find them not so much as taking notice of them Take some of those which I conceive to be most genvine and Proper These I shall refer and reduce to two heads Iesus Christ is as the Sun in respect of his personal properties and in respect of his operations and effects For the former his Personall Properties Of these I might name divers 1. The Sun is but One. Thence it taketh his Latine name say some Sol quia Solus In the firmament there are many Stars but one Sun Thus in the firmament of the Church there are many Stars of severall magnitudes many Saints in earth and heaven some out shining others as one Star differeth from another in glory And in the Church upon earth there are some of more eminent place then others Such were these stars in the right hand of Iesus Christ the ministers of the Churches but in the meane time but one Sun marke the vision Seven stars but one Sun Seven stars in the hand of this Son of man but one Sun which was in his face Thus though there be never so many eniment lights
Take the Answere Affirmatively 1. Would wee see the face of Christ looke into the glass of the Gospel Here may we behold it both safely and clearly So may we behold the Sun which shining in his strength being excellens sensibile cannot be looked upon without indangering of the eye yet in a glass we may see it and that as I said both clearely and safely And thus behold we this Mysticall Sun the face of Iesus Christ in this glass the glass of the Gospel Here it was that Paul saith of himself and other beleevers of his time that they beheld this face 2 Cor. 3. last But we all with open face as in a glass behold the glory of the Lord. And what Glass was this why the glass of the Gospell wherin Christians doe or may behold the glory of God shining in the face of Iesus Christ the glory of his mercy Iustice power goodness all manifested in by and through Christ And that with open face far more clearly then the Iewes did under the Lawe where this Mysterie of Christ was hid under the veile of Types and figures as the Arke was under its divers coverings And in this Glass behold we this Sun Here behold we the Mysterie of Iesus Christ as it is held forth unto us in the doctrine of the Gospel which acquaints us with his one Person two Natures three Offices His Incarnation Conception Birth Life Death Resurrection Ascension sitting at the right hand of his father As also with the many and great benefits which he hath obtained for us as Redemtion Iustification Adoption Sanctification Glorification And withall shewing us the way and meanes whereby we may come to be made partakers of them so setting before us the whole mysterie of Christ which it doth most clearly and fully Insomuch that there is not a line as I may say in this face which is not here drawn forth to the life All of us then if we would have a view of the face of this Son of man looke into this Glass studie the doctrine of the Gospell the Hystorie the mysterie of it 2 Waite upon Christ in his ordinances When the Parents of our Saviour had sought him three dayes at length they found him in the Temple Luk. 2. 46. And here this Son of man sheweth his face in the midest of the Candlesticks Would we see the face of Iesus Christ seek him in his Ordinances in his publike worship and service Here is the face of Christ to be seene as I shewed you Seeke his face saith the Psalmist in that forecited Text Psal. 105. 4. Speaking of the Arke of the Covenant where God manifested his presence The like doth the Lord Iesus now in the midst of his Ordinances his Word his Sacraments There doth Christ shew his face unto his people communicating himselfe to them that seeke him in a gratious manner Here then seek we his face and that as the Psalmist there hath it Evermore Being constant in this our attendance upon the Ordinances of Jesus Christ. That so we may see him see him in his Sanctuary as David saith he did Psal. 63. 1 2. O God thou aâ—t my God early will I seeke thee My soule thirsteth for thee c. To see thy power and thy glorie so as I have seene thee in the Sanctuarie Here had David seene more of God then elswhere in his Sanctuary in his Ordinances And would we have a sight of Iesus Christ so as to see his face seeke it in his Sanctuarie in his Ordinances Where content not our selves to heare of him but labour to see him with our owne eyes Yea to feele him 2. That is the second Particular So seeke the face of Jesus Christ that we may feele it or feele of it Not contenting our selves with a bare simple intuition a mere speculative knowledg of Iesus Christ but labour also for an Experimentall knowledg of him This is that superexcellent knowledg which the Apostle speaketh of Phil. 3. 8. I count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledg of Christ Iesus Tò 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that knowledg of Christ which is most excellent And what knowledg was that why not meerly a Contemplative but an Experimentall knowledg So he explains himselfe in the tenth verse That I may know him and the power of his resurrection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not onely to know by what power it was that Christ was raised from the dead as Grotius there so dilately expounds it but to know it in an experimentall way to feele the power and vertue of Christs Resurrection working the like effect in and upon himselfe in raising up him from the death of sin to the life of Grace here and Glory hereafter This is the Excellent knowledg of Iesus Christ. And this let every of us looke after Not contenting our selves with the bare beholding of this Sun to see the glare and shine of it but labour to feele that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that strength that vertue wherewith it shineth To finde and feele Iesus Christ unto us unto our soules as the Sun is to the Earth To finde and feele his gratious and efficacious presence with us putting forth his power and vertue in us exercising the like Operations upon us that the Sun doth upon the Earth What those operations are I have alreadie showen you Let me now reflect upon them minding you of them againe Exhorting you to endeavour to find and feele every of them in and upon your own soules 1. The first is Illummination Inlightning This was the Alpha the first worke in the first Creation God said let there be light and there was light Gen. 1. 3. And so it is in the second the new Creation New creatures must have a new light Upon the account whereof they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sons or Children of light Luk 16. 8. 1. Thes. 5. 5. Having beene somtimes darkness now they are light in the Lord. Eph. 58. Being called out of darkness into a marveilous light 1. Pet. 2. 9. And see that every of you be such Being coâ—vinced what by nature you are not onely darke but even darkeness it selfe wholy in the darke as to what concerneth your eternall happiness seeke after a new light that you may be inlightned that you may see a light shine forth unto you This was the preparative to Peters inlargment The Angel of the Lord came upon him and a light shined in the prison Act. 12. 7. And so it was to Paules Conversion There shinned round about him a light from heaven Act. 9. 3. And the like course God taketh with all those whom he hath a gratious purpose towards to set them at libertie from the Captivity of Sin and Satan and to bring them home unto himselfe he causeth a light to shine forth unto them a light from heaven I meane a supernaturall light revealing and making known to them that which
so long as the Sun and Moon endureth Thus I have done with the substance of this Complaint come we now to the circumstances the Aggravations of this Evil. Which as I shewed you are two the Persons and Time Begin with the former If thou hadst known even thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Si vel tu nosses Si cognovisses tu Not If thou hadst even known as the former Translation renders it putting the Emphasis upon the word Known but if even thou hadst known with reference to the Persons or Place Even thou Thou also say some thou Ierusalem as well as others as well as this poor troop of my Apostles and Disciples or as divers other lesser Cities and Villages have done or as this company now doth which acknowledgeth me to be what I am crying Hosanna or as some other places heretofore have done some of which have been so happy as timely to take notice of what belonged to their peace So did that great City Nineveh at the preaching of Ionah they repented John 3. 5. whose example elsewhere we finde propounded by our Saviour to the Jews Mat. 12. 41. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment against this generation and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Ionah And the like had some other places and persons done And O that Ierusalem had also done the like If thou also hadst known Thou as well as others Or Secondly Thou rather then others So Calvin and divers other Expositors here conceive of it As if our Saviour did here compare Ierusalem with other Cities of Iudea Yea with all other Cities of the whole world All which Ierusalem excelled in respect of many priviledges This was the City of David the Emperial City yea the City of the great King the City of God a City beloved of God above all other places upon the earth Coeleste in terris Sacrarium as Calvin saith of it a heavenly Sanctuary upon earth where God had betrusted his Oracles his Ordinances where he had manifested his presence after a special manner dwelling between the Cherubins according to that of the Psalmist Psal. 132. 13 14. For the Lord hath chosen Sion he hath desired it for his habitation This is my rest for ever here will I dwell Such was Ierusalem Heavens favorite Earths Non-such a City paramount preferred and advanced above all other Cities and places upon earth in respect of spiritual priviledges And this our Saviour here taketh up as an Aggravation both of his Sorrow and her Sin Of his Sorrow Even thou As for other places other Cities suppose Chorazin Bethsaida Capernaum the Gadarenes or Samaria or the like for any of these to perish and miscarry as they did this were no other but a sad thing deserving to be lamented over But that Ierusalem should do so this went nearer our Saviours heart then any other Even as Brutus his stab did to Caesars which made him cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tu Brute what thou my son thou Brutus Even so did Ierusalems obstinacy and ingratitude here to our Saviour And thereupon he crieth out after the same manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Even thou Like as it is with a natural parent he cannot but be offended with the miscarriage of any of his children but that his darling the son of his delights whom he hath set his love upon and shewen most affection to that he should miscarry this goeth near him So was it with Iacob when he apprehended some sad disaster to have befallen his son Ioseph his dear son the son of his age to whom he had expressed more affection then the rest of his Brethren as appeared by his party coloured garment this went near his heart insomuch that he refused to be comforted resolving to go down to the grave to him mourning as we have the story Gen. 37. 3. 35. And so was David affected with his Absolon He being his darling whom he had tendered and cockered when he understood what a fatal end he by his Rebellion had brought himself unto this makes David break forth into that passionate Lamentation O Absolon my son my son c. 2 Sam. 19. 4. Thus did Ierusalems carriage and miscarriage her sin and punishment which our Saviour saw and foresaw affect him more then if it had been any other place O if even thou hadst known This was an Aggravation of his Sorrow 2. And so secondly of their Sin This also our Saviour may well be conceived to insinuate in this passionate expression If Even thou Thou which hast enjoyed such means so many mercies that hast been lifted up to heaven preferred before al places in the world in respect of spiritual favours and Gospel priviledges that thou shouldest be thus stupid thus blinde as not to see not to regard the things which belonged to thy peace and happiness this renders thee of all others most miserable and maketh thy ingratitude most superlative So he here chargeth this upon them as a heinous aggravation of their Sin calling for an answerable Iudgment And so indeed it is as Calvin maketh the observation the more means the greater mercies a people enjoy the greater is their sin and the greater shall their punishment be in case they do not walk answerably to them and in some measure worthy of them Mark it this is the Observation which this passage naturally yieldeth Means and Mercies not regarded not improved not answered are dreadful aggravations both of Sin and Judgment For this express and full is that obvious Text Mat. 11. 20. where our Saviour breaketh forth into a like Exprobration against those Cities which he had honoured with his presence and doctrine as here he doth against Ierusalem Then saith the Text began he to upbraid the Cities wherein most of his mighty works were done because they repented not verse 20. In the verses foregoing he had taxed the general morosity and frowardness of that people upon whom no means could work neither Iohns austerity nor his own Comitie this he doth vers 16 17 18 19. But now he cometh more specially to deal with those particular places where he had been most conversant taxing them as being most faulty of all the rest Their sin was greater and so should their punishment be So it followeth vers 21. Woe unto thee Chorazin woe unto thee Bethsaida for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago in sackcloath and ashes Chorazin and Bethsaida two Cities upon the Lake of Gennezareth where Christ conversed much taught often wrought many miracles yet they repented not they were not thereby wrought upon to imbrace the Gospel What followeth you have it in the next verse v. 22. I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment then for you At the day of general
the people of the Iews Isaiah 5. ver 6. I will also command the cloudes that they rain no rain upon it That is as some safely if not somewhat too curiously expound it the means of grace and salvation should not bee continued unto that people as formerly He would beâ—eave them of their Prophets take away their Teachers Which accordingly he did as may be collected from that Promise which the same Prophet maketh to the Church Isaiah 30. 20. Though the Lord give you the bread of adversitie and the water of affliction yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more but thine eyes shall see thy teachers So it had been with that people Prophets had been very scarce among them So much we may take notice of from that of the Psalmist Psal. 74. 9. where the Church lying under a sad desolation is brought in complaining We see not our signes there is no more any Prophet neither is there a-mong us any that knoweth how long They wanted their Seers as the Prophets sometimes are called And by this meanes were the things which belonged to their peace hid from their eyes And by a like means came they here to be hid from Ierusalems by withdrawing those means of grace from them which formerly they had injoied Christ himself being taken away he also ordered his Apostles after a while to withdraw from them So much is insinuated in that Parable of the Mariage feast where the first guests that were invited though sollicited by messenger after messenger refusing to come the servants are then ordered by the Master of the Feast to go into the High-waies and Hedges and By-lanes and to bid new guests as the Evangelists have it Mat. 22. 9. Luke 14. 21. 23. The meaning of the Parable seems to be obvious This Marriage is the marriage betwixt Christ and his Church The first invited guests were the Iews to whom God sends his servants one after another first the Prophets then Iohn the Baptist with the Apostles and Disciples of CHRIST who perswaded them to come and receive Iesus Christ and to have Communion with him but they refusing the Apostles with their Successors are afterwards sent to the Gentiles Which accordingly sometimes after our Saviours Ascension came to passe For however at the first according to their Masters direction they applied themselves onely to the Jewes yet afterwards finding them unworthie and being rejected by them they shook off the dust of their feet against them turning to the Gentiles So Paul and Barnabas expresly tell them Act. 13. 46. When they heard the Jewes contradicting them and blaspheming their doctrine Then they waxed bold saith the Text and said It was necessarie that the Word of God should first have been spoken unto you but seeing you put it from you and judge your selves unworthie of eternal life lo wee turn to the Gentiles for so hath the Lord commanded us Thus when men do abuse the light of the Gospel Christ often removeth the Candlestick as hee threatens the Church of Ephesus Revel 2. 5. taketh away that light taketh away his Ministers and Ordinances and so leaveth them in the darke by which meanes the things belonging to their peace are hid from their eies and that through the want of means 2. But Secondly sometimes the means are injoyed but the Spirit is withheld not accompanying not going along with the meanes Even as the Church complaineth Psal. 44. 9. that God did not go forth with her Armies Her Armies went forth but God did not go forth with them as formerly to direct assist blesse and prosper them to make them victorious Thus God sometimes sends forth his Ministers but hee doth not go forth with them hee doth not accompany his Ordinances with his Spirit This is that which the Prophet Isaiah complaineth of hee lift up his voice like a trumpet hee spared not to his dutie But who hath believed our report to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed Isaiah 53. 1. His Ministerie was for the most part ineffectual few there were that were wrought upon by it Hee had as elswhere hee bemoans it Isaiah 49. 4. even laboured in vain and spent his strength for nought Now whence was this Why God did not concurr with him by the efficacious work of his Spirit hee did not put forth his power reveal his Arme hence was it that his indeavours became so ineffectual to the greatest part And thus God is pleased sometimes to enervate his Ordinances by withdrawing his presence from them Even as it was in Ezekiels Vision hee saw the Glorie of the God of Israel going up from the Cherub to the threshold of the house Ezekiel 9. Verse 3. The Cherub stood still in his place but the glorie was departed God had withdrawn his presence from it Thus Ordinances may bee continued and yet the Spirit withdrawn whereby they become ineffectual So as though the light shine forth unto men yet wanting that Spirit of Illumination which should open their eies and let that light into their hearts they still remain in the dark So fared it with the Scribes and Pharisees though the mysterie of Salvation was as clearly held forth unto them as unto others yet whilest others saw it it was hid from them How so Why this was God's work to put a differencee betwixt the one and the other So much our Saviour taketh notice of and acknowledgeth Matth. 11. 25. I thank thee Father Lord of heaven and earth or I confesse unto thee or acknowledge before thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because or that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes The same Word was preached by the same persons unto both but it had not the same effect in both To the simpler sort of persons men and women of weak apprehensions altogether unlearned and ignorant very children in understanding the mysteries of eternall Salvation were clearly revealed by the Ministerie of Christ and his Apostles but not so to the wise and prudent great and learned Clerks men wise in their own and others opinions as the Scribes and Pharisees were To them were these things hid Now whence was this Why God did not co-operate with the Word as to them hee did not work upon their mindes by his Spirit by which means the Word became ineffectual unto them Again in the Third place God coucurreth in hiding these things from the eies of men not onely in Negative or Privative but also after a sort in a Positive way Not onely by not opening their eies and hearts but by blinding and hardning them So it was with this people the people of the Iewes as our Saviour also taketh notice of it giving this as a reason why they did not believe Iohn 12. 39 40. Therefore they could not believe saith hee because Isaias said again He hath blinded their eies and hardned their hearts that they should not see with their eies
the Earth as ready to take their flight v. 18 19. 4. From thence to the midst of the City and 5ly From thence to the Mountain on the East side of the City the Mount of Olives Cap. 11. v. 23. Now what did these frequent removes import Surely a great unwillingnesse in God to depart from that people And so it is so long as there is any remedy God is not willing to forsake a people whom once he hath taken into Covenant with himself So much we may hear him passionately declaring concerning Israel Hos. 11. 7 8. My people saith he are bent to back sliding from me So was Israel yet mark what followes How shall I give thee up O Ephraim how shall I deliver thee O Israel How shall I make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim Myne heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together So loath is God as it were to cast off a people whom once he hath struck a Covenant with if there be any hope of teturning unto him and demeaning themselves as becommeth his people And who knoweth what his thoughts may yet be towards this sinful and most unworthy Nation Onely turn we unto him with all our hearts and soules And then as the Prophet Ioel goeth on Ioel 2. 14. Who knoweth if he will return and leave a blessing behind him And thus have I done with the first branch of the Application as is directed to the Nation in general Come we in the next place to bring it nearer home applying it to every of our selves in particular And this I shall do in the first place by way of Terrour to some Is it so that daies of grace have their dates what terrour may this strike into the hearts of all obstinate and obdurate sinners of which kind I wish there were none before me this day Despisers of Grace such as have had their Day their day of grace and mercy wherein God hath shewen unto them the things belonging to their peace but they have not known them they would not know them they have done what the Iewes did stopped their eares closed their eies hardned their hearts refusing to hearken to the counsel which Wisedome gave them to hearken to Iesus Christ speaking to them in and by his Ministers not regarding the counsel which the word held forth to them sleighting those offers of grace and mercie tendred to them in the Gospell upon their receiving of Christ but still going on in their wonted Rebellions Now to all such be it spoken how do you know but that the date of your day may be out the time of grace and mercy may be past and the dreadful doom passed upon you in heaven which our Saviour here denounceth against Ierusalem upon earth that Now the things belonging to your peace are hid from your eyes so as you shall never see what you have refused to see Certainly so it hath been with some others And why not so with you for ought that you or others know How ever a just and righteous thing it is with God God that it should be so that seeing you have closed your eyes and would not see that he should seal them so as you should not see And if so how deplorable how miserable is your condition So we loook upon a poor blind man whose bodily eyes are put out past hope of ever recovering his sight again What is it then to have the eye of the soul blinded So as it shall never see never se what belongeth to its peace hapines but is shut up under an everlasting darkness Miserable and deplorable is the condition of every such a soul in as much as it is now desperate helplesse hopelesse So is it with a person upon whom this doom is once passed Now he may call and cry for mercy with Esau seeking blessing with tears but all in vain Neither his own nor yet the prayers of any other shall be available on his behalf Though Noah Iob and Daniel the chiefest favourites of heaven should undertake to intercede for such a one yet shall they not be able to procure a revocation and reversement of that sentence which is past upon him Such was Sauls case upon whom Samuel denounceth that irrevocable sentence from the Lord 1 Sam. 15. 26. Thou hast rejected the word of the Lord and the Lord hath rejected thee A sentence not to be reversed So he tels him v. 29 Also the strength of Israel will not lye nor repent for he is not as man that he should repent No though Saul himself sought God by confessing and bewailing of his sinne as he doth v. 24. begging pardon for it desiring Samuel to go along with him that he might worship God as it followeth v 25. which accordingly he did v. 31 Yet would not all this avail No nor yet though Samuel was an intercessour for him praying and mourning for him as we find him v. last So irreversible was that sentence which the Lord had passed upon Saul that what ever he did or Samuel could do all could not change the purpose of God concerning him Rejected he was for his Rebellion and rejected he should be O fear and tremble you obstinate and rebellious sinners who stand guilty of the same sin that is charged upon him of rejecting the word of the Lord not hearkning to his voice not yeilding obedience to his Commands but doing what is good in your own eies fear ye and tremble I say least the Lord should have passed or should passe the like sentence upon you which if once done I and others may do for you what Samuel there did for Saul mourn for you but cannot help you Obj. But what is Gods decree so absolute and peremptory concerning any particular person here upon earth that what ever means shall be used by themselves or others for them shall not be able to reverse it It was not so with that barren Figtree in the Gospel upon which the owner had passed his doom that it should be cut down giving order to the dresser of his vineyard that he should execute what he had decreed Cut it down why cumbreth it the ground Yet notwithstanding at that his servants request it was reprived and spared one year longer Luk. 13. 7 8 9. A. True thus God is pleased to deal sometimes with some to exercise great long sufferance and forbearance towards them Yea sometimes reverting the sentence which is past upon them Thence it is that he is said sometimes to Repent of what he hath done or intended to do So he did concerning the Ninevites which Ionah supecting taketh up as his excuse for his not going to the City according to Gods direction to denounce that sentence against them but rather fleeing to Tarshish Jon. 4. 2. Therefore saith he I fled before unto Tarshish for I knew that thou art a gracious God slow to anger and of great kindnesse and repentest thee of
upon Gospell tearmes 3. And 3ly as to themselves so long as they live they stand obliged to accept of these offers which still refusing to do their sin is therby aggravated and heightned through that continued contempt 4. But yet in the 4th place If we speak of Gods secret decree and purpose questionlesse the day of grace may determine unto a man before the day of his life So it did there to Ierusalem She still liveth and flourisheth for a time Her day of prosperity was yet continued but her day of grace was now at an end Now are these things hid from thine eyes And questionlesse so may it be with some particular persons whom God in his just judgment hath given up to final impenitence so delivering them up unto Satan and themselves as that from thenceforth they never shall know the things belonging to their peace Obj. But what then may some say may not this be our case And if so then it is in vain for us to strive to seek for what is not to be found to knock at that door which is shut uppon us as it shall not be opened A. In answer to this I shall deal as tenderly as I may so as I may not discourage or dishearten any soul that intertaines but a thought of returning and coming in unto God that begins so much as to cast a glance heaven-ward Wherein I shall do no other then what the Lord Jesus himself doth of whom it was prophecied that he should not quench the smoaking flax Matth. 12. 20. Such was and is the gracious lenity and clemency of the Lord Jesus in his dealing with poor sinners in whom there are as yet onely some weak desires after grace some slender beginnings of conversion and faith And so shall I deal with all such 1. Willing them in the first place to take notice what is their Rule to walk by Not the secret but the revealed will of God Secret things belong unto the Lord but those things which are revealed to us and to our children for ever Deut. 29. 29. This is that which we are to look at and take notice of And therefore let not any upon this account disquiet and trouble their own soules with such anxious disquisitions as neither they nor any other for them whether man or Angel is able to resolve But apply themselves to the use of means This will men do as concerning their temporall estates They ne-over stand prying into Gods decree to enquire what portion in his secret purpose he hath layed out for them but they set about the work of their calling applying themselves to the use of means And so do you touching your spirituall and eternall estates Stand not to enquire how God hath disposed of you in his secret purpose but go about the work of your general calling apply your selves to the use of such means as God hath appointed to bring you home to himself by so waiting upon his good will and pleasure This is that which the Lord requires you to do And therefore in obedience to his command do it with that Poor impotent person Iohn 5. lying at the pool untill the Angell shall come down and stir the waters attending upon Ordinances untill God by his spirit concurring with them shall please to work effectually by them inclining your hearts to look towards himself giving you a sight and sense of your own sinfulnesse and miserie making you to see and feel the need you have of Jesus Christ and heginning to draw your hearts towards him Which when you find let this be a comfortable evidence unto you that your day is not yet past Onely be not you now wanting to this grace of God in giving intertainment to these motions of the spirit in opening of the doore of your hearts that so the Lord Jesus who is now knocking at them may enter in Which in the feare of God be ye now perswaded to do Not knowing but that this may be the last knock this the last sermon that ever we shall heare or the last mention of the spirit that ever you shall feele Now therefore even now before you goe from this place strike up the Covenant betwixt Iesus Christ and your soules accepting and receiving him in all those Gospell Relations not onely as a Saviour casting your soules upon him so as to rest upon the al sufficiencie of his merit for the pardon of sin and eternall salvation but also as a Lord a Husband a Head giving your selves up unto him to be guided and governed by him by his word and Spirit so receiving him into your hearts as that he may dwell in you and rule over you and that for ever This being done now know you for your comfort that you are through grace and mercie exempted out of this black list out of the number of those from whose eies the things belonging to their peace are hid God having thus revealed his Sonne Christ not onely to you but in you as the Apostle saith of himself Gal. 1. 16. not onely revealed him to your eares but to your hearts as by his word so by his spirit inclining your hearts to close with him to receive him upon these Gospel tearms now he hath made you to know the things which belong unto your peace Which whilest he hath hid from others he hath revealed to you For which differencing mercie to close up all in a word blesse you God giving unto him the glorie of this his free grace which hath put such a difference betwixt you and others This doth our Saviour in the behalfe of his Disciples in the Text forecited Math. 11. 25. I thanke thei O father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes The great misteries of this Kingdome God had revealed them unto the poore and simpler sort of people the poore received the Gospell whilest in the meane time they were hid from the Scribes and Pharises men worldly wise and learned And this our Saviour there acknowledgeth to be his work an art of his meere good will and pleasure Even so father for so it seemed good in thy sight v. 26. And the like doe you for your selves Seeing God hath now revealed unto you those things which he hath hid from others many others who upon a Naturall or Civill account are far your betters being preferred before you as in place and estate so in understanding and worldly wisedome Give ye unto him the glorie of this mercie acknowledging it to be an art of his free grace a singular favour vouchsafed unto you For which let your soules for ever bless him prasing and magnifying him who hath thus now made you Children or light whereas others the greatest part of the world still sit in darknesse in the shaddow of death some of them having their eies already closed up so as they neither do nor ever