purified a body for himselfe will never be a head without a body for he is 〈◊〉 head as can both purifie and preserve his body yea he is such a head as is sensible of the sufferings of his body as Christ hath taken his people into all the relations of love so they shall surely finde the fulnesse of his love in all those relations Christ will be a King of love to his Kingdome a Husband of love to his Spouse a loving head to his body and all his Brethren and Sisters shall finde him a Brother of love Nay he is a loving Redeemer so full of love that he became sinne for us to make us righteous so full of love that he would beare all the stripes due to our sinnes so that we might be healed in his stripes What doe you argue from hence Why that he will never cease to love his people nor will he ever lose his interest in them or be failing of his love in any relation to them he will certainely preserve them alive for whom he hath dyed to give live Because I live sayes Christ you live also John 14.19 John 14.19 You are my body I am your head I have life in my selfe and give life to my body for I cannot be a head to a dead body what life is in me is your life for that is your interest in me and this is my glory and the glory of my Fathers grace through me That whom ever beleeveth in mee hath everlasting life John 6.47 John 6.47 John 14.1 Now sayes Christ let not your hearts bee troubled you beleeve in God beleeve also in mee John 14.1 Beleeve in God through me I have an interest in you as God hath and I will be very tender of it for I dyed to purchase it and I live to maintaine and preserve it and assure your selves as certaine as I live you live I live that in me you might have eternall life and that God in me may fulfill all those promises which he hath made unto you of my peacefull Kingdome and of the righteousnesse of my reigne in you and over you therefore consider them they are Gods promises made in me not one tittle of them shall faile they are your portion your peculiar interest take them and live upon God in them for he will make them all good in me you are Gods interest and mine and these are your interest in God through me Feare not little flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome the Kingdome of grace and of glory of righteousnesse and peace where none shall be able to disturbe or distroy you I intend here to gather up some Scriptures together which holdeth forth this righteous and peacefull Kingdome of Christ in the Earth Aâ— first Jer. 23.5 6. Jer. 23.5 6. Behold the day is come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reigne and prosper and shall execute judgement and justice in the Earth In his dayes Judah shall bee saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called THE LORD OVR RIGHTEOVSNESSE This is a promise of the righteous and peaceable Kingdome of Christ this righteous branch and King in the Text is meant of Christ for this is his Name The Lord our Righteousnesse which is Christ whom is a God made righteousnesse to us now behold Christ our King and righteousnesse his day is come saith the Lord when he shall reigne in righteousnesse amongst his people and shall execute judgement and justice in the Earth and in his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely it shall be a Kingdome of peace and safety for the Lord our righteousnesse shall reigne a righteous reigne must needs produce a peacefull Kingdome therefore Christ the righteous is called the Prince of peace when he shall execute his judgement then will justice be done in the Earth then Judah shall be saved from the hands of the spoyler and Israel shall be kept in safety I this will make a Kingdome of peace indeed and this is the peace that Christ our righteousnesse will bring in the dayes of his glorious reigne amongst his people in the Earth so in the 11. of Isaiah Isa 11.1 to the 10. from the 1. to the 10. verse There is a Prophesie of the peaceable Kingdome of the Branch out of the Root of Jesse which branch is Christ it is said the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him and it shall be a spirit of Counsell and might and knowledge and the feare of the Lord so that he shall judge the poore with righteousnesse and reprove with equity for the meek of the Earth That righteousnesse shall be his girdle and faithfulnesse the girdle of his reynes Now observe what is the fruite of the reigne of this righteous King why it is peace in all the holy Mountaine neither Wolfe nor Leopard Lyon or Beare Aspe nor Cockatrice shall hurt or destroy in any part of it but this King of righteousnesse will make the Wolfe and the Lambe dwell together the Leopard to lye downe with the Kid and the Calfe and young Lyon together and a little child to lead them the Cow and the Beare with their young ones to feed and lye downs together and the sucking child to play at the hole of the Aspe and the weaned child to put his hand into the Cockatrices Den. What is the meaning of all this Why it is a description of that glorious change which the righteousnesse of Christ in his reigne over the Earth shall have upon the natures of his and his peoples Enemies those Beasts of prey though they remaine Wolfeâ— and Leopards Lyons and Beares Aspeâ— and Cockatrices yet the righteousnesse of his reigne shall be so glorious that it shall chiane up their devouring nature and take off their strength to mischief his righteous government shall over awe them and be as a hooke in their nostrills so that a young childe a little strength shall lead them for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea God shall be knowns to reigne over all the Earth it shall be covered with the brightnesse of his glory his enemies shall know and tremble and his people shall know and rejoyce Isa 42. beg So the same Prophet in the 42. Isa beginning speaking of Christ sayes of him A bruised reede shall be not breake and smoaking Flax shall he not quench for hee shall bring forth judgement unto truth he shall judge and give judgement in truth hee shall set judgement in the Earth and the Isles shall waite for his Law He shall reigne and command the whole earth they shall all waite for his Law and then shall the whole Earth be filled with judgement when the righteous childe Jesus shall reigne So the Prophet David speaking of the reigne of Christ under Solomâ—n his Type in
Sectary an Heritique and an enemy to Caesar So that not onely the ignorant multitude but even Authority it selfe which should protect them is set against them Now helpe Lord sayes these afflicted Spirits Psal 12. good and goodly men they cease for the faithfull fall among the children of men They speake vanity every one with his neighbour with flattering lips and with a double heart doe they speake So that all worldly men who are much the greater number are either open or private enemies to the Church and people of God therefore words are but the fleshly policy of their false hearts the mischiefe lyes at the root so that what ever the Serpent brew'd proveâ— their businesle is to bruise the heele of the Woman Christ in his Church and people So that indeede the condition of Gods Church and people in the World is very sadd they are a Lilly amongst Thornes enemyes either open or private round about them Is it so poore heart Why then looke up with an eye of faith are all men false yet God is true will not the powers on earth bea kinde to Zion doe they neglect their duty to protect the praise-worthy Yet feare not God will he kinds and faithfull too he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings all the powers is Heaven and Earth must obey him for thy incouragement and matter for thy faith to build on to the establishments of thy â—â—â—rit take into thy bosome and seriously consider what followes First Isa 43.1 confider Gods interest in his people Isa 43.1 〈◊〉 now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and hee that â—â—â—med thee O Israel feare not for I have redeemed thee I have â—â—led thee by my Name thou art mine Observe the end of God is this Scripture is to keepe up his peoples hearts above feare and the way God taketh is this to let them know his interests is them why sayes God I have not onely created thes but I have redeemed thee also thou hast not onely my first but also my second creation upon thee the new creature thou are my redeemed one my image so that thou bearest my name thy 〈◊〉 myee looke upon thee as the redeemed of the Lord thou beareâ— my Name and thou art mine my interest thou art Jacob my servant Isa 44. â— and Israel whom I have chosen Marke the Scriptures Thâ—â— art my chosen interest my redeemed interest my new creaâ—â—â— interest my servant whom I have chosen to beare my names theâ— are thou mine Now why shouldest thou feare Doest thou think I will let my name be blotted out I am God not Men I cannot Iyes I cannot hee changable if I choose thee to love thee to make thee my redeemed one upon whom I will ingrave my Nature as a holy God in the new creature and so proclaim thee to the World to be mine I will never cast thee off againe nor out of my love and care thou art mine and I am thine my love thine I am thine as I am a God of free grace in Christ I am thine my power is thine that is it is all for thee as I am 〈◊〉 Omnipotent Almighty alsufficient and Eternall God so 〈◊〉 I thy God therefore feare not none can pluck theâ— out of my hande Zâ—â—h 2.12 Gods Church and people are his inheritance Zach. 2.12 And the Lord shall inherite Judah his portion in the holy Lâ—â—â— Gods people are his inheritance in that Land where they are God so accounte of them that is though Heaven and Earth be the Lorde yes he counts his people his inheritance that which he most loves and priseth so that hee will never cast them off nor destroy them God useth these tearmes meeâ—ely to speake â—o our capacity that he might tell us we are to him that which 〈◊〉 count most deare to us so as never to part with them but to use our utmost power to preserve and keepe them as our Name and our Inheritance we are exceeding tender of these and doe our utmost to preserve them so sayes God my Church and people are to mee exceeding deare as tender as the apple of my eye all my power shall preserve them they are my Name and my Heritage nay the Church and people of God is Gods habitation and his dwelling place not as a confined God but as a glorious God and loving Father Ezekiel 37.26 27 28. Ezek. 37.26 27 28. God Covenants to set his Sanctuary and his Tabernacle in the midst of his people for evermore That is I will dwell amongst you for ever you shall be my delight and my habitation for evermore I will walke among you sayes God and will be your God and you shall bee my people Levit. 26.12 I am your God you are my interest Lev. 26.12 I will live in you and walke amongst you as in my Heritage and the people which I have chosen to beare my Name so the Apostle Paul writing to the Church of God at Corinth 2 Cor. 6.16 2 Cor. 6.16 telleth them that they are the Temple of the living God the people whom God had chosen to dwell in and to walke in them as their God and they as his people Wee see then this is the Churches interest in God they are his people whom he ownes for his dwelleth in them sets his Sanctuary and his Tabernacle in the midst of them walkes with them puts his Name upon them makes them his owne Inheritance and is as tender of them as of the apple of his eye and this God declares to his Church and people that they should not feare for hee hath power enough to preserve his owne interest and love enough to answer all their wants Gods people they are the sheep of his pasture Psalm 100. Psal 100. Hee feedes and keepes them as his owne peculier interest the children of Zion finde bread enough in their Fathera house Psalm 134. last Psal 134. last The Lord that made Heaven and Eerth blesse thee out of Zion As if the Psalmist had sayd God as a God of blessngs dwelleth in Zion that is his heritage his throne where he sits and blesseth So in the 146 Psalm last The Lord that reignes for ever Psal 146. last even the God of Zion and the 147 Psalm 12. Praise thy God O Zion Psal 147.12 The Lord is for ever thy God O Zion therefore praise him this iâ— Gods interest he is the God of Zion and so he reâ—gties forever there he wraps up the glory of 〈◊〉 grace and there he right in his power and greatnesse for over This doubtlesse is ground of great establishment to our souls concerning the Church and people of God though in the wildernesse amongst ravenous beasts and subtle foxes that seekes to destroy the tender vines yeâ— eveâ— here they are Gods interest his inheritance his chosen and redeemed ones in whom he dwelleth and amongst these golden Candlesticks he walkes so that his Church
the 72. Psalme 7. so on In his dayes shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Sunne and Moone endureth he shall have dominion from Sea to Sea unto the ends of the Earth those that dwell in the Wildernesse the Beasts of prey shall bow downe to him and his enemies shall licke the dust Kings shall come in with their presents and offer gifts to him yea all Kings shall fall downe before him all Nations shall serve him and he shall deliver the needy and poore he shall redeeme their soules from deceite his Name shall endure for ever men shall be blessed in him and all Nations shall call him blessed the whole earth shall be filled with his glory Thus will Christ reigne in righteousnesse and all the Kings of the Earth shall tremble for their unrighteous reignes they shall all come in and offer up their Crownes and Sceptres to this King of righteousnesse bow downe before him and lay all their power at his feet and waite upon him for his Law then shall the Earth rejoyce that the Lord reignes and then shall the righteous be glad that the King of Zion ruleâ— in the whole Earth then shall the Land be a Land of peace when righteousnesse reignes then will peace flourish like the Tree planted by the river side that is alwayes green and flourisheth When Christ comes to reigne thus in the Earth it must needs be peace for then all his people will be one they will all have but one Name the Lords people and his name written upon them Zachariah 14.9 And the Lord shall bee King over all the Earth in that day shall there bee one Lord and his Name one When the Lord thus reignes over the whole Earth his people will be one then Names shall not divide his people for they shall all be knowne by his Name and he their King a holy King and a holy People he shall be known by his holinesse and righteousnesse so shall his people his holy Name shall be written upon them and that shall be a defence about all their glory Take one Scripture more which is exceeding full to this purpose in the 2. Isaiah beginning Isa â— beg Micha 4. beg And it shall come to passe in the last dayes that the Mountaine of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the Mountaines and shall bee exalted above the Hils and all Nations shall flow into it and many people shall goe and say Come yee and let us goe to the Mountaine of the Lord to the House of the God of Jacob and hee will teach us of his wayes and wee will walke in his pathes For out of Zion shall goe forth the Law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem and hee shall judge among the Nations and shall rebuke my people and they shall beate their Swords into Plow-shares and their Speares into Pruning-hookes Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learne War any more First this Scripture telleth us the time of Christs reigning thus in righteousnesse it shall be in the last dayes the latter end of the World Secondly How this thing shall be that Christ shall be lifted up above all Hils and Mountaines above all powers and greatnesse in the World he shall then take all power and government into his owne hands all the Mountaines shall flow into him the Mountaine of the Lord shall swallow them all up there shall in those dayes goe forth no Law but what goeth forth of Zion Christ shall reigne amongst his people and the Earth shall be filled with the peace of his reigning in righteousnesse when the Law goeth forth of Zion then the spirit for War shall be rebuked and the Sword of Gods spirit shall turne the Sword of the flesh into Plow-shares and the Speares into Pruning-hooks so that Nation shall never war against Nation more all Wars shall be hush't and gone righteousnesse shall reigne and peace which is the fruits thereof for Warre is the fruit of unrighteous reigning and governing nothing but righteousnesse justice and judgement can bring lasting peace into the World or any part of it and I wish all that love peace did love righteousnesse as well and imbrace peace for righteousnesse sake all such as doe so Christ will satisfie them for behold he comes with healing under his winges he brings righteousnesse and peace with him his righteousnesse brings peace he is the righteous King and the Prince of peace and he that shall come will come and will not tarry But if any shall aske what I intend in all this My answer is To gather up matter for faith to live upon to the establishment of my owne soule and others By beleeving in the Lord our God And I trust I shall not lose my end it appeares to me to be precious matter for Faith to live upon God and Christ to the establishment of soules That the Church and people of God on Earth are Gods interest and Christs interest Gods Inheritance and Christs Kingdome over whom he doth reigne in righteousnesse his jewels the purchase of his blood and the throne of his glory those whom God hath chosen from all eternity to be the redeemed of his free grace to unbosome his love and reveale his glory too to all eternity those to whom he hath given Christ and in him all things to whom God is a God in Covenant and that of free grace for whom God hath satisfied his owne justice through his grace in Christ and made them compleate even his owne righteousnesse in him for whose sake God reproves Kings overthrowes unrighteous powers dashing them in pieces like a Potters vessell with his Iron Rod and amongst whom Christ shall reigne King for ever in peace and righteousnesse This is to me abundant ground of faith to believe in and to cast my precious eternal soul with al my comforts and concernments upon Gods eternall love and free grace in Christ salvation in all the parts of it to Gods Elect in Christ is the fruits of eternall love and free grace in God this is a sure foundation to build on it beares a great weight its true but it will never shrinke or faile it hath been tryed from eternity free grace is the foundation and Christ the corner stone of this eternal building so that it will abide to eternity Upon these very considerations we shall finde the Church of God in the 46 47 and 48. Psalmes living upon God by faith 46 47 and 48. Psalmes and praising him through beleeving God is our refuge and strength a very present helpe in time of trouble sayes the Church That is God is our God and we are his interest so that he is presently at our helpe he waites to be gradous to us he cannot forget us we are so deare to him well what use doth the Church make of this why to establish her selfe upon God by beleeving Therefore will not wee feare though
in righteousnesse but also preserved by his power and in him have a defence about all their glory Hosea 14.4 God promiseth to heale the backe-sliding of his people and to love them freely This is a precious promise indeed that Gods free love will heale the backe slidings of his people it is a signe he will keepe his interest in them if he loveth them freely and that free love doth sanctifie them and heale their back-slidings nay God doth promise to doe it so the this people may plead his promise to them when they finde their owne wants See what care God takes of his Church and people whom he loveth freely Isai 27.3 Isa 27.3 I the Lord doe keepe it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keepe it day and night See what care God takeâ— of his Vineyard to keepe it day and night so that none can hurt it and to water it every moment that it may be very fruitfull in the spirit God will make his Vinyard holy it is his owne he will manifest his interest in making it like him and then hee will preserve it as his owne never leave nor forsake them keepe them day and night safe in his free love and protection so that not any shall have power to hurt them Wicked men though very industrious cannot be so watchfull to harme the people of God as God is to keepe them from harm he is a God that neither slumbers nor sleeps he takes care of his people day and night yea every moment there is no feare that he will loose his interest for want of care nor can he loose them for want of power for he is an infinite omnipotent God and there is no God besides him therefore care and power in God is sure defence to all his peoples glory who are his interest Isa 30.18 The Lord waites to be graclous to his people As if he had said God stayes for opportunities to doe his people good in his heart and hand is full of mercies and hee waites to shew forth the riches of his grace to them God there exalts himselfe to shew mercy to his people And the Prophet David makes this ground to exhort Princes to give glory to God by reason of his power and protection to his people in Ps Psalm 29.10.11 29.10 11. The Lord sitteth upon the flood saith he yea the Lord setteth King for ever the Lord will give strength to his people the Lord will blesse his people with peace It is the Lord that is King it is he that reignes and only can blesse with peace and whom will he thus blesse why his people his inheritance in the world therefore Princes and earthly powers commit folly to thinke they can curse where he will blesse for the Lord sitteth King for ever and all earthly powers are made by him and for to be his foâ—tstoole so that hee can kicke them downe when he pleaseth and if they meddle with his annointed chosen heritage hee will reprove Kings for their sakes That is as they are his foote-stool so hee will trample them to dust if they touch the apple of his eye God will preserve his interest his people when as he shall turne the world to its first lump of darknesse and were it not for this his interest that is in the world the world would soon have a period And in Psal 112.6 Psalus 112.6 Surely sayes David a good man hee shall not be moved for ever the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance It is the righteous man that is Gods interest whom he hath in everlasting remembrance of mercy Psalm 125.1 So in Psalm 125.1 They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion which cannot be moved but abideth for ever Mount Zion that is the Church and people of God which is Gods interest it cannot be moved this mountaine can never be overturned it is fixed in God hee takes care of it as that whereon he hath placed his Name to abide for ever So in Psal 133. last Vpon the mountaines of Zion there the Lord commanded the blessing even life for evermore Zion is the place where God commands his blessings life for evermore to dwell God dwels in Zion as a God of blessings the life of his Church and people for evermore Psalm 147.2 3. Psalm 147.2 3. The Lord doth build up Jerusalem he gathereth together the out-casts of Israel Hee healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds This is Gods care over his inheritance in the World his chosen people hee buildeth them up and gathereth them together hee healeth the broken-hearted and bindeth up the wounded that is he maketh them what they are and supplyeth all their wants he makes them his people and takes care of them as his people and upon this his interest hee doth expostulate the case with his people how they should thinke that he should forget them Isa 49.14 15 16. But Zion saith the Lord hath forsaken mee and my Lord hath forgotten me Why sayes God can my people argue this thing with me Can a mother forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the sonne of her wombe Yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Behold I have graven thee upon the palmes of my hands thy walls are continually before me Mark it God puts the case as home as possible creature-affections could carry it can a tender mother forget the sonne of her womb and the child of her breast yea it is possible for she is a creature but what then I am God I will not forget my people why sayes God you are my people my interest I cannot forget you I have graven you upon the palmes of my hands you are continually before me you are engraven in my hands and my heart too my eternall love hath done it and eternity cannot wipe it out you are ever before me as my interest I can never forget you my thoughts are ever upon you for good and my care is ever over you for protection my right hand is over you and my left hand is under you my loving kindnesse doth embrace you for ever you are the jewels I have chosen to glorifie my free grace on to all eternity you perhappes have found man false what iâ— that to me though they seek to serve their corrupt ends on you yet my end is pure to preserve my glory in you as my interest you must not judge me by men the World is their interest but you are mine And when they sleight and trample you under foote to close with the World then wil I sleight and trample them under soot in the preservation of you that are my peculiar interest I will not give up my people whilst I keep my being and I am God from everlasting to everlasting and there is no God besides me I will keep my people as my being for it is the designe of
my eternall love and free grace that my people shall have their being in me and with me for ever you are graven upon the palmes of my hands for evermore you are my people in Covenant the elect and chosen of my grace to be my inheritance and dwelling place for ever I cannot forget you you are ever before me you lye in the wounds of my Sonne Jesus Christ and you are righteous in my owne righteousnesse so that to forget you were to forget my selfe and Jesus Christ I am a full treasury of mercy and grace and you are the onely vessels whom I have chosen to fill with my mercy and grace to all eternity think you that I can forget you as you are my inheritance so I have made my selfe your inheritance Rom. 8.17 and you are fellow heyres with Christ is it possible I can forget you to whom I have given my selfe for an inheritance no I have you in remembrance as my beloved ones for ever my owne grace hath begotten you my heart of love is to you and my outstretched arme of power and Majesty is for you you shall knowe I have not forgotten you I and so shall your enemies too they shall know that you are my interest and my care is over you as my chosen Inheritance whom I will preserve in the utter ruine and destruction of your enemyes Bloody hard-hearted Pharoah and all his Host overthrowne in the Red Sea doth proclaymâ— this to the World so those that cast the three emminent Children of God into the fiery Furnace they were consumed with the blast of the Furnace when the Saints of God walked harmelesse in the fire in the 33 Isa beginning Isa 33. beg there is a wâ—â— pronounced against those that made waste and spoils of Gods people and dealt treacherously with them the righteous God will be sure to spoyle all treacherous wretches which deale treacherously with his people I sayes God doe you thinke that I have forgotten my people and that you shall prosper in your treachery Surely to I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion Psal 2. and hee shall breake the enemies of my Inheritance my Church and people with an Iron Rod he shall dash them in pieces like a porters vessell Observe the Scripture it is the power of Christ that is the defence of his Church and the ruining of their enemies and he doth it with an Iron Rod Christ reignes over them in his indignation he dasheth them in pieces very easily as a Potter doth a brickle piece of clay and when they are thus broken they are quite destroyed never to be made whole againe no more thâ—n a broken Pot the enemies of Christ and his people they rage take counsell together and set themselves against the Lord Christ and his annoynted people but the Lord he fitteth in Heaven and laugheth them to scorne what sayes God you thinke to bring your ends about and your designes to passe you thinke your counsels very deepe they cannot be found out and your power so great that it cannot be shaken and nothing will satisfie your lusts but to destroy my interest from off the face of the Earth I tell you sayes God you imagine a vaine thing and you are all this while inventing your owne ruines you ingage your selves to certaine destruction when you set your selves against my people be you what you will Kings or Counsels you shall surely be crushed to pieces in the undermining my interest it is your folly to looke upon them in themselves so they seeme a poore despisable people which doth harden your hearts but did you see them as they are in me my interest you would then see your folly what are you or all the Nations of the Earth to me no more then the drop of a bucket or the small dust of the ballance I will speake to you in my wrath and vexe you in my sore displeasure if once you touch my people the apple of myne eye therefore sayes he be wise O yee Kings and be instructed you Judges of the Earth you that make Lawes and you that rule and reigne take heed be wise meddle not with my Inheritance I am onely King and Law-maker there iâ— will be your wisedome to kisse the Sonne and to serve him with feare and trembling but if you intrench upon his Kingdome and offend one of his little ones I assure you he will be angry he is zealous over them and his owne glory he will have no sharere in his Kingdome nor will he suffer any to rend his Flock but he will be angry and then O Kings and Counsellors you shall all perish from the way you shall never bring your designes to effect God will bring his designe to perfection which is your ruine and your end when Christ is intrenched upon in his glory and his jewells then is his wrath kindled very hot and then he shewes himselfe what he is in his victory over his enemies in the 63. of Isa Then he commeth from Edom with dyed garments stained all over in the blood of his enemies this is the day of his vengeance now he treads downe his enemies in his anger makes them drunke in his fury and brings downe their strength to the earth thus doth Christ destroy the enemies of his people For he hath an interest in them as God hath in this 2 Psalme 6. Christ is King of his Church Psal 2. Isa 9.6 Cant. 4.8 1. Reve. 19.7 Eph. 1.22 23. Mat. 12.49 50 the government is upon his shoulder Isaiah 9.6 The Church is Christe Spouse Cant. 4.8 his Love 1. Shee is the Lambes Wife Rev. 19.7 The body of which Christ is the head Ephes 1.22 23. And Christ owneth his Saints and people to be his Brethren and Sisters Mat. 12.49 50. Now what doe all these relations speake but union with Christ Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his Cant. 2 16. and Christs interest in his people which he will preserve as his glory and delight he will not spoyle his Kingdome nor suffer others to doe it he rules in the middest of his Kingdome in the hearts of his people with a golden Septre even his owne spirit he binds them to his commands by his words of love and he protecte them from ruining by their enemies with his Rod of Iron he will be sure to preserve his Kingdome at his glory this his glory he will not give to another and his Spouse he will keep as his delight she is the Wife of his bosome his love his faire one one whom he hath made faire by his love and lovely in his lovelinesse compleate in him he hath washed her cleane in his owne blood and hath made it life blood to her so that she liveth to the glory of his grace that streames in his blood Christ hath made his Church so cleane in his blood that it becomes his owne body and he the head of it Christ having
the earth be removed and though the Mountaines be carryed into the midst of the Sea and so goes on in her confidence in God what is it makes the Church so confident Why this that shee was Gods interest in the World and therefore though he should confound the whole frame and power and glory of the earth carry all the mountaines into the middest of the Sea as Pharoah and his Host yet that he will preserve his Church and people as his owne interest There is a River of Free grace in God Psal 46.4 that streames for ever to make glad the City of God his people are the Children of his infinite wombe of love and the preservation of these is the proper act of his Almighty power this City of God is Gods interest and inheritance his dwelling place Psal 46.6 God is in the middest of her shee shall not be moved he uttered his voice the earth melted but this City remaines for it is his interest and God is her refuge Therefore sayes God to the Church live upon me as your Refuge and your present helpe in time of need doe not doubt or feare but be still and quiet in your spirits Be still Psal 46 8 9 10. and know that I am God I will be exalted among the Heathens I will be exalted in the Earth I will cease Warres I will breake Bow and Speare and burne the Chariots with fire I will doe all this for you that are my interest I will make good all my promises to you of the peacefull and righteous reigne of my Son Christ over you I will be exalted in the Earth The Church beleeves God in this and shee is at rest shee is still and quiet knowing that God is God and that shee is his interest The Church answers thâ—â— in verse 11. The Lord of Host is with us Psal 46.11 the God of Jacob is our God Therefore will we not feare but rejoyce in God as our God our strength and our refuge and we his interest O clap your hands all yee people and rejoyce in God with tryumph for God is King of all the Earth Psal 47.1 7. God reignes over the Heathens God sitteth upon the throne of his bolinesse then sets forth his judgements on his peoples enemies and the feare that comes upon the Kings of the Earth According to thy Name O God so is thy praise unto the ends of the Earth thy right hand is full of righteousnesse Psal 48.10 Marke the Scripture According to thy Name thou art righteous and that is thy praise thou art called a God of righteousnesse and we so trust in thee and thou art according to thy Name this is thy praise thou artâ— righteous God Psal 48.11 observe the conclusion that is made of these promises Let Mount Sion rejoyce let the Daughters of Judah 〈◊〉 glad because of thy judgements That is let them that have an interest in thee and who is thy interest in the World rejoyce and be glad that thou art according to thy Name a God of judgement and righteousnes for this makes it certain that thou wilt preserve thine owne interest them that thou causest to trust in thy name as a righteous God come sayes the Church see what God hath done for us and then you will say as well as we that God is according to his Name a righteous God Walke about Sion Psal 48.12 13. and goe round about her tell the Towers thereof Marke yee well her Bulwarkes consider her Palaces that you may tell is to the Generations following Marke well and consider how the righteous God defends his interest in the World those that trust in his Name his mercy his providence his Almighty power greatnesse and majesty these be the Towers and Bulwarks of Sion his bâ—some of love and his Temple of holinesse that is her Palace of delight shee hath her delight in God and her defence in God Marke and consider it well that you may tell is the Generations following that they may fall downe at the feet of this righteous God which will ever be according to his Name and not dare to grieve a member of Sion or to wound the interest of God For sayes the Church this God is our God for ever and ever Psal 4â— 14 he will is our guide even unto death He in our God and he is ever so we are his interest and he will preserve us so for ever he will guide us to death carry us safe through all the Wildernesse till we come into Heaven Thus is the Church of God established by beleeving in God as her God and a God that will ever be according to his Name a faithfull righteous gracious and glorious God to all that trust in him Thus also doe the Saints of God tryumph in God as their God and as they are his interest in the World So the Prophet David Psal 92.4 Psal 92.4 Thou Lord hast made me glad I will tryumph in thee Thou art my joy and thou shalt be my glory this is my joy that thou art mine Psal 95.3 4. and I will glory as I am thy interest So in Psalm 95.3 4. He glories in the greatnesse power and majesty of God because he did beleeve that God was his God and that he was part of Gods interest in the World and in Psal 96.10 Psal 96.10 Psal 97.1 I sayd among the Heathens that the Lord reigneth And Psal 97.1 The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce Psal 98.8 9. Let there be joy sayes he Psal 98.8 9. for the Lord commeth to judge the Earth with righteousnesse shall bee judge the World and his people with equity So Psal 99.1 2. Psal 99 1 2. The Lord reigneth let the people tremble The Lord is great in Zion hee is bigh above all people What doth the Prophet meane by all this Why he telleth us in the 121. Psalme I will fix my eye upon God sayes he my helpe commeth from the Lord the Lord is my keeper and shield And so goes on to declare his faith in God that God which he had before so extolled why sayes he this is the God I will live upon it is faith in God that makes my heart glad I beleeve he reigneth over all the Earth in his power and greatnesse he is my God I am his interest and he reignes over me in righteousnesse by all this it doth appeare that the Church and people of God have beene and are established by beleeving in God as their God taking his Word of truth for truth and beleeving God in it resting upon God according to his Name beleeving in him as the God of free grace taking the counsell of good King Jehoshaphat Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall you bee established But me thinkes I heare some ready to Object Objection Is it no more but beleeve doe you make so easie a thing of beleeving why doe you tell us of
cals upon Gods people to trust in him upon this very consideration Trust in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jebovah is everlasting strength As if hee had said when you trust in God trust in him as an everlasting God Doe not doubt the Lord Jehâ—vah as though hee should faile you at any time for he is everlasting strength and everlasting God he is Jehovah so that he can never saile and therefore trust in him So Job says of God in his 23d Ch. ver 13. Job 23.13 Mal. 3.6 That he is of one minde and who can turne him And God sayes of himselfe in Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not therefore yee formes of Jacob are not consumed God is unchangeable in his eternall purposes of love and free grace to his people therefore they are not confirmed therefore trust in him because his love is unchangeable Let me aske sanctified Reason now if it have any thing to object against trusting soule and body and all that is or can be deare upon the eternall love and free grace of the eternall immutable and unchangeable God Nay doth it not come with authority upon Reason that eternall free grace should be trusted with eternall lost soules which have nothing to plead for their salvation but his everlasting grace If my eternall grace be your argument for salvation sayes God then let it be your rest rest upon it it shall be your salvation you shall finde it so to all eternity As I am eternally God and God from everlasting to everlasting unchangeable in my love so shall the salvation be of all such soules as thus rest upon me for salvation for I can no more change in my love then cease to be God Soules that rest on my love for their salvation shall find me eternally God and my love their eternall salvation The 4th consideration which I shall offer to sanctified Reason as an argument why to live fingly upon God by faith is our own other Saints experiences of God in his grace and goodnesse in his power and faithfulnesse and the glorious workings of that fulnes that is in himself for the good of his people this is a large field I have to walke in it is a most glorious subject more fit for a large treatise then an argument but I shal in this only use it as an argument and in it confine my selfe to as 〈◊〉 a compasse as possible I can in so large a subject I shall first gather from holy writ such experiences as Saint of old have recoâ—â—â— which they did doubelesse to manifest Gods glory and to establish the hearts of Saints in after Ages and then I shall wish a remembrance of those many wonderfull miraculous experience that this present age hath had of the glorious workings of God in his power wisdome Majesty and mercy to and for his poore hated and desplied people that rust in him First the experiences oâ— Saints in former ages I shall begâ—â— with that of Mordecai Queene Esther and the whole Nation of the Jewerâ— the Booke of Esther doth at large set forth the wicked and bloody designe of proud and wicked Haâ—â—an against all these and to what ripenesse he had brought his worke 〈◊〉 to the Kings feale and authority for him to let forth the flood gates of his malice and mischiefe up in them and how ready thiâ— wretch was to put in execution the power hee had obtained for he had prepared a gallows for Merdecai 〈◊〉 reading that History we shaâ— finde how in every part of the designe of that bloody man he is disappointed how he fals himselfe into the pit which he had digged for others and is hanged himselfe upon that gallows which he in the pride and malice of his 〈◊〉 did prepare for Mordecai I shâ—l leave the Readers to that History in Scripture for further light and onely make refiral of the close of it in Esther 8.15 Esther 8 15 16. 16. And Mordecai went out from the presence of the King in royall apparell of blew and white and with a great crowne of gold and with a garment of fine linnen and people and the City of Shushan rejoyced and was glad The Jewes had light and gladnesse and Joy and honour Observe the experience that these poore hearts had of the power the mercy and the wisdome of God that when Hâ—mans malice had conjoyned it selfe with the Kings power so thâ—â— all things were ready and the time oppointed to make a find end at once of Gods interest amongst them the whole Nation of the Jonas must be sacrificed to Haman's lust Then God appear and 〈◊〉 knowne his designe and changes the whole faced things as they did then appeare the Kings heart that is chaâ—ged and Merdecel whom represented the whole Nation of the Jones 〈◊〉 must be by the same hand that decreed him recalled from the gallowes to be honoured in wearing before the people the Kings royall apparell and a crowns of gold That is Mordecai and the whole Nation of the Jewes which to all humane understanding were past all hopes of being any thing but 〈◊〉 and undone people and now made a people of safety honour and glory in the Land This is an experience of God that his workes of mercy and grace for his people they are sure and secret though God hides his workings for his people from the world till his owne time of ruling comes yet these workes of God are sure though secret the workes of God are like Ezekiel's vision of the wheele within the wheeles he workes his owne ends in giving a long life to wicked men to runne in after their ends and makes the wicked doe his worke when as they thinke they are doing their owne it was Gods designe that Haman should prepare his owne gallowes which he did when he thought he had been working his own ends in making it for Mordecai so God made Haman to dictate to the King what Mordecai's honour should be when as he thought he had been preparing honours for himselfe the wayes of God are past finding onâ— but doubtlesse such experiences as these cals very loud for trusting in him and depending on him this is one great experience of God The Prophet David in a day of calamity cals to mind the experiences that our Fathers of old had of God Psol 22.4 5. Our father 's trusted in thee and thou didst deliver them Psal 22.4 5. they cryed unto thee and were not confounded That is they had experience of thee to be a gracious faithfull powerfull God and upon this account he blesseth God in Psal 18. to last Psa 18. to last as having had experience of him in his great workings for his people in setting up the Throne of Christ and preserving his seede for evermore And in Psalm 23. the Prophet makes mention of the experiences that he had of God as a ground of his resting on him and assurance that God would never faile
appearance of God did astonish the King so that he called them to come forth and when they came out of the firy Furnace they were so farre from any harme That a haire of their heads was not singed mither had the smell of fire passed on them What a most glorious experience of the power faithfulnesse and goodnesse of God is here the Kings fury was so hot that the Furnace must be heat seaven times hotter then before and it was made furious in heat indeed for the flames which came forth from it slue them which cast in Shadrach Meshach and Abednego to the firy Furnace but notwithstanding all his fury God preserveth those that trust in him he is with them according to his promise when as they passe through the fire and as the Winds and Seas so the flames of fire obey him for they finge not so much as the cloathes of these faithfull ones nor leave so much as the smell of fire upon their Garments O the infinite power and faithfulnesse of God fire shall lose its nature and cease to burne rather then such as trust in him shall be consumed by it God hath power enough to preserve his owne interest those that trust in him even in the eaging flames of consuming fire no flames nor fury can destroy that which the power and mercy of God will preserve and now here is a full experience of God he will preserve that which his people commits to him and trusts to him for the preservation of it these precious soules God had brought to this glorious pitch that they sleighted the Kings power and fury by beleeâ—ing in the power and faithfulnesse of himself And now sayes God it shall he knowne what I am and what it is to trust in me God could either have turned the heart of Nebuchadnezzar or have crushed his power that he should never have been able to have cast them into the firy Fumace but in this also God workes as the wheele within the wheeles he lete the furious man go on that he might have the fitter opportunity to manifest the glory of his grace power and faithfulnesse in their deliverance and that his people might have greater experience of their safety in trusting him God lets them goe into the fire that they might have experience of his love in going with them and of his power in preserving them and bringing them forth againe to the astonishment of all beholders and that it might remaine on Record to after Ages that Generations to come might say this is God and this will God be for ever to his people Should I inlarge according to the matter and worth of these experiences I should swell into a great bulke which I seâ—ke to avoide and therefore shall upon the matter onely make resitallâ— and leave inlargements to the Spirit of God upon the hearts of the Readers We shall finde in this Booke another glorious experience of God which the Prophet Daniel himselfe had in the sixth of Daniel we shall finde a decree to cast the Prophet into the Den of Lyons was deceitfully gotten and the cause was his making of petitions to God the Prophet knew of the decree which waâ— as of the Meades and Perâ—â—ans not to be altered and yet he alters not his course of calling upon God by Prayer he opens his mouth to God and trusts God to stop the Lyons mouthes he lifts up his hands and heart to God and trustâ— God to keâ—pe downe the Lyons pawes well God will not deceive his trust but yet he will let him be cast into the Lyons Den Daniel 6.16 Though the King was sorry yet he commanded Daniel to be cast into the Lyons Den and there Daniel is as safe as amongst Lambes the Angell of God had shut the Lyons mouthes that though they remained Lyons still yet to Daniel they had no more harme in them then so many quiet Lambet and when the King comen early in the morning with dread in his spirit lest the Lyons should have feasted themselves upon that precious piece Hecryes out O Daniel servant of the living God is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee from the Lyons Vers 20. vers 20. In the 22. vers Daniel answers him My God hath sent his Angell and shut the Lyons mouthes that they have not burt mee In the 23. vers Then was the King exceeding glad and commanded to take Daniel out of the Den so he was and not any manner of 〈◊〉 found upon him But in the 24. vers when his accusers were cast into the Lyons They brake their bones before ever they came to the bottome of the Den. The Lyons were raging Lyons in themselves though their mouthes were stopped by God in the preserving of Daniel that put his trust in him O the power of God fire cannot burne nor Lyons bite where God forbids he that made all for his own glory can change the nature of what he hath made when in so doing he may magnifie the glory of his grace and faithfulnesse to his people doth not these experiences say that God is onely to be trusted and feared he shuts where no man opens and opens where no man shuts Daniel had experience of Gods love and power in this that those very Lyons that lay like Lambes by him should devoure his enemies before his face none can bound the holy one of Israel but he can lock up the Lions mouths and open them at his pleasure sure it is good to trust in so good a gracious and powerfull God one that giveth such full experience to his people that trust in him of what he is a God infinite in power mercy and goodnesse there is a spirituallity in all these experiences of God which if God give in in the reading it will make them exceeding sweet and apt to that end I quote them for namely to beget faith in God and a holy dependency on him Amongst these holy witnesses let the Prophet Jonah be admitted to bring in his experiences of God and we shall finde them to be very glorious the Prophet doth at large declare how he came to be cast into the Sea in a great tempest here is nothing appeares to fleshly reason but destruction and doubtlesse those that cast him out of the Ship expected nothing else but that the Sea should be a grave to his dead body therefore they prayed that God would not lay his blood to their charge in the 14. verse But in the 17. verse Now the Lord prepared a great Fish to swallow up Jonah Jonah 1.17 and Jonah was in the belly of the Fish three dayes and three nights Well and is this a likely way of preservation is there not as much death in the belly of the Fish as in the belly of the Sea Lay aside fleshly reasonings for a little and observe the end of Gods worke In the 2. Chap. vers 10. And the Lord spake unto the Fish and it
vomited out Jonah upon the dry land Now comes in the experience God intended to preserve Jonah and though he chooseth an unlikely place to reason to keep him alive in yet all persons and places shall serve his end how unlikely soever it may seeme to reason the fish which naturally opens its mouth to take in its nourishment and to live upon what it takes in shall now open his mouth to take in Jonah that he might be kept alive in the chest of that body that power which preserves Daniel by shutting the Lyons mouthes doth preserve Jonah by opening the fishes mouth his power fille Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that therein is if God will prâ—serve Jonah he shall go from death to death and all that is but Gods way of life from deaths in the Sea to deaths in the fish and all this is that God might experiment himselfe to him in making this Fish to bring him from the raging Sea and set him upon dry Land there is much spirituality in this dealing of God with Jonah he is a Type of Christ in the grave very much might be observed from it to a spirituall use but I shall here onely use it as a very great experience which the Prophet had of the power and wisedome of God the power of God made the Lyons to be as Lambes to Daniel and here it makes very death to be life to Jonah the Sea shall cover and not kill when God commands it so to doe and the Fish take into its belly but not destroy if God appoint that a place for Jonahs safety it shall be so and in Gods time as a Vessell unload himselfe of the Prophet and set him upon dry land thus we see neither fire nor water beasts on earth nor fish by Sea can destroy what God will preserve nay the wisedome of God to magnifie the glory of his owne grace and the infinitenesse of his power chooseth these wayes to preserve his Children by which are most certaine wayes of ruine to an eye of reason that so his people may upon enperience of what he is learne to trust in him and to know that his power did make and doth command all other powers he that inhabits eternity rules in Heaven and Earth Jonah which disturbed the Ship hath safety in the fishes belly Againe faithfull Noah and his whole Family had great expâ—rience of the faithfulnesse of God and what safety there is in beleeving the Word of God and obeying his will The frath and seventh Chapters of Genesis doth at large set forth Gods command to him to make an Arke for himselfe and his Family with two of each kinde of all the creatures of the Earth that they might be preserved alive for the Lord toulde him hee would drowne the whole World Noah beleeved God in all that he had saide Gen. 6.22 which appeares by his obedience Gen. 6 22. Thus did Nâ—ah according to all that God had commanded him so did hee Well and what is the effect of it Why Noah and his whole Family with all in the Arke are preserved alive in all that deluge of water which destroyes the whole World besides Gen. 7.23 Gen. 7.23 Neah onely remained alive and they that were with him in the Arke Nâ—ak prepared the Arke in faith beleeving God but now he hath experimented the power and faithfulnesse of that God which hee beleeved in for now he found by experience that God could make his word good both in drowning the whole World besides them in the Arke and in saving alive all those in the Arke according to his promise this is a living experience indeed that he and his Family should bee the onely living upon the whole Earth Noah can say upon experience that it is not in vaine to trust the Lord his power can kill and keep alive the faithfulnesse of God was Noahs Arke otherwise he had beene drowned with the rest of the World Notwithstanding his floating housâ— he made the Arke in obedience to God but God was his safety not the Arke and he found him so by experience thus God 〈◊〉 one experience to another that his people might learne to trust in him as an experimented God as the insinite power and faithfulnesse which hath been found to be so upon great and often experiences So Joseph he had many and great experiences of God as we may reade in the latter Chapters of the Booke of Genesis As when his brethren did unnaturally first cast into a Pit to murther him and as last sould him into Aegypt thinking to bereave him of all his Friends yet God was a father to him when he was from his Fathers house and when his owne brethren proved cruell and unnaturall to him yea God gave him favour with a stranger even Potiphar there Josaph began to experiment God in a strange Land but God had a great worke to doe in which he would yet give him greater experiments of himself so through the wickednesse and foolishnesse of his Mistres Joseph loseth his favour with Potiphar and hee is cast into the Prison all this serves to carry on Gods designe and to bring in more experiments of God to Joseph for here God gave Joseph favour with the Keeper of the Prison that in stead of being a Prisoner a suspected person hee had all trust committed to him Well through many more experiences of the power and goodnesse of God Joseph is at last brought to Pharoahs made the second person in the Land and hath all trust and power committed to him his brethren that sell him God brings to him to buy corne to keep them alive though they thought to have put an end to his life yet God preserves him that he might as Godâ— instrument to preserve their lives his Father that mourned for him as dead lives to see Joseph alive and sent to Aegypt before to preserve the lives of his kinde Father and unâ—inde Brethren here is a rich treasury of experiences most glorious manifestations of the wisedome and power of God here is the wheele within the wheeles Againe God working his owne ends by letting men perfect those workes which they intend to an end contrary to God by the issue we see which was Gods end in letting Joseph be sold to Egypt and there cast in prison it was every step of it in his way to that advancement by Pharoah which he came to in the end his Brethrens end was to muther him or at least never to heare more of him his Mistres her end was to dishonour him it is no matter what they intend God will accomplish his ende by their workes though in them they have a contrary end God will let his Children experiment this of him that he workes his owne glory and his peoples good even through the evill worken that are in the hearts and hands of his and his peoples â—â—emies God can bring meat for his Children out of the Eater he in all good and
there is nothing too little for God to make enough that is plain in this experience this little oyle God makes it enough to pay all her debts and answer all her wants God is all himselfe therefore it is no streight to him to make the lesse to be enough his own experience doth the worke because he is all in himselfe what God appoints to give out satisfaction to his people by shall never cease to give forth till his people confesse they have enough This fountaine of life giveth living streames which alwayes flow and refresh the City of God this is God upon experience Our Saviour Christ in Matth. 8.26 shewes his power as hee was God in rebuking the windes and the Sea when there was a great tempest so that his Disciples in the ship with him were greatly affraid Christ there checkes their unbeliefe and giveth them an experience of his power by stilling the winds and Sea at his rebuke so that the Text sayes there was a great calme The calme was an act of Christs power as the feare was of the Disciples flesh so that in this they had double experience of their owne fleshly feare and Christs almighty power The Apostle Paul both when he was Saul and Paul had great experiences of God as first in his conversion when hee was Saul and breathed out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord Acts 9. beg How wonderfull was his conversion what glorious experiences of Gods free grace and his power is there in that worke they were so great that the Apostle doth acknowledge them all his life following when hee is brought before Judges Councels for preaching of Christ crucified and salvation by free grace through Christ hee telleth them of Gods wonderfull worke in his conversion what experience he had of his grace and power and mayes his experiences of God as a grouâ—d of resting oâ— him for strength to carry on the worke of his Apostleship which God so in raculously had called him too We may finde all the wâ—iâ—ings of this holy man spread with his experiences of God as in his voyage where the ship was cast away and yet nâ—t the life of one man lost in that venomous beast upon his hand which did him no hurt in his often bonds and stripes and his comfortable going tâ—rough all conditions with joy and establishment in God 1 Cor. 6. as having nothing and yet possessing all things Here was very great experience of God what ever he had God was the all of that and what ever he wanted of the creature yet God was all to him to that he wanted nothing but in God possessed full satisfaction God was strength to him in all his sufferings through Christ that strengthned him he could doe all things God was safety to him from all perils and upon this experience hee was true to the service of God not fearing any danger that should befall him So in Acts 5. There we may read of the same experiences that Peter and the rest of the Apostles had of God when as they were brought before the Councell and imprisoned for preaching in the name of Christ how they were delivered out of prison and yet the prison doores all fast shut they had a man set over them to keepe them and an Angel sent to deliver them they had full experience of the power of God that no power on earth or watchfulnes of men could imprison them that God would set free There is another experience of this nature of the power and glory of God Acts 16. lat end in Acts 16. latt end where by an earth-quake God opened all the doores of the prison with the bonds that were upon Paul and the rest of the prisoners yea and the hard heart of the Jaylor too for he comes trembling now to enquire after salvation This Earth-quake God useth to shake the Jaylor and his Family out of their earthly condition into a heavenly he and his Family were hereby taught to believe in God then followeth the kinde usage of the Apostles and their deliverance out of prison this affords great experience of the powerfull and glorious workings of God God doth not onely shake the earth and the heavens also but by shaking the earth he shakes into heaven he shakes the earth of unbeliefe out of this family and filleth them with heaven through believing doubtlesse it is glorious power that shakes earth out of soules and those soules into heaven this is the work of God upon experience I shall now in some few particulars mention the experiences of Gods power and justice in his righteous judgements I shall mind you of Gods judgements upon Pharoah and all his host in the red Sea but no more then mention it because I have used that Scripture already But in the next place consider Gods dealing with Herod Acts 2.22 23 24. in Act. 12.22 23 24. The proud wretch tooke Gods glory to himselfe Now see how God doth vindicate his owne glory he is immediately smitten by the Angel of God eaten up with wormâ— God is zealous of his glory he will not give that to any other nor suffer him to live long that takes it to himselfe the people made a god of this proud man and he was content to be accounted so but God will let him and them know that he is but sinfull man for he dyeth immediately like man and under a fearfull judgement as the just recompence of that pride which would have been taken for God Here is a glorious experience of Gods power and his zeale for his owne glory which should make all flesh tremble and be carefull that they cloath not their pride with that glory which is only due to God We have another experience of God in his righteous judgement upon the Sodomites being strucke with blindnesse in their bodies when in the blindnesse and wickednesse of their souls Gen. 19.11 they would have abused the Angel of God that came to Lots house according to the lust of their owne hearts the Scripture sayes Verse 4. there came all the men of the City olde and young and all the people from every quarter A tumult of wretches full fraught with the sinne of Sodome and yet behold the experimented power of God that preserves his few faithfull ones from this multitude of Sodomites and judgeth their first kindnesse with a second so that they were weary in their pursuite after wickednesse I should be glad if this example might teach all blind wretches to be carefull how they meddle with the servants of the most high God for hee is upon experience a God that revengeth the wrongs done or intended to his people Lastly Gods fearfull judgement upon Korah and all his company you may read the story in Numbers 16. and in vers 31. how the ground opened and swallowed them up alive they lived in death and were buried alive they murmured against Moses and believed not God
Redeemer but I wel knew that the price of my precious blood was a full satisfaction to my Fathers justice for all the finnes of all those that should believe in him through me John 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you bee that beleeveth an mee hath everlasting life What soule soever believeth in the salvation of Gods free grace wrought by mee shall certainely nay hath eternall lifeâ— and if eternall life then doubtlesse sure establishment Sayes Christ I came from heaven and tooke flesh for your sakes that shall believe on God through me and I staid on earth till I finished the work of redemption purely for your sakes so now I am ascended and at my Father and your Fathers right hand in glory I am here for you as your head to draw all my members after me as your Mediator I live for ever to make intercession for you to prepare your Mansions and to preserâ—e your glory where you shall be fellow-heirs with me and when I come againe to judge the World it will be to pronounce you the blessed of my Father to change your mortality into in mortality and then to give my Kingdome up to my Father where you shall be for ever with the Lord and in all this my Father and I am one therefore believe in God through me so shall you be established In the next place believe the word and promises of God or God in them and you shall find them full of establishment And now once more let me defire you to turne backe and consider those glorious and gracious promises which God hath made to his Saints his Church and people on earth how hee hath â—â—gaged himselfe to take care of them and to preserve them as his peculiar interest so deare to him as the apple of his eye for whom he hath given Christ and to whom with Christ he hath given all things Remember that generall promise of God and believe it that he will never leave nor forsake his people So in Isa 4â— bâ—g There God makes promises to particular cases When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not over flow thee When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Now how exceedingly will the heart be established if God be believed in this the promise contains great things but remember it is the promise of an infinite and Almighty God it is I that make this great promise sayâ—â— God I that cannot lye I that can doe what I will and will be sure to make good every tittle of my promise to all that trust and believe in me Now to believe God in this how will it spirit a soule and carry it above all feare above deepe waters and slanting fires above all dangers and difficulties what an heroicke spirit will this make this man will be acted above himselfe because he lives believing in God so above the feares and doubtings of his owne flesh This faith will make soules speake in the language of the Church in Psalm 46. God is our resuge and strength a very prosent help in time of trouble in fire and water in all difficulties and streights therefore will we not feare though the earth be removed and the mountaines carryed into the middest of the Sea This is a soule that takes Gods word and believes that he will deliver it from all sâ—â—eights and therefore is not affraid what â—ver it â—â—ken or removed so aâ— God remaines having trusted in him for refuge and helpâ— in all times of trouble So in Isa 51.3 Isa 51.3 There God by the Prophet promiseth to comfort Zion yea to coâ—fort her in all her wast places to make her Wildernesse like â—den and her Desart like the garden of the Lord. This 〈◊〉 wraped up in the armes of faith will much establish the hearâ— for it doth beget great thoughts of heart how shal it fare wiâ—â— the Church of God and how shal it be with me that am a member of that Church Now believing on God in this promise answers those doubtful questions and so establisheth the hearâ— iâ— believing Isa 27.3 So in Isa 27.3 We may read Gods care of his vinâ—yard I the Lord doe keepe it I will water it every moment lift my hurt it I will keepe it day and night That is safe which God keepes and doubtlesse such soules as believe God in this promise will believe themselves to be safe in the care and keeping of God and so will be established soules God doth both promise and professe his care of his Church and people Isa 49.15 16. in Isa 49. He tels us there though a Mother may forget the soune of her womb yet that he would never forget his Church and people Nay sayes God I cannot forget you for you are graven upon the palmes of my hands Now believe God in this and try if it will not make an established soule againe in any or the greatest opposition remember that promise of God That no weapon formed against his Church and chosen ones shall prosper He will blast tongue and hands head and heart and all that 〈◊〉 themselves against him in his people though in their setting forth they may promise themselves victory yet they shall finde God will make good his word to his people such instruments and weapons shall not prosper Oh then take Gods Word and our hearts will be quiet though the Heathens doe rage yet they imagine but a vaine thing God hath said it and hee will make it good heaven and earth shall passe away but not one tittle of his word shall faile Read with an eye of faith that great and glorious promise of God to his people in Isa 41.10 and so forward Though Jacob be a worme yet hee should not feare when the Almighty is his God It is too large to recite but not too great for the armes of faith to containe and if believed I am sure it will make great establishment And now give me leave to begge saith in God for the fulfilling of al those promises which God hath made concerning the glorious and peacefull Reigne of Christ amongst his Saints in the latter dayes I dare say such soules as beleeves God in them wil finde much establishment in that faith those lattâ—r dayes must needs be hard by Now the World is so near aâ—end and to believe that glorious Reigne of Christ at hand wil make much joy and settlement in the heart though the present workings of God be to turne and overturne things yet all this serves to accomplish these glorious promises of his in bringing forth this Righteous and peacefull Kingdome of Christ God is now a shaking and overturning all unrighteous powers and governments now such soules as doe not believe these promises of God are ignorant of Gods end and so full of unsettlement in their spirits concerning the issue of his present dispâ—nsations and hereupon