that so we may be found in him for the knowledge of him in what he hath done and is become for us while we were yet out of him being heartily imbraced leades the heart and mind into him and to be stayed in him See Phil. 3. 8 10. 1 Joh. 5 20. And to that purpose the first thing in all the commandements as brought to us by the glorious Gospel is to hear that word or doctrine of faith that presents the Lord our God to be one Lord as evidenced in that one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all a testimony in due time which shews him to be light and in him no darkness at all See and compare Mark 12. 29. 1 Timothy 2. 4 5 6. 1 John 1. 5. Whence also we are exhorted to be swift to hear that word of truth in what condition so ever we be come as we are to it listen to and receive it with all acception as a faithful saying full of truth and goodness for us at all times that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners To hear alwayes before we speak or do that thence we may be rightly taught strengthned and qualified so to speak and do as those that shall be judged by that royal law of liberty Be more ready to hear then to offer the Sacrifices of Fools James 1. 19. Eccles 5. 1. Prov. 22. 17 21. And so the way to seek righteousness profitably that we may attain it is to seek it by faith in Christ Romans 9. 30 32. To believe in him that we may be justified by the faith of him Gal. 2. 15 16. For as by his knowledge or skill so also through the knowledge of himself through his name he gives the forgiveness of sins and justifies the believer Isaiah 53. 11. with Acts 10. 43. and 13 38 39. And so likewise if we would get victory over sin and Satan cleanse our hands from sins our hearts from guile be made partakers of his holiness without which no man shall see him The way to seek it is also in the knowledge and faith of him and to that purpose to be exercised in beholding the glory of the Lord as shined in that glass even in the face of Christ through the glorious Gospel 2 Cor. 3. 18. with chap. 4. 6. Whence the Psalraist tells us That they that have clean hands and a pure heart are onely the Generation of them that seek his face and so seek righteousnes and strength there Psalm 24. 4 6. with Isaiah 45. 24 25. And therefore also calling upon us to seek the Lord and his strength leads us to this as the way to it in his fundamental instruction seek his face evermore Remember his marvellous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgments of his mouth Psam 105. 4 5. They then seek him not after the due Order that first seek to frame or work up their own hearts to a belief or hope in God or confident expectation of good from him before they hear or dare receive and consider the word of faith as true for them but seek to find the act or grace of faith first in their own hearts that from thence they may conclude the truth of the word of faith to themselves that first seek to work up their own hearts to love God before they will know or believe his love to them in Christ as and while sinners and enemies which onely is fit and able to get true love and good affection to him that so from the imagination of their love and good affection to him they may conclude his love and good affection in Christ â—o them Now herein is not love saith the Apostle that we have loved God herein Gods love is not rightly perceived But in this that he fiâ—st loved us even while enemies and sent his Son the propitiation for our sins And therefore and from thence we indeed love him because he fiâ—st loved us and from thence also that being first known and believed springs true love one to another 1 John 4. 9 10 19 and 3 16. They therefore do greatly err as likewise in seeking to get victory over sin and strength against their corruptions before they dare receive the report of his comming into the world to save sinners and the victory and conquest obtained in his resurrection over sin and Satan as faithful and true for them And then from what they imagine they find in themselves they conclude the truth of that done in him for them In this preposterous and disorderly way of seeking the Lord men make iâ— their first and great inquiry whether they be elected or in a good condition before God which they strive to guess and to conclude to themselves from some imagined gracious frames good affection victory over sin or the like or from some particular assurance that hath no better ground for the bottom of it then some testimony of their own or some private spirit before they will believe Gods testimony of his sending his onely begotten Son by his grace to taste death for them and giving him glory that their faith and hope might be in God And then gather up conclusions of the truth of that for them from their imagination of the truth of the former Namely that Christ by the grace of God tasted death for them because they find themselves such as before Hence it is that the way men too generally walk in to comfort themselves and others in distress is to labour to perswade them that they are in a better condition then they think they are Their sins less their Hearts Desire Frames and Works better or else from some signs or testimony of their owne spirit or of others that they are of the Elect and that therefore Christ and all his things belong to them Behold a more excellent way then any of these crooked paths in which who so walketh shall know no true or lasting peace First inquire in the light of Gods testimony and consider diligently what Jesus Christ by the grace of God hath done and what an infinite rich provision of all things pertaining to life godliness is in him for such vile sinners and wretched ones as at the worst thou mayest suppose thy self to be even for such as yeâ— are not of the Elect or chosen Generation that through him they might be saved and in finding him find Life Election Sonship and priviledges of Sons in him and so be made of that Generation that were chosen in Christ from the beginning of the World to be his peculiar treasure even of the chosen generation the Holy Nation Beloved with peculiar manner of love who before were not so as Rom. 9. 24 25. 1 Peter 2. 9 10. Instead then of striving to conclude thy self in a good or safe condition see and consider in the testimony of Christ what there is for such as are in a bad and lost condition like
that yet they may have space and opportunity to repent and seek him while he may be found and God shall give us life of sparing to a farther gracious end for them that sin not unto death compare 1 John 5. 14 16. with James 5. 15. 16. See also Luke 23. 34. Acts 7. 40. Romans 9. 1 2 and 10 1. with Psalm 35. 13 14. And for other things pertaining to this life concerning which we know not by the light of his testimony whether this or that may be best for us or for others or most conducing unto life and godliness Even so without carefulness earnestness or fervency for this or that to present our needs wants affliction case and matters to him and leave it with him waiting and seeking for his good will to be done and that however he deal with us he will not correct us in anger that we may earnestly beg of him as Psalm 38. 1. and 6. 1. Jeremiah 10. 24. And so committing our matters wholly to him without a will or fervent spirit for this or that of all such things as before that he may add and dispose to us what is good before him Phillippians 4. 5 6. Matthew 6. 32 33. with James 4. 13 15. 2 In the incouragement and strength of his name always retaining in the midst of the heart the believing remembrance and consideration of that which he hath already done for us in not sparing his own Son but delivering him up for us all when we were yet sinners enemies and without strength and of the plenteous redemption in him through his blood not forgetting all his benefits through that precious sacrifice of the body of Christ once for all and the powerful mediation of the sacrificeâ— who is the Great Apostle and High-Priest of our profession bestowed upon us But calling them to mind and considering how they lead into that good name and commend to us that unspeakable gift and the infinite grace in and through it there seeking our strength and incouragement and thereby ingaging our hearts to approach to him and seek his fâ—ce for such things and in such wise as is according to his will therein declared as afore-said And so waiting and staying on his name because it is good yea even when by any tryals or difficulties that befal us we are in darkness and see no light yet staying upon that and trusting in him according to it till he make that in every such case a light to us and give us to behold his righteousness according to it with hearty submission to his Government though sometimes he makes us to wait for that Alwayes relinquishing all other lights rejoycings and incouragements that may offer themselves from sparks of our own kindling or from any private grounds to come in that onely and as that ingageth and incourageth So in and unto all our seekings and striving for the faith of the Gospel standing fast in that one spirit that is in the testimony of Jesus seeking our strength in the Lord and in the power of his might even in the grace that is in Christ Jesus as revealed in the glorious Gospel and going in that strength of the Lord God making mention of his righteousness as our support incouragement and stay And of his onely Psalm 71. 16 and 4 1 and 50 14 15 and 52 9 and 95 1 7 and 100 and 103. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. 1 Tim. 2. 1 8. Isa 50. 10 11. with Mich. 7. 7 8 9. Isaiah 26. 3. with Philippians 4. 6. and 3. 3 Romans 5. 1 11. And so in the strength and incouragement of that grace and name of God in Christ to perswade others to be reconciled to God in the publishing his name because God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses to them and hath given us that word of reconciliation instructing moving and strengthning to such in deavouring the good of others in hope There seeking our strength and incouragement and not in any of our gifts parts or excellencies to the Discipling the Nations baptizing them in his name and going in that might according to our capacity because all power is given to him as Lord and Saviour and by him the word of his Grace made able especially in the faithfull ministration of it to give them repentance and the forgiveness of sins Likewise to suffer the little children to come to him and receive them in his name because of such is the Kingdome Mark 10. 14. with chap. 9. 37. And on that ground and in that encouragement instructing others according to their capacity to rejoyce with his people pray to him and seek him while he may be found and call on him while he is near observing what Christ commanded his Apostles Proverbs 9. 1 6. Isaiah 55. 1 6. 2 Cor. 5. 14 21. Matthew 28. 18 20. Rom. 15. 6 12. And whatever we do in word or in deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him Col. 3. 17. 3 In and with a hearty confession and acknowledgement of his name and of the goodness and truth of it in all that it saith so as therein acknowledging our own vileness and sins and knowing every one the Plague of our own heart as by the light and instructions of his name discovered and reproved or by his corrections according to the instructions of his name witnessed against Confessing our faults to him and one to another as discovered and reproved that so he may be justified in his sayings and proceedings and glory given to his name by us as 1 Kings 8. 33 35 38 46 48. James 5. 16. Psal 32. 5 and 51 5. Jer. 13. 15 18. And in such wise seeking pardon and healing in his name willingly giving up to him and laying apart in the light and strength of his gracious reproofs what ever secret purpose idol or way of iniquity he discovers and reproves not secretly hiding it under our Tongue or in our Heart that we may still hold it and find pleasure in it even while yet we are praying to him for help and healing of the breaches or evils procured to us by it nor shunning the light least som secret deeds and wayes of our own heart which we love should be detected by it but coming to the light giving earnest heed to the instructions of his name and searching and trying our wayes thereby that we may yet be taught to see what we see not as Job 34. 31 32. Psalm 19. 11 12 c. and 139. 23 24. Lam. 3. 39 40 c. Jam. 1. 21 25. Our unwillingness to see and confess our fins our secret designs and purposes for vain things that cannot profit us our loathness to acknowledge or be made sensible of our idolatry let go our idols hinder us from knowing and proving what is the good and acceptable will of the Lord Romans 12. 1 2 3. from reaping the peaceable fruit of his righteousness
11. 14 15. As also for a witness of peace and reconciliation Gen. 31. 45. 51 52. And for a manifestation of Gods presence with a people and for a guide to them Exodus 13. 21 22. And as the law was appointed to be written on several pillars as on the Posts of their house and on their Gates Deut. 6. 9. and 11. 20. So this House of God which is the Church of the living God is the pillar appointed of God to bear up and keep in remembrance even to the view of others the glorious grace of the first appearance of Christ even till his comming again and to keep and bear upon them the witness or manifestation of that peace or reconciliation with God for men which he hath made and is become through his blood while so continued preserved among a people they are a witness of his merciful presence with them his nighness and waiting that he may be gracious to them 2 Cor. 5. 18. 20. with chap. 6. 1 2. Isaiah 55. 5 6. and 50. 1 2. and 30. 18. 20 21. And set and preserved for a light and guide to be observed and followed Matthew 5. 13 14. Hebrews 1. 3. 7 8. Phil. 2. 15 16. And to that purpose to bear upon them and lift up to the sight and view of others and so to hold forth to them that all men may see The manifestation of the truth of God in all his former Oracles and witnesses in the tipes and shadowes of the law as now come forth in the personal body of Christ raised from the dead whose name they are so to bear as they may therein shew the end of the law in him and so the body of all the former shadowes and truth signified in them and so him the fountain of all grace and truth the treasury of all Wisdome and Knowledge c. as before is shewed And this House of God the Holy Nation are also in many societies as they are in several places and so many pillars And so may be included in the sense of those seven pillars Wisdome hath hewen out Proverbs 9. 1. Those Gates and Postes of his Doors Answering to Deut. 6. 9. and 11. 20. At which whoso watcheth dayly and waiteth hearing him there is blessed Proverbs 8. 34. See what is said of the manifold use of pillars and the allusion to them in this business in the explicit declaration of the testimony of Christ by Thomas Moor senior Pages 287. 290. And so they are the ground or Tables on which its written in some sense answering to that Habbacuk 2. 2. That others may read it as the Corinths were the Apostles Epistle for as much as they were manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ the ground on which the minde and things of Christ are so written by the spirit of the living God evidencing and writing them in and through the Apostles Doctrine on the Tables of their hearts and fellowships that receive and abide in it that it may be seen and read of all men in their word and conversation in both which they are set to shine as lights in the World by retaining in them and bearing upon them that others may see and so holding forth the word of life even of Christ raised from the dead in a fair writing and faithful discovery of the tidings and patterns of it That others may behold all goodness and truth in it and so also in a subordinate sense instrumentally keeping maintaining and defending it and the goodness and truth of it amongst themselves and to the World against all adversaries striving together for the faith of the Gospel Philipians 1. 27. And so their work is with that word of righteousness The great things of his law as now come forth by Christ which are the main things to be kept looked to striven for and held forth by them in their whole Ministry for and unto all things I say with that to instruct reprove exhort comfort c. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 3. 11. 15. And as in all this they are instruments or vessels through whom he carryes the seed of his word and so conveyes his heavenly treasure to the hearts of others so their work instrumentally and through him is said to be to speak to the heart to be Ministers of Spirit to open the blinde eyes and turn men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive the forgiveness of sins and inheritance with them that are sanctified by faith that is in Christ yea they are a sweet savour unto God in them that are saved and in them that perish to the one they are the savour of death unto death and to the other the savour of life unto life Isa 35. 3 4. and 40. 1 2. 2 Cor. 2. 14. 17. and 3. tot and 4. 1 2. Acts 26. 18. And to this purpose 2. To them is committed the keeping and charge of holy and devoted things 1. Of Gods Ordinances of Divine Worship that are appointed for bearing and shewing forth the Lords Body that was broken for us and through sufferings is entered into his glory and so for witnessing repentance and râ—mission of sins in his name unto and among the Nations as the Preaching of the Cross and therein the shewing the things of Christ out of the Scriptures in the exercise of those gifts of prophesie or teaching as every man hath received the gift this work is committed to them even to the whole body of the Saints each to serve in it according to his several ability and therefore the gifts tâ— fit for it onely given unto them and ditributed among them according to his pleasure Ephesians 4. 7. 11 12. And so the other Ordinances in which the same things are to be shewed and holden forth in the Church and to the World The management of those affaires the teaching the Nations to observe and how to observe with them what was given to the Apostles in commandement that so they the Gentiles may rejoyce with his people these things are committed and given in charge unto them But to the wicked or unreconciled persons that are not reconciled to God by Jesus Christ and so have not that word of reconciliation viz. That God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself c. And the love of Christ thence constraining to perswade men with it To them God saith What hast thou to do to take my covenant in thy mouth that hatest to be reformed by my law His Saints are to be gathered together to him to keep and look to this charge even those that have made or entered into covenant with him by the Sacrifice of his Son Psalm 50. 1 2. 5 6. 14 15. 2 Cor. 5. 14. 20. 2. Of persons that are given unto the Church in his name or also called to be holy and devoted first to the Lord and then to them according to the will of God It is contained in their
they were of the first witnesses and preachers of the resurrection of Christ the Evangelists tell us and that they may as any of them is through grace sitted thereto both pray and prophecy and that in the presence of others in some assemblys of believers is clearly fignified 1 Cor. 11. 5. and in other Scriptures but the sense of the saying in both parts together is this They ought not nor is it seemly for them otherwise to speak either in praying or prophecying as the mouth of others or in propounding questions nor otherwise to act no not in the Church or any the assemblys thereof then so as therein they be under obedience and in quiet silence and subjection to the man so as in the Lord and therein to the wise and holy order and disposition of God They then are not capable of any office of rule or oversight in the Church as Elders and Deacons but to be in subjection Yea farther I suppose That in any assemblys of believers where there are men in presence fitted for speaking in prayer or prophecy or in propounding and answering questions for the edification of others it may be convenient for the women there to be silent yea a shame for them to speak unlesse in some extraordinary cases or on some particular occasione and so as desired or appointed as to the order and time of such their speaking by such brethren in presence with them or that are also over them in the word of the Lord as they may judge it needfull and convenient for the man was first formed then the woman likewise the woman was first in the transgression neverthelesse neither is the man without the woman nor the woman without the man in the Lord. But I forbear to urge my apprehensions of these things and leave what is said to correction by better judgement The women then for decency and ordersake observing such cautions as 1 Cor. 14. 33 34 35. 1 Timothy 2. 11 12. c. with 1 Cor. 11. 5 10. and so every one man or woman keeping their place and attending that place and service to which they are sitted and called The whole Church of unfeigned believers may all prophecy one by one as God hath dealt to them such a gift or exercise any other gift they have according to their severall abillity in this shift for the faith of the Gospell that all may learn and all may be comforted according as God hath dealt to every man For as there are many members in one body and all members have not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ he who hath set the members in the body as it hath pleased him divides to every man severally as he will for there are diversities of gifts but the same spirit and differences of administrations but the same Lord and diverfities of operations but it 's the same God which worketh all in all but the manifestation of the spirit is given to every one to profit withall according to his measure for to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisedom to another knowledge by the same Spirit to another faith c. And so these severall gifts were set in the Church Apostles Prophets Teachers rancked under five heads Ephes 4. 11. there were also other gifts added with these to the Church to accompany the first proclamation of the Gospell to the Gentiles by the first witnesses which gifts were not so set for continuance as the former unto which they were added and therefore not mentioned among those which were given to continue in the Church till it come to its perfect state compare 1 Cor. 12. 28. with Eph. 4. 11 12 13. Now the Apostles themselves as they were appointed and chosen to peculiar service that by them the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear so they were not onely immediately from the Lord but also peculiarly gifted with all spirituall gifts to fit them to that service they had all the scriptures of the Prophets so opened to them and their understandings so opened and strengthened to understand them and the revelation of the mystery even of the truth of all as fulfilled come forth and manifested in Christ raised from the dead so immediately and fully given them from the Lord himselfe and were so gifted with all wisedom knowledge and utterance that they was therein perfectly accomplished and therefore sent in his name to make known the mystery as now revealed and to make it known out of the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God for the obedience of the faith among all Nations for his name and so as wise Master-Builders to lay the foundation for others to the end of the world to build on and so their gift as it was peculiar to them is yet left us in the fruit of it in their word and doctrine confirmed and set in the Church And so also their gift even the gift of Apostles in a secondary and inferiour sense is still found in the prime degree of the gift of Prophecy as set in the Church which therefore is mentioned as the head or chief of the best gifts now to be coveted by believers by other believers since or besides the Apostles such as believe through their word 1 Cor. 12. 31. with câ— 14 1. of which gift there are degrees or diversity of measure and so of administrations and operations accordingly Whence it is expressed in that to the Ephesians under these two heads Prophets Evangelists The prime degree hath in it such an understanding of the Scriptures of the Prophets even as the Testimony of Christ witnessed by them as now manifested by the Apostles is confirmed in the heart As also such acquaintance with the Scriptures and such skill in the word of righteousnesse vide The vision of all the great things of the Law or doctrine delivered by the Prophets and Apostles and as the foundation of and key of knowledge for opening all other things namely the testimony of Jesus as in which they are furnished and apted to a plain and cleare opening the foundation as laid by the Apostles and that out of the Scriptures of the Prophets by the revelation of the mistery given by the Apostles And so to shew the things of Christ by the Scrriptures even the things already done in his owne body which the Prophets said should come to passe and the powerfull efficacy of them with the Father for men and in the name of the Father unto then Through his powerfull mediation betweene God and men as also therein to shew the things yet to come in his glorious appearing and Kingdome and with this word of righteousnesse so distinctly and convincingly to instruct teach exhort reprove c. By the Scriptures of the Prophets as opened by
judgement occasioning the lamentation and acknowledgement in the Text and that now to be bewailed by us That was the cutting off an useful member by a sudden stroke the taking away from us one probably more usefull by pining sickness like that threatned Isa 38. 2. That was in signal testimony of displeasure not onely to the Survivers but also to him that was cut off which is more then can be said of this Yea this was by sickness as may be supposed occasioned by and for the work of Christ if not also to supply some neglect and lack of service on others part for which he ought to be held in greater reputation as Phil. 2. 29 30. Yet hath it not in it the less but the more signal testimony of displeasure to us And however this Text suits our occasion it being not a declaration or mention of the correction in that stroke to Vzzah but of the correction in it to themselves and an acknowledgement not of his but their own iniquities neglects and disorders as the reason and procuring cause of it to them Now David could see that as the main reason and chiefly to be considered and acknowledged by them wherefore God was angry with Vzzah as sometimes also God was angry with Moses for the Peoples sake by whom also he was provoked to speak unadvisedly Numb 20. 10 12. Deut. 1. 37. and 3. 26. Psalm 106. 32 33. So here though at the first when David was angry he did not so see it 〈◊〉 of spirit◠exalts folly Prov. 14. 29. It appears not that he observed any more then but a Breach upon Vzzah 1 Chron. 13. 11. Yet now he acknowledgeth Their not being sanctified after the Sanctification of the sanctuary nor seeking the Lord after the due order as not onely the principal occasion of Vzza's errour of rashness but also as that which provoked the Lord to make this breach upon Vzzah which now he bewails as a Breach chiefly upon them and procured by their owner iniquities which instructions of wisdom being seen and heard in quiet as Eccles 9. 17. as writ upon and spoken by the Rod provoke and stir him up to seek healing in a right way Better is the end of any thing then the beginning Better the patient in Spirit then the hasty Be not hasty in thy Spirit to be angry Eccles 7. 8 9. The instructions set before us in this text and seasonable to be considered of us Are 1. Such Providences are Breaches made or do make Breaches great and grievous Breaches upon a people 2 The Lord is the maker of such Breaches 3 The reason or procuring cause of such judgements from the Lord is our own iniquities yea usually there is found besides the more general evils some great iniquitie of neglects and disorders in Gods people the holy Priesthood yea iniquities and polutions in their holy things as the in-let to and procuring cause of such judgements on themselves and others 4 Yet the Lord is our God when so provoked by such iniquities and while so punishing us there is yet forgiveness with him and help in him that he may be feared and hoped in by us while it is to day That we may turn to him from whom we have deeply revolted 1 Such Providences are great and grievous Breaches made upon a People here 1 Consider what Providences 2 How they are Breaches or what manner of Breaches they are and on whom 1 The Providences or judgements under consideration are such as in which Righteous Good and Upright men are cut off or taken away from us in the midst of their dayes or before they have filled up their years or in the midst of some good work in the promoting and carrying on the design of Christ in the World and especially when such are so taken away as therein that generation or kind of persons are made thin or made to fail as when such of them as were more eminently usefull in gathering and keeping others together in companies or clusters and in stirring up believers with full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord and strive together for the faith of the Gospel are taken away and no others of like usefulness and faithfulness left or raised up in their stead For more full understanding and usefulness of this we shall consider distinctly 1 What manner of persons they are whose being so removed make such Breaches 2 What manner of removal or taking away of such persons is especially so to be looked upon by us 1 The persons whose being taken away and perishing from the earth is such a woe and affliction or judgement upon others the Survivers are in other Scriptures thus expressed Righteous and merciful men Godly men men of kindness born of the kindness and pity of God our Saviour towards man and thence framed to some like mindedness Good men men full of the Holy Ghost in his discovery and shedding abroad the love and goodness of God in the testimony of Jesus and so full of faith of his operation in which that goodness of God in Christ is believed and their souls resting satisfied and rejoycing in it and thence filled with all goodness like their Heavenly Father able also and therein qualified to admonish one another and to seek the good of all according to their capacity Psalm 12. 1. Isaiah 57. 1. Mich. 7. 2. with Acts 11. 23 24. Rom. 15. 13 14. Such as are reconciled to God by Jesus Christ and have received into their hearts that word of reconciliation that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and in retaining it in their hearts have it in some measure fitted in their lips that with it they may perswade others to be reconciled to God See farther for this the description of righteous and merciful men in the lamentation over the dead published on the death of Henry Rix and of the Doers of good Doers of the truth in the instruction to the living published on the death of Elizabeth Harrison in both which having spoken more largely to this point I forbear it here onely this we add The removing or perishing of wicked and ungodly men whether such as are incensed against the acknowledgement of the man Christ Jesus and of the excellent glory the Father hath given him for us in the same body in which he bore our sins on the tree that by him our faith and hope might be in God privily designing to cast him down from his excellency For such as are contrary to the good of all men being enemies in their minds to the riches and truth of Gods grace in and through Christ to man-ward and therefore seeking to eclipse hinder and cast mire and dirt upon the sincere Preaching of it as also upon the faithful confessors of it that hold it fast and hold it forth without hidden things of dishonesty Or such as otherwise in their principles and works deny him or do not love esteem
they suffer from such and by the general prosperity of such as sometimes David almost was Psalm 7. 3. Whereas when ever the cutting off righteous and good men in the midst of their dayes or depriving of the residue of their years is spoken of it s alwayes mentioned as an evil breach a heavy wo and judgement to the survivers procured by their iniquities yea though sometimes such providences have in them some present correction to themselves so cut off for some error or miscarriage in which they have not sanctified him before others as in the case of Moses Josiah and here Vzzah and that threatned on Hezekiah yet First That correction is not in wrath or such as in which they are cut off from God or from their hope onely from their further opportunity of praising him to the living and so of bringing forth more fruit that might appear on their account at the day of Christ which is a present correction and affliction to a gracious soul though the end of corrections to them and redounds to their own private gain and advantage Again secondly God would never so correct them for such errours by cutting them off in the midst of their dayes and depriving them of the residue of their years if he had not a controversie with others the people from whom such are moved and taken It was for the Peoples sakes that God was angry with Moses and took him away as before we snewed so it was in judgement and wrath upon Jerusalem and for their grievous sins and rebellions that God corrected Josiah for his rashness by cutting him off See the whole book of the Lamentations Likewise for the iniquities found with the Corinths even these that yet survived for their not so discerning the Lords body as to examine and judge themselves in the instructions and reproots of it many from among them slept or were taken away by death in displeasure to the rest 1 Corin. 11. 30. And such are the providences in which God is making evil breaches upon a people and they are such breaches and judgements to the survivers whether there were any correction or displeasure testified unto them taken away or no when such as before good and righteous men are cut off in the midst of their dayeâ— or deprived of the residue of their years as in that threatned on Hezekiah Isaiah 38. and as it may seem on David Psalm 39. 10 13. Or when by some sudden stroke or in signal testimony of displeasure they are cut off in the midst of some good work they had been eminently instrumental in beginning and promoting as Moses Josiah and here Vzzah especially when others of like usefulness and faithfulness are not found surviving or timely raised up in their stead yea however they are taken away though in a good old age yet when that kind or generation of men perish and decay from among men that they are so many the fewer as there is taken away by death And especially when such as were chiefly instrumental for stirring up others to seek the Lord and with full purpose of heart to cleave to him and so for gathering and keeping others in clusters fail from among men that its hard to finde one in such a sense good and upright but all are seeking their own things and not the things which be Jesus Christs These are the providences and breaches under consideration in which God is making evil breaches executing sad judgements on the survivers 2 We come next to consider what manner of breaches such providences do make and on whom 1 They are breaches made in the Wall or Hedge or do make such breaches 1 Upon all generally in the Nations Places and Families amongst whom they had their conversation and from amongst whom they are taken To the making away for Gods anger to be poured out in desolating judgements to the destruction or cutting off a people or in sending strong delusions to them and leaving them to their own hearts lusts that they might be damned Psalm 78. 50. Isaiah 59. 4 18. and 64. 7. Jer. 5. 1. For while they are preserved amongst men They are set to seek the Peace and good of all men to make supplcations prayers and intercessions for all men that they may be saved to stand in the gap to keep off judgen enâ—s and the effectual servent prayer of the righteous availeth much yea by the exercise of their wisdome in the knowledge of God in Christ they though poor and despised are made instruments of delivering the place and City where they live Therefore their perishing from the earth is a sign and fore-runner of greater evils and jâ—dgments to come if not timely prevented by turning to him that smites 2 To the leaving evil and ungodly men at liberty without sense or controle to run on and prevail also with their ungodly principles and works as Psalm 12. When the godly man ceaseth and faithful ones fail from among the children of men then they the children of men speak vanity every one with his neighbour with a flattering lip and double heart do they speak encouraging themselves to prevail with their Lip Word or Doctrine For say they Who is Lord over us Who shall controle or hinder us or stop our mouths The godly and faithful being failed from among them who it seems had power in their right words and works which are forcible to stop the mouths of Gain-sayers and hinder the prevalency and spreading of their Lip even by sound Doctrine witnessed also in a good conversation in Christ for they would not seek to do it by a worldly power if they had opportunity nor by the wrath of man Yea it followes in the close of the Psalm still as the issue of this judgment The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted So Isaiah 57. 3 4. with Mich. 7. we read That on the perishing of the righteous good men from the earth the seed of the sorceress of the Adulterer and Whore sport themselves and draw out a wide mouth they rejoyce to do evil with both hands earnestly laying in wait for blood hunting every man his brother with a net encouraging themselves now easily to prevail over those needy and feeble ones that are sighing under Gods judgments and to blot out their name from under heaven that it be no more a hindrance reproof and check to them For if the foundations be destroyed say they what can the righteous do But our Rock is not like theirs our foundation and sanctuary is one and cannot be destroyed our God is in his holy Temple The Lords Throne is in Heaven A glorious high Throne is the place of our sanctuary Psalm 11. Jer. 17. 12 13. Therefore rejoyce not against me Oh mine enemies saith Michah chap. 7. 9. When I fall I shall arise because the Lord liveth who is the Rock of my salvation and will be a light to me even when good men are perished from
the earth and in that respect I am made to sit in darkness 1 Sam. 22. 47. and Psal 18. 1 2 3 46. with Mich. 7 7 8 9. even so the true believer of Gods testimony exercising faith in Christ according to it hath yet encouragement in the Lord his God But evil and ungodly men take liberty and rejoyce to do evil as before boasting themselves of their hearts desire and encouraging themselves in hope of prevailing upon the ceasing of faithful men from amongst them for while they were preserved among them They were by the word of life put in their heart held forth in word and conversation unto them and amongst them as a fenced Brazen Wall against which though fighting they could never prevail But they the faithful or upright ones were mighty through God by the power of their word to turn their waters or doctrines into blood that men could not drink them or not find rest and content in them for the Lord was with them as a mighty and terrible One making their witness held forth in word and conversation together so powerfull as was affirmed of Jeremie of old Jer. 1. 7. 10 17 18 19. and 15 19 20 21. with chap. 6. 27 28 29 30. And might not be altogether unduely applyed here 2 Such providences are also as breaches in the hedge wall or sence to such as are left of Gods peculiar people even to the flock of God the Church or Congregation that he hath gathered or redeemed from among men through that excellent price the precious blood of Christ set before them and opened to them by the spirit in the Gospel 1 To the laying them open to be wasted spoiled and troden down by Bores and wild Beasts in the likeness of men who now will enter in amongst them without let or hindrance to corrupt and destroy I know sais Paul that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them Acts 20. 29 30. While such powerfull and faithful instruments are continued with and amongst the flock they are mighty through God to the keeping out and driving away such hurtfull Wolves and false brethren that come to bring into bondage to whom they will not give place by subjection to them no not for an hour that the truth of the Gospel may continue with the flock of God over whom the Holy Ghost hath made them overseers and that it may therefore and so remain with them that it may be held forth by them for the good of others They being furnished with that faithful word the word of reconciliation the preaching peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all with which they are able through God to stop the mouths of gain-sayers and of such vain and unruly talkers and so to hinder them in their enterprize of subverting whole houses being thereby fully instructed and strengthned to every good word and work Their removal therefore is an evil breach to the letting in such to waste and destroy this Vine Psalm 80. 13. Isaiah 5. 2 Also to the letting out or administring occasion of disheartning to the weak and wavering leaving them as without watch or guard to their aptness to take offence and stumble at they know not what and so to turn away their ears from the truth and be tumbled aside to fables such as did watch over them and seek to heal help and strengthen them at all occasions being removed and failing from them Many will be easily enticed to follow the pernicious wayes of the spirit of Antichrist by reason of whom the way of truth will be evil spoken of and the enemy will more rejoyce 2 Tim. 4. 2 3 4 6. 2 Pet. 1. 13 14. with chap. 2. 1. 2. Acts 20. 30. Psal 12. Mich. 7. 2 Such providences are like a breach in the natural body as the cutting off an usefull member until the making up or healing of which there can be no profitable or cheerful progress in the work for if all the members suffer in the suffering of one their suffering and affliction must needs be greater in the loss of one by its being broken or cut off from being any more usefull or serviceable to or in the body in this time of temptation Whence Paul speaking of Epaphroditus as his brother and companion in labours and fellow-souldier and their messenger signifies that his being taken away by death as was threatned would have been not onely to the Philippians but to himself also a very great affliction adding sorrow upon sorrow Yea 3 Being breaches of such a nature they must needs occasion a present breach in and stâ—â—ppage to the good work the work of the Lord to be carryed on by the Church in the world until it be made up or healed as Vzzah's being thus cut off by a sudden stroke chiefly procures by their iniquities occasioned a breach in and put a stop to their work of bringing home the Ark of God for the present and till they had searched and sound the iniquity reproved and their hearts were prepared to seek the Lord after the due order as we see by comparing the 13. chap. With this we may fitly apply what hath been said to our present occasion of lamentation The taking away of this our Jeremy in the midst of his dayes depriving him or rather us of the residue of his years and at such a time in the midst or rather in the beginning of his zealous indeavours to the promoting of so glorious a work as the Publishing and Proclaiming the glorious name and grace of God in Christ to man-ward and earnest pressing and stirring up the people of God to joyn as one man with full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord striving together in his name after the due order for the faith of the Gospel and in nothing terrified by their adversaries his being taken from us being also in such an evil time when so few like minded not seeking their own things but the things which be Jesus Christs This is surely a very great and grievous breach made upon us in all the forementioned considerations something near to that Lamentations 2. 13. Vse It presents us with abundant cause and matter of lamentation and bitter weeping for our selves and the miseries that are like to follow upon us if not timely prevented by turning to him that smites us with whom onely is healing 'T is a day of trouble of treading down and of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of Vision breaking down the wall c. He hath made us to see the breaches of the City of David Isaiah 22. 5 9. 'T is a day in which the Lord calls to mourning and weeping to astonishment and humbling under his mighty hand Take heed least there be in any of us a spirit lifted up or carried away from the sense of the affliction as
or other 3 Union of way for promoting this design working and walking together in the same work and way of the Lord speaking or doing nothing through strife or vain glory but truthing it in love so as seeking and striving to walk together in setting forth commending cleaving to and leading others unto the same one Lord and so the one faith and the one baptism that is of and by him and the glory of God as shined forth in his face unto and for all things and in teaching all things therewith Seeking I say to walk together in this way of understanding in their several gifts administrations operations c. studying and striving each of them and together in the light and strength of the Lord to speak the same thing and to be perfectly joyned together in one mind and one judgment that there be no divisions c. 1 Cor. 1. 10. and chap. 12. 6 12. with Ephes 4. 1. 15. And so 4 Union of accord and agreement such as in which all things by each one are sought to be done in charity and with the advice consent prayers and helpfulness of their brethren in the faith and patience of Jesus that they may be blessed out of the house of the Lord and grow by that which every joynt supplyeth and to that purpose the younger submitting to the elder and all of them one to another in the fear of God And so there is in it 5 An union of fellowship one wiâ—h another and that in personal society and companionship for fellowship in the Gospel and ordinances thereof for acquainting our selves with the joys and griefs of one another for stirring up and exhorting to love and good works not forsaking the assembling of themselvs together as the manner of some is who are sensual not retaining the spirit This of personal society with them that call on him out of a pure heart is to be prized and embraced as one of the choicest outward mercies and blessings of this life and of greatest advantage to the one thing needfull and to be striven for in all our seekings namely the faith of the Gospel and therefore the opportunities God gives for it with diligence to be apprehended and improved See Psalm 84. and 122. Acts 2. 42. 46. Hebrews 10. 23 24 25. with chapter 3. 12 13. And in communicating on with another by and diligent improving the helpfulness that we may enjoy from such persons as afore-said by that meanes when personal converse or society with them cannot be enjoyed Till I come saith the Apostle to Timothy give attention to reading c. Signisying That when the Apostle should be personally present with him it might be of more use and advantage to Timothy to apply himself to personal converse with him and to attend to what he might personally hear and receive from him But when opportunity for that is denyed the reading searching and studdy of the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles and so the reading and considering the writings of such as have that lap of knowledge fore-mentioned the Word of God and testimony of Jesus and searching the Scriptures of truth whether those things be so and in such wise attending to those helps to our understanding and usefulness of the Scriptures and great things of Gods love conâ—ained in them that we may injoy from such persons is in the next place of great advantage and usefulness to the promoting these our main affairs Onely here be we admonished by the words of the wise given forth from one Shepheard That as no man can gather Grapes of Thorns nor Figgs of Thistles so neither can we expect to reap any good fruit or advantage but loss and pollution to the corruping our minds and manners from evil communication or the communication about the things of God from evil persons or such as love not the Lord Jesus Christ nor have that lip of knowledge that word of reconciliation in their hearts or mouths or in some measure having it yet are not so subdued by it to let fall their imaginations and high thoughts of comprehending and making out those things of the testimony of God by the wisdome of man or of this World and by the words which mans wisdome teacheâ—h not willing to become Fooles in themselves that they may have all their wisdome and strength in that evidence and demonstration of the Spirit that is in the testimony of Jesus The discourses or writings of such even of such as the last though they the best and most to be respected of the several sorts mentioned because they have in some measure the testimony of God though not subdued by it they seek to comprehend and declare it by mans wisdome or words as 1 Corinthians 1. 17. and 2. 1. 4. and 3. 18 19 20. 1 Timothy 6. 21. which makes that even such helps of either sort are little helpfull to those that through Grace have believed or to the convincing the ignorant and gain-sayers because they make it not their business nor doth their excellency lye there plainly to shew and demonstrate by the Scriptures Jesus the Christ and so other things in that demonstration of him by the Scriptures and so leave it on mens Consciences as his word and in his name But rather to shew and demonstrate those things by strength of reason or excellency of wisdome and of words which mans wisdome teacheth Compare the fore-mentioned Scriptures with Acts 18. 27 28. Those seeming helps may occasion to us much bodily exercise and such kinde of study as is a wearisomness to the flesh but the profit gained by them is but little and for a little while And if time were spared from such discourses and readings as in which chiefly the excellency of wisdome and of words is shewed in declaring and for demonstrating and making out the testimony of God we might have more to spend better and in more free and diligent attention to those helps that might be indeed helps and profitable to us But how much more are we to go from the presence of such soolish men as have not the lip of knowledge so soon as we perceive it to cease to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge because not onely they are in themselves polluting but also that with more diligence and earnestness we may continue together in the Apostles Doctrine and sellowship striving together for the faith of the Gospel that in nothing we may be terrified by our adversaries When the wicked did gather together in bands and were therein more powerful to do mischief to rob and rend from David he then resolves to be a companion of all those that fear the Lord and of those that in their fear or worship keep his way his precepts as of great advantage to strengthen him against the bands of the wicked Psal 119. 61 63. So in the latter dayes when there are of those many sorts of walkers who are enemies to the Cross
of his grace And so the fountain of that Water of Gods grace and Spirit and so the testimony of him that anointing by the pouring out and shedding abroad of which we in receiving and attending to it shall be washed inlightened healed strengthned and made meet for service Yea that one offering by which all our Sacrifices brought and offered by him shall be made acceptable and to his praise It s not any other Sanctification Separation or consecration that makes meet for this inheritance of the Holy Priesthood or of the Saints in light not the outward and tipical sanctification that was but to a tipical service in the flesh and in the letter Nor any such as may be by the works of the law Nor any such redeeming from any part of the vain conversation as may be effected by corruptable things as silver and gold or by any other Wisdom Strength or Motions onely in the Lord in whom they have righteousness strength In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory 2. As to the nature of the work or effecacy of this one Spirit through the Gospel on the subject needfull to go before to make meet for this service and inheritance of the Saints It is such as in which through the righteousness of God our Saviour they are made partakers of like precious faith with the Apostles through this sanctification of the Spirit fore-mentioned they are chosen out of the way and condition of the World that lyes in ignorance of God in Christ and enmity to him and so under the power of the Wicked one unto obedience the obedience of faith so to understand and know him that is true that therein the soul is brought into him and united with him by faith 1 Peter 1. 2. 2 Peter 1. 1. with 1 John 5. 19 20. They are begotten by the word of truth to such an unfeined belief of the truth as now come forth in Christ as in which it s believed and received not in vain but to purpose even to the same purpose to which it is discovered and given to them viz to the saving of the soul bringing it out of the World and worldly wayes of seeking rest righteousness wisdome strength c. into Christ for all such as in which they are redeemed from among men and from their vain conversation received by tradition from them and so washed in the Spirit of their minde from the errours and pollutions of the World in which men are vainly seeking rest peace wisdome righteousness c. where it is not unto God in Christ to seek all in him by an exercise of faith in him in what he hath done and is become for them in his own body and in the hope set before them in him Such it is as in which their minds or souls are purified to unseigned love of God of Men brethren in obeying the truth They are principled with those principles of truth that naturally lead so to trust in him and seek all in him and so to love that they may thenceforth walk in that newness of life They are so baptized into Christ euen into his death that as to the Spirit of their minde they are subdued and made willing to put on Christ for all and be devoted to him and to that purpose for the excellency of the knowledge of him to let go all other excellencies as loss and dung that they may win him and be found in him yea herein to hate Father Mother Brethren Sisters Wife and Children yea and their own life also for his sake and in comparison of him for they have obeyed his word and kept his covenant Answerable to that Exodus 32. 6. 29. Deut 32. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 1 2. with 2 Cor. 6. 1. Hebr. 10. 39. 1 Peter 1. 18 22. and 2 Peter 1. 4. and 2. 18. 20. Romans 6. 3. 4. Gal. 3. 26 27. James 1. 18. Luke 14. 26 27. 33. Phil. 3. 3. 10. 2 Tim. 1. 5 6. with 1 Tim. 1. 5. There may be among them many feighâ—ned or halting believers That have yet believed but in vain still halting between two opinions or have not yet so crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts as to be renewed and purified in the Spirit of their minde from double-mindedness to have the heart fixed to seek rest wisdome righteousness and strength onely in him by an exercise of faith in him yea there may be many daughters and attenders who though in some good degree of simplicity waiting yet are not so of them of his Spiritual house and holy Priesthood Yet let all that hear say come Revelations 22. 17. 3. Aâ— to the seal and confirmation of the truth of this washing effecacy of the Spirit through the Gospel making meet for this inheritance it is such as in which they are sealed with the holy Spirit of promise even the same which is the earnest of the Apostles inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession by which fealing they are marked out and approved by God as unto the day of redemption so also as a peculiar people unto this service Ephes 1. 13 14. and 4. 30. By this manifesting himselfe unto them powring out abundantly of the Spirit of his Son into their hearts making known his words and so teaching and leading into the Spiritual injoyment and usefulness of the truth making Christ unto them all that which by the power of his word they are instructed and led to seek for in him even wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption and so filling them with peace and joy through the power of the Holy Ghost in the belief of the truth quickning them to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ Giving them access with boldness and confidence in him strengthning them to cry Abba Father by that Spirit of his Son opening the testimony of his Son believed and so spiritually sprinkling the blood of Christ and shedding abroad his love therethrough in their hearts making it usefull and powerfull to all those ends and purposes Also inriching them with some usefull understanding and gifts for the profit of others even as the testimony of Christ is confirmed in them so anointing and fitting them for ministring to him and in his name that through them others may be saved turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that in turning they also may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance with them that are sanctified by fiath that is in Christ John 14. 21. 23. and 17. 20. 23. 1 Cor. 1. 30 31. Rom. 5. 1. 11. and 15. 13 14. 1 Peter 1. 3. Ephes 3. 12. Romans 8. 15. Galatians 4. 6. 1 Corinthians 1. 5. and 12. 4 5 6 7. Acts 26. 17 18. A man may say he hath faith in Christ and so fellowship with the light and in so saying lye and deceive himself but if indeed he have it will be manifested by these works and fruits of it If