a just claim thereunto Mr. Matthew Lyndsey who deceased in the midst of his Majoralty 1650. had the true right to it The Sermon was preached at his request and at his Inauguration He dying it descends by Inheritance upon these his Successors The Sight is very rare indeed but very poorly and meanly set forth Such as it is the unworthy Author humbly tenders to them with apprecation of all Grace Honour and Happinesse A RARE SIGHT OR THE LYON REVEL 5. 5. Behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah AT great Solemnities and extraordinary confluences of people it is the ancient use and custome to bring out strange sights and shew farrfetched Rarities This is a solemne day the Cities great anniversary Feast for the Inauguration of the cheife Magistrate Here 's much concourse from several parts I shal therefore at such a time as this being called to stand in the middest of such a multitude produce my Spectacle and present to your view the godliest sight that ever Heaven or Earth afforded a stately and a generous Lion from a farre Countrey Behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Concerning which I shall propound two things to your observation the parts of the Text. 1. The Trumpet Sounded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold 2. The Sight or Shew presented A rare and strange Living Creature described from His 1. Species kinde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Lion 2. Originall pedegree and Country the most noble and best bred Lion in the WORLD 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the Tribe of JVDAH These are the parts and particulars of the Text. But I will not tye my selfe strictly and punctually to these or at least I will lay them aside a while and according to my plaine and usuall way I shall concerning this Little yea this great portion of Scripture dispatch these foure things 1. I will speak something of the sence and meaning of the words 2. I will give you the summe substance of all in one generall proposition in one plaine doctrine 3. Then in the third place I will returne to the parts and particulars I will review search and examine them for such speciall observations and Instructions as may be profitable besides the main and generall doctrine 4. And last of all I will as God shall enable me endeavour to make profitable use and application of all I stand heer by call and commission from God It s my duty to lift up my voice like a Trumpet to Usher in this rare spectacle and it is required of you that with Moses you will now turn a side and see this great sight Let him that hath an eare heare and let him that hath an Eye behold And let the Eye of the God of Heaven be upon us all for good and let the Lion of the Tribe of Judah be with us and help us and blesse us Amen 1. And first I am to open and expound the Text. Behold This demonstrative hath singular weight and moment Aliquid repentinum et insperatum demonstrat It points to something that is sudden unexpected unhoped for something that is rare excellent and admirable It hath here in this place a two fold use 1. To excite and stir up attention and intention it calls for your ears and eyes 2. To command Thus Christ made use of it It was his word of command He said unto them In his Doctrine Hearken Behold I command you to attend So here it 's the sounding of the Trumpet it invites it commands you all to fix your Eyes upon this rare and excellent sight which is now comming forth Behold then But first I pray before you look for the Lion Lift up your eyes a little higher to the first Verse There you shall see A Throne set in Heaven and one sitting upon that Throne in great glory Majesty and brightnesse That is God the Father In his right hand he holds a book written within and on the back-side and sealed with 7. Seals V. I. Q. What Book may this be A. It is none other but this Book of the Revelation Would you know the Contents of this Book It is a Propheticall-Historicall Decretall Not onely decreed but as it were ingrossed in the Court-Roules of Heaven It was a great Roule written on both sides for the multitude and variety of matters as containing a compleat History of the Church unto the Worlds end and therefore took up both sides of the Book Volume or Roule It containes the decrees Counsels and will of God concerning the future state and government of the Church It contains great Mysteries Of the Kingdome and Tyranny of Antichrist of the persecutions troubles and afflictions of the Church in all Ages till Christ shall come the second time and deliver up the Kingdome to God even the Father It foreshews the patience and constancy of the faithfull the utter ruine of their Enemies and their eternall glory and faelicity at the generall judgement and Consummation These Mysteries are written in a Book i. e. in Gods eternall Praescience Providence and Decree But this Book is clasped up and sealed 1. For matter most excellent and Divine kept secret from the knowledge of al creatures and with seaven Seales most surely as mysteries of the greatest moment Worth and Certainty Therefore behold vers 2. A strong Angel proclaiming with a lond voice Like a Herauld or Officer Who is worthy for the excellency of his person or for his deserts To open the Book and to loose the Seals thereof To disclose these secret decrees and counsels of God to dive into these most deep mysteries that he may make them know to the Church of God in all ages Who O it 's a hard and difficult matter to open the Book and to loose the Seales Verse 3. None in Heaven No Angel None in Earth No Saint living None under the Earth No Saint departed whose body is under-ground or more generally no creature in Heaven Earth or Sea was able to open the Book to read understand or divulge it Neither to look thereon To have any thing at all to do with it Alas alas This is a sad thing Behold verse 5. John the Divine weeps much Because no man was found worthy to open and to read the Book c. He wept much to see himselfe and others deprived of so deep so sweet and so excellent Mysteries but especially to think that God should be deprived of the glory of them What then Shall the Church never know the Contents of that Book Yes yes it shall Behold in the fifth verse a word of Consolation One of the Elders saith unto me weep not One of the body of the Councill of State one of the Assessors one of the glorified Saints representing all the faithfull one to whom the secret of the Lord was revealed He said to John weep not q. d. This is thine infirmity what hast thou forgotten Art thou a Master and Teacher in the Church of God and dost thou
Angell nor Arch-angell none in Heaven and Earth can be found meet to under-go this Office onely Jesus Christ God-man could beare it You have seene how the Lion Messiah the Prince was annointed within Now secondly I will make out his Title to the Crown He had an externall Unction he was annointed a King The ancient annointing of Kings was an outward manifestation and declaration to the whole World of their undoubted Right and Title to their Kingdomes it was also a publick Assignation And this externall Unction had Jesus Christ not with materiall oyle but he had a full and undoubted right to the Government He was no usurper he had a solemn calling from God the Father to this Office and from him he derived a three-fold right The Kingdome was his 1. By Assignation from the Father Psal 2. 6. I have set my King upon my holy Hill of Zion Act. 2. 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath â—ade that same JESUS who was crucified both LORD and CHRIST 2. By inheritance Psal 2. 7. I will declare the decree the Lord hath sayd unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Heb. 1. 2. God hath appointed him heire of all things Even the wicked Husbandmen acknowledged thus much This is the heire Mat. 21. 38. 3. By free Donation Psal 2. 8. Aske of me and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession By this time the first branch or Proposition is true and evident Christ is a Lyon that is A King Therefore as after the anoynting of Jehu they blew with Trumpets and proclaimed saying Jehu is King So here having seen the anoynting I blow the Trumpet proclaim Behold Christ is King Behold Christ is King Branch 2. The Lord Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lyon The Lyon of Lyons The most excellent Lyon the onely Lyon Christ is a King and there 's no King but Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 43. â— I am the Lord and beside me there is no Saviour The cheife Priests sayd We have no King but Caesar Christians must say We have no King but Christ But haply some will object Are there not many other Kings Were there not Kings of Israel and Judah Had not Aegypt their Pharaohs and the Philistims their Abimelechs Do wee not read in Daniel of the head of Gold the Silver breast and armes the Brasse belly and thighes the Iron Legs the four ancient and famous Monarchies Did wee never heare of the Emperours of the West And are there not many Kings at this very day in the World What is there but one Lyon in the Forest I answer with Saint Paul There are Lords many many Kings And Saint Peter mentions The King as supreame and that as an Ordinance But such a King as the Lord Jesus Christ is not in the whole World And I will shew you some differences between Christ the King and all other Kings 1. Christ is the onely absolute supream soveraigne independent King the onely Lord Paramount all other Kings have but a derived delegated power from him Pro. 8. 15. By me Kings raigne saith the Lord Jesus the wisedome of the Father and Princes decree Justice All other Kings are but subordinate Viceroys Lord-Deputies 2. All other Kings are men meer men Jesus Christ is God and man as he is the man Christ Jesus so he is God over all blessed for ever No other King God-Man but he 3. In regard of bounds all other Kings they have Dominion only over some part and a little part of the World Indeed there have been Monarchs that have styled themselves Emperours of the World but they were mistaken two wayes First in their times scarce halfe the habitable part of the World was discovered Secondly Had they had all they layd claime to it was but to the lower and baser part of the World the Earth But the Lord Jesus Christ hath an universall Kingdome Psal 72. 8. He shall have Dominion from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the ends of the Earth v. 9. They that dwell in the Wildernesse shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust v. 10. The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts v. 11. Yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords yea he is King of Heaven and Earth and of all things in them There is no universall King but he 4. In respect of duration All other Kings are men that dye and their Kingdomes have their fatall periods few Kingdomes continue above five hundred years We use to say So many yeares raigned the Chaldeans and Babylonians so many the Medes and Persians so many the Graecians and so many the Romans that I meddle not with the fatall mutations in our Nation The Lord often speaks to earthly Kings in his wrath The Lord hath rent the Kingdome of Israel from thee saith Samuel to Saul even this day he hath done it and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better then thou And this was the Writing that was written concerning Belshazzar Thy Bingdome is divided and given to the Medes and Persians But unto the Sonne unto the Lord Jesus Christ the Father saith Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever God the Father speaks concerning his Son as Jupiter is brought in speaking of the Romans His ego nec metas rerum nec tempora pono Imperium sine fine dedi His seed will I make to endure for ever and his Throne as the dayes of Heaven His Throne shall be as the Sun before me It shall be established for ever as the Moon and as a faithfull witnesse in Heaven SELAH The Angell Gabriel was sent from God to the Virgin Mary with this Oracle Thou shalt conceive bringforth a Son and shalt cal his name Jesus He shal be great and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his Father David And he shall raigâ—e over the House of David for ever and of his Kingdome there shall be no end Jesus Christ is the Lyon The Lyon is a Creature as Pliny writes that lives long to an incredible age but Christ is the Lyon that never dyes And there is no eternall King but Christ You have the second Branch or Proposition I passe to Branch 3. Jesus Christ is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah First And according to the Letter He was King of Iudah He had a just right and title to the temporall Crowne and Kingdome He was of the Seed of David according to the flesh lineally descended from his loynes and by undoubted succession the King and Prince being of the Kingly race This will appear by the Genealogies Saint Matthew chap. 1. sets downe the Pedegree
keepe nothing of Gods counsell back He must lift up his voyce like a Lyon and roare in the eares of Kings Potentates and the greatest States-men The Lyon must roare though the Doggs bark and the Wolves howle and all the Beasts of the Forrest do yell and grin A soule-searching Ministry is gall and wormwood to unreformed persons Ministers that cast the Pearles of reproofes before Doggs and Swine must expect that such brutish creatures will fly in their faces and if it be in their power will rent and teare them But what saith the Lord Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speake Be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee Jer. 1. 7 8. Make thy face strong against their faces and thy forehead strong against their foreheads Ezek. 3. 8. Ministers must have undaunted resolutions ahd be as bold as Lyons 4. Ministers of the Gospell must not forget the stately gate of the Lyon The Lyon is comely in his going Ministers should be carefull above all others to walke as becomes the Gospel of Christ A holy walking that is the comely walking I beseech you behold how the high Priest is adorned and how he walks He had a plate of pure Gold upon his forehead and upon that Plate was ingraven HOLINESSE TO THE LORD Upon his Brestplate the URIM and the THUMMIM Viz the light of knowledge and the perfection of holinesse these were upon Aarons heart when hee walketh when he goeth in before the Lord. He had a Robe down to his feet and towards the bottome beneath upon the hemme of it a golden Bell and a Pomegranate a Golden Bell and a Pomegranate round about The golden Bell signifies the sound of pure Doctrine and the Pomegranate a sweet and savoury fruit notes that holinesse of Conversation that was in the High-priest view him well and you see him adorned with holinesse Cap a pe from head to foot It is the duty of Ministers Vivere concionibus concionari moribus to live Sermons Melius docemur vita quam verbo Examples prevaile more with men then Precepts In all things shew thy selfe a Pattern of good Workes saith Paul to Titus in Doctrine uncorruptnesse gravity sincerity In the frame of the Temple upon the borders were painted and ingraven Lyons Oxen and Cherubims To shew what kind of persons they ought to be who serve in Gods house As Angels for knowledge to dive into the Mysteries of the Gospell laborious and painfull as the Oxe They must be Lyons also for courage and boldnesse and they must be comely in their going their Conversation must be holy and lovely I shall commend at this time but one thing more to my Brethren of the Ministry and that is Prayer Let us be much and earnest in Prayer Alas we shall never be able to open the Book except the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah help us verse 4. John wept much because none was found worthy to open the Book and to read it We must weep and pray pray and weep that we may be enabled to open the Booke For there are sublime things in the Book and hard to be understood Alas our hearts will faile us and we shal be afraid of the faces of men if the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah do not strengthen us and put Courage into us keep up our Spirits to him therfore we nought to make our Addresses Yea in this let me beg help for my selfe and others wel-beloved I speak to you all that are before me this day in the words of Saint Paul Eph. 6. 18. Pray alwaies with all prayer and supplication of the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance supplication for al Saints 19. And for me and for all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell that utterance may be given unto us that we may open our mouths BOLDLY to make known the mystery of the Gospell Exhortation 3. I passe on now to the third Exhortation and that is to all in generall men women and young ones And there are various and sundry duties which I shall endeavour to perswade you to And first Is Jesus Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Then prostrate bow to this Lyon tremble at his voice Is Christ the King of his Church and People then come all in shake off all other yoakes Satans Dominion and Sins Reigne and list under this King be his Subjects kisse his Scepter and kneele to him know your King be loyall to him give him your whole heart honour feare and obey him give to Caesar that which is Caesars pay him all his Tribute of time of your Estates of every thing Fight for him contend for the faith the truth the honour of Jesus Christ Let the Lord Jesus Christ have a Throne in all your hearts say We have no King but the Lord Jesus Christ To move you hereunto consider the excellency of this Kingdome above all other Kingdomes in the World It hath the best King He is fairer then the Children of men He is the supream the absolute King of himselfe all other earthly Kings are but Vice-roys Lord-deputies All other Kings are but meer men he is God and man all other Kings have but a little peice of earth to set their feet upon he is the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth all other Kings weare but a corruptible Crown but his Kingdome endureth for ever Such a King there is not another What the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon the Type hath its Complement and perfection in Jesus Christ Happy are the Servants and Subjects of this King Blessed be the Lord thy God Oh thou Lyon of the Tribe of Judah which delighted in thee to see thee on the Throne of Israel because the Lord loved his Israel for ever therfore made he thee King It hath the best Scituation I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion There is the nether Zion and the upper Zion both pleasant Of the nether or lower Zion the Pilgrim Church upon Earth it is said Beautifull for scituation the joy of the whole Earth is Mount Zion the City of the great King And what is the beauty thereof The presence of God dwelling in the midst his people and protects them God is known in her Palaces for a Refuge Of the upper Zion the triumphant Church in Heaven it is said Yee are come unto Mount Zion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first-borne which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus Heb. 12 22 23 24. It hath the best Lawes What Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day
of the holy And for this he weeps and laments But heare what the Elder saith Weep not behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath prevailed to open the Booke and to loose the seven Seales thereof The Lord Jesus Christ is appointed of God to reveale the decree the whole will and counsell of God concerning mans Salvation He is made unto us wisdome 1 Cor. 1 30. No man hath seen God at any time the onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father hee hath declared him John 1. 18. There followed great joy Songs and Musick in Heaven when the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah had taken the Book and undertaken to open it Consol 3. Against all our spirituall Enemies the Enemies of our Salvation Sin Death the Devill The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vicit hee hath overcome and prevailed He hath vanquished Death Hell and all the power of the Adversary The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath spoyled the roaring Lyon that walketh about seeking to devoure us He overcame in dying and so obtained high Dignity and became Lord of all Now he coucheth as a Lyon and none can drive him from his Prey which he caught out of the Dragons Pawes Saint Paul is Herauld to the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah proclaimes his Victory and declares him Conquerour with a word of triumph and solemnity Death is swallowed up in Victory Oh death where is thy Sting Oh Grave where is thy Victory The Sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us Victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 54 55 56 57. All the strength of death and the Devill was from sin but Christ hath taken that quite away Here in this verse Iohn heares of Christ as a Lyon but in the next verse he seeth him as a Lamb slain sacrificed and he is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world Ioh. 1. 29. He made peace by the blood of his Crosse Consol 4. Against Defects wants of righteousnesse Alas saith the poor Creature without holinesse no man shall see the Lord And I have no righteousnesse or at least very imperfect none that will justifie It is true Christian if thou speakst of thine own righteousnesse inherent and actuall it s at the best but as a short Garment and a spotted Cloath Woe be to them that have no other Robe to cover them But look up and behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah He hath a Golden Skin to cover thee withall I will tell you a peece of Herauldry There are used in Armes Colours and Furres Furres are the Skins of certain Beasts stripped from their bodies and artificially trimmed for adorning of Garments for Kings and great men The Lyon is Iudahs Armes The Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah is the Churches Ensigne and Shield Jesus Christ will give thee Colours and Furres Colours he will make the white by encreasing in the more and more the grace of Sanctification And he hath Furres for thee too his own Skin his own Righteousnesse to cover thee to justifie thee withall Jesus Christ is made unto us Righteousnesse and Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30. Hast thou nothing in thy selfe there is enough in Christ Consol 5. Against all afflictions and troubles that the Children of God meet withall here Poverty Persecution and the like Art thou in great streights Yes perhaps thou will say but alas I cannot pray yet bee of good comfort Jesus Christ at the right hand of his Father doth pray and make continuall Intercession for thee He is of the Tribe of Judah And you know that Judah was an Intercessor for his Brother Iudah said oh do not slay our Brother And herein a Type of Christ The Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah making continuall intercession for his Brethren Art thou poore and knowest not where to get bread Jesus Christ is thy King and he is a Lyon and will teare in peeces enough for his whelps and distribute it to his hungry ones Do thy afflictions and troubles continue it is but for a time it can be no longer then this transitory life continueth and then Christ will glorifie thee he will give you the Kingdome Here you have had great consolation from Christs Kingly Office against the implacable Enemies of the Church against blindnesse and ignorance against all Spirituall Adversaries of our Salvation Sin Death the Devill against wanâ—s and defects of righteousnesse against all afflictions and miseries of this life Ob. But haply some will say is Christ able and willing to do all this for his people Answ To this I answer and that shall be Consol 6. He is able to do it for he is a Lyon The strongest The Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty He is also willing for this end he was sent and for this purpose he took our Nature and came into the World he is our bone and our flesh The Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah our Kinsman our Brother our Husband Ob. But alas will some poor Christians say all these things may belong to others but we are not qualified we are not prepared and therefore not capable of these great Prerogatives Answ To this I shall answer with a Caution with a limitation The Consolation doth not belong to all onely to the Lyons whelps onely to the Tribe of Judah onely to such are true and faithfull Subjects of the Lyon of the King Christ Jesus And who are they I will tell you shortly such as beleive and repent and this I shall add as a seventh Consolation Dost thou beleive in the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah in Jesus Christ be of good comfort Sin and Satan shall never hurt thee To him to the Lord Jesus Christ give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever beleiveth in him shall receive remission of sins Act. 10. 43. Pliny writes that if any one be annointed with the blood of a Lyon or the fat the bitings of no venomous Creature can hurt him If thy Soule be annointed with the blood of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah sin cannot sting thee and the bitings of the old Serpent cannot harm thee Dost thou finde wants and defects in thine own righteousnesse yet dost thou beleive in the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Be of good comfort he hath Righteousness enough to justifie thee I read that Garments wrapt up in the Golden Skin of the Lyon are safe from Moths Art thou by faith wrapt up in the glorious Robe of Christs Righteousnesse Be of good comfort the Moths and defects of thy Sanctification shall not prejudice thy justification for thou shalt stand before the Judge of all the World Not having thine own Righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ Phil. 3. 9.