answer from him than a Proclamation of our Worship to be a vain Worship as once he declared against the Jews Matth. 15. 9. And therefore if miscarriages rise amongst us we are to bring such miscarriages to the the touch-stone of Gods word and so weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary and finding them either too heavy or too light that is either adding or diminishing from or to the mind of Christ we are theâ—… to repair to those wholsome Lawes left us in Scripture record for the regulating of such miscarriages according to the 〈◊〉 of them as they are private or publick or more or less in their several agravations and as they are committed by persons standing in such oâ—… such relations We say the more of this because most persons think and many do not stick to say that we live and act in things Ecclesiastical as Libertines and without Church-Government because we withdraw our selves from the publick Assemblies But did such persons rightly consider what the Discipline of the Ministry of the Nation is in their Parochial Assemblies who professe themselves to be the true Spouse and Church of Christ and compare it with the mind of Christ revealed in the Scriptures of Truth who gives Lawâ—… to his Church which is that body of which he himself is the head Ephes. 4. 15. 21. 22. Col. 1. 18. 2. 19. They would then finde themselves to be the Libertines and not we and therefore we shall earnestly desire all that are unacquainted with the true Discipline of the Church of Christ well to weigh and seriously to consider these Statute Laws of Christ in that case provided 2 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Tim. 4. 1 2. Ephes. 5. 11. Matth. 18. 15. 1 Tim. 5. 12 19 20. 1 Tim. 6. 5. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Tit. 3. 10. 2 Thes. 2. 15. 2 Thes. 3. 10. 1 Cor. 5. 4 9 11. The which as we will answer the contrary at the great Day of account we dare not in the least wilfully violate or neglect But if by miscarriageâ—… in things Ecclesiastical they mean that we endeavour a Tolleration of all miscarriages amongst them in their Assemblies we shall in the presence of God clear our selves and say we have nothing at all to do with them in such matters for we say they are without as to us 1 Cor. 5. 12 13. And so we look upon our selves to be as to them And if any one shall seem to be troubled at this term Without and object and say that we are all the Creation of God and what need these expressions of Stand at a distance I am more holy than you To such â—…e shall answer in the Spirit of Love and Meeknesse and God is our Witnesse without OSTENTATION that it is true all the Sons and Daughters of Adam are the Sons and Daughters of God by Creation but few by Regeneration and Adoption for Many are called but few are chosen Matth 20. 16. for not the hearâ—…rs of the Law but the doors shall be justified Rom. 2. 13. And not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of the Father Matth. 7. 21. We well know that many will say these are hard sayings and cannot well bear them But to such we shall give a direction in our Post-sâ—…ript where from one of us they may expect and we hope also find good satisfaction as to the tearm Without That we own Liberty of Conscience we confesse but under that or any other pretence to endeavour a Toleration of any Miscarriages either in things Ecclesiastical or Civil we have given we hope full satisfaction for seeing it is the will of our Master to have the Tares and the Wheat grow together till the Harvest Matth. 13. 30. And that our Heavenly Father doth exercise his long-suffering to the whole bulk of man-kind not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. We look upon it to be our Duty to follow God as Dear Children and thus to walk in love Ephes. 5. 1 2. and therefore are like-minded having the same love Phil. 2. 2. And therefore do further declare that we are as free that all others should enjoy their Liberties as we our selves of what Judgment soever they be we well knowing that some are called at the eleveâ—…th hour as well as at the first and third Matth. 20. 1 6. And had the Apostle Paul been plucked up whilst he was a Tare a Persecutor a Blasphemer 1 Tim. 1. 13. and the chief of sinners v. 15 he had never been such choyce Wheat to Satisfie Refresh Enable Enliven Inlighten Encourage build up and Instruct Correct and Reprove the Building of God 1 Cor. 3. 9. the House of God Heb 3. 6. the Houshold of God Ephes. 2. 19. the Sons and Daughters of God 2 Cor. 6. 18. Nor that body of which Christ is the head Col. 1. 18. and therefore we cannot but say again that we are as free that all others should enjoy their Liberties in the things of God as we our selves We well knowing that every one must give an account of himself to God Rom. 14. 12. for every one shall receive the things done in the body according to what they have done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. Matth. 25. 34 41. But either to procure or maintain our own or others Liberties by force of Armes or the least violence we can find no warrant from the Scriptures of truth in the least which is that only and alone Rule that we walk by for all the remedy that we find there recorded is that if they persecute us in one City we may flee into another and this we see acted by our Saviour himself John 7. 1. and by his Parents Matth. 2. 14. and the Apostle Peter Acts 12. 17. and Saint Paul Acts 9. 25 26. 1 Cor. 11. 33. And to follow our Master and to tread in the footsteps of the Flock of God gone before us we judge it very safe but to resist by force of Armes or use the least violence we judge unwarrantable To the fift and last particular That we would murther and destroy those that differ from us in Matters of Religion To this we cannot but answer that so to do we judge were not so much as common Humanity much less Religion or Christianity but our Religion is pure and undefiled before God and our Father which is to visit the Fatherless and widdows not to make fatherless widdows and to visit them in their afflictions not to murther and destroy their Relations to bring them under Afflictions But to this we further answer that this and the 4th Particular we judg seem to contradict one another for murthering and destroying for difference in matters of Religion and Liberty of Conscience cannot stand together nor in the eye of Reason can they be charged against one and the same persons for murthering and destroying
of the bare Subjection to the Ordinances as it was under the Law but upon the account of their Faith for saith the Apostle Ye Members of the Church of Galatia are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jefus which Faith working by love hath evidenced it self to be true by working you to obedience to Gods Ordinances for so many of you as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ And as no uncircumcised person was to â—…at of the Passeover under the Law Exod. 12. 48. So of Christ our Passeover who is Sacrificed for us under this Gospel-dispensation 1 Corinth 5. 7. is no unbeliever to have Communion 2 Corinthians 6. 14. to 17. And as under the Law it was charged upon the Jews as a sin to bring the Uncircumcised into the material Temple Ezek. 44. 7 9. because Circumcision was the inducting Ordinance of Cod under that dispensation So also under a Gospel-dispensation we dare not administer that Inducting Ordinance of Baptism without Faith in God be firct begotten So that if persons shall require from us the Administration of that Ordinance we shall no more dare to do it than Philip who first would have an account of the Eunuch's faith before he Baptized him for so saith the Text Acts 8. 37. If thou Believest with all thy heart thou mayest who immediatly made a Confession of his Faith and this is according to the Commission of Christ Mark 16. vers. 15. which saith not that he that is Baptized but he that Believeth and is Baptized shall be saved So that it is a dangerous thing to make the strait Gate that leads to life wider than God hath made it Therefore know O King that thou art under that dispensation in which the Ax is laid to the root of the Tree and wherein every tree that brings not forth good fruit is to be hewen down and cast into the fire Mat. 3. 10. Under which persous are forbidden to plead their Birth-Priviledges V. 9. as that they are Children of Believing Parents or Sons and Daughters to Abraham but under that dispensation by which they are all the Children of God by faith in Christ Iesus as aforesaid who have actually manifested their faith by their obedience in their putting on of Christ by Baptism as that Church did Gal. 3. 26 27. Such as are chosen out of the world John 15. 19. John 17. 6 14. Separating themselves according to the requirements of God from false and Babylonish worship Revel. 18. 4. 2 Cor. 6. 14 17. Being begotten to the faith Philemon 10. 1 Tim. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 1. 2. Titus 1. 4. By the Preaching of the Word James 1. 18. 1 Cor. 4. 15. And quickned by the Spirit John 6. 63. Rom. 8. 11. Eph. 2. 1 5. Col. 2. 13. Being born again 1 John 4. 7. 1 John 5. 1. 1 John 3. 9. Not of corruptible séed but of incorrupâ—…ible 1 Pet. 1. 23. Not of flesh nor blood nor after the will of man but of God John 1. 13. Being born of water and the Spirit without which if we may believe our blessed Saviour himself John 3. 5. no man can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven the necessity whereof is fully laid down by the Apostle 1 Pet. 3. 20. who speaking of the preservation that Noah had by the Ark from that deluge of water Gen. 7. 17. The like figure whereunto even Baptism saith he doth now under this Gospel-dispensation save us not by washing away of the filth of the flesh but the answering a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as if the Apostle should have said it is not the washing the body in Water that is of this saving nature but it is the going into the Water in a Conscionable obedience to the Command of God to have our sins mystically washed away by Faith in the blood of Christ and so also saith the Apostle Acts 22. 16. And now why tarriest thou arise and be Baptized wash away thy sins calling on the Name of the Lord and the same Apostle writing to Titus makes a clear discovery by what means God on their parts saved them Titus 3. 5. Who hath 〈◊〉 us saith he not by deeds of Righteousness that we have done but by the washing of Regeneration or as the old Translation renders it by the fountain of the new birth and renewing of the Holy Ghost by Water-work and Spirit-work the Spirit operating upon and working up a Soul conscionably to obey God in that holy though amongst men that much despised Ordinance of Water-baptism And thus the Apostle tels us by what means Christ hath clenfed his Church viz. with the washing of water by or according to the Word Eph. 5. 26. And thus some in the Church of the Corinthians who formerly were unrighteous even Fornicators Idolaters Adulterers Effeminate Abusers of themselves with man-kind Thieves and Robbers were by this Spirit and Water-work washed and clensed For so saith our Apostle 1 Cor. 6. 11. And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are Sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God So that a Church of Christ or House of God under a Gospel-dispensation is to be built up of lively stones a spirituall House an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices that will be acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. Of which the building of the Material Temple was a Type for as the House which Solomon built 1 Kings 6. 7. was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither so that there was neither Hammer nor Ax nor any tool of Iron heard in the House when it was in building So in the gathering or building a Gospel-Church persons are to be fitted hewen and squared before they are laid into this Building they are to repent from dead works and to have Faith in God before they be Baptized that as that was a Material so this a spiritual House as those stoues were dead these lively as those stones so soon as they were laid into the building and the work finished they became a House fit to sacrifice in so these lively stones being brought together are fit presently actually to offer up spiritual Sacrifices such as God will accept they being in Jesus Christ first mystically by Faith and secondly actually by their Obedience and Faith and Obedience being Gods Twins we dare not in the least entertain so much as a thought to separate them So that O King if thou with Hezekiah wilt open the Door of the Lords House it is not a National but a Congregational Door thou art to open which is not to be compulsive but perswasive for so saith a true Gospel-Minister Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade men 2 Cor. 5. 11. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us We pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God v. 20. Whence we may
run head-long to the ruine of the People of God here though it be to the ruine of their own Souls hereafter and that to Eternity for so saith the Lord Christ himself Mat. 25. 41. Then shall the King say to them on his left hand Depart from me ye cursed into Everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels for when I was an Hungry ye gave me no meat I was Thirsty and ye gave me no Drink I was a Stranger and ye took me not in Naked and ye cloathed me not Sick and in Prison and ye visited me not for inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these little ones v. 45. or the least of-these my brethren ye did it not unto me v. 40. Whence I would have all persecuting spirits to take notice That if Christ at that great day will be so strict upon men for omitting the doing of that good that they might have done to the People of God that he will be far more stricter with them for doing Acts of violence against them for God is very tender of his People however men esteem of them and so saith the Prophet Zach. 2. 8. He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of his eye God hath been Eminent in his Judgements of late dayes And therefore let all persecuting spirits hear and fear and tremble for the Lord will appear mightily for his People But to return to our matter King Saul being fully Commissionated for this work of Amaleks destruction and being perswaded to the faithful performance thereof by Samuel upon the account of what Benefits God had done for him yet Saul rendred not according to the Benefits bestowed upon him and therefore he was looked upon as a Rebel astainst God 1 Sam. 15. 23. in that he saved the best of the Sheep and Oxen and King Agag alive and this caused God to rend the Kingdom from him v. 28. And this is that together with his going to the Witch of Endor that also cost him his life for so saith the Text 1 Chron. 10. 13. So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord even against the Word of the Lord which he kept not and also for asking Counsel of one that had a familiar spirit to enquire of it So that in Saul also we see the Assertion made good That God requires suitable returns for Benefits bestowed though from the greatest of Men or Nations upon the neglect whereof God punisheth without respect of Persons It is neither the Name Dignity nor Power of the greatest of Kings that can exempt them from the sin-revenging hand of God for Tophet is ordained of old saith the Prophet Isaiah 30. 33. yea for the King it is prepared he hath made it deep and large the pile thereof is fire and much wood the Breath of the Lord like a stream of Brimstone doth kindle it Neither is it the greatness of a Nation or a People that can excuse them if they be found sinning against God witness Israel of old a Nation like the Sands of the Sea shore or as the Stars in the Firmament for number yea the Lords Portion for so saith the Text Deut. 32. 9. The Lords People are his Portion Jacob is the Lot of his Inheritance the Vineyard that his own right hand hath planted Psal. 80. 15. Such as in their day had the highest Priviledges of any Nations under the Heavens for so saith the Prophet David Psal. 147. 19 20. He shewed his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and his Iudgements unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any Nation And as for his Iudgements they have not known them yet for all this by reason of Gods sin-revenging hand upon them the Apostle Paul takes up a great Lamentation Rom. 9. the beginning and tells us That he could wish himself that he were accursed from Christ for his Brethrens sake concerning the flesh who saith he are Israelites to whom pertaineth the Adoption and the Glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the Service of God and the Promises whose are the Fathers and of whom concerning the flesh Christ came Yet notwithstanding all these high Priviledges the Prophet is sent to them with a Message from the Lord Isaiah 6. 9 10. Go saith the Lord and tell this People Hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not make the heart of this People fat and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and convert and be healed And what 's the Cause of all this may some say Answ. The Prophet that was sent on this Message with other of the Prophets will give a perfect answer and tell you That Israel did not render unto the Lord according to his Benefits bestowed and therefore wrath was upon them from the Lord for God had planted them a noble Vine wholly a Righteous Seed but they were turned into the degenerate Plant of a strange Vine unto him saith the Prophet Jeremiah 2. 21. And the Prophet Isaiah sings the same Song Isaiah 5. 1 c. Now will I sing saith he to my well Beloved a Song of my well Beloved touching his Uineyard My well beloued hath a Uineyard in a very fruitful Hill and he fenced it and gathered out the stones thereof and planted it with the choisest Uine and he Built a Tower and set a Winepress therein and he looked that it should bring forth Grapes and it brought forth Wild Grapes V. 7. The Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the House of Israel and the Men of Judah his pleasant Plant and he looked for Judgement but behold Oppression for Righteousness but behold a Cry And therefore God calls themselves to Judge the Cause v. 3. And now O Inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah Judge I pray you between me and my Vineyard What could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have not done in it And now saith he Go to I will tell you what I will do to my Vineyard I will take away the Hedge thereof and it shall be eaten up and break down the Wall thereof and it shall be troden down and I will lay it waste it shall not be pruned nor digged but there shall come up Bryers and Thorns And for these Mis-actings of theirs the Lord by his Prophet Isai. 1. 2. takes up a great complaint saying Hear O Heavens and give ear O Earth for the Lord hath spoken I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebelled against me the Ox knoweth his Owner and the Asse his Masters Crib but Israel doth not know my People do not consider Ah! sinful Nation a People laiden with Iniquity a Seed of Evil-doers Children that are Corrupters they have forsaken the Lord they have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger they are gone away backward By Reason whereof we see the Lord looks upon their
Holy Duties as nothing even as vanity and their burning of Incense an abomination unto him Whence we may note That though men be in the Perfect and Real Way of God as to his Worship yet if they do not render to God if their Conversation answer not their Profession the best of their Worship is but vain and abominable in Gods sight and such as God is weary to bear Isai. 1. 14. And such persons are looked upon as Enemies to the Crosse of Christ Phil. 3. 18. And God looked upon them to be so to him and such as he will not long be burthened withal for so saith the Prophet Isaiah 1. 24. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the Mighty One if Israel Ah! I will ease me of mine Anversaries I will avenge me on mine Eâ—…emies And we find this threatning was made good upon them Zach. 7. 13 14. Therefore saith the Prophet it is come to pass that as he cryed and they would not hear so they cryed and I would not hear but I scattered them with a Whirl-wind among all the Nations whom they knew not c. and so they continue a scattered people to this very day So that we see the Assertion made good in them also That God requires suitable Returns for Mercies bestowed though from the greatest of Men or Nations upon the neglect whereof God punisheth without respect of persons So that we see the point fully proved upon Nebuchadnezzar and Saul two Great and Potent Kings and also ugon Israel the greatest of Nations and that not onely upon the account of multitude but also the greatest Priviledged Nation under the Heavens I shall not spend time to lay down the Reasons of the Point but in a word shall say what the Lord Christ saith Luke 12. 48. To whom much is given of him shall be much required And so I shall come to some Uses that may be made of the Point For as Practice is the very life of Profession So the Uses of a Sermon being well applyed become words spoken in season which the Wise Man saith Are like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver Prov. 25. 11. And seeing it is so that God requires suitable Returns for Benefits bestowed upon the neglect whereof God punisheth c. This then may serve for a Use to great ones and first to thy self O King to Exhort thee in the Name and Fear of Cod seriously to consider particularly what God hath done for thee how God hath preserved thee both abroad and in this Land of thy Nativity and let me humbly beg thee once again seriously to consider the Hollow Oak and that little Vessel which rides in thy constant view and those that were acting in and by them for thy personal preservation the which if report be true thou hast in a great measure already done which is very commendable But this is that O King that I am chiefly pleading for that thou wouldst endeavour to look through and beyond them even to the Finger and Power of that God that wrought in and by them not only for thy Temporal but also if thou beest not wanting to thy self for thy Eternal preservation if thou dost make suitable Returns to him that so wrath may not follow To this purpose consider every one of thy Thoughts and Intentions and examine them before thou put them into action see whether they tend to a suitable Returning to God for such great Benefits received from God or not And if this O King be the bent of thy Spirit and thy continued practice I can assure thee from the Word of the Lord that it will be a lengthning out of thy Tranquillity for so saith the wisest of men by the assictance of the Eternal Spirit Prov. 16. 7. When a mans wayes please the Lord he will make even his Enemies to be at peace with him and not onely so but thou shalt also have a Benefit hereafter and that to Eternity for so saith the Lord by the mouth of a King Psal. 50. 23. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his Conversation aright will I shew the Salvation of God And secondly O King seeing many Great Ones in this Nation have had a great share in the Benefits God hath bestowed upon thee this may serve for a Use of Exhortation also to them to perswade them to consider seriously what God hath done for them in doing for thee and further to examine what suitable Returns they have already made and what Rendrings they intend to make to God for such great Benefits bestowed I desire to urge this the rather because I see many of their Coaches standing daily where I fear they cannot duly Render to God according to such Mercies bestowed and therefore I shall desire to discharge my Conscience to them in letting them know That without Holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. and without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb 11. 6. Which Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God Heb. 10. 17. and not by Hearing scurrility in Stage-playes May-games and Pastimes Consider O ye Great Ones that are guilty of such actings and know that God requires other things from you and make suitable Returns to God lest God Return his Judgements with Indignation and so the last be worse than the first for we usually say that Relapses are dangerous and many times prove worse than the first Distemper Thirdly Seeing God requires suitable Returns for Benefits bestowed though from the greatest of Men or Nations upon the neglect whereof God punisheth without respect of Persons This then may also serve for a Use of Exhortation and Examination to this Nation considered as a Nation And as some have said They to wit the Nation was a Body without a Head meaning they were without a King for the King is the Head or Supream 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. according to that of Samuel also to Saul 1 Sam. 14. 17. And Samuel said to Saul When thou wast little in thine own sight wast thou not made the Head of the Tribes of Israel And the Lord anointed thee King over Israel c. So that now O England thou canst not so Complain for by a miraculous hand thy Head is restored to thee again examine thy self now what Benefit thou hast received and also how thou art bettered thereby Dost thou render to God according to his Benefits bestowed Art thou grown more Holy than thou wast Or rather art thou not grow openly prophane out of a sense of Gods Great Love to thee Dost thou rejoyce before the Lord with trembling Or rather is not thy rejoycing such as that it would and doth even make a truly Regenerate Soul tremble to behold it Art thou rendring to God for bringing this great Design about without shedding of blood Or rather is not thy Behaviour such as suddenly may cause God to open another vein to the Effusion of thy Bloud even to the Confusion of thy face Art