whore But what saith the holy Ghost Rejoyce over her thou heaven thou Church of Christ and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged you on her And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying Alleluia salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God For true and righteous are his judgements for he hath judged the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand They that belong to the kingdom of Christ rejoyce and give thanks in this case who are they that lament but those that belong to the prince of darknesse Fourthly This should stir up all who are loyall-hearted subjects of Christ to labour more fully to subject themselves unto him And first endeavour to take deeper rooting in Christ by faith that ye may partake more of the power and Spirit of Christ for He according to his working is able to subdue all things to Himself The more ye have of Christ the more shall your spirits be subjected unto Christ Dilate your hearts by faith in sweet and free meditations on the promises that ye may let in more of Christ into your souls His entrance into the soul is the ruine of Satans strong holds when He is exalted in the heart lust will sink corruption will be weakned Meditations on the Law and on the wrath of God may be of great use to prepare the way of Christ but it is the presence and power of Christ possessing the heart which doth the work For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil that is spoken of his manifestation to the world in generall It holdeth true in this case the more Christ is manifested to any beleever in particular the more are the works of the devil destroyed in him and the more is that soul subjected unto Christ The cause why Satans bulwarks are not more fully demolished and our spirits so little subdued unto Christ is because we have but obscure discoveries of Christ Secondly Labour to be more and more humble and sencible of your own vilenesse Self-abasing is the lifting up of Christ The spirit that stoopeth lowest is best prepared to become a throne for Christ For thus saith the High and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity whose Name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit This may seem strange that the highest place in heaven and the lowest hearts on earth should be the fittest thrones for Christ And why the heart that is lowest in humility is highest in excellency in his esteeme the spirit that is lifted up to the greatest height of pride is lowest for vilenesse and basenes in his account God resiâ—teth the proud because they lift up themselves against His royall Majesty and giveth grace to the humble because they yeeld him subjection Humility maketh way for more grace and so for more full subjection unto Christ They that delight to lie at the footstool of Christ in humility shall see Christ sitting in the throne of their hearts shall be exalted to sit with Christ in his throne of glory Thirdly Keep a continuall watch A Commander who knoweth many of his Souldiers to be ill affected to the cause wherein he is engaged and ready to raise a mutiny or that hath many sturdy prisoners in his Camp that wait an opportunity to act mischief had need set a strong guard upon them and keep a watchfull eye over them So a Christian finding many treacherous lusts in his heart ready upon occasion to break into actuall rebellion against Christ had need be very watchfull if he be slumbering they will soon be acting mischief Watch therfore and if they begin to stir execute martiall Law upon them presently Let them dye without mercy that thy soul may live and Christ may reign Fourthly Keep peace with God and let the peace of God rule in thine heart that so thy soul may rest in a sweet subjection under the government of Christ the Prince of peace whilest the hearts of others are hurried up and down with divers and contrary lusts being like the raging sea casting up mire and dirt As the point is of universal concernment to all degrees of persons so I have carried it on in the Application I yet desire liberty for one word to this Honourable Audience whom it especially concerneth Much honoured in the Lord I beseech You take home to your selves what hath been spoken to you and others in the Name of Christ labour to make it your own This is that which would make your memories precious to posterity and cause future generations to call you blessed yea this will enable you to give up your last account with joy if first your own spirits shall be truly subdued to the Lord Jesus Christ and then if your Parliamentary counsels and proceedings shal be such as savour of the loyalty of your hearts toward this King of Saints The Apostle seemeth to have been wonderfully affected with a work of mercy performed by private Christians in relieving the necessities of their poore Brethren For saith he the administration of this service not onely supplyeth the want of the Saints but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God whilest by the experiment of this ministration they glorifie God for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ How much more shall the right administration of this publick Service wherein ye are engaged and the faithful discharge of this great trust committed to You not only supply the wants and make up the breaches of Church and State but also be abundant by many thanksgivings unto God enlarging the hearts and opening the mouthes of thousands of the godly whilest by the experiment of this publick ministration they glorifie God for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ And if the Apostle in that case did break out so affectionately how much more shall the faithfull have cause to lift up the praises of their God and to say Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift Blessed be God for a Parliament that subjected themselves and all their power and authority to Him whom God hath set at His own right hand far above principalities and powers and every name that is named not onely in this world but also in the world to come for a Parliament who in all their legislative Acts hold respect to their subordination to that supream Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy who were tender of the glory of the Lord Jesus of the purity of his truth and worship and would not for a world infringe any of His royal prerogatives Ye have mighty engagements hereunto And therefore for conclusion let me set before you Davids case and his example It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the people under me Hath not God avenged you and wonderfully subdued the people under you far beyond the hopes of those that were most confident among you He delivereth me from mine enemies yea thou hast lifted me up above those that rise up against me thou hast delivered me from the violent man Cannot ye say after him verbatim and apply all to your selves word for word What cause have you to conclude with him Therefore will I give thanks unto the Lord among the heathen and will sing praises unto thy Name Labour in thankfulnesse to make the Name of the Lord glorious among the heathen heathenish Christians that are strangers to him in divers parts of the Land by propagating the Gospel and giving necessary encouragement to those that publish it And remember that Christs highest end in al his works and therefore certainly in such admirable works is Himself not the greatnâ—sse of the creature who enjoyeth the comfort of them but the honour of His own great Name Oh learn therefore to seek not your own things but the things of Jesus Christ For consider how great things He hath done for you FINIS Iosh. 5. 13 14 Theod. â— 4. cap. 6. Ver. 17. Ver. 18 19. V. 20. 21. Isa. 9. 6. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Doct. Rev. 1. 5. 7. 8. 1 Cor. 15. 24 25 Col. 1. 16 17. Heb. 1. 3. 1 Col. 2. 10 2 â— Pet 2. 4. Iude 6. Iob 2. 6 1 Cor. 6. 5 3 1 King â—9 11. 12. 2 Cor. 7. 5. Phil. 4. 22. 4 5 Dan. 2. 35. 6. Rev. 18. 24. â— Pet. 3. 6 7. V. 10 11. V. 13. 1 Cor. 15. 26. 54. Vse 1. Cant. â— 4. Rev. 16. 16. 2 Thes. 2. 8. Revel. 11. 15 16 17. Vse 2. Gâ—n 41. 43. 1. 1 Tim. 6. 15. Rev. 19. 16. 2 1 Cant. 2. 4. Heb 12. 10. Rom. 8. Rom 6. 14. 3. 4. 5. Psal. 58. 11. Prov. 11. 18. 2 Tim. 4. Rom. 6. 22. Exod. 33. 19 20. 3. Psal. 90. 11. Luk. 19. 27. Psal. 2. 3 4 c. V. 9. 10. Vse 3. 1. 1 Tim. 4. 8 9. Ioh. 4. 14. Matth 7. 13 14 Luk. 13 24. 2. Act 11 22 â—3 3. Psal. 2. Rom. 7. Psal. 40. 8. 4. Rev. 18. 4 5. Ver 20. Cap. 19. 1. c. Vse 4. 1 â— Ioh. 3 8. 2 Isa. 57. 15 3 4 2 Cor. 9. 12 13. Ver. 15. Psal. 18. 47 48 Ver. 49. 1 Sam. 12. 24.
A SHADOVV OF THE VICTORY OF CHRIST Represented to the Honourable House of COMMONS IN A SERMON Preached at Margarets Westminster on the Day of the publick Fast Octob. 28. 1646. By JOHN MAYNARD Minister of the Gospel at Mayfield in SUSSEX Rev. 17. 12. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no kingdom as yet but receive power as Kings one houre with the Beast 13These have one minde and shall give their power and strength unto the Beast 14These shall make war with the Lambe and the Lambe shall overcome them For He is Lord of lords and King of kings and they that are with Him are called and chosen and faithfull LONDON Printed by F Neile for Samuel Gellibrand and are to be sold at his Shop at the Brasen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard 1646. TO THE HONORABLE House of COMMONS Assembled In PARLIAMENT WHen Joshua was by Jericho there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand and Joshua seemeth in a military way to examine him Art thou for us or for our adversaries Nay saith he but as Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come This answer maketh him fall on his face to the earth and worship acknowledging Him for Commander in chief and humbly subjecting himself to Him as His Lieftenant Generall ready to receive His Commands What saith my Lord unto his servant It is one of the greatest honours the sons of men are capable of here on earth to follow the Ensignes of this victorious Captain of the Lords host and to wait upon his triumphant chariot If herein the Lord hath honoured You above many thousands of your brethren it concerneth You much to imitate Joshua First as he questioned the Son of God whom he knew not in that apparition at the first sight so ye knowing Christ to be that Captain of the Lords host who will subdue all things to Himself ought in an holy jealousie to search your own hearts and to examine all your counsels and proceedings Are we in these things for Christ or for His adversaries for Him or against Him Secondly I beseech You be willing to lye lowe before him and to say What saith our Lord unto His servants Ye expect not His immediate voice and therefore in all humility hear Him by His Ambassadours when they speak according to their Commission as if His mandates were delivered unto You by His own mouth Admirable is that of Valentinian recorded by Theodoret when Ambrose had freely reproved some things amisse in his government said the Emperour I knew well thy zeal and courage and therefore was so far from opposing that I was forward to promote thine election to this pastorall charge Go on therefore to cure the diseases of our Souls according to the prescript of Gods Word And it is reported of Albert Duke of Mickleburgh that when a flattering Courtier sought to incense him against a Preacher for dealing roundly with him He told him he loved the man so much the better and willed him in his name to give him thanks for his pious Sermon If Ye follow Christ as your Captain not turning to the right hand or to the left who knoweth whether after six yeers compassing the wâ—ls of Jericho they may not on the seventh fall to the ground before You. The Lord Jesus direct You by His Spirit and gird You with His strength to endure unto the end that no man take Your Crown So prayeth Your unworthy Servant in the Lord JOHN MAYNARD Die Mercurii 28 Octob. 1646. ORdered by the Commons Assembled in Parliament That Collonel Stapeley do from this House give thanks to Mr. Maynard for the great pains he took in the Sermon he Preached this day at the intreaty of this House at St. Margarets Westminster it being the Day of publick Humiliation and desire him to Print his Sermon And he is to have the like Priviledge in Printing of it as others in the like kinde usually have had H Elsyng Cler. Parl Dom Com. I Appoint Samuel Gellibrand to Print my Sermon John Maynard A SERMON Preached before the Honourable House of COMMONS Phil. â— 21. According to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself THe Apostle giveth a large testimony to the Saints of Philippi concerning the sincerity and eminency of their graces yet not being satisfied with the measure to which they had attained he presseth them to a farther growth and progresse And for this end having laid before them his own example he exhorteth them Brethren be followers of us and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example Which exhortation he enforceth by two main arguments 1 From the basenesse of their way who took a contrary course and the wofull issue of that way they were enemies to the crosse of Christ their God was their belly their glory was in their shame they minded earthly things the issue is answerable their end is destruction 2 From the excellency of the way wherein he walked and the blessed and glorious issue of that way His way is described in these words Our conversation is in heaven the issue in the words following where he sheweth that as the conversation of the Saints is in heaven so their expectation is from heaven Where may be observed 1. The Person whose appearing they expect The Lord Jesus Christ their Saviour in whom all their hopes are treasured up 2. The fruit of His appearing and that is a glorious change to be wrought in their whole man though that of the body onely be here expressed In this change may be noted foure things 1. The terminus à quo the condition wherein their bodies shall be found before they are transformed a state of vilenesse Secondly The terminus ad quem the condition into which they shall be changed a state of glory Thirdly The pattern according to which they shall be changed the glorious body of Christ Fourthly The power by which this glorious change shall be wrought and that is the efficacy or working of Christ whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself which is the thing I intend to insist upon This change is wonderfull that such vile bodies should be transformed into a condition so exceedingly glorious yet no way incredible if we consider that it shall be done by the working of him of whom it was prophecied of old His Name shall be called Wonderfull The mighty God who wrought such wonders in the dayes of his humiliation and discovered so much of God in the form of a servant and which was the height of wonders when he was dead by his own power by the Almighty working of his eternall Spirit and Divine nature raised himself from death to life So that here we see the Apostle ascendeth very high in asserting this truth which seemeth so far above reason he hath recourse to Christ his omnipotency who hath all
sometime puting a two-edged sword into the hands of his Saints giving them this honour to become victorious instruments of his wrath upon His and their enemies But at the length He will break in peices the iron and the clay the brasse the silver and the gold and make them like the chaffe of the summer threshing flâ—ores and the wind shall carry them away and no place shall be found for them He will put down all rule and all authority and power Lastly As for creatures voyd of reason I will not now dispute that question whether after the worlds dissolution the species or severall kind of creatures shall be restored But thus Christ hath already in part subdued and shall in the end bring under all those creatures not endowed with the principles of reason and amongst these the very towns cities buildings wherein he hath been dishonoured Some experience of this the world hath already had in the Eastern Babylon in the City of Jerusalem after that Himself was crucified there his Gospel rejected his people persecuted to what a fearfull desolation did he bring it by the hands of the Romanes and the Temple it self when it was kept up as a Monument of defiance against him for the continuance o those sacrifices which were abolished by his death by a people blaspheming his Name he destroyed it and when that wretched people attempted to rebuild it through the incouragement of Julian the Apostate he fully as is conceived accomplished his prophecy upon it not leaving one stone upon another And at this day how are the expectations of the Saints raised to see the power of Christ put forth in subduing and consuming with fire the Western Babylon the City of Rome in which was found the bloud of Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slain upon the earth In a word as the creatures have been abused or desired by the sins of men to the dishonour of Christ being made either instruments of rebellion against him or corrivals with him the hearts of men being stolen away from him and going a whoring after the creatures so shall all be subdued by his mighty working The old world was subdued by a floud of waters But the heavens and the earth which are now by the same word are kept in store reserved unto fire against the day of Judgement and perdition of ungodly men If any ask why the world standeth so long being planted and peopled with rebels and filled with rebelion against Christ The Apostle telleth us it is kept in store by his word the world would dissolve like water when it is powred on the ground were it not kept in store as in a vessel by the word and will of Christ until the appointed time and then the heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up both the works of God which some call the works of nature and the works of man the works of art and all these things shall be dissolved Neverthelesse saith the Apostle we according to his promise looke for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnes If the frame of heaven and earth shal be renewed and so kept pure from all spot of sinne to eternity this may be a farther evidence to the truth in hand that Christ by His mighty working shall subdue all things to himself But what is the last enemy that shall be brought under The Apostle telleth us The last enemy that shal be destroyed is Death Then shal be brought to passe the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory And the Apostle seemeth as one ravished with assurance of this victory over death to sing an {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a song of triumph insulting over this old and last enemy O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law But thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ This is therefore for the comfort of the Church of Christ against all her enemies Their workings plots contrivings attempts have been many and desperate from age to age and particularly in this age in this land and elsewhere and I beleeve the people of God do generally expect they should go on whil'st they have power even untill Antichrist be destroyed The Church is said to be terrible as an Army with banners A learned expositour taking this song for a prophecy of the state of the Church from Solomons time unto the Jews conversion and carrying on his interpretation according to the succession of time took this place to note the condition of the Church from about the beginning of Queen Elizaâ—eths reign and so downward until the destruction of the Pope and Turk that in these daies the Church which had bin troden under foot in former ages should become formidable to her enemies as an army with banners and thence inferreth that these times should be plenabellicis tumultibus full of the troubles and tumults of war between the Church and her enemies wee have had much experience of this and are likely to have more wheresoever the seat of the war shall be The great battel of Armageddon I am perswaded is yet to come And therefore I expect that the adversaries should exercise the height of their policy and put forth the uttermost of their power finding themselves stoutly assaulted by this Army with banners But here is the comfort of the Church the mighty vertue and working of Christ shall subdue them all It is said that the Lord Christ shall consume that man of sin with the spirit or breath of His mouth and destroy him with the brightnes of His coming Certainly Christ His approaches have been very glorious of late and the Antichristian faction hath been much weakened by Him very much of the power of Christ hath been put forth against those who have sided with the Beast But I am perswaded the time is at hand when Christ shall come in a more glorious manner and give forth more admirable demonstrations of His power in subduing those enemies who have for so long a time opposed and exalted themselves against Him For I conceive we are under the seventh trumpet to which all the seven vials full of the wrath of God to be emptied upon the enemies of the Church do belong and under the fourth viall powred on the Sun Now mark what is said upon the sounding of the seventh trumpet And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever Now is the time when Christ shall conquer kingdoms and subdue Nations to Himself to reign over them for ever And the
foure and twenty Elders which sate before God on their seats fell upon their faces and worshipped God saying We give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty which art and wast and art to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned Where they seem to speak of Christ as of some mighty Prince who seeing his kingdom to be invaded by forraign enemies suffereth them to go on in acts of hostility for a time as if he had laid by his great power but when he seeth his time taketh up his power again raiseth his Armies to suppresse them So Christ may seem for divers ages to have laid by His great power suffering the Dragon and his Angels and then the Beast and his ten horns to reign and domineer But at the sounding of the seventh trumpet He should take to Himself His great power and reign And therefore now let the people of God expect wonders to be wrought by the great power of Christ daily It followeth And the Nations were angry the devill being cast out of the throne by Christ stirreth up his vassals to anger and we have had great experience of their fury Some of them have seemed even mad with anger so as to run on desperately upon their own ruine when the hand of God hath been apparently against them when the Lord hath blasted their counsels crossed and confounded their plots broken their strength leaving them no such grounds of hope as might encourage rationall men yet on they would and why they were angry and their anger and rage carried them headlong But I beleeve Christ will anger them yet more whilest He goeth on conquering and to conquer Again the Elders proceed in their doxology And thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged the time when Christ should judge and avenge the cause of His servants that have been slain by executing vengeance on their bloodie enemies And that thou shouldst give reward to thy servants the Prophets and to thy Saints and to them that fear thy Name small and great and shouldst destroy them that destroy the earth Christ shall raise the spirits and encourage the hearts of his despised Ministers and people and destroy their destroyers This hath been done in part and shall be more fully accomplished And the Temple of God was opened in heaven the glory of Christs Church shall become more visible and it shall have a free and open passage many which were without entring into it And there was seen 〈◊〉 his Temple the Ark of his Testament the secrets of his kingdom shall be manifested the Ark it self that was hidden from the multitude within the veil shall be discovered And there were lightnings and voices and thundrings and great hail dreadfull judgements upon those who will not see and submit to the mighty power of Christ And an earthquake dreadfull concussions great changes and alterations in the kingdoms of the world The hearts of God his people should now be filled with expectation of the glorious acts of Christ in asmuch as the time is come that He hath taken to Himself His great power Secondly If Christ most certainly will subdue all things to Himself it is our wisdome willingly to stoop unto Him Let us assure our selves Christ will not part with his royalties in the least degree He will maintain to the uttermost his supremacy and soveraign authority We must bow or break one way or other we shall undoubtedly be brought under either we must willingly yeeld to the golden Scepter of his love or we shal be crushed with the iron rod of his wrath Joseph I conceive was a type of Christ both in his abasement and exaltation when he was made ruler over the land of Egypt it is said they cryed or proclaimed before him Bow the knee let all people throughout the Knigdom submit to his authority So when Christ for his Fathers glory and mans salvation had greatly humbled Himself even to the death of the Crosse God highly exalted Him and gave him a Name above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things vnder the earth He proclaimed before Him throughout heaven earth and hell Bow the knee All men angels devils and other creatures shall be subjected to Him A necessity lyeth upon us and woe unto us if we do not willingly submit For this end take these three considerations 1. The glorious and magnificent titles attributed to Christ in Scripture The Blessed and Onely Potentate earthly Potentates have but a shaddow of power in comparison of Him though all due honour and subjection must be given them by those under their Government But in respect of Christ their power and authority is no more than the light of the Starrs in the presence of the Sun He is Lord of Lords other Lords are but his vassels King of Kings other Kings are but his Subjects so they are de jure so they ought to be and they shall de facto actually at one time or other one way or other be brought under Yea He hath this Name written upon his thigh and upon his vesture King of Kings and Lord of Lords The Name which He weareth on His lower parts upon the skirt of his robe proclaimeth Him King of Kings and Lord of Lords If we poore worms are so apt to tremble at the name of an earthly King or Ruler Oh let all the powers of our souls prostrate themselves and lie lowe before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Secondly consider what a blessed condition they are in who in sincerity have subjected themselves unto him 1. In regard of His singular love toward them He is infinitely above all others the most gracious Master toward those whose spirits are subdued to His government Saith the Spouse His banner over me was love What an encouragement is it to Souldiers to have the love of their Generall Thrice happy souls that have Christ for their Commander and are led governed and conducted by Him as their King and Captain of their salvation His very banner over them is love all His Commands are commands of love all the service He requireth of them is imposed in love He never enjoyneth them any thing but what is for their good they are never losers by obeying his pleasure all their losses come by their disobedience He never putteth them upon any suffering but it is done in love He chasteneth us for our good that we might be partakers of His holinesse If He leadeth them into the field and letteth them meet with any sharp encounters He maketh them more than conquerours The Apostle having as it were searched Satans muster-rolls and taken a view of his severall brigades tribulation distresse persecution famine nakednesse perill sword enemies of a terrible aspect to the eye of flesh as the grim visages of Ariovistus his Germans
were to Cesars Souldiers he slighteth them all in all these {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} we do more than conquer through him that loved us it may seem more proper to have said through the Almighty power of Christ our Captain But he chuseth the sweet attribute of love shewing that it is a speciall act of his love that he leadeth on his followers to such conflicts intending to make them happy gainers more than conquerours I beleeve so many would turn Souldiers that we should want hands for other imployments if they could be assured of two things First to be entirely beloved of their Commander as his own right arm Secondly that they should return with safety and victory This is the happinesse of all the servants and souldiers of Christ He loveth them tenderly as the members of his own body as the apple of his own eye He will bring them off more than conquerours Secondly He delivereth all his faithfull servants from all those cruell task-masters to which they were enslaved Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are under grace Oh what an happinesse is it to be freed from so many tyrannicall monsters to have the strength of pride covetousnesse lust sensuality broken This should wonderfully provoke us fully to yeeld up our spirits in subjection to Christ Blessed is the Soul that maketh such a change that is freed from the slavery of sin and Satan carrying it on to destruction and is now governed and led by Christ in the way of salvation 3. He pitieth them in regard of the infirmities accompanying them in his services for which themselves mourn against which they strive and graciously spareth them as a Father spareth his son that serveth him 4. Yea He helpeth their infirmities cometh in upon them by his Spirit when the work is too heavy for them is a co-worker with them easeth their yoke and delighteth to manifest his power in their weaknesse 5. The happinesse of his subjects and servants appeareth in their reward that is 1. Sure 2. Incomparable 1. Sure Verily there is a reward for the righteous The wicked worketh a deceitfull work that is a self-deceiving work as the opposite member sheweth he that hath to do with sin dealeth with a cheater which promiseth gain pleasure satisfaction but meerly deceiveth him payeth him with shame sorrow miserie but to him that loveth righteousnesse shall be a sure reward righteousnesse and true holinesse is such a kinde of seed as never miscarrieth he that soweth it is sure of a good harvest it is a seed taken out of the granary of heaven it will grow and prosper in any ground Christ saith Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me His reward is ready Those that serve Princes or States most faithfully must wait long for their reward many times though they whom they serve be very desirous to satisfie them because their reward is not alwayes with them not alwayes ready I have fought a good fight saith the Apostle henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse c. his Crown was ready for him before he was ready to wear it it was laid up and kept in store for him Secondly the reward is incomparable 1. In the service 2. After it 1. In the service In scelere sceleris supplicium sceleri paena coaetanea Sin carrieth vengeance in it own bowels sin and punishment are contemporary fin it self is a misery holinesse it self is a reward Now being made free from sin and become the servants of God ye have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life This is a certain truth and the people of God find it by experience that the present reward that goeth along with the work of Christ the sweet refreshings which Christians meet with in the way of holinesse are far above all the pleasures of sin and the best things which the world can bestow upon it lovers That sweet peace of conscience those tastes of heaven those glimpses of glory those beginnings of eternall life are far above all earthly comforts But secondly the reward that is prepared for them after their work is done is more than they are able to desire or conceive Saith Moses I beseech thee shew me thy glory The Lord telleth him Thou canst not see my face for there shall no man see me and live As if he had said Moses thou askest thou knowest not what the weight of glory which would result from my face is more than thou art able to stand under in this mortall condition That exceeding weight of glory which Christ hath provided for his people is so great so incomparable that they are not capable of it untill they be transformed into the likenesse of Christ it is more happinesse than their hearts can hold in that estate wherein now they are Oh that the Lord would give us hearts to beleeve these things really as they are most sure and reall truths Doth not many a man think if I could get into such a mans service I were a man made This is onely true of the service of Christ thou art more happy if thou hast him for thy Master than if thou hadst all the men on earth for thy servants His service is a greater preferment than the richest Crown under heaven If our hearts were not wretchedly muddy earthly unbeleeving how could we sleep quietly untill we were entertained by Christ in his service Thirdly consider the misery of those that do not yeeld subjection to Him No enemie so dreadfull as Christ to them that stand out against Him Who knoweth the power of thine anger Little do poore souls know the weight of his Almighty arm Those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me let me see them executed Kings Rulers people conspire in rebellion against the Lord and against His Christ Let us break their hands asunder and cast away their cords from us Alas poore worms He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure That wrath which springeth out of the earth which men of the world can shew seemeth terrible but who is able to endure that wrath which is powred down from Him that sitteth in heaven Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in peices like a potters vessell Then followeth the Use that now we are upon Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the earth It is the wisdom of Kings and Rulers yea and of all degrees of people to stoop to Him who can and most certainly will subdue all to Himself Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Kisse the Son rest he be angry and ye perish in the way when his wrath is kindâ—ed but a little A little of