the multitude of my thoughts so were the multitude of Gods consolations God will give it in the time and the season of it but withal the Lord will give it according unto the measure when he doth bring great afflictions he provideth for you strong consolations that as the affliction aboundeth so the consolations shall abound the Lord tells you that his rewards shall be according to the measure of his mercies it is an admirable expression in Hosea 10.12 according to the measure of mercies your rewards are the Lord measures your consolations according to the measure of your afflictions Thus then you see the truth of these two points Let us see now what these consolations were that upheld the heart of our Psalmist here in those sad times thy comforts delight my soul what were they I will go no further then the Psalm neither and you shall find that there were eight that were the great stay of his heart in those times As in the first place he did consider God beholds them it is a wrong that is done to his people under the fathers eyes that was the first thing that he did stay his heart on the people of God do say Surely thou art our father though Abraham know us not and Israel be ignorant of us we have no greater comfort that we can look at no friends below yet notwithstanding our groans are not hid from thee That was the first comfort Secondly God did not only see it Surely thou hast seen it but withal he did comfort himself with this God would revenge it therefore he calls him thou God to whom vengeance belongs the God that revengeth habes ultorem Deum Hierom. Hierom he was a God that did avenge the cause of his people he hath said vengeance is mine and of the Lord Jesus Christ when Steven was stoned Acts 7. it is said he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God Jesus standing why the Scripture every where saith that Christ is gone to Heaven and is sate down at the right hand of God but he seeth him standing up at the right handof God what is the reason that is tanquam causae suae judex vindex saith one as one that was the Judge of his cause and the avenger of his wrong I this is another great ground of comfort upon which the heart is stayed My God is a God to whom vengeance belongeth Then In the third place by all these the Lord teacheth his people for so he saith in the 12. Verse Blessed saith he is the man whom thou chastenest and teachest out of thy Law that is another stay of heart in the worst of rimes the rod saith he hath a voice hear the rod and who hath appointed it Nay the rod teacheth a man that it is better to be under the saddest affliction and have the graces of that condition drawn forth rather then to be under the greatest prosperity and the sins of that condition drawn forth do but observe Iam. 1.4 Let the brother of low degree rejoyce that he is exalted I you will say he hath good reason for it but Let the brother of high degree rejoyce that he is made low a hard matter to rejoyce in that my Brethren a godly man can as truly rejoyce in an afflicted condition so as the graces of that condition be drawn forth in it as he can rejoyce in a prosperous condition much rather if the sins of that condition be drawn forth in it therefore there is a teaching in the rod when a man is brought to that indifferency of Spirit as I remember the Father brings in David speaking Vis me Pastorem ovium aut regem populorum ecce paratum est cor meum Lord saith he shall I be a Keeper of sheep again or Lord shall I be a King over Israel Lord my heart is ready my heart is ready willing to embrace each condition This is another thing the rod is a Teacher the rod hath a voice Besides In the fourth place There is a rest God hath prepared for his people in the most restless condition so he saith in the 13. Verse that thou mightest give him rest in the day of evil there is a shaddow of Gods wing and the people of God in the worst condition they can lie down under this shaddow with great delight Look into that precious Scripture Hos 14.8 I am like a green fir-tree saith God the Lord like a fir-tree Why in two things it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 densam umbram habens so the Septuagint renders it a tree that yields a thick shaddow and it is a tree likewise that is alwaies green perpetuo virens never casts its leaves as other trees do in the Winter so saith the Lord such is my defence you may lie down under my shaddow in quiet and he gives them rest in the day of evil And In the fifth place he comforts himself with this the Lord knows that the thoughts of man are but vanity with that he comforts himself that all these designs shall come to nothing all their thoughts are but vanity the Lord hath appointed that he will take the wise in his own craftiness and his hand shall not perform his enterprise the Lord hath said by iniquity shall no man be established the Lord hath said he will not suffer the hypocrite to rule least the people be ensnared that is the expression Iob 34.3 Now let their designs be what they will be with this he comforts himself yet notwithstanding the Lord knows the thoughts of men to be but vanity That is another ground of comfort And then In the sixth place that I may draw to a conclusion that while they labour for their own exaltation God is preparing for their destruction that is another thing that he comforts himself with for so he saith till the pit be digged for the ungodly till the pit be digged all this while I do not envy their rising saith he but rather pitty their ruine Impatientia humana non vult habere Dei patientiam Ierom. Jerom for God is preparing a pit all the while that is another great ground of comfort in the worst of times for my Brethren there is a judgement written that must be executed and many times as Austin well observes upon the place faelicitas peccatorum fovea est ipsorum Austin even their very prospering in an evil way is the pit in which they find their ruine that is another thing by which he comforteth himself Seventhly That I may draw to an end though for the present the Lord seems to neglect the condition of his people yet he comforts himself with this that God seemed to neglect for the present but saith he he will bring forth judgement to righteousness it is true indeed Gods judgement for his people seems now to have left them it is hid but saith he the Lord will appear for their safety and he tels them plainly that will he
took the Book out of the hand of him that sat upon the throne and opens the seals thereof And therefore he it is that receives all the discoveries of God towards his Church and he it is that doth dispense it unto the Church Chap 6. ver 2. And there was given a bow and a crown and he went forth conquering and to conquer Spoken of Christs prevailing by the Preaching of the Gospel as he is described in Psalm 45.4,5 So that though Christ hath changed his place yet he hath not changed his office nor his Company while he was here on Earth he conversed with his people and he walks still in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks And to manifest that he was still in office for his Churches good that whatever he is even after his ascension he is all for the Churches sake therefore shortly after he departs he did as Princes use to do upon the days of their Coronation spargere missilia he scattered abroad poured out certain extraordinary Gifts to manifest that still he had respect unto the Church But these lasted but for a time for this Cause after he had in his bodily presence been absent yea and seemingly silent for about sixty years for its Generally conceived that this book of the Revelation was penned about the latter end of the raign of Domitian the Emperour which was sixty years after Christs ascention now it was that he gave this Revelation unto his servant John that it might be a standing monument unto the Church what his affections were though he were now in Glory therefore he leaves this unto them for their direction that they might know what to expect in after Times and what to pray for and also for their Consolation though sad occurrences were to come yet the Lord lets them see the Event and Issue of all should be for good This is the scope of the Lord in this prophesie he writes in this Book of two things The things that are and the things that shall be hereafter Among which there are several prophesies that concern the seven Churches of Asia of which this is the first to the Church of Ephesus It may here be enquired seeing there were so many other famous Churches in the World the Churches of Rome of Galatia of Corinth c. to whom those Epistles were written how comes it to pass that the Lord Jesus singles out only the seven Churches of Asia to write Letters from heaven to them passing by all the rest of the Churches There are four Reasons I meet with among Interpreters that are given hereof First Because Patmos which was the Place of Iohns Banishment was nearer to these Asian Churches and the Conveyance to it easie by the Aegean Sea By this means being in Exile he did indeavour to do them good being shut out from the like opportunity from Churches more remote Secondly Because these Churches were in an especial manner part of St Iohns Charge for though it be true that the Apostolical Authority was universal over all the Churches as their care reacht to all the Churches and was not limited to a particular Congregation as the Ministers of the Gospel now is in Acts 20.28 Attend to the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you a Bishop though the Apostles were sent forth to all the World yet it plainly appears from Gal. 2.9 that they did by mutual consent divide the World among themselves and did every of them take a several part of the world as their more especial Charge as they that write the lives and travels of the Apostles do clearly set forth among the rest these of Asia the less are conceived to be the especial part of Iohns Charge and upon this Ground he takes especial care to write to them Thirdly Some conceive it was because the Lord did foresee that of all the Gentile-Churches these were neerest to Judgement and ruine to have the Candlestick removed from them unless their repentance did prevent and therefore he especially takes Care to apply the Remedy where there was the greatest danger in the Disease Fourthly Some give a further Reason making these seven Churches of Asia types of all the Gentile-Churches afterwards unto the end of the World What reason there is out of the Text for that I shall not speak to only this I am sure of the Lord when he bids Iohn write he writes the things that are which are distinguished from those that are to be hereafter and therefore I am not to confound them But this is most true if these Asian Churches were not types of all the Gentile-Churches yet certainly they were as it were the patterns and all the Gentile-Churches were to take warning by them that the same Corruptions were as truly incident to all the rest of the Churches which had now overgrown them and Iohn having opportunity to write to these doth by them admonish all the rest The words that I have now read unto you are a Glorious description of the heart of Christ in heaven and of the care that Christ hath of his Church in Glory It is true that of him the whole family in heaven and earth is named and he it is to whom Angels Principalities and powers are made subject after his ascention into Glory 1 Pet. 3.22 He it is to whom the Providential Kingdom of God is committed for he hath committed all Judgement unto the Son Joh. 5.23 But yet notwithstanding though he takes Care of the whole providential Kingdom yet he hath an especial eye on his spiritual Kingdom he doth not forget his Lambs the Kingdom of Christ in this world is made up of two Parts or Branches Officers or Members both which are described in the Text. Christs care that he takes of officers this he holds the Stars in his right hand his Care of the Members this he walks in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks A short exposition I intend to give you upon this First The Care that Christ takes of the Officers of the Church and that you see is described thus he holds the Stars in his right hand Two things I must here explain First here is a description of the Persons they are Stars Secondly The act of Christs Care towards them he holds them in his right hand First By Stars are meant the Officers of the Church And that clearly appears from the Exposition given by the Spirit of God in Chap. 1. ver ult The seven Stars of the Angels of the Churches where I pray observe I cannot interpret Angels singularly as referring to any one kind of Officers as some do But Collectively as referring to all the Officers of the Church The Reasons I shall hint you to pray note them because it hath been some kind of Controversie in these latter days The first is from the Title Angel upon what Ground called Angel It is a name first given to Christ and from Christ derived and applyed to those special Ministers and Officers
decay and made him grow old in his youth now he grows young when he is old renews his strength as the Eagle and Rev. 16.17 the voice from the throne saies It is done Fourthly it is a Throne of Judgement for out of the throne comes thunderings and lightenings and voices Rev. 4.5 there do not only mercies and graces ascend upon the Saints but there are also very terrible things against the enemies of Christ and these Judgements are either temporal or spiritual either upon the enemies of Christ or upon the Saints First upon the enemies of Christ there are great Judgements that proceed out of the throne he did deliver Iudas unto Satan in an Ordinance when he stood upon his throne and so he doth bind men over unto wrath for his sitting on this throne of Iudgement is but a praeludium to the Iudgement that he shall pronounce against his enemies in the great day Isa 6.10 Go make the hearts of this people fat and make their ears heavy of all Iudgements none are like spiritual Iudgements And also great temporal Iudgements Rev. 8.3,5 there was a golden Altar before the throne and from the incense offered upon that Altar there came forth thunderings and lightenings and voices and earth-quakes c. this is all the Trumpets of Iudgement that sounded against the Churches enemies they did all come forth of the throne though the prayers of the Saints did procure them and all the ruines and over-throws that ever have befalen the enemies of Christ and the Gospel have proceeded from this throne when God is exalted amongst his people and let us comfort our selves with this the Lord raigns for ever he doth still sit upon the same throne of Iudgement and therefore so long as he sits upon his throne he will scatter away every evil thing as it is said Prov. 20.8 A King that sitteth on his throne of Iudgement seatters away all evil with his eyes c. let what enemies there will arise they shall fall by the thundring and lightning and voices that come from this throne Secondly against Gods own people for his throne is established by righteousness and therefore he will not spare his own people when he is in the middle of them but as he doth delight himself in their graces and therefore loves to be in the middle of them so he will punish their corruptions also and there are some spiritual Iudgements for them also Rev. 2.4,5 Yet I have something against thee because thou hast lost thy first love and I will come against thee quickly except thou repent and will remove thy Candlestick from thee which is the greatest spiritual Iudgement that can befall a people that though they that were godly should continue godly still and they could never be cast out of the number of the invisible Church yet they shall be looked upon as a visible Church unto Christ no more but he will take away the Ordinances and will depart from them and they shall fade away in their iniquities and so for temporal Iudgements also as sickness yea and temporal death it is a sentence that the Lord Iesus doth pronounce from his Throne 1 Cor. 11.30 For this cause many of you are sick and weak many of you fall afleep yet they are therein chastised of the Lord that they might not be condemned with the world it is done in mercy and not in wrath in much compassion unto their souls doth the Lord lay affliction upon their bodies yea even unto death it self for they that are embraced with everlasting loving kindness may sometimes dye under a temporal displeasure as it seems Iosiah did and so have many other Saints Vse First be exhorted to see Christ as present upon the throne for without this you come not to him but unto the duty he doth call unto you behold me behold me that worship that is terminated in any thing below him is a false worship and that faith also that doth not raise the soul up to him is a feigned faith but what are the signs of his presence how should a man know whether he be present or no these three things being premised you may try whether you have ever found him thus present c. First the Lord is present unto no unregenerat men in their duties they that live without God do pray without God and they fast without God therefore they must first desire his presence unto their conversion for as I have often told you an unregenerate mans services are no more accepted by God then when he swears or lyes c. for his services proceed from the same principle that his sins do c. Secondly God is not alwaies present unto the Saints but he doth sometimes withdraw himself as the Spouse complains My beloved hath withdrawn himself they seek him but they find him not he doth hide his face and he doth cover himself with a cloud that though they seek the Lord yet he is a stranger unto them if they walk in the waies of sin c. Thirdly even when he is present to the Saints yet he is not present to all of them in the same measure some have a fuller presence of God and a clearer discovery as some have a clearer Revelation of his mind so some have a clearer discovery of his presence then others in this life and it is so with the Saints even in glory that they behold his face continually yet they have divers degrees of glory some have a more full and perfect discovery of God then others have When God is present to the Saints here First the heart will be over-awed there is nothing will over awe the heart but Gods presence how dreadful is this place saies Iacob he had a discovery of God to him as present with him and it made the very place fearful to him the heart of man is very fearless of God naturally when a man doth come into the presence of God without Consideration and goes out of his presence without fear it is a sign that God was not present Secondly if God be present thy heart will be carried out to loath thy self for he that sees God in his glory will surely abhor himself in dust and ashes Iob 42.5,6 and will see himself undone there is no soul that ever enjoyed the presence of God but it makes him nothing of himself and so do the glorious Angels in heaven God is all in all unto them and they are in themselves nothing Thirdly if the Lord be present with thee thy heart will fall in love with him and thou wilt be carried out in admiration of him when a man sees the beauty of God and his glory in the Sanctuary a man would dwel there for ever he would dwel in the house of the Lord all the dayes of his life conversing with God and he would not be weary but it is wearisom to converse with duties only Moses was not weary when he was in the Mount
Christ as he told his friends when he came to dye he should not appear before God as a Doctor but he shall be dis-robed of all those any further then they refer to his works done in his body but as a man only he shall appear and be Judged death doth pluck the Princes Crown off his head and the Iudges robes from off the back and the Lord shall Iudge you without respect of persons not so much how you have kept others but how your own Vineyard tantus quisque est quantus est apud deum the Lord doth not value any man by his greatness or place or his honour or his office but as he is instrumental in service and as he did keep his own Vineyard Secondly it is a comfortable argument to such a man that he is placed in such a publick imployment in mercy if it doth not cause him to neglect his own Vineyard and if he doth neglect it it was in Iudgement that he was placed there that creature which doth draw the heart off from God and duty was given in a curse and though it be a blessing in the thing yet it is a curse to the man if the table be a snare it s a curse Iratus dat amanti quod male amat and so it is of imployments also there is a difference between the graces of a condition and the gifts of it Iudas had the one and so had Saul but it was Paul and David had the other and therefore the one might keep other Vineyards but the other they also keep their own and that was a token they were called in mercy if thereupon thy heart neglects God and thou grow remiss in reference unto thy eternal estate take heed this be not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to thee and after all thy Religion this is the time when God will turn thee off Thirdly know that if you neglect your own Vineyards as Magistrates there is a Iudgement will come upon you remember Ezek. 21.10 Christ in his Iudgements will put no difference he will lay you aside as a vessel in which there is no pleasure and cast you out also as an abominable branch Zach. 11.16 there is a Iudgement threatned on Magistrates thy right arm shall wither and thy right eye shall be put out he shall lose the gifts for government for they be of that nature that they may decay and be utterly lost as it was with Saul when the Spirit of the Lord departed from him and all his authority and ruling power with the people shall be taken away and the place that he had before in the hearts of the people he shall lose for ever Fourthly if you perish there will be more rejoycing then at the downfall of any men in the world therefore do not gratifie the enemies so much that watch for your halting and with Triumph the enemy will say How is the hammer of the earth broken you that God hath made victorious and you have set your foot upon the necks of your enemies yea how would Satan rejoyce at such a fall and all the damned spirits would sport themselves as it were Isa 44.9,10 art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer the son of the morning c. and there are no men in the world that will perish with so much shame and confusion of face as you will do if the Lord reject you Therefore to conclude all suffer this word of exhortation seeing your mothers children have made you Keepers of the Vineyard look upon that charge and let it not be neglected for the account of Nations will be dreadful when you come to give an account of your Steward-ship but however above all keepings keep your own Vineyard State Prosperitie IN Keeping close to the Word At a Fast in the Parliament house Iune 31. 1653. JOSHUA 1.8 Then shalt thou make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success HEre Ioshua a holy man and a godly Magistrate is to undertake a great service he was to divide unto Israel the Land of Canaan for an inheritance which God had promised unto their Fathers to give them But great duties are commonly beset with great difficulties therefore the heart of a man must have something to bear it up that is stronger then it self suffultum est cor meum c. my heart is under-propped Psal 112.8 there is a double courage both which we find in Ioshua First more particular in reference unto a service injoyned and that is a courage in ventering upon dangers for the sons of Anak be there and their Cities walled up to heaven they are a mighty warlike people and in possession and fortified Yet be strong for I have commanded thee there is a particular faith or considence that the Spirit puts into the hearts of the Saints and this particular faith works from a particular courage that though weak yet by faith are made strong and become valiant in fight Heb. 11. and with this God gives to his people two things as Plut. saith were in Hannibal Plurimum andaciae ad capienda pericula plurimum Consilii inter pericula ipsa he was bold in attempting and yet wise in managing of the most difficult services his courage wrought not rashness in him nor his counsel wrought not slothfulness Secondly there is a more particular courage in reference to duty be very couragious and observe to do according unto all that the Lord commanded thee difficulties and dangers are properly the objects of courage and many a man may be as couragious as a Lyon in a particular service and yet when he comes to observe all that is commanded in point of duty his heart may fail him men daring in dangers are many times men fainting in duty many a man in a particular service may have his heart with Iehu as an Adamant to destroy all the house of Ahab c. but yet when he comes to a general obedience he is as weak as water for Iehu took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart there are duties that are discountenanced and a man must go alone at my first answer no man stood with me all men forsook me saith the Apostle c. but yet then a man must not forsake the service he is doing either for God or his people and there are some duties which lie upon a man and which he undertakes that enemies may oppose and observe him in as they did Daniel yet he would venter his life to gain an hour at prayer and there are some duties that a man may with courage resist enemies in and conquer all their opposition yet he may be betrayed by his friends as we see in Rehoboam 2 Chron. 3.7 there were gathered to him vain men children of Belial and they strengthened themselves against him but it was when he was young and yet he was fourtie years old but he was young and tender-hearted and could not withstand them so
the Law in the Tabernacle in Exod. 25.31 which was a type of the Church of God for all things were done unto them in types and yet with this difference Under the Law there was but one Candlestick in the Tabernacle but here are seven Candlesticks what is the reason there is a double Ground and both of them Considerable First Because the Church of God under the Gospel should be of a larger extent then under the Law and for that Cause happily it is that the dimensions of Johns City go so far beyond that of Ezekiels though it be spoken of the same thing and of the same time yet Ezekiels City that is but 4500. Cubits and Saint Johns is twelve thousand furlongs A great difference But Ezekiel saw it with Legal apprehensions he had a sight of Gospel-Ordinances by a darker light only But John saw it with a Gospel light and he describes the latitude and the dimensions thereof according thereunto Secondly And that is the main reason there was but one Candlestick in the Tabernacle because the Church of the Jews was but one and though they had many Synagogues yet they met all in one stem they were united all in one shaft but the Churches of the Gentiles are many and for that Cause though there was but one Candlestick under the Law yet there are seven under the Gospel and that is the meaning why a Candlestick Secondly Why is the Church is called a golden Candlestick Upon a double Ground First Because Gold is the purest mettal and the Lord will have his Church such they shall differ as much from other men as Gold doth from the common clay in the streets the Lord is very exact in every thing in the Church he is very curious of what mettle such Candlesticks be made of and therefore it is not every society or constitution of men that will be lookt upon as a Church to Christ but when the Lord lays the Foundation of a Church he doth it with Saphirs Isa 54. Non est de doctrina sed hominibus there is a double Foundation of Churches as Divines do observe doctrinae personae the Church is founded on doctrines but here of persons the First founders of which the Church is built they must not be common stones for if the Church become corrupt if the Gold become Dross if the house of the Lord become an outward Court then the Lord will take no care either to build or to measure it and there is Golden Doctrines 1 Cor. 3.12 The light that doth shine forth in this his Candlestick and then the Lord is curious with what oyl the Candlestick is maintained for the Lord will not have it maintained with common oyl that Persons may put in themselves but God will not delight in them It is a strange expression that in Zach. 4.12 These empty golden oyl out of themselves their parts their pains and all it must be golden oyl Secondly Because Gold of all other mettals is the most precious and of the highest esteem there is as much difference between the Church of God and other men as there is between Gold and Dirt in the street as between Diamonds and Pebbles in the Lords esteem make Israel a Church and then all the earth is mine saith the Lord but thou art my peculiar treasure in Exod. 19.5 they are to God above all people the truth is they are the first fruits of all the creatures the Church is called so Iames 1.18 The first fruits were best and were dedicated to God and they did also consecrate the whole crop you all claim a title to Church-membership look they be golden Candlesticks the Lord hath his scales to weigh you and his touchstone to try you and let me tell you the less Gold there is in any Church the less value God sets upon it Thirdly How is Christ said to walk in the midst of the Golden Candlestick It denotes a promise of especial presence and fellowship this is the promise that the Lord made unto the Jews Lev. 26.12 I will walk among you and I will be your God and my soul shall not abhorr you 2 Cor. 6.16 I will dwell and walk amongst them it notes his presence with them in all ways of love and Communion for Amos 3.3 Two cannot walk together unless they be agreed When God hath Communion with us he is said to walk with us therefore we read of his goings in the Sanctuary this then is the meaning he affords his especial presence and Communion Now here is an observation that I shall hint unto you There is a gratious presence of Christ with his Church in all Church-administrations Two Scriptures hold forth this gloriously unto you one is Psalm 27.4 I would see thy beauty and glory as I have seen in thy sanctuary thy beauty what is beauty It is a symmetry and a proportion of parts now when you look abroad on the works of God you see one Attribute manifested in one work and another in another you see not these parts put together and so the beauty of them doth not appear God doth great things when he manifests an attribute when he would shew his love he gives his Son when he would manifest his mercy he pardons sin so that in the Works of God the Atributes of God are thus scattered you cannot see them together But come to the Sanctuary and there you see beauty all the Attributes of God are displayed there for as Christ as Mediatour is the stage on which all the Attributes of God are acted for he is the Image of the Invisible God so is the Church the stage or scene on which Christ acts all these Attributes Rev. 11. There is the special presence and beauty of God to be seen there beyond what there is in all the world beside Secondly There is the great Glory of God to be seen in heaven and you shall find that there is a great resemblance between his presence in his Church and in Glory In Heb. 12.22,23 When you read it you will see but little difference between that and heaven that you can scarce know it from heaven we are come to the heavenly Jerusalem to the General assembly of the Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven to God the Iudge of all to Iesus the mediatour of the New Testament c. Let us compare a little the presence of Christ with his Church with that of his presence in Glory take the parrallel in these five particulars First Christ in heaven is present in Majesty and Glory It is called the throne of his Glory and such is his presence in his Church too And therefore observe it he is said to sit upon a high Throne in the midst of his Churches Rev. 4.3 The name of the Church is called Iehovah Shammah on that account the Lord is there Ezek. 11. Christ doth nowhere but in heaven discover so much of his Kingly Majesty as he doth in
the middle of his Churches and Church-administrations and if the Lord once take away the vail that is upon our eyes then we shall be able to see the glorious presence of Christ in Gospel-administrations As I remember Iunius when he read the Scripture and the Lord had taken the scales off his eyes to fee the Majesty of it repente divinitatem argumenti Scripti majestatem authoritatemque senserim longo intervallo omnibus eloquentiae humanae praeeuntem horrebat Corpus stupebat animus Iunius he saw a majesty so far beyond all humane eloquence that he confesses his soul stood amazed at it so it would be to you only there is a vail before your eyes Secondly In heaven the Lord is present as revealing his mind and will unto his people the Saints in heaven know the whole mind of God concerning what ever belongs to Gods Glory or their own duty there we shall know as we are known 1 Cor. 13.12 and so he is present in the midst of his people In Deut. 23.3 As his Saints sit dowe at his feet they all receive of his words he gives forth what his will is concerning his Glory and their Duty nay look to Revel 4.22 They shall see his face and his name shall be written in their foreheads It is not spoken of the Glory to come it is new Ierusalem that comes down from God out of heaven and yet such Glorious Discoveries there shall be of the will of God and the mind of Christ unto his people as if so be they saw Gods face in heaven such a Glorious presence of Christ there is with his Churches Thirdly In heaven there shall be a glorious and full Communication of all Grace not only in reference to the secrets of his Counsel they know his Will but he will withold none of his graces from you as your Communion shall then be perfect with him so shall the Communication of all his grace be to you Now you know It is death that puts an end to sin mark it it is death that puts an end to mortification for he that is dead is free from sin 1 John 3.3 But it is the Beatifical vision that perfects Sanctification and reddit nos impeccabiles makes the soul impeccable as the Schoolmen observe there is a great resemblance of this too in the Ordinances of the Gospel and Christs presence in them Beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord we are transformed into the same Image 2 Cor. 3. ult For there are before the Throne seven lamps of fire and the seven spirits of God Revel 4,5 The Throne is Compassed about with a Rain bow signum gratiae and it is not of many colours but of one to shew how steady and constant and unchangeable Christ is in his ways and dispensations towards his people Fourthly In heaven there is convolutio animae in deum as the Schoolmen express it the soul is wholly as it were resolv'd into God Roled transform'd into God that is God wholly takes up the whole soul that is all I mean I would not be understood after that new fancy that men are deified with God But as it is said of the angels they behold the Face of your heavenly Father continually Mat. 18.10 never look off from him to eternity there is a glorious resemblance of this in the Lords presence with his Churches their eyes are fastned upon the Lord their eyes watch for the Lord mere then they that watch for the morning their soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness which is in the house of God there is that sweetness in the presence of God in his Ordinances which is next heaven it self when a man is made to drink out of the rivers of his pleasure some of Gods people can say so one day in thy Courts is better then a thousand elswhere there is a sweeter tast of God in Ordinances then there is anywhere in the world besides Fifthly in heaven there is the presence of Christ among his Saints and Angels if we should see the Lord sit upon his Throne and all his Angels and Saints gathered together round about him oh what a glorious presence this were but it s so in all Gospel administrations there is not only Chrst sitting on his Throne in the midst Rev. 4.24 Elders compass his Throne but then in Rev. 5.11 the text saith there is a guard of Angels round about the Elders Every time you come to worship God Remember there is Christ upon his Throne and Church-Officers compassing the Throne and Church-members the people and then the Angels as a guard about them Consider but that place in Zach. 3.7 If you will keep my waies I will give you Galleries to walk in amongst those that stand by A man shall be taken into fellowship and Communion with the Angels then there is a glorious presence that Christ affords unto his people he walks in the midst of the golden Candlesticks For the Application First how should this command reverence in every soul of you when you come to have to do with any Church administrations you do not consider the King will come in to see the guests you think it is but to hear a Sermon to joyn in prayer to go unto the Sacrament but consider not that you have to do there with the Lord Jesus Christ who is present in Majesty and Glory take heed therefore of all rash approaches to Christ and dealing rashly in any Gospel-institution Oh that the Lord would but set on this very apprehension on the hearts of those that profess to fear God in the Nation that they would take heed of rashness in dealing with Church-institutions in Lev. 26.24 If you walk at adventure with me Rashly with me so the word is many times used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 temere sine personae discrimine then God will walk at an adventure with you do not draw neer to the Lord Jesus Christ at an adventure for he is present at all Church-administrations there is a strange prophaness of heart that men shew in it and usually an hasty heart makes a rash mouth as Solomon speaks take heed therefore in all Church-administrations of rashness for Christ is here and he hath said you shall reverence my Sanctuary for I am Jehovah Let all be done with reverence and godly fear Secondly Is there such a gracious presence of Christ in Gospel administrations labour to see it there labour to have your souls affected with the spiritual presence or absence of Christ there The Prophet Ezekiel could see the glory of the Lord go up from the Cherubims but the people could see no such thing the Ordinances remained and they were well pleased yet though the Ordinances were not removed the glory of the Lord was gon and therefore have your hearts affected with this look upon it as your great affliction that it should be with you as it was with the Disciples after Christs resurrection the Lord appeared to
also and that is the presence here spoken of First it is a throne of glory and majesty the Throne the Scepter and the Crown are inter regalia that belong unto the royalty of the great King all these belong unto Christ the Crown he is crowned with glory and honour and he hath a Scepter which is sometimes the Word Psal 110.2 and sometimes the Sword Ezek. 21.10 what if it destroy the King and reach unto the greatest amongst men for judgement shall in a special manner reach them Verse 14. It was part of Solomons glory that he built unto himself a high throne of Ivory and a King sitting upon this throne appears in his glory and therefore at the last day when that great white throne of Christ shall be erected Rev. 20.11 it is said of him that he shall sit upon the throne of his glory and therefore Ezek. 10.4 and the glory of the Lord went up from the Chimney and stood over the threshold of the house and the house was filled with the cloud c. and so there is in the middle of his people 2 Cor. 3. ult we beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord there is that discovery of Christ to be glorious amongst his people as there is nowhere in the world beside they see he is altogether lovely they can see a beauty and an excellency in him above all the world they are able to describe him in his glory from head to foot when other men say What is thy beloved there is no beauty or comliness in him that he should be desired now as the Lord did to Moses when he did desire him shew me thy glory the Lord causeth his goodness to pass before him and so Iob 42.5 Now my eyes see thee c. it was such a discovery of glory as he never had before and so it was with Isa 6.34 and so Rev. 22.4 they shall see his face and his name shall be writ in their fore-heads as in Heaven the habitation of his holyness and glory there are such discoveries given forth of God which also are voluntary and in such a degree as he pleaseth for there is a Lumen gloriae as well as gratiae that is from the spirit of illumination and as God is pleased to discover more or less of his glory so have the Saints in heaven more or less glory for their glory consists in vision the more they see of him the more they enjoy him and the more they are made like unto him so it is in this life also there is a Vision of faith and it is more or less according unto the different degrees of the Spirit of illumination Eph. 1.17 and it is this revelation of Christ that is the ground of believing in him Ioh. 6.40 he that sees the son and believes in him and so Isaiah sawe his glory and spake of him Ioh. 12.41 There are different discoveries made unto the souls of the Saints of the excellency of his person the King in his beauty the all sufficiency of his righteousness the glory of his holiness the fulness of his spirit the compleatness of his victories c. We see what a common work did to Balaam and how mightily it affected him and transported him how much more then a saving and a supernatural work upon the souls of the Saints the vision of Christ in his glory will be much illustrated as it is by a discovery of sin in its filthyness when the Lord sets a mans sin in order before him the Law entred that the offence might abound Rom. 7. not to make it to be more then it is for the Law adds no evil unto sin but it discovers it that a man sees it to be the most hateful thing that which before he loved more then his life and could venture all to attain it now he would give any thing to be rid of it so there is a vision of Christ that is manifested unto his people in the Gospel by which they are really and spiritually affected and carried out into love and admiration of him the vail of the covering that is upon all flesh being taken away and according to the reality and fulness of this discovery so doth a mans affections rise towards him Ioh. 14.21 I will manifest my self to him he had a manifestation before but he shall have a further manifestation for the Lord doth arise in the soul as the Sun of Righteousness as the morning his goings forth are prepared as the morning that shines more and more unto the perfect day and the more of the glory of Christ is discovered in the Gospel the more the man doth see the King upon his Throne for he doth sit upon a Throne of glory in the middle of his people as it is with sin there is a rational conviction of sin and that is light without heat and so there is a rational revelation of Christ that will harden the heart but will never melt it as there are Consolations from men taken out of the word but they will never satisfie the soul so there are discoveries of Christ from men which is but by the hearing of the ear but there is a sight of him and it is that only doth affect the heart c. Secondly it is a throne of soveraignty a throne doth belong to a King and so is a note of supream authority so in the government of the Angels the voice that commands them is from the throne that is in the Firmament over their heads Ezek. 1.25 so doth the Lord sit upon his throne and all his people are gathered about him that they may sit down at his feet and receive his Law Deut. 33.3 and he gives Laws unto the consciences of men for the word is mighty in operation and sharper then a two-edged sword dividing between the joynts and the marrow and discerns the secret intentions of the heart Heb. 4.12 The efficacy of the Law depends upon the authority of the Law-giver and therefore till that be seen the Law is of no power when a man doth see that it comes from him that is Lord of the conscience and Judge of the conscience as what is the reason that at the day of Judgement the conscience shal be specially awakened to accuse or excuse men Rom. 2.15,16 it is because then the majesty of the Law-giver shall be then most gloriously seen and in the authority of the Law giver lies the efficacie of the Law that as upon Mount Sinai the mountain did shake when the Lord did utter his voice so there shall be a shaking and a terrour struck into the hearts of men they shall have a dread and an awe upon them of that Majesty and authority from whence it comes though before they regarded it not It is wonderful to see the impressions that are made upon the souls of unregenerate men by this authority when they have but a glimps from a common work of this King upon his Throne
conversing with God 40. daies his heart was so taken up with him and the reason why men love him no more and are no more carried after him is because they see him no more and the Saints in heaven therefore are carried after him more then we are because they have more of his presence Fourthly he that sees God present sitting upon his Throne will surely fear to sin against him therefore all sinners cast God behind their back they cannot sin else he that sees God alwaies present and walks before him he dares not transgress he is still in the sight of the Iudge he must draw the curtain that offends but in the sight of a temporal Iudge as he did before his fathers picture therefore the Angels souls in heaven are impeccable because they have alwaies a living and blessed presence of God with them that they cannot turn aside unto any thing else being in this infinitely satisfied c. Fifthly it would make a man sincere before him open thy heart for thou art in his presence that knows the heart and weighs thy actions and ponders they pathes and if we could hide it before men there is no hiding of it before him he sits upon his Throne that shall be thy Iudge so much hypocrisie as there is in any man in duty and the more any man doth cover his sin before God the less of his presence is with that man it is dangerous to compass God about with lyes and when a mans heart doth not fulfill after his lips but in his confessions and supplications hath reserves God will make his presence terrible to such a man Sixthly where Christ is present the soul is unwilling to part with him it holds him and it would not let him go it saies Oh that he might be with me alwaies it is good to be here the impression of thy presence I will have it ever more kept in the heart of thy servant and the soul is carried after him to seek his face and there is nothing else will satisfie him and he fears nothing so much as his departing his soul withers with the thought of it but if thou findest none of these yet Christ is present when the soul mourns for the want of him and groans after him he puts in his finger at the hole of the door and my heart failed when he spake that a man cannot be quiet if he find him not now he will after him again and is restless till he find him there is a presence of Christ though the soul discern it not for it is this makes the soul follow hard after him Vse 2. Answer the great ends of his presence amongst his people First the Lord is present to manifest his love to you Cant. 7.12 Come my beloved let us go forth into the field let us remain in the Villages there will I shew thee my love Secondly to enjoy communion with you for the Tabernacle of the Lord is with men and he will dwell with them Thirdly that your graces may flow forth Cant. 1.12 and that he may delight himself in the fruit of his own pleasant things Fourthly that he may improve your graces and perfect them Fifthly that you may be acquainted with him and may know the way of approach to him Iob 21.22 it is being accustomed to come to him as to a friend there is an opening of heart and imparting of secrets Sixthly That by this taste you may long for his appearance for all grace here is but first fruits of glory and so is all Communion it is but to give you a tast that you as searchers of the good land having tasted the fruit of it your hearts may be the more set upon a full enjoyment if the glimps of his presence be so sweet what is his continual presence which is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore The Keepers of the Vine-yards must keep their own Vineyard At a Fast before the Parliament Iune 13. 1650. CANT 1.6 My mothers children were angry with me they made me Keeper of the Vine-yards but my own Vine-yard I have not kept THE duties of godliness are of two sorts either ordinary or extraordinary and both are alike necessary in their season Your vessels for daily use your ordinary washing is commonly sufficient but you do sometimes scowâ—r them when you will have them bright and your ordinary tilling your Land is enough usually but you do soil it when you would have it fruitful c. And of this nature is the duty that now we set upon and being extraordinary must not be reduced to an ordinary practise for which cause your stata jejunia are by our Divines generally condemned being contrary to the nature of an extraordinary service Ames Ames cas p. 19. In extraordinary duties we may expect an extraordinary presence and we are to look for it indeed there is not a service but the Lord hath promised a blessing to it they are all wells of salvation out of which the soul may with joy draw water they are all of them but fasciae Christi the garments with which he goes forth amongst men they all of them smell of Myrrh Aloes and Cassia Psal 45.8 but yet this King of Saints though he keeps a constant royal Table at which with the Saints he himself sits Cant. 1.12 yet he sometimes makes a feast like a King and gives to all his people extraordinary entertainment he doth never go forth amongst his people but he doth spargere missilia dispence a dole but there are extraordinary times when the bounty and munificence of the King more appears and then the prisons are opened and the Conduits run with wine and the Cocks with rose-water c. And the great ground of faith to raise your expectations is that the Lord Christ hath in his own person and practice sanctified the duty of fasting to this end Why did Christ fast seeing he had no disobedience or bodily distempers nor no distemper of Spirit c. Why was he baptized seeing he had neither sins to be pardoned or subdued there were two special reasons for it First that he might fulfill all Righteousness and all duties laid down in the Word that he might perform them as that in his active obedience there might be a consummatum est as well as in his passive Secondly that he might sanctifie the duty and leave a blessing upon it unto us for he did fast as Mediator with reference to his body Christ did all as the first fruit which did sanctifie the whole crop Maledictioni benedixit paupertatem ditavit ignominiam glorificavit Luther Luther Surely he that is able to sanctifie death in his own person is able also in his person to sanctifie duty and this is the duty that the Lord hath highly honoured in all the great reformations that ever were in the world In the example of Moses Elias and Christ himself and therefore we may expect if we seriously intend
gifts and eminency and those that had suffered much for God and the Gospel and yet licitis perimus omnes they perish in the unlawful use of lawful things the creatures had taken up their hearts and they were set upon them and lose their souls in the persuite of them and calmely lay down in their graves and be cast away in a calm before they are aware Secondly they do take off the heart for pectora nostra duas non admittentia curas there can be no place for intus existens prohibet alienum when a mans heart goes out unto a thing as Davids heart went out after Absolom and their hearts in Ezek. 31.33 went after their covetousness set it upon God and duties oftentimes but its attendance is taken off by the affairs to which it is accustomed There is that poyson in the creature it is not only deceiving but its defiling and there is that curse unless a man be very watchful that will creep upon him in all imployments about the creature whatsoever the heart will be taken off from God thereby there is a strange kind of Idolatry summus seculi reatus that doth vent and discover it self in the hearts of men in this kind that the heart shall be taken off from duty whilest he is in the way of duty and a lower imployment shall dead his heart unto that which is higher and more excellent and yet the man shall please and satisfie himself fully in the one with the constant and daily neglect of the other and yet this shall be given unto him as a Rattle to stil his conscience if it cry that he is called to publick employment if he be diligent in that he thinks he hath done enough c. Thirdly a man that hath so neglected his own Vineyard cannot look upon it but with grief notwithstanding all his care of other Vineyards committed to his trust and care and it is a sad thing in these respects First it is said to think how I have neglected the great duties for which I came into the world it is true you are to serve your generation by the will of God and there is a respect unto God to be put upon your meanest actions Do all to the glory of God and it is this bent of the heart through Christ that makes them to be accepted of grace in ordine supernaturali But yet though there be duties done to men wherein God is served yet the main of the man is to be laid out in the service of God and the duties between God and the mans own soul walk in and out before the people yet Solomon my Son know the God of thy Fathers and serve him c. it is sad to see the great Commandment neglected c. Secondly it is sad to think how many precious opportunities and advantages I have lost how many sweet motions and admonitions of the spirit have I posted unfruitfully over and made the Lord to speak in vain in sweet illapses of the Spirit the Lord hath called upon me but my worldly thoughts did lodge within me still and there was no place in my heart for such calls from God and insinuations c. Surely there is a way of enjoying God even in worldly imployments and God would never have put the soul upon them that he might serve God in them to their own disadvantage that they should have loss of him by it Enoch walked with God and he begat sons and daughters Gen. 5.19 he did not retire and separate himself from the affairs of this life c. And the Angels that are imployed by Christ in the things of this world for the spirit of the living creatures is in the wheels and they are finite creatures and cannot be in a two-fold ubi at one and the same time and yet they lose nothing of the beatifical vision all the time of their administration but their Angels yea even while they are imployed for them behold the face of their Father who is in heaven Mat. 18.10 and we need not lose our vision by our imployment if the fault were not our own and and therefore it is sad because it is our own sin that is the cause Thirdly it is sad to see so many glorious works rejected and so much labour lost that shall never redound unto the mans account as we see in Iehu it was a great work and service that he did and so that of Cyrus but yet neither of their services stood upon record in reference to an eternal acceptation Now to see a wise Counsellor and a Statist and a valiant Souldier and a painful minister lay out himself unto the utmost and eat the bread of carefulness all his life time and yet when he comes to give up an account all is but a Cypher because his main work went not on because he took no care of his own Vineyard therefore the Lord rejects his care of others as one saies Si mihi daretur optio eligerem Christiani rustici sordidissimum maxime agreste opus prae omnibus victoriis triumphis Alexandri Caesaris on Gen. 31. for his work to be burnt and the man to suffer loss when he hath bestowed a great deal of pains in the building of it c. Fourthly it is more sad for the person to perish and after all this to be cast away that he that did save others should himself be destroyed he that was instrumental to save Kingdoms and to settle Nations that he himself should perish and he that did cast out Devils should be himself condemned with the Devils who would not pitty such a man that had gone along with and acted with the better party all his life time and seemed very industrious and zealous in it also as Iehu did and been active in reformation and resolute and yet the man cast away because of the neglect of his own Vineyard for as Heaven and Hell divide the world so will Christ and he is making preparation for it at the last day Psal 125.5 he will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity with whom they seemed to have little acquaintance in times past but the Lord will put every man thus in his own place with those of his own rank whatever now he may seem to be a covering Cherub Ezek. 28.14,16 Vse Now for the Lords sake I beseech you as you are made Keepers of the Vineyard so be sure that you do keep your own Vineyard if you could settle the Common-wealth in the most happy and flourishing condition that you could desire all this would be nothing to thee thou shouldst never see when God comes for no man can receive benefit by others that keeps not his own Vineyard let me tell you the sweetest fruits that the soul seeds on all his life time are those that he gathers from his own Vine and to quicken you to it take but these few considerations First ye must all appear before the Iudgement seat of
of will unto that hand into which God the Father hath placed it Secondly I entreate you consider this which is a mighty quieting consideration Christ governs the Providential Kingdom all for the good of the Spiritual Kingdom I say Christ subordaineth the Kingdom of Providence unto the Kingdom of grace Eph. 1.22 he is made the head above all things unto the Church he undertakes the government of all things for the Churches sake and he orders all things for their good he is the head over all things unto the Church It may be alas poor creature when thou lookest upon Providence God walketh in the dark to thee and how Christ will bring good out of all these thou canst not tell leave it to him now he is called the Artist the skilful Artist You have the place Prov. 8.30 I was by him as one brought up with him you read it so I do a little wonder at the translation I was by him as one brought up with him it is in the Original I was by him as an Artificer you have the same word so translated in Cant. 7.1 by the hand of the cunning work-man the very same word is used now it may be if a man unskilled should come and look upon a man that were a curious Artist it may be a Chymist or the like he would wonder how he should be able to bring such great effects out of such unlikely things yet notwithstanding the man is contented to look on with delight and resteth upon the man for his art for he saith he knows how to bring it to pass though I do not Jesus Christ is a curious Artist when you see him take content in it and rest for the art is in him he knows how to bring it about though you do not That is another very quieting Consideration But. In the third place the Lord hath discovered to us the ends for which he worketh and I am sure his ends shall be effected Now if God will carry on his own ends truly what if some of my inferiour mistaken ends miss should I be discontented no let God carry on his own ends he will carry them on But you will say What are his ends His ends upon the world at present are these First he will shake the things that are made Heb. 12.27 that the things that cannot be shaken may remain Secondly he will make way for the ruine of Antichrist and Poperie in all the forms of it I say that is another end and that he may destroy Antichrist and ruine Poperie in all the forms of it And Thirdly that he may make waie for the accomplishment of that glorious promise the Kingdoms of the earth shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ Now I entreate you observe If these ends of God be carried on as they shall certainly be then what need have you to be disquieted because some of your inferiour injudicious mistaken ends be not brought about truly this is that that comforteth a Godly man and I confess it hath been in all these troubles and confusions that have been amongst us the Land reeling too and fro staggering like a drunken man it hath been the principal the main support to me a godly man can never miss his utmost end Now this I know is a rule the School-men give finis ultimus perficit tam agentem quam actionem the utmost end is that that perfecteth the Agent and the action the utmost end why now that man can never be miserable that attaineth his utmost end Here is the miserie of all ungodly men they may attain many inferiour ends subordinate ends I but their utmost end they never obtain therefore they are for ever miserable But now here is the happiness of a Saint he never fails in his utmost end but as Austin saith of Gods answering his prayers he did answer the hinge of my prayer that he did sometimes I prayed for the thing but God did not give me the thing I but the hinge on which my prayer moved that is that all might tend to Gods glory and my good in that God answered my prayer and so shall a soul say at last there were many things that my mistaken judgement did think would have conduced to such an end but God saw it not good therefore I obtaining my utmost ends he lets Gods will go on in the world and for my part I am satisfied though many of my inferiour ends I miss These are the quieting principles that should be in your hearts when you submit to the will of God in his mysterious actings in the world I dare not detain you any longer Consider I beseech you what hath been spoken and the Lord give you wisdom and understanding in all things Christs care in Glory FOR his Churches good on Earth REV. 2. ver 1. These things saith he who holdeth the seven Stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks THe Works that God the Father gave his Son the Lord Jesus Christ to do are of two sorts They are either Acts of Ministery or Acts of Majesty the first he finished when he was here upon earth For he said he had finished the work given him to do And he is ascended up to Glory that so he might perform the second that so he might be both faithful to God and merciful to you For though he be ascended up into heaven as our Lord yet he sits in heaven still as the Fathers Servant For this Cause though he hath changed his place yet he hath not changed his office you shall have him therefore in this Book of the Revelations which was indited from heaven described sutable to all his offices according to the various Condition of the Church as Brightman hath well observed pro varia Conditione Ecclesiae Brightman He is described as the Churches Priest in Chap. 1. ver 13. He was seen wearing a Garment down to his Feet In allusion to the priestly Ephod and the curious Girdle under the Law for that I understand by that Vestis talaris there and not a description of his Imputed righteousness as some conceive it then Christ though he be in glory remains the Churches Priest for he wears his Priestly Garments there And he remains still the Churches King in Chap. 4. ver 3. I saw a throne and one that sat upon it was to look upon like to a Iasper and a Sardix stone spoken of Gods ruling the Church in the Person of his Son And he is described to be the Churches Leader and Commander In Rev. 19. ver 11 12. His eyes are like a flame of fire and on his head are many crowns Clothed with a vesture dipped in blood And the Armies that were in heaven followed him upon white Horses And he is described as the Churches Prophet too In Chap. 6. ver 7. There he is set forth as a Lamb that hath seven horns and seven eyes And he came and
some objectjons against them answered p. 325 Ordinances how to walk towards them p. 327 Ordinances what to do for them p. 329 P Parables of the Virgins p. 40 Pastors office what is it p. 94 Pastors election the priviledge of the people p. 95 Pastors duties which they owe to their people p. 97 Pastors duty in point of teaching p. 98 Pastors are to pray for their people p. 99 Pastors how they must watch over their people p. 100 Pastors dispositions p. 102 Peoples duty p. 111 People of God have a double right to mercy See p. 155. follows p. 63 People of God why they are not spared p. 172 People Gods own dearest brought into streights ibid. People have many causes in them of mixture p. 478 People are freed from mixture when God returns p. 479 People Gods own dearest in danger to become the worse for mercies p. 523 Perfection in striving to it here is the Christians duty p. 4â—4 Perfection of purification consists in three things p. 426 Perfection in striving after it it is not in vain p. 431 Perfection is twofold p. 739 Perfection Evangelical according to the tenor of the second Covenant is twofold p. 740 Perfection how David proves it p. 742 Perfection that the Church should undergo is threefold p. 377 Peter Martyrs remarkable observation p. 488 Power all of three sorts p. 62 Praises are to be returned for mercy p. 69 Prayer how abundant to be in it p. 89 Praeterition an act of soveraignty p. 235 Presence of Christ â—hat there is with his Church p. 572 Presence of Christ the ends of it p. 586 Presence of Christ here compared with his presence in glory p. 698 Presence of Christ what application to make of it p. 701 Principles God looks upon before the actions p. 43 Principles that Godliness laies in the soul p. 449 Promises three great the Saints have under all their afflictions p. 700 Promises are Objects of faith p. 485 Grounds of hope ibid. Rules of prayer ibid. Projects of Providence p. 667 Prophesies are to be eyed by the people of God p. â— Prophesies in Ezekiel concerning the Church unto what time to be referred p. 3 Prophets have 4 sins incident specially to them p. 476 Providence over all the Saints in especial See p. 159. follows p. 163 Providence her actings very mysterious p. 665 Providence in all the actings of it submit to the will and wisdom of God or else mark the consequences p. 672 Purification wherefore to strive after the perfection of it p. 428 Purity perfect objections concerning it answered p. 429 R Raised how God is said so be p. 365 Raised up when God is how to know it p. 372 Receiving little or much it is to be accounted for p. 720. and the Son of God himself will be the Judge ibid. Receipts answerable thereunto shall mens account be p. 724 Receipts what improvement to make of them p. 726 Reformation is twofold p. 592 Regeneration in it a man receives two things p. 42 43 Relations are of two sorts p. 142 Religion Luther found in it three things very difficult p. 56 Religion alwaies attempted to be corrupted p. 470 Reprobation hath three consequences p. 18 Rest is twofold p. 550 Returning to God is twofold p. 137 Revelation the Book of it divided into two parts and what it contains p. 567 568 Revelation of Saint Iohn when and for what end was it penned p. 683 Righteous men dying are taken from the evil to come a special mercy p. 319 320 Rise up presently two things causes God so to do p. 368 Romes destruction matter of joy to the Saints p. 84 Rule of the word what is it p. 298 S Saints have a double right to heaven p. 45 Saints some of them are taken up into Heaven betimes p. 47 Saints great work in this life p. 63 Saints have three Titles given them ibid. Saints have two things terrible of which they are afraid p. 99 Saints at the last day will have something that will be even matter of sorrow p. 129 Saints and Angels why imperant in heaven p. 148 Saints Inheritance See Inheritance Saints great comfort in their straits is to see God arise for them p. 366 Saints labour in their straits to awaken God 368 Saints comfort must needs be great from Gods arising 369 Salt given to a double interpretation p. 12 Sanctification consists of two parts p. 243 Scripture wrested See Searchers See God what is it p. 34 See God as he is in himself 36 See God in his Saints p. 37 Servants are of two sorts p. 640 Service acceptable to God must be heedfully done 294 Service who the person is that performs it p. 300 Service introduced by sin threefold p. 641 Silence in the World is twofoâ—d p. 379 Silence of all ungodly men hath a double ground for it ibid. Silence to keep it upon a fourfold account p. 380 Silence why to be kept p. 383 Sin causes a double distance p. 137 Sin the Misery by it stands in two things 347 Sin is filthiness p. 423 Sin darling how should a man know what it is p. 750 Sin the reign of it is double p. 744 Sin darling how a man may know what it it p. 751 Sins darling are of three sorts p. 753 Sin darling motives to take heed of it p. 753 Sins some more peculiarly break a mans Communion p. 158 Sins some especially cause God to depart from his Sanctuary p. 332 Sins of Judah what did ripen them p. 458 Sins of the Prophets See Prophets Sins even the best are proue more to some then to others p. 744 Sinners State twofold p. 139 Sinners in a State of estrangement cannot pray ibid. Sinners may draw near to God Sincerity is Gospel-perfection p. 34 Sincerity David shews wherein it appears p. 738 Souls the trust of them the greatest p. 127 Souls they ascend into heaven two ways p. 144 Spirit is double that acts all man kind 42 Star what is meant by it p. 688 Star in Christs right hand what noted from that p. 689 State of Man is twofold p. 340 Strive for the Faith See Faith Strive with whom p. 191 Subordination of Causes fourfold in Gods providential kingdom p. 658 T Talents are not alike given to all persons in the same measure p. 714 Things whatever men receive from God are given to them or Committed to them 708 709 Things have four ways of Conveyance each for other p. 708 Thoughts in troublesom Times come in by multitudes p. 546 Thoughts within more troublesom to a godly man then troubles without p. 548 Thoughts unruly in troublesom times rob the soul of its chiefest ornaments p. 553 Thoughts such a multitude in David what 's the â—ause p. 554 Throne what it alludes to p. 567 Throne of God what it is p. 594 Throne what doth Christ delight to give upon it p. 759 Throne out of it proceed Judgements p. 581 Throne to know when God is present upon it p.