into the Kingdom of Christ Col. 1.14 We are born in Satan's Kingdom as our Country and Natural Soil but by Grace we are led forth as a Colony into the Kingdom of Christ which is to a natural Man a strange Land and a new Soil But how are Men translated into the Kingdom of Christ surely it is by effectual Calling and Regeneration We are called as rational Creatures and we are regenerated as corrupt and impotent Creatures God is said to call us to his Kindom and Glory 1 Thes 2.12 Except a Man be born again he cannot see he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God John 3.3.5 He cannot see or understand that there is such a Kingdom or be willing to enter into it or be fitted to enjoy the Benefits and Blessings of it As Children must be born to be the Subjects of Earthly Kings so Men must be re-born to be the Subjects of the Heavenly King This is for the Honour and Glory of Christ's Kingdom that none can pass into it but by Regeneration Those that are the genuine and true Citizens of Zion and Members of the Church are said to be born there Ps 87.4 6. Those that God writes up as Citizens of Zion are such as are born there God's Register and the Church's Roll or Catalogue do many times much differ The Church owns those for her Children that God doth not acknowledge for his Sons and Daughters The Church takes in those that God will turn out God will repute none his Jewels call none his own but they that are born again of his Word and Spirit Mal. 3.17 1 Pet. 1.23 John 3.6 And indeed How can Men possibly be Subjects in God's Kingdom except they have spiritual Minds converted Wills heavenly Affections A vain Mind a carnal Heart will only flatter and lye to Christ Matth. 3.2 Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Men cannot be Subjects in or Heirs of the Kingdom of God without Faith and Repentance The good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom Matth. 13.35 Those that receive the Word are begotten by the Word of Truth John 1.18 that have it rooted in their Souls spreading and prevailing in their Hearts these are good Seed Jesus Christ doth not only sow Doctrinal Truths but living Christians He begets Sons and Daughters to God by the Word they are changed by and born of the Word and so are called Seed That Word is styled the Good Word Heb. 6.5 and they that are born of it are therefore called Good Seed Divine Chrysostom a Grecian Orator in one of his Orations derides the Folly of the Grecians that did call that one Man's Statue which was carved to resemble and set up to the Honour of another There was no new carving of or alteration in the Statue but only the Title of it was changed And do Men so easily pass out of the Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of Christ only by the changing of a Name No there must be another kind of Alteration There must not only be a new Name but a new Heart a new Nature Ezek. 36.26 2 Pet. 1.4 O descend into your Hearts What Experience have you of the Work of the Spirit in dethroning Satan and inthroning Christ in your Hearts destroying the Kingdom of Sin and exalting the Kingdom of God Consult your own Souls about this Can you be totally ignorant of it if such a change hath been made in you Doth not every one take notice of publick Revolutions in Government if one Prince dye or be deposed and another succeed and be set up in his Place And hath there been so great a spiritual Revolution in thy Soul hath Satan been cast out and hath Christ entred to dwell and rule in thy Heart and hast thou no knowledge of it Hast thou no experience of a new light set up in thy Mind a new Byass put upon thy Will new Motions raised in thy Affections towards spiritual and supernatural Objects 3dly Are the Laws of this Holy King and of this Heavenly Kingdom writ in thy Heart according to that promise of the new Covenant Jer. 31.33 I will write my laws in their hearts and put them into their inner parts This is the Glory of Christ that he writes his Laws in the Table of the Mind and Will 2 Cor. 3.3 His Subjects not only know but love and ask his Laws Their Obedience to them is not forced or feigned but they obey from the Heart Rom. 6.17 They delight in the Law of God according to the inward Man Rom. 7.22 God's Subjects are thus described That the Law of God is in their Hearts It is not an urging Letter without but a vital Principle within Psal 37.31 The law of his God is in his heart and Isa 51.7 Hearken unto me ye that know righteousness the People in whose heart is my law Christ plants such Dispositions such Inclinations as are suitable and agreeable to the Law of God and may be styled a counter pâ—â—t of it and do answer to it Psal 119.112 I have enclined my heart to perform thy Statutes always even to the end This is a writing that doth exact and ennoble the Table thâ—â— is the Subject of it And this is an high Act of Grace when God doth not only write his Laws to us but in us Do you approve allow delight in the Laws of God Do your Souls break for the Longings yee have to and after them that they might be more revealed to you and impressed on you Psal 119.20 4thly Are you led by the Spirit of the King Rom. 8.9 14. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his As many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Seâ—â— of God This is a wonderful and a great Mystery that the Spirit of the King is in his Subjects and they all make but one mystical Body and the Spirit is as the Soul that animates this Body Were ever King and Subjects so nearly linked united related to each other Christ is not only a politick Head that gives Laws but as a natural Head that giveth Life The Spirit that influenced Christ acts them the Spirit that resides in Christ dwells also in them The People of Christ must needs therefore be a free and willing People Do not the Members of the natural Body without Regret or Reluctancy obey the Dictates of the Head How powerful yet how easie and sweet is the Government of the Head over the Members Christ's Spirit doth not only teach and direct but powerfully bend and encline the Will to walk yea to run in the way of God's Commandments Psal 119.32 Saints do not desire the way to Heaven to be made broader but their Hearts to be made larger to have their light and love encreased The Spirit is styled A Spirit of Revelation Ephes 1.17 A Spirit of Life Rom 8.2 A Free Spirit Psal 51.12 A Spirit that makes us free and forward in our Obedience We are not only
on his Holy Hill of Zion Psal 2.4 5 6. And Christ did reign over his Enemies full fore against their Wills They designed and endeavoured to break Christ's Bands in sunder but Christ did break them with his Rod of Iron and dash them to pieces as a Potter's Vessel Psalm 2.9 The Jews persecuted Christ's Apostles and Servants and sent many of them to Heaven on this Message and Errand to tell Christ how the Jews are bent against his Kingdom and would not have Christ to reign over them Luke 19.14 yet Jesus Christ did gather subdue and convert many of their Nation to be his Subjects and as for the Body of the People that continued in their Unbelief and Disobedience this Glorious King sent forth his Armies that is the Romans and destroyed them and bunt up their City Mat. 22.7 And at the last Day he will severely sentence and punish the Rebellious Luke 19.27 As for these mine enemies that would not have me to rule over them bring them before me and let them be slain in my presence Though they do not allow Christ a Throne in their Souls yet Christ will erect his Tribunal and sit 〈◊〉 Judgment on all that oppose and stand oâ—â— against him Where Grace doth not reign Justice will reign If Christ doth not coedemn and execute Sin in us he will condemâ— and execute us Either Satan's Works and Lusts must be crushed and destroyed in us or we must be cut off and perish for ever Those that Christ doth not prune he will fell those that he is not a refining Fire to he will be a consuming Fire if the Old Man be not pierced and wounded by Christ's Arrows the Souls of Men must be Christ's Mark and feel the edge and point of his glittering Sword If Christ doth not rule to save Men he will rule to destroy them The Civil Law mentions some Malefactors that are called * Vid. Paciamin 1 Lib. institut Tit. 12. Sect. 6. Servi Poenae such as were condemn'd to row at the Oar or to dig in the Mines because they did not obey the Law and live honestly they were subjected to hard Service and did live miserably So those that are not Subjects to Christ as a King shall be Servants of Punishment they shall serve the Glory of God's Power and Justice in their eternal Misery and Sufferings 5thly Consider the Nature and Advantages of the Kingdom of Christ There are sweet Fruits of the Kingdom of Grace and there are enriching Benefits of the Kingdom of Glory It was prophesied of Christ as a King That Men should be blessed in him and Nations should call him Blessed What a Glory is this to Jesus Christ that Men are blessed and shall bless themselves in this King that ever they were conquered by the Sword of his Word that ever they were brought under the Scepter of his Grace They shall rejoyce that ever they were bound with the Cords of his Doctrine and Laws and subjected to the Yoke of his Government They call their King Blessed that is raised above the reach and rage of all his Enemies and is now victorious and triumphant over them that reigns so righteously so peaceably so prosperously that dethrones Sin and Satan and inthrones God in the Souls of Men that preserves his People from sinking into an extremity of Misery and exalts them to possess an eternal Felicity They call him Blessed that hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him and that hath the Key of Hell and Death Matth. 28.18 Rev. 1.18 that hath such an unbounded Empirt and so large and such an extensive Kingdom hath power over all Flesh that he might give eternal Life to as many as the Father hath given him John 17.2 and is made Head over all things to the Church Ephes 1.22 that nothing may hinder the Salvation or obstruct the Happiness but all things may promote the Good and Welfare of the Church 1st Consider who Jesus Christ is He 〈◊〉 God's Righteous Servant Isa 53.11 and he Well-beloved Son Matth. 3.17 Is it not better to be in the Kingdom of God's Righteous Servant than to be under the power of a wicked hardned obstinate Rebel Is it not more desireable to be translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son Col. 1.13 than to be at the beck and command of God's bitter Enemy and implacable Adversary Christ the Son of God by nature grants the Privilege of Adoption to all his Subjects John 1.12 This is such a Mercy as no Son of an earthly King vouchsafes to his Subjects 2dly Jesus Christ reigns to do Right to God and to establish his Throne in the Souls of Men. He was designed to raise up those that fell off from God and sunk into Ruine Isa 49.6 Christ is God's Servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob and to bring back those that were gone astray from God Isa 49.5 and to restore such as were alienated from God Isa 49.6 Christ retrieves recovers God's Right he establishes his own Throne by Justice and Judgment Isaiah 9.7 and he is said to execute Justice and Judgment in the Earth Jer. 23.5 Christ executes Justice in restoring and giving back to God that which is his own and he executes Judgment in destroying Satan's Works and Lusts 1 John 3.8 in mortisying the vile Affections of Sinners This was one great Benefit of the Jubilee that the Servant returned to his Family Levit. 25.10 He that was alienated from his Father and served Strangers now returned to do his Duty and rendered Obedience to his Parents Even so Jesus Christ restores Men to God's Family and grants unto them as a great Favour and Privilege that they may serve him without slavish Fear of Destruction in Holiness and Righteousness all the Days of their Lives Luke 1.74 75. Yea Christ restores the Creatures unto God The Subjects of Christ use them purely they did not feed and fuel their Lusts with them but receive them with thanksgiving as their Father's Goods and Gifts and use them to strengthen and support them in the Lord's Work and Service It is a great perverting abusing inslaving the Creatures when they victual Satan's Garrisons and feed his Soldiers But then the Creatures are rescued from Bondage when they nourish God's Priests and feed his Worshippers 3dly Those that are in Christ's Kingdom are nearly related to him and to each other 1. They are nearly related to Christ They are his Seed and Children Isa 53.10 He shall see his seed Behold I and the Children whom God hath given me Isa 8.18 Jesus as a second Adam as an everlasting Father begets them Isa 9.6 He is made Sanctification to them 1 Cor. 1.30 They receive of his fulness Grace for Grace Jâ—â—s 1.16 They are Christ's Brethren Psal 22.22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren He is not ashamed to call them Brethren Hebr. 2.11 They are the Lamb's Wife Rev. 19.7 They are the Members of Christ Ephes 5.30 We are members of
his body of his flesh and of his bone As Eve was taken out of Adam as to her human Nature so we are taken out of Christ as to our new and divine Nature Water and Blood came out of Christ's Side John 19.34 The Blood of Christ is the meritorious Cause of our new State of Justification and the Water signified the Spirit that gives a new Nature in Sanctification And how Honourable is it for Subjects to be so nearly related to the King of Glory And how sweet easie and gentle is Christ's Government over his Children over his Brethren over his Spouse and Members Surely Christ will not carry a hard a heavy a rigorous Hand over those that are so near and dear to him He shall spare the poor and needy Psal 72.13 And as a Shepherd shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and gently lead those that are with young Isa 40.11 Was there ever such an Honour put on a Flock as that they should be Members and Brethren and Children of the Shepherd 2. Christ's Subjects are nearly related to each other and this is a most sweet Truth as well as a great Mystery They are not only Fellow-Servants in the same House and Fellow-Citizens in the same City of God but they are Brethren in the same Family and Members of the same Body and animated or influenced and acted by the same Spirit and therefore have the greatest Obligations laid on them to love each other to seek one another's Good and promote one anothers Welfare Shall Brethren clash with one another or Members fight against each other He that for Christ's sake is hated of his Father Mother Brethren Sisters he doth by virtue of his Interest and Union with Christ recover a hundred fold more Kindred and Relations Elder Christians are as his Fathers and Mothers younger Christians are his Brothers and Sisters Mark 10.29 30. yea as his Children to serve and cherish him O what a blessed Kingdom is this when the Subjects are so endeared to each other that they have not only sold their Lands to relieve their spiritual Brethren Acts 2.4 5. Acts 4.34 but have also jeoparded and hazarded their Lives to preserve the Lives of their Holy Kindred Rom. 16.3 4. Aquilla and Priscilla laid down their Necks exposed themselves to the greatest Dangers to preserve the Life of Paul Rahab ventured her own Life to preserve the Spies that were the People of God Joshua 2.15 4thly If we consider the great Benefits that we receive from Christ's Kingdom 1. He heals washes refines anoints his Subjects A Governour is called a Healer Isa 3.6 7. Jesus Christ as a King is a Healer a Physician to his whole Kingdom and to all his Subjects Matth. 9.12 Our Souls are diseased weak feeble ruined and woe be to us if this Ruine be not under Christ's Hand Never was there such a Physician that dy'd to provide a Remedy to recover and restore his Patients By his Stripes we are healed yea by his Death we live If a King that is but a political Head be the Breath of his Subjects Nostrils Lam. 4.20 much more is Christ the Breath of our Nostrils as he is a natural Head that gives Life and continual influences of Grace 2. Jesus Christ washes John 13.8 Except I wash thee thou hast no part with me that is in the eternal Inheritance in the Kingdom of Glory None washes so powerfully as Christ he can wash away a Backsliding Revolting Rebellious Whorish Heart he can wash away our Spiritual Leprosie and Plague-Sores he can wash our Aethiopian Skin and our Leopard Spots Jer. 13.23 3. Jesus Christ Refines Mal. 3.23 and there is no such Refiner as Christ no such refining sire as Christ's is A Refiner or his Fire cannot change Iron Brass Tin or Lead into Gold and Silver but Christ by separating our Dross from us renders us precious and makes us Vessels of Gold and Silver 2 Tim. 2.20 4. Jesus Christ anoints his Subjects Ezek. 16.9 And I anointed thee with Oil. This is an Allusion to the sweet-smelling Oils that Persons were purfiied with Esther 2.12 The Graces of Christ's Spirit are fragrant and cause us to smell sweet in the Nostrils of God and Man Saints are called Christians because they partake of Christ's Ointment 1 John 2.20 27. You have an unction from the Holy One that is from Christ As the Mediator is anointed himself so he is styled Christ and as we are anointed by this Anointer so we are called Christians And this is peculiar to Christ's Subjects that they are all anointed and partake even of the unction of their King If we have not the unction of the Spirit of Christ he will not own us to be Subjects in his Kingdom or to be Members of his Body Rom. 8.9 If aâ— man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Christ's Unction doth purisie us from Sin consecrate us to God teach us the sublime Truths and wonderful Mysteries of the Kingdom of God 1 John 2.20.27 The Prophets were anointed 1 Kings 19.16 and they by the unction of the Holy Ghost were Seers 1 Sam. 9.9 They did see sarther and know more than others From hence I conceive the Phrase is borrowed That the anointing teacheth us and Christ by anointing us fits and exalts us to be spiritual Kings Rev. 1.5 6. He hath made in Kings Saints do command and rule their own Spiri's govern their Thoughts order and bound their Affections curb restrain and keep under their Passions and as of old Wrestlers were anointed * Fabius Agonisticon that the Hand of the Adversary might slip off from them and take no fast sure hold of them to throw them so Christ by anointing us with his Spirit Satan is defeated he is disappointed he cannot fasten on us and have Advantages against us first to throw our Minds to the Earth and then to cast our Souls to Hell 2dly In Christ's Kingdom we have Rest Matth. 8.11 Many shall come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God Souls travel up and down traverse the Earth to and fro disquiet themselves in vain and weary themselves to no purpose they never come to sit down till they press and get into the Kingdom of God and here is a most honourable rest to sit in the Throne with Christ Rev. 3.21 3dly In Christ's Kingdom is a Feast but in Satan's Kigndom Souls famish starve and perish with thirst Luke 22.29 30. that you eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom God makes a Feast in his Holy Mountain Isa 25.6 Saints have the first Course in this World and so it is a Dinner Matth. 22.4 they shall enjoy the second and third Courses in Heaven and so it is the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb Rev. 19.9 Did ever any Shepherd feed his Flock with his own flesh and blood Is there any that is a Pastor and a Pasture too
of this Truth Acts 24.15 16. In this I exercise my self to keep a Conscience void of offence both toward God and man he did act and practise according to this Truth it had a prevailing Influence on his Heart a commanding Anthority over his Actions you must much converse with God here Psal 139.17 when I am awake I am ever with thee and how fitly do those Two Expressions agree Devid was ever with the Lord on Earth and Paul saith Christians should be ever with the Lord in Heaven 1 Thes 4.17 there must be a walking with God on Earth Gen. 8.24 Enoch walked with God and God took him and why did God take him and for what End was it not to walk with him in Heaven Rev. 3.4 those that had not defiled their Garments should walk with Christ in white we must shine as lights in this world Phil. 2.15 that hereafter we may shine a the sun in the king dom of our Father Matth. 13.43 Jesus Christ must be glorified in us now John 17.10 I am glorified in them that we may be assured he will be glorified and admired in us hereafter 2 Thes 1.10 when he will be revealed from Heaven he will be glorified in his Saints and be admired in them the believe Christians must not be like the Heathen Philosophers Athenagoras in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Apology for the Christians charges theâ— that they sought and aimed at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Art of Words but not a Demonstration of Works but he saith that Christian Handicrafts-men and Old Women that could not discourse for their Religion did yet demonstrate its Excellency in their Works When they were beaten they would not strike again when they were wronged in their Estates they would not go to Law they would pray for them that persecuted them and love those that hated them 11. Consider how great Guilt you will contract and what hateful and abominable Creatures you will be if you reject the Word of the Kingdom and enter not into it Christ bid his Disciples to shake off the Dust of their Feet against such Luke 10.9 10 11. for a Testimony against them They that refuse the Gospel of the Kingdom and turn away from the King of Glory are such unclean Creatures that Christ's Ministers were not to defile themselves or their Feet by carrying away any of their Dust but to shake it off and leave it as a witness there that Christ's Ambassadors had been there had preached to them and been rejected by them This very Dust should remain with them to testifie and give in Evidence against them in the great Day that they would not open their Ears to Christ speaking in his Ministers but obstinately hardened their Hearts both against the Master and the Servants against the Lord and his Subjects Tasâ— heed therefore that you reject not him that speaks from Heaven Be jealous over your own Souls that you receive not the Doctrine of Grace the Word of the Kingdom in vain 2 Cor. 6.2 as the Highway the stony and thorny Ground did Let Christ's Word root in your Hearts shine and reign in your Lives Do not think to blind your Eyes stupifie your Consciences and cheat your own Souls with an outside Religion Great was the Sin of Ananias and Saphira that pretended to devote the whole Price that they sold their Land for to the Service of Christ and his Church yet kept back part of it and so lied to God and tempted the Holy Gâ—oâ—â— Acts 5.3 9. O do not dare to tread in their Steps Will you tempt Christ and his Spirit whether they are omniscient Or try whe ther you cannot put a Fallacy or Cheat oâ— them Will you make a costly and dangerous Experiment whether they cannot find out your base Metal your counterfeit Coin your hypocritical Services Though you pretend to know God Hos 8.2 yet without sincerity Christ will not approve and know you Matth. 7.23 Let not Christ's Word be received only into your Memories but let Christ himself be entertained in your Hearts to order your Affections and direct your Conversations If you do not opeâ— to Christ your Hearts below he will not 〈◊〉 pen to you his Heaven above 4. Use For Caution Take heed you do not rashly judge and hastily pass a Censure on the Kingdom of Christ and on the Church of God Turks Jews and Heathens that see the loose and wicked Lives of some Christians do presently condemn all Christians as if there were no sincere Piety powerful Religion or Beauty of Holiness among them and thereby take an advantage to reproach Christ himself and to reflect on his Gospel as if it did allow and he did approve such things When as Christ loveth Righteousness and hates Iniquity Psal 45.67 He forbids all Sin he dislikes and abhors all Iniquity Matth 22.10 11. Friend how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment Christ hath spoken plainly enough Except a man be born again unless Men repent and be converted John 3.3 5. Matth. 18.3 they cannot enter into the kingdom of God That without Holiness Men shall not see God Hebr. 12.14 These Instructions and warnings of Christ are plain yet many presume and thrust into the Church of God and give the Lye to Jesus Christ as if they should live in Glory though they be dead in Sin and see God though they are â—oid and utterly destitute of Holiness But â—â—ere will shortly be an end of all their Preâ—â—â—ptions and ungrounded Confidences of 〈◊〉 their deceitful and treacherous Hopes and those that stumble at the seandalous Persons that are in the Church let them wait but a little and these Spots shall be washed off from the Face these Wens these gangreen'd Limbs shall be cut off from the Body of the Church this Dross shall be pâ—â— away for ever Jesus Christ hath a shaip Sickle to cut those Tares Rev. 14.14 An Ax to hew down those barren Trees a Fan to purge his Floor a Furnace 〈◊〉 unquenchable Fire to burn up the Chaff Matth. 3.12 The Goats and the Sheep go in the same Pasture in the Day-time bâ— when the Evening comes there is a Separation the Goats go to their Penn and â—e Sheep to their Fold So Jesus Christ when he comes to judge the World shall separate the Goats and Sheep Matth. 25.31 32 Though they are now in the same visible Church yet Jesus Christ shall part them and set the Sheep on his Right-hand and the Goâ— on his Left Christ will disown Hypocrites and exclude them out of his Glory He wilâ— own the Sincere and call them to inherit 〈◊〉 Kingdom Matth. 25.34 Do not rashly judge those to be related to Christ that will be rejected by him They that Feign that Flatter that Lye to Josus Christ will be detected and abhorred by him his Eyes wil be as a flaming Fire to discover them and his Wrath will be as a consuming Fire to bum them up But then the true Church of Christ shall be as a Bride adorned for her Husband Revel 21.2 She shall shine with beautiful Holiness and glorious Righteousness and be without spot and wrinkle Ephes 5.25 26 27. mete to be presented and fit to be married to Christ and to be an Object of his Love for Christ to rejoice in and delight himself with to Eternity Then shall there be no more a pricking Briar a wounding or piercing Thorn no stinking Weeds no empty Vines no barren Fig-Trees in the Garden of God Nothing shall any longer desorm or defile the Church The People of the Church shall be all righteous the Branch of God's planting the Work of his Hands that he may be glorified Isa 60.21 The Image of God shall be fully drawn on them the Law of God shall be perfectly transcribed into them no Fooesteps of Sin shall remain on them no dross of Corruption shall cleave to them they shall be transformed by the perfect renewing of their Minds Then they will appear as Trees of Righteousness Isa 61.3 and bear all pleasant Fruits and the chief of Spices Cant. 4.13 14. And those that have flourish'd in God's Nursery below for a time they shall at last be transplanted into and so grow in the Heavenly Paradise for ever FINIS Advertisement These BOOKS are Published the Author of this Book 1. THE Great Duty of Christiâ— to go forth without the Caâ— to Jesus Set forth in several Sermâ— on Hebr. 13.13 2. Supplication to the Sovereâ— Judge The Duty of the best Mâ— Set forth in several Sermons 〈◊〉 Job 9.15 3. A Discourse in several Sermâ— on the 1 Peter 3.19 By which also went and preached unto the Spirits Prison
the â—ew Daniel prophesied of the Coming of 〈◊〉 Son of Man and the New Testament â—â—lares Christ to be that Son of Man that â—s foretold to come into the Worldly Christ is styled the Son of Man with â—pect to what he was to doe in Purging Church and Judging the World The rase here points at the great Exaltation of â—ist and the Glory put on Him The of Man should send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his kingdom all 〈◊〉 offend and work iniquity This is a gâ— and glorious Work to purge and 〈◊〉 his Kingdom to put away Dross to 〈◊〉 up Weeds to banish the Workers of Inâ—â—â— out of his Kingdom to confine them to 〈◊〉 proper place and cast them into the â— nace and shut them up in the Prison 〈◊〉 evidences that Christ hath a higher 〈◊〉 than a Humane Nature and that 〈◊〉 doing of this great Work he will pâ—nour and Glory on the Humane Naâ— which he was humbled and abased 〈◊〉 hath appointed a Day to Judge the 〈◊〉 by the Man that he hath 〈◊〉 Act. 17.31 and hath given Christ â—â—rity to execute Judgment because 〈◊〉 Son of Man Joh. 5.27 that is 〈◊〉 the Son of God did stoop did 〈◊〉 empty and abase himself to be the 〈◊〉 Man and to suffer and die in this 〈◊〉 therefore God will put Honour on 〈◊〉 mane Nature and exalt it to try the censure the Actions of Men and 〈◊〉 them to their Eternal Place He 〈◊〉 sentenc'd at the Tribunal of Mâ—â— arraign the whole World before 〈◊〉 ment-Seat The Son of Man is 〈◊〉 nently dignify'd when he shall 〈◊〉 his Angels and by them shall purgeâ—â— and cleanse his Vineyard 2. I shall now apply my self to open what is affirm'd of the Son of Man It is said He shall send forth his Angels 1st Observe The Angels are called Christ's Angels 2dly The Work they are employed in viz. To gather out of his Kingdom those that have neither Right or Fitness to conâ—inue there 3dly The Fitness of the Angels to that Work 1. This is Honourable to Christ that the Angels are call'd the Angels of the Son of Man Here we may observe That our Humane Nature is so exalted in Christ that it is Lord over the Angels doth commissionate send forth and employ them on his Errands and in his Service 1 Tim. 3.16 It is said to be part of the Mystery of Godliness that God manifested in the Flesh was seen of Angels They saw him first debased and made lower than themselves Heb. 2.7 Thou â—ast made him a little lower than the Angels That He might be capable of Sufferings and feel the Edge of God's Sword and drink the Wine of his Wrath. This was matter of Wonder That the Lord of Angels should in the form of a Servant be subjected to the â—age and fury of Men. And then the Angels saw him exalted and lifted up by God very much above them and this did greatly astonish them That he entred into Heaven Angels Principalities and Powers being made subject to him 1 Pet. 3. ult When he was but a Babe in the Manger then the Angels of God were called to pay their Homage and perform their Adoration to him Heb. 〈◊〉 When he brought the First Begotten into 〈◊〉 World he saith Let all the Angels of Gaworship him And if they adored him lying in the Cradle much more may we thirâ—â— they will worship him sitting on the Throâ—â— Mat. 25.3 When the Son of Man shall coâ— in his glory and all the holy Angels wâ—â— him then shall he sit on the Throne ofâ— Glory When the Son of Man shall thuâ— on the Throne of his Glory the Angels 〈◊〉 be ready to give their Attendance to renâ—â— their Obedience in gathering elect Meâ—bers to their Head in presenting Criminâ—â— to his Bar and in executing his Sentence 〈◊〉 them in these following Scriptures Mat. 24. â— Luk. 19.27 Mat. 13.42 The Angels the gather the Elect to their Kingdom bâ—â— Offenders before their Judge and cast 〈◊〉 Tares into a Furnace of unquencheable Fiâ—â— 2 I shall a little dwell on the Work asenâ—â— to the Angels in the Text They shall gâ—â— Men out of Christ's Kingdom 1. This is veâ—â— observable That those whom Men-Angâ— do gather into the Church into the Viâ—â— Kingdom of Christ those Spirit-Angeâ— shall gather out of it The Officers 〈◊〉 Pastors are called the Angels of the Church The Seven Stars are said to be the Angels the Seven Churches Rev. 1.20 So we read 〈◊〉 the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Smyrna and Pergamos in the 2d of the Revelations And what is the work of these Men-Angels They gather Souls into the Church and they bring in many Hypocrites among the Sincere Mat. 22.10 Christ's Servants go forth into the High-ways and gather together unto the Feast as many as they find both Bad and Good so the Net gathers and encloses Fish of all kinds both good bad Mat. 13.47 The Good Fish are the Upright and the Bad Fish are those that are Unsound and meerly Nominal and Titular Christians But there shall be a Separation when the Net is drawn to the shore then Spirit-Angels shall gather these bad Men out of the Church which Men-Angels did gather into it Men may be imposed on and be deceived but Angels will not be cheated and deluded What doth it advantage Hypocrites to blind the Eyes of Pastors They cannot cast a Mist before or put a Veil on the Eyes of Angels Those that are passable Pieces and current Coin among the Saints will yee be discovered to be reprobate Silver and counterfeit Coin by the Angels They will know those that Ministers cannot discern 2. Good Angels will gather out of Christ's Kingdom those that Bad Angels do gather into it Mat. 13.25 While men slept an enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way Who is this Enemy Christ in Mat. 13.39 tells us it is the Devil What are the Tares Christ erpounds this of the Children of the wicked one Mat. 13.38 The Field of Christ is the Universal Visible Church spread through the World Mat. 13.38 The same that is call'd the Kingdom of Christ in the Text iâ— the World in Mat. 13.38 It is not to be understood of the World at large but the Cultivated the Manured the Tilled part of the World and that is the Universal Visible Church spread through many Nations of the World So that it is plain from this Scripture that Satan brings and sows many of his Children in the Church But is it 〈◊〉 strange improbable and almost incredible that Satan should bring Men into the Church Is not this a dangerous Place for his Subjects to be in May he not lose them Answ Satan doth bring many into the Church with a deep Design and for politiâ—â— Ends. 1. Satan counts this for his Hoâ—â—â— and Glory to have Subjects Servants and Children of his even in the Church a well as without That he has
into a Furnace of unquenchable Fire Though wicked Men are many a huge multitude and great in power and high in authority here in this world yet their numbers strength or force cannot secure or protect them from these mighty Reapers But who are those that shall be gathered out of the Kingdom of Christ This is for Christ's Glory If the whole Church is the Kingdom of Christ it is his Dominion and this is farther for his Honour that he will purge this Kingdom of his that the Beauty Purity and Holiness of it may appear As Jesus Christ is fairer than the Children of Men Psal 45.2 So the Church is to appear as the fairest among Women 1 Cant. 8. The Church is styled the Mountain of Holiness Jer. 31.23 and vastly differs from the Kingdoms of the World that are called Mountains of Prey Psal 76.4 That Society that is set forth as the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 25.1 and is indeed the Suburbs of Heaven should not be clogged with foolish Virgins and be defiled with the Workers of Iniquity Wicked Men and Hypocrites are called Dross Psal 119.119 Reprobate Silver Jer. 6.30 Brass Tin Iron and Lead Ezek. 22.18 And what doth such base Metal do among the Vessels of Gold and Silver 2 Tim. 2.20 Should not Christ's Floor be cleansed from Chaff Mat. 3.12 Should not bad Fish be pluck'd out of the Net and cast away Mat. 13.47 48. What should those do in God's House that are not Sons of God John 8.35 but are Children of Satan John 8.44 and Servants of Sin John 8.34 What should they do among the Guests at the Feast that have neither Appetites nor Wedding-Garments Mat. 22.10 11. Can carnal Creatures partake of spiritual Blessings Men are born Flesh John 3.6 and spiritual Blessings are to be enjoyed in Heavenly Places Ephes 1.3 Can Earthly Men and Women inherit a Heavenly Country Hebr. 11.16 they whose Thoughts and Hearts dwell on Earth Luk. 21.35 they that pant after the Dust of the Earth Amos 2.7 they that mind Earthly Things only Phil. 3.19 that seek nothing higher than what they shall eat what they shall drink wherewithal they shall be cloathed Mat. 6.31 32. Can these live in the pure and sine Air of spiritual Comforts Delights and Enjoyments Can dead Creatures converse with the living God Can those that wear fordid and filthy Garments present themselves with acceptance before a God that is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity Hab. 1.13 An Hypocrite shall not come before him Job 13.16 The Foolish shall not stand in his sight Evil shall not dwell with him God hates all the Workers of Iniquity Psal 5.4 5. What should profane Ones do in the Mountain of Holiness Jer. 31.23 What should the Unrighteous do in the Habitation of Justice What should corrupt and stinking Creatures do in the Mountain of Myrrh and in the Hill of Frankincense Cant. 4.6 Such gangreen'd Members must be cut off from the Body Such Spots must be washed away out of the Face of the Church But more particularly I shall address my self to consider the Words in the Text The Angels shall gather out of Christ's Kingdomâ—d things that offend and them that work iniquity 1. The Angels shall gather out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is all the Scandals all the Stumbling blocks all that offend others and obshâ—â— their entring into the Kingdom of Châ—â— It is sad to be in the Church only as Sunbling-blocks to disgrace the Faith to reproaâ—â— the Doctrine of Christ to stop or cool otheâ— in the way everlasting to turn them out oâ— the Paths of Holiness and to hurry theâ— headlong to destruction How do the 〈◊〉 Examples of some influence and learn others one Man 's wicked Life and Doâ—â— infects another's If some Neighbours aâ—â— Drunkards are Swearers are Whoremastâ—â— are Lyars are Sabbath-breakers neglâ—â—â— Prayer in their Families do not instraâ—â— their Children or restrain their Servaâ— from Wickednesses if they are Mockâ—â—s Religion Scoffers at Godliness and Hâ—â— of Good Men that will not run with 〈◊〉 to the same excess of Riot 1 Pet. 4 4â— These evil Precedents do easily and quiâ—â— prevail on others It was grown to a 〈◊〉 verb in Israel Ezek. 16.44 As is the 〈◊〉 so is her Daughter So I may say As is 〈◊〉 Father so are his Children as is the â—ster so are his Servants as is the Neighbour so are his Companions and those that converse with him Ezek. 20.18 21. God said to the Children Walk ye not in the statutes of your Fathers neither observe their Judgments Yet they walked not in God's Statutes nor observ'd his Judgments but persisted in a conformity to the evil Practices of their Parents that were so powerful that they had the force of Statutes Judgments and binding Laws How hard how rare is it to cast off or desist from a vain Conversation delivered by Tradition from Forefathers and Neighbours 1 Pet. 1.18 How pernicious fatal and destructive are such Scandals For 1. Such do teach others the way of Sin and Wickedness Jer. 2.33 Therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways When Christians ought to teach Transgressors Psal 51.13 by their Doctrines and Examples God's ways for their Conversion and Salvation they teach wicked Ones their own corrupt ways for their destruction 2. Such do justifie the Wicked of the World in all their lewd Practices Ezek. 16.51 Thou hast justified thy sisters in all thine abomination which thou hast done 46 48. Samaria was her Sister and Sodom and these Sisters Jerusalem had justified by her Abominations O that those that pretend to be Christ's Subjects should justifie his open and profess'd Enemies and approve the Heathen World in all their Drunkenness Lyings Injustice and Adulteries 3. Such do comfort Sinners in their ungodly Practices Ezek. 16.54 That this mayest bear thine own shame and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done in that thou art a comfort to them If so be those that are not of the Church but Strangers and Enemies to it do see Christians roul in Filthiness and drink in Iniquity like Water How will they be encouraged to and comforted in their sinful Practises Such will conclude there is no danger in their ways or judgment towards their Persons but that they may sin without fear of punishment or dread of vengeance 4. How great a Scandal is it when those that profess themselves the People of God and pretend to be of the Church shall out goe and outstrip Heathens in their Wickedness Jer. 5.28 They overpass the deeds of the wicked that is of the wicked Heathen Ezek. 5.6 She hath changed my judgments 〈◊〉 wickedness more than the nations and my statute more than the Countries that are round about 〈◊〉 Ezek. 16.48 God confirms this truth with aâ— Oath As I live saith the Lord God Sodoâ— thy sister hath not done she nor her daughter as thou hast done Ezek. 16.51 Neither 〈◊〉 Samaria committed half of thy sins How horrible
Soul An evil Man brings forth evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart Mat. 12.35 God accuses the Jews by Jeremiah That that they had done nothing of all that God commanded them That the Children of Judah had only done evil before the Lord That the Children of Israel had only provoked him to anger Jer. 32.23 30. 4. They persist continue and go on in this work Ezek. 23.43 I said unto her that was old in adulteries Wâ—â— they now commit adulteries with her and she with them Yet in ver 44. it is said She continued in her whoredom and did not give off Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may they that are accustomed to do evil learn to do well Jer. 13.2 The Hearts of Sinners are bent to backslide Hos 11.7 They have loved Strangers and after them they will go Jer. 2.25 They are of their Father the Devil and his lusts they will do Joh. 8.44 This they are sixed in this they are resolved on and thoâ— it be the Duty of Men to receive the Law from God's Mouth Job 22.22 yet they declare they will doe whatsoever proceeds out of their own mouth Jer. 44.17 and so they oppose their own mouth to the mouth of God 5. They rejoyce to doe Evil Jer. 11.17 When thou dost evil then thou rejoycest Sinners chuse their own ways and their Soul delights in their Abominations Isa 66.3 They count it pleasure to riot in the day-time 2 Pet. 2.13 Thus deceived Sinners imagin and conceit a Heaven in that which indeed fits them for Hell and prepareth them for everlasting Torments The day is coming when they that shall review all their sensual Delights and draw their greatest bitterness out of that which hath been most sweet to them Oh how terrible will it be to draw a Real Hell of Misery out of their Imaginary and Momentary Heaven of Felicity Their present Pleasures will be a seed of Pain and of eternal Torments 2dly I shall shew you what a hainous and provoking thing it is to work Iniquity in the Kingdom of Christ For 1. They that are of the Church they do profess and avow the Lord to be their God Hos 8.2 Israel shall cry unto me My God we know thee Yet in ver 3. it is said Israel hath cast off the thing that is good And Aholah saith God played the harlot when she was mine Ezek. 23.5 How treacherous are they that say God is their Father Joh. 8.41 We have one Father even God yet they partake of Satan's corrupt Nature bear his Image and do his Lusts John 8.44 Ye are of your Father the devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do How abominable is this to wear God's Livery and yet do Satan's drudgery How doth God complain and call Heaven and Earth to witness against Israel I have nourished and brought up Children yet they have rebelled against me Isaiah 1.2 The Heaven and the Earth and all the Creatures serve Man yet he denies Obedience to his Maker Those that are in the Church are under more Ties and Obligations than others Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth When it is said of the Gentiles That they were a People that Christ did not know Isa 55.5 Yet Christ came to his own and his own received him 〈◊〉 John 1.11 Who should welcome him 〈◊〉 open their Hearts and receive him if not his own Yet Christ's own rejected him Not only they shut the Door against hiâ— but also poured out their Fury on him and cut him off from the Land of the Liviâ—â— God complains Psal 81.11 But my peâ—â— would not hearken to my voice Israel would bâ—â— none of me And indeed would be none oâ— his 2. Those that are in Christ's Kingdâ—â— they are near to God and in his special Pâ—â—sence and it is therefore more heinous 〈◊〉 such to work Iniquity 1. They are near 〈◊〉 God Jer. 13.2 God bids Jeremiah to â—e him a Linnen Girdle and put it on his Loâ—â—â— and God expounds the meaning of this Sigâ— ver 11. For as the girdle cleaveth to the 〈◊〉 a man so have I caused to cleave unto me 〈◊〉 whole house of Israel that they might be 〈◊〉 me for a people and for a name and for a praâ—e and for a glory but they would not hear God speaks here of Israel as his visible Church And by the Covenant that was between God and them they were as a Girdle put on bound to him and were to cleave to him both for God's Honour and Glory As a Girdle is an Ornament to a Man so those that are truly God's People are his Glory Isa 46.13 I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my Glory 2 Cor. 8.23 The Apostle speaks of the Messengers of the Churches that they were the Glory of Christ such Church-Members ought to be Yet those that work Iniquity in the Kingdom of Christ are a Dishonour a Disgrace a Reproach to Christ 2. A Girdle is put on and worn about the Loins of a Man and this is an Honour to the Girdle it self that it is so near to a Man and is worn as an Ornament by him So God is the Glory of Men Isa 60.13 Thy God shall be thy Glory For Men to be brought under a Covenant with God and by this means to be joined to God this is the Glory of Men Psal 50.5 Gather my Saints together that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice To be God's Confederates is the Honour of Men but those that work â—niquity in Christ's Kingdom do turn this Glory into Shame This is their Infamy To break the Marriage-Covenant Hos 4.12 to go a whoring from under their God to doat on Creatures and prostitute themselves to Idols Such shall bear the Reproach saith God Micah 6.16 of my People They shall be exposed to everlasting Infamy for mocking of God and lying to him Psal 50.16 17. What best thou to do to take my covenant into thy mouth Seeing thou hatest instruction and casteth my words behind thee Though they were callâ—â— Saints by reason of their profession and coligation to be such yet Psal 50.16 they are called wicked by reason of their hating Instruction and casting God's Words behâ—â—d their Backs 2. Those that are in Christs Kingdom they are in God's special Presence For God dwelleth in Zion Joel 3.21 The Name of Spiritual Jerusalem is Jeboâ—â— Shammah The Lord is there Ezek. 48 3â— And this is a great Affront to provoke God to his Face to sin under his Eye and in 〈◊〉 special Presence Isa 65.3 A People that 〈◊〉 voketh me to anger continually to my face Goâ— Temple and Habitation was among the and thereby their Guilt was exceeding heightned and aggravated they did dâ— God and Affront him to his Face whâ— as the Gentiles might be said comparatiâ—ly to sin behind God's Back because 〈◊〉 special Presence was not among them 〈◊〉 Judah was his
affright and terrisie the Workers of Iniquity that they as vile and worthless Creatures shall be cast away Matth. 13.48 the bad Fish shall be cast away as those that God hath no esteem of Love to oâ— Delight in they have cast away the Law of the Lord Isa 5.24 and now they themselves shall be cast away they would not put away the Lusts of their Hearts the Evil of their Doings and now therefore they must be put away as Dross Psal 119.119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the Eaâ—â— as Dross But this is not all the Tares shall be cast into a Furnace of unquenchable Fire Matth. 13.12 It is honourable to be Trees for Fruit but it is disgracefull and reproachful to be Trees for Fuel Hay serves for Food to Cattel but Tares do serve only to heat the Oven and to burn in the Furnace O how dreadful is this for to be cast into a Furnace heated by the Anger and Fury of God Can we imagine how terrible that Fire is which is kindled by incensed Justice and blown up by the Breath of an angry God a Fire that will indeed devour all that is pleasant and coniume all that is sweet and gratefull in Life yet leave still a Being to feel Misery and endure Eternal Torments We should be amazed to see a Wisp of Straw a Bundle of Tares to hold out one day and not be consumed but this is a great Miracle of the Power of God to uphold and preserve Sinners to be an eternal Mark for God to shoot at an eternal Footstool for him to tread on Eternal Vessels for him to drop his Wrath and pour out his Fury into The Evil of Sin doth not consume is not expiated by all the Torments of the workers of iniquity and so their Misery cannot abate their Punishments cannot lessen nor the Fire go out they suffer from God and hate him they endure Blows and Wounds from him and blaspheme him for them they Rebelled against God they suffered Sin and Satan to Rule in them and now full sore against their Wills God will Reign over them with an out-stretched Arm and Fury poured out Ezek. 20.33 they would not come under Christ's Pastoral Rod Ezek 20.37 but they must be forced to fall under Christ's Iron Rod Psal 2.9 their Sin did grieve God and God's Sentence and the Execution of it will eternally sting and vex them Oh it is dreadful for Sinners to be preserved in being for their hurt to have an immortal Existence that they may feel an immortal Punishment Misery and Torment If Christ that was a green Tree Luke 23.31 that was full of the vital Sap of Holiness and Righteousness and did continually abound in spiritual Fruit had yet such a Fire of Wrath burning against him and kindled on him when as Evil Fruits were only hanged on him by imputation but did never grow in or on him what must dry Trees expect that are destitute of the Life of God and did never bear Fruit to Christ what an everlasting Furnace what an Eternal Fire will be their Portion Christ could pass the Cup from him by his drinking of it Mat. 26.42 but workers of iniquity shall drink of the Cup of God's Fury yet it shall never pass from them but stay at their Lips and be suck'd and soak into their Souls 2. Use I would now put you on the Search Trial and Examination of your selves Are you truly Members of and sincere Subjects in this Kingdom of God Are you such as shall stay in the Kingdom of God or such as shall be gathered out of it There is a great deal of difference between treading in God's Courts Isaiah 1.12 and growing in God's House or being planted and flourishing in God's Courts Psal 92.13 those that only tread in God's Courts may not stay in his House John 8.35 but may be driven out of it Hos 9.15 I will drive them out of my house I will love them no more but those that are planted by God and are green Olive-Trees in the House of God they shall never wither or be rooted up Psal 52.8 they trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever and mercy will follow them all their days Psal 23.6 and mercy will be built up for ever Psal 89.2 It is worth the while to enquire what we are and whose we are that we may not flatter and deceive our own Souls In a Family there are Sons and Servants John 4.35 in a Great House there are Vessels of Gold and Silver and Vessels of Wood and Earth in great Cities as in Rome of old they did distinguish the Inhabitants into two sorts the Advenae or Strangers the Cives or Citizens that were born and bred there O consider Are you Titular or Real Are you Transient or Abiding Subjects in Christ's Kingdom Are ye rescued and delivered from the adverse Prince and contrary Kingdom Men are born under the Law of Sin Rom. 8.2 and under the power of Satan Acts 26.18 the God of this World is their Father John 8.44 the Prince of this World is their King Oh therefore ask this serious Question Is the Prince of the World cast out of your Hearts John 12.31 now shall the Prince of the World be cast out And are you pluckt out of his Paw rescued out of his Kingdom Col. 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Father hath by a strong hand by a mighty arm pluckt and snatched his Redeemed from the Power of Darkness Ignorance and Sin are Darknesses and Satan is the Power and Prince of Darkness he rules Men by their Ignorance and Lusts and therefore he is stiled the ruler of the darkness of this world Ephes 6.12 Ignorance and Sin have a strange Power over Souls as if they were rightful and lawful Powers and Satan's Kingdom is grounded and built on them Sinners know not what they do whither they go whom they serve and hence it is they do so readily and willingly yield themselves to obey the Commands of these Enemies that hoodwink them and hurry them on to Destruction Are your Eyes opened Are Satan's Snares and Sin 's Bonds broken Are you turned from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God Acts 26.18 are you made free from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 darkness did chain the Egyptians in their Places that they did not remove or go about Exod. 10.22 23. but when the Light returned then they were set at Liberty to walk about and work so have you known the Truth of Christ and been made free by it John 8.32 Is the Veil of Ignorance drawn off from your Minds And are the Chains of Lust fallen off from your Wills A Veil is a Restraint and Bondage on the Eye Those that do not see the Evil of Sin will not fly from it they that behold not the Excellency of the Kingdom of God will not press into it 2ly Are you translated
restrained from Sin by an outward Prohibition but we hate it our Nature is averse from it and abhors it We are not meerly constrain'd by an imperious and urgent Command enforced with terrible Threatnings but sweetly and powerfully enclined by an inward Disposition and vital Principle Do you love your Heavenly Master and would not go free from him but be more subjected to him when others do break the Yoke of God and do burst his Bonds Psal 2.3 Jer. 5.5 Do you put your Necks into Christ's Yoke Matth. 11.29 and bend your selves with his Laws as pleasant light and ornamental Chains Isa 45.14 They shall come after thee in Chains Kings and Nobles are willingly bound with these Chains Psal 149.8 As the desire of Israel was to Saul and to have him to rule over theâ— 1 Sam. 9.20 so the Nations did run to Christ Isa 55.5 and desire him to rule over them Isa 11.10 The Gentiles are said to seek to him And also the converted Jews Hos 3.5 should seek to him as a King that he might give Law to them and rule over them Christ's Kingdom is not forced and obtruded on his People but voluntarily chosen and freely submitted to 5thly Examin how are your Hearts and Lives ordered 1. How are your Minds Wills Affections ordered Isa 9.7 Jesus sits on a spiritual Throne to order it The Soul is Christ's Throne and till he sits and rules in it all is disorderly The Thoughts are â—ain the Will rebellious the Assections vile and inordinate as at first the Water overwhelmed and covered all Gen. 1.2 till God said Let the waters be gathered into one place Gen. 1.9 and then dry land appeared and a Place was prepared for Mens Habitationâ— So while there is nothing but a spiritual Chaos Self-love as a Sea covers all swallows up all true Love to God and Man But when God by his Grace doth gather the Affections into their proper Chanels and unto their right Objects When God bounds banks and limits them then dry Land in a spiritual sence appears for God's Habitation in the Soul then room and place is made for him Are your Hearts directed into the Love of God 2 Thes 8.5 And are you taught of God to love your Brethren 1 Thes 4.9 Then Self love is ordered and is confined within its due and proper Bounds 2. Are your Conversations ordered aright Do you set God's Laws before you Psalm 119.30 as the Rule of your Hearts Words Actions Is it your true and greatest design to please God 1 Thes 4.1 and to be accepted with him 2 Cor. 5.9 When Christ comes into the Soul he Judges Isa 2.4 he Reproves Isa 11.3 Jesus Christ censures what is contrary and displeasing to God He rebukes Mens Lusts he puts a new Byass on the Will and enclines the Soul to a new way and walk Jer. 3.17 They shall call Jerusalem that is the Church that 〈◊〉 Spiritual Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord and all the nations shall be gathered unto it to the name of the Lord to Jerusalem they shall walk no more after the Imaginations of their evil hearts But they that walk in the light of the Lord Isa 2.5 and in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of his holy Spirit Acts 9.31 If thou dost still walk in thy own Counsels and in the Lusts of thine own Heart Psal 51.12 and in the common way of the World Isa 8.11 and as other Gentiles do in the Vanity of thy Mind Ephes 4.17 besure thou hast had no Experience of the Kingdom of Christ come into and set up in thy Heart If thy Heart be cast into a new Mould Rom. 6.7 and brought under a new Lord and Law thy Soul must needs steeâ—â— new course As Heaven and Hell do vastly differ so do the narrow and broad way exceedingly differ that lead to a blessed and miserable Eternity You reproach and disgrace the Kingdom of Christ if your Hearts are not leavened with Faith and Love and if your Conversations are not ordered better than others Christ's Sheep come and go at the Direction and Command of the great Shepherd but others out of Christs Kingdom are as wild Beasts that run to and fro move here and there at their own Pleasure they are turned up and down by the dictates of a vain Mind and wicked Will but yet if you are Christ's true Subjects you will not be brought under the power of tempting Objects without or reigning Lusts within 1 Cor. 6.12 3. Use Shall the workers of iniquity be gathered out of Christ's Kingdom then I would Exhort you sincerely to subject your selves to the Lord Jesus Christ as your King Let not your Lips slatter and your Tongue lye to Jesus Christ but indeed take Christ's Yoke come under his pastoral Rod enter into his Fold and into the Bond of the Covenant Matth. 11.29 Ezek. 20.37 John 10.9 1. Consider Jesus Christ is not sond of or sets a value on neither is he pleased and delighted with empty Names and Titles Matth. 7.21 It is not every one that saith Lord Lord that shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Christ will not own approve admit such in the Great Day a form of Godliness will yield but a vain Image of Happiness Would an earthly King be satisfied if Rebels did call him their Lord and would receive his Picture into their City but did shut out his Person And will the King of Glory be appeased and quieted with a Picture of Piety or with a cold and dead form of Religion We are bid not only to give the Hand to the Lord 2 Chron. 30.8 so it is in the Original and so in the Margin with allusion to those that did make Bargains and to conclude them did strike or give their Hands to each other but we are also required to give our Hearts to the Lord Prov. 23.26 The Life of the natural Man is but a vain shew of Life Psal 39.6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew And will it advantage us to add a vain shew of Religion to a vain Shew of Life Can Men make up a Summ to enrich them by multiplying Cyphers And Hypocrite is styled a vain Man James 2.20 But wilt thou know O vain man that faith without works is dead And the formal Prayers of Hypocrites are called Vanity Job 35.12 13. Men cry but none giveth answer But why are Prayers this fruitless and ineffectual the next Words toll us the Cause Surely God will not hear vanity neither will the Almighty regard it Both natural and instituted Worship is to be a Wine-press Matth. 21.33 and so to squeeze and draw out the Juice and Quintessence of Grace that is in the Soul else Christ will not regard Lip-labour and bodily Service The Heart is Christ's House and Throne the Mind and Will are the Tables he writes his Laws in 2 Cor. 3.3 He requires the best Room the Guest Chamber It is an Affront and an Indignity to Christ to be
thrust into the Stable again or to be entertained only in an out Room Will a Master reward a Servant that only wears his Livery but doth not his Work 2dly Jesus will look into the Souls and see through all outside Shews and Appearances Isaiah 11.3 Jesus judgeth not according to the sight of his eyes nor reproveth according to the hearing of his ears Jesus Christ doth not stop or stay on the surface and outside of things neither doth he receive Intelligence and Information from others that may be mistaken themselves and so might deceive and abuse him but he hath a Window into the Breasts and Bosoms of Sinners he searcheth the Hearts he trieth the Reins he weigheth the Spirits of Men he detects inward Poverty Emptiness and Filth Matt. 12.44 he finds it out if the House be empty of Grace and destitute of the Spirit at best but swept from grosser Sins and Crimes and garnished with Morality and a Form of Godliness but rather it was swept and garnished and fitted for the return of the unclean Spirit into it Matt. 12.45 Christ discerned the House of the Soul to be swept from all spiritual Good and garnished in Satan's Eye with ungodliness and unrighteousness Christ will discover those that make a fair Show of Religion that have a Name to live that yet they are really dead Rev. 3.1 he looks through the beautiful Sepulchre and Tomb and seeth the Filth and Rettenness of a carnal and dead Heart underneath The Jews did account that Men were defiled by touching or walking over a Grave and therefore when a Grave was sunk and did not appear Luke 11.44 they used to go forth in the Day before their Festivals and cast Lime or Chalk on them and so by whiting the ground to give notice of a Grave that Persons might not come near it and be polluted by it A Learned Man doth think that Jesus Christ alludes to this Custom when he calls the Hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees graves that did not appear but he by his Reprooss and Discoveries of them did white them that so Persons might know them beware and take heed of them There is not the closest Hypocrite in the World but Christ can find him out and white him Isaiah 11.3 Christ is of quick understanding or of quick scent and smell as it is in the Hebrew in and about the Fear of the Lord he doth wind he doth scent Hypocrisie though it be veiled and cloaked over with a beautiful Shew of Religion and Righteousness If you are Hypocrites and think to blind Christ's Eyes with a specious Form of Godliness without the Power of it you are guilty of a kinded Blasphemy If you think that Christ may be couzened with your Cased Pieces and doth not know your counterfeit and brass Money Rev. 2.9 I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not 〈◊〉 are the Synagogue of Satan It is no less than Blasphemy for thee so to think to put a Fallacy and Cheat on Christ who knoweth all the hidden things and will bring to light all the deep Counsels of it 1 Cor. 4.5 he will lay open all the secret Lusts all the corrupt and base Ends that insluenced and swayed Men under a Profession of Religion and the practice of some outward Duties 3dly Men may call Christ Lord and yet repeat and act over all the Indignities that were offered to Christ by the unbelieving Jews that were his Enemies they Crowned Christ but it was with Thorns they put a Scepter into his hand but it was a Reed they saluted him and said Hail King of the Jews but all this was but in mockery and derision for they smote Christ on the head Matt. 27.29 30. and are not many nominal and outside Christians guilty of the same things in a Mystery their hearing some Sermons now and then with a wandring and roving Mind with a drousie Ear their repeating some Forms of Prayer in a cold and heartless manner without Understanding or Faith without inward Groans spiritual Wrestlings and Importunities their owning some Doctrinal Points of Religion and practising some just things as to the Matter of them is the Reed they put into Christ's Hand some outward Acknowledgments they make of his Lordship and Dominion over them but in the mean time they Crown Christ with Thorns by their Oaths Curses and Lies they smite Christ by their Drunkenness their Uncleanness their scorning at Godliness their Reproaching them that will not profane the Lord's Day as they do and will not neglect God's Worship in their Families as they do and will not run with them to the same Excess of Riot drink in Iniquity and roll in Filth and Uncleanness as they do they take no care to engage their Hearts to Christ to keep them with all diligence to watch over their Tongues to order their Conversations aright and spend their Time well As the Jews were incensed against Christ Isaiaha◠24. they pretended he did forbid to pay Tribute to Caesar and would justle him out of his Throne when as the true Cause of their Controversie with and Enmity against Christ was that he would thrust Satan out of his Throne and did forbid Sinners to pay Tribute to their Lusts So Men now are enraged against Christ for the same Reason because his Holy Will crosses their cornat wills his Commands clash with their Lus◠and he restrains them from the Pleasures of Sin that are so sweet to them and calls theat to Purity and Strictness in Religion which is so bitter and unpleasing to them Will Christ accept of Honour in Words when it is joyned with Reproach in Deeds Wist verbal Friendship be regarded when accompanied with real Enmity Will Christ repute those his Subjects that serve his Enemies and gratifie Satan and their own Lusts Shall pretended Obedience bring Men unto Heaven and real Disobedience not throw them to Hell Shall a Lye ingratiate Men with God and true Impiety not render them odious to God 4thly Consider Jesus Christ will set up his Kingdom in the World and at last Rule over you whether you will or no As none can hinder the rising of the Sun or obstruct the blowing of the Wind so all the opposition and rage of the World shall not hinder the rising of the Son of Righteousness Mal. 4.2 and of the Glory of the Lord Isa 60.1 nor obstruct the blowing of the Wind of the Spirit Acts 2.2 This mighty rushing Wind filled the World with the Doctrine of Christ as that Wind at Pentecost filled the House where the Apostles of Christ were sitting Though Kings and the great Men of the World did join their Counsels and unite their Strength and Force to keep down Christ's Kingdom and to suppress the beginnings of it yet he that sate in the Heavens did laugh at all their Policy and Power and had all their Attempts and Endeavours in derision and did prevail notwithstanding all their Malice to set his King
hoâ— great and mighty a King is Jesus Christ that threatens so powerful and victorious a King as Death is How long hath Death reigned and how large an Empire hath it had in the World it is said Rom. 5.14 Death reigned from Adam to Moses yea we may extend the duration of its Kingdom further it hath reigned from the Fall of the first Adam to this day and how many conquered Subjects hath it had 1 Cor. 15.22 in Adam all died Death is such a King as shakes its Black Rod over and brandishes it 's sharp and glittering Sword against the whole World it hath threatned arrested and cut off the Greatest Kings and Conquerors it hath been very Terrible to them that by Oppression Violence and Cruelty caused their Terrour in the Land of the Living Ezek. 32.23 none of the Kings of the World can prevent the Fatal stroke of Death on themselves much less can they divert it from their Subjects but Christ is such a King as combates with Death and overcomes it he tasted Death indeed himself once Heb. 2.9 but it was to abolish it 2 Cor. 1.10 he became a Subject to it for a time that he might swallow it up for ever and be a Lord over the dead to raise them up Rom. 14.9 and rescue them from this Enemy And how strong yet how sweet are these Words of Christ I will be the plague of death I will be a Discase yea a mortal Disease to kill Death it self and Grave I will be thy destruction Christ fulfills his threatning when he seeks out the Dust of his People and forms it up into a Body this defeats and disanuls the Victory of the Grave that it may be said O Grave where is thy victory though thou didst corrupt putresie and dissolve our Bodies thâ—â— thou didst devour our Flesh and crumble it into Dust and take away the very shape of a Body yet we have new Bodies formed and organized again and when these Bodies shall receive their Souls and be quickened by them then it may be said O death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55 What haâ—â— thou gotten by stinging and killing our Bodies behold they are alive again Theâ—e is a Day when the Lord will make upâ—â— Jewels Malachy 3.17 And then God's Jewels are made up when immortal Souls shall be joined to and set in the Rings of Glorious Bodies Christ is such a King as will conform all his Subjects to himself both is Soul and Body When he regenerates the Soul then it bears the Image of the second Adam when he raises the Body this is â—s proper Regeneration to be begotten and born from the dead as Christ was Col. 1 1â— Revel 1.5 When old Adam's Tenour is out and quite abolished when Christ bâ— his Spirit quickens the Body Rom. 8.11 then it bears the Image of the Heavenly Adam and is held of him 1 Cor. 15.49 Saints are the Children of God as they are the Children of the Resurrection Luke 20. â—6 This is a new Ground and Reason why they should be called the Children of God the Seed of Christ When Saints awake out of the Dust they shall be satisfied with God's likeness Psal 17.15 When they are begotten again into a lively Hope 1 Pet. 1.3 4. they bear God's Image in their Souls but when they shall be raised or be begotten from the dead then they shall also bear Christ's Image in their Bodies and so shall be satisfied with the Image of Christ as an Everlasting Father O what a precious Merby What an incomparable Priviledge is this that Jesus Christ will not forget or reject our Dust for ever but seek it out and form it up as an Habitation for our Souls and an everlasting Temple for his Spirit to dwell in 8thly Jesus Christ is such a King as will gather and draw up all his sincere Subjects to him to be with him for ever 1 Thes 4.17 As he receives their Souls in a dying Hour Psal 49.15 Acts. 7.59 so he will come again to revive their Bodies and then he will receive their whole Man to himself John 14.3 What wonderful Grace and Kindness is this that where the Master is there the Servant shall also be John 12.20 That the Sheep shall for ever dwell with the great Shepherd and all the Subjects of this Glorious King shall abide with him and see his Glory so as to share in it and partake of it John 17.24 2 Thes 2.14 Christ the King is the Harbinger and Forerunner of his Subjects Hebr. 6.20 He is gone into another World to choose an Eternal Inheritance for his Brethren Psal 47.4 He shall choose our Inheritance for us And Christ by interceeding with his Father that his People may be with him doth prepare a Place for them John 17.24 John 14.2 3. Christ's Intercession is so powerful that it cannot be deny'd I would now give you some Counsels and Directions that you may stay and continâ—e in this Kingdom and not be gathered 〈◊〉 of it and deprived of the Blessedness and Glory of it 1st O come forth and see King Solomâ—â— Cant. 3.11 This King Solomon is King Jesus he hath made him a rich and gloriâ—â— Chariot to ride forth in and to visit Kingdoms Nations and People The Gospel as preached in the World is the Spirituâ—â— Chariot that Christ sits in and the whâ—â— Horse he rides on Rev. 6.2 The Church in her Ministers may be and is comparâ—â— to the Horses in Pharaoh's Chariot Cant â— 9 The Church by her Ministers do's drâ—â— Jesus Christ about the World O consider this the Gospel is not fixed to one Nation the Chariot of Christ is moving and may quickly pass by us and be gone from us It is a great Mercy that Christ's Chariots come to us that he appears among us O slight not the Opportunity neglect not the Day of Grace Come sorth from your Ignorance and Night of Darkness come forth from your slight low and contemptible Thoughts of Christ O fix the Eye of your Minds on him look with a steady Eye on Christ John 6.40 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We should contemplate the Son our Minds should dwell on him we should not content our selves with seldom and transient Glances on Christ but our Thoughts should be conversant about Christ Do we not need Christ Is he not absolutely necessary for us Must we not wander if Christ doth not guide us and fall if he doth not support us and be a Prey to Satan if he doth not guard and protect us Must we not famish if he doth not feed us and perish if he doth not fold us And be Friendless and Harbourless at last if he doth not receive us How will you look Death or the Judge in the Face if you do not first see Christ and his Salvation O view and look well on Christ Is there any thing in him to be disliked to be excepted against Is he not altogether lovely Cant. 5.16 Whatever is desireable