unto God himselfe is the loveliest and most delightfull object or sight that is and it is that that Christ prayes for Iohn 17. 24. Father I will that they which thou hast given mee bee with mee where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me so also Revel 14. 4. it is said These are they which are not defiled with women for they are virgins these follow the Lambe wheresoever he goes Hence it is plaine we shall enjoy the eternall presence of Christ which how comfortable will it bee to a poore Christian even the chiefest even the onely thing which hee desires As Saint Paul saith I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all And the Wisemen Matth. 2. 10. when after a long journey and a great deale of travell they found Christ it is said that they rejoyced exceedingly and thought all their paines and travell well bestowed in that they had found him so when a Christian hath found Christ not poore and meane lying in a manger but gloriously sitting upon a Throne what a comfort will this be to him when he shall thinke all his labor and pains well bestowed what a comfort was it to Iosephs brethren Genes 45. 4. in their great distresse when he said I am Ioseph your brother c. so what a comfort will it bee to a poore Christian in that great distresse when Iesus Christ shall say I am your Brother your Saviour and Redeemer that have lost my life for you and shed out my pretious blood to redeeme you and gave my life and soule for your sakes Now enjoy me to your comfort How comfortable I say will this bee to a poore Christian in the perplexitie and great amazement which shall then come on the world Thirdly We shall enjoy the societie of all the holy Saints of Angels and Archangels Prophets and Patriarkes as Christ saith Matth. 8. 11. Many shall come from the East and West and shall sit downe with Abraham and Isaak and Iaakob in the Kingdome of Heaven It was the end of Christs death to bring us to Heaven as it is Iohn 11. 52. where speaking of his owne death hee saith And not for that Nation onely but that he might gather together in one the Children of God which were scattered abroad so that wee must first bee gathered into the kingdome of grace and then into the kingdome of Glory We see what a comfort it is when a few friends meete together at a feast when they have beene absent a long time but much more will our comfort be when we shall meet together in heaven We see how Peter was rapt with joy when he saw but two Prophets with Christ in the transfiguration Matth. 17. 4. saith he It is good being here Let us make three Tabernacles one for thee one for Moses and one for Elias if he were thus rapt with joy when he saw but two of the Prophets onely what will it bee when we shall not onely have a sight of two but we shall have societie together with Angels and Archangels Patriarkes and Prophets and all the holy men of God to live with them for ever and ever Thinke what a comfort it will be that after a few dayes spent here in the feare of God Repentance for our sinnes and new obedience we shall enjoy Heaven for ever Therefore thinke if thou canst thinke how comfortable it will bee and doe not lose heavenly things for earthly and for society with sinners doe not lose societie and fellowship with the People of God in the Kingdome of Heaven for ever Fourthly We shall enjoy Lordship over this whole world So we see Psal. 49. 14. where it is said The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning though the People of God be kept low in this life and have but little comfort yet when the great morning shall come the day of judgement then the People of God shall raigne over this whole world and have dominion and Lordship over it So Revel 21. 7. He that overcommeth shall inherit all things that is Hee that overcommeth his lusts and his sins this may be a comfort to a poore Christian though his estate be but meane and poore It may be thou wantest a house to put thy head in or hast but a poore one Be of good comfort if thou labourest to repent thee of thy sinnes and to overcome thy lusts and corruptions then thou shalt possesse the new Heaven and the new Earth and mayest say as it is 1 Pet. 5. 3. Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us againe unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance immortall and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for us If a man hath but little in possession and great matters in reversion hee will comfort himselfe and say I thanke God though mine estate bee but meane and poore now yet one day I shall have somewhat that will keepe mee like a man so a Christian may comfort himselfe and say I thanke God although my estate be but meane and poore so as I have but little in possession yet I have a great reversion I shall bee Lord over this whole world Fifthly We shall enjoy a continuall Sabbath to the Lord In this life wee keepe but every seventh day a Sabbath which day to a Spirituall man is the comfortablest but to a Carnall man heavie and irkesome Here we keepe but one of seven but there every day shall bee a Sabbath to them As wee see Esay 66. 23. And it shall come to passe as from one new Moone to another and from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before me saith the Lord so Heb. 4. 9. he saith there remaineth therefore a rest to the People of God Now wee keepe but one day of seven but then we shall keepe every day a Sabbath unto the Lord which is exceeding comfortable as it appeares Revel 15. 2. where we see how those that passed over the glassie Sea did sing the song of Moses and the Lambe So all the People of God when they have passed the glassie Sea of this world shall sing songs of deliverance and praise the Lord who hath delivered them from the power of sinne the Divell and Hell The Prophet David Psal 84. 4. saith Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will ever be praising thee and Augustine speaking of this place saith hee what is that which makes a man blessed Every man who is blessed is blessed either by possessing or doing of some thing but then we shall possesse the house it selfe and therefore shall be blessed For a man may dwell in these houses and yet be a poore man but he that dwels in the House of God is rich One may dwell in these houses
the Name Iesus is implied Christ to be our Savior No other Iesus but he He is our Iesus and will save us 72. Sinnes of ignorance lesse than sinnes of knowledge 228. * Commission of sinne after illumination dangerous 193. ¶ Impenitence worse than wormewood or â—all to Christ 250. * Importunitie prevailes with wicked men to any thing that is bad 210. * Impossibilities in nature are possibilities in the power of God 109. ¶ Our Heavenly Inheritance comes from God our Father 57. Our title to Heaven is by inheritance 452. Foure testimonies of Christs Innocencie 195. We ought to beware of wronging the Innocent 206. ¶ Iosephs grave in his garden why 279. How Christ makes intercession for us 457. It is finished Christs song of gratulation 250. ¶ Of Iudas's betraying Christ 181. Christ onely the Iudge at last day 394. ¶ Comforts from Christ being our Iudge 394. ¶ Two things required in a Iudge sufficient Knowledge to know all things Power to punish all offendors 391. Of Christs comming to Iudgement 385. The glory of Christs comming to Iudgement consists in His traine Brightnesse of his Body Eminencie of his soveraigne Power 422 There shall be a Iudgement day 386. The day of Iudgement not far off 400. ¶ The Earth the generall place where the last Iudgement shall be 395. * The Time Certaintie Signes of the last Iudgement 399. c. Two signes yet to come of the last Iudgement 403. Reasons of the delay of the day of Iudgement are Gods 1. Patience in waiting for mans redemption 2. Goodnesse to his creatures 3. Care of the Elect. 404. The persons that shall be Iudged 405. The manner of the last Iudgement 409. The sentence of the last Iudgement 443. The last Iudgement shall bee according to good workes 458. ¶ Difference in Iudgement may happen to the Saints but not in affection as in Physitians about a sicke Patient 585. ¶ Gods Children must bee affected with his Iudgements 168. ¶ All that desire to see Christ and to depart in peace must be Iust men 139. †Iustice and Religion must goe together 139. ¶ K NO doores or iron gates can keepe out Christ 339. * Christ hath two keyes 1. To lock the wicked into hel 2. To open heaveÌ„ to the godly 423 Christ a King to Gather Governe Doe good to Defend his Church and People 86. c. The Kingdome of Heaven prepared onely for the Elect. 451. Three properties of the Kingdome of Heaven 448. Gods attributes set aworke to furnish the Kingdome of Heaven 448. ¶ Foure excellencies of the Kingdome of Heaven 449. Gods goodnesse to his people to bring them out of the divels kingdome into Christs 87. †Christs Kingdome not of this world 115. †198. †Some kisse religion at Church as Iudas did Christ and betray it at home 184. †That we shall know one another at the Resurrection 630. Two defects in knowledge or illumination 496. Christ must bee made knowne abroad noâ— conceald in private 127. †Wee must make conscience of knowne truthes 284. * L NO labour too great to come to Christ 129. ¶ If we continue in sinne unrepentant Christ hath lost his labour 151. ¶ A Christian a shining lampe 589. * The Canon Law makes it unlawfull to sell Spirituall things What belongs to another 182. ¶ God sometimes leaves us to see how we love him 332. A man loses the Spirit as leaves fall off a tree 521. †An evill member of the Church compared to a wodden legge 537. * Why Christs legges were broken 266. No lets should binder Christians from comming to Christ 126. †Christs Letter to his Father 74. How a man may be busied for provision for this life 648. †Mans life compared to Weavers warpe 45. ¶ Life twofold of Nature Grace 171. * The time of this life the time of mercie and grace 444. This life compared to a drawbridge ibid. Of life everlasting 648. God promiseth to his People life Naturall in this world Spirituall in the world to come 649. ¶ Two degrees of spirituall life of Grace Glorie 650. †The continuance of life everlasting 669. Life everlasting no blessing but torment to the wicked 648. ¶ Christ by his life aswell as death wrought out our salvation 254. †As the Soule is the life of the body so God is the life of the soule 649. Sinners deserve not to have the light of the Sunne or Moone to shine on them 167. ¶ Christ Lord of the world in regard of Soveraigntie Service 95. Christ as Lord will dispose all to the good of his Church 96. †Christ our Lord by right of Creation Redemption Donation Voluntarie service 97. The abatements of the graces of the Spirit in a man whereby hee thinkes them lost 518. †Love beares with a number of faults as a mother with her childe 595. The marvellous love of Christ to die and suffer for us 151. * True love to Christ Endures no holding backe Followes Christ in bonds 190. True love to Christ stoopes to the meanest service for his members 276. †Christ loves his enemies much more his friends 226. ¶ Every man like the Iewes preferre their lusts before Christ 203. M IF Christ restored an Eare to Malchus his enemy much more will he be mercifull to his friends 638. ¶ God had rather abate of his Service thaâ— Man wâ—nt his comfort 459. Gods fitting a Man to his Kingdome compared to a Carpenters hewing of timber 500. ¶ The meanenesse of Mans beginning 67. God made Man last of all creatures to Honour him Teach him Further him in the best things 70. †Christ was made Man in regard of Necessitie Equitie Fitnesse 103. The Manhood of Christ darkned by the Godhead as a candle by the Sunne 477. * The manner of the manifestation of Christs birth 123. Three reasons why Christ was manifested first to the poorer sort 120. ¶ The Virgin Mary more blessed for bearing Christ in her heart than in her wombe 112. †Notes of Mary Magdalens love to Christ are her seeking him Continually when others gave over With teares for losse of him With diligence With complaint for not finding him With publishing her sorrow With proffer of any paines to enjoy him 306. c. Why Mary could not see Christ 310. Why Christ appeares first to Mary 313. ¶ Constant using the meanes a sure way to finde Christ 307. The meanes are to the Spirit as would to the nourishing of a tree 520. †The conscionable use of the meanes gives us comfortable hope of a blessing 538. * The office of a Mediator ceases when Christ renders up his Kingdome 476. †The Mediatorship compared to silke before sore eyes 476. ¶ All men are sinners 610. See Sinne and Sinners Mercie in the midst of wrath 58. Three reasons that no man can merit for another 596. Man can merit nothing 252. ¶ Watchfulnesse requisite to the members of the Church militant 531. ¶ GOD the Author of all Ministery 342. ¶ Christs
Prophet of the Church and how he is the Priest hath beene shewed already it remaineth now to shew you how he is a King for it is nothing to admit him to bee the Prophet or to be our Priest unlesse we admit him to be our King Now that he is the King of the Church can no doubt for Psal 2. it is said I have set my King upon the holy hill of Sion and Zech. 9. he sayes O Daughter of Ierusalem behold thy King commeth unto thee c. And Luk. 1. 32. the Angell saith He shall be great and shall be called the sonne of the Sost High and the Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David and hee shall raigne over the house of Iacob for ever and of his kingdome shall bee none end so we may see it is plaine that Christ was a King indeed Christ did refuse to bee a King Ioh. 6. 15. because they would have made him a temporall king there he departed into a Mountaine but when he was before Pilate Ioh. 18. 38â— Pilate asked him if hee were a King Christ telleth him For this cause was I borne and for this cause came I into the World that I should beare witnesse to the truth Now there be foure Kingly duties that Christ doth exercise towards his Church First Hee doth gather and draw Subjects to himselfe by his Word and Spirit it is not with the Kingdome of Christ as with the kingdomes of the world for first they be constituted and gathered and then they have a king set over them as we see in David his kingdome was constituted before hee was king but Christ hath not a Subject in his Kingdome but he must draw him for ther is no man that is born a subject of his kingdome but he must draw him out of another kingdome out of the kingdome of the divell to make him a subject in his kingdome so we have it Who hath delivered us from the power of darkenesse and hath translated us into the Kingdome of his deare sonne we see that Christ must draw us out of another kingdome to make us subjects in his Kingdome Iob. 10. 16. Other sheep have I also which are not of this fold them also must I bring This is a peece of his Kingly care to draw aliens and strangers unto himselfe to make them subjects in his Kingdome we see in experience if a goodly Kingdome be set up and great priviledges belong unto it men wilseeke to be subjects of it and yet Christ hath set up a kingdome and there are few that seeke to bee subjects of it notwithstanding all the kingdomes in this world are not like to it in regard of the glory and excellency and of the goodly priviledges that doe belong to it yet what ado hath Christ to make men his subjects he is someitmes drawing of a man twenty or thirty yeares ere he can make him a subject of his Kingdome Here wee are to consider the infinite goodnesse of God to us that when we were under the kingdome of the divell at ods and war with him yea even when wee were at defiance with him then hee was not contented till he had drawne us home to himselfe to be made subjects in his Kingdome here wee may wonder and admire at his goodnesse that when men were at warre and at defiance with him hee laboreth then to draw them unto repentance as Ezek. 16. 6. When I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine owne bloud I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Thou shalt live even when we be in our sins the Lord sheweth compassion unto us Act. 12. 7. When Peter was in prison and asleepe in his chaines the Angell of the Lord came and smote him on the side and bad him arise and the chaines fell off from his hands as the Angell brought him out of prison into the City and threw the Iron bolts from him so the Lord doth to us wee lie in our sinnes asleepe hee comes and strikes us in our consciences not on our sides brings us through the Iron gate places of danger and never rests till he have brought us into the Citty to make us subjects to his kingdome that were formerly ever subjects to the divels kingdome The second Kingly duty of Christ is That he governs his people by just and equall Lawes Psal 45. 6. he saith Thy throne O God is for ever and ever the Scepter of thy kingdome is a Scepter of righteousnesse Thou lovest righteousnesse and hatest wickednesse c. And Esai 7. The increase of his government and peace shall have no end he shall sit upon the throne of David and upon his Kingdome to order and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth and for evermore so Christ is our King to governe us by just and equall Lawes this is the Kingly office of Christ therefore every one that will bee a subject to Christs Kingdome must be ruled and governed by his Lawes wee see men can be contented to be subjects to his Kingdome c. yet they will not be governed and guided by his Lawes for they will sweare though Christ saith Sweare not all he hath made a Law that we should not lye yet men will lye he commanded that men should not prophane the Sabbath and many will prophane it but every one that is a subject to Christs Kingdome must live by the Lawes of Christ it is a great fault that men professe themselves to bee Christians and yet will not bee ruled by his Lawes Ioh. 19. 7. The Iewes said they had a Law and by that Law Christ ought to dye Indeed it was a Law of their owne making for there is no Law of God to put an innocent and harmelesse man to death but it was a Law of their owne so wee make a Law to our selves that men may sweare or lye and whatsoever become of our neighbours looke to our selves but it is of our owne devising it is no Law of God the old Souldiers bowed the knee to Christ and yet they spit in his face they set a crowne of thornes on his head and put a reede into his hand so it is with the world still though they call him their father and king yet they will not bee ruled by him but even as it were spit in his face and set a crowne of thornes on his head this is that which the world cannot away with nor brooke that he should bee their king to governe and guide them they can be contented he should dye for them to save them but cannot indure that Christ should rule or raigne over them Luk. 19. assoone as Christ came amongst them they said Wee will not have this man to raigne over us so Psal 2. Let us breake their bonds and cast away their cords they cannot abide to bee tyed to Christ to bee tied to prayer and to holy duties this is such
the Militant Church warring against sinne the World and the Divell Therefore we must looke for no perfect peace here Secondly seeing the Church of God is Militant therefore every man must stand upon his guard and watch armed with Faith Patience and with the graces of Gods Spirit He must take unto him all the Armour of God that is spoken of Eph. 6. that so he may be armed against the temptations of the Divell the World and his owne sinnes and corruptions he must not be secure but he must stand on his watch We read Matth. 13. 25. Whilst men slept the Divell came and did sow tares not when their bodies slept but when their care indeavour and zeale was asleepe so when men bee secure and stand not upon their watch and guard then the Divell comes to surprise them therefore the watchfulnesse and diligence of the Divell should teach us to be watchfull and diligent We finde 1 King 3. when the true mother of the childe was asleepe the false mother came and stole away the live-childe and laid a dead childe in the roome of it so the Divell will doe when men sleepe in sinne hee will steale away the live-childe and lay a dead child in the roome of it that is he will steale away our lively faith hope repentance and will leave dead faith and dead affection in their roome Therefore the watchfulnesse of the Divell must make us watchfull to resist him Thirdly seeing the Church of God is militant it is cleare we cannot escape without wounds and blowes in this life therefore it must bee our wisedome when we take any to labour to cure and heale them that so we doe not bleede to death with them So Heb. 12. 13. saith the Apostle And make straight sâ—eppes unto your selfe lest that which is halting be turned out of the way but let it rather be healed and Revel 3. 2. awake and strengthen the things which remaine that are ready to die here wee see the Church had wounds but it must be the care of the Church to heale their wounds It is a fearefull thing that the Divell many times wounds a man in his care faith patience love or zeale and yet they have no care to recover againe they doe not runne to prayer to repent of their sinnes returne to God get faith and come to the preaching of the Word and to the Sacraments that so they might recover and be healed We read 2 Kings 8. when Iehoram was wounded of the Assyrians he returned into Iezreel to be healed of his wounds so when the Divell hath wounded us in our care faith or in our zeale it must be our wisedome to returne to the Word and to the Sacraments to be healed of them Fourthly though wee have a great deale of toyle and trouble here in the Church militant yet we may be comforted because it is the way and the gate to the church triumphant as Iohn 16. 2. Christ saith Verely verely I say unto you that ye shall weepe and lament but the World shall rejoyce and yee shall have sorrow but your sorrow shall be turned into joy So Revel 21. 4. saith he And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow neither crying nor no more paine So then although the people of God have a number of troubles and temptations here yet it may comfort them that one day they shall bee blessed in the Church triumphant We see as long as a man is at Sea in the Ship he is flung here and there and tossed up and downe and yet it is the Ship that must carry himsafe to the Haven and Shore so as long as wee live in the militant Church we cannot be at quiet it is a place full of trouble wee shall have the world the flesh and the Divell to vexe and trouble us yet because the militant Church is the ship that must carry us to the shore that is to Heaven therefore it must bee our care so to live in the militant Church that we may be a member in the Church triumphant that when we have passed the glassie Sea of this world wee may live in the blessed presence of Christ and for ever sing the song of Moses and the Lambe SERMON LXI REVELATION 1. 20. The seven golden Candlestickes which thou sawest are the seven Churches WEE spake the last day of the parts of the Church of God which generally are two the Triumphant part and the Millitant the triumphant part is that which is blessed with God in Heaven and it is so called because it is not in conflict and combate as wee bee but hath triumphed and overcome temptation the Divell sinne and lusts being now blessed in Heaven with God himselfe the millitant we shewed was so called because of that continuall warfare wee are in with the flesh the world and the Divell untill thereby wee are brought home into the triumphant Now for the particuler there be divers parts of the Church as the Ocean Sea is all one in it selfe yet by the reason there bee many armes and creekes of it which runnes by divers countries therefore it is called by the name of the countries and kingdomes it runnes by as the English Sea and the French Sea and the Spanish Sea so although the Church of God be one in her owne receit yet by reason that it spreadeth it selfe into divers Countries and Kingdomes it is called by the name of the Country or kingdome it is neere as the English Church and the French Church and the Dutch Church so there are many parts thereof all which make but one Church There was a Popish convert that made an objection against this saith he the Church of God is one and the reformed Churches are many therefore the reformed Churches are not the Church of God as Cantic 6. 8. But my Dove is all alone shee is the onely daughter of her mother To this I answere in this cavill there is first ignorance of the Scripture secondly ignorance of learning First it doth shew hee is ignorant of the Scripture for although the Church of God is but one in it selfe yet there be divers parts of it which are called Churches as in this place which is my Text The seeven golden candlestickes are the seven Churches So Gal. 1. 21. And after that I went into the coasts of Asyria and Cilicia for I was knowne by face unto the Churches of Iudea So 1 Cor. 14. 35. for God is not the Author of confusion but of peace as we see in all the Churches of the Saints so though the Church of God bee but one in it selfe yet there are diverse parts of it Secondly this shewes ignorance in learning the Church of God is but one but how is it but one It is one as a great line is one composed of a number of small lines so saith Cyprian
elect Angells are pure and Holy and cannot lye Now for the Booke of Iudith that is a storie devised for the Credit of the Iewes for there was never such a King as is there spoken of amongst the Iewes nor such a high Priest nor so long a time of tranquillitie and peace for so many yeeres together as is spoken of Chap. 6. 7 8. And for Ecclesiasticus Chap. 24. 12. there the eternall wisedome is said to bee a creature Therefore hereby it may appeare that although there bee some good things in them yet they rast of the vessell of earth whence they came and shew that they came not from heaven as the Canonicall did therefore the Church had good reason and ground not to receive these Bookes as the Scripture and also to preserve the true Canon of the Scripture without addition or subtraction and indeed it is well when the two Testaments may meet together without parting that their lippes may kisse each other to joine Moses and Christ the Law and the Gospell together seeing that the last words of the Old Testament ends with a Curse and the New beginneth with a blessing this is the generation of Iesus Christ the Sonne of David the Sonne of Abraham The uses are Seeing it hath beene the care of the Church to preserve the true rule and Canon of the Scripture without addition or distraction wee should blesse God and bee thankfull that hee hath not left us without a rule in so many worldly distractions where Kingdome is set against Kingdome one learned man against another in such varietie of opinions yet hee hath not left us without a guide to direct both our lives and consciences in the right way if wee will obey it as it is Esai 8. 29. To the Law and to the Testimonies if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them so Iohn 5. 39. saith Christ search the Scriptures for in them yee thinke to have eternall life and they are they which testifie of mee to the same purpose also 2 Pet. 1. 19. saith hee Wee have also a most sure word of the Prophets to the which yee doe well that yee take heed as unto a light that shineth in a darke place c. Therefore we see that God hath given us a rule to direct us by in the time of distraction and danger If one should have a long jorney to goe and one should put into his hand a glasse that would shew him every step hee should take that hee might not step one step awry how thankfull would this man bee such a glasse is the Scripture for wee have a long journey to goe from earth to Heaven wherefore the Lord hath put this glasse into our hands that is hee hath given us the Scripture to shew us every step which wee should take that if wee set but one foot awry wee may see it Therefore how thankfull should wee bee to God for it Act. 17. 11. when Paul had preached the word there being opposition amongst them they got to the Bible and searched out the truth of the matter whether it were so or no whereupon it is said many of them beleeved So when the learned men and preachers have oppositions there being distraction and diversities of opinions amongst them the Lord hath given us a rule Wee must to the Scriptures Therefore thankes bee to God hee hath not left us to erre and wander but hath given us a direction to guide us Augustin saith well concerning this point if there bee any distraction or opposition about this thing or that thing let Christ bee the Iudge for hee speaketh in the Scripture therefore this is an excellent blessing which we are to bee thankfull for that God hath given us a Rule to walke by The second use is seeing God hath given us a rule to walk by therefore no man can excuse himselfe and say I would have done it if I had knowen it or if some body had told it mee or if I had a rule to goe by Now there is no man can excuse himselfe and say hee hath not a Rule for God hath left him one in his word which makes all unexcusable as Iohn 15. 22. Christ speakes If I had not come and spoken to them they should not have had sinne but now their sinne abideth so if God had not left us a rule and a direction to guide our selves by in the Bible wee should have had no sinne but because God hath given us such a rule to walke by therefore if wee walke not according to it wee have no cloake for our sinne Seeing God hath left us a rule to walke by It must bee our wisedome to make use of this rule in our thoughts speeches and actions Wee see a man is much the better that hath a rule to worke by for hee will stick it at his backe worke by aime and not by ghesse so Psal 119. 33. saith David Teach mee O Lord the way of thy statutes and I will keepe it to the end As if hee should say let mee but know thy will and I am contented to doe it If once wee know Gods will wee must direct all our speeches and actions to bee ruled by it It is a great infamy to any man to come into an order and not to hold him to his order as to bee a Soldier or a Scholler but much more to bee a Christian and yet not to humble ones self to the rules of Christianitie how just shall our condemnation bee the Rule of Gods Word teacheth a man to bee temperate and not to bee overtaken with surfeting and drunkennesse to bee mercifull to deale conscionably in our wayes and not to mispend our time to repent of our sinnes and therefore when men will not hold them to their rule to live temperatly walk holily and to make conscience of their wayes to deale truly and justly with men to take heede they doe not mispend their time to repent them of their sinnes if they doe not these things they are fallen from their rule and shamed in that they hold not to it Augustin saith there bee a number of things that seeme to bee straight but bring them to the rule and then wee may see their obliquities so there bee a number of things that seeme to be straight and good but lay them to the Rule bring them to the Scriptures and to the Law of God then wee may see a number of obliquities in them and how short they come of the Rule as 1 King 17. when Elias applied himselfe to the Child 's dead bodie his face to the Childs and his hands to the Childs hands then did appeare the dissimilitude between them and how short the Child came of him So when we shall compare our actions with the Law of God then wee shall see the dissimilitude and disproportions betweene them and when wee see how short
the societie of the faithfull there is not one onely Angell that descended but God himselfe comes down by his grace and holy Spirit to blesse us and to make his word profitable to us therefore here we are to waite and to attend for this speciall blessing of God Fourthly because Christ raigneth onely in the Church of God all the rest of the world is under the power of the Divell and sinne so Mich. 4. 7. it is said there the Lord shall raigne over them in mount Sion for ever and ever as also Luk. 1. 33. and hee shall raigne over the house of Iacob for ever and of his Kingdome there shall bee no end that is of the Militant Church therefore because Christ raigneth in the Church of God the Divell taking all the rest as his own this is the fourth reason why there is no salvation without the Church Thus much for the Doctrine The uses are First seeing there is no salvation but in the true Church of Christ therefore wee should bee thankfull to God that hee hath made us members of it for wee might else have perished in ignorance and blindnesse this hath beene the practice of Gods Children in former ages for Gen. 9. 27. It was all the blessing that Noah gave to his Sonne Iapheth for his goodnesse in covering of the nakednesse of his Father saith hee God perswade Iapheth to dwell in the Tents of Shem and Ioseph become a great man in the Kingdome of Pharoah might have made his Sonnes great men also but hee had more care to adopt them into the true Church of God and to have Gods blessing powred out upon them than to make them great men in the Kingdome of Pharoah as wee may reade Gen. 43. 13. in like manner Hebr. 12. 24. it is said that Moses by faith when hee was come to age refused to bee called the Sonne of Pharoahs daughter and chose rather to suffer adversitie with the People of God whatsoever Moses did when hee was a Childe yet when hee comes to discretion hee refused to bee called the Sonne of Pharoahs Daughter and had raâ—her live in the Communion of the faithfull than bee called in the princely honours of the unfaithfull Therefore seeing it is such a great blessing to live in the societie of the faithfull wee ought to bee thankfull to God that hee hath brought us out of the belly of Poperie as Ionas was delivered out of the belly of the whale It is a pittifull thing to see a number of men live in the Church of God who doe not partake of the power of it they live in the Church as fishes in the Sea which although they breed live and dye in the Sea yet never taste of the saltnesse of it so there bee a number of men that are bred in the Church live and dye in it yet never tast of the power of it in their soules and consciences nor partake of the holy graces of it Therefore hath God brought thee to the Communion of the Church Labour to partake of the blessings and graces of it to grow in the feare of God in the love of our brethren in obedience to his commandements in care to please him in faith in repentance in knowledge in zeale of his glorie and so our comfort shall bee great at the day of judgement but if thou doe not grow in these things great shall thy terrour bee at that time Secondly seeing there is no salvation but in the true Church of God therefore we should hold communion with it and not suffer our selves to bee drawne from the societie of it as Iohn 6. 68. When many slipped away Peter himselfe could say when Christ said to him Will you all goe saith hee Master whither shall wee goe thou hast the words of eternall life so when wee see others to goe out of the societie of the Church and to bee drawne away let us say whither shall wee goe here are the words of eternall life here are the meanes to get Faith and repentance here are the meanes of salvation life everlasting Iohn 9. When there was a question made whether Iesus was of God or no the blind man answers as if hee should say is it not a strange thing that ye aske me whether he be of God or no and yet yee have seene the power of God in his person for wee read there these words whether hee bee a sinner or no I cannot tell but one thing I know that I was blâ—nd and now I see so men must bee wise to answer temptations when some shall say to them your Ministers are not the ministers of Christ there is a fault in their Ordinations Wee must answer againe I know not whether there bee any fault in their Ordination or no but this I know that once I was a swearer a bad person and a vile liver indeed I once lived in blindnesse and ignorance but by their ministery now I am come to see my sinnes bee humbled for them and to lay hold on Iesus Christ Therefore whatsoever thou thinke my beleefe is they bee the ministers of Christ Historians report that there is a certaine beast called an Hyena like a Wolfe that comes to the shepheards house and there mones and bewayles himselfe and if hee heares any body named hee calls them out of doores and then falls on them and makes a prey of them so a number of such Hyena's there bee in the world who come and mone and bewayle themselves when they heare their names they call them out of the doores that is out of the Church then they fall upon them and make a prey on them Therefore wee should bee wise to hold the Communion of the Church Thirdly seeing there is no salvation but in the true Church of God therefore the sentence of excommunication is the fearfullest sentence that is other sentences condemnes us in our bodies goods or our libertie but this declares us to bee of the Communion of the ungodly by other sentences wee are committed to the Iayle but by this censure we are committed to Sathan as 1 Cor. 5. 5. saith hee when yee bee gathered together and my Spirit with the power of our Lord Iesus Christ that such an one bee delivered unto Sathan for the destruction of the flesh Therefore this sentence is the fearfullest that can passe on a man But here I will speake my conscience it is a pittifull thing that such a censure should bee used for every light and pettie matter there is never a surgeon that dare cut off the least finger of the King though it were diseased but would use all meanes that might be before hee did it so there is never a poore Christian but is as deare to God as a King or the greatest Potentate that is and therefore what great caution should there bee used before this censure of excommunication be pronounced against any man but wee have now cause
direct her to Heaven in the Church are the Springs of life and salvation there are the Scriptures and the meanes of holinesse all other companies and societies have not the like The Papists say that they have more meanes of holinesse than we by their Fasting Pilgrimages Castigations and such like trumperies but I would have them to consider what Saint Paul saith in the 1 Tim. 4. 8. Boâ—ily exercises profit little marke saith a good man hee doth not say they profit nothing but they profit little when they want the maine as Augustine saith they runne apace and the more speede they make the further off they be from Heaven Now the Papists faile in too maine things first in the true ground secondly in the true meanes of holinesse First in the true ground for before our workes be accepted our persons must be in favour for our works cannot please God till our persons please him as Gen. 4. 4. But the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his sacrifice Some thinke to please God with their good deeds and never seeke to have their persons accepted by the meanes of Christ and therefore they faile in the ground Secondly they faile in the true meanes for righteousnesse and holinesse come by union with Christ being ingrafted and planted into Christ by a true faith that the life that they live they may live in the Sonne of God and so Christ derives his holinesse to them but if they bee not united and knit to him they doe not live in him Wherein they may be compared to a Man that takes a Siens and bindes it to the barke of a tree then waters it and bestowes great paines about it neverthelesse it withers because it is not ingrafted into the tree so because they be not planted into Christ to draw holinesse from him therefore though they take great paines yet all comes to nothing so that they faile in the right ground and true meanes of holinesse Now because the true meanes of holinesse is in the true Church therefore it must bee every Mans wisedome to take his best advantage by the use of good means to profit by it We see the little Bees though they keepe their hives in a wet day yet when a storme comes they will get up so much the sooner and be the more painefull in like manner if we be hindred by foule weather or by sicknesse when God offers us occasion we should be so much the more painefull and diligent because the true meanes of holinesse is in the Church Here let us apply to our selves First seeing then the Church of God is Holy therefore it must bee every mans care to be holy for if there be any disproportion or dissimilitude in any of the members it makes a deformitie in the body as if one hand bee long and another short one hand white and another blacke one cheeke red and another pale one eye cleare and another thicke so when one member is holy and another prophane when some make conscience of their wayes and other live in grosse sinnes this makes a deformed body therefore it must be the care of every one as the Church is holy so to bee holy Wee see the wilde beasts that were savage and cruell before they came into Noahs Arke when they were there they laid aside their ferocitie and wildnesse and became tame and gentle so though we were called beasts before we came into the Church of God yet now when we be once in the same we should leave all our wildnesse and prophanenesse and labour to be holy We know what was Thâ—maâ—s speech to Ainmon such a thing as this ought not to be done in Israel so when we are tempted to any sinne or uncleannesse we should say likewise such a thing as this ought not to be done in the Communion of the Church nor by any member thereof Secondly seeing the Church is holy wee must take heede that wee doe not disgrace or defile it that are the members of it for the shame disgrace and blot doth not rest on our selves but on the Church as in Iohn we see when the buyers and sellers had polluted the Temple Christ makes a whip and whips them out now if Christ was thus displeased with them that defiled the materiall Temple much more will he be with those that defile the spirituall Temple 1 Cor. 5. 1. The Apostle reproves the Church of Corinth in these words It is reported that there is fornication amongst you such as is not so much as named amongst the Heathen whereupon saith Chrysostome Marke he doth not say such an one and such an one hath committed fornication but it is reported commonly that you have done it you that bee professours and religious and therefore you have disgraced the Church of God by your sinnes and brought a blot on it you I say that bee the members of it because the Church of God is holy and you bee unholy Thirdly seeing the Church of God is holy wee must take heed we doe not meddle with it to annoy it and to hurt it It is the charge that God gives Psal 105. 15. Touch not mine anointed and doe my Prophets no harme so Zech. 2. 8. God sayes hee that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye and 1 Cor. 15. 9. saith S. Paul For I am the least of the Apostles which am not meet to bee called an Apostle because I persecuted the Church of God and Senacherib though he overcame many countries and Kingdomes yet when hee came to besiege Ierusalem the Angell of the Lord destroyed his Hoast so that he was compelled to goe home with shame So Revel 20. 9. when Gog and Magog went to compasse the Tents of the Saints and the beloved citie it is said fire came downe from Heaven and devoured them therefore men must take heed how they meddle with the Church to annoy or hurt it Fourthly seeing the Church of God is holy it must bee our care to keep it so and to rid it of drunkards whoremasters and uncleane persons so wee see 1 Cor. 5. 13. saith the Apostle Put away from amongst you that wicked man it must bee the care of the Church to rid out them that bee evill Chrysostome saith if a man should have a fountaine committed to him to keep for a King would hee let Hogges and beasts descend into it with their feete to mud and puddle the water so saith hee thou that art a minister God hath committed a fountaine to thee to keep not a fountaine of water but a fountaine full of life and Spirit and the bloud of Christ therefore it must bee thy care to keepe the fountaine pure and not to let every beast come in to defile the same seeing the Church of God is holy it must bee thy care to keepe it holy and that no man doth defile the holy things of God Thus much for the
first propertie The second propertie is that the Church of God is Catholike that is it is generally diffused and spread all the world over This word Catholike is not found in all the Bible yet as long as the sense is there we may retaine and keepe it seeing it is not against any point of our Christian profession As for the signification of it the word is the same both in Latine and Greeke and signifieth generall whence wee inferre the Church of God seemeth to take his name from our Lord Iesus himselfe where hee saith Act. 1. 8. And yee shall bee witnesses unto mee both in Ierusalem and in all Iudea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth Here the observation may bee this that if wee finde new words as long as the sense is not new nor the Doctrine wee may receive them but if both the words and the sense and Doctrine bee new that is if it bee not found in the Scripture then they are to bee rejected and refused therefore because transubstantiation is a new word and the Doctrine is new the sense not being to be found in the Scripture we are to reject it for before the Lateran Councell there was no such thing heard of which brought in both the word and Doctrine and made that a point of faith which before was never dreamt of Now the Church is said to bee Catholike in three regards 1. In regard of Place 2. In regard of Person 3. In regard of Time First the Church of God is Catholike in regard of place for it is not tied to one certaine place countrie or Kingdome but God himselfe hath inlarged and spread it over all the world farre and neere there was a time when it did belong to the Iewes and to those that did joine with them but now Christ hath broken downe the partition wall and hath laid all the world common now hee hath enlarged the Church and spread it all the world over This is that Peter speakes of Of a truth saith hee I perceive that God is no accepter of persons but in every nation hee that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him so Christ Matth. 8. saith That many shall come from the east and from the west and shall sit down with Abraham Isaak Iacob in the Kingdome of God so Eph. 2. 13 14. but now in Christ Iesus yee which were once a farre off are made members by the bloud of Christ for he is our peace which hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us and it is said Revel 7. 9. And after these things I beheld and lâ—e a great multitude of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and before the lambe cloathed with long Robes and palmes in their hands So then it is plaine by the Scriptures that the Church is Catholike in regard of place and is not abridged to no one countrey or Kingdome but is spread all the world over Augustine saith well We are not to thinke it was enough for Christ to shed out his most precious bloud for one countrey or Kingdome but it was to win the whole world to himselfe and againe hee saith By that which Christ gave for the redemption of man they may perceive the great price and payment which was his death and bloudshed a thing of so great value or price that it was not for any one country or Kingdome but for all and therefore it is called the Catholike Church The use is first seeing that the Church is Catholike or universall and consists of all countries and Kingdomes therefore we should bee thankfull to God that hath reserved us till this time for wee might have beene born when the light of the Gospell shined onely amongst the Iewes and then wee might have perished in unbeleefe therefore thankes bee unto God in that hee hath brought us forth in a time when the Gospell is preached And seeing it hath pleased God to doe so let us bee wise to lay hold on the good meanes that is layd before us come out of our sinnes and corruptions that so wee may bee saved from them if fish in a pond should bee nigh poisoned with stinking mud and water and one should come and cut a sluce through into fresh water what would they doe but goe out into the fresh water This is our case wee are like to fish in a pond that bee poisoned in the mud and stinking water of our sinnes and corruptions therefore seeing it hath pleased God to cut a sluce and trench through and to open the bosome of the true Church to us where the fresh water is the waters of life and salvation it must bee our wisedome to come out of our sinnes and to lay hold of the good meanes that are set before us Secondly seeing the Church of God is Catholike wherein there is the meanes of grace therefore it must be our consideration to apply our selves to lay hold on it in our life time while wee live heere It is S. Pauls exhortation 2 Cor. 6. 5. I beseech you brethren that you receive not the graces of God in vaine It is a great mercie that God doth offer in the true Church where the meanes of grace are used preaching prayer the use of the Sacraments therefore let us apply our selves to lay hold on it and to get good by it You your selves know that if earthly Paradise were to bee recovered and the Cherubins with the shaking sword removed so that wee might goe in without any danger would you lye down and sleepe would you idle out the time no I dare bee bold to say that you would flye to the trees gather of the fruit and eate of them especially of the tree of life that you might live for ever This is the grace that God doth offer to us for the militant Church is the Paradise of God where there are trees of all sorts therefore what should wee doe not lye down in the dust and idle out the time but apply our selves to eate of the fruit especially of the tree of life to feed on Christ by faith to draw out all his graces that so wee may live for ever Secondly the Church of God is Catholike in regard of the persons for it includeth all sorts of persons rich and poore high and low noble and ignoble wise and foolish bond and free and excludeth none To this purpose saith S. Paul Gal. 3. 28. There is neither Iew nor Grecian there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Iesus and S. Peter Act. 10. saith I saw a vision of all sorts of birds and beasts and there came a voice too that bad him kill eate by which vision he did understand that God had then sanctified all sorts of men in the bloud of Christ there was