of Christianity and who will not If men will goe to Heaven they must be violent they must be at the cost and charges sometimes to venture life it selfe and whatsoever is deare and pretious in the world A man must be so violent that hee must goe thorough all even death it selfe though it be a bloudie death to Christ this discards all luke-warme carnall professors who shake off this violence in all estates of the Church it is almost equally difficult to bee a sound Christian for God requires this violence even in the most peaceable times Now the truth and religion are countenanced by the lawes yet the power of it is by many much opposed Therefore hee now that in spight of reproach in spight of slander will beare the scornes cast upon the Gospell that will goe with Christ without the gate bearing his reproach such a man may be said to be thus violent it is an easie thing to have so much Christianity as will stand with our commodity or with pleasure c. but to have so much as will bring us to Heaven I say it is equally hard in all times of the Church it requires violence to carry us thorough these lesser oppositions Againe God will have us get these things with violence that we may set a greater price on them when we have them when we have things that are gotten by violence that are gotten hardly O we valew them much Heaven is Heaven then things that are hardly gotten and hardly kept are highly prized Againe the excellencie of the thing inforceth violence it is fit that excellent things should have answerable affections Now it being a Kingdome and the Kingdome of Heaven what affection is answerable but a violent strong affection Againe together with the excellencie the necessity requires it for the Kingdome of Heaven it is a place of refuge as well as a Kingdome to inrich us There were Cities of refuge among the Jewes when a man was followed by the avenger of blood he would run as fast as he could to the Citie of refuge and there he was safe so when a guilty conscience pursues us when there is a noise of feare in the heart when Gods judgements awaken us hell is open when a man apprehends his estate and is convinced what a one he is and what he deserves of necessity he will flie to the Citie of refuge and where is that but in the Kingdome of Heaven in the Church happie is he that can but get in at the gate of this Kingdome there is no doubt of his going in further but there must be a striving to enter in at the gate and then there he shall be hid in his Sanctuary as the pursued Doves get into their nests and the Connies hide them in the rock when they get that over their heads then they are safe so a Christian when he is pursued with conscience and with the temptations of Satan he flies to his Sanctuary doe you wonder that a guilty man should flee to his sanctuary and the pursued creatures to their hold and refuge In this respect the Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence Herein it is compared to some great rich Citie that hath some great treasure and riches in it and it must be besieged and beleagured a long time and those that can enter into it they are made for ever Or it is like the entrance or gate of a Citie where there is striving and thronging and where besides enemies are that if men strive not they are cut and mangled and killed so it is in the state of this Kingdome when a mans eyes be opened he sees the divell and hell behind him and either he must enteror be damned and being entered it makes him rich and advanceth him for ever so he is strongly mooved to offer violence on both sides if he looke behind him there is the kingdome of Satan darknesse and misery and damnation for as Pharaoh pursued the Israelites when they were got out of his kingdome so the divell pursues a man when he is broken out of his dominion And then before him there is the kingdome of happinesse and glory the feare of that that followes them and the hope of that that is set before them both make them strive to enter into the gate of that Citie What should this teach us First let it be a rule of tryall to know judge of our estate whether we be entred into this gate of Heaven or no our lives are very short very uncertaine let us consider if we be in the way to Heaven what striving what strugling what violence have we ever offered There are a company that regard not the meanes of salvation at all either in private or publique Some come to the Word and heare but they doe not heare it as the Word of God to bee ruled by it but as a discourse to delight themselves for the time to have matter to speake of and to censure not with a spirit of obedience to be guided by it as the Scepter of the Kingdome What violence is this now and then to heare a Sermon now and then to reade a Chapter now and then to utter a yawning prayer betweene sleeping and waking perhaps when thou knowest not what thy selfe saist how then wouldest thou have God to regard it What violence is in the lives of most Christians what strength to enforce good actions how doe they improove the meanes of salvation many meanes are wholy neglected some perhaps they use that may stand with their convenience now and then whereas there must be an universall care of all the meanes there cannot one be neglected without the losse of grace and there must be attendance on them with violence There is none of the meanes can profit us without rouzing and stirring up our spirits we cannot heare nor pray without drawing up and raising up our soules the flesh will stop the comfortable performance of any action else and Satan will kill them in the very birth if he can To search a little deeper doe but compare your courses toward these good things of Heaven with your courses towards the world If there be hope of preferment the doores of great men are sure to suffer violence with favourites The Courts of justice suffer violence to have our right in earthly things The stages and such places are thronged and suffer violence If a man could but over-looke the courses of men abroad in the Citie he should see one violent for his pleasures running to the house of the Harlot as a foole to the stocks Another to the exchange to increase his estate Another to the place of justice to detract his neighbour or to get his owne right perhaps neglecting his title to Heaven in the meane time Another to the Court to get favour to rise to some place of preferment These places suffer violence but what violence doth the poore Gospell indure Alas it
order the baser part doth not rule the higher but the higher part of the soule a sanctified judgement rules all because the whole is in right judgement therefore sanctification is called judgement and other courses though they be never so fashionable are but madnesse and folly and disorder in the censure of the Scripture nothing is judgement and true wisedome but sanctification and obedience flowing from sanctification Therefore saith Moses in Deuteronomie Then shall you be knowne to bee a wise people when you obey the Lawes that I have given you onely that shewes a wise judicious man to be obedient to Gods truth by the Spirit sanctifying him Without the truth of God and the Spirit in us framing our soules answerable to the truth we are out of all good order For then the affections that should bee ruled rule us then the body and the lusts of the body rule the soule and the Divell rules by both what a shamefull disorder is this when a man shall be ruled by the Divell and his owne lusts that he should treade under feete and trample upon and this is the state of all that have not this judgement in them that have not the word of God written in their hearts bowing and bending them by the Spirit of God to spirituall obedience to proove this J will name but one place among many Titus 3. â— hee shewes the state of all men that are not brought into subjection by this judgement by the Word and Spirit of truth We our selves saith he were sometimes foolish and disobedient till this judgement is set up in us wee are foolish in our understandings and disobedient in our wills and affections deceived and misled by the Divell and our owne lusts for that followes upon folly those that are foolish and disobedient are deceived and led away to eternall destruction There is a way that seemes good in a mans owne eyes but the issues of it are death saith Salomon this is the state of all men that are not led with the judgement of Gods truth and Spirit sanctifying and framing their soules to obedience they are foolish and disobedient and deceived and so it will proove with them in the end Serving diverse lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hating one another Now when God by his blessed Truth and Spirit sets up his rule in the heart it brings all into captivity as Saint Paul saith it brings all the inner man into subjection The Word of God is the weapon of God these judgements are mighty in operation together with the Spirit to beate downe all strong holds and to set up another judgement there it brings all into captivity to the truth and command of God and to the motions of the Spirit the Word and Spirit beate downe all the strong holds that are raised up in the heart by Satan and our corruptions so wee see here what is meant by this phrase Hee shall declare judgement to the Gentiles It is a militant word therefore J have stood somewhat the longer in unfolding of it Now this is wrought by the preaching of the Gospell Hee shall declare judgement to the Gentiles all grace comes by declaring The Gospell is the power of God to salvation Let but the Gospell which is Gods judgement how men shall be saved and how they shall walke in obedience by way of thankefullnesse to God be declared and all that belong to God shall come in and yeeld homage to it and bee brought in subjection The Divell in the Antichristian state knowes this well enough therefore he labours to hinder the declaration of judgement by all meanes he will not have Gods judgements but mens traditions declared he knowes the declaring of Gods judgements will breed an alteration quickly in mens dispositions For when hee saith Hee shall declare judgement to the Gentiles he meanes the consequent as well as the thing he shall so declare judgement that they shall yeeld spirituall obedience and come in and be saved Let the Divell doe his worst let all seducers of soules doe their worst if they would but give way to the preaching of the Gospell let but judgement be declared let Gods arme be stretched forth in delivering the truth hee would soone gaine soules out of the captivity and bondage of Satan they know it well enough therfore by all the wayes they can they stop the preaching of the Gospell and disgrace and hinder it and set up mens traditions instead of the Gospell but I will not inlarge my selfe farther upon these wordes but goe on to the next Hee shall not strive nor cry neither shall any man heare his voice in the streetes These wordes set downe the mild and sweete and amiable manner of Christs carriage upon earth here in his first comming to worke the great worke of our redemption he did not carry the matter in an outward glorious manner in pompe but he would have his miracles concealed oft times and himselfe hidden his God-head was hid under the vaile of his Manhood he could not have wrought our salvation else if the divell and the world had knowne Christ to be as he was they would never have made those attempts against him therefore considering he had such a dispensation to work our salvation as a King Priest and Prophet he would not cry and contend and strive hee would not come with any great noise Now here is an opposition to the giving of the law and likewise to the comming and carriage of civill Princes You know when the Law was given all the mount was on fire and the earth thereabout quaked and trembled and the people fled they could not indure to heare the voice of God speaking in the mount there was such a terrible smoake and fire they were all affraid thus came Moses now did Christ come as Moses was the Gospell delivered by Christ as the law was in terrors and feares Oh no Christ came not in such a terrible manner in thunder and lightning but the Gospell it came sweetly A Dove a mild creature lit upon the head of Christ when he was Baptised to shew his mild manner of carriage and he came with blessing in his mouth in his first Sermon of all Blessed are the poore in spirit blessed are they that mourne blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse The Law came with curses Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the law to doe them Christ came in another manner the Gospell was delivered in a mild sweete manner Christ as an Ambassador came sweetly to intreat and beseech there is a crying indeed but it is a crying out of love and intreaty not a shouting in a terrible manner as was at the giving of the law no nor as at the comming of other civill Princes into a citie with shouting and noise of trumpets with pompe and state and great attendants Christ came not into the world to execute his kingdome and
the immediate fore-runner of Christ was greater then all that were before him yet he saith the least in the Kingdome of Heaven is greater then be not in grace but in prerogative in regard of the revelation and manifestation of more things For Iohn Baptist died before he saw the death and resurrection and ascention of Christ accomplished before he was glorified Therefore in regard of these prerogatives the least in the Kingdome of Heaven that is in the Church of the New Testament is greater then he It is a rule that the least of the greater is greater then the greatest of the lesse Iohn was greater then the greatest of them that were before him but lesser then the least of those that were after him Then Christ commends Iohn from the efficacie of his Ministery From the daies of Iohn Baptist untill now the Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force so you see how the words depend upon the former For the points wee are to consider in them First here you have the state of the Church in the New Testament It is a Kingdome and the Kingdome of Heaven together with the quality of the meanes whereby it comes to be a Kingdome the meanes of grace the Gospell The Gospell and the people that are wrought on by the Gospell in the New Testament they are both called the Kingdome of Heaven Then secondly here is set downe the affection of those people that seeke this Kingdome at that time and so forward to the end of the world the disposition of the persons is they are violent The third is the issue or successe of this eagernesse and violence though the manner be violent yet the successe is good the violent take it by force The fourth is the date or time when it begins and how long it continues it beares date from the preaching of Saint Iohn Baptist to the end of the world untill now that is to the end of the world as it was said till now in the Evangelists time so posterity may say untill now from the first comming of Christ till his second comming while there is a Gospell preached which is the Ministerie of the Spirit the Spirit will bee working and there are such glorious things in the Gospell that there will bee violence offered so while there is a people to bee gathered and a Gospell to be preached to gather them and a Spirit that workes by that Gospell there will be violence in the Church offered to the meanes of salvation First The state of the Church together with the meanes the Gospell preached it is called The Kingdome of Heaven Besides others there are three maine significations of these words The Kingdome of Heaven First the famous leading proper signification is the state and place where God himselfe and his people are most glorious The Kingdome of Heaven all the other significations end in that But secondly because all that shall come into that glorious Kingdome they must bee Kings here first in the state of the kingdome of grace which consists in righteousnesse peace and joy in the Holy Ghost in the graces and comforts of the Spirit therefore the state of grace comes to have the name too of The Kingdome of Heaven And thirdly because grace in this world cannot be attained without an order and meanes and dispensation from God hereupon the dispensation of the meanes whereby we come to have grace is also called The Kingdome The unfolding the mysteries of salvation in the Gospell is called the Kingdome of God As Christ saith The Kingdome of God shall bee taken from you that is the preaching of the Gospell therefore the Gospell is called the Gospell of the Kingdome and the Word of the Kingdome because by this Word wee come to have grace and by grace glory there is no glory without grace and no grace without the Word one makes way for another The preaching of the Gospell doth cause a Church which is the Kingdome of Christ wherein hee rules by the Scepter of his Word by which Word Christ and all his riches and glory and prerogatives are unfolded and thereby grace is wrought and grace leades to glory This connexion and subordination is to bee observed First for the conviction of those who doe not indeed belong to the Kingdome of Heaven every man is ready to talke of the Kingdome of Heaven and the glory there I but there is a subordination of grace and of the meanes of grace how standest thou affected to the meanes of salvation to the Word of the Kingdome the Word of life The Word of reconciliation for it hath the name from all the excellencies to which it brings us to shew that as we valew life a Kingdome reconciliation and all that is good so we must valew this Gospell or else it is a presumptuous confidence if the priviledges of grace and glory belong to us wee must come to them by these steps those that regard not the Gospell and meanes of salvation they have nothing to do with grace nor glory they are hereby convinced of arrogant folly Againe it is a ground to comfort weake Christians that regard the meanes of salvation and yet feare their falling away be of good comfort whosoever thou art God hath knit and linked these together all the power of earth and hell cannot breake one linke of this chaine conscionable attending upon the meanes and grace and glory will go together Therefore hold on attend upon the meanes of salvation and waite with comfort The Gospell of the Kingdome will bring thee to grace and grace though it be but an earnest but a little measure will bring thee to glory Where God hath begun a good worke he will finish it he will second one benefit with another diligent attending on the meanes with grace and grace with glory In Scripture works have their denomination from that they aime at as the Apostle saith Yee have crucified the old man and yee are crucified with Christ because yee are in doing it and ye shall do it perfectly so we are Saints because wee shall be so we are Kings now because we are in part so and we shall be so fully hereafter so grace is called the Kingdome of Heaven because it is the undoubted way to the Kingdome of Heaven and glory God would helpe our faith by the very title for wee are not elected to the beginnings onely of glory but to the perfection as it is excellently set downe Ephes. 1. We are elected to glory by meanes and beginnings therefore undoubtedly we may hope for the accomplishment when we see the beginnings Why is the state of grace and the meanes of grace and glory it selfe called the Kingdome of Heaven Answ. Because they are all of and from Heaven the one is in Heaven the Kingdome of glory and the other the Kingdome of the Word here and truth and grace which
instruct them what their state by nature is what Kingdome they are borne in that they are liable to Hell and damnation that they are under the possession of the strong man the Divell if the stronger man bring them not out and dispossesse him and let them know withall the infinite love and mercy of God in Christ offering a better state giving the Gospell and promising his Spirit with his truth and if they belong to God this will worke upon them or else nothing will Other courses to punish men in their purse or imprison them or the like may subdue them to outward conformity but if we would bring their soules to Heaven leâ— us indeavour to enlighten their understandings to see the danger they are in and to see the riches of grace and salvation that is proffered in Christ and this will compell them to come in Luk. 14.23 there will be no need of any other compulsion no more then there can be need to bid a man escape away that sees wild beasts about him or to bid a guilty person to flee to the City of refuge and take hold of the Hornes of the Altar Let Iohn Baptist come before Christ to make way for him and presently the Kingdome of Heaven suffers violence and after Christs time when the Spirit was more aboundantly given and the Gospell more clearely opened the world stooped to the Gospell â—he Gospell at length overcame the proud Scepter of the Roman Empire they laid their Crownes downe before Christs Gospell the Crosse of Christ gat above the Crowne in the preaching of the Gospell it was so powerfull Thus if we would have the number of Heaven inlarged let us desire that Gods truth may be opened plainly and powerfully Iohn Baptist was a plaine and powerfull preacher a man of a holy life they al reverenced Iohn as a holy man thereupon his doctrine came to be so effectuall This is the way whereby God will doe good to those he delights in For others that are bitter Atheists whom God hath appointed to damnation the Gospell hardens them and makes them worse The Pharisees were the worse by the preaching of Christ when the Gospell is preached some are made worse by it and maligne and persecute it as farre as they dare as the Apostle saith God is glorified in the damnation of such bitter opposers We are not to looke to gaine all by preaching those that withstand it are sent by it with the more just damnation to Hell but those that doe belong to him are gained this way Let us labour therfore for a cleare manifestation of Christ there is the treasure of all goodnesse in Christ whatsoever is necessary to bring us to Heaven and the more he is discovered and applied the more we are inriched with grace and comfort Times of change may come and if times of opposition and persecution come not yet temptations will come and the houre of death will come when we shall have occasion to use all the strength and comfort we have and the more dangerous the times are the more sound and cleare knowledge of Christ we should labour for and that will breede this holy violence that shall break thorow all oppositions whatsoever FINIS THE CHVRCHES Complaint and Confidence In three Sermons By the late Reverend and Learned Divine RICHARD SIBS Doctor in Divinity Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge and sometimes Preacher at Grayes-Inne LAM 1.20 Behold O Lord for I am in distresse my bowells are troubled mine heart is turned within mee for I have grievously rebelled abroad the sword bereaveth at home there is as death LONDON Printed by G.M. for Nicholas Bourne and Rapha Harford 1639. THE CHVRCHES COMPLAINT AND Confidence ISAIAH 64.6 7 8. But we are all as an uncleane thing and all our righteousnâ—sse are as filthy rags and we all do fade as a leafe and our iniquities like the winde have taken us away And there is none that calleth upon thy Name that stirreth up himselfe to take hold of thee for thou hast hid thy face from us and hast consumed us because of our iniquities But now O Lord thou art our Father wee are the clay and thou our potter and wee are all the worke of thine hands THE words are part of a blessed forme of prayer prescribed to the Church long before they were in captivity It begins at the 15. verse of the former Chapter Looke downe from Heaven behold from the habitation of thy holinesse c. The blessed Prophet Isaâ—ah was carried with the wings of Propheticall spirit over many yeares and sees the time to come the time of the Captivity and God by his Spirit doth direct them a Prayer and this is part of the forme For God in mercy to his people as he foresaw before what would become of them so he vouchsafes them comfort before hand and likewise he prescribes a forme of prayer before hand It is very usefull to use formes the 102. Psalme it is a forme of powring out the soule to God when any man is in misery as you see in the Preface but that by the way These verses are a part of a forme prescribed for the powring forth an afflicted soule We are all as an uncleane thing and all our righteousnesse c. The words they are First an humble confession of sinne And first of the sinnes of their nature of their persons themselves Wee are all as an uncleane thing And then of the sinnes of actions all our righteousnesse is as filthy rags And then in the third place a confession of the sinne of non-proficiencie of obduration and sencelessenesse that notwithstanding the corrections of God they were little the better There is none that calleth upon thy Name or that stirres up himselfe to take hold of thee In the second place there is an humble complaint of the miserable estate they were in by their sinnes We all fade as a leafe â—ur iniquitiâ—s like the winde have taken us away them hast hid thy face from us and consumed us because of our iniquities The complaint is set forth in these foure clauses And then an humble supplication and deprecation to God in verse 8. and so forward Now Lord thou art our Father we are the clay thou art the potter we are all the worke of thy hands c. These be the parcells of this portion of Scripture But we are all as an uncleane thing c. Here is first an humble confession And first observe in generall what afflictions will doe especially afflictions sanctified that which all the Propheticall Sermons could not doe that which all the threatnings could not doe affliction now doth Now when they were in captivity and base estate they fall a humbling themselves So the Prodigall nothing could humble him but afflictions By the waters of Babilon we sate downe and wept all the denuntiations of judgements before they came to the waters of Babylon could not make them weepe One affliction will
Heathens were hardened and given up to destruction The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against them because they lived in a course of rebellion against the light of nature shall you that have the light of nature and the word of God and the motions of his Spirit too thinke to live in rebellion and not be accomptable for it It shall be easier for them that never heard of the word of God where God hath magnified his mercy he will exalt judgement those that are lâ—ft up to Heaven in priviledges shall be cast downe to hell Woe unto thee Capernaum c. The more in priviledges the more in judgement if they be abused Againe another particular sin whereby wee may discerne a judgement comming is unfruitfulnesse under the meanes as the fig-tree when it was digged and dunged and yet was unfruitfull then it was â—eare a curse Jn Heb. 6. the groud that is tilled and manured and hath the raine falling on it it is then neare unto cursing if it bring not forth Perhaps a Heathen a Pagan if hee were under the meanes would bee fruitfull therefore there might be hope of him but those that are under the meanes under the Sun-shine of the Gospell under the influence of it the Spirit working on their hearts and yet they live in the sin of unfruitfullnesse it makes way for judgement The axe is laid to the roote when men are taught then the instrument of vengeance is laid to the roote and downe they goe if they bring not forth good fruit Sinnes of omission when that all hath beene taught are sufficient to bring a man to judgement At the last judgement you have not visited me in prison you have not releeved the poore c. will be evidence enough to cast a man into hell And the like may be said of the omission of other duties when a man is called to place when he hath opportunity to doe good hee hath a price in his hand and yet hath no heart to lay it out to his power God hath made him a steward and yet he is unfruitfull and labours to undermine and ruine the state of others What can such a man looke for but the judgement of God to light on him first or last if not present judgement on his body yet to be given up to hardnesse of heart and so to hell which is worst of all Nay more decay in our first love is a forerunner of judgement when we love not God as we were wont In Rev. 3. I will take away thy Candlesticke because thou hast left thy first love Is there not such a plenty and depth in good things especially of the Gospell whereby our sinnes are pardoned and grace is given is there not that sweetnesse in them whereby to gaine our love more and more Is there not a necessity to renew our peace Why should we decay in our love The things of the Gospell are so excellent and so necessary that when God sees them undervalued it is a forerunner of judgement let us take heed of decay in our affections When there is no zeale for the truth it is an ill signe Jt is a good signe for the present that God hath some blessing for us that now in our publique meetings there is regard to Religion and that in the first place there is some zeale for the cause of God against those that would wrong the cause of Religion wee have some cause to hope in respect of that And let every one laboâ—r to stirre up the Spirit of God and study how he may doe and receive good and be fruitfull and warme in his affections considering what excellent blessings we enjoy in the â—ospell What is the glory of the kingdome we live in above Popâ—ry our religion that wee have the sun-shine of the Gospell now the riches of Christ are unfolded wee have the key of Heaven Heaven opened what glorious times are those The glory of the times is the manifestation of the Gospell and shall we grow in the decay of our love â—s there â—ot cause to grow in love to the Gospell when God hath taken it from others and hath given â—â— to us Now Jdolatâ—y is where true Religion was and the Masse is said where God was religiously worshipped in other places and countries Shall God deale so with us and shall we not be in love with that truth Since we have had the truth what peace and plenty have we had And if ever we loose it it will goe with other things if God take away the truth away goes our peace and prosperity he will not take it away alone it came not alone and he will not take it away alone Doubtlesse it must needes make way for judgement when our love to so precious a jewell as the Gospell shall beginne to die and decay when we shall begin to slight and disregard it And so for any particular man that hath had good things in him if they now begin to decay it is an ill signe that God is fiting him for judgement Well but what shall we doe when judgements are comming Wee see judgements are like to come nay are in part come the Plague of pestilence hath ceazed on us already and then warre is threatned and that by enemies that have beene foyled before Foyled enemies are dangerous enemies if they bee proud Now wee have proud enemies that have beene foyled and Idolatrous withall and what mercy can wee looke for from them God fought against them for us from Heaven in some measure and they being cruell provoked enemies are the lesse likely to shew any mercy God is indeed so mercifull to us yet that he hath taken us into his owne hands rather then to give us up to the malice and fury of Idolatrous enemies But yet those that can lay things together and consider the times they shall see there is more cause of feare then is taken to heart Well and in this case what shall we doe First in the interim betweene the threatning and the execution there are some judgements in the cloud and the storme seemes to hang oâ—ver us and the sword of the pestilence is drawn over our heads by the destroying Angell though he hath not yet striken us in our particular now in the time betweene the threatning and the execution Oh improove it make use of this little time get into Covenant with God hide your selves in the providence and promises of God make your peace deferre it no longer And secondly mourne for the sinnes of the time that when any judgement shall come you may be marked with those that mourne Take heed of the errours and sins of the times least when a judgement comes you bee swept away in the generall judgement but let us rather have our part with those that mourne that God may give us our lives for a prey And thirdly be watchfull practise that duty we have the plague to put us in
are by it are from Heaven the truth we have and grace from the truth come from Heaven yea and Christ the Author of all is from Heaven and they all leade to Heaven Which should teach us with what minds to converse in the hearing and reading of these things with heavenly affections And it shewes likewise why worldlings and base people are no more affected with the things of the Gospell because it is the Kingdome of Heaven If it were of the world we should have it sought with eagernesse enough though it were a lesse matter then a Kingdome but it is a Kingdome of Heaven remote from flesh and blood there must be a new Spirit to worke a new sight and a new taste to worke a change in the heart of man and then he shall know the things of the Kingdome of Heaven He must come out of the world that will see this Kingdome as in Reve. 18. Come out of Babylon A man must come out of Antichrists Kingdome to see the basenesse of it he cannot see it in the middest of it so we must come out of the world if we would see the glorious Kingdome of Christ it is a heavenly Kingdome Therefore the greatest potentates of the world must abase themselves there is no greatnesse in the world can helpe them to this heavenly Kingdome But why should the Gospell and the state of the Church in the New Testament bee called the Kingdome of Heaven and receive the date now was it not the Kingdome of Heaven before J answer it is the manner of the Scripture to give titles to things from the glorious manifestation of them things are said to bee when they are gloriously manifested The Mystery of Christ is said to be revealed now in the time of the Gospell it was knowne before to Adam and Abraham and the rest but now there was a more apparent glorious manifestation of it therefore now the manifestation of Christ and the good things by him they are called a Kingdome before it was kept inclosed in the pale of the Iewish Church it was vailed under Types it was hid in promises that were darke and obscure but when Christ came all was taken off and Christ was unvailed It is said in the Gospell The Holy Ghost was not given yet because Iesus was not yet glorified The Holy Ghost was given before but not so fully and plentifully So there was a state of Heaven before men were saved before the comming of Christ But it was not called the Kingdome of Heaven it was not a state of liberty and freedome from the bondage of ceremonies c. And there is reason that there should be violence offred to this state and meanes and grace wrought by it it is a Kingdome it is no great wonder that a Kingdome should suffer violence especially such a Kingdome as the Kingdome of Heaven What is in a Kingdome There is first of all freedome from slavery and danger a Kingdome is an independent state there is none above it he that is a King is free independent and supreame Then againe a Kingdome is a full state there is aboundance and plenty of people and good things in a Kingdome Againe in a Kingdome there is glory and excellency where is it to be had else all the glory and sufficiency and contentment that Earth can afford Now in that the state of the Church by reason of the glorious Gospell is called a Kingdome First it is a free state as indeed the Word doth make us free from former bondage In particular the Gospell of Christ it frees us from Jewish bondage and from all kind of bondage spirituall If the Sonne make you free yee are free indeed A Christian is above all he is over sin and Satan and the Law he is free supreame and independent all are under him A Christian as a Christian he is under none but Christ under no creature The spirituall man judgeth all things yet hee himselfe is judged of no man I speake not of civill differences But as a Christian is a member of Christ and a citizen of the Kingdome of Heaven he hath a kind of independent state his conscience is onely subject to God and Christ but all earthly things he commands they are under him And 2. the staâ—e of a Christian is a full state God is his Christ is his All things are his so much as shall serve to bring him to Heaven that which is truly good is directly his and indirectly all other things are made his by Christ who hath the authority and power and strength of a King to command all things to worke together for his good death and sinne and all that befalls him are thus his And then he hath a spirit of contentment in the want of good and of patience in the suffering of ill that he can doe all things as St. Paul saith through Christ that strengtheneth him What he wants in outward things he can fetch supply from the promises of the Gospell he can fetch supply from Christ and from the state to come and what he wants in other things he hath in grace which is better 3. It is a state likewise of glory and excellency but it is a spirituall glory and therefore it consists together with outward basenesse and meanenesse it is a glorious state to be the Sonne of God to be heires of Heaven heires of all things in Christ by the Spirit of Christ in him he rules over all How glorious is the Spirit of God in a Christian in the time of temptation and affliction when he hath a Spirit ruling in him that is stronger then the world and all oppositions whatsoever The state of a Christian is glorious even in this world in the beginnings of it What then is the glory that is to be revealed on the Sonnes of God in the day of revelation It cannot enter into our thoughts it is above our expression nay it is above our imagination and conceit Thus you see there is great cause why the Kingdome of Heaven should suffer violence When Crownes and Kingdomes are laid open to people with hope of getting them especially such a one as the Kingdome of Heaven is it is no wonder if there be violence offered to get them The next thing is the affection of those that seeke after this Kingdome it is violent The Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence How doth the Kingdome of Heaven the Gospell and meanes of grace suffer violence First because when these good things were revealed by Iohn Baptist and then by Christ and after by the Disciples and Apostles many thronged into the Church which is the gate of the Kingdome of Heaven they all pressed to be of the Church to heare the Word of God They hung as it were upon the word of Christ upon his mouth they pressed so that they trod one upon another and it
none These are persons to be taken heed off breeding a temper opposite to Religion more then any other Christ can least brooke them there is great reason for it who can brooke any favour to be neglected and sleighted Especially for these excellent things to be under-valued and sleighted it cannoâ— be that God can indure it There will be a faction in the world while the world stands Christ and Antichrist Good and evill light and darkenesse but a man cannot be of both he must shew himselfe of one side or other in case of opposition Therefore the temper of the true pofessor is to be earnest in case of opposition of Religion and in case of opportuninity to advance his Religion in civill conversation and dealing with men that are subject to infirmities he must be gentle and meeke The Spirit of God descended in the shape of a Dove upon Christ as well as in fiery tongues upon the Apostles But in the cause of Christ in the cause of Religion he must be fiery and fervent No man more mild in his owne cause then Moses he was a meeke man but when occasion served when God was offended downe he throwes the Tables of stone he forgate himselfe though he were the meekest man in the world otherwise in his owne matters So I say the Spirit is both meeke and gentle as a Dove and earnest and zealous and hot as fire In Acts. 2 The Spirit of God comes downe as a mighty winde The winde is a powerfull thing if it be in a mans body There is no torment like to windy sicknesses as their complaints witnesse well enough that feele them and if a little winde be inclosed in the earth it shakes the whole vast body of the earth The Spirit is like winde it makes men bold it fills them with a great deale of eagernesse in the cause of God Againe the Spirit appeared to the Apostles in the likenesse of fire it inflamed their zeale and made them fervent that were cold before as we see in Peter the voice of a damsell terrified and affrighted him but when the Spirit came upon him it so fiered him that he accounted it his glory Act. 5.41 to suffer any thing for the cause of Christ. Therefore those that hope for any thing by religion let them labour to be for that Religion in good earnest they shall finde God in good earnest with them else Againe hence we see that Religion takes not away the earnestnesse of the affections it doth direct them to better things it changeth them in regard of the object It takes not away any thing in us but turnes the streame another way Violence requires the height and strength of the affections Religion taketh them not away but turnes them that way that they should goe If a streame runne violently one way if it be derived by skill and cunning another way it will runne as fast that way when it is turned as it did before So it is with the heart of man Religion takes nothing away that is good but lifts it up it elevateth and advanceth it to better objects There are riches and honours and pleasures when a man is in Christ but they are in a higher kinde therefore they draw affections and greater affections then other things but these affections are purified they runne in a better in a cleaner channell whereas before they ran amaine to earthly dirty things below the same affections of love of desire and zeale doe remaine still he that was violent before is as violent still onely the streame is turned For example take St. Paul for an instance he was as earnest when he was a Christian as before he was never more eager after the shedding of the blood of Christians and breathing out slaughter against them as he was afterwards in breathing after the Salvation of Gods people and a desire to enlarge the Gospell Zaccheus was never so covetous of the world before as he was covetous of Heaven when he became a Christian. I say Religion takes not away any thing onely it turnes the streame But it is a miracle for the streame to be turned it was God that turned Iordan so it is a greater work then man can doe to turne the streames of mans affections that runne amaine to earthly things to make them runne upward it is onely Gods worke This is the excellency of Religion it ennobles our nature that which is naturall it makes it heavenly and spirituall that a man shall be as earnest for God and good things as ever he was before after the things of this life So much for that point The third thing is the successe The violent take it by force The earnestnesse of affection and violence it is successefull they take it The good things of God they are here compared to a Fort or to a well fenced and well armed Citie strengthened with bulwarks and munition that is a long time besieged and at length is taken for this clause The violent take it by force it doth as well shew the issue of these violent ones striving for the Kingdome of Heaven to wit that they doe at length take it as the manner how it is taken namely by force The violent and onely the violent and all the violent doe at length certainely obtaine what they strive for the Kingdome of Heaven Why 1. Because it is promised to the violent Knock and it shall bee opened unto you Bee zealous and repent that is the meanes to cure all former transgressions repent and bee zealous and doe the former workes and To him that overcommeth that is he that is earnest that will never leave off till he hath overcome to him will I grant to sit with me on the throne and To him that overcommeth will I give to eate of the tree of life all the promises are to him that overcomes to him that is zealous and earnest Then againe the spirit whereby a man is earnest is a victorious spirit as Christians have the Word and promise to build on that leades them on and incourageth them so they are led by a mighty Spirit that hath the force of winde and fire that beates downe all before it that breakes thorough all oppositions and difficulties being lead with a divine Spirit what earthly thing can oppose that which is divine it brings under and subdues all therfore the violent take it the Spirit of God seizing upon and possessing the heart and carrying it with strength after these things And then onely the violent take it because God hath set it at this rate he that heareth and doth he that perseveres to the end he that sells all for the pearle for the treasure in the field there must be nothing retained all must bee parted with we must be at any cost and charge and perill and all little enough it is offered to us upon these termes of parting with all of induring any thing
God gets the victory of whatsoever opposeth him If there be snares offered from the world he withstands them if Satan come with his temptations he resists him he hath a promise for it resist the Divell and hee will flee Let us hold out and we shall get the victory and overcome even God himselfe how much more all other things Therefore when either opposition without or indisposition within sets upon us in the course of Religion and Piety let us thinke here now is time and place for violence I know if I set my selfe about it J shall have the victory and the Crowne A Christian is alway in a hopefull state and condition he hath somewhat to encourage him he hath arguments to prevaile over the state of opposition he knowes he shall winne all at last if he goe on and that makes him couragious in what estate soever he is Let us not be discouraged to heare of opposition And let us be incouraged when we heare of good things when we heare that the Kingdome of Heaven and grace is offered in the preaching of the Gospell Let us attend upon the posts of wisdomes doores and not give over till we come to peaâ—â— of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost If wee heare of comfort in the Word of God against distresse of conscience let us never give over till we finde it If we heare that God is a God hearing Prayer let us never leave knocking at Heaven Gate never leave wrastling till our prayers be heard when we heare what ill is to be avoided and what good is offered let us not cease till we avoid the one and obtaine the other The violent take it by force The last point is the date of time from whence this Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence From the daies of Iohn Baptist untill now Was there not a Kingdome of Heaven that suffered violence before Iohn Baptists time did the Kingdome of God begin then was Christ a King and was Heaven opened onely then I answer no but now the things of God were more gloriously discovered therefore Iohn 1.51 Henceforth you shall see Heaven opened The Kingdome of Heaven was opened now by the preaching of the Gospell more gloriously then before Therefore the state of the Gospell is called the Kingdome of Heaven partly in regard of the times before and partly in regard of the times after The Law was full of servile bondage to Ceremonies it was a heavie darke state they were laden with a multitude of Ceremonies which were but cold things to the spirit of a man that desires peace though they were Ceremonies of Gods appointing yet they were but outward empty things in comparison weake and beggarly elements as the Apostle saith Gal. 4.9 They were costly and painefull and cold things that had not the efficacie of spirit in them And secondly then it was entayled to the Jewes onely Now since Christs time it is enlarged and being more large and free this blessed estate is called a Kingdome Iohn Baptist now opening Christ clearely and a better state then the Church had yet enjoyed when people saw an end of the Ceremonies and the beginning of the glorious liberty in Christ this made them violently set on them Againe Iohn Baptist made way for Christ levelling the soules of men by his powerfull preaching and his holy life he taught them in what need they stood of Christ hee was the messenger sent before Christ for that end he was as the morning Starre to the Sun hee was powerfull in his preaching and holy in his life he told every man his owne he told the Pharisees that they were a generation of vipers he shewed men their state by nature and told them of a better state that the Kingdome of Heaven was at hand and although he wrought no miracles yet himselfe was a miracle to teach such holy doctrine and to live an austere holy life in those evill daies it was no lesse then a miracle therefore this violence to the Kingdome of Heaven it hath the date from Iohn Baptists time from his preaching not from his birth he being so excellent a preacher no wonder there should be violence This shewes the reason why the Gospell in later times was imbraced so greedily when Luther began to preach alas people had beene in a worse condition then Jewish in respect of Ceremonies and otherwise foolish idle men they will set God to schole they will have some fooleries alway that they will make as much of as of the worship of God and so it had beene in the times before Luther In Saint Austins time he was pestered with many vaine ceremonies and good man he yeelded to the streame and custome in many things though he could hardly indure the slavery of those things Now when the times grew better it was no wonder that the world imbraced the Gospell with violence as in Luthers time when there was a freedome proclaimed from those beggarly rudiments and traditions Antichrist had hampered the consciences of men with an intollerable masse of foolish groundlesse ceremonies making them equall with the Word of God as wee see in the Counsell of Trent and this vexed the consciences of people like scorpions as it is Rev. 9.5 they oppressed the people with a multitude of weights and burthens which when people could not assent unto it stung their consciences No wonder then if people thronged after Luther when he opened the doctrine of free justification by faith that the consciences of men were not to be hampered with these things He taught that Gods people were only to have a few ceremonies for present order but for the rest to trouble mens consciences and to make them of equall valew with the Word of God he shewed it was an abhominable doctrine and wrote against it learnedly and sweetly and therefore it is no marvell though the truths he taught were soone and chearefully by multitudes embraced And the reason why now the Gospell begins to be so little imbraced and esteemed is because by reason of the long continuance of it we are weary of this heavenly Manna As the people in Saint Iohn Baptists time as eager as they were after Iohns preaching yet it was but for a time that they rejoyced in his light they grew weary of him we never felt the burthen of those Romish Ceremonies and therefore now grow weary of our liberty whereas in the beginning of Luthers time because they were eased from many beggarly and which is worse tyrannicall ceremonies of Rome therefore with much joy and eagernesse they embraced the truth when it came to be preached amongst them Therefore we are to praise God for the liberty of the Church at this time that we have the Word of God to rule our consciences and that other matters are not pressed on us but as matters of decencie and order Alas if wee were in bondage to those proud Popish
wretches our consciences would be inthralled to a world of snares Last of all From the daies of the Baptist and so forward the Kingodme of Heaven did suffer violence because from that time forward the Spirit begaÌ„ to be more plentifully given Christ comes with his Spirit which is the soule of our soule and the life of our life the Spirit it is like a mighty winde that mooves the ship in the water The ship is becalmed it cannot moove unlesse there be a winde so the soule cannot moove to that which is good without the Spirit Now there is more abundance of the Spirit since the comming of Christ. Christ who is the King of his Church the Lord of Heaven and Earth he reserved the abundance of the Spirit till his owne comming especially till he entred into Heaven then the Spirit came in abundance It was powred upoÌ„ al flesh it was but as it were dropped before but then it was powred out Then the Gentiles came in and the Apostles received the Spirit in abundance therefore no wonder that there was violence offered to the Kingdome of Heaven then hence we may observe That the more clearely Christ and the blessed mysteries of Christ are opened the more effectuall the Spirit is and the more heavenly men are and more eagerly disposed to spirituall things The reason and ground of it is in nature the affections follow the discovery of the excellency of things When first the necessity of being in Christ is laid open that there are but two Kingdomes the Kingdome of Christ and the kingdome of the divell and that a man must either enter into the Kingdome of Christ or bee of the Divells kingdome still And when secondly together with the necessity the excellencie of Christs Kingdome is discovered that it is a state that will make us all Kings a state wherein we shall at length overcome all opposition of hell sinne death the wrath of God that whereas earthly Kingdomes are opposed and inthralled and one dash against another the Kingdome of Heaven is a state that subdues all that is against it by little and little as Christ overcame death and the wrath of his Father and now rules in Heaven in his person so all his members shall overcome all in time when the excellencie of this Kingdome is laid open to the understandings of men is it a wonder that their affections are set on fire will any thing doe it more then such a Kingdome Then in the third place when it is hopefull too when together with the necessity and excellency of it there is assurance given us that we shall obtaine it if we strive for it when it is offered freely even grace and glory and wee are intreated to receive grace Come unto mee yee that are weary c. nay we are threatned if we doe not come and we have example of the worst sort of people of Zaccheus and the poore woman out of whom the divels were cast of Peter that denied Christ of Paul that persecuted him such as had beene wretched persons that have come out of Satans kingdome when these things are propounded and understood and apprehended men that are in their wits that are not besotted by the divell men that are not in love with damnation and hate their owne soules they will imbrace them When they see a state discovered in Christ wherein they are above Angels in some sort above death and hell that they triumph over all in Christ that because it is as sure that they shall bee crowned Conquerors with Christ in Heaven as if they were there alreadie When it is propounded thus hopefully who would not offer violence to this Kingdome When Iohn Baptist laid it open so clearely to them this is the Lambe of God that takes away the sinnes of the world it made them offer violence to it And this is another reason why in the latter the second spring of the Gospell for there was a Winter in the time of Popery it being a Kingdome of darknesse keeping people in ignorance so many nations so suddenly imbraced the truth Luther was a man that was wondrously exercised and afflicted in conscience this made him relish the doctrine of justification by grace in Christ and thereupon to lay open the mysteries of Christ and the bondage of Poperie and this being once a foot the peoples mindes being prepared out of the sence of their former bondage whole kingdomes came in presently As in the Spring time when there comes a fine Sunne-shine day the prisoners are let loose out of the earth after a cold winter So after the winter of affliction and persecution inward and outward came the Sunne-shine of the Gospell and made all come foorth and flourish presently Wheresoever Christ is taught powerfully and plainely and the excellency and necessity of the staâ—e we have by him and that men may partake of it if they be not false to their owne soules there is alwaies violence offered to these things because where the riches of Christ are opened the Spiriâ— goes with it and goes with violence that it carries all before it Hence againe we may see that Popish spirits are witty in opposing the unfolding of the Gospell in the Ministery especially where there is conscience and skill to unfold Christ plainely they know when Christ is opened all their fopperies and inventions will grow base the more Christ is unfolded the more people will grow in hatred of Antichrist the more they sâ—e the light the more they will hate darkenesse for this cause they oppose the unfolding of the Gospell to the understanding of the people they would keepe people in ignorance that they may make them dote upon them It argueth a disposition dangerous that shall never taste of the good things of God to be in a bitter temper against the unfolding of the Gospell of Christ For we see here the discovery of it makes it wondrous effectuall Iohn Baptist laying open Christ clearer then he was discovered before the Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence Here we are instructed what way we should take if we would bring our selves or others into a temper fit for Heaven to an earnest temper after holy things not to beginne with dead outward actions but to beginne as becomes the condition of reasonable men as God deales with man befitting the nature of man beginne with the understanding Let us meditate seriously of the truth of Christs comming in the flesh of the end of his comming To dissolve the works of the Divell to bring us out of the state of nature to a better condition meditate of the excellency of the state of grace of the eternity and excellency of the state of glory Let us warme our hearts with these things when a man hath once these things and believes them let him be cold and dull if he can And so if we would gaine others to a fit disposition for Heaven let us labour to
18. how he loved God and joyed in God and in the word of God above all things in the world hee esteemed the light Gods counâ—enance more than corne or wine or oyle Psal. 4. I give but a touch to shew how this description is true of this blessed man that â—e served the will of God And for the expression of 〈◊〉 praise and prayer hee was a man after Gods owne heart especially in this he was ready upon all occasions to blesse and praise God hee kept his communion with God as we see though hee were a King yet his 〈…〉 was to serve God as we see in Psal. 1. hee meditated in the word of God day and night What time had he to rule his Kingdome then The meaning is that all the spare time that hee had it was to think of God to looke to the rule the word of God how to guide his life And for his outward calling there is a double calling wherin we serve God as Christians our generall and our particular calling wherein wee are to deale with men what an excellent man was hee â—hee served the will of God as a Governour of a family wee see in Psal. 101. how he carried himselfe in the middest of â—his house to all his servants a lyer should not abide in his house You have a direction there how to guidâ— your families you see how hee served the Will of God as a governour yet there was a fault in him in that respect hee was too indulgent to Absolon and Adoniah A man may be a good man and yet be too blame in some particulars but when his heart is right God pardons the rest You see how he carried himselfe as a King he was an excellent King the delight of Israel hee carried himselfe every way as a King should doe hee tempered mercie and judgement together I will sing of mercie and judgement so he did in his whole carriage sweetly temper mercie and justice he dispenced these two And as a King must not only serve God himselfe but to make others serve God so his care was to stablish the worship of God as you find in the storie David when he saw all in peace and quiet then he begins to take care for the Arke 1 Chron. 17. I dwell in a house of Cedar but the Arke of the Lord remaines under curtaines therfore hee tooke a course for that So governours should doe when God hath setled them in their government quietly to begin to thinke of Gods house for they rule not well they serve not the Will of God except besides their owne service they call others to serve him A Magistrate must be the keeper of both Tables himselfe and cause others to doe it he must lay downe his crowne at the feet of Christ as it is in Isay. Thus David was a nursing father to the Church of God hee served God in his particular calling Now to make use of another division the Will of God it is either in things to be done or to be suffred and obedience answerable to that is either active or passive as David served God in doing so hee yeelded obedience and served the Will of God in his passive obedience wherein hee did deny himselfe exceedingly as much as ever man did next to Christ you see how he denied himselfe in his carriage toward Saul in matter of revenge how he overcame himselfe because hee knew that revenge was Gods and that God was his and therefore would right him well enough and in Shimei God hath bid him raile hee would not revenge and other notable examples wee have how he submitted to Gods Will as in 1 Sam. 30.6 when hee was in extremitie hee encouraged himselfe in the Lord his God there he staied himselfe in extremity and in 2 Sam. 15.25 there is a notable place how hee submitted himselfe to God The King said Carry backe the Arke of God if I have found favour in the eyes of God he will bring me again but if God say thus I have no delight in him behold here I am let him doe as seemes good to him Here was a resignation of himselfe to the will of himselfe in serving of him so in Psal. 39. I held my tongue Lord because thou didest it Thus you see how he served the will of God in the inward service of God and in the outward to God and man in both callings as a good man and a good governour in his family every way he served the Will of God And wherefore is all this Here is a patterne for us that we should serve the Will of God to serve the Will of God immediatly to labour to bring our hearts to trust in him to feare him above all to delight in him above all and to expresse it in our outward service of him and in doing duties to men from inward respect to God in conscience of our dutie to serve God when we serve men to carry our selves in our generall calling as Christians and in our particular place not only to be good men but good in our callings good Students good Lawyers c. Let us shew our Religion there as David did this is to serve the Will of God That is not Religion that is left behind in the Churchâ— as Lactantius saith that is no Religion that wee leave behind when wee come to the Church doore but that is Religion when wee learne our dutie here and carry it in our breasts to practise it every day in the weeke when wee shew it in our places that is the service of God Therefore let this holy man bee an example to us wherefore are these particular things recorded of him in the Scriptures but that we should transforme our selves to this blessed patterne The whole life of a Christian wee see is a service of God there is nothing that we doe but it may be a service of God no not our particular recreations if wee use them as wee should as whettings to bee fitter for our callings and enjoy them as liberties with thankfulnesse to God that allowes us these liberties to refresh our selves There is no passage of a mans life but it may have the respect of a service of God it is not the matter or stuffe but the stamp that makes the coyn so it is not the worke but the stamp that makes it a service when we doe it with aâ— eye to God Let the King set a stamp but upon brasse upon a token yet it will goe for current if it have the Kings authority and stamp upon it let it be but an action of our callings suppose to give counsell in our studies or pleading of the Law c. if it have Gods stamp upon it if there be Prayer upon it to blesse it and it bee done in obedience to God and with justice not against the rules of Piety and Charity and as farre
office in such pompe and noise as it is said of Agrippa Acts. 25.23 hee came with great pompe so worldly Princes carry things thus and it is needfull in some sort people must have shewes and pompe the outward man must have outward things to astonish it withall it is a pollicy in state so to doe but Christ came in another manner he came not to make men quake and tremble that came to speake and deale with him he came not with clamour and fiercenesse for who would have come to Christ then But he came in a mild and sweete and amiable manner wee see a little before the text upon occasion of the inference of these wordes he commands and chargeth them that they should not discover him and make him knowne when he had done a good worke hee would not have it knowne Now there are three things especially insinuated in this description hee shall not strive nor cry neither shall any man heare his voice in the streete That Christ should not be outwardly glorious to publish his owne excellency nor contentious he should not cry nor quarrell nor hee should not be clamarous if hee had any wrong to be all on fire presently but he should be as a meeke Lambe he should make no noise he should not come in vaine glory or clamour c. But here wee must know that Christ was a wise discerner of the fitnesse of times for sometimes he would have things published sometimes he would not sometimes hee vvould be knovvne sometimes he would not Christ in his second comming shall come all in majesty and glory with his Angells and all the earth shall appeare before him but now his wisedome told him now hee came to save the world as a Prophet Priest and King to worke mans salvation that he must hide and conceale himselfe and so hee ordered all his courses by discretion every Sacrifice must be salted with salt every thing should be seasoned with the salt of discretion this is the steward of all our actions to know what is fit Christ knew it was fittest to conceale himselfe now at this time Now by Christs example we should learne this not to bee vaine glorious not to make a great noyse you have some if they doe any thing that is good presently all the world must know it this was not Christs disposition it is a disposition that is hardly wrought out of mans heart without an exceeding great measure of the Spirit of God For we see good men have been given this way David would number the people that it might be knowne what a great Monarch he was what a great number of people he had he was a good man yet vaine-glorious he smarted for it So good Hezekias Ambassadors were sent to him from the King of Babylon and that they should know that Hezekiah was no beggerly Prince out must come the vessels of the Temple and all his treasures to shew what a rich King the King of Iudah was His vaine-glory cost him all his riches as the Prophet told him So the Disciples before they received a great measure of the Spirit how vaine-glorious were they They contended for the higher place therefore they advise Christ to goe up to Hierusalem that he might bee knowne As Iehu said to Ionadab come up and see my zeale for the Lord of Hoasts he accounts it nothing unlesse it bee seene so flesh and blood if there be any thing done that is good all the world must know it presently Christ chargeth them that no noyse should be made but that they would conceale him What should we learne hence To be of Christs disposition that is to have no more care of the knowledge of things then the light of the things themselves will discover to doe works of light and if the things themselves will breake foorth to mens eyes and they must see our light shine then let them and imitate our good works but for us to blazon them abroad our selves it is not the Spirit of Christ. Let us labour to have humility of spirit that that may grow up with us in all our performances that all things that we speake and doe may savour of a spirit of humility that we may seeke the glory of God in all things more then our owne And let us commit the fame and credit of what we are or doe to God he will take care of that let us take care to bee and to doe as wee should and then for noyse and report let it bee good or ill as God will send it Wee know oft times it falls out that that which is precious in mans eye is abhominable in Gods if wee seeke to bee in the mouthes of men to dwell in the talke and speech of men God will abhorre us and at the houre of death it will not comfort us what men speake or know of us but sound comfort must be from our owne conscience and the judgement of God therfore let us labour to be good in secret Christians should be as minerals rich in the depth of the earth that which is least seene is his riches wee should have our treasure deepe For the discovery of it we should be ready when wee are called to it and for all other accidentall things let them fall out as God in his wisedome sees good So let us looke through good report and bad report to Heaven let us doe the duties that are pleasing to God and our owne conscience and God will be carefull enough to get us applause Was it not sufficient for Abell that though there was no great notice taken what faith he had and how good a man he was yet that God knew it and discovered it God sees our sincerity and the truth of our hearts and the graces of our inward man he sees all these and he values us by these as he did Abell As for outward things there may bee a great deale of deceit in them and the more a man growes in grace the lesse he cares for them as much reputation as is fit for a man will follow him in being and doing what hee should God will looke to that Therefore we should not set up sailes to our owne meditations that unlesse wee bee carried with the winde of applause to bee becalmed and not goe a whit forward but we should be carried with the Spirit of God and with a holy desire to serve God and our brethren and to doe all the good we can and never care for the speeches of the world as St. Paul saith of himselfe I care not what ye judge of me I care not what the world judgeth I care not for mans judgement this is mans day Wee should from the example of Christ labour to subdue this infirmity which wee are sicke of naturally Christ concealed himselfe till hee saw a fitter time We shall have glory enough and be knowne enough to Divells to Angels and men ere long therefore as Christ lived a
in the creature for Christ must bee received with a beggars hand and it will aske much labour to deny a mans selfe for proud flesh will alwaies have somewhat to trust to either in it selfe or in the creature So that these two may well stand together labour and gift we are taught to pray Give us this day our daily bread God will give us our daily bread we must not therefore stand still and doe nothing but though God will give it yet he will give it in the use of meanes in the use of our lawfull callings so heere God will give us this spirituall food yet he will give it in labour it is his ordinance and whatsoever hee gives he gives not in idlenesse but in obedience to his ordinance he will have us to labour in the use of the meanes in reading hearing receiving the Sacrament praying meditating and the like to have a part in Christ this blessed gift Nay because he will give Christ therefore laâ—our the one enforceth the other the like reason Moses giveth the Israelites Fight saith he for the Lord hath given them into your hand â—hey might say if our enemies bee given into our hand why should we fight yes fight the rather be incouraged to fight because you shall be sure to conquer so heere Labour for the meate that endures to everlasting life for the Sonne of man will give it therefore labour because he will give it in labouring we shall bee sure to have it do that which belongs to thee and thou shalt be sure to have that which belongs to God thou shalt finde Christ and Heaven and glory and all in the use of the meanes But he gives nothing without labour there can be no good done in earthly things without labour and doe you thinke to have Heaven without labour No spirituall things are against the streame Heaven is up the hill there must be labour there must be striving against corruptions within and against temptations without and our labour it is a happy labour it is not a barren labour our labour is not in vaine in the Lord as the Apostle saith wee that labour for the food that endures to everlasting life we labour for somewhat but worldlings that beate their braines and tire their spirits and rack their consciences and weare out their bodies it is all for nothing it is for that which is vanity and vexation of spirit for that which they must leave behind them A true Christian to encourage him to take all the paines that may be hee labours for something it is a hopefull and not a barren labour And beloved blessed are we that we can have this food for our labour that since the fall wee can recover by the second Adam a better estate then wee had by the first And our blessed Saviour to the end he might distinguish true Christians from Hypocrites enjoynes this duty of labouring so much the more for we have many in the Church that thinke to have Christ and his benefits without labour as if Heaven would drop into their mouthes they can say that God is mercifull and Christ died for us but you shall in the meane time finde them carelesse of reading of hearing of praying of the Communion of Saints c. are idle in working out their salvation with feare and trembling negligent in selling all that they have for the Pearle will part with nothing for Christ I say to distinguish these Hypocrites from true Christians therefore he saith Labour to shew to us that onely they that labour for Christ in the use of all good meanes that labour for the true knowledge of him and for faith to receive him that sell all for him that take paines to grow in grace and in union with Christ that make him their best portion in the world and delight in him it is they onely that have interest in Christ onely the painefull Christian is the true Christian. Therefore I beseech you as you would have it discerned that you are not Hypocrites in the Church bee stirred up to use all sanctified meanes to know Christ to beleeve in him to know that you are in a communion with him that you belong unto him Be not discouraged you shall have rest ere long There is a rest for the people of God as the Apostle saith to the Hebrewes Indeed so long as we are heere below there is labour joyned with wearinesse for we have great conflicts with corruptions and temptations with enemies within and enemies without but be of good comfort we shall at last come to a rest to a rest perpetuall and everlasting It is true in Heaven there shall be labour for we shall be alway praising God but it shall be labour without wearinesse labour without conflict there shall bee no corruption within nor no divell without Satan could enter into Paradice below but hee shall never enter into that heavenly Paradice therfore be incouraged to labour for a while though it be tedious because of corruptions and temptations yet there is a rest for the people of God an eternall Rest. FINIS VIOLENCE VICTORIOVS In two Sermons By the late Reverend and Learned Divine RICHARD SIBS Doctor in Divinity Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge and sometimes Preacher at Grayes-Inne GEN. 32.26 I will not let thee goe except thou blesse mee 1 COR. 15.57 Thankes be unto God which giveth us the victory through Iesus Christ our Lord. LONDON Printed by G.M. for Nicholas Bourne and Rapha Harford 1639. VIOLENCE VICTORIOVS MAT. 11.12 From the daies of Iohn Baptist untill now the Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force IOHN Baptist and our blessed Saviour gave mutuall testimonies one of another hee witnessed of Christ before hee came and our Saviour Christ gives witnesse of him here The occasion of this you have in the second verse Iohn being in prison sends two of his Disciples to Christ to know whether he were the Christ or no not that Iohn did doubt but to confirme his Disciples Christ returnes a reall and a verball answer Tell Iohn saith he what ye have seene and heard c. and then he closeth up all Blessed is he that is not offended with me Upon this occasion Christ enters into a commendation of blessed St. Iohn Baptist even unto a comparative commendation amongst them that were borne of woemen there had not yet risen a greater then Iohn the Baptist not so much in eminency of grace though that may have a truth as in regard of the dispensation of his Ministery Iohn living in more glorious times For the excellency of the Church is from Christ he doth ennoble and advance times and places and persons Bethlehem a little Citty yet not a little Citty in regard that Christ was borne there and saith Christ Happy are the eyes that see that which your eyes see every thing is advanced by Christ. So Iohn Baptist in regard of his office being