because no lawes but usually they will presse on some mans particular the heaviest end of a staffe that is to be born must fall on some mans shoulder and such lawes must be made Hence a man is to bear and submit cheerfully i. e. from the rule of love which will abate of particular for the generall good love that more than mine own 2. The law of justice a man is to do as he would be done by there is no man but if his good was advanced by the generall but would be conteut that some particular should be pinched 3. The law of nature The stomack is content to be sick and body weak to heal the whole body Hence Christians should not think that Towâ—smen are carelesse unjust and aimed at their hurt when it is thus 1 King 12. 4. 6. A meer Penal law when 't is broke the forfeiture is sufficient for the satisfaction of the offence or trespasse but not in a mixt Law First A Penall law is about things of small moment Secondly 'T is not made by way of command but with an aut a disjunctive copula and is indeed rather a proviso than a law Thirdly It is in the mind of the law make satisfactory if the penalty be payed though the law be not performed because the publick good in the mind of the Law-maker is known to be set forward that way as by obedience to the law In these cases penalty is enough but if the law be mixt i. e. there is a command it shall de done and Law-giver is sad though penalty being paid as being about a matter of weight it may be the livelyhood and comfort of men as keeping hogs out of corn and peace in a Town that there be no complaining here the penalty will not satisfie because this is no penall law but a law indeed deducted from rules of the word of God as it is in theft he that steals shall pay fourfold or that brawles shall be duckt in the water Suppose one should say I will suffer my servant to steal or revile I hope 't is no offence if he suffer the penalty Yes but it is beeause it is not a meer penall law the thing is of weight peace between neighbours so peace in a Town It 's a flat charge not to break it and thou knowst such is the honesty and justice of a Magistrate that he will say I would rather you would never do thus than offer those to do Hence in Gods law Christ must suffer and do also because Gods law is not meerly penal but doing the thing gives more content than the punishment 3. When servants cast off all subjection to their Governours Families being the members and foundations of Towns and so of Common-wealths When they are not obedient but answer again if they be let alone then idle if rebuked and curb'd then stubborn and proud and worse for chiding and find fault with their wages and victuals and lodging weary and vex out the heart of Master and Mistresse and make them weary of their lives and their God also almost sometimes and that by such professing Religion and all that they might be from under the yoke And here I cannot but set a mark upon servants broke loose from their Masters and got out of their time that are under no Family nor Church-government nor desiring of it or preparing for it but their reigns are on their necks I confesse if under heathen Masters then desire liberty rather but when men will live as they list without any over them and unfit to rule themselves I much doubt whether this be according to God 1. Hence they come to live idly and work when they list 2. Hence men of publick use can have little use but when they please of them 3. When they be with them they have no power to correct or examine and call them to account in regard of spirituall matters 4. Hence they lye in wait to oppresse men that must have help from them and so will do what they list 5 Hence they break out to drunkenness whoring and loose company 6. Hence they make other servants unruly and to desire liberty Now examine and try these things Is the Kingdome of Christ come into us that though there be a law in our members warring yet there is a law of the mind warring against it and delighting in the will of Christ and setting him up as chief Are we under the Kingdome of Christ in his Church and Common-wealth so as the soul is willing in the day of the Lords power though there be and have been some pangs of resistance against persons and against Ordinances so as 't is thy liberty to be subject to Christ in his Ordinances in his servants and 't is thy bondage to be otherwise and thou longest for that day that the Lord would subdne all those boistrous lusts and pride and passions and bruise sin Satan and self under their feet Then I say as the Lord Isa. 33. 20 21 2â— Look upon Zion the City of your solemnity c. See Rom. 8. 7 1. But if the heart grows loose and licentious and breaks the Lords bonds and yokes and will be led by your own fleshly ends and lusts and so go on quietly Be you assured this truth shall have a time to take hold of such spirits and know it assuredly 't is not to be in Christs Family or Kingdome 't is not scrambling for promises catching at Gods grace talking of assurance of Gods love which will shelter you from the wrath of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to whom God hath sworn That every knee shall bow 'T is service and subjection which the Lord aims at and which the Lord looks for I know 't is Gods grace which only can save but it will never save when it is turned into licentiousnesse Do not say There is no danger of it here where we have such means and such liberties are Answ. 1. Never such danger of being licentious as in places of liberty when no bit nor bridle of externall tyranny to curb in 2. Look on the Kingdom of Iudah here which in one year all fell 3. Why doth the Lord exercise us with wants and straits 't is to humble us and abate our unrulinesse And 't is the Lords quarrel with his best people to this day desperate rebellious hearts that close not with his Government Do not say we know not how bondage should come here though we should cast off the Lords Government Answ. 1. The Lord can let loose the natives against us Ahab kills 1000000 of Benhadads men but afterwards within seven yeares he returns again 2. The Lord can raise up brambles and Abimelechs to be the King of the trees when the Olives and the Vines are loth to forsake their places and to lose their fatnesse and sweetnesse 3. The Lord can turn the hearts of those in power against people and let
the Lord will not do And hence if he does not destroy him he with-draws himself from serving of the creature and hence other evils take hold of it and bring it under When Adam stood and was for God all creatures served him and the riches of Gods goodnesse preserved him the Lord communicated the sweet of his government or service to him but when turned away from the right wayes of God Now if the Lord should serve him by governing of him in goodnesse he should serve a lust and bow to the creature nay to a lust which is a viler thing then for one creature to fall down and worship another Therefore now hence it comes to passe because the Lord will not be a servant to any mans lust there must be some other government that must seize upon them Hence set all the Saints in the Churches with their faces subjected to the Lord his good wil and righteous wayes and then his goodness shall flow down upon them in a through Christ for otherwise we have nothing to do with good but when we are set right for God Hos. 2. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousnesse in judgement in loving kindnesse and mercy c. The Lord will then command all creatures to be serviceable to his Church and people Vers. 21 22. But on the contrary misery must needs seiz upon the soul that doth cast off the government of the Lord Jesus Thus much for the generall explication of the point Now in particular 1. What is this government or service of God 2. What is the bondage he captivates his unto 3. Why doth the Lord do thus Quest. 1. What is this government or service of God which being shaken off the Lord gives them over to bondage Ans. There is a double government of the Lord over his people 1. Internall or inward of which our Saviour speaks Luk. 17. 21. The kingdome of God saith Christ comes not by observation and outward pomp For behold the kingdome of God is within you And this is nothing else in generall but when the Lord doth by his Spirit in the word of his grace cause the whole soul willingly to submit and subject it self to the whole will of God so far as it 's made known to it this is the inward kingdom of God and government of Christ in the soul. Ro. 8 14. So many as are led by the Spirit are the sons of God Ps. 110. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion c. 2. Cor. 10. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God the pulling down of strong holds Vers. 5. Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. There are mighty boisterous distempâ—rs but the Lord when he comes in his Kingdome to sit upon the royall throne of the hearts of his people now they flie and this is the inward Kingdom of Christ like a poor Subject pardoned and received to favour he is before the face of the Prince continually attending on him Revel 7. 14 15. These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Vers. 15. Therefore are they before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple c. Now this is meant in part by Gods service in these dayes do you think the Lord cared for thousands of Rams no but to walk humbly Mica 6. Did he care for Temple aud Ordinances no but Isa. 1. 19. If he be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land Neh. 9. 20. In those dayes hee gave them his good Spirit to instruct them 2. Externall or outward the end and instigation of which was to set up and help forward the inward for externall Ordinances are nothing in themselves mean things but as they are appointed and sanctified for this end they are most glorious and therefore Christ threatens the Jewes Matth. 21. 43. That the Kingdome should be taken from them what was that Surely not inward for that they had not but the outward and externall means called Gods kingdom all these helps and means shall be taken from you and all laid ruinous Now this externall kingdom of Christ is double 1. The externall kingdome or government of God by his Church in the administration anâ— execution and subjection to the blessed Ordinances of God wherein the power and Kingdome of Christ is seen and thus Dan. 2. 44 45. Dan. 7. 27. It shall be given to the Saints of the most high c. Not to prophane herds of beasts or cages of unclean birds but to the Saints of the most high Whose kingdome is an everlasting kingdome and all the Princes of the world shall subject themselves to this kingdom of Christ. This outward Kingdom Christ administreth amongst his people in this world And this was part of the Lords government over his people herein though various from our form now 2. Of the Common-wealth which may have divers forms and had in the time of Israel but it receiving its law from God and governing for God hence it was the government of God and subjection hereunto was subjection and service to God himself And hence when the people cast off Samuel 1 Sam 8. 7. They have not rejected thee but me Rev. 11. 15. The kingdomes of the world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever For although the Common-wealth of Israel was made up of the Church and hence Iosephus cals it a Theocracy where the Lord governed and yet the same thing had divers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 formes and respects and hence there was a diverse government then and hence made diverse 2 Chron. 19. 5 8. Iehosaphat sets Iudges in the land throughout all the fenced Cities Such is the wildnesse boldness carelesness of mens hearts that they do not only need lawes but watchmen over them to see they be kept and hence the Lord appointed some chief some Judges in every City and also some in every Village as by proportion may be gathered Exod. 18. every ten men had one over them Now this was the blessed wisdome of God to put all into sweet subordination one unto another for himself 1. Every one professing his name is made for God for Christ as Lord of Lords unto whom every knee must bow and inwardly subject 2. Hence the Lord it being not good to leave man to himself erects a Kingdome of the Church with his own power and authority and government in it for that end 3. This being poor shiftlesse against inward and outward revenge hence the Lords sets up Kingdoms of the world which either rule for this end of these ends or not if they do not they are to answer it and shall one days to Christ whom God hath made head over all
things to the Church Eph. 1. 22. If they do then their government judgement and kingdome is the Lords in a speciall manner and hence break the yoak of subjection to any one of these you cast off Christ the Lords government and service and being so linked together in truth if you break one you break all and this will provoke the Lord to make you kisse the clink and to put your necks under iron bondage that refuse subjection to him Quest. 2. What is that bondage or other government to which the Lord gives over his people when they have cast off his government this will provoke the Lord if the Lord be cast off and the casting off the government of Christ will bring the most famous Kingdoms Churches and Families into bondage you will say what is this bondage when is it that the Lord takes his season for the execution of it A. 1. The Lord takes his own times to do it these were a 12. moneth before the Lord sent Shishak Here he was more quick Nebuchadnezzaâ— comes at last and many years 't is before the Lord doth it 2. The Lord is various in working as he is wonderfull and hath divers wayes or means of bondage he hath more prisons and chaines than one First sometimes the Lord opens the door of a Kingdom or State for the inrode of some forraign or it may be barbarous Enemy breaking in sometime by power comming in sometime by craft and then ruling like Lions which the Lord makes to vex and prick the people of God thus here their lives were spared but liberties lost Thus Iudg. 2. 13 14. They forsook the Lord and served Baal and Ashtaroth And in vers 14. The anger of the Lord waxed hot against Israel and he dilivered them into the hands of spoylers that spoyled them Ver. 15 Whithersoever they went out the hand of the Lord was against them for evill And this the Lord doth many â—imes suddenly that one would never think that ever the Lord should be so sudden the Lord can be as quick to punish as man to sin and that unexpectedly Eccl 9. 12. Man knows 〈◊〉 his time but are taken like fish in an evill net suddenly Lam. 4. 12. The kingdomes of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world would not have beleeved Judg. 5. 8. They set up new gods and war was in the gate â— Sometimes the Lord turns the edge of that lawfull authority God hath set over them against themselves to be a heavy scourge from God upon them Thus it was with Israel in Egypt Exod. 1. 8 9. there arose a King which knew not Ioseph and it 's said then they were oppressed Thus Ieroboam whom the ten Tribes chose Hos. 5. 11. he oppressed the people he will be in novating and this becomes their oppression Thus the people under the reign of degenerate Solomon though their complaint might be in part unjust Such is the venome of sin an unsubduednesse to the Kingdom God that the Lord turns light into darknesse and makes an aking head matter of sorrow to all the state and body of people Eccles. 10. 16. Wo to thee O Land when thy King is a child And one man shall do a world of hurt one Shebna or Amaziah and this the Lord doth in justice many times for casting off his government 3. Sometimes the Lord gives a people up into the hands of one another to be mutuall oppressors of each other that a man neighbour shall be his oppressor Zach. 11. 9 I will pitty no more the inhabitaents of the land I will deliver them every one into his neighbours hands I will feed you no more that which dyeth let it dye that which is cut off let it be cut off and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another Sometimes the Lord is pleased to send marvellous straits into a place that men are forced to imbondage themselves sometimes by words as bitter as death as sharp as arrows the Lord is pleased for the forsaking of his righteous wayes to make a mans self rip his own bowels the father against the childe the master shall be a scourage to the servant and the servant shall be a scourge to his master weary him of his lffe the government of the Lord in a mans heart or family being cast off Mic. 7. 4 5. Trust not in a friend No greater bondage in the world then for men professing the Lord to be desperately set one against another 4. By taking from a people all that righteous power of government the Lord hath set over them when a people despising the Lord and inward government first for there all begins and so not prizing what they have nor praying for them nor subjecting to them the Lord hereupon sends some sicknesse or some other evill that they are either suddenly taken away or gradually and when they are gone all sink or else such crosse carriages that as Moses said so say they I cannot bear this people Thus Iudges 21. 25. Men did what was right in their own eyes when there was no King in Israel No State so miserable as an Anarchie when every one is a slave because every one will be a Master Thus Isa. 3. 1 2. 6. Be a ruler to us No I 'le not undertake to rule So 2 Chro. 15. 3. 5. when without a teaching Priest then no peace at all men will not be under government of them you shall not have them they shall rest in peace and you shall then know the want of them 5. By giving them over to Satans and their own hearts lusts that seeing they will not serve the Lord they shall serve their lusts and their sins that now the Lord he hath left off chastising of men and conscience shall check no more prosper saith the Lord go on in thy sin Psal. 81. 12. So I gave them up to their own hearts lusts and they walked after their own counsels Rev. 22. 11. Let him that is filthy be filthy still When the Lord shall give a man over to Satan not only to window him to let out the chaffe and so to make the grain the purer or to buffet them as he did Paul but to insnare them and hold them that he shall not only tempt but his temptations shall take and not onely take but holds 2 Tim. 2. ult Who are taken captive by him at his will taken alive as a snare doth that now a man is beyond the reach of all means only peradventure God may give repentance Isa. 1. 5. Why should ye be stricken any more ye wiâ—â— revolt yet more and more The Lord leaves smiting and sayes Go on and prosper in thy sinne and which is the worst of all Satan shall so blinde him and harden him fill him with pride passion lying hatred of Gods people cavilling against the Lords wayes of grace slighting of his betters despising of wholesome counsell from his dearest friends that he knows not
a signe thou art under the bondage of thy sin Vse 5. For examination whether we do or when a people do cast off the government of the Lord and destroy his kingdome it's needfull to know the sin that we may prevent the misery and 't is certain let New-England be watchfull and make sure here to advance the Prince of peace and to keep the right and government in his hand and you shall have the blessing of God and his Ordinances peace and mercy in your times and continued to your children for his kingdome is an everlasting kingdome and of the encrease of his kingdome there is no end and on the contrary if New-England cast off the government from over them and refuse his service the Lord will then take the kingdome from you and you shall then know the want of what now ye enjoy Now because Christs government or Kingdome is 1. Inward 2. Outward in Church in State I shall let you know 1. when the inward kingdome of Christ is set up and when 't is razed down which I shall do by giving you a briefe view of the nature of it and wherein it confists and so you may the better Judge of your own hearts in this particular As Satan hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of those that are without so the Lord Jesus hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of all his Saints Col. 1. 13. Blessed be god saith the Apostle which hath translated us from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan into the kingdome of his dear sonne which is very spirituall little seen a man may be under all outward government and yet naught here and therefore attend this inward kingdome therefore consists in four things or when the whole soul submits it self to God in these four particulars 1. When the whole soul gives entertainment unto the Lord himself to come into it for if a people shall say they are under such a government and yet will not admit the Prince himself to come amongst them but keep him out of the kingdome they cast of his government and his kingdome 2. When the whole soul closeth with the whole will of the Lord for if a people shall receive a â—â—nce amongst them but he shall make 〈◊〉 wholsome Laws to governe them but will be led by their own wills and lusts they pull down his kingdome 3. When the whole soul thus closeth with the will of Christ by vertue of the power and Spirit of Christ for if a people submit to the will of their Prince but 't is not by vertue of his authority over them command of them and helps he hath given them for that end but it is by reason of some forreign power that underhand encourageth them to yield this is poor subjection 4. When the soul thus submits to Christ's will for the Lords ends denying its own wisedome or will and is led by the Lord to his end for if a people shall submit to their Prince but 't is to set up other princes he is cast off from his throne When a man shall serve God and be under his government because it is profitable or honourable it suits his own end this is poor service in the Lords account 1. I say then the soul is under the inward kingdome or goverment of Christ when the whole soul gives entertainment to the Lord of Lords the Lord himself with all his traine in and by the Gospell of grace the royall sword and Scepter of Christs kingdome for when Christ himself is thus received the kingdome of God is come to that soul and entred into that heart and hence Mark 1. 14 15. the Gospel is called the Gospel of the kingdome and when Iohn and Christ preached beleive and repent for the kingdome of God is at hand Under which word is comprehended much but principally Christ Jesus ready to enter the souls of his people and hence Iohn preached Christ. Now 't is said those that were effectually wrought upon Matt. 11. 12 that the kingdome of heaven did suffer violence and the violent take it by force so that the kingdome of God is come into the hearts of all the elect of God when the soul uses a holy violence and the Lord do's draw the heart to an entertainment of the Lord himself Many difficulties there be between them and Christ and yet they break through all This is the condition of all men by nature they are strangers to Christ and live without God and Christ in the world and Christ from them and so Satan takes possession and rules them and so men are under the kingdome of darknesse so that the devill himself possesses every naturall man as the Apostle speaks he worketh in the children of disobedience to run on so and remain so Now the Gospel of the kingdomâ— and the meanes to advance Christ in his kingdome makes a free offer of Christ himsâ—lf indeed it offers pardon grace mercy life glory but all these are in Christ himself and we possesse them by possessing and receiving of Christ himself as a poor woman hath all the wealth of the man by entertaining of the man So that the Gospell firstly and primarily offers Christ himself and faith doth pitch on Christ himself and doth open those everlasting doores that the King of glory may come in John 1. 12. 't is said So many as received him he gave power to be the sons of God 1 John 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath Life so that now let a man refuse or reject the Lord himself as he is thus offered in the Gospel he does refuse the kingdome of the Lord and does refuse to be under the power of the Lord. True it may be said the kingdom of God hath been nigh to him when Christ is offered in the Gospell and God sayes as it were nothing shall please me so muâ—h as this if thou dost receive me Luke 10. Go and preach to these and these Cities and if they will not receive you shake off the dust of your feâ—t and let them know the Kingdome of God hath been nigh to them then Christ comes into the soul when the whole soul takes the Lord for himself Christ and all that Christ hath Christ in a pardon and Christ in a promise at that very day the Lord gave the heart to receive him then is the kingdome of God come in that heart and with him all life peace joy and glory God Spirit and all Now the whole soul receives him when 1. The mind sees him in the glory of his grace that though it had low mean thoughts of Christ before for which it mourns yet the rising of this glorious Sun upon him he esteems all things losse for him that he may win Christ and be found in Christ I in him and He in me in Vocation and not having my own righteousnesse in justification And to feel the life of Christ and death also in sanctification And to attain
to the resurrection of the dead in glorification and now nothing is dear to the soul but Christ. 2. When the will after the soul hath had some hopes the Lord may look towards it in his grace and having had many heart-breaking tears before the Lord the Lord is now pleased by the glad tidings of the Gospell to give the will power not only to receive and entertain the Lord but gladly to receive him The soul wonders that ever the Lord should bow down to him and offer mercy to him and when as together with this by the sweet â—avour of his Grace that he doth let into the heart the soul doth receive the Lord with most dear imbracings into his soul that now there is none like to the Lord. Cant. 1. 3. Thy name is like an 〈◊〉 poured out where the very feet of the messengers of glad tidings are beautifull But the Lord himself is the only crown and Joy of the soul when the least look of love to a castaway is more sweet than kingdomes ay and much more that 's love it self Isaiah 52 9. Bâ—â—ak forth into joy sing together ye waste plaâ—â—s of Jerusalem for the Lord hath comforted his people When kings shall stop their mouths as vile in themselves and not able to set forth that glory they never heard of before and the soul for Joy sells away all to buy this pearl that it sayes with David How do I love thy Law Now beloved when the soul does thus receive the Lord the kingdome of God is come to that soul and therefâ—re try and examin is it thus with you or hath the Lord begun to deal thus with thee to give himself the glory of Angels the wonderment of heaven the mighty God of heaven to come to thy heart thou art then under the government of the kingdome of God But now on the contrary if thou canst be content to receive the ordinances of Christ or the consolations of Christ or some of the commands of Christ and that is all and the Lord never gave thee a heart to close with Christ himself it 's a strange thing to thee that which is the main thing the Diamond in the Ring of the Gospel thou art yet far enough off from the kingdome of God I dare not say not think for all the world that ever the kingdome of God came to thy heart Again if you have received Christ but not with thy whole soul that now the offer promises blood life grace glory in the Gospell are grown common things to thee that the Lord never sent thee home wondering at the glory of Gods grace to a poor wretch never yet said'st Lordâ—â—he â—he Lord never yet lay next thy heart or if thou hast had some liking and some love and affections in pangs yet the Lord is not only precious and exceeding dear in thy heart thy heart breaks not for grief that thou hast so much slighted him so little born him of thy heart It is a sign that the Lord hath begun to reveal himself to thy soul when he gives thee a heart to mourn for thy standing our against him but this never came to thy soul. Certainly here is the wound of many men The Gospell of God never hath its proper effect till the Lord help thee to give thy whole heart thus to a Saviour to a God to the Prince of peace and till this is done the Gospel is ineffectuall it doth nothing It was a sweet prayer of him Make thy Son dear very dear exceeding dear only dear and precious or not at all If thou hadst a thousand hearts it was too little for Christ to love him and do'st grudge him one when thou hast imparted thy heart and esteem to thy lusts and creature do'st thou love the Lord with part of thy heart but a vile lust a poor creature must have a share and the remnant will serve Christ is he not the onely pearl of thy heart to give him daily communion know this thou art a stranger to Hear ye despisers and wonder and perish God will work a work in your dayes What is that the infinit God cannot express as it were the wrath that shall come against such a soul nor I cannot expresse the wrath that shall come upon such a despiser of the Lord Jesus Give him all thy heart or none if thou hast the Lord thou hast his whole heart if he had a thousand lives he would have laid them all down for thee He poured out his bloud for every one of his but for the present thou art out of the Kingdom of God to this day 2. When the whole soul closeth with the whole will of Christ having thus received him for if a Prince be come and people will not be ruled by him nor any laws that he makes though never so good but what they list the Kingdome is cast off For beloved there is a marvellous common deceit in mens hearts they would not for all the world but have Christ ay but the will of Christ is neglected that is a clog and the burden of the Lord of Hosts Christ is sweet and his will is 〈◊〉 Christ is precious and his will is vile Why do you make him a King and ye will make lawes for Christ and you will rule Christ and his will shall not stand here is no King Such kind of idle Libertines were in the Apostles time 1 Ioh. 1. 6. If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and there is no truth in us But now when the whole soul does submit to the whole will of the Lord now his Kingdome is come indeed when his will is thus sweet Dan. 7. 27. His Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and all nations shall serve him and his servants ye are whom ye obey whether Christ the devill or your own hearts Now the whole wil of Christ is 1. Directing 2. Correctin Now when the soul submits to both then Christ rules in his Kingdome sometime you meet with Christs directing will now this is mens frame naturally they will not see it they will not come to the light Iohn 3. â—0 they are led by their own counsell and will not regard the light and counsell of God in his word they will quarrell with the light when it is crosse to their ends gain honour and the like men have high thoughts against the Lord Jesus 2 Cor. 10. 5. Casting down imaginations and every high thought that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God And again if men do see it yet like the devill that has much light they do not love it nor out of love not unlesse it be out of fear subject to it like Balaam that had no love to Gods command but onely was acted by fear and constraint now when the soul continues thus it casts off Christs Kingdom but if the whole soul first comes to the light though it sees little sets the whole will of Christ before
of God and now you exalt him when he is thus set up 1 Cor. 4. 20. The Kingdome of God is not in word but in power The power of Christ Jesus is come into thy soul and the soul is under the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus when it doth lye under the mighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess. 1 11 12. We pray always for you that the Lord would work and fulfill the good pleasure of his will and the work of faith in power that Christ may be glorified Yea then is Christ glorified when God omnipotent reigns over sin and unbelief when the Lord doth this not only the Kingdome of God is now come but the Kingdome of Christ in glory is come there is many a poor soul thinks Christ rules him not because he cannot do this nor that because he finds his heart unable unwilling for to submit to the will of Christ I find no strength at all saith the soul and I go to Christ and find not strength conveyed and now he thinks he is not under the Kingdom of Christ. I answer that is not the question but hath the Lord made thee willing in the day of his power when the soul doth lye under the power of the Lord Jesus Christ when the soul doth lye like wax before the Lord Jesus when the soul saith Lord there was never any change of my nature the good Lord change it and if there be any change the good Lord increase and stir up the graces of thy Spirit in my soul and do thou lead me and guide me Brethren the Kingdome of Christ is come to this soul Iohn 5. 40. You will not come to me for life He doth not say you do not quicken your selves or ye cannot come to me but will not here is their wound they will not come to Christ for life Rom. 6. 19. As yee have yeelded your members servaâ—â—s to sin and Satan so now yeeld up your selves servants to righteousnesse and to holinesse Psal. 119. 5 6. Thou hast commanded that we should keep thy precepts continually Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy precepts continually Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy statutes When a Christian is grapling with his own heart ye will never be able to overcome the unsubduednesse thereof but when ye bring them to the Lord Jesus Christ that he would take a course with them 1. Now ye please Christ. 2. Ye take a sure course to have the will of God done he being in office for that end for Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour to Israel When the soul doth look up to the Lord Jesus and lye under the power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus 3. You now make the yoke of Christ sweet and his name glorious nothing glorifies Christ so much as this when Jesus doth work in a Christian now the kingdome of Christ is come to the soul and that in power But now when men will not submit thus far to Christ 1. They can do nothing but will not come to him on whom God hath laid salvation you say you cannot understand nor edifie by the Sermons ye hear and you cannot part with your lusts Ay but now this is thy condemnation thou wilt not go to a Saviour that he may teach thee and help thee when men will not have the Lord Jesus to reign over them or 2. If men do come they will not come to him where he may be found but say I can do nothing Christ must do all and so neglect the means wherein he will be found or 3. Will submit and come in means to him but not then at the speciall time when He is to be sought and may be found viz. in time of temptation But then forget and forsake him and cry not Hosanna Lord now save now help me against this lust When temptation comes when passion and pride come do you now go to Jesus Christ When the world begins to draw thy heart away dost thou say thus Lord I have prayed this day against this sin and Lord I have no strength against it now Lord help me but here is the misery of the soul it doth not go to Christ and by this means live in complaints all their life-time 4. If lastly any thing be to be done they will do it themselves as Paul Gal. 1. 12. Not but that a Christian should put forth himself a Christian is not a dead-hearted Christian at all times but the grace of God which comes from Christ doth act the soul in a continuall dependance on Christ and where Christ acts not there Satan doth Now I say the Kingdome of God is come when the soul doth thus submit to the stream of the blesâ—ed Spirit of the Lord that the Lord may guide it Oh beloved here is the skill that poseth the Angels how to tell you so to yield your selves to Christ as that Christ may come so to abide in the stock that all your fruit may be from him So to lye under the Lord as that the stream of the Spirit of life may fall on thee so to be implanted in the Lord as to fetch life from him and bring forth fruit to him But try this course submit to the will of the Lord Jesus be nothing in thy own eyes and if the Lord do give thee any thing blesse the Lord for it if any strength against thy sin be vile in thy own eyes and try and see if ye find not the Kingdome of God the glory of Heaven come into thy soul. Oh the light life prayers you might have the heavenly conference ye will have together that it would do a mans heart good to be with such a Christian that those that are with you might say Verily God is in this man verily there is joy in heaven when the Saints keep in this frame 4. When the soul yields thus to the will of Christ for Christs ends for such is the subtill wretchednesse of mens hearts that men would have Christ glorifie himself that he may glorifie and honour them like Simon Magus that would give any money for Apostolicall gifts that he might be some body that way also Now if a man shall submit go to Christ for gifts and parts that 's to set up another King to advance a mans self and so also sin and the devill and Christ must be made a servant for this end He is now no King like a Rebell that is not content that thousands of the Kings Subjects should serve him but he will have the Prince serve him a so Every man will say this doth utterly overthrow the Kingdom of such a Prince When a man shall secretly fight against the Lord and be for himself and for the devil and sin within When a man shall make all the creatures serve him the souldiers of his army meat drink and outward comforts this is a marvellous thing Ay but when a man shall make Jesus Christ
God himself and profession of Christ make these to serve him to raise up his name this the Lord takes very ill Only this I would adde when the soul doth look at Christ with a single eye that Christ is sweet and precious and lyes under the blessed Spirit of Christ for that end and now looks up to Christ that he may submit to him with a single eye that the name of Christ may be glorified by life and death true it is self will be in every duty and so is contrary to the Lord in all and not for the Lord. Yet though it be thus there is another thing in the soul that is wholly for God and Christ and hence seeks that he may do his work his heart loves him and so seeks him and he begs it with many tears Oh that my children might serve and love this God nay that all the world might see and blesse and admire this God and the Lord inlargeth his heart herein Psal. 72. 19. and truly now the Kingdom of God is come to thy soul Rom. 5. 17. As sin and Satan do reign by death So Iesus Christ doth reign by life to eternall life Matth. 25. 14. He is the true Subject that improves his Talents for the King Christ will subdue all his to himself Psal. 66. 3. Through the greatnesse of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves to thee Rom. 14. 17. For the Kingdome of God is not in meat and drink but in righteousnesse and peace and joy in the holy Ghost When a man shall be picking fault with things this and that offends him get ye gone the Kingdom of God consists not in that But when the soul do's go to the Lord and maintain his peace with God and love to the people of God and joy in the holy Ghost here is the Kingdome of God He that serves Christ in these things the Kingdome of God is come into his soul. He that thus submits to the Lord Christ he must first be a man weary of his own counsels and must loath himself When the Lord hath wearied a man of his own wayes he sayes What am I that the Lord should shew me any mercy And when the Lord calls him to any service Lord What am I that I should now pray to thee Bless the Lord when the Lord doth keep thy heart in this frame but now when men will honour Christ and yet Saul-like have Christ honour them Many poor creatures they think it a credit to be in Church-fellowship and they wil seek to know Christ that they may attain Church fellowship and have honour but know it till the Lord do pull down thy base ends and make thee loath thy self and so to submit to his blessed will truly till then the Kingdome of God is not come to thy soul Think of these things for if the Kingdome of God be in our hearts then look for good dayes Brethren let New-England be confident of it but if this be gone from the soules and hearts of men and women in their severall families and places though they may have the outward Kingdome of Christ yet the inward Kingdome being not set up I say no more but what he said Go to Palestina and Bohemia Certainly if they had not cast off the Lords government they had never seen those lamentable dayes they had outward Ordinances Oh but here was the thing the inward Kingdome of the Lord Jesus Christ and subjection to the will of the Lord Jesus and to be for the Lord Jesus this the Lord saw was not in them therefore the Lord hath left them to be lamentable spectacles Therefore dear brethren I do beseech you pray and beg for this Kingdome Thou sayest I fall short of this Know this Kingdome of God is at first like a grain of Mustard-seed some little lying under the will of Christ if it be in truth blessed be God â—or it The Kingdome of God is come and the soul doth weep and mourn after the Lord that the Lord would bring every thought into subjection Know it the Kingdome of God is come to thy soul and know it thou hast Jesus Christ at the right hand of God the Father interceding for thee therfore go home and blesse the Lord and wonder at his grace that hath translated thee from the Kingdome of darknesse to the Kingdome of his dear Son If the Lord hath let thee finde the beginning of these things in truth go home and blesse the Lord for it 2. Try when the externall Kingdome of Christ in his Church is cast off for we told you this was Christs kingdome 'T is called the Kingdome of Heaven Matth. 25. 1. And 't is it which the Lord gives up at the last day to God the Father and hence Mat. 8. 12. the members thereof are The Children of the Kingdome and hence we read of the rulers and governours of it and the keys not only of doctrine but of power and jurisdiction committed by Christ Jesus to it punctually exprest in Scripture Now we know in the Church there is a three-fold power of Christ in Government 1. The supreme Monarchicall absolute power of Christ in and by his Ordinances 2. There is some derivative power of the Church from Christ joyntly together 3. There is a Ministeriall power of the officers of the Church it self Hence the Kingdome of Christ is overthrown when these three are when this three-fold cord is broken by the sons of men and if whole America cast off these or any of these then they fall to bondage and if particular persons in Churches do the Lord will do the like to them much more 1 Kings 9. 4 5. When Solomon had been praying much the Lord tells him If he would walk before him as David his father had done to keep his statutes and obey his commandments then he would be a God making good his promise but if not then the Lord would cast off him and that place So Zach. 14. 17. And it shall be that who so will not come up of all the families of the Earth to worship the King the Lord of Hosts even upon them shall be no rain The Lord is quick in his judgements and will spare none 1. There is a supreme power of Jesus Christ in his Church and Ordinances thereof Isa. 9. 6. The Government is on his shoulders it is true this power is on others also but he is the main Heb. 3. Moses was only a servant in his House Christ as a Son The guidance of all things in the Church doth lye chiefly on him or else it would never be carried along Christ is a Son and that in his own House into whose hands the supreme power of guiding and ordering all things in the Church of God is put the experience of Gods Saints and People doth find another power which shewes that the Lord Jesus hath and doth exercise a mighty power in the ordinances of his Worship the supreme and kingly
it Psal. 18. 22. saith David I have kept the wayes of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God and though it hath had many quarrellings against the truth of God yet now it hath not nor dares not but sayes Lord teach me the Lord gives them hearts to lye down at the feet of any man that shall shew them any thing that is amisse in them and they say with David Lord search me and try me I have many crooked wayes and therefore good Lord find them out and therefore come to the Lord for that end and though there be something in them that is desperately contrary to the good wil of God yet there is an inward man that does delight in the law of God and when the Lord is pleased to give them an heart to submit to the will of God Oh the soul doth wonder at the Lord that the Lord should shew him any thing and help him against temptations and though there be a great deal of wearinesse in the wayes of God yet there is a spirit within him that it is indeed heaven it self to him to be in the ordinances of God now ye stoop to the directing will of Christ when this is thy way though thou goest oft out of it yet comest in it again as sin is a wicked mans way although he goeth a thousand times out of it Now for the other the correcting will of Christ The L. hath strong trials Now here subjection to Christ is required as well as to the directing will of Christ then the soul submits to this will when the mind objects not charges not God with folly as Eli 1 Sam. 3. 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good And likewise the will though it hath had many sad bouts yet this is his frame in the Conclusion that the wil of Christ is better than every thing else the wil of Christ is alone sweet to him Isa. 38. saith Hezekiah Good is the wil of the Lord so Lam. 3. It 's good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth and to turn his cheeks to him that smites him Nay when there is spiritual evils on the soul as was on Christ himself spiritual desertions nothing but bitterness sorrow yet the soul saith as Christ did Not my will but thine be done Father save me from this hour yet Father glorifie thy self and so the soul does humbly submit it self to the Lord though the Lord should never pitty it yet it will lye down at the feet of the Lord now is Gods Kingdome come But if the soul wil have Christ and yet cast off the wil of Christ 1. Either in his judgement that the law of God as given by Christ should be no rule to a Christian suppose you were in England and were there prest to bow before an Altar or Image what shall lead you if that Gods will and law must not be your rule The Lord will one day make you know his blessed will in that blessed law of his that ye shall never find peace to the end of the world except the Lord do help ye thus to walk Again when men cannot endure the wil of Christ cannot eÌ„dure exhoâ—tations what doth the man mean to exhort us thus I tell thee there goeth forth power with the exhortaâ—ions of Christ. I say take heed of casting off the will of Christ here and so when men in their practice shall quarrel against any of Gods truths and are loath to see it or if they do yet not love dearly every truth of God but it 's a burden to them especially if it crosse their own ends and gain they will not see it to be a truth lest they should be convinced and turn ro the rule of it if the will and ordinances of Christ be a burden to a man and a man is not weary of his wearinesse but weary of them all the while Art thou under the government of Christ If a man forsaken of God led by his own counsels be under the Kingdom of Christ then thou art so long as there is credit for the truth so long it is entertained but now suppose it be costly rhat it should bring beggery affliction with it is it now sweet to you doth this support thy heart I am in Gods way canst lye dowu and subscribe to the equity of Christs proceedings with thee though he should never shew favour to thee if it be not thus I dare not say thou art under the Kingdome of Christ. And so for the correcting wil of Christ many sad afflictions the Lord tries thee withall the Lord tries men marvellously when thou art under the hand of the Lord those very things that should make men cry to heaven and wean thee from the world those very things do harden thee and make thee grudge repine The L. be merciful to thee if this be thy frame the Kingdom of Christ never came into that heart you are begging for mercy the Lord sayes you mercy you have abused it no saith the Lord Go to your lust that have despised the day of grace so now you cast off the Lord because the Lord will not give you mercy when you would have it Will you now quarrel with the Lord no down proud heart pray still and mourn still and turn to the Lord and say Lord do with me what thou wilt I am clay in thine hand thou may'st make me a vessell of dishonour I deserve not the least bit of bread such a one as is above the Lord and his will is not under the Lord therefore submit thy self to the good will of Christ. 3. When the soul doth thus submit to the wil of Christ by vertue of the power and Spirit of Christ i.e. when the soul doth not submit by vertue of its own power strength or ability for this is forreign power But as it doth seek to submit to the will of Christ so it would have Christ himself act it and rule it and so inable it to submit there unto Now is the Kingdome of God come neer to that heart And herein Christs Kingdom is different from Princes they give laws that men may keep them by their â—wn might hence they command no impossible things but the will of Christ is so crosse to a carnal hearâ— that 't is impossible man of himself should submit to it But the Lord doth it for this end that the soul should then come to Christ in its need that he would do all the good pleasure of his will and now the Lord himself reigns and that gloriously Ro. 8. 1 2. For the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Acts 5 31. A Prince an Saviour for to give repentance and remission of sins It is part of his Princely power for to give remission of sins both in turning from sin and to God and all the wayes
power which he exerciseth in the hearts of his people Now cast off this kingly power the Lord himself is cast off I speak not immediately as in the internall Kingdom but mediately And for this the Lord will bring into bondage Luk. 19. 17. Those mine enemies saith Christ which would not that I should reign over them bring them hither that I may slay them which is meant of the Lords external administration by his servants Quest. When is this done Answ. 1. When men impenitently break Covenant made with the Lord. Especially in his Ordinances of cleaving and submitting to him therein and remain so with impenitency This is the main and first Original of all the rest Now it is manifest the power of Christ Jesus the supreme power of Christ is cast off for a man do's professe by this that not the will of Christ but his own will shall rule him Christ shall not be Lord but as they said Ier. 2. 31. We are Lords we will come no more at thee When the League and Covenant between Prince and People is broke then he is cast off from being King this is certain the Lord never did receive any people to himself from the beginning of the world to this day but he hath done it by some Covenant Nor never any people took the Lord to be their God but by some Covenant they bound themselves to the Lord. Whereby they were either made his people or continued to be his people and he their God but I cannot now stand to clear this Now look as when the Lord breaks his Covenant he casts them off from being his people though this he never doth to the Elect So when people break Covenant with him they cast him off as much as in them lies from being their God they do as much as in them lyes make the Lord to be no God You shall see therefore Hosea 10. 3. They say we have no King because we feared not the Lord. It is the speech of Conscience and that at a sad time wherein they did not fear the Lord They have spoken words swearing falsly and breaking the Covenant In their time of Covenanting with the Lord there seemed to be much sorrow and humiliation yet in these very Covenants Hemlock did spring up and hence captivity came Many times the Covenants that are made there is such outward seeming reality that not only men but the Lord speaking after the manner of men He thinks certainly these Promises these Covenants will never be broke yet they are broken Isa. 65. 8 9 10. I said surely saith the Lord This is a people that will not lie Such profession and such acknowledgements c. so it is said In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence did redeem them But afterward they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit They cast off the Government of the Lord they would not be under the bonds of the Lord and so he was turned to be their enemy this is that which brings captivity and bondage Ierm 2. 14 15 c. Is Israel a servant saith the Lord ye shall see the reason why he was so I have broken their iron yoke saith the Lord and I have burst thy bonds and I have planted thee a nohle Vine yet hast thou degenerated and this is that which doth make them vassals or slaves And in truth you never see Churches laid desolate but when that time comes men shall see and shall professe it When other Nations shall ask Why hath the the Lord dealt thus with his people The answer shall be clear They have broken the Covenant of the Lord. When many miseries come upon particular persons what is the cause of it then remember the Covenant thou hast broken with the Lord. Isa. 24. 5 6. They have transgressed the â—aw speaking of the whole earth And they have changed their Ordinances and broken the everlasting Covenant A people that might have had everlasting mercy they would not submit to the Lord they have broken this everlasting Covenant of the Lord Now what followes The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof and hence heavy things that are there written shal befall the whole world It is a sin that defiles the earth men tread on and the houses men inhabite in for it is a sin against most light They which make Covenants have a great deal of light and also most will And that do's aggravate a sin when the whole heart as it were do's give up it self to a lust and breaks hereby all bonds And it is a sin that men might avoid if they would be watchfull against For it is a sinfull thing to make a Covenant of impossible things therefore it lyes heavy on the coâ—science of men afterwaâ—ds I might have been better might have walked better Nay it is a â—â—n that do's destroy the Law of the Lord this sin it do's destroy the very will of Christ. Had'st thou never been bound in Covenant hadst thou laid by this Covenant the wil of God had been kept whole As cords not used are kept whole but when broke are utterly spoiled When a man do's bind himself by a Covenant to the Lord and then break it he do's as much as in him lyes to destroy the Lord from being King 'T is true the Saints and people of God may be said in some case to break Covenant but yet they never impenitently break Covenant with the Lord they may break Covenant with the Lord very often but yet it is with them as those in Iudgesâ— 1 4. When the Angel of the Lord came to them and they were under grievous sad bondage saith he to them from the Lord I have brought you up out of the land of Egypt and I have broke your bonds and I have said I would never break Covenant with you I said you should make no League with the Canaanites but ye have not obeyed my voyce why have ye done this And all the people heard this and it is said All the people wept Doubtlesse some were sincere though happily many were full of hypocrisie and so the sincere heart laments it and renewes his Covenant The poor soul hath nothing to say many times though the Lord should bring never so much misery on it yet the soul stands weeping before the Lord that it hath broke the Covenant of the Lord and made void the Covenant of the Lord yet the Saints they never break it wholly they never depart wholly from the Lord. Now when a people shall impenitently break Covenant as hath been said that men can study arguments how to nullifie Church covenant nay worse when in Covenant then ever before and the businesse is they are loath to be in bonds when men shall grudge the truth of the Lord others if their judgements be not set against it yet notwithstanding in deed and practice they live as if they had never been in Covenant Once they were a pleasant plant
say Oh Brethren let the Saints let it be the care of all the faithfull and people of God the first thing that ye do before ye come to hear a Sermon or receive a Sacrament or to any Christian communion or other Ordinance of God Before thou do'st come indeavour it at least to bring thy soul to a God to Christ above all Ordinances and break through the difficulties heart is dead and minde is blind and God is gone but yet break through difficulties and wrestle with the Lord in Prayer and then ye wil find the blessing of the Lord. The great reason why we enjoy not that mighty presence of the Lord in his Ordinances it is this Men come to Ordinances and would enjoy Ordinances but they never broke through difficulties to come to a God When men shall come to Ordinances only blessed be God we have the temple of the Lord truly this wil do you no good in the world The 5th Degree of casting off the supreme power of Christ in his Ordinances many times when the soul cannot come to Christ the Lord comes to it Now then the supreme power of Christ is cast off when the soul is unwilling or carelesse to receive the stroke of the Eternall power of the life of Jesus into his heart but contents himself with some beginnings some sips and tastes and doth not lye under the stroke of the eternall Spirit of the life of Christ. Look as it is with a company of Subjects they are in some great Town that stands it out against a Prince If the Prince send to them and they parlie with him and they are thankfull for his gifts and glad of his parly but yet notwithstanding they are unwilling to receive the Prince with all his power to come into the Town if they be unwilling to do that and are loath to joyn sides against the other party they cast him off from being King So it is here when men come to the Lord in Ordinances the Lord he parlies with them the Lord he sends promises and they are marvellous precious things and they have some taste of what the Lord do's send and it is sweet to them But now because they have lusts in their hearts the Lord saith make warre against thy lust and open the gates that I may come in If so be a man now out of secret love to his sin he content himself with the promises of Christ but the life of Christ he cares not for that he uses not all means that he may find that the supreme power of the Lord Jesus is now cast off and I know no difference between such a people and Capernaum they did enjoy the Gospell of God but now to entertain the Lord Jesus in his spirituall power this they were loath to come to therefore saith the Lord Wâ— to thee Capernaum the mighty work of Jesus Christ in their hearts this they never cared for Saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 10. 5. The weapons of our warfare they are mighty through God As poor things as you think the Ordinances of the Lord to be they are mighty through the Lord When Christians shall not be willing to receive this mighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ truly now the Kingdome of Christ is cast off Iohn 6. 49. Your fathers ate Manna in the Wildernesse and are dead that was outward Manna but he that eateth me shall live for ever In one word thus this is certain a man never gets good by any Ordinance nor the Lord Jesus doth never attain his end in any Ordinance till there be an everlasting power and life of Christ Jesus communicated by the Ordinance There saith he God commandeth his blessing life for evermore mercy for ever comforting and light for ever teaching and humbling for ever continuing and a man will never think he doth receive any good till he doth it For if a man be healed of his blindnesse and be blind presently again what is he the better So if a man hath some flash of light in the Ordinance blesse the Lord for it The Lord quickens up the heart to walk with the Lord Blessed be the Lord for it Ay but when the heart now shall lose that life and strength which it had not but that a Christian do's lose to his feeling but it will return again When he is a hearing some affection but he goes away dead as hee came no but when the Lord comes by his everlasting power and mercy and life in any Ordinance now Christ comes in his power and now ye receive the King in his power and Christ attains his end in the Ordinance This is all that I would say I do beseech you brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ Oh seek for this blessed life everlasting life Lord everlasting power Lord beg for that and seek for that and pray for that and weep for that do not content thy self with sippings and tastings look for everlasting life and power to come with the Ordinance though means be weak in themselves do not therefore vilifie them Look upon the brazen serpent what a poor thing was that to heal the people that were stung yet the institution of Christ did put vertue into it So do thou attend on the Ordinances and never be content till thou dost find the Lord and feel the Lord and say as some have said though I feel not the Lord now as I have done yet I think I shall for ever blesse the Lord. Never be content till ye find the Lord bringing your heart to this passe and then the King of glory the Prince of peace is come though ye find not the same power at all times yet if ye finde that power which do's inure your heart for ever to blesse the Lord here is everlasting power Jesus is now come to thy soul Ay but when ye content your selves with some movings and beginnings and sin and Satan as strong again as ever and ye find not your sin wasting and consuming in truth the Lord Jesus is cast off and ye have not the end for which ye come to the Ordinances of the Lord. But then ye are blessed for ever when ye find this 2. There is a derivative power of Christ to the Church joyntly considered together Mat. 18. 17. Go and tell the Church is the highest tribunal Christ hath on earth in the Kingdome of Saints 'T is Christs high Court of Parliament beyond which there is no appeal to any higher power than the Church and it cannot be meant of the Officers of the Church which is the fairest interpretation For the case may be that there is but one Officer and is he the Church as also that he may sin and not hear of his sin and must they leave him to himself at least to judge of his sin They power of Keys was given to Peter quia fidelis and the power to bind and loose to two or three gathered together in Christs name Mat. 18. but these
things are known For the clearing up of this know that there is a three-fold derivative power which the Lord hath given to the Church joyntly and not to Elders only Which may be miserably abused and so provoke the Lord to take it away from their hands till they know better how to use it yet when 't is used according to Christ now not to be under the power of it which is Christ power delegated to it is to cast off Christs Government And I am confident the bondage of all the Churches in Christendome if ye examine the Churches is continued because the Lord sees hearts unwilling to submit to him in the government of Churches and will continue it till Churches know how to use it and men lye down to the power of it 1. They have a power given them from Christ of opening and shutting the doors of the Church the Kingdome of God on earth i. e. of letting in and keeping out any according to Christ into or out of their communion and this I conceive to be one part of the power of the Keys committed to the Church The chief office of which is to open and shut to receive in and keep out according to Christ and hence the three thousand were added to the Church though the Apostles were guides therein and Acts 9. 26. Paul would have joyned himself but they would not accept of him because they were afraid of him No body naturall or politick but they have power to receive to them the usefull keep from them the hurtfull so much more Christs spirituall body And hence the Church of Ephesus is commended Revel 2. 2. together with their Angel for trying those that seemed good and were not Now 't is true this power may be miserably abused in opening doores too wide or locking them up too long or too fast and in many sad disorders this way yet there is this power Now when men shall refuse Church-tryall and so communion with the Church and that not from sense of their unfitnesse and unworthinesse or some other reason which is in the fight of God of great weight but from a carelesse contempt of Gods Ordinances or Gods people a man sayes What care I for the one and what are the other and from a resolution never to grow better they know they are not like to be accepted of them and they are resolved they will grow no better they think themselves as good as they and from a secret unwillingnesse to come to the light they know things are amisse and will not be known of it they appear better than they are and hence they are loath to be seen and jodged as they are Certainly this is to casts Christs power and if continued in the salvation of your soules is also cast off Acts 2. ult The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved To the Church i. e. not the universal Church but visible Church where it may be had such as should be saved Isa. 60. 14 15. For the Nation and Kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish yea those Nations shall utterly perish Lamentable is the condition of many not so much for not joyning themselves to the Church as not seeking of the Lord for that mercy that they may be first joyned to the Lord and so to his people for the Lords sake There are great heaps of people amongst the Churches here that do stand guilty of this the Lord humble us for it that content themselves to stand Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel Eph. 2. 12. Strangers from the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the world The Lord is slow to wrath but there is a threefold bondage 1. Of sin and Satan Rev. 22. 14 15. Let him that is filthy be filthy still Nay though there be some beginnings yet apt to fall back because not planted in the courts of the Lord. And hence Col. 2. 5. Ioying and beholding your order and the sted fastnesse of your faith in Christ order and stedfastnesse are joyned together 2. Of misery Zach. 14. 17. And it shall be that whosoever will not come up of all the families of the Earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King the Lord of Hosts even upon them shall be no rain 3. Sadnesse hence Isa. 56. 7. Even them I will bring to my holy Mountain and make them joyfull in my House of Prayer To be joyfull in the house of Prayer is promised to such as joyn themselves to Gods Covenant 2. They have a power given them of binding and loosing By admonition of any one that being received in shall sin against their communion and the Lord in it thereby to defile the whole body and to provoke the wrath of the Lord against the same and this is mentioned Matth. 18. and by the Apostle 1 Cor. 5. 1 4. and this is given to them to use against whatever sinner or offender it be be he great or small Prince or Peer if he be a brother he is to lye down here An admonition is an arrest and message from God from Christ Jesus the King of Kings Eglon must come down from his throne when this is brought Now I grant again this power may be abused miserably as to admonish without conviction or without compassion and love but in heat and passion c. Yet this is part of Christs binding power in his Church which when 't is done 't is bound in heaven Now when men come to that passe that they do not only sin for that the Lord pardons but are grown to that height that they cast off all reproofs and Christ-like admonitions for sin steept it may be in many tears and prayers before they came and sweetned with the Spirit of mercy and terror of Christ Jesus in the mouths of his servants this brings under bondage 'T is not sin so much for this will be but when they cannot abide reproofs they are iron morsels cannot be digested and hence sometime hide it and twenty shifts and half as many lies or if it be found out defend it and fall a fencing and thrusting and try it out to the last or extenuate it twenty wayes that a beam is a more and which is worse their hearts rise and swell and they bear a privy grudge against them as if they were their enemies because they tell them the truth when they should say Let the righteous smite me Exod. 2. 14. Who made thee a Prince and Iudge over us When Moses the Israelites deliverer was raised up he thereupon departs and they lye under heavy bondage when they cast off his reproof It 's true a Saint may not for a time submit but yet it argues a height of spirit for the present unfit for communion with God and the Lord will bring them off and humble them for their pride 2 Sam. 23. 6. 〈◊〉 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns 〈…〉 cause they cannot be taken
grow glutted and full Mal. 1. ult although they cannot a bit and hence thrive not but a spirit of slumber and a deep sleep grows on them that they cannot be awakened by all the Ordinances of God These things call for chains Amos 8. 12. When will these Sabbaths be ended for which the Lord threatens a â—amin and then you shall know the worth of them in the want of them These things I speak 1. Because I see the Apostle in many of his Epistles layes this charge on the people Heb. 13. 7 17. 't is twice repeated 1. Lest Officers be sadded in their work that 's heavy 2. Lest it be unprofitable for you you think to get this and that good by it but it will be nothing in the conclusion 2. Because we lie under slander of many and that godly as if Elders in Churches were but only Ciphers 3. Because people begin to run to extreames Elders taking all to themselves and people taking all for themselves 4. Because if here be not attendance you quickly see the miserable ruine and fall of Churches more sad than the burning of Solomons Temple 'T is observed of Ierobeam when he was sacrificing he had no leprosie but wheâ— he stretched out his hand against the Prophet it was withered for the Lord will not bear here they may be depised and you may think your selves Kings without them 1 Cor. 4. 8. and they will say so they may rule as they will but you will do as you list But the Lord will be provoked for this all Satans subtilty lies here disgrace the Elder sayes one divide them sayes another pull thom down sayes the third that there may be no King in Israel no nor in Sion that we may do what is right in our own eyes 3. Try when the externall Kingdome of Christ in a Common-wealth is cast off for when any Common-wealth is ordered according to the sacred will of Christ by such persons especially whose aim is to advance the Kingdome of Christ by their rule and power 't is then become the Kingdome of Christ Jesus And hence Revel 11. 15. when the seventh trumpet is blown and the Lords last wo is come upon the world and the Kingdoms thereof which have opposed Christ and those Kingdomes are turned to imbrace the Gospell and submit to the power of Christ in the same then it 's said The Kingdomes of the world are become the Kingdomes of Christ it 's not said Christs Kingdome is become the Kingdome of the word as if Christ should put down civill authority and exercise rule by it himself but The Kingdomes of the world i.e. the various Kingdomes are become Christs i.e. to advance it and debase themselves at his feet Eph. 1. 2â— it 's said All things are put under Christs feet and he is head over all things to the Church that is universally chiefly nextly particularly so then earths Kingdomes when they are subject to Christ for his ends now they exercise the Kingdome of Christ in a manner and hence to cast off this is to cast off the Kingdome of Christ and so to provoke the Lord to put us under bondage Quest. When is Christs Power and Kingdome cast off here Answ. There is a double Power in the Kingdoms of the world which I suppose when they become Christs Kingdomes they will retain First There is some supreme or higher power in the chief Magistrates Ptinces or chief Court of Justice Secondly There is some inferiour power by some superiour power set over particular Persons Cities and Towns for the well ordering of them The ground of this is that naturall necessity which Iethro propounded from God to Moses Exod. 18. 17 18. ' T is not good for thee to be alone but thou wilt both wear out thy self and thy people Publick authority must have many eyes and many hands and like a River that is to water a Countrey it must have many streams And hence they had in the Common-wealth of Israel which was for God in every City Judges and in Towns such as were over fifties and tens Exod. 18. 25. which it seemes continued long till all fit men for government were taken away and then Isaiah 3. 3. their condition is lamented Now the form of this government is not in all Common-wealths alike the Lord not binding to any and hence called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an ordinance of men Hence it is a foolish vanity to ask a warrant in Scripture for such a form of Government for humane wisdome may teach this though not in Church-government Yet this supreme and inferiour Government hath been in all Kingdomes 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. to both which subjection is required to refuse to give it is to cast off the Lords Government and there are couched four reasons in that place to prove this 1. Do it for the Lords sake for the name of Christ and that honour and majesty of Christ stamped on them submit hence cast them off you cast by respect unto nay the name of Christ Jesus 2. Because they are in the room of the Lord to do the work of the Lord In punishing evil doers and for the praise of them that do well It 's true they may abuse their power otherwise but yet their power is one thing and their abuse of it another 3. Because this is the will of Christ and you do well in it and so you shall stop the mouthes of foolishmen apt to speak against you for sin 4. Because this is the liberty of Christ vers 6. and you are servants to Christ in it and to do otherwise is licentiousnesse and their liberty to exempt themselves from the power of lawfull authority was but a cloak of it For so it seems in those dayes some held it part of their Christian liberty to be free from all bonds and said that Christ had made them Kings on Earth c. So that if they did cast off subjection they did cast of the name of Christ power of Christ will of Christ liberty of Christ Jesus Even under heathen Magistrates what then do they that cast it off under others Quest. 2 When is Christs Government cast off in respect of the supreme power Answ. Those that know the questions about the power of Princes and people especially revived in these last dayes cannot but know the field is large where now I am I shall be wholly silent unlesse I saw greater cause of speaking than I do and only point out two or three particulars to prevent such sins as stand next to the door to break in upon this power 1. When men cast off secretly dread and fear and reverence of the Majesty Dominion and Sovereignty that God stamps upon authority and so come to have low mean thoughts of them and contempt of them It 's true none should be elected but such as men can honour for some eminency or other and that of God seen in them Able men fearing God
shal grace reign unto eternall life Rom. 5. 21. He will bestow on you the sure mercies of David by an everlasting Covenant Isa. 55. 5. Quest. But wherein should I submit to the Lord Answ. None have power to rule conscience but Christ give him therefore this glory that wherein he bindes conscience conscience not out of fear but love may indeed submit I have instanced the particulars formerly yet more distinctly There be two great commands or charges of Christ that lye upon all mens consciences to whom the Gospell comes and therein lyes our service of him generally Which two I name because there we think we are free or do not know our liberty First The command of Christ is that every one to whom the Gospell comes and is preached do believe i. e. receive Christ Jesus in all his fulnesse in the Gospel Iohn 1. 12. For that is to believe in which command lies Gods offer 1 Iohn 5. 23. This is his commandment that ye believe John 6. 25 37 38. This is the work of God that ye believe Now here men think they are free 1. They say they are unworthy and hence they say Depart from me Lord I am a sinfull man as if Gods grace was built on mans worthinesse 2. Because unhumbled whereas Gods grace calls in men unhumbled Rev. 8. 17 18. For Gods call and offer is generall though none but the humble will hearken to it But there are none but it may be said to them If they can believe let them 3. Because Christ is not theirs are they bound to believe he is Whereas the first act of faith is not to believe Christ is mine then men were bound to believe a lie But to receive Christ as a woman her husband that he may be mine by saith and so a man may know and say he is mine The Gospell doth no where say to any man Christ is thine but if thou receive him he is thine and consequently the Spirit speaks so also 4. Because they cannot believe unlesse they should presume as if the Gospell bound the conscience of none to believe but them that were able to believe it and receive Christ in it yet 't is otherwise for it binds all to receive Christ Jesus to go up and possesse him to feed eat 〈◊〉 and live for ever And I will leave this one 〈◊〉 argument If men are liable to eternall conâ—â—â—mation at the great and last day and to bear the 〈◊〉 wrath of God and Christ also for disobeying the Gospell for refusing Christ and the offer of his grace therein Then those mens consciences are bound to obey the Gospell i. e. to believe and receive Christ now in this life But all that have the Gospell preached to them are liable to eternall condemnation for disobedience to it Iohn 3. 18 19. Psal. 2. 12. Kisse the Son lest he be angâ—y So. 2 Thes. 2. 8 9. He comes to render vengeance on them that obey not the Gospell Rom. â— 10. The Lord shall judge the secrets of all hearts by my Gospell That is where ever the Gospell comes for they that have no law having no law shall not by judged by it But men that have had the Gospell shall be judged by it and therefore are bound to obedience thereunto The serious consideration of which one truth is enough to draw all 〈…〉 from the power of unbelief especially they that say I cannot or ought not believe For the reason why meâ— do not come is 1. They think the Gospell concerns not them what doth the Lord say to me come so vile and sinfull yes that he doth if there was no such law there could be no transgression or condemnation 2. They think they shall presume No if conscience be bound to it 't is no prefumption to keep a Sabbath aright or to receive Christ as God offers him Oh this quiets conscience 3. The Lord layes his chain on the most tender place of conscience as it will answer it at the great day or will have any peace take heed you refuse not so great salvation 4. 'T is a chain not of bondage but of liberty and mercy and love Come and receive not a Kingdome but Christ Peace pardon and grace freely which may draw the heart as it will at the great and last day Come ye blessed take a Kingdome take a Christ prepared for you from before the foundation of the world Oh that this might sound in your eares This is the first and chiefest without this all your obedience is hypocrisie and abominable but this will please and then all poor obedience shall please Secondly Love unto the whole will of Christ especially to that part of it to love those that be the members of Christ. Some Christians they believe and feeling a heart so crosse to Christ and the will of God think they are from under the government of God and Christ so from under the grace of Christ and the argument is strong if true but why not under his government because they find daily a spirit so crosse to the will of Christ and hence under continuall fears of condemnation Oh but consider hast thou no love to the will of Christ and law of God for if any believe this is found in him if so then under Christs Government Rom. 8. 2. The Law of the spirit of life hath made me free What is that Law See Chap. 7. 23 24. Spirit of delight in the Law in the inner man and mourning for contrary captivity Know therefore though you cannot do all yet love the whole will of God and mourn where you do not and then say Now no condemnation Do not say 'T is impossible Oh here is mens wo and tryall of subjection to Christs will How do you love it love his Sabbaths and Ordinances because of his love to you How do's this constrain you In particular Love the people of God that is his speciall commandment 1 Iohn 3. 23. Iohn 13. 34. But now the want hereof or the contrary hereto As when a man shall become 1. A Distaster 2. A Contemner 3. A Censurer and whisperer 4. A Sooffer 5. If met on a Bridge an opposer of the Truths or servants of God This is that which kindles wrath and wherein the inward venome of hypocrisie appears There 's many duties neglected and not that spirit of prayer and holy conferences amongst Christians yet do you keep love to them that what you cannot do your selves yet you love others that can do it and account it your blessednesse to be like them and daily mourn under your neglects that in every thing the Gospel is not adorned by you on the other side although you have many duties Sabbaths and good acts yet if not love all is vile I fear 't is not mens joy sweetnesse delight to hear the least good word that falls from a good mans lips but rather the truths and things of God despised if so then look for