peace is that crownes all other blessings so Christ knowing the excellency of this and that none could give it but himselfe did therfore when he was to leave the earth promise this as a fruit of his Kingly office to leave his disciples this legacy of peace Iob. 14.27 peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you it is Christs peace not the worlds in mee ye shall have peace Ioh. 16.33 if Christ speak a word of peace to our harts if he give us an answer of peace as Ioseph said to Pharoah God shall give Pharoah an answer of peace then though wee have tribulations in the world wee shal be of good cheere wee shall have comfort enough Christ as King hath overcome the world and will settle peace in us that 's the expedience of Christs goingfrom us that he may send us the comforter it is expedient that I goe away for if I goe not away the comforter will not come Iohn 15.7 but if I depart I will send him unto you being in the administration of his kingdom he sends comfort There is no having peace nor joy nor comfort but from Christ who as King is only able to allay all stormes and troubles which the divell and our owne consciences for sin raise within us It is with inward peace as it is with the outward if he give quietnesse who can make trouble Iob 34.29 if Christ work quietnesse if he make a calme in the spirit if he rebuke the winds and the sea Mat. 14.32 nothing from the world can raise a tempest Christs reigne over us Mic. 4.7 Luke 1.33 2 Christ reignes over us the Lord shall reigne over them in mount Sion he shall reigne over the house of Iacob not only in us but over us not only in us for his glory but over us also for our good This is termed by the Psalmist a sitting on the right hand of the Father Psal 110.1 the Lord said to my Lord sit thou on my right hand a phrase to note the actuall administration of his kingdom that as a king he sits in great power judging among his enimies and governing his people And there are also severall acts wherein the exercise of this part of his kingdom over us consists First in suppressing the enemies of the Church that is the power that God gives to Christ as King of his Church to rule in the midst of his enimies Psal 110.2 and the promise God made to Abraham Gen. 22.17 that his seed should possesse the gate of his enemies While Gods people keep covenant with God they shall be secure the lilly shall grow up among the thornes Cant. 2.2 and there shal be no enchantment against Iacob Numb 23.23 no divination against Israel Christ settles his Church so strong that the gates of hell shall never prevaile against her Mat. 16.18 shee may be assaulted and shaken but never conquered as the Romans lost some battells but they never lost a war Gods Church may have some foyles but shee shall be alwayes the conquerer in the end God commands deliverances for his people thou art my King Psal 44.4 O God command deliverances for Iacob 't is the comfort of Gods people to know so long as Christ stands 1 Sam. 8.20 his Church shall not fall the people thought themselves safe when they had a King to fight their battells so long as we have Christ to fight our battells we need not feare if Christ be for us none can be against us Secondly in bestowing all blessings upon us in him shall all the nations of the earth be blest Gen. 22.18 all who are blest are blest in Christ who is the King commanding blessings upon his people blessings spirituall blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Eph 1 3. who hath blest us with all spirituall blessings in Christ hee the head and fountaine of all spirituall blessings blessings temporall as Ioseph was a type of Gods Church all those blessings which Iacob prophesied should come upon the head of Ioseph shall through Christ come upon the head of the Church the blessings of heaven above the blessings of the deep that lye under the blessings of the breast and the blessings of the womb Gen 49.25 unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills they shall be upon the head of Ioseph upon the head of the Church and at last the blessing of eternall glory in heaven Rev. 1.6 when Christ shall with himselfe make all his people who serve him here Kings to reigne with him there for ever Thirdly In sanctifying all conditions and ordering and turning all to the best for his own people there is no condition prosperity adversity health sicknes life death but it would be hurtfull to us if Christ did not sit as King to moderate and sanctifie it to us Wee know Rom. 8.28 sayes the Apostle all things work together for the good of them that love God who are called according to his purpose how comes it that all things work together for their good who love God and are the called of God more then for theirs who love him not and are not called of him that affliction is sanctified to the one and not to the other as S. Aug. saies you may observe in the same fire the gold sparkles and gathers lustre abunoigne aurum rutilat palea sumat when the stubble consumes and vanishes to smoake because Christ sits as King to order every thing for the best of his own subjects and to turne every thing for the worst to his enemies Christ does for us heere as he does for us in heaven Irgoe to prepare a place for you Ioh. 14.2 so here 't is Christs work to prepare places and conditions for his people to sanctifie every thing to them As on the one side he curses all to his enemies I will curse your blessings Mal. 2.2 there is a secret curse goes along with all those things they count their greatest blessings so on the other side he blesses all those things to his children which they might conceive to be curses to them and to make most against them Iacob when he saw Ioseph lost and Simeon left bound in Aegypt and Benjamin to be carried from him he strait concluded all these things are against mee Gen. 42.36 when yet all made for him and preservation of himselfe and the life of his family in Aegypt Gen. 45.5 Ioseph thought his own casting into prison would have proved his ruine for ever Gen. 39.20 when yet God made it the means of his greatest advancement The Iewes thought the plot of Haman would have bin their confusion when yet God so ordered it as the day intended for their destruction was turned to them from sorrow to joy Hest 9.22 from mourning into a good day Moses notes it touching Balaams curse with which Balak King
on the top whereof was a strong Fort which the Jebusites kept by force from Israel till Davids daies who after tooke it and fortified it and called it Davids Cittie 1 Chron. 11.4 Neere unto which was mount Moriah 2 Chron. 13 1. Neh. 11.1 Isa 52 1. Ioel 3.17 Psal 78.68 Isa 2.3 Isa 60.14 Heb. 12.22 Rev. 14.1 where Solomon after built the Temple Wherupon Jerusalem was called the holy Cittie and Sion named the holy mountaine which God loved and from which the the Law should come forth and thence a type and figure of Christs Church 3. The settlement of this King in his Throne yet have I set my King how great soever the oppositions made by wicked men be yet his throne is firmely established The results of all which are these which I shall present in this order Observ 1 Christ the second person of the Trinitie is by the designation of his Father appointed to be King of his Church a King to rule and governe all those whom hee hath redeemed to be a people for himselfe Observ 2 The Kingdome of Christ shall overtop the plots of wicked men and be established firmely notwithstanding all their oppositions Observ 3 The Church of God where Christ sitts and reignes as King must be a holy Church These are the three mayn branches which spring from this stock the three mayn streames which flow from this fountaine The first Christ the second person c. Observ 1 For the better understanding of which wee must know there is a twofold Kingdom of God the one generall termed the Kingdome of power and providence wherby Dan. 4.35 as God the Creator he governs the world and all things in it The other speciall wherby as God the Redeemer hee exerciseth an administration of rule and government over the elect by a speciall name called the Kingdome of Christ in which he dispenses to his children both grace and glory Whence though the division be usuall into the Kingdom of grace and the Kingdom of glory yet they are not two Kingdomes but parts of one and the same Kingdom of Christ When therfore wee speake of Christs Kingdom wee meane not that which he hath by nature the government of which is universall over all the world and doth agree to him as hee is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God coessentiall with the Father But that Kingdom which he hath by speciall designation from his Father and which is appropriated to him as he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God and man God with us cloathed in our flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ the mediator and which he dispences as he is the governour and head of that people which he hath by his own bloud purchased to be a peculiar people unto God from the rest of the world This the Scriptures set forth plentifully unto us in those severall expressions of giving all things into Christs hand of committing all judgment to him of Crowning him of putting all things under his feet Into whose hand hath he given all things that concerne the Church into the hand of Christ to be dispensed by him he loveth him and hath given all things into his hand Iohn 3.35 To whom hath he committed all Judgment to the Son to him he hath committed the dispensing of that power which belongs originally to himself the Father judgeth no man Iohn 5.22 but hath committed all judgment to the Son Who is the crowned King of Gods people Christ under him all things are put in subjection he hath Crowned him and put all things under his feet Heb. 2.7 See what a glorious description of Christs designation to this Kingdom we have Isa 9.6 7. unto us a child is borne unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called wonderfull couneellour the mightie God the everlasting father the Prince of peace of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with Iudgment with Iustice from henceforth even for ever Hee who is God the Son the second person in Trinity the child borne for our Redemption upon his shoulder is the Government laid as he first bare upon his shoulder his Crosse so now he beares the government of his Church upon his shoulder which he purchased by his Crosse He is not only Christ the Saviour but also Christ the Lord Luke 2 1◠set upon the Throne of his father David for ever In the further opening of which poynt I shall first shew you the quality of this Kingdome of Christs Secondly the grounds and reasons why God would not governe his people in the generall way as he governs all the world but would have such a solemne administration of a Kingdom by Christ First The quality of Christs kingdom the quality of Christs Kingdom as Samuel when he annoynted Saul King told the people the manner of the Kingdom so wee are here to inquire the manner and quality of the Kingdom of Christ The Scriptures set it forth under two notions first that it is a Kingdom in us Secondly a Kingdom over us Christ reigns in us Christ reigns over us Christ reigne in us Dan. 7.13 1 Christ reignes in us this is that which was typified in Daniels vision I saw in the night Visions and behold one like the son of man and there was given him Dominion and glory and a Kingdom that all people and nations and languages should serve him what kind of Dominion and Kingdom was this in which all nations languages should serve Christ not an earthly Kingdom no that Kingdom which was given to the son of man in that vision it was a spirituall kingdom the seting up of the Scepter of Christ in our hearts my Kingdom is not of this world it is in the world but not of the world Iohn 18.36 it is a government erected in the hearts of Gods people The Kingdom of God is within you every holy heart is Christs throne where he sits Luke 17.21 the forces of the Gentiles shall come in unto him Isa 60.5 In former times Christs Kingdom was confined to Iudea but since Christs comming the Gentiles are called the forces of the Gentiles the maine strengths and greatest parts of the Gentiles at some time or other shall acknowledge Christ That was the voyce of the seaventh Angell that sounded Revel 11.15 the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of Christ those kingdoms which were but kingdoms of this world earthly kingdoms that knew none but an earthly King and yeilded no obedience but an externall obedience now become the kingdoms of Christ submit themselves to the Gospel of Christ advance his Scepter among them and yeild obedience to his lawes it is true all persons of all nations receive not Christ as King but there is no
inheritance and the uttetmost parts of the Earth for his possession 't is a great work to bring people into Christ to set up his Kingdome so as Christ may come to inherit the Nations and to possesse the uttermost parts of the Earth every one must come in to help in this worke When the Tabernacle was to bee made every one that was of a willing heart brought his offering some gold some brasse some scarlet Exod. 35.5 some Goates hayre every man according to his ability When the Temple was to be built every one set to his helping hand Salomon prepared gold Hyram sent Cedar Trees some were hewers in the mountaines some bearers of burthens every one contributed according to his quality it must be so here in the advancing of Christs Kingdome 't is the great worke God hath designed us for every one must set to his helping hand according to his ability and the meanes and opportunities God presents to him Christ is King yet hee hath many enemies labour to keep him out of his Throne 't is our part to helpe him in Christ is ill handled by enemies at home in private contriving plots against him Act. 5.39 O for some Gamaliels to give seasonable counsell to take men off from plotting against Christ He is worse handled by enemies abroad in publike there he is not onely plotted against but already upon the Crosse looke into Germany looke into Ireland we may easily with Thomas beleeve him to be there we may see the print of his nayles in his hands and in his feete and may put our fingers into those ghastly wounds are already made in his body and his Members Mat. 27.59 O for some Iosephs of Arimathea to take him downe from the Crosse All persons are called in to this worke People Ministers Magistrates Kings themselves As they are Monarchs they are offended if any thing be done against Monarchy let them bee carefull of Christs Monarchy he is King of Kings they are all called in to serve Christ in this Psalme Vers 10.11 Give me leave Honourable and Beloved to set before you in a few words three Kingdomes which are maine impediments to the advancement of this Kingdome of Christs the Kingdome of sin the Kingdome of Satan and the Kingdome of Antichrist 1. Rom. 6.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Kingdome of sin Sin is a King Let not sinne reigne in your mortall bodies Let it not play the King among us beware of suffering any sin to be countenanced among us suffer not sin to be enacted by any Law nor to receive countenance from misconstruction of Lawes sinnes may bee committed in secret and none can prevent them but it will lye upon the Magistrates when publike avouched sinnes are not set against Idolatry was wont to be in corners and by stealth how open of late in England how much justified by many how many things pleaded for it how tollerated in Ireland even to the destruction of that poore land how publike drunkennesse and uncleannesse in Saint Pauls time they that were drunke were drunke in the night 1 Thes 5.7 that was the modesty of those times though they went on in a course of sinne they chose darknesse to cover their sinnes It is a shame to speake of those things which are done of them in secret shamefull things Eph. 5. â—2 but yet done in secret How shamelesse are people in these dayes how are all principles of common modesty as well as common honesty extinguisht in them that they commit sinne in the very face of the Sunne and blush not a shamelesse generation that declare their sinnes as Sodom and hide them not Es 3.9 a desperate and hopelesse state of people that are not onely past feare and sorrow but also past shame Ier. 8 i3 Set against this Kingdom of sinne if Lawes be wanting let them be made if made see to the execution let not sinne reigne among us so open so uncontrouled publike sinnes are in the way of a judgement from God 'T was a judgement upon David and his house that his wives should be prostituted in the face of the Sun 2 Sam. 12 1â— Hos 4.17 and that Ephraim should go after idols and be let alone in their idolatry There are three things worthy the consideration how they may be supprest 1. The bacchanalia that numerous issue of Taverns and Ale-houses so infinitely degenerated from their first institution that they are become the nests and harbourers of all sin and disorder 2. The lupanaria houses of uncleannesse cages of uncleane birds 3. The theatra theaters and stages where profannesse and vice is thought to be indeed satyrically whipt and presented that it might be hated but is rather so personated and acted as people become more in love with it T is true it will be hard to finde out waies of suppressing these publick places of drunkennesse uncleannesse profannesse which are indeed the seminaries and nurseries of all disorders and the bane of the Church and Common-wealth Yet certainly there may be a greaâ— reformation wrought let them have a place in your thoughts in due time these are mighty enemies to Christs Kingdom and Ministers finde unspeakable impediments to the progresse of religion and the course of their ministry from these Secondly Eph. 6.12 the kingdom of Satan Satan is a king he is the ruler of the darknes of this world that labours to keep all under a spiritual Aegyptian darknes that labours to blind the minds of people in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of those that beleeve not 2 Cor. 4.4 't is a mighty policy of Satans against Christs Kingdome to labour that people may be kept in ignorance that dumb dogs may be set up that will never open their mouths to teach knowledge and that the means may be kept from the Church that so worthy men may not be brought in who consider the Labourer is worthy of his hire Looke to this when time shall be see that there be a candle in every candlestick that is able to give light a pastor in every flock that is able to feed and let there be such encouragements as may enable men to go on comfortably and chearfully in the work there hath been already much said in this argument by others I shall not need to say more in it Thirdly the kingdom of Antichrist he is a King nay a God who opposeth and exalteth himselfe above all that is called God 2 Thes 2.4 so as he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God the oppositions Christs kingdom receives from Popery are notorious to all as there was a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 6. something that was an obstacle that hindered the full revelation of the working of the mystery of iniquity in the Apostles dayes the Kingdom of the Emperours hindering the advancement of the kingdom of Antichrist so now Popery that
discharge of their duty to God but there is no noble enterprize to be waded thorow so as to doe any great matter for the setting up Christs kingdome in the midst of so great enemies and so great oppositions if it be not undertaken with united strengths of many To close this point I shall adde some few meditations as strong allectives to draw you up both to crowne Christ in your owne hearts and to help to set up the Kingdome of Christ abroad in the world 1. The honourablenesse of this subjection to Christ there is no service to the service of a King what then to him who is King of Kings but further God will make it an honourable service by stamping a speciall honour upon them who in serving God honour him Them that honour me 1 Sam. 2.30 I will honour 't is a word out of the mouth of God if any man serve me him will my Father honour 't is a word out of the mouth of Christ Ioh. 12.26 And if you put the question which Ahasuerus put to Haman What shall be done to the man whom the King will honour What shall the honour be wherewith Christ will honour those that be his subjects Rev. 1 6 Ma. 25. Rev. 2.10 the Scriptures tells us he will make us Kings and there is a Kingdome provided for them and a Crowne to be set on their heads What subject has such a Lord Kings doe much for their Servants but they never set a Crowne upon their heads Pharoah made Ioseph the greatest in the Kingdome according to thy word shall all the people be ruled yet he reserved the Soveraignty to himselfe Ben 41.10 in the Throne I will be greater then thou but Christ casts his owne Honour upon us makes us Kings not to reigne for a yeere or a day but to reigne with him for ever and ever Let the force of this motive be that which Balak put to Balaam Rev. 22.5 let nothing hinder thee from comming to me for I will promote thee to very great honour Num. 22.16 Let nothing keep us from comming in to Christ for hee will promote with very great honor all those who come into this subjection to become servants of Christ 2. The profitablenes of this subjection Iob. 21.15 't was the profane question of wicked persons What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit shall we have if wee pray unto him And the wicked conclusion of a rebellious people It is vaine to serve God and there is no profit that we have kept his ordinances Gods people know Mal. 3.14 there is no such service as the service of Christ no such promises 1 Tim. 4.8 no such gaine as in godlinesse Godlinesse is great gain and hath promises of this life and of that to come If ever wee expect things by promise from God so as to have a blessing in them and not a curse we must serve Christ in the wayes of godlinesse that has the promise of this life as well as of that to come All blessings come where Christs Kingdome comes Mat. 6.33 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 First seeke Gods Kingdome and his righteousnesse and all other things shall be added to you they shall be cast in as an overplus to the bargaine Behold my servants shall eat but ye shall be hungry my servants shall drink but ye shall be thirsty my servants shall rejoyce but ye shall be ashamed Es 65.13 my servants shall sing for joy of heart but yee shall cry for sorrow of heart and howle for vexation of spirit That 's the preheminence Gods Servants have above Gods enemies they have a greater portion of outward blessings even in this life onely where God for some particular reasons sees fit to alter the course of his ordinary dispensations But then further in the life to come he that is the servant of Christ receives not only the advantage of his service here but withall a glorious reward of it hereafter hee who hath his fruit unto holinesse shall have his end ever lasting life Rom. 6.22 Let the force of this motive be that which Abner proposed to the men of Israel why they should crowne David and receive him for their King because the Lord hath spoken of David saying by the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hands of the Philistines 2 Sam. 3.18 and out of the hands of all their enemies So here crowne Christ in thy heart receive him as thy King labour to advance his Kingdome among others because God hath said by him hee will save thee and all the Israel of God from their sins from the Devill from hell Set a crowne upon Christs head here in thy heart he will crowne thee with all temporall blessings in this life and set a crown of glory a crown of immortality on thy head in the life to come 3. The necessity of this subjection to Christ and of setting in to the work of advancing Christs Kingdom in the world in case we would not be miserable in this life and that to come No blessing upon a Land where Religion and Christs Kingdome flourish not 't was when Obed Edom entertained the Arke of God 2 Sam. 6.11 that God blest him and all his house Religion is the mother of all blessings like the Heavens it has an influence upon all things here below it bindes all blessings together as it is said of Minerva's Buckler made by Phydias he wrought it so artificially that having set his owne name in the midst of it it could never be taken out without breaking the whole frame All blessings are bound up in Religion and the Gospel and Christs government among us if you take away these you break the whole frame of blessings If the Palladium be once lost Troy is lost steale away Christ and the Gospel and Religion from us we are lost and all blessings lost Without that we shall have a curse in all we enjoy I will curse your blessings Mal. 2.2 God curses those things to us which we enjoy not in the blessing of the Gospel Woe to them sayes God when I depart from them Hos 9.12 If ever Christ depart from us 't will be woe to us When the Arke of Gods presence was taken from the Israelites then Ichabod the glory of Israel departed The Arke of Gods presence 1 Sam. 4.22 his presence in his ordinances in the Gospel if that be taken from us the glory departs from England no more glory no more blessing 'T is the reason of the dissolution of States and Kingdomes Religion first fals before the Common-wealth fals The Kingdom of Iudah lasted longer then the Kingdom of Israel because Religion and the worship of God was more carefully preserved there 2 Chro. 26.2 When the messengers of God were mockt and his words despised and his Prophets misused that is when Religion
Die Mercurii 26. Octobris IT is this day Ordered by the House of Commons That Sir Francis Knollis doe returne thanks from this House to Doctor Temple for the great paines he took in the Sermon he preached at the entreaty of the said House at St. Margarets in the City of Westminster this present day of publick humiliation and that he be desired to print his Sermon And it is Ordered that no man shall presume to print it but he who shall be authorized under the said Doctor Temple 's hand writing H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. I appoint SAMUEL GELLIBRAND to print my Sermon THO. TEMPLE CHRIST'S GOVERNMENT In and over his PEOPLE Delivered in A SERMON Before the Honourable House of COMMONS At their late publick and solemne Fast Octob. 26. 1642. BY Thomas Temple D. D. and Minister of the Church of Battersea in Surrey Published by Order of that House PSAL. 97.1 The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce let the multitude of the Isles be glad thereof LONDON Printed for SAMUEL GELLIBRAND at the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard 1642. To the Honourable House of COMMONS assembled in PARLIAMENT BEing called to this service by your command I could not think of a fitter subject more seasonable to the times and your places then this touching the Kingdom of Christ first to set before you the chiefe employment God cals you to and the duty lies upon you in it that is to study all the waies by which Iesus Christ may be best setled in his throne and his government most spread throughout these parts of the world where your work lies Secondly to hold out unto you the great encouragement to so great a work in which you are sure to meet with so great oppositions to let you know God himself will carry it on and Christs government shall be established notwithstanding the rage of people and the plots of Princes against the Lord and his Annointed If you go on in this cause with upright hearts there is no reason your spirits should faint or your hands slacken in fear of the issue you are on a rising side and in a work that will improve it self And indeed you have need of encouragement even from heaven to go on in the work of reformation of the Chuch and of establishing Christs government amongst us where the endeavours of many are so mighty to oppose it and their tongues so malignant to disgrace it But while your hearts are faithfull with God resolve to goe on with Gods work knowing you must passe through evill report as well as good report 2. Cor. 6.8 They who are called to great works must be willing to sacrifice all estate credit life in the cause of God so we keep faith and peace with God and doe not shipwrack a good conscience it matters not much what else we lose If Christ carry you through the work here he is all-sufficient to reward you hereafter The Lord make all great mountaines that lie in your way Iac. 4.7 to the setting up of the Kingdom of Christ as plaines before you Rev. 2.2 and in the end reward your works and your labour and your patience So praies From my Study in Battersea Nov. 6. 1642. The unworthiest of the servants of Christ in the work of the Lord THOMAS TEMPLE A SERMON Preached before The Honourable House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT At the publick Fast Octob. 26. 1642. PSAL. 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion THis second psalme is an exact description of the Kingdome of Christ as it was prophesied of by David who was himselfe a type and figure of Christ in his Kingdome and the Father of him according to the flesh which as it appeares out of the frame of the whole psalme so we finde this Psalme clearly expounded of Christ and his Kingdome by the Apostles in the new Testament First where mention is made of the Heathens rage and the Kings of the earth bandying against the Lord and his Annoynted v. 1.2 this is by the whole Colledge of Apostles and Disciples expounded of Christ Act. 4.25.27 Secondly where it is said thou art my son this day have I begotten thee v. 7. this is also plainly expounded of Christ not of his birth as it seemes to be meant upon the first view but of his resurrection from the grave which is as it were a new begetting Act. 13.33 A fit subject of our meditations as in all other so especially in these times Christ as he stands to us in this relation of a King we are all willing to looke upon Christ as he stands in the relation of a Priest offering himselfe in sacrifice for our sins so desiring him as a Saviour to save our soules wee lesse delight to eye him as a Prophet revealing Gods will to us little careing to know him but wee commonly hate to thinke upon him as a King as not easilie subjecting our selves to be governed by him I shall therfore crave your attention while I unfold to you this peice of Scripture The Psalm consists of three main parts First it sets forth the mad and furious councells and attempts of wicked people against Christ Act 5.39 affectasse ferunt regnum celeste gigantes who feare not to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like the old Giants fighters against God himselfe their rage and malice is bent even against the God that made and redeemed them why doe the Heathen rage Ver. 1.2 and the people imagine a vaine thing The Kings of the earth set themselves the Rulers take councell together against the Lord and against his Aancynted Secondly it sets forth Gods establishment of Christ in his Kingdom notwithstanding all the attempts of wicked men against him yet nothing shall overthrow his Kingdome but on the other side be shall breake his enimies in peices yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion 3. ver 6. It conteynes an exhortation because wee cannot overthrow Christs Kingdom therfore to entertaine it in our hearts to serve him and feare him as wee seare to be destroyed and desire to be blest Be wise now therfore ver 10. O yee Kings be instructed yee Iudges of the earth serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with trembling The words of my text you see are the second part of this Psalme and have their dependance upon the former that notwithstanding all the machinations of wicked people God will have a King to rule in his Church which no power of man shall ever overthrow I shall observe to you three particulars out of this Scripture the King his Throne his Settlement in his Throne 1 The King as ver 7. Jesus Christ God the Son the second person in Trinitie God over all blessed for ever 2. his Throne where hee sitts or his Kingdome where hee reignes with the qualification of it his holy hill of Sion Mount Sion was a high mountaine in Jerusalem
Sam. 11.8 the Disciples every man according to his ability sent reliefe unto their Brethren which dwelt in Iudaea Act. 11.29 Nay the Macedonians went in this beyond their ability 2 Cor. 8.3 more then their estates would beare and they that were of the same faith all that beleeved sold their possessions for the supply of the needs of the rest of the Faithfull Act. 2.44 and such contributions they used to make in those dayes that every man had sufficient neither was any among them that lacked for as many as were in possession of Lands and houses sold them and brought the prices and laid them downe at the Apostles feet Act. 4.34 and distribution was made to every man according as he had need 'T is not enough to say wee are all subjects of Christs Kingdome in words but we must shew it in deeds otherwise it is but as Saint Iames speakes a vaine expression to say to one that is naked and destitute of food Depart in peace bee warmed and be filled Iam. 2.16 and yet not give them those things that are needfull for them If we serve Christ wee must love him if we love Christ then as he laid downe his life for us so must wee be content upon a necessity to lay downe our lives for the Brethren But much more then whoso hath this worlds goods and sees his brother hath need and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him 1. Ioh. 3.16 'T will be a sad evidence against us in the day of Judgement if we neither feed the hungry nor cloath the naked Mat. 25.43 and t is a terrible threatning Iam. 2 1◠hee shall have judgement without mercy who shewes no mercy Doe not delude thy soule Divitias dispergendo pauperibus abjecerunt talimodo in coelestibus thesauros tutius condiderunt Aug. prob ep 121. in accounting thy selfe a member of Christs body a Subject of Christs Kingdome and yet see another member another Subject perish before thine eyes and not relieve him but shutst up thy bowels of compassion against him Clemens tells us of the Elephants if one fall into a Ditch and cryes out the next that heares him presently gathers all the Heard and help him out If any poore brother be in distresse and cannot relieve himselfe Strom. l. 1. Cyprianus Christianus factus omnem substantiam suam pauperibus erogavit Hier. the whole Society must doe it Great are the exigences of our poor Brethren at this time in Ireland there is Christ naked and Christ hungry and Christ in prison and Christ ficke Christ in his poor Subjects Let us cloath Christ and feed Christ Reponam hunc thesaurū universum apud creatorem liberis autem meis relinquā thesaurum ipsum creatorem quod cùm dixisset erogavit omnia paupetibus Drus Haeb. Apo. Mat. 21.3 and redeeme Christ out of the hands of his enemies Let us not now looke upon our Cold with a covetous eye nor keep it with a griping hand nor be nice of our persons when Christ hath need of us and our wealth as Christ said when he sent for the Asse say The Lord hath need of him and they will let him goe When the Lord hath need of our persons and need of our purses let us let them goe be free in the causes of Christ we are not his Subjects if we helpe not him nor our fellow-subjects I know I shall easily have a pardon from you Honourable and Beloved if I be an earnest Advocate in these causes of Christ for which you have shewed your selves already so faithfull and zealous the Lord reward you for your care but give me leave onely to put you in remembrance of this as the Vision appeared to Saint Paul There stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him Act. 16.9 come over into Macedonia and helpe us Christ hath long appeared to you and called for your help for Ireland the Lord I say will reward you for what helpe you have already afforded them but I beseech you let every Fast day wee keepe for them put you in mind of their pressing miseries and their bleeding condition which now begins againe to be desperate Let mee say to you in the words of the men of Gibeon to Ioshuah Iosh 10.6 Slacke not thy hand from thy servants come up to us quickly and savt us and helpe us As Salomon speakes of a word fitly spoken or spoken in season Prov. 25.11 it is a word upon its wheeles as the Originall inforces so it is with a worke a worke done in season it is a worke upon its wheeles an excellent worke that goes on to purpose Vse 3 If Christ be our King let me then stirre you up in a word of exhortation to performe the duty of good subjects unto Christ to helpe Christ into his Throne and maintaine him there and that partly in respect of our selves partly in respect of others 1. In respect of our selves to Crowne Christ in our owne hearts to set up his Kingdome within our selves the Kingdome of God is within you to set it up in our hearts we easily desire Christ a Saviour to save us but not a King to governe us Wee are ready to cry out with the Disciples Mat. 14.30 Lord save us we perish but as ready againe to say with the wicked Citizens Luk. 19.14 We will not have this man to reigne over us Alas wee must not expect Christ should be a Saviour unlesse he be received as a King as Iephtah answered the Elders of Gilead Why come you to me now when you are in distresse Iudg. 21.7.9 if the Lord deliver your enemies before me shall I be your head Wee must not fly to Christ onely in the time of our distresse when our sinnes presse us and we see the mouth of Hell open to swallow us up unlesse withall when Christ hath delivered us from our spirituall enemies wee be contented to take him for our head for our Lord to rule and governe us as well as for our Saviour to save us O let us crowue Christ in our hearts not doe as the Jewes did set a crowne of thornes upon his head but set a Crowne of Gold upon his head a Crown of Soveraigntie acknowledge him our Lord and King feare and obey him Crowne him as Iehoiada and the people crowned King Ioash 2 King 11.11 12. they crowned him and compast him about with their swords in their hands ready to fight against all his enemies Set up Christ in the throne of thy heart and hold thy sword in thy hand to fight against all Christs enemies all thy own lusts thy rebelling affections that fight against Christ the King of thy soule 2. To help to advance Christs Kingdome in others to helpe to lift up Christ and to set up his Scepter over all the World God has promised to give Christ the Nations for his
as the Moon the fuller the Sun shines upon her the brighter she is the more the Sun is turned from her the darker she is yet at other times she has many obscurings But though she may have lesse glory she shall never be wholly destroied Mat. 7.25 The Church is the house founded upon the rock when the winds blow and the floods descend it shall stand it shall not fall as founded upon a rock so upon the rock of rocks Christ himself Mat. 16 18. upon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall never prevaile against her Shake her they may and give her a wound in some of her members as now the Church bleeds at one veine in Germany at another in Ireland at severall veines in severall parts of the world As Pheti us notes touching the calumnis cast upon Basil by Philost orgius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Re. 11.11 yet she shall lift up her head again and shall be healed in her wounds and like the two witnesses slain in the streets after a time she shall live again the spirit of life from God shal enter into her and great fear shall fal upon them that see her Fourthly see it in Gods cause whatever is undertaken in Gods cause though sometime it may seem to faile in particular persons the cause of the poor in perverting of judgement the cause of religion by the insolence of persecutors and tyrants yet in other respects it does certainly prevaile 1. By a retribution of vengeance upon the heads of those that set to overthrow the cause of God Abel perished in Gods cause and yet even in the death of Abel Gods cause prevailed by bringing down vengeance upon Cain the murtherer the blood of thy brother crieth to me from the ground Gen 4.10 and therefore now thou art cursed from the earth The Martyrs perished in the cause of God and yet even in their deaths that cause prevailed by bringing vengeance upon the persecutors I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held and they cried with a loud voice how long O Lord holy and true dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth Rev. 6.10 Wee need not doubt this prevailing of the cause of God in our neighbouring Kingdom how ever it may seeme for the time to goe downe in the barbarous and bloudy destruction of that poore people whose bloud cryes so loud from the ground as God cannot but curse the murtherers and whose soules under the Altar cry so loud as God cannot but judge and avenge their bloud on them who have so inhumanely and so unmercifully shed it 2. By way of improvement that cause prevails that improves it selfe by the opposition and violence it suffers under Gods cause like Sampson is victorious even then when we think it has received its deaths wound and like the Camomill Es 53.10 Ex. 1.12 Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses Est 8.16 Da. 6.26 Ezr. 6.6 it spreads more by being trampled upon or like the fire the more it is smothered and kept in by violence for the time the more forcible it breaks out and heats afterwards In shedding the bloud of Christ the cause of God seemed to suffer but you know what an improvement it received by it that bloud was it that was the fruitfull field of such a seed unto God 't was making his soul an offering for sin that made him see his seed In Egypt the cause of God seem'd to suffer when the children were commanded to be destroyed and their burthens were doubled yet we know that decree increased the people and doubling of their taskes hasted their deliverance By the oppositions of Haman the cause of God got better footing And by casting Daniel into the Lions den God came everywhere to be more feared and worshipt by a publike decree By the oppositions of Tatnai and Shetherboznai the building of Gods house prospered In burning and tearing the martyrs in the primitive times and in Q. Maries dayes the cause of God seemd to suffer yet we know how Martyrdom improves it the bloud of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church that is as the Bishop of Valence * To the King of France in a conference at Fountain Bleau So Tert. ad Scà p Quisque enim tan tam tole rantiam spectans ut aliquo scrupulo percussus onquirere accenditur quid sis in causa Et ubi cognoverit veritatem ipse statim sequitur once explained it people by seeing the sufferings of the Martyrs came more to look into and understand that profession then formerly they had done which made them with so much patience indure such torments and so at length to imbrace the same like the generating of the Phoenix out of the ashes not the egges of the Damme Out of the ashes of a few Saints multitudes of professours arise I shall present you these few grounds of this truth reasons of the point to be inlarged in your owne private meditations 1. The genius of Religion it is of a flourishing and improving nature As one said of Anthony that was at oddes with Augustus compound with him for his genius goes beyond yours The genius of Religion goes beyond that of all its opposites It was first in families after in Cities and so by degrees spread it self over the world The image in Nebuchadnezzars vision was smitten by a stone cut out without hands Dan. 2.34 35. and the stone that smote the image became a great Mountaine and fill'd the earth You have the interpretation of this in the following verses the Image in its severall parts represented the 4. Monarchies of the world which should all bee destroyed by a fift Kingdome which Christ should set up which should so improve it selfe from a small beginning as quickly to fill the whole earth notwithstanding all oppositions made against it 2. The power of Christ he is able to set up his colours and his Scepter there where no earthly King dares set his foot Pritannotum in accessa Romanis Joca Christo verò sub aita 'T was Tertullians observation Britaine was a place which the Romanes could not at such a time possesse and yet it was subdued to Christ Look by what motives people are brought in to Christ you must needs acknowledge a strong working power above all the strengths of men done by such contrary wayes to flesh and bloud If wee will follow Christ and be heyres of heaven Wee must deny our selves and take up our Crosse and suffer persecution and be hated for his name sake and hate father and mother c. and yet by these and the like motives more are brought in to Christ and submit to his Lawes then by all the rewards could be proposed to them 3. The course of Gods providence which shall still uphold it so as to
give it footing more and more every day though the Revelation be obscure in many things yet this we may gather out of it clearly that when the vialls begin to be powred out the truth shall grow up to the confusion of its enemies as on the other side wee see severall effects of Gods providence against the Kingdome of Satan and Antichrist that where we see the false Religion hath received some blowes we may assure our selves a further ruine will certainely follow as they said of Haman If Mordecai be of the seed of the Iewes Hest 6.13 before whom thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not prevaile against him but shalt surely fall before him If Religion be of the seed of Christ the daughter of God false Religions that once begin to fall shall not prevaile but shall surely fall before it Vse 1 It discovers the folly of those that set themselves against Gods people and Gods causes let them take heed what they doe such set themselves against Christ and his Kingdome and their attempts shall not prosper Iob 9.4 Hath any man hardned himselfe against God and prospered I must say to such as Abijah did to Ieroboam Ye think to withstand the Kingdome of the Lord 2 Chr. 13.8 Let us not thinke we shall be able to withstand the Kingdome of Christ hee is able to breake through all oppositions hee can crush his enemies thou shalt breake them with an iron rod thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessell Ps 2.9 the Lord at thy right hand shall strike thorow Kings in the day of his wrath Ps 110.5 Kings that be his enemies It was part of Moses Song touching the enemies of Israel the people shall heare and bee afraid Exod. 15.14 sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina the Dukes of Edom shall be amazed trembling shall take hold of the mighty men of Moab the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away feare and dread shall fall upon them for the Lord reignes for ever and ever Because Christ reignes such shall be the end of all his enemies however they may flourish for a time Oh! feare to oppose Christ in his Gospel in his people in his causes Isa 45.9 Woe unto him that strives with his Maker let the potsheards strive with the potsheards of the earth Let man strive with man and Prince fight with Prince that 's but dashing one earthen pitcher against another but let us take heed of ingaging Christ against us woe to him that strives with Christ 't is dangerous setting our selves against his Kingdome or his people or his causes lest as in this mountaine in Gods Church the hand of the Lord shall rest so Moab all the enemies of Christ be troden downe under him as straw is trodden downe for the dunghill Isa 2â— 10 Vse 2 Here 's matter of great encouragement to those that with upright hearts side with Christ and set in to advance his Kingdome they shall prosper in the worke We must not be troubled though we finde great enemies and great oppositions let us not value religion and the cause of Christ any whit the cheaper because so much set against The Romanes held their land about the City of Rome at as deare a rate when Hanniball besieg'd it as they did before Prize Religion as high in times of trouble as in times of peace Wee must not look only at the present proceedings our spirits must not rise or fall onely as wee see a floud or an ebbe in the handling of Gods causes but consider the end as David speakes of the upright man Psal 31.37 mark his end the end of that man is peace Whatever the present condition should prove to bee of Christs Kingdome yet the end of it will be peace and happinesse to Gods people At Cannae the Romanes went to congratulate the Consul that fled from the battaile because hee signified thereby that the state of things was not yet so desperate but he durst live We should not despaire of the state of Gods Church and Religion though we should see them brought to great straits It may be we shall not see the prosperity of Gods Church in our dayes yet here 's comfort enough to know the work shall go on It is a worke in Christs hand and a worke God takes pleasure in Isa 53 10 and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Rev. 1.16 Christ who holds the stars in his Right hand the Angels of his Church to preserve them does certainly hold the Church it selfe for whose good his Ministers are in his right hand to preserve her whatever oppositions be made against her At Antioch if I mistake not the Ecclesiasticall story sayes there being an Earth quake wherby many houses fell and the people terrified with it being ready to forsake the city one had a vision that he faw a man comming to him who commanded him to write upon every house Christus nobiscum Christ is with us stay here and so it ceased thus we should do when we consider the tottering estate of religion remember Christ is with us be not affrighted forsake it not if God be for us who can be against us if Christ be in the ship with us it cannot sink But especially it may be high encouragement to you Honourable and beloved you are they that must help up Christ into his Kingdom in the midst of these great oppositions that are now made against it we the Ministers of God can but encourage strengthen you as the Prophet Haggai and Zachary Gods Prophets were with the Princes helping them Ezr. 5.2 helping them with their prayers and helping them with their instructions touching Gods will and helping them with their exhortations to stirre them up but the work is chiefly yours you are to encounter Christs enemies the sword of justice is put into your hands to cut down all oppositions If your hearts be upright with God that your consciences assure you you seek Gods glory and the advancement of Christs Kingdom not your selves nor your own ends you have as much encouragement as can be you go on in a work that shall be carried up against all oppositions Heb. 11.27 Should visible means faile yet as there is an invisible God who may be seen by the eye of faith so there are also invisible means the power of Christ shall rest upon those that work his works and stand up faithfully in his causes Should you be left fewer then you are yet if you can but resolve when others forsake Christ to say truly Lord we will never forsake thee and do it not only say it some have said it and yet with Peter gone away and deserted the cause there is then no reason why you should fear Christ can work by few as well as by many Christ when men faile will tread the wine-presse alone when the day of vengeance comes Isa 63.3 4.
and the yeare of his redeemed ones comes then if there be none to help his own arme will bring salvation Do you what you can in a right way for Gods causes Christs Kingdom and when you can do no more stand still and look on with griefe that you can do no more and if you can contribute nothing else yet date lachrymulam shed a teare God puts the teares of his people into his bottle and in his time teares shall be like the water that turnes and drives the wheele Gods work shall go on and your teares shall help to drive it on as well as your noblest works It was Gods word in a work that met with greater opposition then yours now can Exod. 14.13 stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. It may be your strengths of the arme of flesh may yet be too great for God to work by the Lord saveth not by sword 1 Sam. 17.47 nor by speare for the battell is the Lords Gideon had too many while he had above three hundred Iud. 7.4 greatnesse of outward strength ecclipses and darkens the glory of Christs power in saving when God seeth that his peoples power is gone Deut. 32.36 then he strikes into the work and more shewes himself Let us not limit the holy One of Israel neither to meanes nor to times whether there be many or few that stand up in Gods causes wee are sure of this Christ shal reign till he hath put al his enemies under his feet We look too much on the instruments 1 Cor. 15.25 are ready to cry out if the foundations of the earth be shaken what shall the righteous do you are they that are our foundations Ps 11.3 you the preservers of the fundamental laws of the state and the preservers of the fundamentall laws of the Church if you be shaken it will indeed be a sad time to Gods righteous people yet let not that affright us neither we have a stronger foundation fundamentum fundamenti the foundation of the foundations the head stone of the corner the rock upon which the Church is built which shall never be shaken Goe you on therefore and let every one faithfully do his duty to Christ and leave the issue to God To conclude all this day is a day of humiliation and therfore a day of covenanting with God O that I might now engage you all here present this day in this covenant to take Christ for your King into your own hearts and then to set faithfully to this work of undertaking his causes against all those great oppositions which every day shew themselves when Iehojada made the covenant with the Lord 2 King 11.17 that the people should be the Lords people 't was to this end that they should undertake the Lords causes against the Lords enemies for presently they brake downe the house of Baal and his altar and his images and slew Mattan the Priest of Baal before the altar Let us make such a covenant to be the Lords people and so to undertake the Lords causes as Scipio once held the poynt of his sword to the brests of many gallants that were flying out of Italy and made them sweare upon that sword that they would not desert the cause God has great causes now Christ was never more engaged in great affaires then at this time O that I might perswade all that professe themselves Gods people to engage themselves to Christ to make vowes betwixt God and their own soules upon these sacred truths this book never to desert Christs causes but as faithfull subjects of his Kingdom doe all they can notwithstanding all oppositions to make Christs Kingdom flourish through the world Iudg. 5.23 and remember Meroz curse upon those that come not to the help of Christ against the mighty Christ can carry on his work without us but if we doe not our part deliverance shall come some other way as Mordâ—cai told Queen Hester Est 4.14 but wee shall be destroyed the curse will be upon every of us that set not in every one in his way and as God calls him to it to set up Christ in the midst of his enemies FINIS