shall be our satisfaction nothing else but Complacency our Delight To which place of Bliss and Contentment God of his infinite mercy bring us all for Jesus Christ his sake who is gone before to prepare those Mansions for us To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost three Persons and one God be ascribed Honour and Glory and Blessing with Adoration World without end Amen MODERATION AS AN APOSTOLICAL COUNSEL Explained Philip. 4.5 Being part of the Epistle for the fourth Sunday in Advent Let your Moderation be known unto all men The Lord is at hand OUr Lord and Blessed Saviour being to come into the world and to appear a Minister of Reconciliation to the People sent his Messenger before his face to prepare the way of the Lord and to make his paths strait and the voice from God at that time in the mouth of his Prophet crying in the Wilderness of Judea was this St. Mat. 3.2 Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Afterward John being cast into Prison Jesus himself went forth and began to teach in every City and he was as it were the Eccho to the voice foregoing the message he delivered being the very same St. Matthew 4.17 Jesus began to preach and to say Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand This John who came neither eating nor drinking sequestring himself from the World and denying himself the pleasures of ordinary Converse our Blessed Master Jesus Christ the Righteous who came eating and drinking who lived after the common manner of men the one in every crowded City and the other in a waste howling Wil derness Both have the same Lesson to teach and the same Argument to inforce it Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and though from the dayes of John the Baptist the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force that is the fruit of Repentance is not only carefulness but Indignation likewise and a holy zeal though our Saviour himself too as meek and lowly as he was came to send Fire upon the Earth and before his departure hence what if it were already kindled Yet Jesus being risen and Ascended sate down at the right hand of the Majesty on High his Gospel being strangely propagated he having given to such as shall be saved by Faith in his name and Repentance towards God Love and Charity is now the Law by which he will rule and govern in the hearts of all Believers the feet of those that follow him or expect his coming again must be shod with the Preparation of his Gospel as it is a Gospel of Peace Et speciosi Pedes and these feet are to appear Beautiful that so all may see them Brotherly Love was the precious Legacy which he left behind him and this to continue till he come again so that the same Motive which gained Proselites at first to embrace the Christian Doctrine with Repentance and godly sorrow is an Apostolical incitation to the several Churches as they were Planted that they continue in the Faith which they had received as knowing on whom they Believed the Product of Repentance now is not only to be Indignation Zeal and a holy Revenge but also the Peaceable fruit of Righteousness whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue if there be any praise they who embrace Christianity must think upon and follow those things and that because of Christs Coming whether in the Flesh or unto Judgment in the Flesh in our Flesh with which he was cloathed The Lord of Heaven is at Hand and with him the Kingdom of Heaven also he being himself the King and the Kingdom too he is at Hand not far from every one of us carrying our Nature and our Constitution with him Sanctifying our Inclinations and Affections whilst he subjected himself unto all our Passions unto judgment the Kingdom of Heaven the Lord from Heaven is at Hand to call the World to an account if for their idle words surely for their hard speeches their heart-burning thoughts their uncharitable Actions against such as are quiet in the Land not suffering their Brethren for whom Christ died to live securely by them therefore considering these things that the Man Christ Jesus who came in the fulness of time shall come again at the end of all time after which time shall be no more to judge both the quick and dead and withal lifting up our heads in a comfortable expectation that our Redemption draweth nigh and our Salvation is nearer than when we first believed what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy humble affable Conversation and Godliness Let our Moderation be known unto all Men the Lord is at Hand You see that our Church has furnished me with a Text every way suitable not only as to the present time but consequential upon my former Discourses though I have already I hope sufficiently set bounds to a holy zeal that it do not transgress the law of Love and Charity yet since nothing is more usual than to urge this portion of Scripture now read in Defence of Luke-warmness and since likewise nothing is more incident to our Natures than that we deceive our selves mistaking our Passions many times too too often uncharitableness it self for a holy zeal therefore as a restriction in the one case and a due information in the other following the Churche's prescription the Text is every way suitable and a word in season Let your Moderation be known unto all Men the Lord is at Hand The parts of the Text are Obvious these Two 1. A Duty injoyned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let your Moderation be known unto all men 2. An Argument to inforce it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord is at Hand 2. The Duty is not only injoyned but recommended also it is not only to be an inherent quality or a Disposition within us that is Our Moderation but so Ours that it may be known yea and known not here and there to one or two but indifferently as the circumstances of our Conversation ingage us unto all Men whereupon the Argument to inforce the Duty may be urged this being the scope of the Text either in our Churches Selection of it as part of the Epistle for this day or in the Apostles intention as it is wholesome counsel given to these Philippians The Lord is at Hand that is appearing in the Flesh and whilst so going about and doing good proposing himself a pattern of Moderation unto all Again the Lord is at Hand coming to be our Judge when the secrets of our hearts shall be laid open not only before the eyes of him with whom we have to do not only before our own Consciences when our own sin shall it self reprove us and the iniquity of our heels shall compass us about but likewise as a further aggravation either of our shame or glory we shall be made
GOD THE KING AND THE Church TO WIT Government both Civil and Sacred together Instituted Publique Solemnities in Consecrated Places from the beginning Celebrated True Zeal in opposition to Lukewarmness consistent with Moderation Stated And throughout all the Church of England in the Strictness of its Vniformity against both false Accusers and false Brethren Vindicated Being the Subject of Eight Sermons Preached in several places and now published by George Seignior Fellow of Trinity College in Cambridge and Domestick Chaplain to the Right Honorable the Earl of Burlington Obsequium amicos Veritas odium parit Terent. We can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth 2 Cor. 13.8 LONDON Printed for Christopher Wilkinson at the Black Boy against St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet 1670. To the Right Honorable RICHARD BOYLE Baron of Clifford Youghall and Bandon Viscount of Kynalmeakie and Dungarvan Earle of Burlington and Corke Lord High Treasurer and a Privy Counseller of his Majesties Kingdome of Ireland My Lord THe utmost of my Ambition in this Dedication is with an humble request of its acceptance a grateful acknowledgment of your Lordships many undeserved favours of which I am every day sensible being confident that however weak these my endeavours are now made publick they shall not want both incouragement and protection from One whose constant piety it has been to receive a Prophet and a Prophet's Message though there might be no other reaeson yet for this that it came in the name of a Prophet Some of these Discourses have already had the honour of your Lordships Ear but I must confess more seasonable to the times we live in then suitable to that Auditory amongst whom God is praised in the Beauties of his Holiness and it is a joy as well as Comeliness to behold our Order the August Solemnities of an Holy Worship there celebrated are of themselves a Continued Praedication of the Subject Matter here treated on should I be silent and were these lines with their Author buried in Obscurity However amidst the the daily violences offered to God and his Service from wicked and unreasonable Men it may seem requisite that there be these more open Attestations unto Truth that so a froward and peevish Generation may hence be rendred the more inexcusable in that they do not perish without warning Whatever was the Motive to this Publication from a private person in my circumstances God knows and your Lordship may safely honor me with this Defence that I seek no great things for my self and I humbly conceive that the Discourses themselves if candidly perused will intimate as much all that is here performed or designed is only a Mite or two out of a small stock a mean and an unworthy but an hearty addition to what others have very happily cast in out of their abundance into the Treasuries of God towards the building and maintaining of our Church in its wonted Strength and Beauty And as I am not nor need be much sollicitous what entertainment these writings meet with abroad being conscious to my self of my own integrity so I hope it is far from flattery since a real truth in that I have no other Apology to make then to crave your Lordships pardon whilst I must acknowledge these Discourses to be but a ruae and unpolished Comment on your own daily more pious and severer Practises so that there may be this satisfaction at lest to your Honor in the perusal if for the Author little for your Self more at the same time a favourable coustruction for him but a comfortable and more just reflection upon your self in the consideration of that reward which is consequential to well ordered conversation And here though it be some trespass upon modesty yet to provoke the imitation of others in this licentious Age I must bear witness to the world of a most excellently well Goâ—erned Family the constant returns of Holy Offices the great care which both by your Lordships example and command is taken that the Meaneft Person in it be instructed in those wholesome Principles of our Church Catechisme a piece of Discipline upon Youth so sadly neglected in the management of all which if I am an unworthy instrument I must own the success of all my undertakings of this Nature more to your Lordships favour and countenance then to any thing of skill or ability in my own performances And now having put Your Honor to this unexpected trouble I most humbly crave leave for one Short Intimation which will save the tedium of a Preface and it is this That Some of the ensuing Discourses are presented to your Lordship with relation to the occasion of their first composure in the Discharge of my Duty in a small Cure which I once had in the University where it was my custome as often as I could to give the Lesson provided to my hands out of the Churches service not at all regarding that coffing imputation of being styled a Postillar â—ut rather endeavouring to inculcate upon the People that they should consider how suitable many times and seasonable even in contingent circumstances is the Message delivered to them from God in the Voice of his Church and for this reason I have industriously published what was at first so occasionally Penned and Preached being sorry that by reason of our continued Factions and Divisions notwithstanding an Act for Uniformity it still is so much every day a word in season No more but what is my daily Duty shall be here an hearty and sincere acknowledgment to wit my uncessant Prayers for your Lordships health and happiness and for the most Religious and Vertuous Lady your Honorable Consort God of his infinite Mercy every day more and more Remember You and Yours concerning this for Good and He forget not but may the blessing be on You and Your Family the many Kindnesses You have done for the House of Our God and the Offices thereof I make bold with submission craving your Honorable Protection both of the Author and his Work to subscribe my self Your Lordships most Obedient and Faithful Servant and Chaplain Geo Seignior MOSES and AARON A SERMON Preached before the KING at Saxham in the County of Suffolk April 17. 1670. Exodus 4.16 And he shall by thy Spokesman to the people and he shall be even he shall be to thee instead of a Mouth and thou shalt be to him instead of God UPon the first view of the Text and context we find Moses the Servant of the Lord and Aaron the man of God joined together in one and the same commission both set over a Captived people to deliver them unto a more glorious liberty and both sent unto an oppressing hard-hearted Tyrant to demand a speedy restitution from slavery and to require satisfaction for injuries done unto the Son of God ver 22. Israel is my Son even my First-born he is now also to be called the Redeemed of the Lord Let my Son go that he may
Temporal I pass by this double honour possibly some think it too much for those that labour in the Word and Doctrine and I follow that which is the great designe of the Text the Vnion that is here fixed and everlastingly to be promoted and therefore the Word is singular Regis Sacerdotis unum est Os there is but one Mouth assigned both to King and Priest the one is to think the other to speak the same thing Moses and Aaron to go hand in hand together Hence it is observable that they were Both of the Tribe of Levi verse 14. Is not Aaron the Levite thy Brother The Levite and thy Brother and his Mouth to be thy Mouth to speak the words which thou shalt put into it Why then should there be any difference betwixt Moses and Aaron since they are Brethren They are Both of the same Tribe which the Lord had chosen out of all the Tribes of Israel to come and Minister before him the One was to deliver the Other to teach and instruct Both together to establish and confirm in a perpetual and never ceasing Oeconomy what are the judgments and the statutes of God and Man And all this not to Jacob and Israel onely but to Pharaoh and the Egyptians also 1. Aaron is the Mouth of Moses to the People that is to Israel to tell them that they are the Visited and Beloved of the Lord to proclaim to them the Royal Law of liberty out of the house of bondage from their slavery to wish them to follow the directions of their Law-giver Moses who will rule them according to the integrity of his heart and guide them with the skilfulness of his hand with the skilfulness of his hand with great and wonderfull Dexterity will he extricate them out of all their miseries remove their shoulders from the burdens and their hands from making the pots 2. And so Aaron to be the Mouth of Moses to Pharaoh and his fervants to denounce and execute as many Plagues on him and his people as are the Tribes of Israel if you reckon the plagues and signs together from first to last a Plague for each Tribe because of the hard and cruel bondage wherein he made each of them to serve neither would he permit them to depart in peace from amongst them that they might worship the Lord their God And here by the way we may take notice how necessary is this Vnion betwixt King and Priest how comfortable is their mutual assistance then especially when there is danger of a common enemy both to Church and State when there are a Generation of Men like Pharaoh who will not permit the people to be at quiet onely because Moses and Aaron would have them to serve the Lord how should Moses at such a time stand at the door of the Tabernacle with the Rod of God in his hand for the defence of Aaron and how should Aaron lift up his voice in the behalf of Moses hold up his hands lest that Amalech prevail In a word The Commandment is to go forth from Both to restore and to build the Temple the One must stand like stout Nehemiah with his Sword in his hand that so the work be not hindred the Other not unlike holy Ezra a Prophet of the Lord with the Sword or the Keys of the Kingdome in his Mouth that so it may be perfected in righteousness great is the care which Both together must take for many are the kindnesses which Both together must do unto the House of God and the Offices thereof O then may Aarons Bells never ring backward if ever let it be to call the people as One man to the quenching of a common flame let it be to stand between the living and the dead when a Plague is begun that it may be staid pro Te loquetur He shall speak for Thee to the people surely then he is not so to speak as to inveigh against him to aggravate his failings to exasperate and calumniate his Person before the people he may lift up his Voice like a Trumpet but it must not be the Trumpet of sedition the Alarm of War sounding to battel from the Pulpit let him cry aloud yea and he may not spare to tell Judah and Israel of their sins but it is not fitting to say to a Prince that he is wicked Such language as this does least of all become the Mouth of Aaron Much more unseemly is it for him to say before the People be they Israel it will increase their murmurings be they Egyptians it will add to their hard-heartedness that Moses is ungodly God doth hear the blasphemy of those who do in the least though it be but in a thought slander the footsteps of his Anointed Aaron himself was too sad an instance of this when he murmured against Moses saying Numb 12.2 Hath the Lord indeed spoken onely by Moses hath he not also spoken by us Yes he hath spoken by you Both and yet the Leprosie upon Miriam's forehead may be an intimation unto Aaron that he do cover his Mouth and shut his lips such language as this hath defiled them Vnclean unclean But the meekness of Moses was soon intreated and the God of mercy did accept of his intercession so that immediately there was a healing of this breath and Aaron is still continued to be the Mouth of Moses to the People To the People if to Moses surely much more to them and the People are to attend to him with reverence upon this treble account because that he is the Mouth of God of the King and also of the People Heb. 5.1 Every High Priest is ordained for men that is is set over men in things pertaining to God the manner of expression in the Original is the same with the Septuagint in my Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Every High Priest is set over men as concerning those things which are to God-ward that is the interpretation may fairly be admitted without any great stress upon the words set over the ordinary sort of men to tell them with Authority and with power what is their duty either to God or his Vicegerent to the Lord of Lords or to those who are instead of God and they who do resist or despise either One or the Other do not despise or resist the Man in either of them but the God that is in them Both. And this brings me to the Second thing I observed from the Text which is the due Execution firm Establishment and sure Administration of both these Authorities together and that no otherwise then by a Divine Dispensation Whilst the Prince doth defend the Priests of the most High God he doth so stand by himself the Throne is thus established to him in Righteousness the Kingdome confirmed in the hands of Moses whilst he is unto Aaron and to his sons instead of God Instead of God in his quae ad Deum that is in the Letter of the Text
Scripture though it may be sadly observed a new way of spinning out discourses without any the least regard had to the Law and the Prophets Bring me hither the Ephed says David that Ephod from behind which he took his Sword and so it was consecrated for the Lord's battels thus doth he enquire of the Lord upon every enterprise and that in no other way then according to the Divine Institution with a linen Ephod The answer from God to him was either a speedy return of Peace and safety or else a sure caution certainly to prevent and escape the Danger Upon this doth Doog that wicked Edomite put forth his hand to fall upon the Priests of the Lord kills them onely to take possession of their inheritance and is Abiathar escaped unto David with the Ephod in his hand there was a strange Providence in the escape and a wonderful security unto Both in that flight 1 Sam 22.23 Abide with me says the King unto the Priest and fear not for he that seeketh my Life seeketh thy Life but with me thou shalt be in safeguard Both these for a while may be hunted after upon the mountains by the sons of violence and yet they travelling together in yea and persecuted through a wilderness shall even there find a Sanctuary at the Mount of God and in God's due time which is the best for Both these Two keeping still close together the Consecrated Sword in the hand of the One the lâ—nnen Ephod upon the breast of the Other the Kingdom shall be established in the hand of the One the Priesthood shall be confirmed to the house of the Other these are the suremercies of David and of the Son of David to them Both. But let not David in his prosperity forget the House of Abiathar which was afflicted with him in all his affliction nor let Abiathar in his eminency and prelacy be unmindful of the servants of David so oversee them as to overlook them who were formerly a security to him when he fled from the face of Tyranny and Oppression let Both together live in that mutual Dependance in which God hath set them carrying on the same design so advantagious to Both keeping as sacred this Vnion which I must still reinforce to be the Divine Institution lest the last errour prove worse then the first and again some rebellious Sheba do blow the Trumpet God in his mercy prevent such doleful Alarms that they never more be heard amongst us To your Tents O Israel we have no part in David nor inheritance in the son of Jess Now see to thine own House David And would David look well to his own House it must be by having a due regard unto and a tender care of the House of God Thus Psal 132.1 God remembers David and all his trouble in that this was his Oath unto the Lord this was his Vow unto the mighty God of Jacob that he would not come within the Tabernacle of his house nor climb up unto his Bed untill he found out a Place for the Lord and with this most pathetick repetition of the words of his vow an Habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. The instance in the Text is the conclusion of the whole matter v. 27. Aaron met Moses in the Mount of God and kissed him Oh happy interview Moses and Aaron mutually embracing locus honestat the very Place bespeaks both Love and Honour it was at the Mount of God and then the Ceremony denotes both Veneration and endearment Osculum dignitatis he kissed him as a Token of subjection to him thus acknowledging his Majesty and Supremacy deosculatus est ex amore he rejoiced in his heart when he saw him and because he loved him he gave the seal of his affections with his lips an intimation at this first greeting that his Mouth joyned unto those lips quasi coalescebant in Vnum Os was now become but One Mouth with which he was resolved to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and after that enjoyn obedience to those ransomed ones This was Aaron's promise unto Moses and that because of the Divine appointment the Brethren being doubly dear to each other both in the flesh and in the Lord that he would be Moses's Spokesman unto the People he would be even he would be unto him instead of a Mouth Moses embraceth Aaron in the Arms of Love and of Protection the Rod in his hand is a Scepter of favour held out as a token of good will and kind acceptance to him This is the Rod which shall be stretched out working wonders in the defence of the Priesthood Moses embracing him in his Arms assures him from his very heart to the heart of his Brother that they Two thus clasping together coalescebant in Vnum Hominem became now but One Man this being the Promise of Moses that he would never be unmindful of the Word of the Lord as an everlasting command upon him That he should be unto Aaron instead of God Appl. Let it be known this day that there is a God in Israel that this God is to be worshipped and that in the Administration of this worship the Priesthood is to be secured from Contempt to be had in honour for the works sake about which it doth converse I dare not in the least venture to give directions here he must not presume who is the meanest and unworthiest of all the sons of Aaron who hath not been Eloquent neither heretofore nor since the Word of the Lord came unto him but humbly beg we may and heartily in all Duty and Submission invoke we must the Assistance of the Secular Arm lest both our Message and our Persons be altogether despised Did I say our Message or our Persons alas we can easily venture both these through a bad or through a good report and be unconcerned But sad it is to behold that amongst those that are baptized Christians Atheism and Profaneness should so strangely overspread it self yea and that notwithstanding so many popular Discourses every where made about the Reasonableness of Religion hence it is that the Offerings of the Lord have been abhorred amongst us whilst irreligion and a licentious Libertinisme doth exalt it self above all that is called God or Good in the midst of us what means else the bleating of the Oxen of the Beasts of Bashan in our ears the continued murmurings and gainsayings of Core strange fire every where offered up whilst the Lamp burning bright in the Sanctuary is neglected and all this mischief from some of the sons of Levi pretended ones at least fomented by the dissentions of false Brethren men that cannot be contented with their present station but they lead aside the simple and the ignorant into Houses Oh! may our new Laws for which we bless God and have more and more cause to honour and obey Authority may these be executed and may our old Ones not quite antiquated be seasonably re-inforced and shall I humbly make one
heaven the Blessed of the Lord even amongst Indians and Armenians those that sate in darkness and the shadow of death unto them by this Apostle was preached the word of life and that life was the Light of God and last of all how he seal'd the Doctrine which he deliver'd with his Blood his skin flay'd off and so he was exposed like his Master a man of sorrows neither was he in his death unlike unto him being nailed to a cross he committed himself and his cause to God that judgeth righteously All this it may be piously received and entertained from a literal and oral Tradition but ignorantly enough God knows how true fides penes sit Authores let those who have a more easy faith believe whose main business it is to gain credit to such things of which they are not themselves overmuch perswaded Our Church therefore having little or no regard to all these has rather chose to celebrate this Apostle as one of the Twelve without any particular specifications concerning him save only that he was Brother and Companion with the rest in Tribulation and in the Kingdom and Patience of our Lord Jesus Christ Accordingly the Gospel for the Day St. Luk. 22.24 is our Saviours Determination of that perplexing Question which so much troubled the Disciples at first among themselves and has since been no small cause of Division in the Christian Church Which of them should be the Greatest not St. Bartholomew himself should we grant him right Noble by his Birth yet he must not pretend here to a Priority therefore in the Gospel the words run thus The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship and they that exercise authority are called Patrons and Benefactors But ye shall not be so not so untill that Kings be your Nursing fathers and Queens your Nursing Mothers in the mean while let no one vindicate to himself Power and Prerogative amongst you over the rest of his brethren But he that is greatest among you let him be as the Younger and he that is chief as he that doth serve And the Epistle for this Day part of which is the Text was the happy effect and result upon this Determination The Apostles agreeing together amongst themselves the Gospel of Jesus did run and was glorified their Unity was causal of respect from those who were without whilst they kept together with one accord even the place where they met was an an indication both of their piety and their prudence in or about the Temple in Solomons Porch and as an ancient Gloss upon the Text fuerunt simul sapientes in domo sapientis The wisdom of God was here justified by the children of Wisdom and that in no other place then in an House of Wisdom whilst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the rest whither they were Friends or enemies seeing and observing their Unity ecce ut seinvicem deligant they could not but keep their distance no man durst to joyn himself to them and yet notwithstanding this awe upon their spirits the Apostles wanted neither Praise nor Admiration But the People magnified them and upon the whole the word of God grew and was multiplied Believers were the more added to the Lord multitudes both of men and women Well therefore has our Church in her Divine Service furnished us at this time with a Prayer for the continuance of that Vnity and Vniformity which beares its later date from this Festival to wit that it would please Almighty God to grant unto his Church to love that Word which this Apostle in the Communion of the rest believed that both those who Minister may preach and the people may receive the same in the fear of God in the love of those truths and of one another through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The words of the Text having thus given you an account of our Churches choice in the selection of them for the Epistle at this time which I could not well omit partly out of a respect to the Festival and chiefly out of a design to speak a word in season too much and sadly in season even all the year long because of these days of error schism and sedition in which we live are in themselves a Parenthesis and so an Historicall observation made in the midst of a continued Narration A Descant made of what effect the judgment of God had upon the sin of sacriledge in the verses before to wit what influence the punishment of this sin in the sudden death of Ananias and Sapphira had upon the Church as also what was the effect of Gods Providence in the verses following how that God was with his Apostles to deliver them from the expectation of those who sought their lives he sent his Angel to open the prison door and out of prison they were sent to reign in the hearts of all that heard them and at length by the counsel of their enemies they were acquitted God over-ruling in those Determinations also so that this seems to be the Historical though Parenthetical observation of St. Luke writing the whole story That the Apostles and new convert Disciples being altogether with one accord in Solomons Porch of the rest durst no man joyn himself to them but the People magnified them and Believers were the more added to the Lord multitudes of men and women Observe with me in the whole Parenthesis as the limits to what may be Discoused from it these four things 1. A Holy Convention They were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch 2. A Due Distance observed in that Convention Of the rest durst no man joyn himself to them 3. An awefull Reverence exhibited upon that Distance But the People magnified them 4. A Great Benefit redounding to the whole Community upon that Reverence or rather upon the whole present Dispensation Believers were the more added to the Lord multitudes of men and women Of these in their order 1 A Holy Convention They were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch in which words we may observe 1. The Persons convening 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all of them 2. The Place of their meeting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Solomon's Porch 3. Their Behaviour at their meeting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 together with one accord These Three the Subject of the first Discourse 1. The Persons convening 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all of them Whether with the Apostles the new Convert Disciples or the multitudes called together at the noise of the wonders that were wrought or it may be amongst so many some out of curiosity to pry and observe and others out of evil will to seek and occasion against them that so they might deliver up these Apostles to the Rulers Thus might these multitudes at this time have been divided The Apostles were there labouring in the Word and Doctrine the new Converts were there receiving as new born babes the sincere milk of the word that they might grow thereby those who were curious and inquisitive came
our Apostles we are sent unto our Prayers Behold O Lord the threatnings of the Sons of Belial who are still against thee all the reflections they make upon these latter Providences is they repent that they have done no more mischief and all the sin they acknowledge in their blasphemous allusions is that they were false to their Covenant in that the Amalakites were not utterly destroyed let us betake our selves to better Devotions than these that God would abate their pride asswage their malice and confonnd their Devices but then as for their Persons He brings into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived Put them in fear O Lord that they may seek thy name Forgive our enemies persecutors and slanderers and turn their hearts Forgive them for they know not what they do Oh! That even this might not be laid to their charge how that they still have recourse to their old designes of Mischief though hitherto in the course of the Divine Providence they have proved so ineffectual May the God of Heaven yet laugh them to scorn and he confirm his King upon the hill of Sion Deliverance shall arise one way or other the God who is worshiped in will take care of the service of the Sanctuary he who hath and who doth we trust that he will still deliver us they that hate us shall see it and be ashamed because the Lord hath holpen us and comforted us But as for them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are of the rest they have estranged themselves and gone out from us because they were not of us neither shall they dare God will restrain their fury they shall not presume to approach and hurt us which is the Second thing observed in this second part of the Text to wit what was the present frame and temper of their minds by whom this due distance was kept 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 No one durst That is there was an unaccountable surprise and dread upon their Spirits which as to the persons affected might be divers and various they did not dare some kind of awe there was which was a curb and a restraint upon them 1. In the Disciples it might be modesty and humility 2. In those from amidst the multitude a timorous misgiving 3. In the Adversary Terrour Amazement and Astonishment Thus one way or other the Gospel of Jesus was glorified it had diversly but surely its desired effect upon all this is that word which cannot return in vain but will accomplish the thing for which it is sent First In the Disciples who took heed how where and what they did here who frequented Solomons Porch that they might observe the out-goings of the Lord in his Sanctuary in them their Modesty was exercised and their Humility was increased with meekness they received the ingrafted word and yet jealous enough of themselves that they did not grow as they should thereby to them the immortal seed was sown in an honest and in a good heart and yet the Fruit which they did bear was with patience their heart was raised at the contemplation of God and of his holiness but at the same time broken in a sorrowful reflection upon themselves and their own unworthiness though they did believe yet almost with tears in their eyes this was the Prayer of their Faith Lord we believe help our unbeliefe in them an humble and a lowly expectancy as well as a fiducial recumbency had its perfect work they are ready to give up themselves and their substance to the service of God and of his Sanctuary and yet considering that God expects both heart and hand together piously they examine their own integrity throughout all they know that their good things do not extend to God therefore their delight is with such as are excellent in the Earth and when they have done all that they can they are far from vaunting a State of Perfection they acknowledge themselves to be unprofitable Servants and Miserable Sinners they make this their humble and hearty recognition saying We have done or rather Would we had done what was our duty to do Secondly In those from amidst the multitude it was a Timorous Misgiving their hearts failed them for fear of what might become of them in another world and yet they were loth to let go their interest in this upon what they heard and saw they made some heavy steps toward happiness but alass they looked back and they gave back the one returns to his honours and the other to his great Possessions Oh the deceitfulness of riches and of power how hard is it for those who trust in either to enter into the Kingdom of God with the Disciples upon the like occasion we may cry out Lord increase our Faith yes in the Text here is an argument to settle us in our Faith in that the wisdom of God was here justified in the hearts of the children of this World in the midst of all their wealth and their greatness the convictions that are within them are a damp upon their Spirits Thus St. Paul cannot reason of righteousness of temperance and of judgment to come but Felix must needs tremble and does Agrippa know the Scriptures does he believe the Prophets and will he not resign the obedience of his Faith to what he does know and cannot but believe however as stout and resolved a sinner as he is against God and his own Soul laught heartily and entirely to embrace this way least he lose something of his outward Pomp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lest the retinue that is about him should withdraw and refuse any longer to be of his train yet to hear St. Paul Preach will he will he he cannot but confess to him and all the World however his misgiving thoughts perplex him and he will not be perswaded yet he is almost perswaded to be a Christian Virtutem videant how strangely is the self-condemning Worldling or Voluptuary infatuated only that he may perish the more dreadfuly under the clear apprehensions of his approaching and yet wilfully neglected happiness Alas poor silly wretch who against himself and his own resentments prefers this World to a better in a moment he and his thoughts perish and in the end he proves a fool 3. In the Adversary it was terrour amazement and Astonishment to observe the courage and boldness of these Apostles though they were ignorant and unlearned men the wonders which they wrought and the judgments which were inflicted they could not but be surprised and fall backwards like the Officers which came to apprehend our Saviour so is it here with the Disciples as it was formerly with their Master Never men surely spake or did like these men what do we do the finger of God is here in vain do we strive we shall not prevail like the Egyptian chariots in the Red Sea all our designs go on against them but heavily in vain do we strive against them and at the same
warping not yeilding either to the terrours of some no nor being inticed because of advantage by the allurements of others and yet throughout all manifesting a Spirit of meekness this mans Message shall be accompanied with honour with his humility he shall win upon the people by degrees for no other reason but that they shall be convinced at length of his integrity in that he has not performed his Duty by Degrees comes not upon them with his after-claps he has not in the least dissembled either with God or them It is not whatsoever some may think in their worldly wisdom which is not so pure as they prerend it peaceable alwayes advantagious to comply with and suit our selves to present necessities to attemper our selves to the humours of men and the swing of the times to be less sollicitous in such circumstances which for a while will go against the grain and a little popular indifference is not that which will induce the vulgar to Magnifie Gods service neither will it contribute much to the keeping of all things for any considerable time quiet And yet for all this the Servant of God must not be pievish he may be resolute but not froward and let him bear patiently this reproach if for his constancy to that to which he has subscribed so often he is counted violent by some pert and pragmatical by others who have no other plea to excuse their own Hypocritical luke-warmeness then by traducing the stedfastness of such who according to that way which they once counted Superstition and at this day think not so expedient for it seems a mechanical sanctity does not suit so well with a new mechanical Philosophy Worship the God of their Fathers Notwithstanding these corrupt Principles fomented amongst false Brethren may the poor deluded People whose immortal souls are precious be convinced when they see their Priests cloathed with Righteousness in relation to God and his Church and with humility in reference to them this should raise their veneration of them and esteem for them It is not beneath the Dignity of an Apostle provided he does not build what he once destroyed or destroy that which he would seemingly pretend to build and so either way make himself a Transgressor nay it makes much for the Magnifying of his office in the sight of all the People when in a constant regular performance of his own Duty he shews hmself gentle and courteous even to the froward and perverse Call it what you will either Moderation as it respects the Subject and is a personal qualification or Popularity as it has an influence upon others and is some kind of aery satisfaction upon the performance of any thing that has been well taken the true notion either of one or the other or of Both as one and the same I am sure in many persons they are convertible and one Definition will serve Both in whom all their Moderation is their popularity the true Notion I say of each is not the abatement of our own strictness but to labour the supporting those that are weak to restore such as are gone aside to that stedfastness which they may see us profess in a Spirit of love and charity it is not an unworthy sneaking compliance like Elie's sons in the Priests office to do any thing for a Morsel of Bread or a piece of Silver but it is an affable winning behaviour in converse to allure those who are disaffected to embrace that order which they may see us so severely practice It were a strange way we should think to heal the sick and raise him up again should the Physician feign himself to be in the same distemper with his Patient it would surely be to better purpose to apply gentle and healing Medicines and not by an affected indisposition court both himself and his patient unto death And shall the Physicians of Israel lick up the sores of the people Suit themselves to their Maladies be partakers of other mens sins were it not both honester and much the safer course both for the Doctors credit and the Peoples health to pour in Wine and Oil Wine that may throughly search and cleanse and Oil that may kindly close up that so the Wound of the Daughter of his People be not slightly healed is it not more becoming his profession thus to behave himself rather then that such a one as is ingaged in the cure of souls should by a sordid imitation humour the Fancy of the Diseased or Disaffected and though somtimes Corrosives are to be applied and not always Cordials whatsoever are the hurts of the people they are to be opened and touched to the quick yet the Spiritual Chyrurgion as he is to have a Lions couragious heart so he must have a gentle easie and a skilful hand even in holy and strict Discipline the Rod it self may be managed dexterously and with a Spirit of meekness The blooming budding Rod of Aaron yielding Almonds and those were the fruits of Peace that Peace which the very People when by the blessing of Aarons God upon them they do experience it shall magnifie yea and Magnifie those that bring it to them saying Blessed are they that come to us in the Name of the God of Peace that so our Houses may no more be left unto us Desolate Speciosi pedes Thus shall they look upon the Feet of an Evangelist as beautiful yea although the Terrors of the Lord may sometimes accompany his message even they shall perswade as here in the Text the fruit of all which in Gods due time shall be Peace unto those that seek Peace in keeping their due Distance from in giving due Praise and Honour to those who are the Ambassadors of Peace from Heaven to all and yet their Embassy is to be managed with Power and Authority that so their Persons may be had in honour for their employments sake considering whom they represent and that is the next thing to be considered under this second branch 2. To the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this the honour of these Saints their Persons to be magnified amongst the multitudes And here it is observable that the Admiration or Praise which was given to the Apostles was given to them all indifferently and that in a whole community as they were all assembled with one accord agreeing together as Brethren in the Kingdom and Patience of our Lord Jesus it was not so a respect as to set one above another much less to set them against each other St. Peter was no more magnified then all the rest though the next words to the Text tells us that there was healing to all such as passed but under his shadow and St. John though once a Beloved Disciple in the success of his Ministry does expect no more honour from the People then had others of his Brethren And here the People are to be advised that although they ought to have the persons of Apostolical men in honour and admiration
from Erasmus I learn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Tremellius renders it includere they would include they would comprehend both you and us and yet their zealous affection upon this account is not well And here zeal is reprehensible in those who care not much what a medly there is in Religious Observances so they and their party be included who are for meeting us half way in hopes to pull us after them a Generation who will never be contented with whatsoever Concessions are made them till they have again extirpated both root and branch Vt iis placeat quibus satis nihil est that they may be satisfied who will never have enough as the Orator These can be contented that there should be a halting betwixt God and Baal Baal-Berith that is in the signification of the Word a Seditious Covenant so long as they may be permitted a fire be it never so strange to consume their Sacrifice who are so indifferent in the Service of God that if they may be but Tolerated they care not how many Religions or wayes of worship there are besides These are such who tell us that their Moderation must be known unto all men but like the Devil they quote but half the Text it is not the Lord at hand For in God his Vnity is his Essence and as there is but One Lord so but One Faith One Church One Baptisme Speak they of an Accommodation what fellowship has light with darkness the Light of our Religion shining in the Candlestick of the Church by a glorious open and publick Profession of it With Darkness the hidden Mysteries of iniquity the cunning close contrivances of Schism and Sedition is there any Communion betwixt Christ and Belial that is as the words in their Etymology do import between Christ the Anointed of the Lord and Belial the Sons of violence and Disobedience It was an undeniable argument unto Solomon who had a most quick sagacious and discerning Spirit for the wisdom of God was in the Determination that the woman who was for Deviding the Child so that both might be sharers of it could not be the true Mother of it The Church of England like a pious and a holy Mother shews the truth of her affection whilst her bowels yern upon her Children in that she would by no means have them divided they prostitute both their Religion and Devotion neither have they the Bowels of a Mother who are so willing and sollicious that a Comprehensive Bill like a decisive Sword should sever their Profession in order to make an equal separation and so in any wayes to part stakes with those that are of another Perswasion True indeed difference in opinion should not breed difference in affection neither doth it in the Constitutions of our Church whilst we have a Brotherly Compassion for those that are seduced and do heartily pray that God would bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived But when Schism and Sedition once begin to pretend friendship with us and offers to shake hands without giving the Church any satisfaction for those sad Divisions which it hath already made so far from confessing or acknowledging what is past that it begins to plead its Merits that it has been so long quiet and has done no more mischief like that wicked Villain who when he had set a Temple on fire had the impudence to plead for himself that his Judges would be pleased to consider how many Temples he had left standing I say when once it comes to this that Faction must go hand in hand with nay demand the right hand of fellowship of Discipline Order and Vniformity farewel then the face of a Church in he midst of us and I pray God that be not the consequence upon such wicked Designs should our Candlestick be removed though our misery would be exceeding great yet our sin not so hainous as that now while it is fixed amongst us the Taper burning in it should be mangled and divided In the mean while let us not deceive our selves neither God nor his Church is to be mocked they who would divide the seamless coat of Christ are for a linsey-woolsey party-coloured Service amongst us what ever zeal they may pretend to Comprchension that they would take in all parties and make us so at Vnity amongst our selves certainly their Design is nothing but that approaching so near they might with the greater violence justle others down and so get up themselves and ride it is not so much a zeal for God and for his glory nor for the purity of the Reformed Religion as they would have us to believe but it is that they might ingross all respect and applause to themselves as if they only were left alone in the Kingdom who do sincerely serve the Lord they zealously affect but not well they would for a while include that so at an opportunity they might altogether exclude you or us that is separate you from us and us from you for in truth the whole Conspiracy is that you might affect them which is the Fourth and Last Observable wherein zeal is reprehensible and that again in relation to the zealots themselves when they would set the Church on fire to warm themselves by the flames of it by gaining Disciples not so much to their Cause as to their Party yea chiefly in this every private zealot may play a Game by himself alone distinct from the rest of his Company while they do many times supplant one another in gaining Proselytes to themselves being exceeding zealous that the People might affect them And this is the most remarkable Criterion as well as the truest impulsive cause of a bad zeal self-love and desire of applause together with an eager affectation of having many followers will transport a man that is Popular to many things that are not convenient and this is a Temptation to which the best of us all may be incident without a great measure of humility and self-denial But when this Spiritual Pride doth puff up a particular sort of men or in the same rank one man against another so that Simon Magus-like Act. 8.13 There should be here and there one and another whose business it must be to bewitch the people with their Sorceries whilst each one gives himself out to be the onely Power of God what is this but an overweaning Zeal that the people might affect and follow after them from the least of them to the greatest Nay as I have already hinted it is observable that seditious persons do many times supplant one another while some have a more winning that is whining way to out act the rest and are more crafty in stealing away the hearts of the unsettled and unstable multitude more out of a love to their persons than their own espoused Cause and this is chiefly then visible when the gap is made so wide by Division that the entrance is open though all hands were united