THE NATURE OF God's Kingdom AND Dominion over MEN Clearly laid Open and Explained as the same Relates unto these following Particulars God hath Established for all Nations an Obedience of Faith a Life of Probation and Trial wherein all things happen alike unto all He hath also Permitted the Prosperity of the wicked and Ordained Adversity unto the Righteous IN A Discourse on Deut. 8. 2. Wherein is likewise shewed what Influence the Knowledge of these things ought to have upon our Life and Conversation By RICHARD STAFFORD To make known unto the Sons of Men his Mighty Acts and the Glorious Majesty of his Kingdom Thy Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom and thy Dominion endureth throughout all Generations Psal 145. 12 13. And thou shalt Remember all the Way which the Lord thy God led thee these Forty Years to Prove thee to know what is in thine Heart whither thou wouldest keep his Commandments or no. Nihil tam dignum Deo quam Salus Hominis Tertullian LONDON Printed and Sold By E. Whitlock near Stationers Hall 1697. Advertisement THese are to give Notice that I have several other Practical Sermons or Discourses of mine own Composing Lying by me in Manuscript Which if they who have the Plenty or Competency of this World would thus Consecrate some part of their Gain and Substance unto the Lord Micah 4. 13. As to be ready to Distribute and willing to Communicate towards the outward Labour and Charge of the Printing and Publishing of them it would be for the Glory of God in making known his Truth Isa 38. 19. and for the Edification and Benefit of his Church and People and consequently it would be a Good Work in such Persons who shall be Helpful and any ways Assistant herein for which they would be Rewarded by God in the Life that is to come Charge them that are Rich in this World that they do Good that they be Rich in good Works ready to Distribute willing to Communicate laying up in Store for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6. 17 18 19. This is a Faithful Saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works these things are Good and Profitable unto Men Titus 3. 8. THE NATURE OF God's Kingdom c. And thou shalt Remember all the Way which the Lord thy God led thee these Fourty Years in the Wilderness to Humble thee and to Prove thee to know what was in thine Heart whither thou wouldest keep his Commandments or no Deut. 8. 2. THE whole Oâ—conomy Dispensation and Establishment of all the Things of God and of the Things pertaining to his Kingdom in that manner as they now are do all seem to be to this very End and Intent to prove Man to know what is in his Heart whether he will keep the Commandments of God or not This also cometh from the Lord of Hosts who is Wonderful in Counsel and Excellent in Working for in great Wisdom and Contrivance hath he Ordained and Ordered Things accordingly By the Passage of the Children of Israel through the Wilderness was tipiâ—ied and signified that Passage of the several Generations of Men and Women of the several Countries through this Earth where they may remember all the way and all the several Steps and Stages of this Life which the Lord God of all Creatures doth lead or carry them on these Fourty Years in the Wilderness or these Threâ—score Years and Ten or Fourscore Years which is twice Fourty Years for so the Days of Man are computed in Psal 90. and it holds still thereabouts in the Wilderness of this Earth which is reckoned to be about the middle part of the World Where he hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men for to dwell on all the Face of the Earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the Bounds of their Habitation The Condition of Mankind whilst they are a little time Breathing on this Earth is fitly compared to that of the Isâ—aelites in the Wilderness on divers Respects But particularly from that Description which is given of it in Psal 107 4 5 6 7. They wandered in the Wilderness in a solitary Way they found no City to dwell in Hungry and Thirsty their Souls fainted in them Then they cried unto the Lord in their Trouble and he delivered them out of their Distresses and he led them forth by the Right Way that they might go to a City of Habitation Now here we have no continuing City but Heaven is that City of Habitation and this Earth is but a through fare unto it as we now go through a little Town or Village unto a great City This is now our present Condition on Earth as we stand towards God We wander in the Wilderness in a solitary Way As we are meer Men abstracted from the Assistances of his Word and Spirit Our Thoughts concerning God are but Imaginations Our Words are Mistake or Falshood Our Actions are but Errors and Turnings aside from the Right Way This appears by those Mahometants Pagans and Indians who are the Workmanship of God as well as we but for want of the Scriptures and the Light of the Gospel as to that Invisible Being who made them or as to that Invisible World they and we are all entring into They Grope for the Wall like the Blind and they Grope as if they had no Eyes Isa 59. 10. Even where is an appearance of the outward Worship of God and Christianity How many do wander in their Acts pertaining to Religion For even that of the Generality Multitude is so defiled with the things which savour of Men and comes so short off that Religion which is to the saving of the Soul that the small Remnant is either forced to come out of it and touch not the Unclean thing or else see well to it that their Righteousness do exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees that their Religion do exceed the Religion of the World as it is commonly Preached and Practised at this Day that even his Elect Children and Servants do wander here in the Wilderness in a Solitary Way being Destitute Afflicted and Tormented they are People by themselves as the usual Phrase is which indeed agrees to that Character the Holy Ghost gives of them Feed thy People with thy Rod the Flock of thine Heritage which dwell Solitarily in the Wood in the midst of Carmel Micah 7. 14. The People of God Dwell Solitarily although they are in the midst of Neighbours and Acquaintance such as they are Hungry and Thirsty their Souls fainted in them This is as to God and as to that good Satisfactory and Enduring Thing which he hath Promised to the Sons of Men which on this Earth is kept in Suspence and not actually or at least not fully given but we are all along seeking and labouring
One as ever any Son or Servant did serve his Father or Master according to the Flesh whom he saw every day and was almost continually with him An Obedience of Faith must needs be accepted because it is such an Obedience as God himself hath Ordained and Established and the reasonable Creature in this State cannot render any other But I do believe and conceive that as it is written The Lord will come down in the sight of all the People upon Mount Sinah Exod. 19. 11. And it is afâ—erwards said And Mount Sinah was altogether on a Smoke because the Lord descended upon it in â—ire And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinah on the â—op of the Mount Vâ—r. 18 20. Which Lord in Acts 7. 38. is said to be the Angel Supposed to be the Son of God even Jesus Christ We Read there Verse 16. and Exod. 20. 18 19. Heb. 12. 21. What effect it had upon Moses and upon all the People as to cast a very great Awe Terrour and Trembling â—pon them The like is not to be expected again in this World But this I do believe and conceive that when the Inhabitants of the Earth of all Generations and Countreys from the Creation of the World unto the End thereof shall be Summoned to meet with God by Death and Judgment at the last Trump For the Trumpet shall Sound then they shall have a sensible and more lasting Apprehension of the Great and Infinite God himself in Person then the Israelites had for the time of his Angel on Mount Sinah For that particular Place the whole Mount Quaked greatly but then the Heavens and the Earth and the whole Creation will quake and be dissolved to be changed and Created a new This also I do apprehend and conceive that in the mean while after the several respective Deaths of particular Persons until this great Day as it is written The Devils Believe and Tremble So the Souls of such Men and Women who in the Days of their Flesh were Disobedient and Provoking to God will also Believe and Tremble Yea they will be Magor Missabib Fear round about Jer. 20. 3. Because that in the Invisible World they will have nothing to harden themselves or to forget the sence of their approaching Condemnation and Misery as now they have as also because they will be nearer unto and know more of God unto whom all Flesh shall come The Apostle in 2 Pet. 3. makes the Use and Application of all this to our Hand for he speaking there of the very same admonishes Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of Persons ought ye to be in all Holy Conversation and Godliness Wherefore Beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in Peace without Spot and Blameless Seeing that the Dispensation of the Kingdom and Dominion of God over Men stands on this wise What can be a more forcible Motive and Persuasion then the Knowledge and Consideration hereof for ye to be stedfast Vnmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as ye know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. For as much as ye haste unto and draw nearer and must be let into these continuing things the inference here is Reasonable and Natural Wherefore Beloved seeing that ye look for such continuing Things be diligent that your selves continue in the Service of the Lord. I say ye look for continuing things which is opposite unto perishing things as such are all present things and things of this World I hope that none of ye do serve God for any visible present Recompence as to thrive better in your Trades or Callings and that ye are not in hopes to grow more Rich hereby and come to a place where his lively Word is declared and his Spiritual Worship used out of any sinister Respects and present Ends. If there was any thing to be got by it what a Throng would be here If ye do this or the â—ike ye will be mistaken For the Just shall Live by Faith He will seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and trust that all these things shall be added unto it The Terms we are to enter upon Gods Service is Grace here and Glory hereafter necessary Accommodations for our Pilgrimage and the true Rest to come the Patriark Jacob's Request Bread to Eat and Raiment to put on and all this is to be had only by Labour and Honest means and no others But when People come to serve the Lord if they have thoughts of any more and they do not find their Ends and Expectations answered then they leave off the Service of the Lord which they would not have done if they had known the Nature of God's Kingdom and the Way of his dealings towards the Children of Men. If there was a present Profit and Gain to be made by Religion by every one that would try after it then none would Fear God for nought Job 1. 9. nor yet serve him for the alone Hope and Expectation of unseen things But People would traffick for Heaven as they do to Jamaica or the Jndies and all still for the Love of themselves and not out of any Love to the Lord of that Countrey What a Company of Mercenary Souls should we have Then the places of Worship or Hearing the Word of God would be Flocked unto even upon Week Days as the Exchange or as Country People go to Fairs and Markets to Buy and Sell and get Gain Then Worldly Minded Men would become the best Christians Those who are all for themselves use Religion only now and then to serve a turn or for a reserve But if there was any thing to be got at present by so doing such would do most therein and still do nothing only for God's Sake There would be then no Work of Faith nor Labour of Love bâ—t all Selfishness But now God hath most wisely ordered it as it is that the Trial of Faith might be had that the Excellency of Obedience may be seen But yet more clearly it will appear how the right Understanding of the Nature of God's Kingdom and Dominion over Men helps to make a continuing Work from this Remarkable Scripture Because they have no changes therefore they Fear not God Psal 55. 19. My Soul hath much Meditated upon this Scripture it being so very Applicable and Suitable to the People abroad in the World for is not this the very Reason of the want of the Fear of God or when they talk of it in a General Way yet still there is not that real Awe and Dread of God upon their Hearts but there is a secret Contempt of him aâ—d a froward going on in the Way of their Hearts as also a turning back from the Ministration of his Word And all is because they have no changes they see no odds whither they do or do not Sometimes in mine own private Prayer every Morning and Evening I have performed the same in a Perâ—unctory Hasty and Careless manner and sometimes I have done it again more Solemnly Awefully and Attentively But I have observed no great matter of difference about the succeeding of my Actions the following day whither I performed them in a due manner or not Nay Perhaps It went more cross and thwart when I was in the Morning before in â—ervent Prayer then when I was remiss or negligent And hereupon an evil Heart oâ— Unbelief hath arose in me as if Prayers did signifie nothing and there would be no great matter of difference if they were said meerly out of custom or not at all Is not this the very same as to other things pertaining to Religion For do we see any odds or difference outwardly between him that Sacrificeth or him that Sacrificeth not Between them that go into the Sanctuary or them that do not Between them who are constant hearers of the Word or who despise the Word of the Lord and refuse to come to the place where it is holden forth or Preached Themselves sometimes make a trial of both and they find no changes and therefore they are Confirmed more and more in their Ungodliness Moab hath been at ease from his Youth and he hath been setled on his Lees and hath not been empâ—ied from Vessel to Vessel neither hath he gone into Captivity therefore his taste remained in him and his scent is not changed Jer. 48. 11. Even that Taste and Scent of the Old Corrupt and Ungodly Nature Now as to all this and such like Imaginations in the Hearts of Men for by Thoughts or Imaginations every One is led guided and doth accordingly Here a right Understanding of the Nature of God's Kingdom and Dominion over us Men How by the Ordering of things so as they are he doth prove us to know what is in our Hearts whither we will keep his Commandments or no. By the way any one may choose whither he will keep the Commandments or not but then they must not choose unto themselves that Eternal Life which God hath Promised to the keeping of them nor yet may they choose or refuse to avoid that Eternal Death which is annexed to the Contempt Disobedience and Transgression of them God hath also Ordained an Obedience of Faith hath Permitted all things to happen alike unto all an Hour of the Wicked and the Power of Darkness Luke 22. 53. Prosperity to the Sinners Adversity to the Righteous But above all the Knowledge and Understanding that all things shall be exactly so as they are spoken of in the Scriptures this will engage and oblige People to continue in the Fear of the Lord whither they have any changes or no whither they be at ease from their Youth or empâ—â—ed from Vessel to Vessel even however it is with People in this Life and on this Earth They that know and understand all these things they will continue yet more fixedly firmly and constantly in the â—ear of the Lord and that so much the more as they see the day Approaching FINIS ERRATA Page 23. Line 36. for somirk Read Irksom
through the Dark Cloud of Afflictions and Troubles As also then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord in the various Dispensations of his Providence and in the several kinds of Trial Temtation and Exercises which he ordains or suffers to fall on us And here it is and should be that as we keep on Travelling whither the Way under our Feet be Dry and Good or Wet and Dirty through Thick and Thin as we commonly say As the Sailer still makes towards the Haven he is bound unto come Fair Weather or Foul gentle Gales or Euroclydâ—ns which signifies Tempesâ—uous Winds So here is the Faith and Patience of the Saints that the Righteous should hold on his Way and he that hath clean Hands be stronger and stronger For God and Heaven I am bent bound and resolved this is my Journeys End and here is my Desired Haven or the Haven where I would be And I hope that by his Grace and Strengthening me with Strength in my Soul which I always ask in Prayer for I am come to that Stedfastness and Purpose of Mind herein that you may sooner turn a Dromedary in his Course then turn me aside from going on still in that way towards God and the Habitation of his Holiness which he hath Chalked out in his Word and shewed me in my Mind what I speak of my self when I Declare my own Experiences I would that ye apply it to your selves also for we are Fellow-Servants and Fellow-Travellers through Good and Evil Report through Shame and Dishonour as deceivers and yet true in Afflictions in Necessâ—â—ies in Distresses through Plenty and Poverty in Sickness and Health in Prosperity and Adversity sometimes at Liberty and again through Prisons Up-hill and Down-hill and sometimes in a Plain as our Way lieâ— To have now and then a smooth Voyage and then to be tossed to and fro Even according to that Degree or Measure of Tribulation which our Heavenly Father hath Appointed and Ordained we shall pass through before we come unto and enter into his Kingdom So that whereas I before mentioned that those Troubles and Afflictions its coming on me immediately after my close walking with waiting on the Lord did several times heretofore make me abate diminish from my former Zeal and â—ervency This was my Ignorance and Infirmity then For now I perceive when I Understand things more and aright they should rather have encreased and heightned and confirmed it so much the more For hereby then Satan did get an Advantage over me but if I had so done as I now see that I should have done then I should not only have made his own Devices of none Effect but have turned and made them fall back upon himself For this is the best way to deal with an Enemy to turn his own Canon upon himself and not only to spoil the Mines but to spring those Mines upon themselves which they had lain to Blow us up or according to the Scripture Phrase herein that themselves may fall into the Pit which they had digged for others As it is written Thou hast shewed thy People hard things thou hast given us to drink the Wine of Astonishment So Jeremiah â—ad hard thoughts of God when he said Wilt thou be unto me altogether as a Liar and as Waters that fail Jer. 15. 18. So I speak it to my shame and as a warning and instruction to others I have had hard thoughts of God that whereas he had revealed himself to be good to Israel even to such as are of a clean Heart that even when I was by his Grace upon making my Heart clean then to receive Crosses and Disappointments which our Fretful and Impatient Nature calls Evils then was fulfilled But as for me my Feet were almost gone my Steps had well nigh slipt even to have turned aâ—â—de utterly from the Way of the Lord or to have fallen down and go no further therein And truly unless it had been for some forcible Considerations drawn from the near Approaches of Death and the succeeding Judgment which God put into my Mind and they did weigh down and over-rule to continue still in his Service Blessed bâ— his Name for it I believe and am afraid that I had been an utter Apostate from the Ways of God Moreover that the Heart be without Knowledge it is not Good said Solomon But from hence we may see that Exceeding Advantage and Benefit of a full and through Knowledge concerning the things of God It is all in all and the turning Point whereon doth depend the Eternal Salvation or Condemnation of Mankind For where any one is saved it is by Grace and Faith both which do include within themselves a Knowledge of the unseen things of God that they are saved And so it is on the other Hand My People are destroyed for lack of Knowledge Hos 4. 6. Which will be found true as to those Miserable Souls at the last Day who shall be Punished with Everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power 2 Thess 1. 9. For had they known more of the things of God and it was their own Fault and Negligence that they did not they had escaped and never came to that State of final Condemnation and Perdition The Consideration hereof is an Unanswerable Argument why we should do according to the Counsel and Direction of Solomon A Wise Man will hear and will increase Learning Prov. 1. 5. And for that End we should take and lay hold on all Opportunities for Hearing the Word and not be Ignorantly Confined to a dead and dull Ministry or be blindly given up to follow a Blind Guide and none else But in the Multitude of Counsellors there is Safety both in Temporal and also in Eternal Concerns This Truth and Observation I make known or rathea declare unto ye in the General that ye may just perceive of what exceeding Use and Benefit and Edification it is to know fully and throughly By both which Adverbs I difference it from that Knowledge in Part or by Halves which is but a little coming forth out of Ignorance and People should never sit down with a Knowledge in part or at halves the Nature of God's Kingdom and Dominion over Men particularly in that Branch thereof which relates to the Prosperity of the Wicked or the Afflictions of the Righteous For this hath been a mighty Stumbling Block which hath hitherto hindred many People from coming into the Way of the Lord and others from walking on and continuing therein This also hath a mighty Influence over the Minds of Men in as much as it is Sensible and Visible The Apostle Paul cautions those he writes unto That they be not soon Moved or Shaken in Mind at the Afflictions which hath befaln him knowing that thereunto we were appointed And it being so contrary unto the Natural Prudence and Wisdom of Men to undertake or espouse a broken Cause or to