discipline against Offenders that the Scriptures Warrant will be a sufficient and practical proof that they cannot bear them which are evil These Rulers are its true to be meek and gentle to all but their meekness is so to be tempered with zeal that they appear not in the least to connive at Sin far less encourage it and strengthen the hands of Sinners Then they are faithful Witnesses and Champions for the Kingdom of God when they cannot bear them which are evil That is when they labour to convince and convert Sinners and by the Key of Discipline deprive the Ungodly and Prophane of Christian Priviledges So shall their Lord and Master approve their Zeal and Reward their Labours and Fidelity Thou canst not bear them which are evil So much of the heads proposed for the clearing of the Doctrine A few words more of the promised Application and I shall conclude The liberty I have taken to enlarge already together with the short prescribed time allowed confine me to doe the less here and leave the more for you Some things I must hint at and these I shall comprize and shut up in an Address to three sorts of Men all bound to discover a Zeal for God and the Reformation of Sinners I mean Civil Magistrates Ecclesiastical Rulers and all Christians as such in their respective Places and Relations I. I make bold to address to Civil Magistrates not presuming to dictate or teach them their duty but as a Christian a Minister and one that breathes after and prays for the advancement of Reformation and Righteousness to put them in remembrance You Christian Rulers then high and low of what denomination soever know That it will be your Glory and what will add to the lustre of your Crown to deserve the Approbation of the Text that you cannot bear them which are evil I know how that c. I beseech you let the Glory of God the Necessity of Reformation the Sense of your own Duty the threatning Clouds that hang over our Land and the great danger and growing number of bold Sinners stir up your Zeal and awake you unto Righteousness You see That the Age is become so degenerate and alas under a profession of Religion and where Christianity is established by Law that the very name of Reformation as well as the thing is become suspected and hateful We seem to be ashamed and afraid of that which our Fathers gloried in Atheism and Prophaneness break in upon us like a Flood And it is to be feared that all a heavy Curse and Gods righteous Judgment upon us flows in a great measure hence That so few call for or execute Justice plead for Truth Or that Judgment is turned into Gall to speak in the Language of the Prophet Am. 6.12 and the Fruit of Righteousness into Hemlock Impiety and Prophaneness have been so long countenanced in this Land that Sinners are not only multiplied but become impudent and resolute against a Reformation So that in the way of second Causes nothing is like to restrain the general Corruption but either a sweeping Scourge with the Sword of Vengeance or the zealous Execution and right Use of the Sword of Justice What can prevent the terrrors of the Lords Wrath but that such as are called Gods and bear the Sword execute Wrath upon him that doth evil if there is no other way to reform him How singular are our helps and advantages to advance a Reformation We have excellent Laws grounded upon the law of God sufficiently plain and full against Prophaneness And now the highest Powers call for the execution of the Laws To this purpose we have had by Divine Providence of late years somany Laws and Proclamations for the suppressing of Prophaneness What remaineth then but that all you who are intrusted with the execution of the Laws approve your selves to be Ministers of God and that every Sin that falls within your Cognizance run upon the point of the Sword Methinks your zeal for God should make you spend your most angry looks on the boldest and most daring Sinners and bring such as fear not God to tremble before you his Vicegerents Ah shall the Sword of Justice rust in your hands while Sinners are hardned 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—nity Shall the best Laws prove a dead or rather a killing Letter for want of being put in Execution Shall Nurseries of Prophaneness grow up before the eyes of Christian Magistrates these also called the Reformed God forbid He that ruleth over Men must be Just ruling in the fear of God 2 Sam. 23.3 Awake then you Ministers of a jealous God and make the Sinners of our Israel ashamed nay tremble before you You have an opportunity put in your hands to doe God Service singular Means and Encouragements You have the Law on your side You have your Inferiour Officers and the Command of all the People to attend your Motions Awake then let not our Sabbaths be prophaneed any longer Let not the Name of God be blasphemed Let not the Holy Laws of the Lord and the good Constitutions of our Land be dareingly broken and trampled under Foot Let not our Taverns and Ale-houses be more frequented and full than our Churches Let not roaring Debauchees Atheists corrupters of Youth and prophane Varlets boast of Impunity Let not the Enemies of God and Godliness find Protection or Encouragement under Christian Rulers In a word let not all that is Sacred be turned into Ridicule to the Scandal and Wounding of Religion the disgrace of Government the grief of all sincere and zealous Christians the joy of Devils and Sinners the increase of Abominations and the hastning of sore Judgments upon our Land Discite Justitiam moniti Be Wise 〈…〉 O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth Serve the Lord with Fear and rejoyce with Trembling Psal 2.10 11. What shall I say Let there be an accomplishment of the happy Prophecy in our Days I will make thy Officers Peace and thy Exactors Righteousness Isa 60.17 II A few words to Ecclesiastical Rulers I mean all Ministers of the Gospel and Pastors of Christian Churches let me as a remembrancer recommend to such That they be ambitious of the Character of the Angel of the C. of Ephesus Thou canst not bear them which are evil Surely this is best done by Preaching and Living sin down None but Angels of Darkness do cherish Prophaneness or encourage the Prophane Consider Revd. dear Brethren it is not a blind Zeal or for Trifles that will credit the Ministry or glorifie God Piety Meekness Moderation and Charity not Strife Contentions Wars and Fightings become the Messengers of the Prince of Peace the meek and loving Jesus who smartly reproved the precipitant Zeal of his Disciples that in their Anger would command fire from Heaven saying ye know not what spirit ye are of Luke 9.54 55. Woe to them that spend themselves for Circumstantials and useless Ceremonies and would fire Church and State for the
as far as in them lies Such Sinners in their works deny his Being and reject his Government In their Works they deny him Tit. 1.16 They say in their Hearts There is no God Psal 14.1 They deny him Honour and Obedience tho' he is their rightful Lord. They will not have him to Reign over them nay they War against Him Now who hath any concern for Gods Glory or Kingdom but must discover his Zeal and a Holy Indignation against such Sinners What should be so dear to a Christian as the Glory of God the honour and advancement of his Kingdom Do not I hate them O Lord that hate thee And am not I grieved with them that rise up against thee Ps 139.21 The Glory of God is the end of our being It deserves the slower and strength of our Affections We are taught to give it the preference in our Devotions And we are to seek it in the first place in all our Actions It naturally follows then That we should be greatly concerned for it and consequently filled with the greatest Indignation against the invaders thereof God's Enemies as such ought to be ours also And nothing more discovers our Love to God than that we cannot bear them which are evil that is them that are ungodly and enemies to him 2. A real hatred and abhorrence of Sin The Wicked Ungodly and Prophane are hateful not as Men but as Sinners and Rebels against their Maker And what maketh them hateful unto God should make them unsufferable to all that bear his Image He that really hateth the Sin will never indulge and cherish the Sinner I will not know a wicked Person saith the Holy David Psal 101.4 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my House I will early destroy all the Wicked of the Land that I may cut off all wicked doers from the City of the Lord ver 7. and 8. ibid. Thus a gracious Soul in his respective capacity whether a private Person Magistrate or Minister cannot bear them which are evil According to his abhorrence of Sin his Indignation manifests it self against the Sinner either by a seasonable reproof a withdrawing from his Society a refusal to comply with him some testimony of dislike or bringing the Offender to Justice by shame or punishment Thus a Holy Indignation against Sinners as such discovers the cursed nature of Sin and how hateful it is to a gracious Soul And e contra a connivance at the Sinner argues some respect unto the Sin It was Jehosaphat's foul blot and blackest spot that he loved them that hated the Lord. 2 Chro. 19.2 shouldest thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord Therfeore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. 3. All lawful endeavours to reform or in case of obstinacy to restrain Sinners in their courses Who would not desire and endeavour the Reformation of Sinners if possible Under the old and severest dispensation the very Cities to be destroyed had first peace proclaimed to them If there is the least hope of Reformation by â—â—hortation Reproof or otherwise how happily are such endeavours used He that turneth a Sinner from the evil of his way saveth a Soul from Hell And to this end we should neither spare our prayers nor our most earnest endeavours every one in his place and Station But if this will not do as we regard God's Honour our own Duty the good of Sinners or the happiness of Mankind we must labour to restrain and suppress growing wickedness every one according to his place and station For no plague so spreading and dangerous as Sin No evil so threatning to the private and publick to Families Churches and Kingdoms It is a cursed and bitter root the reproach of any People an Evil attended with dreadful consequences and effects It therefore highly concerns every one to endeavour to restrain the course and spreading thereof This should be the great care and work of Masters in their Families of Ministers in the Churches of Magistrates in the Commonwealth and of all Persons in their several places And how much good might be done if all did joyn hand in hand in this Work Then should we glory not in the empty Name of the Reformed but in a happy Reformation The plague would stop and Sinners would appear as Theeves and Robbers were they on all hands pursued with the hue and cry When all in their several places set up their standard against Wickedness and prophaneness when Ministers use aright the Keys of Doctrine and Discipline and live down Sin when Christians testify against and arraign it on all occasions and Magistrates are a terrour to evil works and as Ministers of God and Divinely appointed Revengers execute Wrath upon incorrigible Sinners and evil Doers Then there may be some hope of a Reformation then may it be said of all That they are Zealous for God Valiant for the Truth and Active to restrain and stop the torrent of growing Wickedness Or as it is in the Text that they cannot bear them which are evil Who but such as delight in devastations can stand unconcerned to see a devouring Fire spread and consume all before it In such a case what hands are at work What endeavours used All bring their Buckets and offer their Service And is not the danger as great or greater when Sin breaks in upon a Land as a Flood When it runs as Lightning and kills like the Plague When it spreads as a Gangrene and eats like a Cancer In a word when Iniquity abounds and the number of Sinners is daily increased Who should not then stand in the Gap and appear for God Who should not endeavour to bind up the hands of Self-murtherers and to restrain the course of such Sinners as are not only thorns and briers in the sides of the Church but a plague unto the World Surely when Sinners turn obstinate and resolute against Reformation 't is high time for such as fear God to appear for him and manifest a Zeal for his Glory And should they not considering how good their Cause is be as active for God as others are or can be for the Devil Methinks all Christians should be ambitious of the Character of the Text Thou canst not bear them which are evil Thus a true zeal for God discovers not only a Concern for his Glory and a Hatred of Sin but stirs up to all lawful and possible Endeavours to reform or restrain Sinners in their wicked Courses So much at least is emplyed in not being able to bear them which are evil II. Consider we That such a zeal is not only commendable but the Duty of all Christians especially of Christian Rulers whether Civil or Ecclesiastical All Christians in general in their several places are bound by their allegiance to declare their Love and Loyalty to God and their hatred of his Enemies It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing Gal. 4.18 And what better thing than
testimony if no other private Methods are like to reclaim them Our Faithfulness to God and his Interest calls for no less at our Hands what Inconveniencies soever seem to attend the Performance of our Duty It argues too much either of a mean or carnal spirit to consult here with Flesh and Blood or to be swayed by Interest Custom or Example We are to do our duty and trust our God Whatsoever deserveth our Hatred and Displeasure therefore ought not to have our Connivance far less our Countenance and Encouragement A 3d. mean is Earnest Prayer to God and Humiliation for the sins of the Place and Land where we live They discover but little zeal for God's Glory and Kingdom or concern for the danger of impenitent Sinners that live securely and restrain prayer in a time of great Provocation What! a zeal for God and yet not lament and bewail his Dishonour Any zeal for or regard to an angry provoked God and yet not pray unto him Any Pity to or concern for endangered and self-destroying Sinners and yet not lift up a Petition for them How inconsistent are these things Methinks if neither the Honour of God of all others the most powerful Motive or Pity unto Sinners incite and awake us to Prayer and Humiliation in a time of great Provocation our own Danger should do it which we may see when we read that they only escape and are marked and sealed in the Day of God's Visitation that sigh and cry for all the Abominations that be done where they live Ezek. 9.4 It is possible that all our Zeal and Endeavours cannot put a stop to the strong current of Prophaneness But this calls us so much the more to Humiliation and Prayer And this we are called to and can do We can bewail that which we cannot amend We can humble and afflict our selves and wrestle with God by Prayer when there is no hope to prevail with Sinners And what can we do less than mourn over the Violation of God's holy Law and the Folly Madness and Danger of Sinners that hasten their own ruine and the Judgement of the Lard wherein they live Surely our Zeal if we have any will bring us to our Knees and if we cannot bear them which are evil yet as they are Men Charity calls us to lift up our Prayer to God for them If not for their Reformation supposing they are incorrigible yet for the averting of God's Wrath and Judgement under which the righteous also may groan and suffer with them Hitherto I have offered nothing but what I think binds all Christians in general that would manifest any zeal for God But since not only all Christians as such are bound to discover a zeal for God but Christian Rulers Civil and Ecclesiastical in a more especial Manner therefore I think I am called to touch also at the means to be used by them as such And I. As to civil Rulers or Magistrates Their Zeal for God Order and the Advancement of Reformation the great End of their Authority and Power should methinks make them Lovers of those that are good and a terrour to the evil Such in their several Places whether supreme or subordinate are God's Ministers and in a Christian Common-wealth intrusted with the Execution of the Laws of God and the Land The Law is equally a Protection and Rule to them in the way of their Duty They are God's Ordinance for good and to execute Wrath upon him that doth evil Rom. 13.1 2 3. If then they have any zeal for God any regard to Justice any sense of their own Duty or any Dislike of or Displeasure against those which are evil They must look to it that the Laws be not broken or condemned God's Laws are holy unalterable civil Constitutions grounded upon them are necessary and binding and of great Force because of their Correspondency and Agreement with the former Now what good Magistrate can suffer both to be trampled underfoot The highest Powers with the supreme Magistrate where there is any makes Laws in order to be inviolably observed and not broken at will or set at nought And subordinate Rulers are appointed for and generally intrusted with their Execution If the former be good Men themselves the Laws they make are so in like manner And if the latter are such as do their Duty then the Laws have all their Force And is not this the great End and Design of Magistracy Wicked Men fail not to shew and manifest their zeal If placed in Authority they carefully look to it that such as the Statutes of Omri were be kept that the Hands of Sinners be strengthned and so forth Woeful Experience attests this And should not Christian Rulers then and such as would be accounted good Men and a Blessing to their Country shew their zeal in seeing good Laws put in Execution and encouraging such as fear God It is their place to weild the Sword of Justice to strengthen the Hands of the righteous to discourage Sin by Authority and to bring obstinate Offenders and Transgressors to Punishment If they fail herein they defeat the End of Government they enervate the Laws strengthen the Hands of Sinners What shall I say It is by their Faithfulness and Zeal that they become publick Blessings that they gain respect with God and good Men that they credit and strengthen the Laws wherewith they are intrusted and in fine are in any probability to promote the Reformation of Sinners or hinder the spreading of Impiety and Prophaneness On the contrary their Indifferency or Partiality makes them a publick Nuisance Judgement and Curse How then doth it concern them to discover a zeal for God and by their own Example and the due Exercise of their Authority to give force unto the Laws the Execution of which they are intrusted with Thus they appear at once to be good Men and good Rulers and may by God's Blessing do much to destroy the Miseries and stop the current of Prophaneness II. As to Ecclesiastical Rulers or Ministers such are to discover their Zeal and answer the End of their Office by the right use of the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Their great Work is to use this Sword so as to reach the Consciences of Sinners Of all Men they should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haters discouragers of them which are evil Not that any outward coercive power belongs to them or that any pretended zeal can warrant them to move out of their own spiritual sphere No their Weapons should not be Carnal but Spiritual And their Zeal for God and Charity to Souls sufficiently discovers it self in the consciencious discharge of their Ministerial Office This the Apostle Paul summs up in a few words 2 Tim. 4.2 Preach the Word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine And this one rule observed with a holy life and the exercise of that