is sent out of the bosome of his Father unto men to open the Book Revel 5. 7. 9. to declare and make knowne the secret counsell and will of God concerning the great work of redemption what a new contract is drawne up between the Father and the Son what Jesus Christ hath done for man how he hath satisfied his debt which he was not able to pay and how God hath accepted of it for all those that do beleeve in him The summ of which negotiation you have John 6. 40. And this is the will of him that sent me that every one that seeth the Son i. e. beleeveth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day 2. As a King To impute and apply that great benefit of Redemption to man and to make it effectuall And to accomplish this he must be a Lyon he must be a King and that for these causes 1. To gaine and gather his Kingdome To gaine them first into the Kingdome of grace and at last to gather them into the Kingdome of glory Now to effect this he must be a Lyon a potent King for he must conquer before he can raigne yea he must make a double conquest 1. Hee must conquer his subjects he finds them all Enemies at first all Rebels it is truely sayd of all the Children of Adam This people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart Now these rebellious hearts Christ must subdue and bring into subjection making them a beleeving a loving a willing people Christ cannot gaine a Subject into his Kingdome but he must first conquer 2. He also must conquer another Lyon the Enemy-Lyon he is described by Saint Peter Epist 1. chap. 5. Vers 8. Your adversary the Devill as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour In the pawes of this Lyon are all men and women in the World by nature The Prince of the power of the ayre that evill Spirit worketh in the Children of disobedience Ephes 2. 2. The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah must conquer that roaring Lyon the Devill before hee can gather a Kingdome and raigne Quest But how doth he conquer the Devill how doth he conquer his Subjects Answ Hee conquerd the Devill as he was God by force and might by his infinite power As man and Mediator hee conquered him by his blood by the merit and efficacy of his passion He took part of our flesh and blood that through death hee might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devill And deliver them who through feare of death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 14 15. Hee spoyled Principalities and Powers hee made a shew of them openly tryumphing over them in it that is in or upon his Crosse Col. 2. 15. Faith seeth Christ upon the Crosse as sitting in a tryumphall Chariot Duo saith Origen in cruce affixi intelliguntur Christus visibiliter sponte sua ad tempus Diabolus invisibiliter invitus in perpetuum Hee conquers the rebellious hearts of his Subjects and gathers together into one Kingdome the Children of God that were scattered abroad by his voice Scepter and Sword By his voice The Lyonesse as the learned write brings forth her Whelps dead and so they continue three dayes then the other Lyon doth set out his voice and roar over them and then they revive and live Christ is the Lyon his people are his Whelps They are all still-borne Dead in trespasses and sinnes Christ lifts up his voice and roares in the Preaching of the Gospel by which he recovers the life of his people Verily verily I say unto you saith our blessed Saviour Joh. 5. 25. The houre is coming and now is when the dead shall heare the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live By his Sceptor And that is the same even the Preaching of the Gospell Psal 110. 2. The Lord shall send the Rod or the Scepter of thy strength that is the Ministry of the Gospel out of Zion and by it thou shalt rule in the middest of thine Enemies Those that were enemies by that spirituall Scepter thou shalt make them loving Subjects and a willing people vers 3. By his Sword And that 's the same still the Preaching of the Gospell This is the sharpe two-edged Sword that went out of Christs mouth Revel 1. 16. this is quick and powerfull and sharper then any two-edged Sword peircing even to the dividing asunder of soule and spirit joynts and marrow This is the two-edged Sword in the hand of the Saints which binds Heathen Kings in Chaines and Nobles in fetters of Iron That is the Gospel brings Heathen Princes and people into subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ This is that Sword of the spirit even the Word of God spoken of by Saint Paul And there you have the consummation of the conquest Yes when the spirit seconds the Word when the holy Ghost carries it home to the heart Thus the Lyon the King the Lord Jesus Christ conquers thus he calls his subjects together into one Kingdome by the Word outwardly Preached to the eare and by the spirit effectually working upon the heart moving and sweetly perswading it to obey the calling of Christ 2. Christ must be a Lyon a King to governe his subjects his Church Without Government no Society can stand when there was no King in Israel every man did what seemed good in his owne eyes and all things went to wrack Christ must be a King to give Lawes So Christ There is one Lawgiver even this Lyon and to rule so Christ he rules in the hearts of his people and governs them by his spirit They are led by the spirit of God as many as are the sons of God Judah that is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah is his Lawgiver And he doth not onely give Lawes but that which no King nor Potentate else in the World can do he puts his Law in their inward parts and writes it in their hearts Jer. 31. 33. 3. Christ must of necessity be a Lyon a King to protect and defend his Church people subjects The Lyon will stand to the defence of his young ones even to the death and having the prey in his paw the more any offer to take it from him the faster he holds it So the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah The Kingdome of Christ is ever beset with Enemies The Heathen rage the people conspire the Kings of the earth set themselves and the Rulers take Counsell together against the Lord and against his annointed against his Christ They have not onely flesh and blood but Principalities and Powers also the Rulers of the darknesse of this World and spirituall wickednesse in high places to wrestle withall And therefore without a strong Protector this kingdome would soone be dissolved and layd desolate Now the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah the Lord Jesus
Deut. 4. 8. In the Lawes of other Kingdomes in humane Lawes there is the wisdome of men but in Christs Lawes there is the wisdome of God Humane Lawes may be unjust Christs Lawes are all righteous and holy The Lawes of other Kings may be burdensome and tyrannicall Christs Yoake is ever easie All other Lawes are imperfect but Christs Law is perfect converting the Soule Other Kings they can write their Lawes in Tables and hang them up upon 〈…〉 sts and Pillars but they cannot sway the hearts of their Subjects to obedience but Christ puts his Law in their inward parts and writes it in their hearts Jer. 31. 33. Yet more In this Kingdome are the best Honours Preferments Dignities and Priviledges There are all Favourites they have ever the Kings mouth and eare They stand before him and hear him speak to them in the Gospell and by the secret whisperings of his Spirit in their Soules And he alwaies holds out the Golden Scepter to them his eare is ever open to their Prayers And is it a small thing to be Favourite to such a King In the light of the Kings Countenance is life and his favour is as the latter raine Prov. 16. 15. They are and shall be all Kings They are already Kings in a state of grace Christ hath made us Kings Revel 1. 6. And they have a better Kingdome in reversion they shall be Kings in the Kingdome of glory Feare not little Flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Come in then all you that are yet under the tyranny of the roaring Lyon follow the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah And that you may 〈…〉 o so hearken to the voice of his Heraulds he sends them abroad to invite into his Kingdome The ministers of the Gospel are his Messengers by them he sends forth the rod of his strength Psal 110. 2. Pray pray Thy Kingdome come Matth. 6. 10. You have taken the Oath of Allegeance and Supremacy already all of you have put your Seale too in your Baptisme Now take heed that you revolt not come and joyne to the Tribe of Judah The Trumpet is blown now look to it who is of the Lords side 2. Is Jesus Christ the Lyon of Judah the annointed King of his Church Then be exhorted in the next place to partake of his Annointing take you also Kingly honour be you all Kings The men of Judah yea and the women too even the whole Tribe were Lyons Behold the people shall rise up as a great Lyon and lift up himselfe as a yong Lyon he shall not lye down untill he eate of the Prey and drink the blood of the slaine Numb 23. 24. And here I shall give you a Commission to be as bold as Apame the Kings Concubine in the Apocryphall book Shee took the Crown off the Kings head and put it upon her own yet in the mean season the King gaped and gazed on her and still grew more fond Do you so take the Crown of Christ and put it on not to depose him but to communicate with him in his Kingly Office yea in all the parts of it For this Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath made us unto our God Kings and we shall reigne on the Earth as you have it in the 10. verse Do you communicate with Christ in the businesse of Vocation he gaines and gathers his Subjects by calling them in Do you so let Ministers of the Gospell in their holy Function and let every man and woman in their private Station endeavour to gain and gather Subjects out of Satans Kingdome into the Kingdome of Jesus Christ Do what thou canst to make thy Flock to make thy Children to make thy Servants to make thy Friends the Subjects of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Let the Minister do this by preaching the private person by education instruction and all by Prayer for those under their charge When thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren Luk. 22. 32. Communicate also with Christ in the work of ruling rule well in your severall charges Let the Elders rule well their Flocks Let the Householders keep good rule in their Houses and Families and in especiall manner set up Christs Government in your hearts rule your unrulely Passions and Perturbations and keep them in good order Againe Christ as a King protects his Church his Subjects He is a shield to them that trust in him Communicate with him in this part of his Kingly Office also Be every one of you according to your power and places a defence and a countenance to the true and poore people of God Magistrates by their Authority and all people by their Purses and Prayers let them be as the clefts of the Rock for Christs chased Doves to hide and shelter in And you must be Kings for War Christ had many sharp and sore Conflicts you also must fight and be ever in the field you must take up Armes against Satan against sinfull lusts that fight against the Soule You must war against your owne corrupt wills and carnall reasons yea you must fight against selfe dearest selfe If any man will come after me saith our King and Captain let him deny himselfe and take up his Crosse and follow me Matth. 16. 24. Beat down rebellious and stirring Affections Exercise judiciary power destroy your Malefactors slay mortifie your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleannesse inordinate affections evill concupisence and covetousnesse Once more Communicate with Christ in his Kingly Office in respect of his triumph and Royalty When he had conquered When he ascended up on high he led Captivity Captive and gave gifts unto men Eph. 4. 8. Araunah gave as a King Christ hath made you Kings you partake of his Annointing give gifts unto men give Almes spirituall Almes corporall Almes This is a Character of a spirituall King He hath dispersed abroad he hath given to the poor his righteousnesse endureth for ever his horn shall be exalted with honour Psal 112. 9. Thus let me perswade you to be Kings For if you partake of his Annointing in grace you shall also reigne with him in glory There are multitudes that will not strike a stroke for Christ but let the strong man go away withall But as for you my beloved be as the Tribe of Judah Lyons Kings Ephraim compasseth me about with lies and the house of Israel with deceit saith the Lord But Judah yet ruleth with God and is faithfull with the Saints Hos 11. 12. 3. Jesus Christ is the Lyon because King and Governour of his Church So all other Kings and Magistrates they are Lyons Hieroglyphically represented by that generous and magnanimous Creature Are they Lyons then be exhorted to prostrate to them also The Prince of the Tribe of Judah is a Lyon then his Fathers Children shall bow down before him Gen. 49. 8. Let every Soule be subject to the
28. 1. 6. There be three things which go well yea foure which are comely in going The Lyon is the first and chiefest of them The Lyon hath a stately gate majesticall orderly and resolute he turnes not aside his head for the greatest that he meets not for the vast Elephant he will dye before he will degenerat into a disorderly pace And herein give me leave to exhort you to walke as the Lyon walkes How is that First in regard of your whole Conversation let your going be stately not with proud phantasticall affectation but humbly an humble gate is a stately gate soberly holily with all Gravity walk as the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah be you holy as he is holy Only saith Saint Paul Let your Conversation be such as becometh the Gospel of Christ Take heed that you do no uncomely thing that you set not a step awry Have a sutable carriage and deportment both to the profession of Christianity and also to your place of Eminency Will it become a chiefe Magistrate to walke with vaine Persons to walke to scandalous houses to walke on in any sinne When one profer'd unto Scipio a beautifull Harlot he said to him Vellem si non essem Imperator were I not a Governour I would Let all that are before me this day take forth this Lesson let your Conversation be such as becomes the Gospell of Christ move in a higher Sphere then the men of the World Let your Conversation be in Heaven Walk like Angels They went every one strait forward whether the Spirit was to go they went Remember you are Kings Christ hath made us so Then let your going be King-like A King may be known by his Majesticall gate and deportment What manner of men were they said Gideon to Zebah and Zalmunna whom yee slew at Tabor And they answered as thou art so were they each one resembled the Children of a King Finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think of these things And as I call upon you to walk as the Lyon stately gravely and holily in your whole course of life So let me exhort you without offence more particularly to walk as Lyons even in regard of outward state and pomp The Lyon is the King of Beasts and is of a comely and stately presence adorned with shaggy locks bushy haire a golden and bright shining Mane which crownes his head and as Robes do cloath his neck back shoulders and legs and truely the Lyon would be a great deale more contemptible if he were barbe'rd and shaven I say be Lyons Keep your haire and skin maintain your power and state and the Ensignes of your Authority King Agrippa came to the Judgment Seat with great Pomp. And there is good use of these trappings to the common people Ad populum phaleras These procure some reverence awe and terrour in the people And I do the rather insist upon this because I see there is an Anabaptisticall Enthusiasticall levelling Generation start up who attempt very subtlely Leonem radere to barb and shave the Lyon to overthrow all Magistracy And they do not go about directly but slily and with wiles They would perswade you at first only to lay aside your Robes and your Solemnities as either being superstitious or else not agreeable to the simplicity of the Gospell Have you not lately been preached out of your Scarlet Gownes and have you not very obediently left them off many times Do they not inveigh against all manner of Solemnity upon this very day of Inauguration well what will the end be If they can but once shave off the Lyons majestick haire and flay of his skin it wil be a poor contemptible Carkass that is left I dare say though outward state and Pomp be but a Complement yet take that quite away and the very Magistracy will soone follow Maintain your State and Power It is observable in the Lyon that when he walkes upon stony rocky and rough places that he contracts and pulls up his Tallons to preserve them for if they should be broken he could never after seize upon his Prey Your Power and the Ensignes of your Authority are your Tallons be carefull to preserve them else evill doers will contemne you and you will never be able to give them so much as a scratch 7. Know where your strength lyeth The Lyons strength is in his head and in his breast chiefly And there lyeth your strength a good head and a good heart make a good Magistrate Labour therefore for a good head for knowledge and a good understanding Hearken to the word of the Lord This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayst observe to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then shalt thou have good successe And above all labour to have a good heart an honest heart a sanctified heart an obedient heart Such a heart as David had even an heart according to Gods own heart Which that you may attain unto do as Solomon did pray pray Go unto the Lord and say And now oh Lord my God I thy Servant am in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen a great people Give therefore thy Servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad For who is able to judge this thy so great a people 1 Kin. 3. 8. 9. Beare away with you these few words of Exhortation and that you may the better remember them I shall present all before your eies in a little Embleme I am Gods Herauld and I wil give you a Coat of Armes an Escoucheon which if you will own you will shew your selfe a generous Lyon You shall beare not Or or argent No no you must not be carried away with Silver or Gold or such earthly and transitory things but you shall beare Azure blew caelestiall Have your Conversation in Heaven Let your charge be a Lyon Now as for the posture of your Lyon I have spent some serious thoughts It must not be a Lyon dormant I beseech you do not sleep neither at the Church nor on the Bench. It were a shame to have it either crouchant or fugient Never yet was seen such a Coat as a Lyon current To flee is a reproach do not flee away do not turn your back on Gods truth on Gods cause and Gods people and all for cowardly feare stand to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah to the last drop of blood Neither should the Lyon be over rampant Rampant sheweth his gesture in seizing on the Prey The Prey that a Magistrate pursueth are evill doers Pursue this Prey be rampant but