blockish as men hewne out of hard okes reioyce in such an open and glorious face of Iesus Christ Yea with the Prophet account it our Blessednesse to dwel in the Lords house where we may euer praise him because hereby wee come nearest vnto the life of iust and perfect men in heauen to the which while wee frame our selues afore-hand wee haue entred into some degree of their blessednesse as also of our owne Thus farre wee hetherto discouered those beautyes of the house of God both in respect of Persons present and holy thinges performed which if men could see with bodily eyes as they cannot bee perceiued but by such as haue cleared eies they would excite admirable loue and affection towardes them Now we are to intreat of the priuiledges and benefits which Gods people reape by frequenting the same and the rather that such as perhaps little regard the glory of God shining in his ordinances brighter then the Sunne in his strength might yet for their owne aduantage and profitte bee perswaded with diligence and reuerence in this his house to seeke the face of the LORD Now although the priuiledges be as manyfold in number as excellent in their quallity yet I will content my selfe to note foure of them and these foure rather then any other because I see them to bee such as moued in the Prophet Dauid aboue all other these holy and ardent desires as in euery of them will plainely appeare First the benefit of light and instruction The first work that the Lord doth in these little worlds as once in the great is to seperate light and darknes in such as are in Christ created againe vnto good workes For which purpose the Lord him-selfe by his spirit becommeth the Schoolmaister of his people teaching them to know him in himselfe in his Christ to beleeue to worke and walke Heere in his house setting a coppy to all maisters of familyes what to doe in their houses hee openeth his treasures of wisdome and teacheth no triuiall matters But first for their necessitie matters of life and death Second for their dignitie such misteries as flesh and blood can neuer attayne vnto partly concerning God as the doctrine of the Trinity Partly concerning Christ as of his incarnation conception vnion of his natures and partly concerning our selues As our resurrection life eternall all which are matters of faith Third for their vse such as perswade the truth preserue frō error raize such as are faine strengthen those that stand comfort the afflicted pacifie the conscience confirme the certaine hope of life eternall and deliuer the deeds of it into our hands indeed the benefit of our redemption and whole saluation by Christ were little worth without these holy meanes whereby it is reuealed and applyed vnto vs. This is that benefit which our Prophet expresseth in the beginning of the verse following For the LORD GOD is the Sunne That is look what the Sunne is to the World that is the LORD GOD to his Church the Sunne of the World is not so necessary to lighten the day as this Sunne of the Church to lighten the darkenesse and dungeon of the soules of men without w c seeing all our heauenly lght is from it our estate is far more vncomfortable then that of the Egiptians in their three daies darkenesse for here no man can all his dayes stirre out of the place where his naturall corruption hath sette him And where shines this Sun but in the church this is the Goshen where this light is In the ministry especially it displayeth the beames of it Secondly necessary prouision both for sustenance and safety of soule and body First for the susteining of the soule heere is milke and stronger meat here wee haue the Lord pouring out all his goodnesse Here the great King prepareth a great supper killeth his fatlings prepareth his milke and wine spreadeth his table setteth on it Iesus Christ the bread and water of life whose flesh is meat indeed whose blood is drinke indeed Here he by his ministers inuiteth and intreateth men to y e banquet here he filleth the hungry and thirsty soule with good things worketh new strēgth of life and grace as reioycing in God peace of good conscience ioy in the holy Ghost watchfulnesse against sinne comfort in tribulation quicknesse and strength in good duties boldnesse in good causes and a life led and finished in faith and obedience Here the Lord clotheth the naked soule and putteth on it the Lord Iesus Christ whose righteousnesse becommeth the costly and comely rayment of it Heere hee inricheth the poore soule with treasures of grace and godlynesse Heere by the fire of his spirit hee warmeth and reuiueth the staruen soule Here is the tree of life for the sicke soule the leaues whereof serue to cure the nations In a word Christ offered and receiued in the Ministry is food and Phisicke cloth and warmth wealth and health life and length of daies yea all in all vnto the soule of all his beleeuing ones And 2. for bodily food and rayment with other necessaries for the life present although those who ar without y e church inioy them yet they haue them not in that speciall blessing and comfort as the members of the church who 1. haue them by vertue of that special promise First seeke the Kingdome of God and other things shal be cast on you 2. hold them by a right and title in Christ and 3. are taught how to imploy them to the glory of the giuer all which make these blessinges good to them as they are in them-selues Secondly for perfection and safety 1. Spiritual here is a shadow sweete refuge against the whole wrath of God appeased by Christ here we see sin subdued death vanquished righteousnes purchased great deliuerance wrought for the soules of beleeuers here we haue strength in temptation and victory ouer our selues for here is Gods grace reueled which is sufficient for vs. Now this saluation of God is not elswher to be heard off but in the tidings which we bring nor reuealed vnto any but the true members of the church In Mount Sion in Ierusalem shall be deliuerance As for temporal perfection whereas when men are cast out of the sight of God as vnbeleeuers who are without the pale of Gods protectiō they ly opē vnto the sword famine captiuity to the dogs to teare to the foules of heauen the beasts of the field to deuour so on the contrary the neerer God the surer of safety for iudgements flye farre frō God Hence is it that to the members of the church safety is promised vnder the shadow of the winges of the almighty especially while they are in the performāce of publick duties before the Lord and it is worthy our obseruing that the Lord in making that law of the three feastes wherein all the men three times euery yeare must repaire before the Lord
time and raine yea the first and latter raine or can wee not liue vnlesse wee haue meate I say no No more canst thou bee a Christian vnlesse thou take the ordinary meanes appointed by GOD and vnlesse thou subiect thy selfe to that pollicy and order which God hath set in his Church Wouldest thou goe for a good subiect and yet not submit thy selfe to any of the Kings lawes God hath set vs a publicke ministerie in his Church and hath appointed Pastors teachers for thy gathering if thou belongest to life and is it meet that any priuate exercise should crosse so publicke ordinances No the wisdome of GOD admitteth no such inconuenience in making his lawes and deliuering his orders vnto his Church Ob. But though it cannot bee denied but it is some-times good to goe heare a Sermon yet what neede so much preaching what would men haue vs Saints on earth our fore-fathers who wee hope are well and wish our selues no better neuer were troubled with Sermons and our selues haue liued some thirtie fortie fiftie or sixtie yeares in good case and credit and yet were neuer so forward to run to Sermons wee hope to GOD wee can learne to loue God aboue all and our neighbour as our selues and pray to God and carry good hearts to God-ward without all this a doe Answ. Can I beleeue any man that saith he seeth when I see him shut his eyes can I thinke that a man hath any true knowledge of God who desireth not to growe in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord IESVS CHRIST How can I beleeue that that man is in earnest or if hee bee that hee is in his wittes that shall thus plead against his life I hope I haue eaten meate ynough heretofore and got strength ynough and now I need no more and therefore I will neuer eate more nor drinke more while I liue if a frantick man should come to such conclusions any man might say well thou shalt then liue but a while Dost thou not see this holy Prophet who was aduanced both in knowledg and holynes aboue the most liuing and dwelt as an Angell in the World yet did not he acknowledge himselfe greatly to stand in need of stirring vp by these meanes giuen of God for that end And yet thou a man of little or no faith a nouice and pettie in the schoole of Christ if yet y u euer entredst into it art so ful and complete as thou canst or needest go no further As for thy fore-fathers they had not the meanes as thou hast and if any of them perished without them yet their stripes are fewer then thine shall bee who contemnest them If they had had y e meanes offred it is likely they would haue beene more fruitfull in them or If not it had not bene for their case no more then thine to haue dispised them And lamentable it is to see how men suffer satan to ouer-reach them in a matter of such moment as is their freehold in heauen If any man had house land or legacy befalling him would he reason thus Why I care not for it I haue liued now 40. or 50. yeares well ynough in good credit without it I am too old now to change my estate although for y e better neuer man made such a foolish reason yet such fooles are men that vppon this ground they stand against their greatest spiritual and eternall good Wheras if they had the wisdome of men in them they should rather thus conclud haue I al this while liued without knowledge of God faith in Christ consciēce of my waies oh it is high time now to awake out of sleepe And to such as can easily learn to loue God aboue all and the neighbour as themselues it is not a thing so soon lerned as they pretend Is euery man a good mason or carpenter that can say I know as much as the best workeman can teach or tell me to build an house is but to lay the foundation and lay on the roof or is he therfore a good husbandman y t can say I know as much as the best husbandman can teach me for what is husbandry else but to sow and to reape But heere a meane conceit will reply and say yea but there are very many thinges required before a man can do either of these two workes which if you know not you can neuer bee commendable neither in the one nor the other So I say a number of thinges go before the loue of God and the neighbor as faith repentance prayer knowledge of Gods will and word knowledge of Christ in whome our workes must finde acceptance more these duties of loue must bee expressed in infinite actions through the whole life all which if a man bee not particularly instructed in his loue of God and his neighbor is but in word and tongue but there is noe deed nor truth in either And for their prayer which the hope they can acceptably performe the truth is let them pray and fast to it so long as they turne their eares from hearing the law such prayers are not only reiected but abhominable As acceptable as the feruent prayers of those deuout women that would haue stoned Paul And lastly wheras their hearts ar so good to God-ward in that also y e spirit of God giueth them the lye who affirmeth that without knowledge the minde is not good Ob But if I had an Angell to teach me or some more excellent and powerfull meanes then this of hearing a weak and fraile man then I would heare beleeue and obey Ans This indeed is an old subtiltie of the diuell by which hee hath in all ages mightely hindered the worke of the word in the heartes of vnbeleeuers The prophets them-selues seemed in the eyes of the people too small to raize vppe the tribes of lacob and to restore the desolations of Israel And the rich mans brethren would rather bee taught by one from the dead then by Moyses and the Prophets And therefore seeing this deceipt secretly stealeth vppon many a man and is not so euidently discouered as it profitably may bee I will indeuor the more fully to manifest both the folly and falshood of it And first I say this is a foolish conceit of restlesse spirits who yet take vppon them to bee wiser then God himselfe who howsoeuer the word might seeme to carry much more authority in the mouth of an Angell then of an ordinary Minister who is but a weake man yet herein bewraied his infinite 1. mercy 2. loue 3. wisdom in establishing this holy ordinance no other perpetually to continue in his church vnto the end of the world His mercy shineth out in this that knowing our infirmity and wherof we are made it pleaseth him to condiscend vnto it Hee might by terrible voyces out of lightnings thunders and earthquakes such as would breake the rocks them-selues before him force our
GOD is meant all one thing And although by the house of God is meant some-time the Church triumphant Iohn 14. 2. In my fathers house are many mansions that is in heauen where the Saints enioy the presence of GOD and some-times the Church Militant 1. Tim. 3. 15. That thou mayest know how to behaue thy selfe in the house of God which is the Church of the liuing God Yet here is it taken in neither of those sences but more specially signifieth such a part of the Church militant as where Gods people haue obtained liberty and freedome to worship God purely ioyning together in the confession of their sinnes and of their faith in hearing the worde receiuing the Sacraments publicke prayers c. Thus Salomon calleth the Temple the house of GOD almost twentie times in 1. Kings 8. Thus Dauid here calleth the tabernacle first the Courts of God alluding to the stately courts of Kings in which were sundry courts and among them one for the people to assemble into seperate from the Sanctuarie and secondly the house of God First because herein the Lord had promised to dwell among his people euen as a man dwells in his house continually For which cause the Arke a signe of his presence was set in the Sanctuarie which the Lord calleth by his owne name Ioshua 4 vers 13. Fortie thousand went before the Lord to battle against Iericho that is before the Arke of the Lord. 2. because hee especially reueiled himselfe here and gaue speciall testimony of his presence vnto such as purely sought him in y e excercises of his worship For where can a man be either sooner or surelier found then at his owne house hence was the place of Gods worship called the face of God which wee are commanded to seeke from which Caine was cast out Not that in such places were any false vizors or formes whereby God might bee remembred but because his pure worship praescribed by himselfe and accordingly by his children performed is that ordinance in which his face is seene glorious and not out of it In this Court of God in this house of God Dauid wished hee might alwayes dwell and that neither 1. vnaduisedly as Peter in Christs transfiguration Maister it is good being here let vs make three tabernacles but hee wist not what he said Neither 2. formally or for fashion but most affectionately yea so ardently that the very vehemencie of his desire conflicting with deniall of it brought leannesse into his flesh drynesse into his bones and consumption into his parts for so much the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the second verse implyeth that he was euen wasted with the sighing groning out these most inward desires of his soule nor yet 3. doth he propoūd his wish in simple forme of speach for that would not serue him to expresse more then ordinary affectiō but as one most superlatiuely affecting aboue all other things this one he instituteth a double comparison The former is drawne from the consideration of the time One day spent in these Courts of GOD is better then a thousand elsewhere as though he had said It were no great difficulty for me being a King and the head of all Israell to passe the whole terme of my life in the Pallaces of the mighty and in aboundance of earthly pleasure If I could with the most of the world account these the matters of highest honor and truest happinesse But might I obtaine one day that is neuer so little a time of the daies of my pilgrimage within thy Courts tabernacle where with the rest of thy people I might ioyne in y e pure worship of thy name I would account my selfe more honorable happy then to spend thousands of dayes in the company of the prophane although neuer so great The latter comparison is drawne from consideration of the estate condition of men of whom some are in eminent place and dignity some in meaner and baser degree Dauid although he had good experience of both yet with all his soule hee would make exchange of all his greatnesse glory with a meane and contemptible outward estate so be hee might enioy God in his ordinance with it And therefore although he was a king yet all that greatnesse did not so take vp his heart neither lift it vp but that he could be contēted nay desirous to be a doore-keeper in the house of God rather then to dwell in the tabernacles of wickednesse resoluing that he would rather hold the meanest roome in the tabernacle then without it to possesse the highest place of the earth for where Gods tabernacle is not there can be nothing but tabernacles of wickednesse It may be true here which some lerned obserue that Dauid in mention of a doore-keeper in Gods house had respect vnto the Chorits to whose custody this psalm was comitted for their incouragemēt against the contempt of lewd men but whether he had or no their office being to keepe the doores of the tabernacle the truth is he y t had preferred the very sparrows and swallows aboue himselfe in this regard that they might resort to the tabernacle make their nests there did much more account the Chorites far more happie then himselfe because they by their office were tied to be euer day night in their courses about the tabernacle w c priuiledge himselfe in this his flight whether before Saul or Absolon could not enioy Thus the Prophet enforceth his request and petition vnto God that therefore he would please to vouchsafe him a comfortable returne vnto the holy exercises of religion that he might pertake in the publick duties thereof with his people because hee accounteth this blessing the greatest happines vpō earth yea next to heauen it selfe although 1. neuer so little a while 2. in neuer so meane a condition So much of the meaning the instructions follow It is a note of a good heart to account the wante of the word and ministery the greatest want and heuiest burthen of al other Dauid for such affections was called a man after Gods owne hart so earnest and so frequēt they were with him in Psal. 27. 4. he was in many wants was driuen from house and home yea destitute of all earthly comforts yet he felt none of thē in comparrison neither wished the supply of any of them But one thing he wanted which he desired of the Lord euen that hee might dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of his life to behold the beauty of the Lord to visit his temple And this was not so peculiar vnto this man of God but that it is cōmon also with other y e Saints of God Ieremy bewailing y e estate of the Iewes in captiuity beginneth his lamentatiō there where was greatest matter of mourning The waies of Sion lament because no man commeth to the solemne feastes all her gates are desolate her priests sigh Infinite
vnderstood of the vniuersall and generall calling and concurse of the Gentiles vnto the Church who should come with such celerity and swiftnesse as if a cloud were with violence of windes carried from one side and region of heauen to the other and in such flockes and multitudes as if a whole flight of piegeons driuen either by tempest or by an Eagle or some other birde of prev should scoure vnto their columbarie and rush into the windowes yet this propertie is so peculiar vnto persons once called and conuerted as by which the holie Ghost pleaseth to expresse them rather then by any other title that they are such as flocke to the windowes of the Church by which the Lord conueyeth to his people his light of instruction of consolation of grace of glory So else-where the scriptures note them to bee such as seeke the Lord in his ordinances such as seeke the face of the Lord such as call one another to the house of the Lord and such as cheerfully and couragiously march on and will not giue out vntill they meete the Lord in Sion Obs. If it be here obiected that these are but a few in comparison of the multitude which resort vnto the house of God who belong no otherwise vnto him then reteiners vnto their Lords or maisters they weare his cloath and now and then giue some formall attendance but are no houshold seruants An. I answer That true it is that the best part for the most part is the least part if wee consider the truth of the thing but yet Christian loue bindeth vs to iudge the best of all that ioyne with vs euen in the outward seruice of God for wee cannot enter into their hearts but must leaue them to stand or fall to their owne Lord and forbeare to iudge them before the time Secondly wee must notwithstanding the multitude of prophane hypocriticall persons in the congregation frame our iudgements vnto Gods who esteemeth the assemblies frō the better part and not from the greater he knew well that many moe who were but Iewes without and in the letter resorted vnto the tabernacle thē those who were Iewes within yet it still retained the titles of Gods house Gods courts Thirdly It is a glorious thing to be admitted euen to the outward profession of religion notwithstanding all are not of the Church that are in it In which regard Ioshua calleth all Israell the Lords possession euen because his tabernacle dwelt amongst them And thus was it prophecied by Balaam himselfe that Israell should dwell alone and should not bee numbred among the nations for Israell was a people of a pure language In all which the nation of the Iewes were aduanced aboue all other people because they were distinct and seperated from all other both in their religion lawes rites and condition of life all of them appointed and established by God himselfe How much more beautiful then and glorious are the cōgregations of Gods people in regard of such who are truly the Lords holy ones allied vnto Christ Saints by calling and begin to lead euen an heauenly life vpon earth What is it that maketh the Court more louely and glorious then all the rest of the pallaces of the land besides It is not so much the stately building or other braueries but the presence of the King Queene Prince Lords Ladies and other their attendants answerably where the exercises of religion are established are beauties no whit inferiour but farre passing the former Salomon describing the glorious condition of the church compareth it to the Courts of Kings and Monarches of the earth but infinitely aduanceth it aboue them all euen in this consideration There are threescore Queenes and fourescore Concubines and Damsells without number As though hee had said If in any Court of the world insteed of one Queene for ordinarily there are no moe there were three-score and all attendance proportionall though this were such a glorious and beautifull a sight as neuer man saw yet were it not comparable to the beauty of the Church euery true member of which is a King ouer his lusts and heire to the crowne of heauen True it is that this beautie of the Saints which beautifieth the assemblies is partly blemished and stained and partlie hidde and couered The former by many prophane Esaus that thrust themselues into the profession who a while seeme to bee liuing stones but after appeare but stubble laid vpon the foundation These are spots in our meetings who so farre as in them lie make the Church resemble Nebuchadnezers image whose head was of gold but the belly and feete of Iron and clay which will not bee tempered together but fall a sunder The latter partly because this Kings daughter is glorious but within her comlinesse is like the Curteines of the tabernacle which outwardly were of courser stuffe but within costly for the matter and curious for the exquisite workmanshippe and like to the beauty of Christ him-selfe in whom men sawe neither forme nor beautie partly because their infirmities cloude their beautie and darken them in mens eyes when yet they remaine most deare vnto God and partly because the sunne of affliction and persecution looketh much and often vpon them which maketh them seeme blacker then they are and thus Christ him-selfe was despised because men iudged him as plagued and smitten of God Isa. 53. 4 and Iob counted an hypocrite of his friends No meruaile then it is that such eyes as are not annointed with the eye-salue cannot prie into this inward and secret obiect no meruaile if eyes thus accustomed to false glasses be distempered no wonder if eyes still gazing vpon such clouds bee held from seeing the hidden glory of the Saints no otherwise then Elishaes seruant was who could not see the glorie which shone rounde about him But such as are the Lords must herein expresse the vertue and image of their heauenly father who delighteth in his people as in his portion whom hee accounteth beautifull as the Lilly and sweete as the Rose Euen so all our delight should bee in the Saints which excell in vertue let them be by infirmities by afflictions blacke yet in our eye they must bee comely the shining graces of God in them ought as by strong cordes to draw our affections vnto them and if in our priuate course we ought to edifie our selues by this by our conuersing with them partake of their graces and encrease or stir vp our owne much more should we with all cheerefulnesse partake with them in the publicke worship of God by whose presence behauiour and praiers our ioy is more full and our seruice more acceptable Especially seeing this whole Psalme sheweth how our Prophet from this consideration did not a little prouoke his heart and best affections vnto the assemblies Now to end this point seeing wee are taught that here is the Court of the King of glorie the holy God sitteth here in the
aboundantly aboue all that wee haue spoken or can thinke and though all thy seruice is but dutie and farre vnder that yet the LORD will not take thy labour for naught Hee challengeth the seruants in his Temple whether euer any of them did so much as open the doores or kindle a fire for sacrifice freely and without wages no hee allowed them liberallye for such vnder-seruices How then may wee thinke will hee requite such as are continually about him in his eye and still behold his face in the presence-Chamber of his Church The latter sorte which is also the last of which wee propounded to speake are timerous and fearefull Christians who thinke it better sleeping in a sound skinne then in a sound conscience and because this diligent frequenting of the Church which we call them vnto is not without some reproche among the prophane and wicked of the world they are lothe to pull their warme hands out of their bosome to sette to this Ploughe They will not in such a way as men coūt haeresie or Praecisenes serue the God of their fathers they will keepe an euen course and a good report while they haue it and Sermon-gadders and Sermon-mongers they will not bee counted Ans. Weerevnto I answer that as it is not amisse to cast our costes aforehand yet must wee so lay our counters as that we desist not from building vppon our foundation in casting these costes wee cannot say that this course is exempted from reproch Nay seeing Satans mallice is no whit abated neither in him-selfe nor in his instruments wee affirme that there cannot a childe so soone be borne into the Church but the Dragon standeth before the woman to bee deliuered to deuoure her childe so soone as euer it is brought forth and if he cannot do that he casteth out of his mouth water like a flood that she might bee carryed away of the flood But yet the comfort is they are the rebukes of of Christ both because they are vttered against him hee accounteth them as against himself he helpeth his seruants to beare them becommeth a porter putting vnder his shoulder as also disburdeneth no lesse displeasure against thē then if they were done against his own person And this is rather a matter of reioycing to partake of Christs sufferings yea it is a peece of the blessednesse of Christians to suffer for well doing and to bee railed vppon for Christes sake And therefore a Christian must with Moyses esteeme these rebukes of Christ his greatest riches although hee hadde the treasures of a Kingdome before him else will hee neuer bee able to hold out vnto the end of his saluation Neuer therefore professe the name of Christ into which thou art baptized if thou beest ashamed of it before men neuer professe loue to Christ any longer if thou canst not indure a word for his sake neuer professe so fast to cleaue vnto him that thou wilt rather die with him then deny him if thou beest affraid of euery damosels speach putte on humility of heart that thou maist bee contented with abasement for his sake that if any Michal shall mocke thee in thy reioycing before the Lord thou maist resolue that thou wilt yet bee more vilde indure more lashes of the tongue and more forrowes then soe if GOD call thee vnto it rather then misse of such comfortes and matter of true ioy as before the Lord thou maist meete withall And pray for courage and resolution to hold thee on vndaunted in thy godly course And seeing thou maist bee bolde so long as thou haste a good cause and a good conscience putte on the spirit of that worthy Nehemiah When hee had a prophecy though a false one that if hee did not take the Temple for his sanctuary that night the enemies would come and slay him his answer was shoulde such a man as I flee who is hee that beeing as I am would goe into the Temple to liue I will not goe in So should such a man as I who professe the Ghospel who haue giuen my name to Christ who knowe the Commaundement of GOD and that this is the beaten way to heauen troden by all such seete as euer walked in faith and obedience should such a one as I forsake the assemblyes of Gods people And that for the blasts of such as are of satans sinogogue If it stood vppon my whole estate my liberty and losse of life it selfe I would not doe it I know whatsoeuer men accoumpt of mee whose corrupt iudgements would condemn euen the innocency of Christ him-selfe if hee liued againe vpon the earth if hee should bee dilligent at Sermons yet seeing y e Lord hath honoured mee so highly as to become one of his houshold and seeing his word doth iustifie my waies my dilligence in his house I am at a poynt I care not what man can say I feare nothing hee can doe against me I haue a soule to saue I must looke to that 3. Vse If our hearts delight be in these assemblies then wee cannot but breake out into the praise of God where euer we see these ordinances established we cannot but reioyce when others inioy them with vs as beeing the meanes by which men are redeemed vnto God and made Kinges and Priestes vnto him If Dauid were aliue againe he would lead vs ioifully to Church Of whom we neuer read that he danced but before the Arke The Communion of Saints cannot but cause and raize our hearty reioycing for the greatest good which can befall the Church Now what is y t greatest blessednesse that God him-selfe can either promise or performe to the sonnes of men liuing in earth surely euen this to set his tabernacle amongst men to dwell with them become their God This is the knitting vppe of all his mercies But what speake I of the Saints vpon earth seeing the Saints in heauen make it the matter of their heauenly songes that out of all kindreds and tongues and people and nations men are redeemed vnto God Dost thou see the desolate haue children as well as the marryed wife Dost thou see the truth of the church inlarged seest thou y e coūtries of hir habitatiō spred out Perceiuest y u the increase of her on the right hand and on the left Examine here whether thy heart breaketh forth into holy reioycings in that the barres are put into the rings of the Arke whereby the glory of the Lord after a sort walketh amongst his people in that heauen is filling apace by the accomplishing of y t number of the elect in y t the comming of lesus Christ hastneth for the final redemption of his body Til thou findest this y u hast not found that affectiō of the Prophet heere commended vnto thee 2. The truth of this affection will make vs call others to haue their parts with vs in these priuiledges The Prophet Dauid though he
was a King yet became such an humble companion of all them that feared the Lord that hee thought it no disgrace to bee called by his people to y e Tabernacle Some great Kings would haue thought it no great pollicy to haue giuen answer to such popular motions or if hee had seene his people go it were ynough as for himselfe he might haue greater matters in hand But oh how doth religion beate downe high conceits And maketh euen Kings take the Kingdome of God like little children Dauid disdained not but reioiced when they said to him Come let vs go to the house of the Lord. He lost no honor no it was his truest honor in the eies of God and hearts of his people y t he gaue them contentmēt and incouragement in such an honorable motion as y t was Faith in the heart will not so retire it selfe but it will bee kindling calling on others whence it is that we read in so many places of the Prophers y t when people are conuerted to the faith these voices should be soūded from thē Up let vs go pray before the Lord seek the Lord of hoasts I wil go also And vp let vs go to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob he wil teach vs his waies and wee wil walk in his paths but especially it forceth vs to bring our own families carefully to y e place of worship as those for whom we must bee more countable it bringeth vs to y t holy resolution of Ioshua that although none wil ioin with vs in such waies let them at their perill do as seemeth them good our selues and our housholds wil serue the Lord. Vse 4. If our chief delight be in the assemblies of Gods people then wee cannot but prefer a meane outward estate with the fruition of the exercises of religion before a wealthy and glorious conditiō in the want of them as our Prophet here preferred the meanest office euen of doore-keepers who were to be first last in y e tabernacle before a glorious and easie life in the Pallaces of the mighty in which hee should bee deteyned from the places of Gods worship Euen so whosoeuer would carry such an heart as Dauid who was a man according vnto the Lords owne heart must esteeme of a poore life vnder a powerfull Ministry more happy and comfortable then a rich condition in places of ignorance which want the meanes of their spiritual consolation Moyses was of this minde he would rather suffer aduersity want reproch with the people of GOD then inioy the treasures of Egypt by forsaking them It was also alwaies a mark of y e people of God to follow him into the places of his true worshippe where hee went before If in Shiloh if in Ierusalem thither do all the Tribes repaire euen such as set their face to seeke the Lord. But how do men proclaime that this reioycing neuer entred into their hearts who with Lot chuse Sodom before Canaan and delight rather in the Mountains of Samaria then in Sion hil which indeed is the fruitfull part of the earth Some choose habitations for friends ayre waters woods walkes fruitfulnesse and some other speciall commodities and hence commend them and there seate themselues and set downe their staffe although Gods habitation be not there the Ministrie is counted as an hang-by if that bee there they count it neuer the better if it be absent it is neuer a whit the worse they care but a little too liue in the common ayre of Gods people the familiaritie of Gods friends the pleasures of Gods house the sweete fruites of the spirit of God are not enquired after nor tasted Others retaine to atheists scorners papists swearers and if Peter can warme himselfe still by Caiphas fire hee can sweare and forsweare as they doe They neuer aske themselues that question which the Lord asked Eliah What doost thou here Eliah they say not what doe I here in this caue this is not a place where I should bee to liue where the Diuell dwelleth or where God dwelleth not they heare not the Lords voyce speaking to them as vnto Eliah Vp get thee to Sarepta I haue appointed there one to feed thee They are well content to be fed by Rauens still But here is a fearefull brand vpon such who are contented to make exchange of heauen for earth and haue resolued that they will be gainers in the world though it bee to the losse of their soules Whosoeuer therfore thou art y t hast any care of thy soule neuer liue if it be possible vnder an idoll but where the worde is setled and the ministery duly discharged Buy the truth whatsoeuer it cost yea with the losse of many outward things be a meanes to thy abilitie to procure a standing Ministry to thy selfe thine what comfort couldst thou haue to liue and dwell in a wildernesse among wild beasts without men or other comforts in such a barren soile as no paines can ouer-come the inuincible stifnesse of the ground and yet in such a place were it more comfortable for a godly heart to liue then amongst a wicked people wanting meanes of grace and instruction And if thou wouldst dwell in the loueliest part of the earth choose such a place as which the Lord hath chosen to manifest his presence in and wherein hee hath set his tabernacle The tribe of Beniamin was of all the tribes the beloued of the Lord as Beniamin himselfe was the dearest to his father But wherein consisted this louelinesse in this that the Lord should dwell betweene his shoulders In which Metaphor the whole possession of Beniamin is compared to a body and the metropolitane which was Ierusalem to the head set betweene two shoulders in which the Lord delighted to dwell If any place therefore in earth should draw our affections aboue others it is that in which the Lord in his ordinances draweth nearest vnto vs and if our delights bee in the places where the Lord delighteth not to shew the presence of his grace our affections come short of our example here commended vnto vs. The face of God shining in his ordinance must be our Naomi to which we must say Where thou goest I will go and where thou dwellest I will dwell FINIS Ephe. 5. 15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ruth 1 20 Cant. 2. 1 Verse 3. Vers. 4. 5. Vers. 7. 8. The meaning Exo. 29. 45 Psal. 27 8. Gen 4. 14 Luk. 9. 33. 1. Chr. 9. 17 cap. 26. 1 Doctr. 1. The want of the word most lamentable of al wants Lamen 1. 4. Josephus antiq Iud. lib. decimo cap. decimo Ier. 52. 6. 11. 13. Dan. 9. 1. 2. 16. Psal. 137. 1. 5. 9. Why a good heart so esteemeth it Vse 1. Vndervaluers of the word reproued Vse 1. Vse 2. Lament the want of the word abroad Psal. 79. 1. 10 74. 1. 2.