made manifest unto all there are mollisma tempora certain times and seasons in which it is most amiable and it is part of Christian prudence so to exert it that it may appear beautiful and lovely unto all in its proper season the present circumstances are to be consulted seriously least our Moderation do degenerate into a sordid and a sneaking compliance an Holy Zeal must sometimes have its perfect work as well as Patience when once Remissness gets the upper hand of Order God himself is neglected whilst his Divine Offices are perfunctorily carelesly and slubberly performed when the publike Solemnities of Religion are if not laid aside yet so managed as if they were altogethar needless and to no purpose the Moderate Man may mourn in secret and by his silence at such a time manifests his prudence because it is an evil time but this seems to be rather an opportunity for courage and constancy in the Resolute that the world may see that we are neither afraid nor ashamed of that which some count madness and folly that we are neither to be complemented by the sly Polititian nor Hectored by the prophane Atheist out of that Faith which we have professed and wherein we stand In a word this is our Moderation when in affliction we are not froward under discouragements we are not discontented when we can love those who persecute us and are ready to do good to those who do despightfully use us when we count it all joy that for righteousness sake we are evil thought of or evil spoke of when we are not over-sollicitous of every ones good word but should God and his Truth require it we can venture through a bad report to shew our Constancy and Perseverance and though the Moderate Man walks circumspectly not as a fool but as wise endeavouring to approve himself to the Consciences of those with whom he has to do yet his heart doth neither mis-give him nor reproach him as his humility is conspicuous so his integrity is solid if he does approve himself it is that the Lord may commend the singleness of his heart and the integrity of his Soul even the Lord who is at Hand And so I press to the Third and Last thing propounded to wit How the Coming of Christ either in the Flesh or to Judgment is an Argument to us to improve this Grace of Moderation The Lord is at hand just now gone from us lately appearing in our Flesh And he is at hand in like manner to come again the day is approaching in which God will Judge the World by the Man whom he hath ordained even the Man Christ Jesus and the Apostle doth in another place joyn both these together to wit that the consideration of Christs first Coming should have this effect upon us that we live in a continual expectancy of his Second Tit. 2.11 12. The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present evil world Moderation is but one comprehensive word for all these looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious appearance of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ First Let your Moderation be known unto all men the Lord is at hand not far from every one of us lately appearing in our flesh having Sanctified our inclinations and affections whilst he was subject unto like Passions with us being in every thing tempted as we are yet without sin we might indeed sometime have been foolish deceived by and deceiving one another Status Naturae status Belli in this sense we were by Nature the Children of Wrath not only in relation to God whom we had provoked but also in relation to each other delighting in violence and oppression But Tit. 3.4 After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward Man appeared we are freely justified by his Grace and made Co heirs together according to the Hope of Eternal Life and this is that which we must Persevere in since we have believed on God that we be alwayes careful to maintain good works and those such which are not in the least Destructive but every way profitable unto men let every one that nameth the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord depart from all iniquity Our Saviour in the Flesh God incarnate in his Birth throughout his Life but chiefly at his Death was not only a most successful example but a prevailing argument for our Moderation First His Birth was the Son of Righteousness arising with healing in his wings it was through the tender Mercies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through the Bowels of the mercy of our God that the Day-spring from on high did visit us and this is our Happiness consequential hereupon that being delivered from our Ghostly and our carnal Enemies we may serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the daies of our lives this was the Angelical Hymn at his Birth that as his coming into the World was Glory to God in the highest so it was in Earth Peace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and good will towards Men nay further that our Love upon this occasion might be raised to its due pitch those words are not unfitly rendered by the Vulgar In terris pax hominibus bone voluntatis On earth Peace unto Men of Good will And now shall our Saviour empty himself of his honour that he may accommodate himself unto us and we be puffed up one against another are we not all of us now Brethren doubtly dear unto each other both in the Flesh and in the Lord or rather in the Lord who was made Flesh Secondly Nay yet again not only the fruit of his holy Mothers Womb at his Birth but the whole course of his Life was nothing else but a continued labour of Love could he do any good were it to the poorest and the meanest to the basest and unworthiest it was his meat and his drink he loved much and therefore all along though loaded with indignities he forgave much he had not where to lay his head and yet he wrought Salvation wheresoever he came how glad was he though in a crowd that vertue wentout of him in this chiefly was his humility conspicuous in that he confessed and he denyed it not that He though the Son of Man and so the first born of the whole Creation came not to be Ministred unto but to Minister and to give his Life a Ransome for many And are not we likewise to tread in his steps is not this the Lesson which hence we are to take out that the greatest amongst us be in all good and vertuous offices as it were a Servant unto all remembring alwayes the words of our Lord Jesu Christ that it is better to give than receive we should therefore from his example be ready to give and willing to communicate Thirdly Yet once more and chief of all his Death was
convene in the Tents of wickedness and when Christ first appeared in the flesh it was the Character of a Devout and a Religious person St. Luc. 15.37 of Anna the Prophetess a Widdow of 84 years age that she departed not from the Temple but served God with fasting and prayers night and day and does old Simeon wait for the Consolation of Israel to see Christ in the flesh by the Spirit he is led into the Temple there to behold the salvation of his God and so to depart in peace sed nobis non licet esse tam religiosis now it seems all Godliness consists in the most ungodly of separations as if this untoward Age of ours would invert the proverb the farther from the Church the nearer in communion with God! Well! whether they will hear or whether they will forbear and yet he that hath ears let him hear saith the Spirit unto the Churches you see whosoever ye be that do Divide our Saviour's Practice and his Precept the Apostolical Progress and their Institution are against you from the beginning even when they wanted an outward Administration a fixed and a setled Dispensation then it was not thus Jesus Christ our Lord was obedient in all things even in their Apocryphal celebrations to the constitutions of that Church under which he lived The Apostles were men of open hearts and of open lives neither were they ashamed of the Testimony of the Lord Jesus they rejoiced upon all occasions to go up yea though it were but to a Porch of the House of God though the Jewish Dispensation was still there administred yet Type and Antitype together appearing both were for that time glorious we find them all together in one place and all of them there together with one heart Unity and Uniformity was that which gave credit to Christianity from the first Plantation of it They were all with one accord in Solomons Porch which is the Third thing I observed unto you in this holy Convention and that is their Behaviour at their meeting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with one accord When the Queen of Sheba came from far to behold the wisdom of Solomon 1 Reg. 10.5 the Houses that he built to God and for himself the meat of his Table and the sitting of his servants the attendance of his Ministers and their apparrel and his Cup-bearers and after all and above all the rest the Ascent by which he went up unto the House of the Lord which as most interpreters agree was therefore called Solomons Porch after the captivity rebuilt and restored to its former splendor and magnificence as Josephus in the forecited places gives us the account at large I say when she saw all this there was no more spirit in her To consider with our selves how that even in the Apostles times Solomons Porch was a continued Ascent up unto the House of God the Procession though it was solemn and glorious atrium populi grandis Basi lica Vatabl. the Grandeur of it was Princely and thither came the people to serve the Lord and upon the whole that the Apostles were there with the new Convert Disciples to the Christian Faith even multitudes of Believers both men and women though the Tongues which sate upon the Apostles were cloven yet their hearts were not divided they loved and they lived and they witnessed unto Jesus and they served their God together and all as Brethren Methinks now our Spirits should be raised nay our hearts may fail within us in admiration of them and of their primitive uniforme celebrations and in a sad reflection upon our selves to consider that with our Vniformity charity has forsaken us how sadly are we mangled and divided one amongst and one against another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With one accord The word in Scripture seems to intimate not onely an inward sameness of affection a mutual agreement of mind and disposition but also an outward Vniform Behaviour Act. 4.32 The multitudes of those who believed were of one heart and one soul that was their internal affection ver 24. With one accord they lifted up their voice to God that was their external communion Act. 11.46 With one accord in the Temple and in breaking of Bread the result of which concord in Religious performances was peace and amity in their civil conversations they did eat their meat with gladness and in singleness of hearts So that we may hence gather that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Text their being together with one accord is sufficiently expressive both of the inward frame of their minds one to another and the outward management of their solemn Assemblies one amongst another even what the Apostle gives in advice Rom 15.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that we should with one Mind and with one Mouth glorifie God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Divine service being publick says a judicious writer of our own Church hath this advantage in it Mr. Thorndike Rel. Assem pa. 2 3. in as much as the honor which it pleaseth God to accept at our hands becometh his greatness more when in a judgment of charity we have reason to believe that such a worship proceeds from more agreement of mind as the strength of mens Bodies joined to one purpose removeth that which one by one they could not stir so Vnited Devotions the more publick the more numerous the more numerous the more Vnited prevail with God to such an effect as severally they cannot bring to pass This was Gods promise of old that it should be his blessing upon his Church even in Gospel times Zeph. 3.9 I will turn to the people of a pure language or of a pure lip that they may call upon the name of the Lord with one consent 'T is therefore requisite upon the whole that as a demonstration that we are all of one mind and of one soul even in outward service our Behaviour should be one and the same Reverent and Vnity be known unless it be by provoking one another to love in our Vniformity you have seen already that the Apostolical way of serving God was falling down upon the face and worshipping him 1 Cor. 14.25 in those days it was good and wholsome counsel Rom. 12.1 I beseech you Brethren by the mercies of God that you present your Bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God and this too however some may now count it superstition a will-worship and a voluntary humility yet in the Apostles time it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a rational a reasonable service To see some at the Church Prayers sitting some lolling and leaning here and there it may be some vouchsafing to stand up few or none upon their knees that posture if any one should think the fittest for Supplicants and Petitioners to the great God of Heaven and Earth Go behave thy self otherwise before thy Prince and see whether he will accept thee should the ignorant or unlearned the stranger that
for as has been our Moderation our Love and Charity one to another so shall be at that dreadful day our Final Doom Ye have not cloathed nor fed nor visited nor Ministred to the necessities of the afflicted therefore Go ye Cursed And this brings me to the Second and last observable that the coming of Christ to judgment as it shall be a General Vniversal and a Final Doom is an argument unto us that our Moderation be known unto all men So that what the Apostle useth in another Place as a Motive to constancy in the Faith is here an incitement to Unity and to Peace in Conversation 2 Thess 2.1 We beseech you Brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him that you be not soon shaken in your Mind yea and by the same coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by the same collection of the Saints together in one unto him we beseech you Brethren be pitiful be courteous And is it not high time that we should cease from wrath and anger from evil speaking and from evilthinking from backbiting and back-sliding since that our Great and common Salvation is now nearer than when we first believed Rev. 16.15 Behold saies Christ I come blessed is he that washeth and keepeth his Garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame would we put on the garment of praise at that Day let us be clothed with humility now though humility be modest and bashful yet it is Covering and Fence sufficient against everlasting shame and contempt They who do abuse this Christian Grace of Moderation are great pretenders unto Liberty but as for us in the Love of men and in the fear of God let us so speak and so do as those who shall be judged by a Law that so the Law by which we shall be judged may be to us what really it is in it self a Law of Liberty A Law of Liberty when we shall be delivered from our earthly Prisons and without obloquy shall be brought out of those Prisons to Reign in the more glorious Liberty of the Sons of God The Sum Conclusion and Application of all is briefly this Let your Moderation be known unto all men the Lord is at hand That is the Celebration of his Nativity is now approaching and his Coming unto Judgment is every day hastning let us so commemorate the First that we have all the while a continual Remembrance of the Second our Moderation let it be known be in perfect Charity with all men The Constitutions of our Church oblige us to begin that solemnity with a Sacrament and that is a feast of Love again our Moderation let it be known even in our pleasures and our recreations twelve dayes are allotted us for rejoycing not one of them for chambering or wantonness for riot or excess is not this the Feast which God has chosen to deal our Bread unto the hungry to give gifts unto the poor a portion to six and to seven to have our hearts and our hands open to the needy not to throw away that substance which God has given us by the shaking of our elbows I do confess that we serve no hard Master and times of joy are times of indulgence too we may eat our bread with chearfulness and drink our wine with a merry heart yet let the World see that we can be Moderate let the B. Sacrament which we shall receive upon the first day be a restraint upon us that we run not out to excess in any of the rest Oh! Why should we entertain the holy Child Jesus yet once again in a stable with our filthy lusts and our beastly sins about us This is to celebrate his Birth and at the same time to renew his Death Crucifie the Lord of Life again a fresh and put him to an open shame whatever therefore may be the Ecstatical raptures either of serious Melancholy or profuse Joy let us be careful that they do not degenerate either into Prophaneness or Enthusiasme a Moderation betwixt both will do well that so neither a morose reservedness a grim presciseness on the one hand a debauched licentiousness a drolling rude Atheisme on the other do transport us to do those things which are not convenient in a word while we keep Christmas we are to think upon the Advent just gone before upon the Lent presently to follow after the Feast shall be no sooner over but the Church will call us to Sorrow Mourning and Penance Oh! that we could be sober and watchful that the reckonings betwixt God and our own Souls may be kind and easie the Feast we see is ushered in with the Apprehensions of future judgment let therefore our Celebration of the first Coming of Christ in the time of this Mortal Life in great Humility be no other than our pious and earnest expectation of his second appearance when in the Last Day he shall Come in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and the Dead that so this may be the result of all our pious Festivals and Festival Solemnities especially this of the Nativity Christ as it were New-borne formed in us and we Regenerate and Born again to him and so this to be unto us the Hope of Glory whilst our fruit is unto Holiness The end of all will be Everlasting Life Thus our Blessed Apostle has backed his advice in the Text with a Promise Let your Moderation be known unto all Men ver 7. And the Peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your Hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus our Lord who is the Prince of our Peace who with the Father of all Mercy and the Holy Ghost the Eternal Comforter Liveth and Reigneth One God even the God of Consolation now and ever To whom be Glory Dominion and Adoration given throughout all Ages in the Church by Christ Jesus Amen Amen FINIS ERRATA PAge 40. diligent p. 48. dele Secondly p. 51. Vpper-Chambers p. 54. Vers Aethiopic p. 69. recover our first Love p. 71 dele destructive c. p. 75. heard ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 82. persecution p. 84. their backs p. 87. caetum exert p. 107. reception of the Gospel p. 108. Orders of Men. p. 118. were there not p. 120. visibly terrible p. 127. Boar out of p. 139. against Providence p. 143. heel ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 160. exclude you or us that p. 162. two such potent p. 166. dele affected p. 169. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 176. dele as p. 180. wish that they would p. 186. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 205. serve our God p. 209. then it is bad p. 211. pretend the impulse ibid. or ruling p. 213. dele 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 216. they left p. 217. received from p. 220 the Multitude p. 227. our thoughts p. 236. dele 2 p. 139. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. Hesych p. 247. reception p. 248. endangering
magnificence provided it do not degenerate into superstition has this advantage in it that neither God his service nor they who minister about it can so soon be lightly esteemed Psal 110.3 This was Gods promise to his Son after that he had drunk of the brook by the way that he should lift up his head and because his head should be lifted up therefore thy people shall be a willing power in the day of thy power that is in that Day when the word of the Gospel shall be accompanied with power and that as it follows in the next words no other then in the Beauty of holiness so that the Administration of the everlasting Gospel is a Day of Power in it a willing People and all because of the Beauties of holiness the outward solemnities of the sanctuary glorious and magnificent well therefore may the Psalmist go on ver 4. The Lord hath sworn and he will not repent the Administration is thus eternally fixed Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech To be a little more close and particular The People magnified them where observe three things First The Respect which was given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Magnified Second The Persons by and to whom this praise was given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the People to the Apostles this was the honour of these Saints their Persons to be in esteem amongst the Multitudes Third The Occasion of this Reverence and Respect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Many signes and wonders wrought amongst the people whither of justice in the judgment inflicted of Mercy in the Diseases cured or of extraordinary Providence in the Gospel propagated because of all these the People Magnified them 1. Consider we the Respect it self which was given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Magnified The word is used both of that honour which God is pleased to vindicate to himself as also which he doth vouchsafe sometimes to bestow upon his creature again of that Glory which man is to ascribe unto God and of that respect which one man may give unto or have for another God vindicates his honour to himself in that he doth Magnifie his word above all his Name when he doth declare that he will not give his honour to another but that he will be sanctified in all those that draw nigh unto him in all acts of Worship and Divine Service he will have his Praises to be perfected in that they be all directed unto him alone he is the Lord our God to be Magnified and glorified for ever but One Lord and besides him there is no God But Praise and honour are his gift somtimes to his creature be Man what he is God regards him the son of man is visited by him and he exalteth him on every side as it seemeth best to him when and how he pleaseth he bringeth unto great honour raiseth up the poor out of the dust the needy from the dunghill to set him with the Princes even with the Princes of his people 1 Chron. 29.25 It was the Lord who magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel Yet again this is that Glory which we ascribe unto our Maker when we praise him who is higher then the highest give him that honour which he is pleased to require of us even the honour due unto his Name Psa 50.23 Whoso offereth me praise he Magnifieth me This is our Te Deum every morning wherein we praise our God and acknowledge him to be the Lord we worship him who is the Father everlasting day by day we Magnifie him and so we worship his Name ever world without end therefore as day unto day so night unto night also sheweth forth this praise our Oblations being not only renewed every morning but the lifting up of our hands are an evening Sacrifice when with the Blessed Virgin Mary every night we make her Magnificat our own Our Soul to Magnifie the Lord and our Spirit to rejoyce in God our Saviour And yet after all the former acceptions of the word this is that which God commands that one amongst another honour should be given where honour is due Dignities are not to be evil spoken of nor dominions to be despised we must have some in high esteem for their works sake and an Apostle must be Magnified if for no other because he is an Apostle 2 Cor. 10.15 This was that honour which without ambition or offence St. Paul did justly vindicate to himself Having hope that we shall be inlarged by you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Magnified amongst you according to our Rule abundantly the more abundantly because of that Rule of Righteousness which from us has been delivered to you So then the respect which was here given was the esteem that was raised because of the present service in which they were engaged what is in the Text Magnifying is in the foregoing Chapter ver 33. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That great Grace which was upon them all whilst the word of God grew and was multiplyed the Apostles were in favour with God and also with men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is Pelusiot That is Their Conversation and their vertue or rather their powerful ministry was as became Apostles and this was part of their reward in that they should see of their travail and be satisfied whilst they should be had in honour of all such who were resolved to follow them as they followed Christ And this honour was double both in heart and voice out of the abundance of their hearts their lips praised them with their tongues they blessed God who had given such power unto men and therefore with their tongues also they blessed and praised those men who came to them in the power and demonstration of the Spirit of God And Was this the receptation of the Gospel in its first Plantation did the word of Salvation run only whilst it was glorified and glorified it was indeed in the hearts and mouthes of all that saw and heard it hearing it they believed with joy joy which was not altogether unspeakable though it was full of glory What shall we say then when amongst those that are called Christians the Word of Life is the derision of those that pass along the streets when the Servants of God are despised for their works sake Nay the very Oracles of God have not escaped whilst they have been made the subject of Drollery This is that which may be for a sad Lamentation in the midst of us whilst wit and ingenuity is debauched into rallery and they are the greatest Virtuosoes have the quickest and ripest parts who can most prophanely make their Religion ridiculous who throw about their Libellous Pasquills and their Satyrical Lampoons not only against the civil and sacred orders of man that are established amongst us but even against Heaven it self thus they do not only Swear by but wickedly they blaspheme the Throne that is on high and him that sitteth thereon as if it
yet it must not be to the disparagement of any of the same Order Christ has promised a Prophets reward to such as receive a Prophet not as this or that man so or so qualified but meerly in relation to his Office and his Calling as he comes in the Name of a Prophet Honour should be the result of Love not of a partial affection are they not all alike Ministers of Christ our Common Saviour in order to a Universal Redemption It was an argument of schism and division in the Church of Corinth when some of them were for Paul some for Apollos some for Cephas some for Cephas a Pillar of the Church if not a corner stone who delivered the word with authority and power who proposed his Message as Matter for Faith rather then dispute and though he does admit that a Reason may be given for our Hope yet it must be with Reverence and Fear thus the very Dignity of the Messenger might seem to be credit enough for the Reception of his Message he having the Primacy over the rest it was reason good enough that he should be heard in the first place Cephas by whom you have believed others were for the rare notions the sublime curious speculations of St. Paul such a one as was wrapped into the third heavens every time he spake whose reach was within and beyond the clouds whilst he was manuring his Corinthians who were his Husbandry upon earth Paul planteth and yet a third sort were for the eloquence and Rhetorick of Apollos whose Doctrine distilled as the rain and his Speech was as the dew Apolles watereth and all this while the sweet influences of heaven were not considered God was for gotten who gave the increase what was all this but a signe that their admiration proceeded more from their humour then their Love it was not Spiritual but carnal it was not a rejoycing in order and unity but a breaking into factions and parties against the established community hence were the Divisions and schisms amongst them But would we be with the multitude in that which is good we must go along with them into Solomons Porch and behold them there magnifying the Apostles without the least respect of Persons the Dispensation which at this time was amongst the People was various and yet the commendation was Vniform here was severity from some of the Apostles in the rigorous execution of wrath great utility from others in the curing of diseases and yet vertue in all that they should be all alike equally admired thus they at this time as the servants of the most high God and God in them as the God of Order and Vnion was praised and magnified amongst the multitudes so that their Praises were as solemn as was their meeting as regular as was their solemnity though they were a multitude they were not confused there was no uproar in this gratulatory Magnificat not such as was at Ephesus when the people extolled their great Diana and the most part knew not why they were assembled no the Oracles of God were at this time magnifyed in a vulgar shout the voice of a King of the King of heaven was amongst them and we have good reason to believe that the impetus upon the people was without tumult fince their admiration was the product of their Faith which is the Third thing to be considered in this third part of the Text viz. the Occasion of this awful Reverence and Respect at the begining of the 12th verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Signes and wonders were wrought by the hands of the Apostles amongst the People and the People magnified them Signes and Wonders might be necessary at the first plantation of the Gospel that so it might be received as with amazement so with honour also but since an evil and an adulterous generation may seek after a Signe and none shall be given them only they are themselves the greatest prodigy in that they wickedly dispute the truth of that which for fear of humane laws they dare not in some sort or other but profess and yet there are Signes and Wonders continued like these in the Text sufficient to create Reverence and Respect to sacred Persons were they not too much cherished and incouraged amongst us an evil heart of unbelief against all manner of Providence soever and so against God himself however let us urge what was commendable in the People here receiving the Truths of the Gospel in the love and due esteem of those that brought them to the reproach of the Generations that have succeeded who make a mock of holiness and Piety Signes and Wonders causal of honour and admiration to the Apostles and those in the First Place Signes of terror to the wicked because of the judgment which was inflicted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is Pelusiot Whatsoever punishment is inflicted upon offenders especially if it be sudden and dreadful as it humbles those upon whom it is inflicted so it renders them in whose vindication it is exerted the more venerable their persons are to be distinguished from the common sort of men for whose sakes God is pleased to manifest himself so severe in the terrible executions of his wrath Elijah caused fire to come down from heaven as he was a Man of God to destroy two Captains and their two Fifties 2 King 1.13 and this made the next Captain to dread and revere the Prophet to cast his sword and himself at his seet saying O Man of God I pray thee let my life and the life of these fifty thy servants be pretious in thy sight Behold there came fire from heaven and burnt the two former Captains and their fifties therefore let my life now be pretious in thy sight And shall we say where is the Lord God of Elijah now doth he not still take vengeance if not for his servants yet for his Church in fire and that a fire from heaven which the breath of the Lord had kindled Surely if not in fire though the smoke is still in our nostrils yet in as dreadful and as fore calamities I could but that I had before occasion to instance it here again consider how that God has Magnified the Services of his Sanctuary if not in the sight of this people who will not see yet of the nations round about us in the severer expressions of his anger against this one sin of Sacrilege so dreadfully visited for in the Text how has this sin ever since it was conceived brought forth nothing but death Restitution had we but faith to believe it were the onliest and readiest way to settle us upon the right foundations of peace and prosperity one would think to reflect a little backward upon the ruines which this Desolating Sin hath made amongst us within the compass of little more then One hundred years should be enough to affrighten those who have any love to their Countrey if they have but little regard to their Religion that for the
next Generations sake which is to come they would not further promote the establishing of this iniquity by law lest whilst they do gredily catch at the portion of meat which is upon Gods Altar they unawares bring a burning coal along with it not to cleanse their lips but which will burn their nests and kill their young ones destroy their whole Family Whosoever thinks to raise his House upon the Churches ruines let it be in a literal or a metaphorical sense both the Ground is holy and so is the portion likewise that is alloted for the maintenance of the Building lays his Foundation if not upon Sand yet in Fire the Fire from Gods Altar hid as it were in its own Embers at the bottom sometime or other will break out afresh the ruine and destruction will be inevitable a sad Desolation not at all to be withstood Not unlike this were in a great measure the Signes and Wonders in the Text which were causal of a reverent esteem in the people of the administration of Gods service to wit Gods sore displeasure manifested against the sin of Sacrilege and this should have the same effect now were there not a Generation of Vipers amongst us who delight in nothing but in Eating through the Bowels of their Mother-Church who notwithstanding the judgments of God so visibly terribly in the earth will not be perswaded to learn righteousness 2. Signes and Wonders still and those the occasions of a great Veneration being there were Wonders of Mercy to all those who stood in need of healing whilst the People took so great a delight under and found so much benefit in St. Peters shadow they could not but have respect for the substance nay though Multitudes came out of the Cities round about bringing sick folks and those that were vexed with unclean Spirits they were all healed every one Thus from the beginning the fruit of the Tree of life was for the healing of the Nations that so the people might find a place of rest under and at the same time satisfie themselves in admiration of the Branches of it The Gospel of the Kingdom was ordained of God in the hands of Jesus as a Mediator in the Mouths of the Apostles as the Dispencers of it to be for health both unto Body and Soul forgiveness of sin to the one taking away all manner of Distempers from the other and so a perfect salvation unto Both whilst unto those who fear and reverence the word of God which is to be magnified above all his name Christ as the Son of righteousness his Apostles and their Successors as the Stars in his right hand they have their sweeter influences and He Himself ariseth nothing less from all but healing in their wings And although at this day these extraordinary benefits are with-held there being no need of such wonders now to confirm that word of life into which we are no sooner born then baptized and we all of us may or should suck in the sincere milk of the Word with that which we draw from our Mothers brests our parents according to the flesh being as Tutors and Governours to bring us to God our Father to Christ our elder Brother and to the Church our best Mother yet methinks there are some Wonders of Providence like those antient Miracles of Mercy still continued to consider that outward peace plenty and prosperity which God usually gives in as a Temporal advantage to that Nation or people amongst whom his worship is celebrated in the Beauty and Glory of it when the Tribes of Israel go up to the Mountain of God to serve the Lord in that place which out of all the Tribes he has chosen to himself lo in the same City where is the Temple of God do they behold with admiration and count her Towers mark well her Bulwarks and reckon up the Fortresses thereof this the security and strength of the City but then for its glory and splendor see there also Majesty as most excellent there are the seats for judgment and the throne is there established for the House of David But on the contrary whence come wars and tumults intestine broils or hostile invasions are they not most usually directed providentially as to the ultimate end of them in order to the removal of the Candlestick from those who do not value it who care not to rejoice in the Light that is fixed in it hence the Kingdom of God is taken away from those who lightly regard it given to those who will reverence its Dispensation bringing forth the fruits of holiness in Patience and Sobriety Where is the Church of Corinth now or where are the seven Churches of Asia what is become of Antioch where our Religion was first Christened the name of our Lord called upon his followers I might mention the rest to whom St. Paul writes his Epistles how were they once exalted unto heaven in their glorious and great injoyments but now they are almost reduced to their former Gentilisme for surely they did not continue stedfast to the goodness of their God Nay closer yet to make the case our own if the Administration of the Gospel of peace doth not still keep along with it as its concomitant the miraculous gift of healing all manner of diseases and bodily infirmities yet certainly it continues health where it doth not restore it or at least the prophanation of it is that which kindles Gods wrath against us and provokes him to plague us with divers Diseases and sundry kinds of death as our Liturgy in the preparatory exhortation to the Communion most piously observes to consider what ruines have been made by Pestilence Famine and Sword in Christian Common wealths may we not say with the Apostle that for this cause many have been sick many weak and many have fallen asleep so that in some sense it is manifest that the due and right ministration of the Mystery of Godliness has the continuance of this Life as well as the promise of that which is to come would we have our days prolonged in the Land which the Lord our God has given us this is the Commandement and it is the first with a Promise Remember we the performance of it as of children by our holy Church we have been taught That we submit our selves to all our Governors Teachers Spiritual Pastors and Masters that we order our selves lowly and reverently to all our betters in a word which is the sum of all the rest that we magnifie that Religion the due solemnities of which in its wonted beauty is under God who to be sure will take care of his own worship either to vindicate or promote it the only means to make us externally happy if the fence be well set about the Sanctuary this will heal all our other breaches and restore us places to dwell in to be sure provide for us everlasting habitations God will upon this account onely delight in us to build and to
fear came on them all and the Name of the Lord Jesus was Magnified many of them that believed came and confessed and shewed their deeds they were not ashamed to declare their sin by an open acknowledgment in Confession in order to a Ministerial and so more than a Declarative Absolution they would no longer have to do either with the work or with the wages of iniquity those that used curious Arts brought their Books and burnt them whereof the price valued came to Fifty thousand pieces of Silver may all this wealth perish so they may but save themselves and then ver 20. as the consequence upon so remarkable a judgment The Word of God grew mightily and prevailed One instance more The eyes of Sergius Paulus were not opened until that upon St. Paul's invocation Elymas the Sorcerer was struck with blindness for that he sought to turn away the Deputy from the Faith the hand of the Lord was upon him that he should not see the Sun for a season in that he so wickedly stood both in his own and in others light not ceasing to pervert the right wayes of the Lord Act. 13.12 Then the Deputy when he saw what was done Believed lying as it were in a Trance his eyes were open being astonished at the Doctrine of the Lord. The Doctrine of the Lord accompanied with Astonishment Wrath being executed in its just vindication doth thereby ingage to it self Proselyts of all sorts first soberly to admire and then most heartily to embrace it but on the contrary when judgment against the evil works or the evil speeches of wicked men is not executed speedily then a general remissness invades the most it is set in the hearts of the Sons of men to do mischief however God is not slack in the Defence of his Church as some may count it slackness but is long-suffering not willing that any should perish but that all should come unto repentance especially such who are within the compass of an Evangelical Dispensation who have given up their names to Christ in a solemn profession It might be requisite amongst Heathens and Infidels at the first to be swift in avenging all manner of despites or affronts done to the way of Godliness but since that Christianity is our badge and livery and the Cross is the banner we do fight under its universal Administration should render it Sacred and Venerable to all its Professors that they do not despise Gods Service amongst them which has so long been to say no more the Religion of their Countrey and if no other this reason may prevail a little that they do not abhor that Worship which is the Worship of the God of their Fathers however these Mockers and Scoffers may please to behave themselves whether they will hear or whether they will forbear they must be told that because God is silent he is not therefore consenting to their impieties Epistle of St. Jude ver 14.15 The Lord cometh with Ten thousand of his Saints the affronts done to those holy ones he reckons as done to himself he cometh to execute judgment upon all to convince all that are ungodly amongst them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodlily committed and of all their hard speeches those words of bitterness and hatred which ungodly sinners have spoken against him in the mean time Gods judgments are round about them and they do not regard they die daily in their sins and those that survive do not lay it to heart nay their Posterity a wicked off-spring praise their sayings should one arise to them from the dead they will not believe yet they have Moses and the Prophets those that sit in the Chair of Moses those who declare unto them how and in whom the Prophecies are fulfilled let them hear these Oh! that they would at length see and be ashamed considering the Solemnities of holiness in spite of men and Devils still appearing glorious whilst the Dispensation of life is in any measure Beautiful even this has its due influence on the lives of men be they many and numerous in order to a great Salvation especially when the word of Life thus delivered is confirmed by Miracles be they of what sort soever and that is the Second thing occasional of this great benefit here bestowed upon the Church because of the Signes and Wonders wrought which were terrible Therefore Believers were the more added to the Lord multitudes of men and women Though Faith be the evidence of things not seen as it is an inhaerent Theological grace yet in the first reception of the Gospel God was pleased so to order it that seeing should be the occasion of Believing had not Christ and his Apostles wrought those Works never such before and never to be the like again the question might have been peremptorily answered in the negative When the Son of man cometh shall he find Faith in the earth So true it is that the report of God himself is not readily believed unless the Arm of the Lord be also revealed in works of Wonder And still unto this day the first reason which we do properly give of our Christian Faith and of the hope that is in us is the firm belief that the Gospel at the first was delivered by Miracles and Signes following it and those Miracles all and each of them Demonstrative of a Deity God thus Redeeming the World with a stretched out Arm and with great and mighty judgments judgments which if we consider with all their circumstances attending them we needs must confess to have been remote from all manner of Imposture not in the least to be compared or mentioned with Legendary Fictions they do not at all conclude absurdly but evidence an Omnipotent Power and so are not unfit arguments for Faith Thus as it was with Israel of old in that Deliverance of which this great Redemption was the Antitype they could not perswade themselves that God would visit them without a Miracle Exod. 4.8 9. It shall come to pass if they will not hearken to the voice of the first Sign that they will beeieve the voice of the latter Sign and if they will not believe those two Signes yet a third shall convince them and the third Sign was typical of a more desirable happiness it was Water turned into Blood an intimation that Blood it self in order to Redemption should have a cleansing vertue So that in the mouth of two or three Witnesses the Word of Salvation whether in the Type or in Antitype was established God Almighty all along providing for the satisfaction of common sence that men might receive the Truths published upon the credit of their eyes and of their eares as well as they do of other things which are conveyed to them by the help of their outward senses and hence a thorow Conviction is wrought upon the very Conscience which works of Wonder though done so long since may still have an influence upon us in that
gladness Act. 2.41 The same day the General reception of the word was already past and in the same day the Seal of the Covenant was conferred in that there were added to them as they were an Apostolick Church about three thousand souls and to warrant me this remark upon the Addition here in the Text and those other places we have it expressly Chap. 2.47 The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved from all which this inference is obvious That out of the Church we are not to presume for Salvation or to give it you in as modest terms as may be and those naturally deduced from the Text They that shall be saved with the Lord are first of all supposed to be added by the Lord to the Church Faith though it be the gift of God in the Heart unto Salvation yet he giveth unto every man a certain measure no otherwise than by an Ecclesiastical Dispensation For to make a summary rehersal of that Creed into which we are Baptized this is the compendium of the whole The Creed which with good reason we call the Apostles Creed or at least Apostolical is in our Church-Catechisme distinguished and divided into the Belief of the Father our Creator of the Son our Redemer and of the Holy Ghost the Comforter ruling in all our hearts in order to a thorow Sanctification now in the assurance of this Holy Ghost as he is a Spirit of Prophesie we do believe a Catholick and Apostolick Church in that Church as it is Apostolick and Catholick we must acknowledge a Communion of Saints the result of which Communion in this Church from the Holy Ghost is the forgiveness of our Sins whatsoever is loosed on Earth is loosed also in Heaven whence we do further believe and hope for the Resurrection of our flesh and the Life in the World to come And therefore to the Doctrine of the Trinity the Father Creating the Son Redeeming and the Holy Ghost Purifying as also to those Articles of the Church Administring in a visible holy Communion the Remission of Sins unto all such as look for the Resurrection to eternal Life we in the assurance of our Faith are to say Amen I would at length fain put it to the question what people generally have in their thoughts when they stand up at their Creed and say that they Believe a holy Catholick and Apostolick Church in effect it should be thus much that they do confess there is a Congregation and Corporation of Christian people though dispersed throughout the whole world that this society is united in a holy Communion under Christ the supreme and onely Head that it is assisted moved and directed by the Holy Ghost that it is Matriculated as it were into one holy Congregation and fraternity by Baptisme sustained by the word of Catechising which is milk for babes nourished by the Lords Supper which is meat for stronger men that it is continued by an holy Apostolical Succession by which the Keyes of the Kingdom are faithfully administred whatsoever is bound on earth is ratified in heaven and after all this does the promise of Christ signifie nothing that he will be with his Church so universally and every way holy that so whither he as the Head is gone the Members may follow after every one in his own order Christ the first afterward those that are Christs both before and at his coming And if this be the meaning of the Article as had I time might soon be proved from several Scriptures and our Separatists themselves do not deny but that this Summary Compendium of Faith is both antient and a sound Confession we thank them that at the same time when they thrust it out of our Churches they were pleased to annex it to the close of their Calvinistical Catechism I would demand of them and put it to the Conscience of those who are deluded by them how they can expect salvation in another world when they avoid the communion of the Saints in this and that against their vow in Baptisme against their solemn Profession of Faith I might I perswade my self urge it against their own inward sentiments whenever they do seriously think upon it what this Article of their Creed does mean or else they must be notoriously hypocritical before God against their own reason somthing or other they must believe when they do confess that there is such a thing as a holy Catholick and Apostolick Church and what can they believe to their souls good but that in the Communion of this Church they do expect salvation Let them if they are so fool-hardy excommunicate themselves and so put themselves into the condition of Heathens to be saved without a law and beside the Gospel if God so please to be sure there is great safety in the Christian institution as the Church is a holy society if with our hearts we believe and with our mouths we make confession of that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints to wit that there is a Holy Catholick Church and in that Church a Holy Communion of Saints and the result of both these is the forgiveness of sins and that because of the Churches Catholick Faith that there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead for unless it be so we are still in our sins when both soul and body are to be united together in order to be made partakers of everlasting life undoubtedly we shall be saved I know there are some who quarrel at the Athanasian Creed though they have subscribed to it for these words in it however I am not afraid to cite them to our present purpose whosoever will be saved that is in the unity of the Church before all things he must be careful that he hold the Catholick Faith for the Church is Catholick which faith except he keep whole and undefiled without doubt he shall perish everlastingly And so I pass to the Second instance of this great Benefit here accruing from the present Dispensation and that is a due qualification internal in the heart but still in order to an outward profession 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were Believers in the Lord which were now added to the Churches Communion holding the Faith as from the Apostles at this time it was delivered By Faith here not to spend time in the ordinary Definitions of it we may securely understand the pious and fiducial application of all the circumstances of this outward administration to each mans particular and private concerns whatsoever was publickly dispensed was in the heart of those that were assembled digested in an humble assurance of salvation there-from So that upon this account Schism from a Visible Communion is the result of Infidelity it is an evil heart of Unbelief that departs from God our Father or the Church our Mother in that whosoever he be that separates he cannot or he will not make due and sober reflections upon outward services in order to his own private
satisfaction and Benefit Yea and this does intimate unto us the great advantage of solemn and regular institutions in the Church in that the meannest and the plainest persons may joyn in its communion each man particularly reflecting upon his own circumstances may beforehand resolve and apply such and such particular passages in Divine Services to the like particular emergency in himself and so literally prepare himself for the worship of his God according to the preparations of his Sanctuary such Petitions as these are the Prayers of Faith the Church does thus receive a liberal addition but the Belief is in the Lord we may with the more confidence expect acceptance when we make our humble requests in the voice of the Church Prayers which were certainly composed by the assistance of the Holy Ghost for these two Articles in our Creed follow one on the other the Holy Ghost and the Holy Church this is the best and most effectual Praying by the Spirit when Publick Prayers are in Faith and Piety referred to private necessities he that has Faith has it to himself and therefore for himself each one says I Believe but when we pray it is to be with a Publick Spirit in regard to a whole Community and therefore Christ has taught us to say Our Father Vis unita fortior both the Solemnity as of God and the whole assembly as before him do contribute much to the intensness and vehemency of the Devotion it is thus an effectual fervent Prayer because in and by the Church and so the greater are the praises ascribed unto God amongst the Multitudes Which is the Third instance of this Great Benefit at this present Ecclesiastical Dispensation the Benefit Great because diffusive the Redemption pretious because intimated that it might be Universal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Believers added to the Lord in the Community of the Church were Multitudes Multitudes and those in a Communion together with one accord how were the Solemnities in Solomons Porch both glorious and efficacious this was the Gospels great energy at the first in that it gained Proselytes unto its profession by Multitudes But alas this has of later years been the Epidemical Degeneracy in the Christian world in that our Religion looses of its followers even to a Popular Backsliding Is it not sad to reflect upon it that the Church should be almost reduced to a necessity of humouring the Multitude against its own Communion whereas external unity was wont to be effectual in the hearts of all how many soever they were that saw it that they should seek after it And yet this is Visible beit in reality or in strife their number is great who by Faith in the Lord are added to the Church and therefore though we cannot suppose the Multitudes here to be so distinguished yet the usual account given us of the Outward Church is that the Multitudes in its Communion are of two sorts either formal Professors or sincere true Believers and both these do belong to Christs Visible Body the Tares will multiply together with the good Corn untill the harvest one and the same Field incloseth both they are not separated till that which proves best is fit for the Granary in the mean time it is not for man to presume to make a difference so the Church increase by Multitudes we are therein to rejoyce and in our joy to hide even a Multitude of Sins let every one examine his own heart whether he experience to a spiritual and a holy advantage the comfortable effect of that Communion under which he lives and so as to the Multitudes a judgment of Charity will in the best sense and to very good purpose comprehend them all whatsoever may be the Election of grace this is sure we are not to be censorious in reference to the present or future state of any since the seal of that Election is that God onely knows who are his however for our comfort with him there is no respect of persons of every Age and of every sex whosoever worketh righteousness is accepted with him the Multitudes seem to imply all the Young and Old high and low One with another but more particularly this General Division of Mankind is specified to shew that the whole race is included Which is the Fourth Instance of a great Benefit in this present Dispensation there was no difference in relation unto Sex in Christ Jesus it is neither Male nor Female but a New Creature even the weaker Vessel has here its equal honour and proportionable too in its number 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there were Multitudes as of Men so of Women of honourable and vertuous Women and of holy Men not a few Vtriusque sexus fit mentio quia in utroque judicium sacrilegii Mention is here made of both sexes because that Gods judgment against the sin of Sacrilege was exerted upon both Ananias and his Wife were alike consenting to the sin and they share alike in the dreadful punishment that hence both Men and Women be fore-warned that they should be as the Apostle directs Gal. 3.28 As Male and Female all one in not against Christ Jesus Considering in the Text both Sexes met together in a holy Communion their faith increased with the increase of God I might observe how that schism and separation like the Devil of old begins with a Division even upon this account first surprising and shattering the weaker Vessel Women who because of their tender apprehensions and their weaker judgments do quickly embrace any thing that is offered them in reference to a future state are many times seduced into a mistake Act. 13.50 even the Devotion of honourable Women was abused by the Jews unto errour they raising a persecution against St. Paul by this means whom they could easily perswade that in so doing they did God good service I would not here speak without a witness what I urge is from the Scripture 2 Tim. 3.6 Of this sort are they who creep into houses and lead captive silly women who are ever learning and because thus deceived they never come to the knowledge of the Truth But this is not as Men and Women professing Godliness God from the begining intended that they should be meet helps to each other not only in the circumstances of humane life but also of Divine and Religious worship and shall they act the Devils part one against another what must they seduce and betray and that of all things in Gods service What is the Wife in the Bosome a Serpent there or is the Man at her right hand a Lion in the way to devour No may they live together as becometh holiness the one in love honour and prudence the other in silence and obedience both together in godliness and sobriety which have the Blessing of this life and of that which is to come let us all therefore both Men and Women without designes upon each other as One in the Lord chuse those things
have kindled this shall you have of my hand you shall lie down in sorrow Would we examine and try our own or the spirits of others whether they be of God or no the Word of the Lord is sharp and piercing it divides betwixt the marrow and the bones it searcheth out the depths and secrets of the heart That fire cannot be a flame of holy incense to consume the Sacrifice and to render it acceptable which has no regard to the Holy Oracle of God Here that zeal is reproveable which spends it self either in decrying the sacred Scriptures as useless or in preverting the Scriptures making them of private interpretation to speak what they never intended such who wrest them to their own destruction First They that decry the Scriptures as useless since we are now not to be directed by a line or by precept but we are all to be taught of God of this sort are they who think themselves above Ordinances waiting only for some secret instincts some impetuous raptures to carry them they know not whither to do they know not what such who have laid aside the first Principles of Godliness they are not to be dealt with you shall never argue them into a better temper so long as this melancholy dumpish humour doth transport them they have this still for a refuge that they are not free to hear or to answer you But as for our selves that we be not led away by the errour of these wicked men it may be urged and I cannot urge it too often the Articles of our Creed into which we were baptized that as in our Profession we do believe the Holy Ghost to be the Lord and giver of Life and so a spirit of illumination unto the Sons of Men so we do believe that he the same Spirit spake by the Prophets He the same Spirit does assist in the Communion of Saints and therefore we are not to neglect the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is Secondly As for that other sort who have made themselves the only perpetual Dictators in Religion whose humour is the only Light they have for the interpretation of the Scripture who make the Scripture to be of a private interpretation speaking what it never intended who have against the continued practices of Christianity in all ages found out a new clew of thread to extricate themselves and others out of some Labyrinths of controversie of their own devising and do thus betray the simple and ignorant into not onely foolish but dangerous errors these men act as if they had forgot those Scriptures which they pretend for to interpret those that tell us that the Spirits of the Prophets must be subject to the Prophets especially when they are met together in a holy Communion They who would take heed to a sure word of Prophesie must know this first of all 2 Pet. 1.20 That no Prophesies of Scripture are of private interpretation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of a mans conceited enthusiastical and sudden explication 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 St. Mar. 4.34 It was the onely prerogative of Christ himself when he was alone for to interpret but as to us the word of Prophesie is not thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the will of man we must take in along with us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Analogy of our Common Faith and the sacred authority of the Catholick Church as knowing that whatsoever seemed good unto the Holy Ghost as it is revealed in the word seemed good likewise to the same Spirit as it is explained by the Church and proposed to those who will receive the truth in the love of it to be matter for their Faith wherefore the Scripture hath said I mean St. Paul in whose writings there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some things hard to be understood which the Pride and Tyranny of the Church of Rome on the one hand and the unstable peevishness of our Classical Brethren from their Consistory on the other have wrested two contrary ways yet between them both the word of God abideth sure to wit that Scripture which refers us to an Interpreter for all the rest 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of the Living God in all things necessary to salvation as the words following do imply is the onely pillar and ground of truth and then he adds the fundamental articles of our Christian faith without controversie great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels c. That zeal then is truly commendable just holy and good which is a Zeal according to the Scriptures a contention for the Faith of God in them revealed as they are by the Church delivered to the Saints which whilst it doth coufess the Holy Ghost to rule in the hearts of all Believers does not too hastily pass over the two next Articles of our Christian Faith in which we also do believe a Holy Catholick Church and in the Vnity of that Church do joyn with the Communion of Saints such a Zeal as this is good that is guided by a good rule by the word of God as it is proposed and said open by the Church to be a perfect Canon an exact prescription to tell us what ought to be our Faith and to guide us in our manners in all holy Conversation and Godliness Secondly Zeal is good in Relation to the Object of it if it be managed upon a good matter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon a good thing which bears its due proportion to that rule This is that which St. Paul tells us is the result of the Grace of God bringing salvation and appearing unto all Tit. 2.14 In that our Saviour gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works The people are then peculiar and the zeal is singular when by the blood of Christ we are cleansed from all iniquity so that our works are good Having once submitted our selves to the obedience of Faith and publickly owned it in the Unity of the Church every man has so far a Judgment of private Discretion and possibly not in many cases besides as to examine his own Actions by that Rule of Righteousness which he hath received and the rectitude of which he must not in the least dispute Saul forgot himself and God also when in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah he slew the Gibeonites 2 Sam. 21.2 These Gibeonites though but hewers of wood and drawers of water in the sanctuary were to be preserved because of the Oath of God Joshuah 9.3 17. They who were for exterpating root and branch amongst us though they had formerly given up their names to God and to his Church in their Promissory Subscriptions that they would conform to and not endeavour the alteration of the Religion established and yet after all this in their zeal unto the people did lift up
you What this Moderation is that so we be not mistaken about it in our selves Your or Our Moderation it is no Indifferent luke-warmness and here I have made a search into the signification of the Word into the Recommendation of the vertue as it doth consist with those other Apostolical Admonitions given to these Philippians throughout the whole Epistle and into the Example proposed to our imitatirn our Blessed Saviour being a pattern as of Meekness so of Integrity thus let our Moderation be known as was his not in a dispensation or relaxation from our Duty but in the personal circumstances and occurrencies of our Lives or Deaths the Lord is at hand and this brings me to the Second Thing proposed how and in what particular Circumstances this grace of Moderation is to be manifested unto others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let it be known Though the injunction is that it should be known unto all men yet it is not said at all times And here in the first place we are to be careful that in our Moderation there be no Affection lest it degenerate into flattery and hypocrisie it is indeed to be seen of men not that we but that God himself may have the Glory of it our Moderation is to be exerted just as our Almes are to be dispenced not with a Trumpet sounding before us that men may have our good nature in admiration but our left hand must not know what our right hand doth so shall our Heavenly Father who seeth in secret reward us openly To appear all things unto all men to gain the more is not a vertue for every one to be trusted with it seems fit only for an Apostle to practice who in his whole Ministration is more immediately assisted and directed by the Spirit of God and this practice of his too if we rightly consider it was only in such circumstances wherein the Doctrine of Christianity was like to suffer or be promoted according to the more or less wary Dispensation of it betwixt Mosaical Judaism and Philosophical Gentilism and therefore we find the same Apostle when he with-stood St. Peter to the face because of his Dissimulation thus to vindicate himself throughout his Ministry Gal. 2.18 That what ever mis-apprehensions some might have of him or mis-constructions they did put upon his Practices he did not in the least build again the things which he had destroyed and so make himself a Transgressor But now the Gospel is so far propagated that as soon as we are come into the World our Names are given up to Christ in Baptisme and with our first Milk we may suck in the Principles of Godliness being weaned from our Mothers Papps we are sent unto the Churches Breasts of consolation The Scriptures of God which are able to make us wise unto Salvation hence we may suck the sincere Milk of the Word and grow thereby and whatsoever variety of Perswasions there be now in Religion they do not proceed from our different estate before our receptation of it but from the different interests of Parties so and so affected under its Administration having espoused a quarrel they are too tenacious of it they are unwilling to to fore-go what they have eagerly maintained herein therefore is to be the great expression of our Moderation that we stand fast to the profession of our Faith and hold it peaceably in the Vnity of the Church keeping as the Apostle directs the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace that we have a tender regard to those that are gone aside of some we must have compassion making a just and an equal difference and others we must endeavour to save with fear pulling them out of the fire and yet all the while we must be careful that we keep a strict watch over our selves hating the Garment whech is but spotted with the Flesh St. Judes Epist v. 22.23 Thus must we make it our daily Prayer as the Church directs that God would bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived and for our selves that from all Sedition false Doctrine Herisie Schism and Râ—bellion our good and gracious Lord would deliver us Would we convert a sinner from the errour of his way it is not to be done by going astray with him and bearing him company and so endeavouring our own stedfastness for how do we know but that he may seduce us as well as we hope to regain him but it is a Pious endeavouring to restore such wandring Sinners as have wandred either from God their Father or the Church their Mother in a Spirit of Love and Charity there is no reason that to make sure of Moderation we should let go our own integrity that to shew our love to our Brother we should forget that Charity which we owe unto our selves that in keeping his we should loose our own Peace that in Love to any mens Persons we should court their Vices have their errors and their failings in admiration and so much the worse if it be because of advantage 2 Tim. 1.7 The same God who hath given unto his Servants a Spirit of Love hath given them likewise the Spirit of a sound and of a sober Mind Gal. 6.1 Do we see any that is overtaken with a fault herein consists our Christian Moderation that we consider our selves lest that we also be tempted and out of a Principle of good Nature we must not venture to run out after him but saies the Apostle You who are your selves Spiritual do you restore such a one in the spirit of Meekness in the Parallel to my Text Titus 3.2 In whatsoever station of life God has placed us we must labour to shew all Meekness unto all men 2 Mac. 9.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Moderation is a kind of holy Philanthropie by which abstracting some particular respects not so acceptable unto our selves we can prosecute all with whom we have occasion to converse with love as Knowing them to be of the same Make with our selves that they and we are all of us in the Body and yet for all this every one of us must faithfully abide in that Calling wherein he is Called in the Lord watching thereunto with all Diligence and Perseverance After all that has been said though all men have a right to our Moderation the Holy and the Good that they may rejoyce with us the froward and the perverse that they may be won by us our friends that they may go hand in hand with us our enemies that they may be reconciled unto us those who are our Superiours to whom we have submitted our selves in the fear of God our equals with whom we do converse in the love of Christ and our inferiours to whom an example of meekness and sobriety alluring them to the wayes of holiness by our affable and acourteous Behaviour in the strictness of a well-ordered Conversation yet I say though this Grace is so universally so impartially to be