that cloud of bloud which fell in our Marian dayes had besmeared our land when whosoever would keep conscience and get Heaven at last must looke to be transported thither in a fiery convoy Why then run thorough all ages inquire of the former and latter dayes and you will find that in the saddest and most sinfull times the Lord provides most certainly and gloriously for the security and honour of his people And indeed what fitter opportunities can be found out Reas or thought upon wherein the Lord should magnifie himselfe in doing great things for his servants For when is his hand so visible and his helpe so glorious as in extremities It is time for thee Lord to work saith David for they have made voide thy law Psal 119.126 when men have violated all bonds both sacred and civill cut in two the sinewes of the lawes authoritie and let themselves loose to all exorbitancies high time then for the Lord to take the matter into his owne hand to stirre up himselfe for the vindication of his honour A remedie applyed rebus confuses perditis Calvin in loc when things seeme desperate and past cure how wonderfull and welcome must it needs be Then doth the glory of a deliverance appeare when the Almighty hand hath broken those knots and difficulties laid open those streights which otherwise were altogether inextricable and then doth the beauty of a Church shine most conspicuously when she hath recovered her purity and escaped pestilentiall contagion in bad times when she is quitted from those blemishes that threatned to over-spread her by a seasonable and thorough Reformation But I have promised brevity in this point Let us see a little only how the truth will sute with our times That perillous dayes were upon us before the flames of publique wrath and misery brake forth none will deny except such as are stupid under any mischiefes or are actours or abettours of ours I will not so much as mention in what case our Lawes and Liberties Lives and Liberties stood I desire to limit my selfe within mine own verge and I beleeve men are sensible and querulous enough of the evils that touch their skins James 2.19 Devils tremble at the sense of misery Christians should search out the cause and take that to heart And if the sins of men corrupt the times and make them dangerous and troublesome think sadly then upon what a generation we are fallen oh that I might say what dismall dayes we have escaped For Religion which is the main how hath the power of it been denied and cryed down in a despightfull and furious way of opposition the purity sophisticated and defaced by base mixtures rotten formalities Oh 't was enough to cause any tender and truly affected soul to feel pangs of spirit to hold his loynes to fall into travell and bring forth an Ichabod an issue of consternation or doubtfull astonishment to see those uncircumcised Philistines Popery and prophaneness irreligion and will-worship seizing on the Arke and driving away the glory of the Lord. For truth how hath it been silenced perverted mangled the day would faile me almost to reckon up the exploded monstrous licentious errours that have been raked up out of hell published and patronized among us For manners I thinke the Sunne never looked upon a people nor measured an age more conspurcate or corrupt then ours 't were easier and fitter to bewaile with teares then expresse in words the excessive height of our pride and oppression injustice and bloud luxury and sensuality And as sinne hold possession so did judgement lie at the doore which hath since fallen upon us as a devouring beast how could it be but that so much filth must send up vapours to darken the face of Heaven with indignation against us Oh the dreadfull cloud that still hangs over us showring downe an horrible tempest of wrath a viall is poured out that turnes all into bloud Now if at this point the Lord be pleased to turne againe the captivitie of our Zion to cleare up all and shine upon us with favour what will this be lesse then a Resurrection from death how will our glory and beauty as that rare bird revive from the very ashes of a ruinous decay But if as yet we are not brought low enough for such an exaltation if the times are not yet at the worst if sharper seasons must be expected if our present hopes should be strangled in the birth or nipped in the bud which the Lord avert here 's the comfort that in such a day when the wickednesse of the enemies is fully ripe and Christs Spouse hath sate long enough in the dust when things are brought to such a passe that the Lord may be most magnified in the confusion of insolent adversaries and the advancement of his dejected depressed people even then will he certainly be for a crown of glory and for a diademe of beauty unto them which is the second particular the high and honourable advantages here promised to the Church Glory is the lustre or splendour that results from dignity and a crown is the highest ensigne of honour the principall token of Majesty Beauty is the impression of sweetnesse or lovelinesse and a diademe is the most stately ornament to set forth beauty and make it more amiable And a composure of glory and beauty makes up a piece of most absolute and exact symmetry consisting of all the parts and lineaments of perfection To such compleat excellencie doth the Lord raise his covenant people In the verses preceding my Text we find mention of a crown but 't is the crowne of pride of glorious beauty but 't is fading like a flower by which the Prophet expresses the usurped domineering of the wicked which shall be troden in the dirt or as some think he alludes to their festivall garlands the impudent badges of luxurie and lasciviousnesse to which he threatens a terrible blast a shamefull withering And continuing the Allegorie by the same termes used in a different sense he sets forth the true honour and excellencie of the Godly The Lord of hosts himselfe undertakes to be their glory by interessing them in all sublime and saving Priviledges He is their beauty by impressing on them the sweet and comely Properties of grace and in both crownes and diadems are gifts well befitting the bounty of the highest Majestie to his beloved Ones Indeed The presence or the favour of God is the only glorious advancement and ornament of a people or person Doct. What is it else that makes the Church an eternall excellencie Isai 60 15-19 a joy of generations Isai 60.15 then doth she sucke the milke of nations and the brests of Kings when found and eminent members are added to her her brasse becomes gold her iron silver when she is stored with pretious graces edified with pure ordinances her wals are salvation and her gates praise when she is guarded externally by good Government internally by the
THE Glory and Beauty OF GODS PORTION SET FORTH In a SERMON preached before the Honourable House of COMMONS at the Publique Fast Iune 26. 1644. BY GASPAR HICKES Pastour of Lanracke in Cornwall a Member of the Assembly of DIVINES LONDON Printed by G. M. for Christopher Meredith at the Signe of the Crane in Pauls Church-yard 1644. Die Mercurii 26º Iunii 1644. IT is this day ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That Master Rous Master Salwey and Master Nicoll doe from this House give thanks unto Master Hardwick and Master Hickes for the great paines they tooke in the Sermons they preached this day at the intreatie of this House at St Margarets Westminster it being the day of publike Humiliation and to desire them to print their Sermons And it is ordered that none shall presume to print their Sermons but whom they shall licence under their hands writing H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. I appoint Christopher Meredith to print my Sermon Gasp Hickes TO THE HONOVRABLE HOVSE OF COMMONS now assembled in Parliament IT is the commendation and glory of great works to be carried through difficulties to be borne up and brought to passe in despight of oppositions The street wall of Ierusalem were built in troublous times The Church comonly passeth thorough fire and water to her highest advancements inlargements So it comes to passe partly thorough the malice of adversaries who straine their rage higher according to the Churches risings if we could empty hell and the world of enmity we might perhaps steale quietly to Heaven and injoy spirituall priviledges with outward ease principally thorough the wisdome of God in the dispensation of mercies he raises the value of them by putting them off upon hard termes We should be apt to surfet of priviledges to kick against him that feeds us and lightly to esteeme the rock of our Salvation if the Lord did not diet and physick us if he did not acute our appetites by some sharp mixtures some bitter ingredients in our sweetest and fullest cup if he did not keep our souls in a longing temper by holding forth blessings to us after which we must reach and straine and presse even thorow a piece of hell through a world of dangers and hardships before we attain them And if good things dearly come by are to be highly prized I do not see how we can over-rate those we are now pursuing All our gold in full weight cannot satisfie our enemies their sword is cast into the ballance they hunt after our pretious souls Yea the Lord cals upon us to expend not only teares and cries but bloud and life and all Rich mercies they are which he holds at such a rate indeed more worth then our all The insuing discourse shewes forth a little glimpse of their excellency which in all humility I present to your view It is your high preferment in Gods favour Honourable Patriots that he conveyes our blessings to us through your hands that you are made the chieftaines the leaders among and above your brethren And although the heat the brunt lie mainly upon you yet are your protections strong your reward sure I need not tell you that the eyes of men and Angels are upon you that the Christian world is at agaze filled with expectation of the glorious results of your high and difficult indeavours We all rise or fall in all probability as you stand faithfull united in the work you have in hand Your imployments are eminent your interesses deep the concernment is publike reaching all that have a share in Zions prosperity The Lord fasten you as nailes in a sure place that we may be an habitation of justice and a mountain of holinesse and the blessings of the Lord may be upon us So prayeth Your humble Servant in Soul-affaires GASPAR HICKES THE Glory and Beauty OF GODS PORTION ISAI 28.5 6. In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crowne of glory and for a diademe of beauty unto the residue of his people And for a spirit of judgement to him that sitteth in judgement and for strength to them that turne the battell in the gate THere is an evill among all things that are done under the Sunne saith Salomon that in respect of outward occurrences Eccles 9.2 3. there is one event to all to the righteous and to the wicked to the cleane and to the uncleane to the pious and to the prophane whence the hearts of the sonnes of men are filled with evill and madnesse possesses their mindes till it bring them to destruction That which makes desperate ones runne mad in sinning is their presumption of Gods connivence at their courses their damned inference of his approbation of their evils from their present impunity and prospering in them because they have no changes Psal 55.19 therefore they feare not God And that which drives the sager and better tempered sort of Naturalists out of their wits is their conceit of carelesnesse or confusion in the dispensations of providence or of unequall compensations of meedes or punishments to men according to deservings Hence Brutus that wonder of magnanimity and constancie that stour stickler for the libertie of his countrey a great admirer and practitioner of vertue and an able assertour of the divine providence such as he knew when he was finally vanquished by Antonius and saw such bad successe in his cause which he tooke to be so good he disclaimes all his vertues as trifles and derides endeavours to live well as vain and bootlesse But though reason be puzled yea confounded at that which is above its reach yet faith can fathome these depths and so farre satisfie its selfe in them as to see the Lords hand and to justifie his proceedings And that which beares up the beleeving heart from faintings or fluctuations amidst the various and strange vicissitudes of things below is the consideration and assurance of an over-ruling and unerring concurrence discerning directing disposing all in a most free wise and equall course even in those passages and exigents which seeme to be most disordered or uncertaine Then when bad men are crown'd with pride fatted with luxury mounted on horse backe in unworthy advancements whence they over-look with disdaine and trample upon with insolencie Gods humble holy innocent ones or then when the Lord ariseth to shake the earth terribly and to worke dreadfull desolations in the middest thereof he hath alwayes a selected parcell which is his deare charge to whose safety and honour he beares tender and unalterable respects in the most doubtfull or dangerous times In that day whether it be the short day of the wickeds prosperitie or the determined day of vengeance upon them shall the Lord of hosts be for a crowne of glory and for a diademe of beauty for truest advancement and ornament to the residue of his people to that pretious portion which is his owne according to the election of grace He shall be for a
spirit of judgement to him that sits in judgement He will raise up instruments and fit them with faithfulnesse and activitie for the administration of Justice He shall be for strength to them that turne the battell in the gate He will infuse courage and adde wonderfull successe to their attempts that fight his battels and jeopard their lives for his cause The words read unto you are a propheticall Promise let it not seeme unsutable to the day for me to handle a Promise It is our worke to day to humble our soules and poure them out in prayer and what so proper and prevailing to melt a gracious soule as the goodnesse of a Promise and where but in the Promises shall we look for grounds and matter of our requests and what one single Promise in Scripture can more directly and fully answer our desires than this we groane after Reformation this Promise holds it forth to us in the honourable and amiable notions of glory and beauty Our supreme Councell our Kingdomes Worthies are this day on their knees before the Lord and what blessing would they beg of God or we for them rather then the spirit of judgement here promised Our Armies are in the field and if we were put to the option to find out and beseech an advantage to them we cannot bethinke a better than is here expressed that the Lord would be their strength If I had a spirit and a tongue to set forth and you hearts rightly disposed to aske what is here contained I might impart and you obtaine the fulnesse of the blessing of God That we all may doe our duties the better I beseech you looke over the Promise againe wherein you may finde remarkable 1. The seasonablenesse of it intimated in the circumstance of time when it shall be accomplished In that day 2. The pretiousnesse expressed in the substance of good things assured the Lord himselfe undertakes to be for a crown of glory and for a diademe of beauty rich and sure and honourable advantages these 3. The peculiaritie of the Priviledges appropriated they are to Gods residue or remnant the persons with whom alone he stipulates 4. The specification of two choice excellencies wherewith he honours and beautifies his covenant people 1. The spirit of judgement for Civill Government 2. Holy valour and strength for military exploits In that day c. The parts I shall handle in the same order as they lie disposed in the Text beginning with the seasonable accomplishment of this pretious Promise set downe in the circumstance of time of which a word only because I may not spend much of the little time allotted me about a circumstance In that day If you considerately calculate the time here noted by a view of the context you will find it to be a time of foule degeneration when the greatest part was swollen in pride slimed with sensualitie growne to an height of insolency and universality in sinning and therefore ripe for a judgement yea indeed it was the very day of wrath when destruction like a violent storme a deluge of mighty waters did dash and overwhelme the flower of their beauty when like a greedy devourer it consumed most of their visible strength and excellencie In such a day t is much if the Lord affords shelter to his deare ones an hiding place till the indignation be overpast yet more it is which he here undertakes for them even then to keepe them up in their honour to raise them higher in happinesse when his severity is most sharpe and his judgements are most heavie round about them 'T is a cleare truth Doct. That in the worst and most dangerous times the Lord doth certainly provide for the glory and the beauty the advancement and the ornament of his chosen people If you looke for the literall or historicall accomplishment of this truth you will find it in the blessed reignes of Hezekiah and Iosiah 2 Chron. 29. 34. wherein after the Lord had removed the ten tribes out of his sight and cut short Judah for their high provocations yet some glorious respites he affords to his remnant wherein Religion and Justice recovered their flourish and the ruined honour of that Church and state revived and got strength But if you consider the Promise in its generall drift in its extent or amplitude as it reaches and belongs to all the faithfull then might I by a plaine and plentifull induction shew how from time to time it hath beene performed but I shall not multiply instances rather I shall single out some few that are most eminent and remarkable And where should I begin but at the most glorious advantage that ever befell the Church the summe of saving Priviledges so much desired so long looked for to which its probable this Promise mainly points I meane the exhibition of Christ in the flesh upon what times fell that even upon the most degenerate and deplorable that might be when the glory of the Scepter was departed and the beauty of truth and worship fouly blemished and razed when the Church was even at the lowest ebbe Afterwards when Christ had gathered a people for himselfe and suffered Sathan to vent his malice against them in bloudy opposition when the rage of persecutours was at the achme Euseb Eâ—cles Histor 1â— 8 c. 4. at the height When Dioclesian and Maximianus had vowed the extirpation of the Christian Name when their savage crueltie had more exhausted the world then ever any warres had done as the Historian observes even then on the sudden doth the Lord chaine up the grand enemie Suâ—pâ—â—ius checke and over-turne his fell agents in their fiercest careere and introduce glorious liberty a flourishing calme on his heritage In succeeding ages when the weedes of heresie sprang apace in the fat and well manured soile of the Church and at last grew together into popery as into one stemme all errours and villanies falling into that as into a common confluence or sinke when that man of sinne was swollen up to such monstrous insolencie Melchior Adam in vitâ Lutheri that he set his feet upon the neck of all authority when he was waxen impudent in blasphemies insomuch that Tecelius the foule-mouthed publisher of his indulgences blushed not to affirme that by the Popes power interventu pecuniae mony he must have too he could pardon him that had defiled the blessed Virgin the mother of Christ even then did the glorious Sun of truth breake forth in the preaching of the Gospel many Nations threw off the yoke of Antichrist and subjected themselves to a beautifull Reformation But whether doe we wander from our selves what neede we looke for forreigne or farre fetcht instances never was this truth more evidently exemplified in any Nation or Church under Heaven then in ours When did the Lord advance us to the dignity of his people and establish his truth and worship amongst us in a peaceable and beautifull manner even immediately after
unctiores and provide for their owne panch Questionlesse such a worship as breakes no bones extracts no sweat from the people that costs little paines and brings in much profit and secular advancement to the chiefe actours and upholders of it shall have stiffe fautours and abettours every where But heare what the Lord saith of such mixtures to the Prophet Ezek. 43.7 8 9. Son of man the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet where I will dwell in the midst of my people shall not be defiled by their whoredomes and their carcasses in their setting their threshold by my threshold and their posts by my posts and the wall between me and them 'T is as the filthinesse of whoredome as the stink of a carcasse to the Lord to have humane inventions erected or interposed as parts or props of his worship Pompey once in an audacious humour would would needs enter into the most holy place and seeing nothing but a cloud there in derision he termed the Jewes Nubicolas cloud-worshippers before the Romans thought that Apis or Iupiter Hamon or some such soule idoll had been inclosed there how doe men seek after and rest upon the garnished outside the specious paint of worship without which they contemne its spirituall simplicitie as a vaporous or crude conceit whereas the excellencie the vigour the soule of it lies in its internall truth its primitive and native purity 3. The Lord puts glory and beauty upon a people by setting up godlinesse and godly men amongst them by increasing the number inlarging the graces advancing the persons of his Saints and Servants When the vilest men are exalted the wicked ruffle and riot at pleasure all things are tumultuous and squalid Psal 12.8 but when the righteous are up there 's change of cheere things are in a joyous and faire state Prov. 29.2 Godly men are the choisest things upon earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CleÌ„ Alex. the honour the beauty the blessing of the places that hold them such ornaments yea and more glorious are they to the earth then the Luminaries are to the Heavens and when they are fitly placed in the Horoscope of a Church or State in Houses of Dominion oh what an happy aspect what a flourishing influence doe they afford Why then should men of parts and place perhaps well affected to the publike good stand aloofe from Religion for feare of contracting disgrace from it Euseb Eccles Hist li. 6. c. 18. Perhaps the devill tels them as Perphâ—cy did Origen that it will turne their learning into barbarisme their acutenesse into sottishnesse that it will spoile all their gifts and sufficiencies Or else he frights them as Cajetan did the Electour of Saxony wishing him to beware that he did not blemish his noble house by giving credit and countenance to Luther Caveret nemaculam illusâ—â—is 〈…〉 aspergat Mâ—len Adam in vitâ Luther Profectò indeâ—â—ta venit praepropere afâ—ectatur periculosè captatur Bâ—za 2 Chro. 9.21 Satan buzzes it into their eares that if they favour those frantique fellowes adhere to those strict truths and wayes they will staine their bloud emasculate their spirits and lose the garbe and repute of gallants But harken rather to the Counsels of God to the Words of truth and sobernesse To you great ones I speake Think sadly how poore vain false the glory is that is without God and godlinesse truly if you have it t is more then is doe to you you seek it sinfully and buy it dearely Summe up all your sumptuous store your birth breeding bravery possessions titles and best t is but like Salomons freight gold and silver and Ivory and apes and peacocks strong mixtures of pride and vanity enough to poyson your excellencies to sinke your ship to damne your souls Whereas if you sincerely affect and honour Religion it will honour you yea it will make you the glory of your God the dignity and beauty of your country otherwise the greater you are the more unworthy burdens and blemishes you prove to the earth that bears you To bring that which hath been said home to our selves Vse I will lay before you only two things by way of information 1. The necessitie 2. The blessing of a present Reformation The necessitie grounded on the dishonourable and odious degenerations whereinto we were fallen the blessing commended and amplified from the glorious and beautifull excellencies to which it would advance us 1. The former the foulnesse of our decayes and distempers I have already touched and so generall they were that they might take up an age of complaining yea and so apparant that you that have your senses about you cannot but see and feele them though I should say nothing of them Methinks we were even come to that passe wherein the ten Tribes lay after their defection For a long season they were without the true God without teaching Priests and without Law 2 Chro. 15.3 Popery atheisme prophanenesse were shouldering out our God our faithfull teachers were crushed silenced or discouraged and Idoll sheepheards promoted that starved soules or edified them to damnation the justice and power of our Lawes nullified force and will carrying all before them We may gather what should generally have been done by considering what is done where the mischiefe prevailes Many dark places of the Land are still the habitations of such cruelties I speake it in the griefe of my soule the parts to which I stand most neerely related are overwhelmed with all the branches and extremities of the misery and I mention it not to informe you of what you know not but now in the day of your humiliation seeing the Lord hath made me your remembrancer to inkindle pitty in you and move you to speedy and thorough helpefullnesse to them If any misinformed or partiall or angry fellowes aske us what ailes us when we lift up our eyes and put forth our endeavours for remedy Let 's answer them thus they would take away our God and what have we more they would bereave us of our teaching Ministers and it would be worse to want them then to feede upon the bread of adversitie and the water of affliction Isa 30.20 they would spoile us of our Lawes divine and civill and t were better the Sun should droppe out of Heaven Act. 11.28 that our hearts should be torne out of our bodies then we loose them Honourable and beloved The Iewes when they conceived their Law and place and Temple indangered by Pauls preaching with a joynt and vehement vociferation they cryed out Men of Israel helpe Let me with a better spirit and upon better grounds bespeake you in the name of the Lord Men of Israel ye that are Israel Israelites indeed helpe helpe every one of you you by your advise and authority you that can doe nothing else by your supplications humiliations reformations we by our instructions intercessions actions passions others by their estates and lives every one
free and eternall purpose Mal. 3.17 makes up for his jewels by actuall and effectuall calling hypocrites and formalists may partake of generall and externall priviledges the men of the world have large shares of common mercies Psa 17.14 even their bellies full of Gods hid treasures but all saving favours yea all favours in a saving manner are conferred only on the remnant A man may be hospitable and beneficent to his eighbours gentle to his servants mercifull to his enemies but his affection and usage of another straine which he beares and expresses to his towardly children his faithfull spouse 't is not for a stranger to intermeddle here Let gracelesse men prattle of I know not what figment of universall grace let the bond-slaves of Satan pride themselves in the imaginary faculty of their free-will Our God is infinitely bountifull but not so lavish as some would make him to cast away his high honours his deare delights promiscuously these are the propriety of the elect the portion of sons and daughters these are peculiarized to Gods residue Quest. But who are this residue Resp I cannot stay upon a discovery of them Briefly take notice of them thus 1. Negative by their distinction They are not men of the multitude nor of the world nor of the times they dare not sinne of the fashion not goe to hell for company their care is to be at a reall and wide difference from all ungodly and unsound ones to be saved from the untoward generation Act. 2. â—0 2. Positive by their qualification Jer. 2.3 They are holinesse to the Lord the first fruits of his increase prime parcels intirely dedicated and vowed to his service consecrated vessels of the best mettall and making new framed by Gods blessed workmanship in the most delicate artifice of grace Eph. 2.10 created in Christ Iosus cast into his mould and so prepared for honourable designes 2 Tim. 2. â—1 made meet for the masters use Their holinesse is hearty their maine drift the honour and service of their God 3. Collectivè by their consociation They all live by the same Spirit walk by the same rule mind the same Heaven and therefore they are of one heart and of one soule Act. 4.32 Pearles are accounted more pretious and fitter for ornament when they are of equall bignesse or sorted into Vnions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato Gold and Diamonds said the Naturalist are nothing in price or luster to the consent of good minds And although there may be some petty difference between them in judgement some small and temporary distance or interruption in affection yet they accord in the maine they are shaken together in times of triall and separation and as Christs cause and their owne greatest good requires they strengthen their union by all warrantable and worthy wayes of mutuall ingagement and helpfulnesse Vse 1. This may shew us then that when the Lord doth great works and conferreth great blessings he distinguisheth and selecteth both instruments and objects Times of the Churches exaltation are times of widest and most thorough distinction Multitudes would presse in for a share of her priviledges when she is rising that must be shaken off as burdens and blemishes before she can recover her honour When favourable edicts were published for the Jewes their adversaries claime acquaintance with them and offer them assistance they would needs have a finger in the temple-work but their help is refused and their officiousnesse suspected as more dangerous then their professed opposition Ezra 4.1 2 3. If there be a Iudas among the twelve he must be uncased before Christ have finished his work and what have devils to doe to fit in the assembly of the Gods devils in treachery in malice in impuritie The mixed multitude the mungrell crew that came up with the Israelites out of Egypt were touched with a stupid admiration of the wonders which God wrought for his people and promised themselves much happinesse in their company but when they met with streights and wants and found not things answerable to their sensuall humour then they fell a murmuring and a lusting and the Lord swept them away in his displeasure so that none of them reached Canaan Numb 11.4 One great cause of the streights and miseries that have befallen us in our passage from Egypt to Canaan hath been the discovery and distinction of those loose rotten adherents to Gods cause and people And oh that they were all shaken off while they are unsound at heart we may take more comfort in their falling away then in their accesse If yet a sword pierce deeper into Christs soule if heavier things befall his members it is that the thoughts of many more hearts may be revealed Luk. 2.35 that a clearer and more thorough difference may be put betweene the pretious and the vile 2. Hath the Lord a speciall pretious portion such as we have heard decyphered upon which he heapes such honour fastens such favour impresses such beauty Fearfull it is then that it should be the butt of mens opposition Act. 28.22 the sect-every where spoken against in common account the vile refuse rather then the glorious residue Histor of France The Marshall Biron of France was a man impudently and insatiably ambitious yet above all his titles of honour he affected to be stiled the scourge of the Huguenots And how have men of power and policy thought no foundation sure enough for their security their glory their contentment but that which is laid on the ruines of the estates or consciences of Gods pretious ones Oh the deepe and cursed machinations or contrivances that have been plotted and urged to cast them downe from their excellency Psal 62.4 to root them out from having a name under Heaven to embitter their beings to them to make them crouch under unreasonable and impious burdens When the Arrian Bishops swayed in the Church under Valens an Emperour of their heresie Liberty was given to Iewes heathens hereticall Christians of all sorts to exercise their Idolatry false worship mad festivals what not only the Orthodox were expelled their Churches and in one place being assembled for holy performances at the foot of a mountaine under the injury of all weathers they were thence driven by force of souldiers Theod. lib. 4. ca. 24. Is it not lamentable that in the repute of many amongst us Papists Atheists Monopolists sensualists drunkards any the basest society or sort of men should be held more tolerable then the holy brotherhood the members of Christ the Saints of the most High who alone are deare to God and linked together in the only gracious and blessed Communion How many for conscience and quietnesse sake in the raigne of our Prelates did leave their deare countrey their rightfull possessions yet there are not wanting some that maligne a wildernesse to them 'T is a common wish Oh that we were ridde of them all and why are you greedy of
everlasting armes the watchfull eye of Heaven her brightnesse surpasses sunne and moone when the direct and unclouded beames of divine favours shine upon her when her God is her glory vers 19. This is the truth the top of excellencie if we consider 1. Who it is that dignifies and adornes even the Lord of hoâ—ts the King of glory able to bring low and to lift up who ownes the pillars of the earth and hath set the world upon them who in the most glorious exercise of his Soveraignty raises his poore ones out of the dust and sets them among Princes I Sam. 2.7 8. 2. How he puts some of his owne honour upon them imparts his owne nature to them beautifies them with his owne comelinesse Ezek. 16.14 for what is true grace but particula Dâ—i something of God a piece of Heaven 3. What manner of glory and beauty is thus impressed viz. that which is spirituall and internall which though it be invisible and inconspicuous to carnall view which can see nothing in the Saints but their burdensome taske their heavie pressures their bitter incounters their sad dejections yet this sets majestie and sweetnesse on the inner man so that under a clouded and calamitous outside that is full of serenity in a meane and despised condition that is truly heroique and magnanimous that wants no worth nor lovelinesse though naked of all externall dresses and contributions 4. To what purpose this is conferred to wit that the great God may take up his residence and fasten his dearest delights on his poore creatures hereby he workes them to sutablenesse and so to communion with himselfe who is all glory and beauty he makes his sanctuary glorious because t is the place of his feet Isai 60.13 where he walkes and converses and discovers himselfe graciously he clothes the Kings daughter in wrought gold that he may desire her beauty Psal 45.11 that he may impart his heart love his bosome counsels his blessed imbraces to her as to his Spouse Thinke seriously what a preferment it is to be a Favourite of Heaven in Covenant and Communion with God Suffer me here a little more distinctly to shew how and in what respects especially the Lord doth advance and adorne a Church or people 1. This is effected when the ignominious naeves or staines of abuses are wiped off by Reformation this is the repairing of the breaches of Gods house the purging the body from peccant humours this is sweeping the floore weeding the garden fining the silver from its drosse And that is glorious and beautifull Reformation 1. Which is hearty when a people upon deep conviction of their decayes and degenerations set themselves in earnest to recover their spirituall losses Turne ye even unto me with all your hearts saith the Lord Ioel 2.12 with fasting weeping and mourning an overly paint of emendation a necessitated laying downe of some grosser evils will be to no purpose There is nothing that so much dissolves communion with God as the estranging of the affections and they will be most forward and forcible in reclosing with him when we get up to a good pitch of honour and happinesse in his favour 2. Reformation must be intire of thorough 'T will admit no sutes for a little Zoar nor spare a delicate Agag nor keep alive cursed fatlings under pretext of sacrificing nor leave the high places standing because they are faire structures but it strikes at every evill little and great plausible and profitable that is destined and devoted to destruction Ex pessimo genere ne catulus quidem habendus When the souldiers slew Maximinus the tyrant and his sonne they cryed out Keepe not one whelp alive of so bad a litter 'T is in vaine to lop off the monsters head except it be feared mischiefes attempted and not extirpated will certainly repullulate or multiply Quicaquid non est peractum pro non inchoaâ—oest Plin. here that saying holds true Better never to begin then not to accomplish To irritate ill humours and not expell them will increase distempers in the body whereas a thorough cure frames it to a more firme habitude of health then ever 3. Reformation should be generall and thorough as in respect of parts so of persons also all of all sorts should come under it Materials must be prepared before the building can go up there must be hewing and squaring and apting of each part and parcell before the whole can be set together in a comely composure We put our reformers upon an unreasonable an impossible taske when we expect and cry upon them for accomplishment of the worke and we retard and dash their endeavours by our unsutablenesse Many would have all well in the lumpe and every thing bettered but themselves but how can a handsome structure be made up of rough stones and unwrought timber how can a pure Church be 〈◊〉 of impure members assure we our selves the totall summe of Reformation wil amount no higher thâ—â— we find it improved upon particular accounts and the onely way to have good times is for every one of us to amend our selves 2. The Lord dignifies and beautifies a people as by removing corruptions and blemishes so also by erecting and establishing among them the choice Priviledges and Ornaments of his truth his Worship his Ordinances The Jewes gloried of their three crownes one of the Kingdome another of the Priesthood a third of the Law that of the Law they preferred because it regulates and flourishes the rest and then is that crown truly glorious 1. When it retaines and exercises its soveraignty or power when 't is glorified and prevailes in mens consciences I plead here for Christs spirituall regiment in the heart by the Scepter of his Word not for the Pope-like and undue Prelation of persons which is not the honour but the greatest scandall and mischiefe of a Church 'T is a blessed and an eternall truth The Kingdome of God is not in word but in power 1 Cor. 4.20 The majesty of Christs gracious presence is not personated by externall pompe but declared and magnified by spirituall energy Vaine therefore are their feares and frivolous their objections who suggest that a Church looses all her glory when her Ministers are limited in the excessive additionals of earthly honour and aboundance and I am ashamed to think that so sordid an argument should be urged by Scholars whose ingenuity that I name not conscience should exceed all others Oh noble and liberall learning that ever thou shouldst be prostituted to such base uses and respects as now thou art Bernard in his dark times complaines of this vile humour in Church-men Serm. 10. super Cantic In the offices and dignities of the Church saith he men seeke the advancememt of their estates and not the Salvation of soules 'T is for Bishoprickes Archdeaconries Abbacies c. that they beat their breasts in devotion and their braines in study The mockings scourgings spittings yea the crosse
in Gods way every one in his own way help to gaine to hold these things so absolutely necessary In the day that we let go our holdfast we loose our God and our good our safety and our subsistence our glory and our beauty 2. Take a view of the blessing of Gods returne to a Church or people This my Text expresses in fullest termes 't is glory heightened to a crowne beauty decked with a diadem We have heard loud bragges of a glorious state a flourishing Church in our Land and that from the mouthes of them who did what they could to ruine both Indeed we have had multitudes of eminent Saints brought forth nourished perfected amongst us but no thankes to them who would not willingly have afforded them a being on the face of the earth these blessed Palmes sprang and spread in despight of their pressures Of late God hath offered in a gracious way to wipe away the staines from our glory the blemishes from our beauty which were many and foule But how is this mercy entertained doe men looke upon the wellcome and admire Reformation as the rising sun dispelling our hellish darknesse rather they startle and storme at it as a formidable thing one solicitous for his ill gotten goods another for ill administred office a third for his undue promotion some for their selfe opinions which they will hold to the hazzard of all most for their beloved lusts which they preferre to the glory of God the safety of the State yea and their own soules to most would withdraw their shoulder and stiffen their necks against Christ yoke as intollerably rigorous nothing so much frights them as the erection and exercise of an exact discipline Doe men thirst after the pure fountaine of truth the cleere and spirituall wayes of worship or rather content themselves with the broken cisternes of humane inventions and delight to wallow in the puddles of profanenesse and formality Is it the joy of mens hearts that the righteous are in authority Whence then that grating of spirit that gnashing of teeth at their advancement and good successe in Gods worke Men of honour are so tender of their reputation that they will not beare a word of disgrace without a quarrell a revenge and how wary of their beauty are the fondlings of our age or if they want that which is genuine and proper they adde paints and spots and attires too often such as are monstrous and meretricious yet how wilfully doe men degrade themselves of the glory to which God would exalt them how madly doe they teare off the ornaments which he would put upon them Well though base spirited narrow hearted creatures are unsuteable and uncapeable of honour though sordid clownes neglect and besmeare their comelinesse they care not how yet let us whose hearts the Lord hath touched whose eyes he hath opened prize and pursue these blessings according to their worth And if we were but provident wise for our selves we should not account them dearely gained at any rate no thought it were an age of fasting and prayer an eternity of angelicall obedience the expence of our largest livelihoods our heart blood Ob. But alas say many when shall we see the accomplishment of this promise such glory and beauty should be more conspicuous Sol. 1. And doe you not see the every dayes wonders the Lord is working 't is for want of illightned eyes and thankfull hearts then could we rightly cast up our receipts we might find glorious advantages already upon accompt 2. Are you offended at the seeming slownesse and difficulty of the progresse 't is because you mistake the nature of the worke One way whereby the Lord commends the worth of his best blessing to us is sometimes our hard comming by them The Iewes have a tradition that God sucked Moses soule out of his mouth with a kisse that so his dissolution might be without all paine such an easie lazie good-cheape way of reformation doe most men affect they would have all the fatnesse and sweetnesse of Heaven droppe into their mouthes sleeping on take heed wake not the men fright them not with difficulties for then they will fling off in discontent or give up all as lost 'T is remarkeable what Luther writes to Spalatinus touching Melancthon In Epist â—d Spalat Melancthon was a man of excellent parts very serviceable for Christs cause but of a timorous disposition apt to be overmuch dejected in difficulties and at that time extremely pensive he was for feare of some sad issues of the great meeting at Auspurge Whereupon Luther wishes his friend to exhort and charge him in his name Ne fiat Deus that he make not himselfe a god he might seeme to be farre enough from aspiring to be a god who was cast downe below the common pitch of a man But here was his fault his projects must be like the counsells of God unerringly and unchangeably stand and be effected both in respect of time and manner or the cause he thinks was lost and his spirit utterly sunke So it is with many amongst us they must have their own mind and their own will in all things which is Gods peculiar or they are undone If they have not all that they have promised or fancied to themselves they have nothing at all If the simple gourde of their projects of conceits be smitten and wither they think they doe well to be angry to be disconsolate even to the death But 't is no disparagement nor diminution to the worth or comfort of faithfull and blessed instruments that the Lord over works them brings to passe something yea the maine in the most glorious undertakings by himselfe Have we not seene rich blessings eminent atchievements effected by the bare and immediate hand of God when councels have beene crossed endeavours tired yea hope it selfe worne out and ready to give up the ghost can we but acknowledge it to be the Lords doing to bring downe insolent adversaries to truth and peace and holinesse when they have been trapped and confounded by snares of their own setting mischiefes of their own hatching who were impregnable by all humane attempts like to the Nemean Lion which when Hercules had slaine he knew not how to get off his skinne that was so hard that nothing could pierce it neither wood nor stone nor steele only the Lions own nailes where sharpe enough to doe it So hath the Lord turned the pride and madnesse of wicked men upon their own heads to their ruine that otherwise were too tough or strong to be dealt with In great works God will be eminently seene and acknowledged yea and he carries them thorough insuperable difficulties and impossibilities to us that we may set him up and trust in him only 3. Why will you dislike the work for its hardship or tho instruments for their slacknesse and not consider rather and stand amazed at the opposition that is made against them I think the devill never played the devill more
outragiously and apparently then now all his sleights and all his furies and all his confederacies are now on foot Hell and earth and Rome openly combined strongly armed professedly fighting against the honour and happinesse of our Kingdomes and shall we not have something to doe to fetch our priviledges out of the fire to winne them at the sharpes 4. Be not too bitter in quarrelling or casting blame upon opposites but reflect and looke into your own indisposition to the glorious and beautifull work now in hand Is it a matter of nothing think you to resuscitate and animate dry bones Ezek. 37.3 to put flesh and finewes and skinne and beauty upon them to infuse spirit and vigour into them Indeed the Lord is able to doe it with a breath with the turne of an hand yet he uses to proceed in a wise method by little and little striving as it were with the aversenesse of the object And we shall alwayes find degenerated creatures wofully averse to Gods rectifying and reforming work Iehoshaphat stretched his sinewes and put forth all his endeavours about the businesse of reformation but he could not bring to passe all he intended because the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers 2 Chron. 20.33 Such crooked pieces such untameable monsters doe our reformers find the multitude of men amongst us Hezekiah made a faire progresse in that blessed way and when he had brought things almost to the upshot the Priests were too few they that should have been most forward were unsanctified and unhearty in their duties Oh the miserable scarcity the cursed untowardlinesse we are like to find in our Sanctuarie men for the worke of God! 2 Chron. 29.34 Iosiah began betimes and went farre in the best paths of his fathers yet all could not prevent the overthrowing vengeance to which the guilt and bloud of Manasses provocations had made the whole obnoxious 2 King 23.26 now if we lay all these and more obstacles and blocks in the way 't is no wonder if the motions of our reformers be slow nay 't is well if ever we gaine any sound recovery 't is well if the definitive irreversible doome be not past upon us and we be not left to confusion as an incurable people I speake not this as if I were ignorant or inobservant of the cursed art of some whose drift it is to weare out and bring to nothing the blessed work begun by delayes which they dare not oppose by open force nor yet in favour of their backwardnesse and benummednesse by whose slacknesse it is kept so long between the knees and is in danger of strangling but only to still and check their impatiencie who by their precipitous hastinesse and fleshly discontent manifest little skill in discerning Gods method and manner of working and lesse faith in waiting upon his wise and gracious dispensations under clouds of difficulties and seeming protractions He that beleeveth maketh not haste Isai 28.16 Obj. 'T is farther objected that we seeme to be farre enough from recoveing glory and beauty seeing the dishonourable blemishes of errours break out so much upon us Sol. To this I answer 1. 'T is not to be denied nor dissembled that errours have seemed to grow upon us whiles we have been contending for the truth And we shall find more then once that upon the most eminent changes in the Church for the better Satans malice and mens corruptions have cast in such mischiefes Constantine the great was the Angel that bound Satan the heathen power Rev. 12.5 he was that man-child at whose birth and by whose victorie the dragon the persecuting Emperours were cast down and vanquished yet in his dayes Arrius hatched and vented his venome which infected the world In Germany upon the very dawning of reformation the hellish fogs of Anabaptisme rose up and flew abroad like clouds spread upon the mountaines 'T is no new thing we see for errour to confront the truth most petulantly and peremptorily when it is springing up to greatest purity and lustre 2. This fals not out without some advantage to the truth There must be heresies saith the Apostle that they that are approved may be made manifest 1 Cor. 11.19 Many Champions for Christ shew their valour by incountring and quelling such monsters Eph. 4.14 much chaffe is whiffled away by the blasts of false doctrine and the sleights of men which before lay heaped up with the graine and many truths are rendred more cleare and glorious by ventilations and debates with errour 3. Do any impute the cause and charge the blame of this evill upon Reformation why doe they not as well quarrell the Sunne for discovering bogs and precipices in their way or fall out with their Physitians for making them the more sick for the present when they attempt a cure upon their foule bodies When I would have healed Israel saith the Lord then the iniquitie of Ephraim was discovered and the sin of Samaria Hos 7.1 Many latent maladies that have both root and stuffe in the body shew not their apparent symptomes till remedies be applyed I le be bold to affirme that the serpentine brood of errours which now crawle abroad were spawned in the muddy times that of late passed over us and how grievous and odious they are to our reformers Pulpits and Presses have in part declared and will doe more by a just full Confutation of them and I doubt not but authoritie will provide that that shall not impudently and impunely exspatiate but will use its power in a timely and thorough crushing of them If there be any yet unsatisfied either the timerous that startle at difficulties or the contentious that cavill at some partiall and yet remaining blemishes I must plainly tell you I dare not promise you nor my selfe such golden dayes wherein no wind shall blow no cloud shall rise I cannot fancy such an Idea such an exact constitution of a Church wherein there shall be no naeve or wrinkle no discrasy or distemper Can the creature here be capable of glory that hath no defect or stain of beauty to which there is nothing wanting or redundant Well whosoever you are that thorough feare impatiencie or unreasonable dislike of these invaluable blessings now tendered to us judge your selves unworthy of them and thrust them from you let me tell you that you have neither part nor lot in this matter Act. 8.21 13.46 I must turne my selfe to them to whom it belongs for to them is this Salvation sent and they will heare it and they are Gods residue The Lord of hosts well be c. to the residue of his people The third particular the persons to whom these advantages are appropriated All glorious priviledges Doct. all beautifull ornaments belong to Gods selected portion and to that only Even to that chosen generation 1 Pet. 2.9 that holy nation that peculiar people which the Lord singles out for himselfe in his
your own ruine Should not the Lord of hosts leave his remnant among you ye would soone be turned into a Sodome Isai 1.9 Their presence and prayers are the pillars of a Kingdomes safety the procurers of its happinesse And if malice hath not utterly blinded men let them rub their eyes and see two choice excellencies amongst many here annexed to them and those most profitable for humane societie even the spirit of judgement for Civill Administration and holy valour and strength for militarie exploits for so it followes The Lord will be for a spirit of judgement to him that c. First of the first the spirit of judgement which is the gift of governing well faithfulness ability in executing justice Doct. The Lord doth highly dignifie and blesse a people by setting over them religious and righteous Magistrates and Rulers 'T is a good argument of Gods favour to Israel which Huram deduces from the choice and qualification of Solomon because the Lord loved his people he hath placed such a King over them 2 Chron. 2.11 And when the Lord undertakes the glorious and happy reparation of that state after an wofull decay he promiseth to restore their Iudges as at the first and their Counsellours as at the beginning to reduce them to primitive purity and integrity Isai 1.26 This blessing will shine the more by setting against it the misery and mischiefe of its opposite injustice As a roaring lion and a ranging beare such an one is a wicked ruler over a poore people Prov. 28.15 Cedren In the dayes of Phocas that bloudy usurper he was the first sworn slave to Antichrist that wore a crown a holy Monk was so bold as to expostulate or enter dispute with God he asked him why he had set such an impious wretch over Christians and he was answered by a voice from Heaven if you will beleeve the story 't is related by Cedrenus because a worse could not be found and the sins of men deserved such a mischiefe Magistrates are either the common good or the common evill of them to whom they have relation In Epist ad Spalat That passage of Luther is memorable he was in great danger of death and he wishes that the Pope and his crew might be the only instruments of it he would not have Caesar involved in the cause he would not have his royall hands stained with his bloud for saith he I know how it fared with Sigismund after the burning of Huss nothing prospered with him besides his domestique infamies and calamities the weale-publique suffered exceedingly with him and under him The most exemplary judgements are upon the most eminent persons yea and they fall not alone the poore sheep smart for their dotages and delinquencies whereas the Magistrates vertues are the peoples blessings Eccles 10.17 and their vertues are comprized under this expression The spirit of judgement Quest. But what is this spirit of judgement Resp 1. It is a renewed sanctified faculty saith David with some of his last words that savour most strongly of Heaven He that ruleth ever men must be just ruling in the feare of God 2. Sam. 23.3 'T is true there are functionall abilities inlarged to men which are profitable to others though not saving to themselves You may be deep Statists learned Lawyers exact in the disquisition of truth the deciding causes c. yet all this doth not amount to the blessed property in my Text. Industry experience ingenuity morall honesty noblenesse of mind may make men dexterous in the art of judging the Lord infuses the spirit and that seasons all with supernaturall excellency Plainly he is a good Ruler indeed that is a gracious Christian to 2. The spirit of judgement is regular as it is framed by Gods finger so t is guided by Gods rule We explode the Popes Canon law Luther Ridiculum planè est Constantium Imperatorem aeternum nominare c. Sâ—â—om Eccles Histor lib. 4. cap. 16. Vâ—s Itali vultis ha here Deum in â—ane 〈◊〉 non creditu esse Deum in calis and that justly the summe whereof is this The Pope is god on earth above all things heavenly earthly spirituall secular he hath the propriety of all things and no man must dare to say to him what dost thou This we dislike not only because 't is the Popes but because 't is most lavishly irregular making up a modell of government fitter for old Persians or moderne Iurks then for Christs freed men Strange then it is that men of learning that would be called Divines should so much cry up the Law of the will Athanasius held it absurd and ridiculous in the Arrians at the Councell of Ariwinum to prefixe this title to their forme of Faith Praesente Constantio â—â—â—crno magno c. to give the stile of eternall to the Emperour and yet to deny the eternity of the Son of God And very acute is that of Melancton disputing about the Eucharistâ— You Italians will needs have God to be in the bread when you doe not beleeve that there is a God in Heaven And are not they worthier of derision then confutation who make men omnipotent and absolute and yet spoil God of his freedome in decreeing and working raze or abrogate his perpetuall commands yea and live as if there were no God in Heaven Let mortals tremble to imitate the thunder of the Almightie by the stormes of their exorbitant lusts and passions to take absolutenesse upon them which is the incommunicable prerogative of him whose throne is in the Heavens 3. The spirit of judgement is active The spirit we know is the vigorous principle of motion and action contrary hereunto is that distemper mentioned Hab. 1.4 The Law is slacked defluit lex 't is fallen into a swoune The Metaphor is taken from the slow yea imperceptible motion of the pulse in the failing of spirits And alas for us for want of activity we have expected desired magnified blessed fasted and prayed for a Parliament and we know how much time substance parts spirits bloud our Worthies have expended for the publike good what dangers and difficulties they have incountred heretofore and now they have framed for us the best Lawes humane under Heaven Would it not be a sad thing if this wonderfull power when it comes to execution should be put into paralyticall hands either quite benummed or so shaking that they can doe nothing evenly or steddily that it should be like a gunne in the keeping of an Indian a rare and forcible Engine in its selfe but made uselesse for want of good managing Oh that ever there should be any advanced to place and armed with authority who thorough the vile timorousnesse of his own spirit or the treacherous compliancy of his owne evill heart with sin or the times should not dare to act that good for which he is sure to have assistance and acceptation with the most High without the conscionable performance whereof he can never