A Consul's Servant whose name was Androdus for an offence was brought forth to this Lyon either to fight with him and conquer him or else to be torn in peeces by the Lyon and nothing else could be expected When this fierce Lyon saw Androdus afar off hee made a sudden stand as it were in admiration afterwards by little and little hee comes on to the man tanquam noscitabundus as if he thought he knew him and were desirous to know him more perfectly Then he wags his taile after the manner of a fawning Dog rubs his body against the body of Androdus who was almost dead for feare and gently strokes his thighs and hands with his tongue Upon this kindnesse of the Lyon Androdus begins to recover his Spirit and fixing his eyes upon the Lyon he and the Lyon as knowing one another began to renew acquaintance and rejoyce and play together Hereupon there was a strange admiration and shout Androdus was called before Caesar and the cause enquired why the most fierce and barbarous of all the Lyons should spare him and none else Then Androdus gave a full account of the whole matter I was a Servant sayes hee to a Proconsul a Lord-deputy in Africa there having hard use and continuall stripes from my Master I was forced to run away Wandring in solitudes that I might not be found again by my Master about Noon-tide in a hot scortching day I enter'd a Cave for coolnesse presently after this very Lyon came into the same Den with a halting and bloody foot sighing and moaning and as begging pity At the first sight of the Lyon I was terrified but the Lyon soon espying me in a corner of his Den came towards me in a peaceable manner held up his wounded foot shewed it me as craving my helpe I pulled out of the plant of his foot a great thorne or shiver that stuck in it nipped out the blood and corruption cleansed the wound and healed it The Lyon finding ease and cure by my industry rested his foot in my hand And from that day I lived three yeares in that Den with this Lyon and we had the same dyet For when the Lyon had hunted and caught his Prey he would bring the fattest and loveliest peeces to me and because I wanted fire I rosted them against the Sun dryed them and eat them But growing weary of that kind of life with the wilde Beast when on a day the Lyon was gon out after Prey I left the Den and ran away and after some three daies wandring I was taken by the Souldiers and brought to Rome to my Master he presently condemned me to be thrown to this Lyon And I understand that as soon as ever I was parted from the Lyon the Lyon also was taken in his ranging abroad and brought to Rome and now shewes me this kindnesse for his cure Appion said he heard Androdus make this relation It was soon published abroad and all the men petitioned Caesar that the man might be pardon'd and set free and that the Lyon might be given to him And upon the request of the people it was granted Afterwards saith Appion we saw Androdus leading the Lyon about the City by a small Cord from Tavern to Tavern the people gave him money and all as they met him would say Hic est Leo hospes hominis Hic est homo medicus Leonis Here is the Lyon the mans Land-Lord and here is the man the Lyons Surgeon The Story hath been something long I will give you the Application short and quick The man plucked a thorne out of the Lyons foot the Lyon gave the man his life for a reward And will not the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah do more then a Lyon of the Forrest Dost thou see in any of Christ poor Members a thorne a thorn of extream poverty and want a thorn of misery that they are ready to perish Pull out the thorn ease them help them refresh their bowels Christ will give you life even eternall life for your reward He will feed and protect you here and glorifie you hereafter Here what this Lyon this King this Jesus will say to you when he shall come in his glory Come yee blessed of my Father receive the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was an hungred and you gave nee meat I was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and you took me in naked and you clothed me I was sick and you visited me I was in prison and you came unto me Matth. 25. 34. 35. 36. Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtain mercy Matth. 5. 7. You have heard the word of Exhortation now followes the fourth and last Vse 4. Of Consolation Jesus Christ is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah the Almighty and eternall King of his Church This opens a wels-spring of comfort to all the Lyons true-bred Whelps to all the Subjects of Christs spirituall Kingdome The Lord Jesus Christ reigneth let the Earth rejoyce let the multitude of the Isles be glad thereof Zion heard and was glad and the Daughters of Judah rejoyced because of thy judgments oh Lord. Various and manifold are the Consolations I will propound them to you that your joy may be full and as shortly as is possible because I hasten to a conclusion and desire not to trespasse too much upon your patience Consel 1. Against all the Churches Enemies The Church and people of God may alwaies sing that Psalme O Lord how are my Foes increas'd And especially at this time Now doubtlesse Rome and Hell all Jesuited spirits all Hereticks and Sectaries who love to fish in troubled waters are busily plotting the overthrow of our Religion and Peace But this is the comfort the Church is not without a King a pâ—â—ent King For the Lord Jesus Christ is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us Isa 33. 22. He may seem a Lyon dermant for a season he slept till the tempest was very high Matth. 8. 24. But the Lyon is awake even when he seemeth to sleep He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep Psal 121. 4. The Lord shall awake as one out of sleep and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of Wine and he shall smite his Enemies in the hinder parts and put them to a perpetuall reproach All attempts against the Church are vain The Gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it The Lord Jesus Christ will be a Lyon to them and rent and teare Zions Enemies in peeces and there shall be none to help For hee must reigne till he hath put all Enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15. 35. Consol 2. Against our ignorance and blindnesse The poor Christian complaines as Agur Prov. 30. 2. Surely I am more brutish then any man and have not the understanding of a man 3. I neither learned wisdome nor have the knowledge
is sent out of the bosome of his Father unto men to open the Book Revel 5. 7. 9. to declare and make knowne the secret counsell and will of God concerning the great work of redemption what a new contract is drawne up between the Father and the Son what Jesus Christ hath done for man how he hath satisfied his debt which he was not able to pay and how God hath accepted of it for all those that do beleeve in him The summ of which negotiation you have John 6. 40. And this is the will of him that sent me that every one that seeth the Son i. e. beleeveth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day 2. As a King To impute and apply that great benefit of Redemption to man and to make it effectuall And to accomplish this he must be a Lyon he must be a King and that for these causes 1. To gaine and gather his Kingdome To gaine them first into the Kingdome of grace and at last to gather them into the Kingdome of glory Now to effect this he must be a Lyon a potent King for he must conquer before he can raigne yea he must make a double conquest 1. Hee must conquer his subjects he finds them all Enemies at first all Rebels it is truely sayd of all the Children of Adam This people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart Now these rebellious hearts Christ must subdue and bring into subjection making them a beleeving a loving a willing people Christ cannot gaine a Subject into his Kingdome but he must first conquer 2. He also must conquer another Lyon the Enemy-Lyon he is described by Saint Peter Epist 1. chap. 5. Vers 8. Your adversary the Devill as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour In the pawes of this Lyon are all men and women in the World by nature The Prince of the power of the ayre that evill Spirit worketh in the Children of disobedience Ephes 2. 2. The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah must conquer that roaring Lyon the Devill before hee can gather a Kingdome and raigne Quest But how doth he conquer the Devill how doth he conquer his Subjects Answ Hee conquerd the Devill as he was God by force and might by his infinite power As man and Mediator hee conquered him by his blood by the merit and efficacy of his passion He took part of our flesh and blood that through death hee might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devill And deliver them who through feare of death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 14 15. Hee spoyled Principalities and Powers hee made a shew of them openly tryumphing over them in it that is in or upon his Crosse Col. 2. 15. Faith seeth Christ upon the Crosse as sitting in a tryumphall Chariot Duo saith Origen in cruce affixi intelliguntur Christus visibiliter sponte sua ad tempus Diabolus invisibiliter invitus in perpetuum Hee conquers the rebellious hearts of his Subjects and gathers together into one Kingdome the Children of God that were scattered abroad by his voice Scepter and Sword By his voice The Lyonesse as the learned write brings forth her Whelps dead and so they continue three dayes then the other Lyon doth set out his voice and roar over them and then they revive and live Christ is the Lyon his people are his Whelps They are all still-borne Dead in trespasses and sinnes Christ lifts up his voice and roares in the Preaching of the Gospel by which he recovers the life of his people Verily verily I say unto you saith our blessed Saviour Joh. 5. 25. The houre is coming and now is when the dead shall heare the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live By his Sceptor And that is the same even the Preaching of the Gospell Psal 110. 2. The Lord shall send the Rod or the Scepter of thy strength that is the Ministry of the Gospel out of Zion and by it thou shalt rule in the middest of thine Enemies Those that were enemies by that spirituall Scepter thou shalt make them loving Subjects and a willing people vers 3. By his Sword And that 's the same still the Preaching of the Gospell This is the sharpe two-edged Sword that went out of Christs mouth Revel 1. 16. this is quick and powerfull and sharper then any two-edged Sword peircing even to the dividing asunder of soule and spirit joynts and marrow This is the two-edged Sword in the hand of the Saints which binds Heathen Kings in Chaines and Nobles in fetters of Iron That is the Gospel brings Heathen Princes and people into subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ This is that Sword of the spirit even the Word of God spoken of by Saint Paul And there you have the consummation of the conquest Yes when the spirit seconds the Word when the holy Ghost carries it home to the heart Thus the Lyon the King the Lord Jesus Christ conquers thus he calls his subjects together into one Kingdome by the Word outwardly Preached to the eare and by the spirit effectually working upon the heart moving and sweetly perswading it to obey the calling of Christ 2. Christ must be a Lyon a King to governe his subjects his Church Without Government no Society can stand when there was no King in Israel every man did what seemed good in his owne eyes and all things went to wrack Christ must be a King to give Lawes So Christ There is one Lawgiver even this Lyon and to rule so Christ he rules in the hearts of his people and governs them by his spirit They are led by the spirit of God as many as are the sons of God Judah that is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah is his Lawgiver And he doth not onely give Lawes but that which no King nor Potentate else in the World can do he puts his Law in their inward parts and writes it in their hearts Jer. 31. 33. 3. Christ must of necessity be a Lyon a King to protect and defend his Church people subjects The Lyon will stand to the defence of his young ones even to the death and having the prey in his paw the more any offer to take it from him the faster he holds it So the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah The Kingdome of Christ is ever beset with Enemies The Heathen rage the people conspire the Kings of the earth set themselves and the Rulers take Counsell together against the Lord and against his annointed against his Christ They have not onely flesh and blood but Principalities and Powers also the Rulers of the darknesse of this World and spirituall wickednesse in high places to wrestle withall And therefore without a strong Protector this kingdome would soone be dissolved and layd desolate Now the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah the Lord Jesus
that I should obey his voice I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go May not the Lord write it before them in a Table and note it a Book that this is a rebellious people They many of them know the Lawes of their Prince and yet transgresse against them and walk contrary Christ saith thou shalt not be angry with thy Brother rashly but they will continue malicious and revengefull Christ saith Thou shalt not look upon a Woman to lust after her but they have eyes and hearts full of Adultery Christ saith swear not at all but they upon every light occasion upon no occasion blaspheme the name of God and take it in vaine Christ saith Love your enemies blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you but they continue full of malice returning rebuke for rebuke curse for curse wrong for wrong evil for evill Christ saith He that will be my Disciple let him Deny himselfe they make self their God Christ saith Let my Disciple take up his Crosse and follow me They say as the reviling Passengers if thou be the Son of God come down from the Crosse free us from the Crosse or we will not follow thee Christ saith Learn of me to be meeke and lowly but they are fierce and proud Christ commandeth faith and love These are the two great Gospell-Lawes but the most of the Children of men are full of unbeliefe and haters of the Brethren O what a little Kingdome is Christs Kingdome Sign 4. Faithfull payment of Tribute as Augustus Caesar so the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Christ the King of his Church doth lay Taxes upon all his Subjects And it is the Character of a right Subject to render Tribute to whom Tribute is due and to give to Caesar the things which are Caesars And according to this rule how small is Christs Kingdome in comparison There is a Tribute of our time due to him every seventh day is his but alas How many prophane persons give away that day to the Devill Yea which is more sad how many are there in these daies that mask under the name and shape of Saints that deny this Tribute altogether and maintain it that there is no such day due to Christ at all now under the Gospell The morality of the Sabbath is gone every day is a Sabbath no day is a Sabbath This is the Doctrine of Devils and Rebels against Jesus Christ There is a tribute to go out of our time every day we live There is a certain Kingdome I remember not the name of it at present in which there is sometimes but rarely a Fish taken which by reason of the greatnesse and excellency and rarity is the Kings Right and Royalty and therefore called the Kings Fish The King alwaies gives the bulck and body of this Fish to those that catch it but he reserves to himselfe Capita Caudas the heads and the tailes as a tribute and acknowledgment that all was his due to him In like manner precious time it is all Christs own all due to him yet he gives his Subjects the body of time the body of the week the body of the day he reserves to himselfe onely capita caudas the ends of time the Morning and the Evening and what other convenient time may be redeemed these are his tribute But how few pay this Little faithfully How few who give to Jesus Christ a Morning Sacrifice How few with Isaac go out to meditate in the Evening How rare is it to finde a man that with David will pray and cry aloud Evening and Morning and at Noon There is a Tribute due to Christ our King out of our Estates and here the poore Members of Jesus Christ are his Receivers Withhold not good from them to whom it is due The poore are in a sense owners of some thing in our hands we are but stewards under Christ to distribute to them I perswade my selfe this kind of tribute I mean Almes is as unjustly and brokenly paid in this City and in this whole Nation as it is in any part of the Christian World and this I feare Christs Collectors and Receivers will witnesse against this hard-hearted Generation There are extraordinary Taxes upon extraordinary occasions you are pretty well acquainted with them Such there are in the Kingdome of Christ in times of trouble and persecution Christ calls for thy Goods Liberty Life for thy dearest blood Tell me art thou willing to part with these when Christ requires them A good Subject will fight for his King If my Kingdome were of this World sayes Christ then would my Servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jewes Joh. 18. 36. But alas alas how few Champions hath the Lord Jesus Christ Nebuchadnezzar made a Degree that every People Nation and Language which speake any thing amisse against the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego shall bee cut in peices and their houses be made a dunghill But now Hereticks that speak amisse of God and of Christ and of the Scriptures and most horrid Blasphemers do swarm and are I had almost said tolerated and cherished Who fights against them Who opposeth them Who contends for the faith for the truth and for the honour of Jesus Christ To endeavour the increase and honour of his Kingdome In the multitude of people is the Kings Honour Prov. 14. 28. He that is a right and faithfull Subject will endeavour with all his might to bring in Subjects to the Kingdome of Jesus Christ I will put you upon examination now Let Magistrates ask their owne hearts whether they in their places by executing Judgment do seek to lessen Satans Kingdome and to enlarge the Kingdome of Christ Let Ministers aske their owne hearts whether they in their places by preaching and practise by life and Doctrine do endeavour to lessen Satans Kingdome and advance the Kingdome of Jesus Christ Let Parents and Masters aske their owne hearts whether they in their places do endeavour by private inflructing of their Families to bring their Children and Servants and all committed to their charge out of the Devils Kingdome into the Kingdome of Jesus Christ Andlet all that are before me this day aske their owne hearts whether they do outof a zealous desire of the increase and honour of Christs Kingdome incessantly pray that all those that are held in captivity under Satan under chaines of darknesse that the Lord would translate them out of the Kingdome of darknesse into the Kingdome of his deare Son Do they daily pray thy Kingdome Come 7. For a ful-do And not so much a new signe as the sum of all before Is sin Is Satan cast out Hath Jesus Christ his Throne in thy heart Doth he rule in thee altogether art acted not by Satan not by the World not by the Flesh but by the Spirit of Iesus Christ then
covetousnesse to do the will of God faithfully and enjoy the light of his countenance let that satisfie you They write that in some Regions there are black Lyons to be seen too many such I feare have been seen in our City I beseech God I beseech you that we may see no more of them I have shewed you wherein you ought not to be like Lyons I shall endeavour next to shew you wherein you are to be like Lyons Be like the Lyon of the tribe of Judah in all things yea be like the ordinary and common Lyon in these following properties qualities and deportments 1. The Lyon is vigilant a waking and a watchfull creature The names in the Hebrew and Greeke import so much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Videre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Video The Lyon is of sharp sight and sleepeth with his eyes open Herein be you like the Lyon yea be like the Lord whose eyes run too and fro throughout the whole earth Let your eye be every where as farr as it can possibly reach have your eye about in the Church mark what is done there Let your eye be about in the Market to see what measures and weights and wares are there Let your eye be about upon the Sabbath dayes in the streets and open places to take notice how the day of the Lord is prophaned Let your eye be about in every Inn and Alehouse to observe what disorders are there Make use also of the eyes of others that will be faithfull How can you ever reforme what is amisse if you doe not know and see what is out of order The Lyon of the tribe of Judah is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Visitator I will English it in Daniels words A watcher and a holy one Be you so 2. Justice appeares notably in the Lyon in distributing and in punishing The Lyon is very just in distributing the Prey he doth not feed one and leave the rest hungry but the Lyon doth teare in peices enough for his Whelps for every Whelp enough and also for his Lyonesses The Lyon is also just in punishing Nunquam se vindicat ultra modum so they write Hee doth never take revenge beyond the measure of the injury he hath received if any man throw a dart at him and yet hurt him not the Lyon will throw him downe that threw the dart but not hurt him if any man wounds the Lyon the Lyon will wound him and no more hurt if any man kill a Lyons Whelp the Lyon will kill him And herein be you a Lyon All Magistrates be you Lyons learne righteousnesse to execute judgement and justice It is sayd of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah The Scepter of his Kingdome is a right Scepter or a Scepter of righteousnesse Be just in your distributions Viz. of your favours and rewards ever countenance and cherish those that are good and feare God let your frownes be upon those that doe evill It is observed of the Lyon that he is benigne to men but fierce against beasts be you so To men First to such as are good extend your favour but to Beasts to a beastly generation be severe For Rulers are not a terrour to good works but to the evill Governours are sent of God for the punishment of evill doers and for the praise of them that do well The Lyons in the Den will teach you what to do not to hurt Daniel but to flye upon false witnesses and persecutors of the servants of the Lord to roare and be terrible unto them Be just in punishing offenders to correct in a proportion If the wicked man be worthy to be beaten the Judge shall cause him to lye downe and to be beaten before his face according to his fault in a certaine number Deut. 25. 2. that is according to the proportion of his sin They were to moderate the punishment according to the nature of the trespasse and the Delinquents ability to beare the stripes Eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand foot for foot Burning for burning wound for wound stripe for stripe The Law of retaliation is an exact law God doth all his works of Justice as well as his works of power in number weight and measure Learn Justice of the Lyon 3. The Lyon is eminent for mercy For mercy in giving the Lyon is liberall in giving it eates not the prey alone but divides it to other creatures which cannot hunt for themselves Also for mercy in forgiving The Lyon spares all that prostrate and bow to him The Lyon of the tribe of Judah is gentle and mercifull Behold thy King cometh to thee he is meek Be you also mercifull Shew mercy in giving distribute liberally to the necessity of the Saints of Christ The Lyon of the tribe of Judah what did he give to relieve and save your Soules He gave himselfe The bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the World Hath Jesus Christ given his flesh and blood for you and to you and will not you give common bread to his poor Members to comfort their bodies in these pinching times Shew mercy in forgiving Parcere prostratis scit nobilis ira Leonis Tu quoque fac simile The Lyon did not tyrannize over the Carkasse when it was down nor tear the Asse being an innocent thing The Ruler must have mercy to shew compassion to the oppressed to use mildnesse and lenity to penitent Offenders to remit and mitigate the rigour of the Law Parcere subjectis as well as Debellare superbos You should consider that even you are not without your Infirmities All Authors agree in this that the Lyon hath a continuall Feaver a quartain Ague The reason they give is this God hath so provided because he is a fierce Beast and if he had no Infirmities of his own he would not only insult over but devoure also all the Beasts of the field So also God hath provided that the best Christians and the highest in place shall ever have some Infirmities and Fraileties which may temper and allay their severity against others Be not so hot in the Execution of Justice as to rent and teare every Delinquent that hath perhaps failed in some petty matters Consider your own Infirmities Brethren If any man be overtaken in a sault yee which are spirituall restore such an one in the spirit of meeknesse considering thy selfe least thou also he tempted The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah was made like unto his Brethren God only knowes how soon you your owne selves may stand in need of mercy and that not only from God but even from men also What you would that men should do to you the same do to them This is Christs golden Rule And know yea and remember it too That hee shall have Judgment without mercy that hath shewed no
higher Powers Rom. 13. 1. Give to Caesar the things that are Caesars Honour Obedience and Tribute Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evill doers and for the praise of them that do well Feare God honour the King 1 Pet. 2. 13. 14. 17. Couch to the Civill Magistrate The Donatists and their Successors Anabaptists and Libertines take away all Magistracy out of the World they are Children of Belial that will not be subject to any Yoake Though some of them be constrained to acknowledge Magistracy under the old Testament yet they maintain it unlawfull among Christians under the new Testament But you have heard it from Christs own mouth and Pauls Pen That Magistracy is a Gospell Ordinance and a great blessing Take away Magistracy and the World will soon ruine I exhort you therefore that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of thanks he made for all men for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a godly and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2. 4. Christ is the Lyon thereby is signified his Propheticall office as well as his Kingly He shall roare like a Lyon Saith the Prophet Hosea cap. 11. 10. That is saith the gloss Christ shall cause the sound of the Gospel to sound all the world over All God's faithfull Ministers are Lyons also Then be exhorted to hearken to the Prophets of the Lord when they speak in the name of the Lord I say to thee the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah roares in thine ears The Lyon hath roared what 's that The Lord God hath spoken Amos 3. 8. who will not feare who will not tremble You shall meet with a remarkeable story in the first Book of the Kings cap. 20. 35. One of the Prophets said unto his Neighbour in the word of the Lord Smite mee I pray thee a strange command one would think and the man refused to smite him q. d. I will obey you in something else but not in this What saith the Prophet to him because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the Lord behold as soon as thou art departed from me a Lyon shal slay thee And as soon as he was departed from him a Lyon found him and slew him Did the Lord shew this severity for not obeying one word spoken in his name by his Prophet and that so unusuall a command what shall the end of those be that contradict the Prophets of the Lord that speak in the language of those Ierem. 44. 16. As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee What shall the end of those be of all those that in these dayes hate despise and contemne the Ministers of the Gospel yea and the very office of the Ministry and make it their designe to root it out I feare I feare my beloved that we may read England's doome 2 Chron. 36. 15. And the Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his Messengers rising up betimes and sending because he had compassion on his people on his dwelling place 16. But they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy if the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah be not hearkned unto nor regarded when he roares in the preaching of the Gospel he will soon roar against those Rebells in fury and rent them in pieces and there shall be none to help 5. Jesus Christ is the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah that is lineally descended out of that Tribe from the loines of the Patriarch Iudah Then be exhorted to have respect to that Tribe love and honour the Jewes What a deare love had Saint Paul to his Country-men He calls Christ to witnesse that he had great heavinesse and continuall sorrow in his heart That he could wish himselfe accursed from Christ for his Brethren his Kinsmen according to the flesh And why Because they are Israelites and the adoption and the glory and the Covenant pertaineth to them But especially because of them as concerning the flesh Christ came Do you love the branch and wil you not love the root yea though it be but the root of his humanity Ob. But some will say the Jewes did crucifie the Lord of life and therefore deserve to be detested And do we not say well we hate such a one as we hate a Jew Answ Take heed of malice and bitternesse against that Nation They did slay the Messiah the holy one its true but they did it ignorantly in unbeleife and therefore Christ prayeth for them Father forgive them for they know not what they do Luk. 23. 34. And they have suffered abundantly for their sin as their wickednesse was exceeding great so the Lord hath been very severe to them The blood of Christ lyeth heavie upon them and upon their Children They are scatter'd in all Lands and are for a reproach and a hissing unto this day But hath God cast off his people God forbid God will deale more favourably with the Jewes afterward They have fallen by the edge of the Sword and are led away Captive into all Nations and Jerusalem shall be troden down of the Gentiles til the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled Luk. 21. 24. Now they are troden under foot but its onely for a time They are as you see miraculously preserved in all Countries though hated and oppressed And God will not forget his Covenant made with Abraham and his friend so many ages since It is not for nothing that Christ is stiled the glory of the people Israel Luk. 2. 32. And doubtlesse they shall have a glorious Restauration As for the dream of another temporall pompous Monarchy on Earth I leave it to the fanaticall Millenaries but that there shall be a spirituall conversion of the Jewes which shall exceed in glory I conceive it to be most plain The Redeemer shall come to Zion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob saith the Lord As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy Seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Isa 59. 20. 21. For I would not Brethren saith Saint Paul that yee should bee ignorant of this Mystery that blindnesse in part is happened to Israel untill the fulnesse of the Gentiles be come in and so all Israel shall be saved As it is written there shall come out of Zion the Deliverer and shall turn away ungodlinesse from Jacob. Rom. 11. 25. 26. Since therefore they are broken off but for a time since we look for
Angell nor Arch-angell none in Heaven and Earth can be found meet to under-go this Office onely Jesus Christ God-man could beare it You have seene how the Lion Messiah the Prince was annointed within Now secondly I will make out his Title to the Crown He had an externall Unction he was annointed a King The ancient annointing of Kings was an outward manifestation and declaration to the whole World of their undoubted Right and Title to their Kingdomes it was also a publick Assignation And this externall Unction had Jesus Christ not with materiall oyle but he had a full and undoubted right to the Government He was no usurper he had a solemn calling from God the Father to this Office and from him he derived a three-fold right The Kingdome was his 1. By Assignation from the Father Psal 2. 6. I have set my King upon my holy Hill of Zion Act. 2. 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath â—ade that same JESUS who was crucified both LORD and CHRIST 2. By inheritance Psal 2. 7. I will declare the decree the Lord hath sayd unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Heb. 1. 2. God hath appointed him heire of all things Even the wicked Husbandmen acknowledged thus much This is the heire Mat. 21. 38. 3. By free Donation Psal 2. 8. Aske of me and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession By this time the first branch or Proposition is true and evident Christ is a Lyon that is A King Therefore as after the anoynting of Jehu they blew with Trumpets and proclaimed saying Jehu is King So here having seen the anoynting I blow the Trumpet proclaim Behold Christ is King Behold Christ is King Branch 2. The Lord Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lyon The Lyon of Lyons The most excellent Lyon the onely Lyon Christ is a King and there 's no King but Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 43. â— I am the Lord and beside me there is no Saviour The cheife Priests sayd We have no King but Caesar Christians must say We have no King but Christ But haply some will object Are there not many other Kings Were there not Kings of Israel and Judah Had not Aegypt their Pharaohs and the Philistims their Abimelechs Do wee not read in Daniel of the head of Gold the Silver breast and armes the Brasse belly and thighes the Iron Legs the four ancient and famous Monarchies Did wee never heare of the Emperours of the West And are there not many Kings at this very day in the World What is there but one Lyon in the Forest I answer with Saint Paul There are Lords many many Kings And Saint Peter mentions The King as supreame and that as an Ordinance But such a King as the Lord Jesus Christ is not in the whole World And I will shew you some differences between Christ the King and all other Kings 1. Christ is the onely absolute supream soveraigne independent King the onely Lord Paramount all other Kings have but a derived delegated power from him Pro. 8. 15. By me Kings raigne saith the Lord Jesus the wisedome of the Father and Princes decree Justice All other Kings are but subordinate Viceroys Lord-Deputies 2. All other Kings are men meer men Jesus Christ is God and man as he is the man Christ Jesus so he is God over all blessed for ever No other King God-Man but he 3. In regard of bounds all other Kings they have Dominion only over some part and a little part of the World Indeed there have been Monarchs that have styled themselves Emperours of the World but they were mistaken two wayes First in their times scarce halfe the habitable part of the World was discovered Secondly Had they had all they layd claime to it was but to the lower and baser part of the World the Earth But the Lord Jesus Christ hath an universall Kingdome Psal 72. 8. He shall have Dominion from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the ends of the Earth v. 9. They that dwell in the Wildernesse shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust v. 10. The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts v. 11. Yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords yea he is King of Heaven and Earth and of all things in them There is no universall King but he 4. In respect of duration All other Kings are men that dye and their Kingdomes have their fatall periods few Kingdomes continue above five hundred years We use to say So many yeares raigned the Chaldeans and Babylonians so many the Medes and Persians so many the Graecians and so many the Romans that I meddle not with the fatall mutations in our Nation The Lord often speaks to earthly Kings in his wrath The Lord hath rent the Kingdome of Israel from thee saith Samuel to Saul even this day he hath done it and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better then thou And this was the Writing that was written concerning Belshazzar Thy Bingdome is divided and given to the Medes and Persians But unto the Sonne unto the Lord Jesus Christ the Father saith Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever God the Father speaks concerning his Son as Jupiter is brought in speaking of the Romans His ego nec metas rerum nec tempora pono Imperium sine fine dedi His seed will I make to endure for ever and his Throne as the dayes of Heaven His Throne shall be as the Sun before me It shall be established for ever as the Moon and as a faithfull witnesse in Heaven SELAH The Angell Gabriel was sent from God to the Virgin Mary with this Oracle Thou shalt conceive bringforth a Son and shalt cal his name Jesus He shal be great and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his Father David And he shall raigâ—e over the House of David for ever and of his Kingdome there shall be no end Jesus Christ is the Lyon The Lyon is a Creature as Pliny writes that lives long to an incredible age but Christ is the Lyon that never dyes And there is no eternall King but Christ You have the second Branch or Proposition I passe to Branch 3. Jesus Christ is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah First And according to the Letter He was King of Iudah He had a just right and title to the temporall Crowne and Kingdome He was of the Seed of David according to the flesh lineally descended from his loynes and by undoubted succession the King and Prince being of the Kingly race This will appear by the Genealogies Saint Matthew chap. 1. sets downe the Pedegree
the hearts of his people he brings them into subjection The Rule of Temporall and Earthly Kings is over the bodies and goods of their Subjects But Christs Throne is set up in the Soules of his people by his Spirit he rules in the inward man Temporall Kingdomes are obtained defended by force of Armes carnall Weapons the Arm of flesh but Christs Kingdome is won and maintained by Spiritual Weapons the Word and Spirit For the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it selfe against the Knowledge of God and bringing into Captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2. Cor. 10. 4. 5. Christ himselfe renounceth all temporall and earthly Dominion Thus Iesus answered Pilate My Kingdome is not of this World if my Kingdome were of this World then would my Servants sight that I should not be delivered to the Jewes but now is my Kingdome not from hence Joh. 18. 36. In respect of Dominion Right and Title all the Kingdomes of the World are the Lord Iesus Christ's He hath jus ad rem But in regard of Possession and use hee abdicates all He never owned any temporall Possessions When they would have come and taken him by force to make him King he departed alone himselfe and hid himselfe in a Mountaine Ioh. 6. 15. The more is their folly that by being Subjects of Christs Kingdome expect chiefly temporall good things Riches Honours and Pleasures So the Iewes they alwaies dreamed of a worldly Kingdome and yet expect a Messiah to come with outward Pomp and worldly Glory Yea the very Apostles were nibling at this Act. 1. 6. Wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdome to Israel And the Mother of Zebedees Children lingred after this Grant that these my two Sons may sit the one at thy right hand and the other on thy left in thy Kingdome She meanes a temporall Kingdome But what saith Iesus Christ to her Yee know not what you ask are you able to drink of the Cup that I shall drinke of and to be baptized with the Baptisme that I am baptized with Can you drink of a cup of deadly Wine with me Can you endure to be plunged over head and eares in a flood of Afflictions This you must look for in my Kingdome Riches and Honours and Offices these are not the good things of Christs Kingdome no no. The Kingdome of God is not meat and drink but righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy-Ghost Rom. 14. 17. 2. Against the Chiliasts or Millenaries That the 1000 yeares reigne of the Saints upon the Earth is but a meer dream a falshood a grosse error They fancy to themselves that a 1000 years before the generall resurrection Christ in his humane nature shall come to Ierusalem where he was crucified that all the Martyrs and Saints departed of the old and new Testament shall rise in their Bodys and that they and all the liviug Saints shall raign with him 1000 yeares They shall subdue with bloudshed all wicked Princes and disobedient Nations They shall live without any disturbance from any enemy without or within That they shall all live without sin and without Ordinances that they shall passe these 1000 years with all manner of earthly delights begetting many children eating and drinking and making merry This error first set a foot by that Arch-heretick Cerinthus I will not enter the lists to encounter it I will not meddle with the controversy I shall only speak a word if it may be to shame the fautors of this fond fancy What a Saint and so addicted to carnall pleasures Did Christ ever enjoy such an earthly Kingdome Alas alas The Foxes have holes and the foules of the Aire have nests but the Sun of man had not where to lay his head He contemned these low things And what must the Saints his followers look for upon earth Christ himselfe shall tell them If any man will come after me let him deny himselfe and take up his Crosse and follow me Christ went through this World bearing the Crosse and shall the Saints look to weare Crownes here below The generous Lyon will not eat any dead thing or stinking carcase only what is living and sweet he takes his prey eats it whilest it bleeds and trembles These earthly things riches honors pleasures are but dead things stinking carkases Surely all those whose hearts and affections feed upon them they are not right whelps of the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah If you be not ashamed of the love of the World The lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the Pride of life The worlds Trinity Pleasures profits preferments Yet be ashamed to affect a temporall reigne because Christ renounced it I shall say no more to them that expect such a carnall raigne with Christ on earth but what Saint Augustine saith to the Theife upon the Crosse in his elegant Prosopopoeia Lord sayes the Malefactor to Jesus remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdome Kingdome sayes Augustine Quid Regium vides What royalty Oh! wretched man dost thou behold what Crown dost thou see but a Crown of Thornes what Robe what Purple but a Common Souldiers tattered Red-coat what Scepter but a Reed what homage but the mocks and taunts of the raging multitude what throne but the Crosse what guard but the barbarous executioners Here 's Christs raigne upon earth hee raigned in suffering he conquered by dying he tryumphed in the Crosse go thou and be content to do likewise Obser 3. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah the King of his Church Then the government of the Church is Monarchicall This is the happinesse of the Church Monarchy is the best Government and Christ is the best King And no King of the Church but Jesus Christ God hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body Eph. 1. 22 23. Here at one blow off goes the triple Crowne The Popes Kingdome is overthrowne and the High Priest of Rome the Universall Bishop is deposed if the Pope be King then there are two Kings of the Church and Jesus Christ is not THE Lyon the onely King Bellarmine grants it that Christ is the onely King and Monarch of the Church which doth spiritually and invisibly govern it yet saith he the Church being corporall and visible it stands in need of some one to be the visible and highest judge to decide controversies to compose all strifes about Religion to ordaine all inferiour Officers Bishops Pastors c. To containe them in their duties and keep them in unity and the visible government of the Church must be Monarchicall The Church of Rome hath found out other Lyons besides the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah They usually called their Popes Leones In 440. they had
In their absence a Beare entred their Den tore and killed the young Lyons not able to defend themselves soon after the old Lyon with the Lyonesse returned to their Den and finding their young ones slaine they were filled with bitter grief and great rage out they go together to finde out the Enemy and be revenged they quickly espyed the Beare yet bloody and pursued it The Bear to escape their fury climbed up into a tree and so got out of their reach for the present The Lyonnesse stood still at the root of the tree the other Lyon went away and ranged up and downe in the Mountaines till at last he came where a man was hewing of wood He makes to the man the poore man in feare let fall his Hatchet and began to run away after hastens the Lyon gets to him casts his tayle round about him like a Girdle embraced him and licked him and by the strength of his tayle pulled him led him sayes my Author whither hee would or no First he brought him to his Hatchet and pointed to it with his foot to have the man take it up he understood not the Lyons language the Lyon then took up the Hatchet in his owne mouth and so carryed it leading the man into his Den. There he layd downe the Hatchet a while looked upon the man and then looked upon his murdered Whelps made piteous moane and then wound his tayle about the man againe tooke up the Hatchet in his mouth and having shewed him that dolefull sight led him directly to the tree where the Bear was on the top and the Lyonesse standing at the root The Lyon looks up shewed him the Bear and then the man began to suspect that it was the Beare that had done the wrong to the Lyon He takes his Axe heweth the tree downe falls the Beare and the Lyon and his mate fall upon him and tare him to peices that done the Lyon carryed the man with the Hatchet just to the place where he found him and there left him unhurt to hew wood againe This is credibly related I will not warrant the Story to be Gospel but I will warrant the application to be no lesse Tyrants and Persecutors that murder the Whelps of the Lyon of the tribe of Judah that massacre the Saints of Christ are usually called Bears in holy Writ For their security and safety they climbe up their tree and their towre is the arme of flesh their greatnesse their multitudes their amunitions their military skill their riches their freinds The rich mans wealth is his strong City and as a high wall in his owne conceite Prov 18. 11. They think in their ruffe and gallantry that none can pluck them down they vaunt who shall us controule How soon can the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah fetch Hewers out of the Mountaines and hew down their Tree wherein they trusted and teare them in peices when there shall be none to help Jesus Christ can soon call in Carpenters to cut and saw of the hornes which have scattered Judah Israell and Jerusalem And he will certainly do it I will passe their doom yet not I but the Lord and so leave them Therefore the Lord will bee unto them as a Lyon as a Leopard by the way he will observe them He will meet them as a Beare that is bereaved of her Whelps and will rent the Caule of their heart and there will he devoure them like a Lyon the wild Beast shall teare them Hos 13. 7. 8. From hence I shall slip to the third Use viz. Exhortation And here I sound the Trumpet again Behold Christo Duce Sequimini Behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah The Lyon couchant was the Ensigne of Judahs Tribe and Family And the Lord Jesus Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah is the Ensigne of his Church And in that day there shal be a root of Jesse which shall stand for an Ensigne of the people to it shall the Gentiles seeke Isa 11. 10. Behold this Child the Child Jesus is set 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Signe or Banner for many in Israel for the Church Then follow follow your Captain your Ensigne Eye him by knowledge by faith walk after him tread in his steps imitate him Christ is now lift up here he stands as Gideon and saith to you all Looke upon me and do likewise Or as Abimelech what you have seen me do make hast and do as I have done And here I must crave liberty to branch out my Exhortation and that I may as a faithfull Steward divide to every one in Gods house their part and portion I shall direct my Exhortation 1. To the New-elect and the other Magistrates 2. To the Ministers of the Gospell 3. And lastly to all promiscuously My first addresse is to the New-elect whose Inauguration we celebrate and who this day enters upon the chief place of Magistracy in this City and also to the rest of the Magistrates present whether of the City or Country that in his charge they may heare theirs Worthy Praetor you are ascending this day to the highest place of Government in this place where God hath laid out the bounds of your Habitation Behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Behold your King the Lord Jesus Christ and follow him step after step Be you a Lyon also Judah the Prince and Governour was a Lyon Judas Macchabeus that Worthy hee in all his acts was like a Lyon and like a Lyons whelp roaring for his Prey The Roman Emperours and Bishops were called Leones Lyons Many Kings and Common-Wealths have the Lyon for their Armes This was symbolized by the steps of Solomons Throne The King made a great Throne of Ivory and over-laid it with pure Gold And there were six steps to the Throne and staies on each side of the sitting place and two Lyons standing by the staies and twelve Lyons stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps And even you also give for you City Armes a Lyon with your Castle Matth. 8. 34. The Lyon is a rare Creature not bred in many places neither shall we see in the Common-wealth many Lyons indeed many beare in their Banners and Escoucheons the Lyon but in their Administration they perform none of those things which are propounded in the Lyon Be you a Lyon let the rest be Lyons carry your selves like Lyons Let me speak to you as the Prophet did to the Altar Isa 29. 1. O Ariel Ariel that is Leo Dei the Lyon of God so was the Altar called because fire came down from Heaven suddenly as a Lyon out of his Den and consumed the Sacrifice Let fire come down from Heaven upon your heart even the fire of true love to God and zeale for God Aristotle attributes to the Lyon a round face and makes it to represent the Sun the shaggy haire not being unlike the glorious rayes
28. 1. 6. There be three things which go well yea foure which are comely in going The Lyon is the first and chiefest of them The Lyon hath a stately gate majesticall orderly and resolute he turnes not aside his head for the greatest that he meets not for the vast Elephant he will dye before he will degenerat into a disorderly pace And herein give me leave to exhort you to walke as the Lyon walkes How is that First in regard of your whole Conversation let your going be stately not with proud phantasticall affectation but humbly an humble gate is a stately gate soberly holily with all Gravity walk as the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah be you holy as he is holy Only saith Saint Paul Let your Conversation be such as becometh the Gospel of Christ Take heed that you do no uncomely thing that you set not a step awry Have a sutable carriage and deportment both to the profession of Christianity and also to your place of Eminency Will it become a chiefe Magistrate to walke with vaine Persons to walke to scandalous houses to walke on in any sinne When one profer'd unto Scipio a beautifull Harlot he said to him Vellem si non essem Imperator were I not a Governour I would Let all that are before me this day take forth this Lesson let your Conversation be such as becomes the Gospell of Christ move in a higher Sphere then the men of the World Let your Conversation be in Heaven Walk like Angels They went every one strait forward whether the Spirit was to go they went Remember you are Kings Christ hath made us so Then let your going be King-like A King may be known by his Majesticall gate and deportment What manner of men were they said Gideon to Zebah and Zalmunna whom yee slew at Tabor And they answered as thou art so were they each one resembled the Children of a King Finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think of these things And as I call upon you to walk as the Lyon stately gravely and holily in your whole course of life So let me exhort you without offence more particularly to walk as Lyons even in regard of outward state and pomp The Lyon is the King of Beasts and is of a comely and stately presence adorned with shaggy locks bushy haire a golden and bright shining Mane which crownes his head and as Robes do cloath his neck back shoulders and legs and truely the Lyon would be a great deale more contemptible if he were barbe'rd and shaven I say be Lyons Keep your haire and skin maintain your power and state and the Ensignes of your Authority King Agrippa came to the Judgment Seat with great Pomp. And there is good use of these trappings to the common people Ad populum phaleras These procure some reverence awe and terrour in the people And I do the rather insist upon this because I see there is an Anabaptisticall Enthusiasticall levelling Generation start up who attempt very subtlely Leonem radere to barb and shave the Lyon to overthrow all Magistracy And they do not go about directly but slily and with wiles They would perswade you at first only to lay aside your Robes and your Solemnities as either being superstitious or else not agreeable to the simplicity of the Gospell Have you not lately been preached out of your Scarlet Gownes and have you not very obediently left them off many times Do they not inveigh against all manner of Solemnity upon this very day of Inauguration well what will the end be If they can but once shave off the Lyons majestick haire and flay of his skin it wil be a poor contemptible Carkass that is left I dare say though outward state and Pomp be but a Complement yet take that quite away and the very Magistracy will soone follow Maintain your State and Power It is observable in the Lyon that when he walkes upon stony rocky and rough places that he contracts and pulls up his Tallons to preserve them for if they should be broken he could never after seize upon his Prey Your Power and the Ensignes of your Authority are your Tallons be carefull to preserve them else evill doers will contemne you and you will never be able to give them so much as a scratch 7. Know where your strength lyeth The Lyons strength is in his head and in his breast chiefly And there lyeth your strength a good head and a good heart make a good Magistrate Labour therefore for a good head for knowledge and a good understanding Hearken to the word of the Lord This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayst observe to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then shalt thou have good successe And above all labour to have a good heart an honest heart a sanctified heart an obedient heart Such a heart as David had even an heart according to Gods own heart Which that you may attain unto do as Solomon did pray pray Go unto the Lord and say And now oh Lord my God I thy Servant am in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen a great people Give therefore thy Servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad For who is able to judge this thy so great a people 1 Kin. 3. 8. 9. Beare away with you these few words of Exhortation and that you may the better remember them I shall present all before your eies in a little Embleme I am Gods Herauld and I wil give you a Coat of Armes an Escoucheon which if you will own you will shew your selfe a generous Lyon You shall beare not Or or argent No no you must not be carried away with Silver or Gold or such earthly and transitory things but you shall beare Azure blew caelestiall Have your Conversation in Heaven Let your charge be a Lyon Now as for the posture of your Lyon I have spent some serious thoughts It must not be a Lyon dormant I beseech you do not sleep neither at the Church nor on the Bench. It were a shame to have it either crouchant or fugient Never yet was seen such a Coat as a Lyon current To flee is a reproach do not flee away do not turn your back on Gods truth on Gods cause and Gods people and all for cowardly feare stand to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah to the last drop of blood Neither should the Lyon be over rampant Rampant sheweth his gesture in seizing on the Prey The Prey that a Magistrate pursueth are evill doers Pursue this Prey be rampant but
Testament the things concerning himselfe Luk. 24. 27. All the Jewes beleived in the same Christ that wee do There is one and but one faith Eph. 4. 4. And they were all saved by the same faith in the same Christ who was revealed by Oracles from Heaven foretold and prophesied by the Prophets typified in the Sacrifices Though Christ were not manifested in the flesh till the fulnesse of time though he was crucified in the last age of the World yet the vertue of his death was effectuall and available for the Salvation of all the Elect from the beginning of the World to the end thereof Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. He is the Lambe slaine from the foundation of the World Revel 13. 8. The old people and the new people they are all of one House and Family and so have all one coat of Armes The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah All this Saint Peter shortly concludeth in the Counc 〈…〉 Jerusalem But we beleive that through the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ we shall be saved even as our Fathers were Act. 15. 11. Observ 7. The Lyon is a growing creature Christ's Kingdome is a growing Kingdome This is to be noted from Gen. 49. 9. to which this Text relates The Patriarch Jacob there useth three severall words to signifie three degrees of the Lyons growth 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Catulus a Lyons Wh◠2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leo perfectus a Lyon in full st 〈…〉 gth he couched as a Lyon 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leo Major as an old Lyon Those severall words do set forth the beginning Progresse and complement of Christs Kingdome Of the increase of his Government and peace there shall be no end Esa 9. 7. The bounds of Christ's Kingdome seemed at first but small In Judah was God known his name was great in Israel In Salem was his Tabernacle Psal 76. 1. Salvation was of the Jewes only John 4. 22. They were a very small people in comparison of the rest of the Nations of the World But afterwards Christ comming in the flesh he brings light to the Gentiles And all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God Psal 98 3. Christ is the stone which is cut out with out hands which being at first but small became a great Mountaine and filled the whole earth Dan. 2. 34. 35. These Observations I have propounded to you for instruction and information Now I shall passe on to The second Vse of Reprehension and that 1. OF all those that do not bow down and prostrate before this Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Such as receive not the Lord Jesus Christ to be their King but reject him That say as those Ephraimites Hos 10. 3. We have no King because we feare not the Lord. Or as those malignant Citizens that hated Christ and sent him this message We will not have this man to reign over us Luke 19. 14. or in the Language of those Heathen Kings and mutineers Psal 2. 2 3. That take Counsel together against the Lord and against his Annoynted his Christ saying Let us break their bonds in sunder and cast away their cords from us But are there any such so desperatly rebellious Let that be tryed The designe of a reprehension is not to charge at all adventure but to convince There goeth more to make a subject of Christs Kingdome then a naked and formall profession All men and Women in the world are under Christs Kingdome of power and that Whither they will or no. But the question is art thou a subject of Jesus Christ in the Kingdome of grace I will give you some signes of tryal whereby you may prove that Knowledge All that are the Subjects of Jesus Christ they know their King As it shall be at Christs second comming against men Every eye shall see him Revel 1. 7. So is it in the Kingdome of grace when Christ comes into men every eye sees him They know Christ their King his Natures Person Offices Laws his graces and excellencies No ignorant person is Christ's subject God delivers those from the power of darknesse 1. Of Ignorance whom he hath translated into the Kingdom of his dear Sonne Col. 1. 13. Go no further then this Character and alas how few Subjects hath Christ how many are there that know nothing of Christ more then his bare name Jesus That they can sweare by use it for a Charm and bow to it put of the Hat and make a legge ot a curt'sy But aske them any thing of his Person Offices Lawes of his Incarnation Passion Resurrection Union with Christ c. and they have nothing to answer but as Nabal did to Davids servants Who is David and who is the Son of Jesse who is Christ who is the Sonne of David who is the Sonne of Iesse They know him not Loyalty Fidelity Syncerity to give him the whole heart It stands in Renouncing all other power Serving of him and none else Loving of him with all the heart and trusting in him in Kissing the Sonne Psal 2. 12. But alas what abundance of disloyalty is there how little true faith It hath been formerly observed that many were sworne servants to the King of England that yet underhand were Pensioners to the King of Spaine So are there multitudes who took Iuramentum fidelitatis the oath of Allegiance and fidelity to Christ the Lyon the King in their Baptisme but they are Pensioners to the Devill they serve him wholly by sinning Lying Swearing Killing Stealing Sabbath-breaking Adultery c. There are disloyall wives whorish women who as they they sit at table will looke their Husbands in the face and smile and at the same instant tread upon the Toe of their Adulterous Lovers So may the Lord who is the Husband of the Church complaine as Ezek. 6. 9. I am broken with their wherish heart which hath departed from me and with their eyes which go a whoring after their Idols They seem to fix their Eyes upon Christ yet run after their Covetousnesse and sinfull pleasures contrary to the faith which they have plight with Christ whom they call Husband Honour and feare Honour the King 1 Pet. 2. 17. My Sonne feare God and the King Prov. 24. 21. Heer is the Character of a good subject to honour and fear his Prince Quest But whereby is this Honour and feare manifested Answ By service and obedience Serve the Lord with feare Psal 2. 11. They that dwell in the Wildernesse shall bow before him All Nations shall serve him Psal 72. 9. 10. According to this Rule come to the tryall of your selves and alas how few are there that are true and faithfull Subjects to the Lord and King Jesus Christ how few bow to this Lyon Do not the most say if not in down right Language yet in their practise do they not speak as Pharaoh Who is the Lord