Churches to chastise them yet the Vials are intended for the Whore of Babylon and shall at last be all poured out upon Her to ther wine of Antichrist and all his Adherents Why truly these men are much beholden to the Beast and do make much use of his Throne to uphold their seditious doctrines and practices For Antichrist is their stalking horse when the present Government is their quarry For by Antichrist they understand not onely the Pope of Rome or the Great Turk but the very Hierarchy of the Church with the Solemn Service of God which is performed and upheld by it And by amuzing the people with the sudden and certain expectation of this Antichrists ruine they keep them in a posture for sedition that when they see their advantage to give the word they may be ready to arme and give fire upon their Governours But for this pretence of pulling down Antichrist it is a saddle that will fit any back Hath not the Presbyterian party been called Antichrist yes and that in Print too and perhaps they had had a war made upon them upon that account had they insisted stifly upon their pretentions to that Government But for my part I think it more then probable that the great Antichrist the Apostle speaks of * 2 Thes 2.7 8 9 10. See Dr. Hammonds Annotations is destroyed already If not yet the question is not sufficiently determined by them who are in expectation of his ruine who he is much less when his Kingdom is to have an end And when men have been engaged to the expence of so much blood and treasure to the ruine of so many Persons and Families in pursuance of such a design and there comes nothing on 't but their supposed Antichrist or his supposed Adherents continue still and appear to be so much less Antichrist then themselves in that they desire to live in peace and to render unto God the glory due unto his Name which the real Antichrist certainly does not who shall answer for all the horrible outrages that have been committed to no purpose but to the dishonour of God and the scandal of mankind to the reproach of our Christian Profession and the just indignation of our Superiours Who I say shall answer this at Gods Tribunal Will that excuse serve the turn which is all that can be pretended to That the promoters of these confusions were mistaken and do now begin to think that the Church the woman they fancied to be all this while in travel with the designs of their own begetting has not yet gone her full time Mr. Arrowsmith ubi supra as one of them is pleased to word it I say will this excuse serve the turn before the dreadful Judge But suppose there were an infallible discovery of Antichrist yet where is the Commission where do we finde any warrant to levy war against him It is said of that Beast and his Complices Revel 17.14 That they shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them But where do we finde that the Lamb makes war upon them It is with the Spirit of his mouth that he consumes them and with the brightness of his coming not by the mouth of the glittering sword 2 Thess 2.8 It is said also Revel 17.16 that the ten horns which are interpreted to be ten Kings v. 12. shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire But in all this I can see no warrant nothing that looks like it for Subjects to take up Arms without much less against the Kings Authority There is a Prophesie indeed that Antichrist shall fall and be destroyed but that will not justifie what is done against Gods Command For there is a Prophesie likewise that the Devil should cast some of the Servants of God into prison Revel 2.10 and yet he is a Devil still A Prophesie that Jeroboam a 1 Kin. 11.31 should have ten parts of Rehoboam's Kingdom and yet he was a Rebell b 1 Kin. 12.19 and an Usurper c 1 Kin. 11.17 and he made Israel to sin d 1 Kin. 15.26 34. We must frame our lives and actions not by dark Prophesies but by clear Precepts And we are no where informed who is Antichrist no where enjoyned to fight against him but earnestly exhorted To be quiet and to do our own business e 1 Thes 4.11 To follow peace with all men and holiness without which pair of virtues no man shall see the Lord f Heb. 12.14 Certainly therefore our wisest course is not to trouble our heads about Antichrist but leave Christ himself do deal with him and to betake our selves to Prayer and Fasting with other pious exercises to prepare for the Advent of Death and Judgment This is the fifth Caveat not to intrude or pry into the Ark. 6. The sixth and last Caveat is you must not rifle and plunder the Ark. The Apostle tells us Heb. 9.4 That with the Ark there were not only the Tables of the Covenant but also the golden pot that had Manna and Aarons rod that budded The Tables of the Law are of indispensable necessity to salvation for the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him to such as keep his Covenant and think upon his Commandments to do them Psal 103.17 18. And Aarons Rod is requisite to excite and quicken the Pot of Manna to strengthen and encourage unto the duty There is a mixture of severity and sweetness Lib. 2. pastoral Cressol Anthol Dec. 2.161 as Gregory hath observed Rigor disciplinae dulcedo humanitatis quae sacrosanctas legum Tabulas custodiunt There must be Discipline and there must be Sacraments else the Law cannot be observed The one to awe the other to enable us to that observation All the Service performed before the Ark under the Law was not Typical though the Sacrifices of fowls and beasts be out of date and abolishâ—d yet the Sacrifice of hearts and souls is in force still There was incense to be offered and God was to be solemnly thank'd and praised Morning and Evening * 1 Chron. 23.30 and this continues still though the other be extinguished Nay as they had their Sacrifice prefigurative to protest their hâ—mage and devotion to awaken their repentance upon a suggestion of their guilt and their demerits and to excite their faith to lay hold upon the passion and death of Christ to come for their expiation and atonement so we have our Sacrifice representative to protest our devotion to awaken our repentance and to excite our Faith to lay hold upon the Passion and Death of Christ already past Mal. 1.11 See Mr. Meade upon this Text and the Ancient Fathers by him cited For from the rising of the Sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place Incense
divine honour which we so deservedly ow and should as worthily render to him for his glory he will not give unto another 2. The Peace-offering was a Sacrifice whereof the blood and the fat went to the Altar * God was to have the fat that grew about the inwaâ—ds â—he Kiâ—â—â—ies with thâ— Cauâ—e that covered the Live L v 3.3 4. the breast and the right shoulder to the Priest the rest was to be eaten by the Offerer In this the Priest and the people did communica eâ—wiâ— God and with one another like friends feasting together upon one and the same stock of enteâ—tainment This oblation was offer'd either by way of gratulation and thanks for some benefit already received †â—ev 7 12 16. according to some former vow voluntarily made to that purpoâ—e of which the Psalmist speaketh Psal 116.12.13 14. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take the cup of salvation The first ex grato animo and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people The â—â—â—â—d ex spâ—impâ—trandi Aâ—nsw Not. ad Psal 116.13 This cup waâ— an attendant upon this oblation for of the peace-offering they did communicate and rejoyce before the Lord and took a cup of wine which was called the cup of salvation and the cup of blessing because they gave solemn thanks and blessed God for his saving health and benefiâ—s Or 2. Gerhard Loo Com de leg Cer. c 2 § 2. This oblation was offer'd by way of Vote and Option for some ensuing favour The Israeliteâ— had a just cause but very ill success Thom. 12. q. 102. ar 3. â— Ex debito beneficii vel accipiendi vel accepti in their expedition against the Benjamites They received two deâ—eaâ—s with the loss of 40000 men but that they might prevail with God to assist and prospâ—r them in their next engagement They came unto the house of God and wept and sate there before the Lord and fasted that day until Even and offered burnt offerings and peace-offerings before the Lord Judg. 20.26 and so 1 Chron. 21.26 here the design â—n these oblations was to make atonement and pâ—evâ—il for future peace and salvation And methinks in the very nature of these â—fferings there is an insinuation of the necessity of our perseverance and of Gods continual grace and assistance to that effect The very same oblation was offer'd not only by way of gratulation in thankfulness for a benefit already past but also by way of vow for the impetration of one to come When we arrive at heaven our sacrifices shall be nothing else but the adoration of acknowledgements in a way of praise and thanksgiving but while we are Militant here on earth our praises are to be attended with atonement and our thanksgivings with Litanies and supplications We must not think that we have the goal presently because me have Gods blessing and assistance at our setting forth We may begin well and yet fall short of the mark we may run for a fit a heat or two and yet lose the prize it is perseverance that wins the Crown and Gods grace that enables us to hold out to the attainment of it The design of our peace-offerings therefore must be not only to acknowledge the mercy of God that did prevent us but also to engage * Unde Psal 116.13 I will take the cup of salvation and I will call upon the name of the Lord. his favour that it may follow us all the days of our lives and such were these oblations in the Text they offer'd burnt sacrifices they offer'd peace offerings before the Lord. This for the nature and kind of their oblations 2. For the association and conjuncture of them Burnt sacrifices and peace-offerings God is to be adored and worshipped for his own sake out of reverence to his excellent Majesty this is signified by the burnt sacrifice †Hujusmodi enim sacrificium offerebatur Deo specialiter ad reverentiam majestatis ipsius c. Thom. ubi supra and he is to be adored and worshipped out of Gratitude for his goodness towards us this is signified by the peace-offering The first is to give him praise The second to give him thanks and whoso offereth me praise and thanks he honoureth me Psal 50. they are put both together there in the Psalm and here upon the Altar We must be mindful to acknowledge and honour God and we must be mindful to relieve and save our selves but Gods glory is to be sought in the first place our own advantage in the second and in a way of subordination to it The burnt sacrifiâ—â— first and then the peace offering to second it that is the third the Order in these Oblations Gods interest must be prefer'd before our own his glory before our salvation and because God heareth not sinners the atonement should be made first to reconcile our persons that our services of gratitude may find a gracious acceptation Psal 51.7 9 14 19. Hence the Psalmist Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities Deliver me from blood-guiltiness and then * Cum ego perfecte reparatus justificatus fuero Bellar in Psal 50. when my atonement is thus made then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of right cousness And if they be offer'd up in the memory and virtue of Christ that great Holocaust through him God will accept both of us and of our offerings which are no otherwise acceptable unto eternal life but only through Jesus Christ our Lord. And the Royal Prophet could not chuse but remember him in this solemnity for as well the Ark as the sacrifice was a Type of him and so they brought the Ark of God into the City of David and set it in his place in the tent which David had pitched for it and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace-offerings before God Would you know Davids inducements to perform all this service for the Ark they were four his need of it his love to it his interest in it and his advantage by it 1. His need of it and that we find him the more sensible of in his exile from it as men for the most part do Magis carendo quà m fruendo they understand the usefulness of things better by the want of them then by their enjoyment here was his Abyssus Abyssum Psal 42.7 one deep calling upon another for he was brought very low many times brought into inextricable perplexities why art thou cast down Psal 43.7 O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me He was in the â—â—â—k and wanted comfort and nothing but the Ark of God could relieve and afford him Cordials O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me Ibid. Vers 3. and lest my heaviness
required this that you should thus tread my Courts v. 12. And if this be required yet who hath required it at your hands whose hearts are so full of hypocrisie whose hands are so full of bloud But wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doing from before mine eyes c. Then come and welcome through faith and repentance your Sacrifices shall procure you atonement and acceptation for though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wooll Isai 1.18 But 2. In matters of Religion in matters that do relate to divine Worship some things are allowed and approved and rewarded by Almighty God for which he hath given no particular Commandment 1. There were voluntary oblations and free-will offerings allowed of in the Law * Levit. 7 16. And 2. David in this his attendance upon the Ark wore a linen Ephod to shew his devotion in this Religious Service as the English Annotations †on 2 Sam. 6.14 recommended by the Assembly of Divines do acknowledge and yet that garment was prescribed for none but the Tribe of Levi. See them on 1 Sam. 2.18 on Judg. 8.27 3. It was also a piece of voluntary devotion that David built this Tabernacle and that he designed to build such a magnificent Temple for Gods publick and solemn Worship and yet though He had given no order for it God was pleased with the design and approved of his pious resolution For Solomon tells us * 1 King 8.18 The Lord said unto David my Father Whereas it was in thine heart to build an House unto my Name thou didst well in that it was in thine heart Here was no Command a 2 Sam. 7.7 1 Chron. 17. for this yet it was so acceptable that God rewarded him in his posterity b 2 Sam. 7.11 See 1 Chron. 17. The Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an House By which promise it is evident as the English Annotators c on 1 King 8.18 do confesâ— that God approved this purpose of David and they adde That this instance sheweth that a man may without sin intend to do that for the greater solemnity of God's Worshâ—p and Service for that was the design which God hath not purposed and determined to be done And as a farther Testimony of Gods acceptation of his pious though voluntary intendment God vouchsafed him an extraordinary assistance for the delineation of the model of this House and the regulation of all things and persons Vâ—ssels and Instruments Offices and Officers imployed about Gods Service therâ—in the Pattern of them was suggeâ—ted to him by the Spirit 1 Chron. 28 12 13 19. 2 Chron. 29.25 4. In the New Testament St. Paul's advice for coelebacy or single life 1 Cor. 7. had reference to Religion and the service of God for he recommends it not out of a carnal respect or for a temporal advantage only to avoid trouble in the flesh Vers 18. but for a Religious a Spiritual emolument that they might attend the service of God without distraction Vers 35. but for this he tells the Corinthians he had no command of the Lord to warrant him Vers 25. Yet saith he I give my judgement as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful â—e doubts not but God allows of his judgement and approves of his direction for the advancement of devotion in that particular Nay 3. God doth not only allow and approve but also reward such a voluntary piety works undertaken to promote his service when theâ—e is not the engagement of any Precept nor so much as the recommendation of any Councel to perform them David is an instance for this as hath been acknowledged by the English Annotators To which I may add St Paul he might have challenged some Milk and some Fleece from the Flock he fed to clothe refresh and support himself that he waved this liberty and was not chargeable to the Corinthians but preached the Gospel freely he modestly gloried in it as a matter highly rewardable 1 Cor. 9.15 18. * See Dr. Ham. Annot. ad 1. Cor. 9.17 Gloriationem autem appellas gratis praedicare positos terminos transilire Theodoret. Gloriationem dicit ut ipse ex propria liberalitate id praestet nam quòd Dominiâ— praeceptum tanquam fidelis servus exequatur non exissimat ad suum praeclarum facinus pertinere Oecumen Et Paulò post in quo est praeclara merces gloriatio in co quòd quum Evangelium ut jussus sum praedicaverim nihil tamen ex praedicatione acceperim ne tantum quidem ut inde vivere possum sed fine sumptu gratis meum exhibuerim ministerium Ibid. vide plura What command had Mary Magdalen a Luk. 7.38 to wash Christs feet with her tears and wipe them with the hairs of her head what command had she to pour that precious ointment upon Christs head Mark 14.3 which the Law did allow her to imploy to other uses and yet because these were real emanations of her great b Luk 7.47 love and proceeded from a true devotion Christ became her Advocate for this will worship c Mark 14.5 6. and did not only comfort her with a personal Absolution thy sins are forgiven d Luk. 7.48 but dismiss'd her with a blessing thy faith hath saved thee go in peace e Luk. 7.50 and rewarded her too with a Name no less precious then her very ointment f Eccles 7.1 Joh. 1 2.3 for the sweet Savour thereof he hath caused so to be diffused by a solemn Ministry that it might perfume the whole Church What her piety had voluntarily devoted to his burial such was his gracious acceptation he turn'd it into an everlasting Monument of her honour for verily I say unto you wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her Mark 14.9 But I must tell you that such voluntary devotions must be guarded with a double caution 1. They must not consist of a thing unlawful nor have any ingredient of forbidden fruit in them Isa 66.3 for that were as great an abomination under the Gospel as the cutting off a dogs neck or the offering of swines blood under Moses Law instead of sacrifice 2. They must not be imposed however they be recommended I say they must not be imposed as Gods commands nor perform'd out of an opinion of their necessity upon that account for that is perfect Dogmatizing a Teaching for necessary Doctrines or Ordinances of Christs institutions the Traditions of men which is absolutely unlawful †Mat. 15.9 Mark 7.7 Col. 2.20 See D. Ham. Tract of Will-worship with the Defence of it against Mr. Cawdrey Such a conceit as this would have marr'd Mary Magdalens box of onitment and have
caused it to send forth a stinking savour * Eccles 10.1 but offering it out of a pure and free devotion without any such opinion Christ did both value and reward it Suppose we then that there be some things in the Solemnity of Gods Publick worship that he hath not required is it not enough as long as he hath no where forbidden them nor entred any caution to their prejudice is it not enough I say that I have the approbation of my own Conscience is it not enough that I am able to say I have used my best judgement and herein I have found mercy of the Lord to be faithful if this be not enough is it not enough that I have Gods acceptation is it not enough that I can hear God saying to me secretly as he said sometimes to David upon a like occasion by his Prophet it was well that it was in thy heart is it not enough that God is ready to reward this my freewill-offering my voluntary devotion But 3. Besides we have the equity of a Divine Law upon a parity of Reason for our warranty in this our practice and this ought to be of great force with us For 1. as far as I can perceive this is the firmest ground that the observation of the Lords day relies upon There are some insinuations for it indeed in the practice of the Apostles as their meeting together on that day to make Collections and the like but these will not amount to the authority of a Precept The Sabbath of the Jews without all peradventure was Typical Heb. 4.4 c. therefore abolished hereupon the Apostle exhorteth the Colossians Let no man judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an Holy-day or of the new moon or of the Sabbath-days which are a shadow of things to come Col. 2.16 17. But that God should be solemnly worshipped still upon several accounts and that some time should be set apart for that worship to be performed in there is a parity of Reason for it and so upon that account the equity of the fourth Commandment doth still bind us And 2. The strength of the Apostles Argument for the maintenance of the Gospel-Ministry as far as I can discern relies chiefly upon this bottom Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple and they that wait at the Altar 1 Cor. 9.13 14. are partakers with the Altar even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel We can find no such Ordinance as this is of Christs positive institution under the Gospel that which the Apostle speaks of therefore must be an Ordinance emergent out of the equity of the former Law of God upon a parity of Reason Under the Law God thought it equitable that such as waited at his Altar and devoted their time as well as their soul and strength to his service should have some setled maintenance allottâ—d them and their attendance upon the several parts of their holy Office requiring nothing less but rather much more diligence and attention under the New than under the Old Testament the equity of that Divine Right standâ— in full force and should prevail for an honourable support of the Ministry at least as much now as it did then And 3. Whether the Right and Title that the Infants of Believers have unto Baptism doth not ultimately relie upon this foundation let the learned judge Gods Law intitled them to the Sacrament of Circumcision upon the account of that faith which had engaged their Parents unto God in the holy Covenant the equity of that Institution upon a parity of Reason extends to the benefit of such Infants as are now born of Christian Parents and that speech of St Peter Acts 2. imports no less Vers 38 3â— Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost for the promise is unto you and to your children Now to apply these instances to our purpose I demand 1. Was there a solemn external worship of God required under the Law or no 2. Was it acceptable and pleasing to Almighty God yea or no if it were which cannot be denied then I demand Further 3. upon what account was that service required was it upon the account of Gods Supream Dominion and Sovereignty only or upon the account also of his Benefits his works of Creation Preservation and Redemption that it was upon this double account is evident Psal 29.1 2. Give unto the Lord O ye mighty give unto the Lord glory and strength give unto Lord the GLORY DUE UNTO HIS NAME worship the Lord in the BEAUTY OF HOLINESSE and Psa 150. Praise ye the Lord praise God in his Sanctuary praise him in the firmament of his POWER praise him for his MIGHTY ACTS praise him according to his EXCELLENT GREATNESSE praise him with the sound of the Trumpet praise him with the Psaltery and Harp praise him with the Timbrel and Dance praise him with stringed Instruments and Organs Well did God require to be worshipped so reverently and so solemnly then upon this account why how comes God to lose his Title how come these accounts to be altered hath God under the New Testament given out a dspensation unto dust and ashes to be insolent and saucy with him and in his own house and in his solemn and publick worship too or is Gods Dominion less Sovereign is his Majesty less Glorious then it was or did not he make us but we made our selves if we be his creatures if we be the sheep of his pasture then the invitation of the Psalmist lays hold upon us Psal 95.6 O come let us worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our Maker if we do not the Elders that are before the Throne of God will shame us out of our irreverence for they fall down before him that sitteth upon the Throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their Crowns before the Throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Revel 4.10 11. And hath he not redeemed us too and what is the sum of our redemption was it our bodies only out of a temporal thraldom to be put into the possession of a land that flows with milk and honey was this all hath he not redeemed our souls too from the powers of darknesse and the wrath to come to inherit the blessings of eternal joy and glory hath he not thus redeemed us and how was this redemption wrought by a force of Arms or of Love by exchange of money or the price of his own blood if it be so and so it is then certainly here is all the equity in the world that we should pay him the
mercy to the Adversaries of this Church God hath filled their faces with shame that they might be induced to joyn with the Church in a due and decent conformity to seek his Name And so let all the Combinations of thy Churches enemies perish O Lord but let them that love thee and thy Church be as the Sun when he goeth forth in his might Judges 5.31 that our Land may be filled with piety devotion and glory and so have rest to all generations God hath done great things for us already whereof we rejoyce and what he hath done he is pleased to make his ingagement to do more if we do not render our selves utterly unworthy and forfeit our Tenure by our obstinate perversities This is one ground of our hope And there is A 2d. The Church of England hath a praying people a people whose devotions are solid and fervent regular and constant a people that do frequent the Publick Prayers of the Church out of humility and obedience out of judgment and prudence and yet do importune God in their Closets day and night too though they love not so much to play the Hypocrite as to sound their Trumpet to tell the world they do so You know the interest of ten righteous persons was so considerable to Almighty God that it should have prevail'd with him for the preservation of five most lewd and vitious Cities and God be blessed we have that number I trust many hundred times told over But because if we continue in sin the Epha a Zach. 5. will be full at last and if we neglect so great salvation and the things that do belong unto our peace those things will be hidden from our eyes and we shall bring upon our selves swift destruction b 2 Pet. 7.2 and then the devotions of holy Prophets will be injoyned silence by Gods own Order Jer. 7.16 Pray not thou for this people for their good c Jer. 14.11 c. 11.14 neither lift up cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to me for I will not hear thee And though they should pray earnestly and continue their importunity receiving no such express Order as that Prophet Jeremy had to the contrary yet their prayers in this case in this juncture of affairs when the harvest of sin is ripe how effectual soever for themselves would not prevail they would be fruitless as to the generality of persons and the calamity of the Nation for when I bring my sore judgments upon the Land though these three men Noah Daniel and Job were in it as I live Ezek. 14.14 10. saith the Lord God they should deliver neither son nor daughter they should but deliver their own souls by their righteousness Therefore to prevent this dreadful severity of Almighty God give me leave to propound some few Caveats and Directions to you touching your behaviour in reference to the Ark of God by which I understand his sacred Ordinances and so I shall conclude When God was about to descend upon Mount Sinai at the promulgation of the Law Exod. 19. he commanded Moses to set bounds to keep off the people that they might not press upon so dreadful a Majesty to their own ruine The presence of God with his holy Ark in his holy worship is no less sacred no less dreadful than it was on Mount Sinal I must therefore draw a line and set up rails about it as well to secure your interest in it as to preserve that respect and veneration that is due unto it These shall be made up of a six fold Caveat You must 1. Not over value or deifie it 2. Not undervalue or blaspheme it 3. Not invade or profane it 4. Not slander or belye it 5. Not intrude or pry into it 6. Not rifle or plunder it 1. You must not over-value or deifie it A very high esteem and reverence you must have for tthe Ark of God and you may relie upon Gods promise and confidently expect what God hath engaged to do for you by the Ministry thereof But you must not turn the Ark into an Idol exhibere cultum Dei creaturae est Idololatria saith Aquinas if you devote that service to it and place that affiance in it which is due to God alone you do then make an Idol of it You make the Type of Christ to become his Rival you make him jealous of his own Representative and you eclipse his honour by that shadow that was design'd to illustrate and set it off And yet there are some that do more then this worse then this amounts to they do Hyper-deifie it advance it above God yea against God for God will not patronize the guilty Christ will not save the impenitent 't is a desperate presumption to think they will if you expect this from the Ark you do not only turn it into an Idol set it up in Gods stead but you do more then so you exalt it above God you pretend to make it do what God will not do what Christ cannot do you make it a real Antichrist For Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil and to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself And if you make the Ark a Sanctuary for Malefactors you set it up in opposition to Christ and provoke him to Arm himself as it were against it in vindication of his own glory Upon this very account it was that he delivered the Ark under the Law into the hands of the Philistines 1 Sam. 4. and Jer. 7.3 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel amend your ways and your doings and I will cause you to dwell in this place but trust ye not in lying words saying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord as if that had been a threefold fortification to secure them against all possible calamity But ye trust in lying words that cannot profit will ye steal murder and commit adultery and swear faâ—sly and burn incense unto Baal and waâ—k after other gods whom ye know not and come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name and say we are delivered to do all these abominations is this house that is called by my name become a den of robbers in your eyes Behold even I have seen it saith the Lord But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh where I put my name at the first and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel c. That Ark which was the visible Symbol of his presence and the especial Instrument of his worship and service they set it up in opposition to his glory they would have it patronize their sin and protect them in their impenitâ—ncy against Gods severe judgements and this provokes God to give it up to be defiled by reproach and prophanation Let this be a Caveat to you therefore not to over-value or deifie the Ark of God 2. And yet