DEATH'S SUMMONS AND THE SAINTS DUTY Laid forth first summarily in a Sermon on 2. King 20.1 in the Cathedrall of St. Peter in EXETER Janu. 24. 1638. at the solemne Funerall of a well-deserving CITIZEN Since somewhat enlarged for the Common good by WILLIAM SCLATER Master of Arts late Fellow of KINGS Colledge in CAMBRIDGE now a Preacher of Gods Word in the City of EXETER LUKE 12.20 Thou foole this night thy Soule shall be required of thee PROV 27.1 JAM 4.13 14. Boast not thy selfe of to morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Quid cogitas te diù victurum cùm nullum diem habeas securum Claudius Viexmontius Parisiensis Institut ad Poenitent part 1. cap. 1. LONDON Printed by Richard Hodgkinson 1640. TO The Right Worshipfull PETER SAINTHILL of Bradnynch Esquire one of the Masters of His Majesties Court of Chancery Justice of Peace for the County of Devon c. an eminent example of Piety and worth the happinesse of Heaven and Earth Much honored Sir AFter I had though not without many modest reluctations first from within obteyned leave of my selfe to make those thoughts which have already in some part passed in a transient sound by the eares of some legible in a larger Volume by the eyes of many I could not bethinke mee of a Nobler Patronage than from your selfe a worthy not more highly placed upon the hill of deserved Eminence then as your Name proclaimes you in your conspicuous and devout practices a most accomplished and exemplary Saint My engagements to that * Mr. Peter Tayler good friend whom I have have not lost only seene to be sent before me to his heaven whose decease gave an hint unto these slender yet as my hope is usefull meditations were such as that methought I could not suffer my respects to yeeld up with him on a suddain their last Ghost nor one grave to swallow both his corpse and memory I tooke therefore this cue of opportunity as to testifie my respectivenesse to him and to those surviving who most neerely related to him so withall to leave some publique monument of all gratitude most worthy Sir to you not more endeared unto him dissolved in his life time than rich in many favors to my selfe which were therefore the more Noble and of higher value for that they utterly transcended all deservingnesse in me should I attempt on this occasion to blazon the armes of your eximious worth resplendent in a Coate whose crest must needs be glory embellished by so various graces which like the a Can. 1.11 golden borders of the Spouse overlaid with silver having the best sides inwards in a close integrity set you beyond the reach of flattery or the shocke of envy alas the best Heraldry of mine eloquence would here be posed and in so copious and full a theam my oratory quite languish under the povertie of but-apt expressions give me leave then to admire what I am not able by mine insufficient quill to amplifie enough in you Let this suffice your verie Name so well resembled in your b Conveniunt rebus nomina saepesius actions hath made you a perfect Mirror to the West Lord what a blessed prospect is it thus to view greatnesse and goodnesse as righteousnesse and peace to c Psal 85.10 claspe each other or like Davids Palace and Gods Tabernacle to dwell d Psal 132.13 14. together upon one Sion Goe on Noble Sir to credit your Countrey the love whereof is like the orient rayes of the brightest Taper of the Firmament universally displayed upon you by your worthy undertakings persist couragiously to be not more a promoter than as you have long beene a e Matth. 5.9 maker of peace and amity it shall winne you f Rom. 15.13 peace of soule and carry you upon the wings of honour as another Noahs Dove to the Arke of that happinesse into which the g Isa 9.6 Prince of peace himselfe shall h Gen. 8.9 receive you out of a troublesome and stormy world by the armes of his mercy Continue still to make your House a Temple where the dayly incense of Devotion ascends up as a rich perfume sweetened by the i Rev. 8.3 4. Angell of Gods presence unto Heaven and where each tongue to me seemed as a severall Organ to sound out Gods praises Be not k Gal. 6.9 weary to daigne countenance and encouragement to the l 1. Tim. 6.11 men or God who m 1 Tim. 5.17 labour in the Word and Doctrine Loe we need such Patrones to support us under the unworthy affronts of carnall and besotted earth-wormes who sleight and under-value even the n Matth. 7.6 Pearles of Heaven it selfe because which is their grosse stupidity and o 2. Cor. 4 4. blindnesse brought to them by us but in p 2. Cor. 4.7 earthen vesells This poore piece of my Labours in the Lords great q Matth. 9.37 Harvest humbly prostrates it selfe to be shrowded under the wings of your favour vouchsafe to cover it by them it shall under such a protection slight the meagre aspects of any whether malecontented or malevolent dispositions The Sermon was at first indeed in Preaching but as that r 1. King 18.44 45. little Cloud like to a mans hand seene by Elijahs servant from the top of Mount Carmel but it 's now swollen and womb'd-out into a bigger one from whence if but some few drops distill to refresh the Lords ſ Psal 68.9 inheritance I shall rejoyce in that good God of mine who hath thus farre t 1. Tim. 1.12 enabled me after my u Rom. 12 3. measure for his weighty service Nothing remaines but that I earnestly implore the full blessings of Gods both hands to be powred upon you and with you upon your vertuous Consort and Familie and that the x Heb. 13.20 21. God of peace who brought againe from the dead our Lord JESUS that great Shepherd or the Sheepe through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to doe his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen Your most true honourer in my thankefull observances much devoted William Sclater Exon 12. Febr. 1639. DEATHS SUMMONS AND THE SAINTS DUTIE 2 KINGS 20.1 In those dayes was Hezekiah sick unto death and the Prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him and said unto him Thus saith the Lord set thine house in order for thou shalt dye and not live MY Text yee see is Verbum diei in die suo much like to King Salomons apple of gold in his picture of silver a word spoken in due a Prov. 25.21 season and as that golden apple artificially set within that hollow silver globe when placed against the orient brightnes of the Sun did thorow that chrystall glasse fastened in the globe before it attract
upon which verse 4 5 6. the Prophet is sent back againe unto him from the Lord with gladsome tidings of his sure recovery of that though mortall sicknesse and withall of the adjournment of his day of death to fifteen yeares of longer time And thus much also of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Negative part of the Prophets saying unto the King Thou shalt not live But now before the Prophet had a warrant to returne him tidings of recovery he first found him desperately diseased and sicke unto death and what then doth he he bestowes his most usefull and most seasonable exhortation upon him which is the third branch of his saying to the King the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the advice of the good Prophet to him in his dangerous condition in these words which concerne us every one of us very nearely also even now most seriously to consider of Set thine house in order I might here take occcasion to mention and discourse of the severall sorts of houses that the Scriptures doe at large point us to The first is the bodily house or the house of the * Corpus nostr◠quaedam domus est quod in eâ anima velut inhabitat Gerardus Moringus ad cap. 12. Eccles 2.3 body which is also in an Analogicall resemblance styled by Saint Paul a Temple yea the a 1. Cor. 6.19 Temple of the holy-Ghost 1 Cor. 6.19 in regard of the b 1 Cor. 3.16 inhabitation of Gods spirit there 1 Cor. 3.16 in this house of the body the c Eccles 12.3 4. keepers are the hands the grinders are the teeth the strong men are the legs those that looke out of the windows are the eyes the d See Mic. 7.5 doores are the lips all which are Solomons expressions the daughters of Musique are the eares and lungs the kitchin we have in the stomacke where is the pot that e Stomachus propior coquendi alimenti officina Antonius Coranus Hispalensis paraphras ad 12 nm eccles v. 3. boyles our meat as Anatomists observe and after the Chylus and the Chymus the first and second digestion or concoction the liver turns the good nourishment into blood and disperseth it as the spirit of life into the severall and the proper veins the excrementitious part is from the hepar by the spleene conveied unto the spermaticall vessels or else into the ventricle which holds what is as by a chanell conveied unto it till at the backe doore it be voyded out againe to gratifie nature and to ease her of a burthen for this house of the body there is some good order to be set and taken My Son sayth the wise man in thy sicknesse be not negligent but as thou must in the chiefest place pray unto the Lord that he will make thee whole so withall thou must f Ecclus 38.1.9 honor a Physitian with the honor due unto him for the uses which you may have of him for the Lord hath created him But this is not the house to be set in order by Hezekiah now shortly by the Prophets saying to Dye mainely intended in this text Secondly besides this bodily there is also a spirituall house within where the minde the spirit and the understanding is as it were the g Matt. 6.22 eye to see and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the guide to direct all the under and inferiour faculties the servants the will is as the chiefe steward in this rich palace of the soule that receives the immediate h Lege eruditum Hemmingii librum de lege Naturae dictates and commands of the understanding unconstraynedly but but yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in Philosophy we use to speake upon election and deliberation too yeelding unto consenting and obeying that as good which the chiefe Master of the house the mind first assented in himselfe unto as true and fit to be obeyed next to this the concupiscible and the Irascible faculties as inferiour servants waite to desire what the will propounds as good or else to fume and fret at what may seeme to crosse eyther the Principall masters or their own propension after these the affections stand as the Pesants or in the lowest rank of service as the lackquaes or the i Animae affectiones pedes sunt dum in hoc pulvere gradimur Bernard f. 35. f. foot-posts ready to bee dispatch'd away in speed and post to execute and to do that which hath with allowance passed down along from the chiefe Master to themselves by the rest of the superiours and the servants of greater authority in this house these at length bring tydings to the waiters at the doores without the senses who were as the k Nihil est in intellectu quin priùs fuerit in Sensu Axioma philosophicum first occasion to move the minde the chiefe Master of the house to bethinke it selfe of businesse to employ his servants in for the whole day following and when thus as by the primum mobile through a strong circumgyration the inferior orbes are whirryed about all the whole house is set a working the businesse by the hands and arms and shoulders and the rest of the outward and field-servants abroad in the body will be done and brought to passe Now as for this house of the soule in the way as I have though in much weaknes now propounded it this is carefully and in the first place to be looked into and set in order as at all times else so principally when as Hezekiah though by no immediate Prophet as he did or by any extraordinary revelation which God now doth not in these dayes multiply in vaine as l Deut. 34.5 Moses did but by some sensible insinuation we receive a summons or a warning by any kind of sicknes or the like harbingers of common dissolutions of our Deaths then principally must we look to set the houses of our souls in order and then must the minde the Master of the whole chiefely labor to be solidly directed and informed in the perfect and right knowledge and faith in God and Christ the reason that I mainly presse this by is only this and 't is a weighty one because the Devill is most busie at such times as these to disturbe the heart and to fill the whole soule as the winds can raise the billows in the sea with a tumultuous hurry and violent perturbation he is the m Eph. 2.2 Prince of the ayery part of the little world in man as well as of that n See Mr Goodwin quâ suprà cap. 9. p. 111. Elementary Region in the great world and so can raise unnaturall storms and vapors that shall darken reason and cause such thunders lightenings as shall hurle all into a black confusion such as if hell and the soul would presently come together wherefore that the shaking of Satans chaines may no way fright us in that pale day of death or sicknesse let the houses of
Downe against Baxter p. 237 238. Eliberis and the Bishops of the whole Councell of Frankford under Charles the great condemned the having of Images in Churches for adoration againe about the yeere of our Lord 801. Leo the third being urged by the clearenesse of the second Commandement Emperor of Constantinople tooke them all away ne populus statuarum amans eas b Mart Bâ—â—oaldus Chron. l. 4 c 8 sect 24. p. 20â— adoraret sayth Matthaeus Beroaldus for which by Pope Gregory the third of Rome to make him the more odious to the people he was excommunicated and styled Iconomachus which signifieth a fighter against Images the Christians Primitive refused to adore them saith c Tertull Apol. c. 12. 〈…〉 lio ibid. nu 184. Tertullian Saint d Cyprian de Idolorum vaniâ—ate Cyprian wrote a set book of the vanity of such Idols and e Lactant. l. 2. de orig erroris c. 2 3 4 c. Lactantius much to the same effect and among our own f See B Hall c. 10. old Relig D 〈◊〉 concluâ— 5. p. 653. against Hart. worthyes which of them hath not cryed down their abuse by adoration in like zeale no doubt that this good King Hezekiah was moved by to remove the brasen serpent as being the stumbling block of Idolatry to all the people Saint Isidore in the Latine and Saint g Theodor. quaest 6. in Exod. Theodoret in the Greeke think that God appeared unto Moses above other things in a Bush because that Exod. 3.2 of all things else is most incapable of the stampe of an Image by that meanes removing the occasion of Idolatryzing to it afterwards and againe when he was about to give the Law upon mount Sinai there was a mighty i Heb. 12 19. Deut. 4.12 vide Calvin Instit l. 1. c. 11. sect 2. voyce heard which being a sound cannot be shaped into any form or figure much lesse a picture So then Hezekiah removing Idolatrous occasions and withall establishing the true worship and service of God as yee have heard it appeares that this k In 2 Tim. 2.20 the Church is compared to a great house as Adam Sasbont Bezâ— Estius and most others except St Chrysostome and Theopâ—â—â— publique House of the Church was if not mainely intended because of the short time he had now to set his own private house in order yet I beleeve not excluded but involved in this same exhortation of the Prophet now under this dangerous mortall sicknes sent to him from the Lord set thine house in order But yet lastly besides this bodily this spirituall and this mysticall house there is yet another which I also think to be the very purpose of Gods spirit most directly in this Scripture and that is the oeconomicall or the Secular house the Prophet under this expression comprehending all his affaires that concerned the settling of his temporall estate and the businesse that concerned the well-ordering of his family and disposing of his either outward Kingdome or worldly goods for the benefit and the quiet of posterity For the story tels us 2 Chron. 32.27 that Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor and he made himselfe treasures for silver and for gold c. and I beleeve in this provident particular avoyding all unlawfull affections and entanglements the wisdome of the world though not the carnality of the world for 't is not the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be observed as it is noted even of Ahitophel that minding to dy though God keepe all good people from that manner of dying he gate him home to his house and put his l 2 Sam. 17.23 houshold though he for want of grace could not do so to himselfe in order for howbeit the Children of this world are to wit in regard of the world worldly affaires m Luke 16.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wiser in the comparative as our Savior truly saith because the Children will in this be like the Divell their n Joh. 8.44 Father who is a o Eph. 6.11 wily a p Isa 27.1 crooked a q 2 Cor. 11.3 subtile serpent they therefore must and will be full of r Eph. 4.14 sleights and cunning craftinesse too yet that his owne sons and children should not also be in the positive at least wise I see no cause to the contrary yea Christ himself adviseth them that if they will be Å¿ Matt. 10.16 the greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is compounded ex α privativa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and denotes wisdome but without all mixture of harm or craft or guile innocent as doves and be sure principally t Ps 37 35 38. after the old translation to keep that they may be u Matt. 10.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wise even as serpents themselves And that the word house is taken in this sense is evident from many texts of Scripture which is ever the best interpreter of it selfe so we read for instance first for the house to be taken for the family Gen. 7.1 The Lord said unto Noah come thou and all thy x Gen. 7.1 house into the Arke which in the seventh verse is interpreted by his sons and his wife and his sons wives as the members of that house or family so againe Josh 24.15 As for mee and my y Josh 24.15 house we will serve the Lord and Act. 10.2 Cornelius was a devout man one that feared God with all his z Act. 10.2 house and 1. Cor. 1.16 I baptized also the a 1 Cor. 1.16 houshold of Stephanas Act. 16.15 Lydia was baptized and her b Act. 16.15.34 houshold and ver 34. ib. The converted Jaylour believed in God with all his house in these and many places more to this purpose that might be alledged by House is understood a Family wife children servants c. and that this House was intended to be set in order by this Prophets exhortation is past all question for the Scripture expressely tells us in the Hebrew Text which is rendred more appositely in our margin Give charge concerning thine house which Junius and Tremelius render by Da praecepta familiae tuae that is Give precepts and holy counsell to thy family besides in 2. King 18.3 it 's said that Hezekiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord according to all that c 2 King 18.3 David his Father did Now David his Father saith the Scripture first tooke speciall care for the Kingdome it selfe and gave speciall d 1 King 1.33 34. charge for Solomon to be anointed King in his stead for the next succession as we read 1. King 1.33 34. and then for precepts to his e 1 Chron. 28.9 sonne himselfe we have it cleare 1. Chr. 28.9 And thou Solomon my sonne know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and
with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seeke him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever Hezekiah now doing according to all that David his Father did did doubtlesse this too endeavour to set his Family in order in this they both trod in the steps of their Father Abraham of whom the Lord himselfe giveth this Testimoniall Gen. 18.19 I know that he will command his children and his f Gen. 18.19 houshold to keepe the way of the Lord The like was professed by Joshua as ye heard but now Josh 24.15 and by David againe at large g Psal 101.2 c Psal 101.2 c. and of old Jacob we have a set forme for the benediction of his sonnes severally upon his h Gen. 49.1 2 c. death-bed Gen. 49.1 2 3 c. to this purpose we have likewise many frequent exhortations in the Scriptures for the Father and Master duely and in good order to instruct and i Pro. 22.6 traine your children up betimes in the way they should goe even in the k Eph. 6.4 nurture and in the feare of the Lord Read at your leasure and observe at all times these places Deut. 6.7 Prov. 22.6 Eph. 6.4 Col. 4.1 of the duty of the Husband to the Wife and so reciprocally this way see Eph. 5.22 23. c. 1. Cor. 14.34 35. I might shew you this way many excellent examples even under the New Testament where the whole house prove beleevers for the example of the Parents and the Masters the Husband and the Wife as 1. Cor. 7.14 Such an house was the Family of Cornelius such that of Lydia such that of the Jaylour such a good woman was Timothy's Grandmother l 2 Tim. 1.5 Lois and his Mother Eunice whose gracious instructions and example made Timothy to know the holy Scriptures even from a m 2 Tim. 3.15 child Priscilla and Aquila were so godly this way that in their very house saith Saint Paul though but a private Family there was a n Rom. 16.5 Church Rom. 16.3 5. the o Col. 4.15 like whereunto is said of Nymphas and the brethren which are in Laodicea Col. 4.15 See also how S John greeteth not the elect Lady onely but her p 2 Epist Joh. 1. children also 2. Epist John 1. and surely thus it alwayes is when the voice of joy and health is in the q Psal 118.15 dwelling of the righteous then are the righteous in their dwellings evermore in joy and health And certainely through the want of this comes all the mischiefe in the world for if we knew well how to rule and governe our r 1 Tim. 3.5 15. owne houses the Church of God at large must needs prosper the better for us Many very godly and usefull directions collected out of the Scriptures and the ancient Fathers have beene already printed in the Church of England and delivered over from the Mother to her Children so that I should but cast my drop into the Ocean if I should here adde any thing thereto more rather let me exhort you to the ſ Joh. 13.17 practice of what already is t Luc. 10.28 directed to us in this particular and thus if we doe we shall live Now besides the setting in order of this house the family there is also another acception of the word house when it is put to signifie all the estate and goods or outward fortunes of a house so I thinke may that text be understood 2 Tim. 1.16 the Lord give mercy unto the t 2 Tim. 1.16 house of Onesiphorus for he oft refreshed me that is not only to his posterity but a propitious and prosperous benediction even unto all that hee had God grant though as it follows ver 18. ibid. in many things he ministred unto me in my chaines yet that his store may never be exhausted but that his u Prov. 11.25 liberall soule may be made fat and after all ver 18. the Lord grant him see that his own person seemes here to be distinguished from the former house that he may finde mercy of the Lord in that day and the originall Greek word there used is x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ammonius lib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which two words though happily as indeed they are they be confounded in common use yet in the criticall acception saith Ammonius the former denotes properly the whol substance of the house the latter the house of habitation and to omit multitude of other Texts that might to this purpose be alledged take that one Gen. 39.4 5. where it is said that Pharaoh made Joseph overseer over his house and presently adds all that he had he put into his hand and ver 5. the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had y Gen. 39.5 in the house and in the field so that without more adoe by setting of the house in order he means the well disposing of his goods and temporall estate This we finde to have been practised first by Abraham the pattern of our Faith who before his death even while he yet z See Gen. 25.5 6 8. lived saith the Scripture he disposed by testament unto Isaac his son and heire all that he had that is all the chiefest of his substance and to his other sons he gave gifts and then or as Junius reads postea afterwards or after all this was done Abraham gave up the ghost and dyed in a good old age an old man and full of yeeres and was gathered to his people Gen. 25.5 6 8. and the like I read to have been practised by the twelve Patriarks I have seen a In Patrum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 589 c. a booke intit'led Testamentum duodecim Patriarcharum filiorum Jacob per Robertum Lincolniensem Episcopum è Graeco in Latinum versum and surely by this very praedisposall and well ordering of our houses so far as God hath any way blessed us even in outward blessings before hand cheifly whilest God affords us the good use of memory or of our best intellectuals by this I say much good will accrew to our own souls in the first place in the second no mean benefit withall unto succession First of all to our owne souls for by this voyding and emptying our hearts of these worldly things in the first order they shall by this become the more open hearted unto God and heaven like those swift flying birds which as the b Aristot lib. de animal Philosopher tels us do close their eyes ever with the under lid shutting up their ey-sight from the garbadge here below whereas the c Ludolphus de sax pt 1. c. 38 de vitâ Christi grosser sort of Creatures close their eyes with the upper
one meditation my worthy Brethren solace our hearts and cheere up our spirits under those outward abasures and undervaluings that we somtimes meet with from your carnall besotted worldlings who know no more then l Mat. 7.6 swine to value the pearles of heaven nor how to prize the inestimable m 2 Cor. 4.7 Treasure of the Gospell though brought unto them by us but in earthen vessells Isaiah by name the Prophet by function the son of Amos by discent and Pedegree one of noble and of royall linage yee see how I may say as Paul doth of his letter written to his Galatians cap. 6.11 this subject is very n Gal. 6.11 large and not only time but copiousnesse of matter overwhelmes me Wherefore as Tertullus told his noble Foelix o Act. 24.4 Act. 24.4 That I be not farther tedious herein unto you I pray you that you would heare me of your clemency and patience a few words more of this Prophets visite and the matter of it and then as Foelix bad St. Paul I shall go my wayes for this time till a more convenient season may call me againe hither Yee have the visite it selfe in these words He came to him A worthy act indeed a good lesson to us Ministers that we speedily addresse us to our people in like case and p Jude 2.23 save we them with feare as Saint Jude adviseth ver 23. pulling them out of the fire of temptation or of hell to which the adversarie would perchance in death emplunge them and surely there would be a very profitable use of some q My Lord B◠of Ely quá supra p. 23. vide privat form of pastorall collation with their flock for their direction and information in particular spirituall duties such as was private confession avoyding the grosse and intolerable abuse thereof now among the Romish Masse-Priests and the sillily deluded people led by them in the ancient Church But yet here is a lesson for our people too to doe as Saint James exhorteth when they be sick to send and r Jam. 5.14 call for us in season so the good sister of sick Lazarus ſ Joh. 11.3 sent to Christ Joh. 11.3 yea even Hezekiah here when there was upon him a day of trouble he sent the chiefest of his servants to the Prophet and that betimes too e're the evill spread too farre that he might lift up his t 2 King 19.2 3 4. Prayer for him 2 King 19.2 3 4. a point this is that merits your best notice and cals for your carefull practice who knows what disadvantage to your selves what discomfort to your selves and others standing by you this delay may breed Well the Prophet is come and what now doth he do there not sooth or fish out for a legacy but the text sayth he fals instantly upon the discharge of his Commission to the sicke Prince for so we read he came to him and being come Hee said unto him thus saith the Lord. This part I called in my division the good Prophets employment which stood in the delivery of his message to the King and therefore it is described 1. Formally in this expression he said unto him Thus saith the Lord. 2. Materially and this three wayes 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Positively Thou shalt dye 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Negatively and not live 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Exhortation Set thine house in order First formally in these words He said unto him thus saith the Lord He said it seemes he was a Prophet and therefore he would not be tongue-tide surely he that likened Idoll-shepheards who had mouths and u Psal 115.5 spake not unto x St Gregory compares good Preachers to watchfull dogs quia faciunt magnos latratus praedicationis Dogs yea to y Isa 56.10 11. dumbe dogs despicable creatures the price whereof and of an whore the Lord professeth to z Deut. 23.18 abhorre alike would not himselfe suffer his sick Patient wanting comfort to miscarry by his wilfull silence or neglect hee knew the blood of soules was precious in Gods sight and as that of Abel a Gen. 4.10 cryed loud to Heaven for requitall My worthy brethren let us remember that when the Spirit did descend upon the Apostles he came in the similitude of b Act. 2.3 cloven tongues first of tongues the best c Psal 108.1 member that David had to d Isa 58.1 tell Israel of her sinnes and Judah of her great transgressions yea to e Psal 66.16 tell the people that feare God also what mercifull things he will doe for their soules if they would once but f Psal 34.8 taste and see and upon experience discover how g 1. Pet. 2.3 gracious the Lord is and then of cloven tongues that they might rightly h 2. Tim. 2.15 divide and as it were cleave out of the whole lumpe and precious masse of the Word of God to every one his i Luke 12.42 proper portion k 1. Pet. 2.2 milke to whom milke and l Heb. 5.13 14. stronger meate unto whom stronger meate is due rightly dividing the word of truth as our Saviour making known m John 15.15 all things that he had heard of his Father unto his friends the Disciples and as St Paul not shunning to declare unto the Church of Christ all the n Acts 20.27 whole counsell of God so much of it he meant as was o 2. Cor. 12.4 lawfull and fit to be imparted surely God will never thanke a man for keeping in of his counsell rather I think where the counsell and the secret of the Lord is there as Jeremie professeth Gods word is in the heart of a truly zealous Minister rightly called and well qualified as a p Jer. 20.9 burning fire shut up in his bones he is weary with forbearing and cannot stay namely from giving of it a doore of q Eph. 6.19 utterance when the heart is hot within and in the middest of musing thoughts the fire of zeale burneth David cannot without much pain hold his peace but he must needs be speaking with his r Psal 39.3 tongue thus doing a faithfull Pastor may in the day of reckoning and account with God with comfort lift up his head and say as my prophet here hath sayd before him though his words strictly were indeed a prophecy of Christ behold I and the ſ Isa 8.18 children which by thy blessing and giving of u See Joh. 17.26 encrease unto my t 1 Cor. 3.6 endeavours in the Ministry thou hast given mee But to say no more of this saying of my Prophet here lest I incur those proverbiall scom's sus Minervam or else that x Cum nesciret loqui nescivit tacere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let us next observe how he begins his saying to the King It is yee see with a sic dicit Dominus thus sayth the Lord
our Soules be rightly set in order our minds o Eph. 1.17 illightned with knowledge our wils furnished with p Heb. 5.9 obedience our affections cleansed by q 1 Joh. 3.3 2 Cor. 7.1 purity our passions allayed by r Luke 21.19 patience our conscience ſ Heb. 9.14 sprinkled from dead workes the whole house so well fitted drest up and prepared that when our Saviour shall t Rev. 3.20 knock at the doore of our hearts by the u Jer. 23.29 Hammer of his Word or call to us by the x Isa 30.21 voice of the Spirit we may readily open unto him and welcome him to supper with us in the y Rom. 5.1 peace of soule and z Rom. 15.13 joy in the Holy Ghost and may walke in that way which he shall shew us both of Repentance and Faith and that by the direction of himselfe who is onely the Essentiall a John 14.6 way the truth and the life that in the issue we may not faile of the end of our faith even the b 1. Pet. 1.9 salvation of our soules Thirdly there is yet another house besides these and that is the house mysticall and this house is the c 1. Tim. 3.15 Church of God yea of the living God as Saint Paul hath fully taught us 1. Tim. 3.15 this house is builded upon a d Matth. 7.24 Rock and that Rock is e 1. Cor. 10.4 Christ the members of this house are resembled unto and called by the name of a f Eph. 3.15 Family in this family the great g Matth. 20.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Householder is God himselfe he hath h Matth. 15.26 Children in this family and being an indulgent Father he hath a Son an i Matth. 21.38 heire and not onely so but divers other both k 2. Cor. 6.18 Sonnes and Daughters too and as children so l Matth. 21.34 Luke 17.10 Servants also Of these servants some are chiefe as m Luke 12.42 Stewards of the Household others emphatically Servants of speciall notice and favour such an one was Job whom the Lord the great Householder would have to be observed above ordinary and n Job 1.8 considered as a patterne to others some againe are remarkable for fidelity and o Heb. 3.5 faithfulnesse in all the House so was Moses the p Num. 12.7 Servant of the Lord q 1. Cor. 7.25 and Paul Others as for faithfulnesse so also for r Luke 12.42 Wisedome joyned with it some of these againe are so endeared that though in themselves they be Servants yet in their Masters high esteeme they be his ſ John 15.15 Friends and so he usually calls them and of these servant-friends some walke t Gen. 5.24 with him so did Enoch some as Abraham whom St James calleth the u James 2.23 Friend of God doe walke x Gen. 17.1 before him in a word some are so y Psal 19.13 Psal 119.76 servants that withall they are such men as are * 1. Sam. 13.14 Act. 13.22 after the Lords owne heart too and such an one was David out of all these and much more that might be added to this purpose concerning the severall offices and imployments of these children and servants in this house of the Church according to their a 1. Cor. 12.4 5 6 c. severall degrees and orders of which the Apostle hath written at large 1. Cor. 12.4 5 6 c. there is made up one whole entire b Heb. 3.6 house of Christ namely if we as Saint Paul admonisheth us hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of the hope firme unto the end how justly may I here take up that saying of the blessed Aegyptian c Macarius Homil. 49. pag. 535. in 80. Macarius on this occasion and cry out in wonder and admiration at Gods great mercy in this regard to man as he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh the unspeakable mercy of God who freely gives himselfe unto beleevers to inherite him in a short time as a full possession and oh wonder that God should inhabite in the body of man and that the Lord should have as it were a specious house to dwell in man To which even of the Angels though by creation farre more glorious creatures than man is for he is made d Heb. 2.7 lower than the Angels hath God said this at any time that he would either come to e Rev. 3.20 sup or else to f Eph. 3.17 2.22 dwell with them but loe thus hath he said and doth doe to men and the Church built up of men upon the g Matth. 7.24 Rock Christ Jesus as the chiefe h Eph. 2.20 corner-stone of i 1. Pet. 2.5 living stones unto a compleate k Eph. 2.21 building in the Lord nor doth he onely lodge with us as the Angels did with Lot for a l Gen. 19.3 4 15. Night and so away but he m John 14.23 abides and stayes with his Church for ever even unto the n Matth. 28.20 end of the world If then Lot was highly honored in entertaining and lodging of Angels what honour have we to lodge the God of Angels and if the Babe o Luke 1.41 sprang in the wombe when yet there was a double partition-wall two wombs betweene Saint John Baptist and his Lord and Master Christ when he came but in a p Luke 1.40 visite oh how should we rejoyce who have him in us by a perpetuall q Eph 2.22 inhabitation which meditation should by the way admonish us how religiously carefull we should be of preserving these houses from r Veniunt ad candida tecta columbae pollution and all uncleanenesse that we may not occasion our best guest by meanes of some ill order or entertainment within us to be ſ Eph. 4.30 grieved to divert and t Hos 5.15 go away to some other better and sweeter mansion oh let us not make our bodies and soules the u 1. Cor. 6.15 Brothel-houses of lust as a Babylonish x Rev. 18.2 cage of all foule birds of flying and of wandring thoughts of impurity but let us rather purge our selves from all y 2. Cor. 7.1 filthinesse of the * Domus Dei spiritualis est qui non in carne ambulat sed in spiritu Bern. f. 17. flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God purge we our hearts from pride by Humility for with the z Isa 57.15 humble spirit God will dwell yea let us in all godlinesse and a 1. Tim. 2.2 honesty glorifie God both in our b 1. Cor. 6.20 bodies and in our soules sith both are Gods and that not by Creation onely but by c Ibid. purchase This is the way to make both bodies and soules not styes or stews of filthinesse but as Saint Paul saith the very
d 1. Cor. 6.19 Temples of the Holy Ghost in which as in and among the true Church of God he will e 1. Cor. 3.16 17. dwell and abide even for ever and ever And thus much also of the mysticall house which is as yee have seene the Church of the living God Now whether or no doth the ordering of this House come within the compasse of our Prophets exhortation to Hezekiah in this Text to set his House in order before his Death Saint Paul saith that the f 2. Cor. 11.28 care of all the Churches lay upon him those particular Churches of the Gentiles I thinke he meanes which were the members of the whole body of the Catholique and Universall Church at large Surely so doth the whole Church within the proper Territories of any pious Prince appertaine to him to order for the best advantage of Gods glory and the g Psal 122.6.7 peace and prosperity of the Church it selfe Thus we find good Kings to stand affected in all ages of the Church a speciall example we have in that famous King h 2. Chro. 19.5 6 7 8 9. Jehoshaphat 2. Chron. 19. who tooke care not onely to appoint Judges able and holy to end and order secular affaires but also in Hierusalem did Jehoshaphat saith the Scripture verse the 8th ibidem set of the Levites and of the Priests and of the chiefe of the Fathers of Israel for the judgment of the Lord and for controversies when they returned to Hierusalem and he charged them saying Thus shall ye doe in the feare of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart and certainely when the Sword of a valiant Goliah and the Ephod the Sword of the Magistrate and the Sword of the Spirit are brandished or drawn forth together as David said to Ahimelech of the Sword of Goliah there is i 1 Sam. 21.9 none to that so there is no union no ordering of the house of the Church like this whilest the prophane Sensualist and the hypocriticall Atheist shall be smitten to the ground together Steddily and happily must the Arke of God needs go when it is drawn by peace and holinesse tyed together as those two milch kine keeping the high way and turning not aside to either hand saith a learned and most elegant k Mr. John Bury one of the Prebends of Exeter in his epist dedicat before his Visitation serm styled the Moderate Christian edit 1630. Preacher of our western parts Now the way to obteine or to settle both these is when as Davids Palace and Gods Tabernacle dwelt together upon Mount Sion both the spiritual first directs the temporall and then the Temporall sword doth back the spirituall to defend and ayd or like to Hippocrates twins they breathe and live and alwayes go l Inpromâ—venda justitia usque quaque gladius gladium adjuvabat nihil inconsulto sacerdote qui velut Saburra in navi fuit agebatur D Hen. Spelman epist dedicat ad Regem Car. praefix Concil Aug. together for which cause we find also that King David could not m Psal 132.4 sleep till he had provided for Gods house and taken speciall order for the establishing and observation of Gods statutes and divine ordinances not only in the Tabernacle at Sion but by the whole Church of God under his dominions furnishing it with Priests and Levites singers and the like yea cherishing and honoring the Prophets of the Lord of hostes and therefore he so earnestly importunes the devotions of all good people to n Psal 122.6 7. pray for the peace of Hierusalem and the prosperity of her palaces as being the known type and representation of the o Jerusalem civitas sancta est sancta ecclesia Catholica spiritualis Jerusâ—lem as Paulus Fagius in libro Precationum Hebr. prec 8. Church of God for by that antonomafia St Paul expressely calleth it Gal. 4.26 Hierusalem that is the Church of God which is above that is either as triumphant actually enthronized into her glory as the woman in the Revelation cloathed with the sun to wit the p Mal. 4 2. Sun of righteousnesse Christ Jesus him selfe who is her q 1 Cor. 1.30 righteousnesse is above all in r Rev. 12.1 heaven already being there safe and set out of the gunshot of the Devill and all his annoying temptations or else above because though militant as yet below notwithstanding in Å¿ Col. 3.2 affection she is still above and her t Phil. 3.20 conversation is in heaven alwayes howbeit shee here as Abraham in a strange Country u Heb. 11.9 sojourneth a while in these earthly Tabernacles for this Hierusalem the Church of God was King David so sollicitous and carefull Nor did this care give up the ghost with those x See D. Buckeridge his excellent serm upon Rom 13 5. preached at Hampton court before the Kings Maâ— sept 23. 1006. to this purpose godly Princes but as if there had been a Pythagoricall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that zealous disposition hath passed by happy Transmigration to the rest of those good Kings that succeeded and save only when the woman was driven into the y Rev. 12.14 wildernesse sometimes and persecuted with the Dragon so that she hath been faine to seeke for z Heb. 11.38 dens and caves to shelter her in all ages by the providence of good Princes she hath prospered and for that very cause too the pious Kings themselves as a See 2 King 22. Josiah Asa and the rest good Princes the better also we find in the Ecclesiasticall story of the Church since the dayes of the Gospell that the like care of her welfare hath not slumbered for after that sore long lasting tempest in the first three hundred yeeres after Christ of persecution raised by those ten Scarlet Tyrants of those times there was a dawning againe of some ease and rest peeping out b Narrant hunc Philippum Arabem primum ex imperatoribus Romanis factum esse Christianum â—â—quid intellexerit ille Arabicus miâ—â—â—â— quaâ—is ejus pietas fueâ—it nâ—scimus Jâ— Carion Chron. l. 3. p. 272. in 8 in Anno Christi 248 〈…〉 252. first in the short reigne of Philip an Arabian but he being nipped in the very bud or blossome of his government within five yeeres space or there abouts could not bring any thing this way to any noted perfection but his pious intentions for the Church were interpretativè I doubt not esteemed as actions by the Lord Immediately upon this God raised up Constantine the great the honor of whose birth our Britaine was enobled with his care was not purposed alone but put in execution for he spread the gospell of Christ in the sign of whose crosse he still gloried and prevailed erected Churches countenanced the Clergy and indeed was famous for the Churches cause And when that foul heresie of Arius about the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Christ with