Christ then he scornes them and throws them away What things were gain unto me those I counted losse for Christ yea doubtless and I count all things to be but loss c. But when others despised him for want of them or did not sufficiently prize him in them then he resumes them and takes them up again with greater authority Then wheresoever any is bold I speak foolishly I am bold also Are they Hebrews so am I. Are they Israelites so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham so am I and so he goes on To teach us that these were such things which in their due rank and place might be mentioned with some kind of acknowledgment and so they may But so much may be spoken of Zion according to its first representation as it is taken for the City of David and so to be born there as denoting a temporal priviledge which is not altogether to be neglected by us 2. The City of God The second is for the City of God So it is sometimes taken and called in sundry places of Scripture Thus Psal 48.1 The City of our God The mountain of Holinesse he speaks it of Zion as the next vers expresses it And so vers 8. The City of the Lord of Hosts the City of our God And so in the third vers of this very Psalm which we have now in hand Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of God Having spoken in the vers before of the Gates of Zion Thus now it signifies the Church and so to born in it a spirituall priviledge But then again even thus considered it has a double notion in it Zion Local Mystical For it may be taken either locally or mystically If we take it locally so to be born in Zion is to be born in such a place where the Church and people of God does reside To be born in some visible Church If we take it mystically so to be born in Zion is to be regenerate and born again To be a member of the Church which is invisible Either of these is a very great priviledge but especially the latter of them And the former in reference to the latter with which former we will now begin 1. Local First Take Zion locally for the place of the Churches residence the visible Church This man was born there It is intimated as a priviledge this to that man whosoever he be and so it is It is a great mercy to be cast upon such places and times and to be brought forth in such Nations and Countries wherein the Ordinances and means of grace are dispenst This is to be born under a right Planet and Constellation indeed as none else besides And that especially from Gods presence which is here especially manifested and who takes special delight therein The Lord loves the gates of Zion more then all the dwellings of Jacob in the 2 vers of this Psalm Why the gates of Zion more then any other gates else Namely because of the Ordinances and Performances which are there in use Where any are gathered together in his name there is He present amongst them Here are excellent truths revealed and excellent duties performed and excellent priviledges enjoyed as pertaining hereunto and all these likewise tending and conducing to an excellent end which is consequent and following hereupon through Gods blessing upon them even conversion and regeneration here and salvation and glory hereafter which we are put into a capacity of and into a way unto by such opportunities as these are The improvement This is that therefore which we have cause much to acknowledge and to be affected withall We of this Nation in general and We of this City in particular The great goodnesse and mercy of God to us in this respect That we have been born here Not in Egypt but in Goshen Not in Babylon but in Zion Not in the valley of darknesse but in the valley of vision and under the beams of light it self 1. By the Nation in general First We of this Nation that we have been born here And here in the right Reflexion and reduplication of it not in Paganism but in Christianity not in Popery but in the true Religion For we must know and consider that there hath been a double hand of conversion and Reformation which has past upon us here in this Island A Conversion from Heathenism and Infidelity as we were sometimes a barbarous Nation as wilde and savage as any other in all the world which once we were And a Conversion from Antichristianism and Superstition as we were sometime a Popish Nation and overgrown with the corruptions of Rome which once also we were We are to own our deliverance from both in regard of the Nation and our birth as partaking of that deliverance in regard of our selves as born in such a Time and Age which through Gods goodness was freed from either This is that which is the great priviledge and advantage indeed unto us It is this that makes it there To be born in such an Aire under such a Climate within such a compasse of ground and earth It is not that which is any great matter Our Fore-fathers that lived in Darkness and Ignorance and Blindnesse and Superstition they were in this sense born here as well as we No but to be born in dayes of knowledge and light under the preaching of the Gospel and the Dispensation of the Ordinances and the enjoyment of the truth this is our glory and joy and Crown of rejoycing above any thing else besides and those which are born thus are born there Thus we of this Land and Nation in generall 2. By the City in special But then secondly We of this City and place in particular we have cause to acknowledge it more especially And we are come to acknowledge it this Day It is a main end of of our meeting and assembling together at this thime if we know what it is which we are met and assembled for To praise God for this happy providence which hath been afforded unto us That we should be born not only in Jury but also in Sion and that not in the literal sense neither but in the spiritual not in the legal Sion but in the evangelical That God should cast and dispose our beginnings in such a place as wherein we might suck in Religion with the ayre in which we breath according to the various opportunities which are here administred to us For so there are as no place under heaven the like This is that which cals for our acknowledgment The Psalmist when he would advance Sion and set forth the glory of it how does he do it in Psal 48.1 c. he does it from hence in that it is the City of God and the mountain of holinesse Beautifull for situation the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion on the sides of the north the City of the great King God
have in those words This man was born there The celebration of this priviledge that is twofold 1. On Mans part by way of Report in the 5. vers And of Zion it shall be said 2. On Gods part by way of Record in the 6. The Lord shall count when he writes up the people that c. We begin with the First viz. The Priviledge it self which is here presented to us with all the advantage that may be First In its threefold Repetition in one verse after another Repetitions in Scripture are for the most part very significant and do import some very great matter in the things themselves which they are applyed unto And so as to this particular passage amongst the rest it is not vainly or without very good cause thrice repeated here in the Text. This man was born there This man was born there This man was born there In the 4. vers In the 5. And in the 6. Secondly In the word of Attention which is annext unto it Selah Which if according to some it be a meer Musicall note to provoke an elevation of the voice yet according to others more probably is a note of speciall Animadversion to intimate the excellency of the matter and the one grounded upon the other the more excellent matter requiring a more excellent note to be put upon it To which I may add a third according to some readings of the Text and that is the Particle of excitement prefixed unto it Behold Loe there was he born A double Emphasis The passage it-self according to a different Accent or Emphasis which may be laid upon the words hath a different notion with it upon There This. For it may be laid either upon There or upon This. If ye lay the force upon There then it is an advancement of the person taken from the place This man was born THERE If ye lay the force upon This then it is an advancement of the place taken from the person THIS MAN was born there We may take it if we please according to either of these Notions and we shall consider it at this time in both as which will best agree with our purpose and sute to the present occasion which we have now in hand 1. Upon There And first In the former viz. The advancement of the person taken from the place This man was born there There Where was that I told you before that it was delivered a little obscurely But we must resolve it by consulting with the Context both in the words preceding and following and that will shew it plainly to be Zion all along It is here declared as a very great priviledge for this man who ever he be to be born there Now that it may really appear to be so indeed it is requisite for us to enquire what this Zion was where this man was born The Scripture exhibits it to us under a double Representation Zion twofold Either as the City of David or as the City of God If we take it as the City of David so to be born in it does denote a temporal priviledge If as the City of God a spiritual 1. The City of David First Take it as the City of David We shall find Zion thus to be called 1 King 8.1 The City of David which is Zion And so it is by a Synecdoche put for Jerusalem which was the Metropolis or Mother-City of the Kingdom The same is LONDON to us not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a City of Habitation i. e. a populous City Psal 107.7 But also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The City of our Solemnities i. e. a stately and magnificent City Isa 30.20 And to be born in it as so considered it was not without its honor and dignity as belonging unto it No more but that There is a Civil respect which does adhere to men in regard of their births which are not meerly casual but have a special hand of providence which is operative in them As to their Parents so to the places of their Nativity and as that they are born thus so that they are borne there There in opposition to a meaner place and more obscure That it is there and not there there is somewhat which is considerable in it and accordingly hath been so esteemed of by intelligent men It was such as the Apostle himself made very much of as he had occasion for it Act. 21.39 But Paul said I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus a City in Cilicia A citizen of no mean City 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Act. 22,28 He mentions it as a speciall priviledge wherein he excelled the Chief-Captain in his Roman freedom that whereas the other got it by purchase With a great sum obtained I this freedom he had it by birth But I was free born namely in Tarsus which was a Colonie to Rome and so according to custome had that priviledge annexed unto it as pertained to those Cities This I say simply considered hath its advantages in it Therefore let us learn to blesse God for such providences as these are where we partake of them which though they are but of ordinary and inferiour consideration yet are such as deserve to be observed and taken notice of by us It is true they are nothing to speak of as we shall hear more afterwards if we lay them with better things but yet in themselves they are somewhat worth They are nothing comparatively but they are somewhat absolutely They are nothing as to matter of Pride but they are somewhat as to matter of Thankfulness and due acknowledgement as many other things besides of the same nature with them Riches and Honors and Parentage and Dignity and Authority and the like they are poor matters for any one to set his heart upon them or to be puft or lifted up with them but yet they are such as a gracious heart will be thankfull for and learn to understand Gods dealings in his dispensing of them to him Proud and envious spirits where they see any others to excell in any thing above themselves they are apt there to throw some contempt and disparagement upon it and upon those which are partakers of it but yet for all that it 's never the worse for the parties themselves who notwithstanding all such carriages are themselves to be affected with them yea and to blesse and praise God for them If God casts outward priviledges upon us we are not to despise them but to enjoy them with humility and fruitfulnesse though they are not the things which we are to value or measure our selves by The Apostle Paul was a man of as great and many external accommodations as any man else besides If any have confidence in the flesh I more Phil. 3.4 but he knew both when to stand upon them and when to neglect them And so should we do with him When any of these things came once in competition with the Gospel of
Zion's Birth-Register UNFOLDED IN A SERMON TO THE NATIVE-CITIZENS OF LONDON In their Solemn Assembly at PAVLS on Thursday the VIII of May A.D. M.DC.LVI By THOMAS HORTON D.D. PSAL. 22.9,10 But Thou art He that took me out of the womb thou madest me to hope when I was upon my Mothers breasts I was cast upon Thee from the womb Thou art my God from my Mothers belly ACT. 18.9,10 Then spake the Lord to Paul I have much people in this City LONDON Printed for John Clark and are to be sold at the Entrance into Mercers-Chappel at the lower end of Cheapside M.DC.LVI To all the SONS of ZION especially which were Born within the Liberties of the City of LONDON and of late more solemnly Assembled for the acknowledgment of that Providence to them Much honoured and beloved in Christ I Know not to whom the inscription of this Sermon could more justly belong then indeed to your selves who are the proper subjects of it movers for it and Auditors to whom it was delivered To You therefore I tender it not without your own invitation yet not limited to any particulars but rather in common and at large that so whilest that All have an equal interest in the occasion they might equally share in the remembrances and publications of it The scope of this Discourse before you is to improve the present opportunity to the best spiritual advantage which is or should be the end of all such solemn Assemblies and performances as these are Gods Ordinances being too good and instituted to better purpose then meerly to serve mens Fancies and Formalities and Complemental devices which yet the generality of the world for the most part makes them to do I know not how it comes to passe but your late meeting hath not obtain'd that effect which I know you desired and design'd in the first appointment of it from whence you will finde some passages in the close of the Sermon to be a great deal truer in the event then I wist they would be when I utter'd them And yet I cannot very well tell where to lay the blame I am apt to perswade my self and would have the World so perswaded too that it proceeded not from want of Affection but rather of Contrivance This is most certain and undeniable That there were divers persons at that time amongst you which came together with large intentions and some with great preparations to very noble and honorable atchievements only they had not a channel so readily cut out unto them wherein their Charity might stream it self You wanted not liquor but vent not matter but method not conception but obstetrication The children were come to the birth but there was not strength to bring forth Isa 37.3 It will therefore very neerly concern you both in point of conscience and honour to resume the work again and to find out some way or other for the more successefull accomplishment of it which you had better never undertaken then not bring to some perfection Think not to smoother it in silence and that time will wear it out for that it will not God knowes your thoughts a far off And your Resolutions with him are Subscriptions as your Subscriptions due Debts Remember Ananias and Sapphira who kept back part of the price Act. 5.2 what was said and what was done to them And consider what Solomon sayes of those that boast themselves of a false gift that they are like clouds and wind without rain Prov. 25.14 But I will not so far suspect you as to presse too hard upon you in a businesse whereunto I suppose you are of your selves so readily inclined The Lord make us all faithfull and serious in our dealings with him You will so much the more affectionately resent this seasonable suggestion as it proceeds from the hearty desires seconded with prayers of Your Countryman and fellow-servant in the advancement of the common good Thomas Horton From my Study in Gresham-Colledge Jun. 3. 1656. A SERMON PREACHED TO The Native-Citizens of LONDON The VIII of May M.DC.LVI PSAL. LXXXVII Vers 4 5 6. THIS MAN WAS BORN THERE And of Zion it shall be said This and that man was born in her And the HIGHEST HIMSELF shall establish her The Lord shall count when he writes up the people That this man was born there Selah THere is so much excellency considerable in our Being and the communications of humane subsistence as that every thing is so far estimable and accountable with us as it bears the greatest share and part in it and proportion and affinity to it Therefore it is that we give so much respect to old age because it is life and being both in the first and soonest beginnings of it as also in the longest continuance And accordingly as we esteem of Being so in like measure we esteem of Birth which is as it were the first conveyance and irradiation and peeping out of this our being unto us And again as we esteem of that simply considered so we esteem of it likewise in the circumstances and appendances of it Because it is so noble and excellent a thing to be born therefore we esteem of the Time and count it the greater excellency as we are born Then And again because it is so noble and excellent a thing to be Born therefore we esteem of the Place and count it the greater excellency as we are born There And this is that which to the glory of God and our own greater rejoycing WE who have sometime been born and brought forth in this famous City of London are met together to acknowledge this day That we were born here as such a passage and piece of providence which is not to be easily neglected or past over by us and for which purpose I have made choice of this Scripture now before us In the reading whereof unto you you may perhaps aske the Question which the Eunuch of Ethiopia sometimes put to Philip the Deacon upon the like occasion namely concerning ones birth and generation Act. 8.34 I pray thee of whom speaketh the Prophet this OF HIMSELF or of some OTHER MAN The Reason of it is this Because it is delivered to us in such uncertain and ambiguous Expressions Here 's every thing almost indefinite and undetermin'd Here 's this and that and there but who and what and where it is hardly signified Therefore it is that Interpreters are at so much strife with themselves about it which I will not now trouble you withall lest thereby I should prevent my self of that which is more material I take it at large and in the generall as a full and ample description to us of the priviledges and preheminences of the Church with the members of it in a mutuall reference to each other The Division And so in the Text it self there are two generall parts considerable First The Priviledge mentioned Secondly The celebration of this Priviledge The Priviledge mentioned that ye
e. This honourable Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eminent in Countenance as he is called Esai 3.2 He is likewise born in Sion The mighty Man and the Man of War The Syriack Interpreter was so far sensible of this as that he expresses it in the very Text therefore in stead of saying This man was born there he saies A Potent man was born there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and he has establisht it whereby as I conceive he takes in the word Highest which followes afterwards in the verse and refers it here to this place and so the Scripture sets it in other places besides Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship c. Esai 49.7 And again The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifis Psal 72.10 And again the Chaldee Paraphrast in the Text This King was born there understanding thereby Solomon as most conceive and apprehend it Indeed these great and potent men have not the greatest name for Religion for the most part Not many mighty not many noble are called But yet some there are and through Gods goodnesse instances of it such as these born in Sion Men of power and place and authority and nobility and the like This man was born there 3. This Godly man Thirdly Take it for spirituals and for these accomplishments especially This Man i. e. This godly Man this is that which is most proper and essential to Sion and to the being born in it yea it is that which makes Sion it self in the sense we now take it It is the highest perfection of it and the greatest commendation to it of any thing else This is the great honour of the Church that it formes men to such qualities and dispositions as those are which no other place does besides It is not all the Schools of the Philosophers The Stoa or Academy or Lycaeum though they also have their use and seasonable improvement which are able to send forth such a man as Sion does so qual fied and adorned and beautified especially in his inward parts As for other places and such as those which I now mentioned they may perhaps now and then reach to some other principles and those likewise very glorious in the eyes of the world morality and civility and ingenuity and smoothnesse of behaviour The School of Nature and common reason may sometimes come up to these and that in a very great measure yea but now go a little higher to brokenednesse of heart to self-denial to love of enemies to closing with Christ the frame and spirit of the Gospel this is to be found no where but only in Sion And here it is THIS MAN was born THERE This in the Amplification Now this will further take an advancement and amplification of it not only by considering this man what he is now but what he was once which is also intimated in the Text Behold Philistia and Tyre and Ethiopia This man was born there Here 's the excellency of the Ordinances and that Power and Energie which is stirring in the Church of Christ that it is able to work such a miraculous alteration as this to bring men from darknesse to light from Satan to God from a state of sin and corruption and unregeneracy to a state of Grace and Holinesse and Regeneration yea from the lowest degree of the one to the highest degree of the other That Philistia should turn into Palestina Tyre into Jerusalem Ethiopia into Judaea here 's the wonder of all The reconciling of these two opposite termes thus both together That Princes should come out of Egypt and that Ethiopia should stretch out her hands to God as it is Psal 68.31 That the Blackmore should change his skin and that the Leopard should change his spots And that this Ethiopian should become this Christian that he which was born there should be born here There are some which have understood this place here in the Text concerning the Ethiopian Eunuch mentioned in the 8. of the Acts and whom I mentioned in the beginning of the Sermon as if this passage here before us were spoken Prophetically of him But I conceive that to be a little too narrow an Interpretation and a little too much forced I rather take it more general and at large as relating to all kinde of sinners whosoever they be yea the worst that are as reduced by the power of the Gospel and the mediation of the Ordinances of the Church as sometimes through the goodnesse of God it happens to be And that 's the first thing here considerable in the children of Sion to wit the quality of the persons exprest in this man 2. The Dignity of number The second is the Number or plurality This and that man c. And there are three things again here For this man only to be born there there had been no great matter in that one Swallow does not make a Summer and there is not the plainest or meanest place that is but may chance to have one eminent man to be born in it In this First Variety Secondly Indifferency And thirdly Succession 1. Variety This and that man i. e. That man with this 2. Indifferency This and that man i. e. That man as well as this 3. Succession This and that man i. e. That man after this the one following and succeeding to the other 1. Variety First Variety 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A man and a man i. e. many men Repetition it does denote multitude in the ordinary signification of it And so here The Church is a fruitful Mother and has the honour of many eminent children to be born of her Many in the Multitude of persons both men and women and many in the multitude of Nations both Jewes and Gentiles There 's a Plurality and a Variety of both And so the Scripture declares unto us at large in sundry places of it in Act. 2.41 we finde how at one Sermon of Peters there were three thousand which were born at once and Act 5.14 After that Peter and the rest had been restrain'd it is said That Beleevers were the more added to the Lord even multitudes both of Men and Women This for the Multitude of the persons And so for the multitude of the Nations Sion Mystical is inlarged beyond Sion Local And it is not only a multitude of Jewes but also of Gentiles which is here intended as also elsewhere exprest in Esai 2.2 The Mountain of the Lords House shall be established c. And all Nations shall flow unto it yea and these too in great multitudes as we may see further in Esai 60.4,5,6,7 Lift up thine eyes round about and see All they gather themselves together c. And then thou shalt see and flow together and thine heart shall fear and be inlarged because the abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee and the forces or riches of the
and appurtenances belonging unto it of a most glorious commemoration with clapping of Hands with sounding of Trumpets with ringing of Bels with feastings and sending portions to one another and gifts to the poor as it was sometimes amongst the Jewes Esth 9.22 They shall joy before thee according to the joy in harvest and as men rejoyce when they divide the spoyle That this man was born there it is spoken of Christ Esai 9.3 And it 's applyable likewise to his Members when any are by the goodnesse of God born thus they have as great cause of exulting and rejoycing as any men else in all the world It is the joy of the Angels which they celebrate and therefore which the parties themselves are more especially interested in In the Civil Sense But that 's not all in the spiritual sense of it it may be carried also to the civil Of those which were born in Sion considered as the City of David and as determined to this particular place and this particular Countrey so there 's matter of â—…on in it also And so it comes home more particularly to the occasion of our present meeting at this present time we see here a warrant for the practise of this daies solemnity in the commemoration of those which have been born amongst us here in this City Indeed these observations of Births have sometimes been called in question whether lawful in regard of the Time and it holds proportionably of the place Some of the Ancients were very much against it as Origen and Jerom c. but their grounds are very weak and superstitious It seems they were born too soon to understand the Truth of this point For we which are born after them must take leave to be of another opinion and to dissent from them in it If there be any comfort in being in life in preservation whether of parent or children certainly Birth is to be acknowledged and to be remembred as a very great Blessing and that not for time only but place It is that which we do this day and may do with these due cautions and limitations which are considerable in it The manner of celebration 1. With Modesty First with Modesty and Schriety That we make it not a piece of Pageantry an occasion of shewing our selves to the world a numbring of the people an affectation only of conformity to other Countreys as who we think would not be inferior to them but with all meeknesse and humility and self-denial It is made as a great disparagement to the observation of Birth-daies That there were none in all the Scripture that kept them but only Pharaoh and Herod two wicked ungodly men Et celebrabant convivium quia ignorabant mysterium And they observed the solemnity because they understood not the mystery to wit of original sin This is that which we for our particulars are not to be ignorant of nor yet forgetful but to understand our selves in this particular 2. Thankfulnesse Secondly with thankfulnesse and due acknowledgement for Gods goodnesse to us in our Births with all the circumstances of them not only that we are born there but born thus with other priviledges attending hereupon Not only born in the City but preserved in it and so prevented from those sad calamities which many others have fallen into before our eyes in these late heavy troubles and distractions which have been upon the Land not driven from our houses not disturb'd in our imployments not separated from our nearest friends and greatest comforts others like so many exiles banisht from their particular Countreys we have all this while been even at home without any disturbance or interruption Oh blessed be God who hath shewn us such marvellous kindnesse in a strong City Psal 31.21 3. Improvement Thirdly With improvement and to edification That must be the main businesse of our coming together at this time that we may come together for the better and not for the worse for the mutual increase of love and the seeking occasions and opportunities for the doing of good That we which are Born in Sion may promote the welfare of Sion and that in either Accept on both in the civil sense and in the spiritual In the Civil the welfare of the City and in the spiritual the welfare of the Church and in each have a respect to those which are born in either The Scripture points out both as the proper regulations of Charity Both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Those which are godly and good Christians and so of the Houshold of Faith And those which are Natives and and Born Citizens and so of your Houshold that ye may shew piety or kindnesse at home 1. Tim. 5.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus to celebrate such memorials as these is very noble and honourable and thus it may be done by us This report concerning Sion it shall be first made by the children of Sion It shall be said by them themselves 2. By others Secondly it shall be said also by others and those which are strangers to it It shall be said likewise by them so the Ethiopick Translation carries it in the very Text it self and reads the words thus Forrainers have said this of thee This and that man was c. In Esai 61.9 the place before cited Their seed shall be known among the Gentiles and their off-spring amongst the people all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are people whom the Lord hath blest They shall point at them as it were with their fingers as they go along the streets and that not in a way of scorn and reproach but in a way of honour and high respect Loe This and that man c. The meaning of it is this That it shall be no shame to be of such a Relation or such an Extraction There are some kinde of Countreys in the world which those that are the Natives of them are sometimes ashamed to own them in regard of some infamous mark or character which lies upon them But Sion is none of these There is so much true Dignity and Renown which belongs to this as that every one shall be ready to speak for it and every one shall be ready to own it c. That 's the first Branch considerable of us in this Popular Celebration The Report It shall be said 2. The Successe The second Branch is the Successe or glorious effect and The Highest himself shall establish it Here 's a gracious and comfortable intimation concerning the Church It may be taken either as a prayer or as a promise as a Prayer Let the Highest c. Or as a Promise The Highest shall or will it is a very good sense either of them But I rather incline to the latter as it is here rendred in our own Translation Where again two things more First The Blessing signified and that is the stability of Sion Secondly
The Author of this Blessing and that 's the Lord Himself 1 The Churches stability First The Blessing it self promised And that is the stability of Sion Sion shall be establisht This is a point which the Scripture is very full and pregnant in as none more Esai 33.20 Look upon Sion c. A Tabernacle that shall not be taken down nor one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed So Psal 125.2 They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever Mat. 16.16 It is said That the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church And Heb. 12.28 It is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Kingdome that cannot be shaken The Ground of it The Ground of it is the strong Foundation whereupon it is built Her foundation is in the holy Mountains vers 1. of this Psalm according to some Translations of it And Esai 14.32 The Lord hath founded Sion and the poor of his people shall trust in it or betake themselves to it What is it founded upon Upon the Attributes of God upon the Word of God upon the Son of God It is founded upon a Rock On this Rock will I build my Church in the place before alledged 2. The Author This brings in the second with it and that is the Author or Bestower of this Blessing They do well being joyned together and indeed they cannot well be sever'd This is here exprest in the Text to be the HIGHEST HIMSELF 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is He that establishes Sion and every member of it He that establishes us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God And so S. Peter 1 Pet. 5.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The God of all Grace who hath call'd us c. make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you see there are four words at once for the expression of this unto us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Set you in joynt consolidate corroborate give you a good foundation And all from God himself who gives the Grace at first He that cals must also keep He that begins must perfect He that is the author of converting Grace must be the giver also of establishing we stand not by our own Habituals but by his Auxiliaries and Assistances c. And so here the most High There are inferiour Highnesses even below here in the world which the Preacher tels us of Eccles 5.8 Subordinate establishers of Sion All men are not of the same stature or size nor is it fitting they should be There are some Higher then others by the Head and Shoulders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the establishment of Sion does in a great measure depend upon them it is their work to do it it is their duty to do it it is their glory to do it not only to pull down Babylon but to establish Sion To establish it in the Graces of it and to establish it in the Doctrines of it and to establish it in the Ordinances of it They cannot better establish themselves then by establishing that It is the Highest Honour which God puts upon them when he does not only give them abilities and opportunities for it but likewise withall hearts and affections to it But yet the strength of the work it lies not so much in them as in Him That He which is higher then the highest regards it as there be higher then They. The Coherence Therefore it is worth our observation how these words are here brought in in the Text namely in a way of prolepsis and anticipation He had said in the words before That this and that man that is as I have already explained it this variety of eminent persons was born in Sion now from hence some might be ready to conclude that then certainly it should be sure to stand if it hath such excellent Supporters as those famous Men which were born in it then there 's no fear that it should ever decay They 'l take care to keep it up themselves Oh but saies the Spirit of God That 's not that which Sion must trust to It is an advantage indeed to Her to have such persons of note and quality to be born in Her yea but that 's not the Basis whereupon she must rest her self No no but the Goodnesse and Power and Providence of an Almighty God God will not trust his Church with the Best man alive No He will establish it Himself He will establish it Himself as a work peculiar to Him Where men shall neglect to do it there He will do it Himself by supplying their defects that He may not be beholding to them Where men shall undertake to do it there He will do it Himself by strengthening their undertakings that so they may be beholding to Him So it is still Himself which does it and upon the point Himself alone There 's none which have Bowels for it like Him there 's none which have Power for it like Him And therefore it must needs be He and so it is I the LORD do keep it Esai 27.3 And here The Highest Himself shall establish it A word of comfor◠This is a Point of admirable Comfort and consolation in both the Branches of it whether we consider the work it self Sions establishment or whether we we consider the Author of this work the Lord Himself yea in both taken together it is very sweet and satisfactory Every one naturally desires the establishment of their own party and the establishment of their own Countrey that that may be sure to stand what ever becomes of any thing else This is the priviledge and advantage now of Sion i. e. the Church of God The Lord Himself has undertaken to establish it And that for ever as the Arabick Interpreter reads it in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath founded it for ever Because He ever lives that establishes it therefore it shall for ever be establisht As for Men they are mortal and their establishing is no longer then for their lives although they may lay a ground and foundation of establishment for future Ages But now the Highest Himself is for ever The ETERNAL God is thy Refuge and underneath are the everlasting Armes Deut. 33.27 Therefore thou shalt be an eternal excellency and a Joy of many generations Esai 60.15 Vse Where then are those that are ill-willers to Sion and that think to pull down that 1 Confusion to Sions Adversaries How do they befool themselves and labour in vain which All the Powers in Earth or Hell are never able to prevail against This Altissimus He is out of their reach and besides can over-reach them This City which is built upon a rock it will out-stand all flouds whatsoever 2. Comfort to particular Christians This is comfortable not only in the behalf of the whole Church but also of every particular person and member of it which stands upon the same