21 Institution is the rule of Worship 141 Justice Gods Justice is no loser by His Mercy 74 K King Wherein the Kings of the earth ar not like Christ 137 See Christ Subjects Kingdom Christs Kingdom is not of this world 116 Why Christs Kingdom is not of this world 157 When the Kingdoms of this world shall be submitted to Christ 150 See Dependance L Latimer Latimers story 339 Law The Law of God goes higher than the light of Nature and how 41 The Law considered under two Considerations 42 The Law given to Adam what it was 43 Difference between the Law of Adam and the Law given by Moses 47 Difference between the Law given by Moses and the Gospel ibid They under the Law had somthing of the Gospel ibid See Gospel Christ Worship and Beleevers Leturgie True Leturgie what it is 355 Liberty see Conscience Light of Nature see Nature Life see Spirit Looseness see profession Love The love of God is more to men than to Angels 53 The love of God should work an answerable love in us 54 See Testimony Christ Lusts see Flesh Luther Luthers opinion of the Turkish Empire 306 Luthers's Protestation 334 M Magistrates How Magistrates are helpful to the Church 140 Malice Malice is unbeseeming the Gospel 58 Man see World Mercy Mercy must be real not verbal 71 Gods infinit mercy 286 Gods Mercy undervalued by worldly men ibid See Transcendant Christ Bowels Ministers Ministers of the Gospel what they are 4 Ministers ought to rule over none but those they teach 30 Ministers should be eminent in their Conversations every way ibid Ministers Charge over soules 88 Mixture What mixture is in worldly portions 336 Monsters Hard-hearted Christians are monsters 71 Moses see Law N Nature Light of Nature its extent 33 Difference between the light of Nature before the fall and since 41 Light of Nature shews something of the mercie of God 69 Necessity see Faith O Obedience The Obedience of a Beleever is of an higher nature than Adams in his innocency 44 Observing Observing daies forbidden 98 Old see Customs Opinions What Opinions are not to be tollerated 327 Opposed World opposed to Saints 272 Overseeing see Visitation P Papists Papists reproved 287 Parliament The PARLIAMENT defended 324 Partition The partition wall between Jew and Gentile taken down 66 Peace We should love peace 65 Peace with our Brethren what it should be 68 Difference between the worlds peace and Christs 155 Why men should have peace upon any terms 323 See God and Seek People Why Gods People are mean in this world 277 Perfection Perfection comes by suffering 279 Persecution Persecution unlawful 283 Persecution opposed 326 Pope A mortal choice of Popes 328 Portion Why wicked men have a portion 304 The worlds portion described 329 Rules to know who hath his portion only in this life 341 See Excellency Power What the power of the Gospel is 123 Prelates Prelates reproved 287 Priviledges Priviledges of the Saints 152 Profession The reason why some mens profession vanisheth 14 Loosness of profession what mischief it doth 16 The miseries attending a loose profession 18 Why forward professors turn persecutors 19 See Eyes Promises Difference between the promises of the Gospel and Adams promises 45 R Reason We are not to live altogether according to reason 67 Reason discovers some sin 80 Reconciliation Reconciliation to God 65 Rebels How the Saints are Rebells 280 Redemption What the Redemption of a soul is 86 Religion Religion comes to nothing without consideration of the duties of relation 25 Why Religion is so little regarded by great ones 319 See Honor Weapons Repentance Repentance is a mighty work 87 Repentance is out of our power 85 Root see Christ S Saints The Saints shall condemn the world 12 The Saints may come to the Throne of grace with boldness 50 The Saints shall judge the world 272 See Rebels Difference Seek Seek for peace 66 Self-denial see Christ Selvishness Selvishness unbeseeming a Saint 94 Schism What Schism is 108 Services Gods services are choice services 356 Sin Sin harboured in thought produceth sinful actions 29 No sin is little 82 The wages of sin is death ib. See Hatred Beginings Socrates Socrates his rebuke 331 Soul Souls Immortallity proved 1 Souls pawn'd to the Devil 86 See Worth Redemption Strength Strength drawn from Christ 45 Strive We must strive together not asunder 105 Spirit The life of the Spirit what it is 102 Subjects Difference between Christs subjects and the subjects of other Kings 138 Suffering see Perfection T Temptations Particular temptations must be looked to 27 Tenure The tenure men hold the world by 335 Testimonies Testimonies of Gods love to us 55 Testimonies of our love to God 56 Time The time sanctifies the duty 99 Transcendent The mercies of God are transcendent 69 Tribulation We have Companions in Tribulation 278 Turkish Empire see Luther U Unity Unity of the Saints 105 Visitation Visitation of the wicked what it is 10 W Wanton Wanton Conversation becomes not the Gospel 71 Well-doing Well-doing stops the mouthes of wicked men 11 Well-doing converts men ibid Weapons Carnal weapons not to be used in defence of Religion 145 Wicked Wicked men do something for God 305 See Portion Wickedness Wickedness is unbeseeming Professors 128 The wickednesse of the world 281 Works Our good works should shine before men 8 Difference between doing of good works that may be seen and doing good works that they may be seen ibid Women Women-Preachers in what sense lawful 9 Worship We must set up the Worship of God in our families 56 The worship of the world is carnal 96 God will have as much worship under the Gospel as under the Law ibid What worship becomes the Gospel 100 See Institution Worth The worth of the soul 85 World How to know a man of this world 263 See Peace Opposed Saints People Portion Worldly Why worldly men are cunning 118 Worldly men see Difference Worldly portion see Mixture Wronged We must seek peace of those that have wronged us 67 FINIS March 2. 1645. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 March 15. 1645 March â—2 1645 April 12 1646. 1. Pet. 2. 13. Humanae creationae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Preached on Easter Munday April 3. 1643. before Isaac Penington then Lord Major of London Mol. in Psal Doct. 1. Doct. 2.
be joy there they would account it acceptable news indeed Now then Those that do beleeve this Gospel or do profess it that they have entertain'd this Gospel this glad Tydings they must be careful to walk in their Conversation so as it becomes this Gospel as becomes such glorious glad Tydings as are sent unto them from Heaven As becomes The word signifies Worthy of the Gospel that that is translated in your books become it signifies worthy of the Gospel But this cannot be meant as if so be that our Conversation should be such as deserves al the good that there is in the Gospel No but Worthy that is as much as Beseeming the Gospel as meet for the Gospel or as it is translated in your books Becoming the Gospel as he that eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks his own damnation Can one eat and drink so as to be worthy of the Body and Blood of Christ No but he that eats and drinks so carries himself so in that Ordinance of the Sacrament as is unbeseeming the Body and Blood of Christ that he comes to receive and on the other side those that do eat and drink so as to sanctifie Gods Name in that Ordinance as you have heard they do it worthily for so the same word is here Worthy of the Gospel of Christ And so bring forth fruit worthy of repentance saith John to those that came to him that is meet sit for repentance such fruit as may manifest your repentance as is sutable unto such men or women that do profess their repentance for their sins Further I find that the word that is here translated Becoming in another place is translated Convenient and meet and can be understood in no other sense as in 1 Cor. 16. 4. If it be meet that I shall go also the word that is translated there meet it is in the Greek worthy the same word that we have here translated Becoming if it be a comly thing or a meet or convenient thing then I 'le go so then it 's cleer that this word that we have here is meet convenient sutable or becoming the Gospel Let your Conversation be such as it meet for or becoming the Gospel You will say What Conversation is that which is meet for or becoming the Gospel To that I answer First a Conversation raised to a higher degree than the light of Nature or than the Law can raise one to it must be that certainly it is not a Conversation becoming the Gospel except it be a Conversation raised higher than the light of Nature or than the Law can raise one to it becomes not the Gospel else Secondly A Conversation sutable and answerable to those many blessed and glorious truths that are revealed in the Gospel there is much of the mind of God revealed in the Gospel glorious truths are there presented to us that is a Conversation becoming the Gospel that is sutable and answerable unto these blessed and glorious truths that are revealed in the Gospel Thirdly A Conversation manifesting the power of the Gospel Fourthly A Conversation that is sutable unto al the Ordinances of the Gospel agreeable unto whatsoever there is in any Ordinance of the Gospel And then fiftly A Conversation holding forth the beauty excellency and glory of the Gospel before those with whom we do converse here 's a Conversation becoming the Gospel when those that are Christians professing that the Lord hath revealed the Gospel unto them and that in some measure they have been brought to beleeve in the Gospel when as now their Conversation is beyond that which any man can attain unto by the light of Nature when it is beyond that that any man by the Law can be raised unto when it 's answerable to the many blessed and glorious truths that are revealed in the Gospel when it manifests a power of the Gospel in him when it 's answerable unto the blessed Ordinances that he doth enjoy in the Gospel and when his Life and Conversation holds forth the beauty excellency and glory of the Gospel before the world here is a Conversation becoming the Gospel and this is that which the Apostle here exhorts unto Only let your Conversation be such as becomes the Gospel of Christ Thus you have had the words opened Now for the Doctrinal Points in the words only these two the first is but to make way to the second 1. Doct. The first is this That those that profess the Gospel must have a great care of their Conversations 2. Secondly This Conversation of theirs must be such as becomes as beseems the Gospel These are the two main Points in the Text. I shall this morning but make way to the second Point which is the great Point in the Text. First That Christians that do profess the Gospel must have a great care of their Conversations to look to them They must not satisfie themselves with what is inward in their minds or in their affections but look to their Conversations You think or hope at least that through the Gospel there hath been conversion wrought in you After the Lord hath wrought conversion he doth expect that you be careful of your Conversations before men you have knowledge you can speak well you have some stirrings of heart that you have felt in hearing of the Word preaching of the Gospel but now look to your Conversations and know there is a bond laid upon you more than ever was to look to your Conversations in James 3. see the exhortation of the Apostle there at the 13. verse Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among yeu mark let him shew out of a good Conversation his works with meekness of wisdom It is a very sweet and excellent Scripture Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you What should he do Let him shew out of a good Conversation his works with meekness of wisdom here is wise and knowledge and wisdom again If you would manifest that God hath wrought any true saving knowledge any wisdom in you to save your souls why know that God requires that you should show your good Conversation that with meekness and wisdom your Conversations you must have a care of them both in respect of men and in respect of God In respect of men 1 Pet. 2. 12. Having your Conversation honest among the Gentils And the latter part wee shall speak to by and by so that Christians they must look to their Conversations in respect of men And then in respect of God In 1 Pet. 1. 15. But as be who hath called you is Holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation There you have Honest Conversation and in this scripture holy in all manner of conversation so that you are to have regard to your Conversations both in respect of men and in respect of God and upon these grounds First in general First in regard of God more generally that God may be
scope of the Gospel a principal scope I say God would in the Gospel make known to all the world his infinite willingness to be reconcil'd to such as have offended him Indeed without the Gospel we might apprehend this that the Lord is a God that is full of goodness that He is good and doth good that all good is in him but to apprehend God to be such a God of peace so infinitely set upon it as I may so say to be reconciled to such as are enemies could never have been known but by this Gospel of Christ herein we find that though there was an infinite difference between God and man between Heaven and Earth through our sinning sin yet the Lord was willing to be reconciled yea though the offence of man was exceeding great so that it cried for vengance yet he was pleased wonderfully to condescend to make a peace with him Yea though the Lord had man under his power and could do what He pleased with him He had His enemy under His feet and might have broken him all to pieces with His iron-rod as a Potters vessel which when it is broken can never be made whol again yet He was willing to be reconciled Thirdly Though God had no need at all of us He was infinitly blessed in himself who is perfection and blessedness it self Sometimes we are willing to be reconcil'd to our enemies either because we have them not under our power or because we have some need of them but God that had us under his hand and might easily have destroyed us and had no need at all of us yet was desirous to spare us as a father spareth his only son whom he loveth Fourthly The Gospel holds this out to us That the Lord He begins the work of reconciliation He first loving us the infinit God seeketh to us his creatures to come in to be reconciled therefore he sends his Ambassadors of peace to beseech us in Christs stead to come in to be reconciled to him to accept of His Propositions of Peace which make so much for our everlasting salvation Fiftly Though reconciliation must cost God very dear that God must be at a great deal of costs and charges to reconcile His creatures to himself it cost no less than the blood of his only begotten Son and yet he is willing to be reconcil'd saith God my heart is set upon this work and let it cost what it will if it were ten thousand worlds yet my heart iâ— so upon it that I will bring them in that they may be reconciled to me and made one with me Sixthly and lastly The Gospel reveals this That God is so set upon reconciliation and is so reconcil'd to such as do imbrace the Gospel as he will never be at enmity with them again Being once reconcil'd he wil never suffer such a breach to be made between Man-kind and Himself any more He wil be their Father in Christ and ye shall be his Sons and Daughters through Him to all eternity in Christ Jesus our Lord. Who shall separate us from the love of God Thus the Gospel holds forth not only reconciliation but such reconciliation as this is which men and Angels can never sufficiently admire and bless God for This is a Second beam as I may so say of the Gospel Then what manner of persons ought we to be our conversations must be as becomes this Gospel of Christ in this great thing that the Gospel holds forth unto us Surely then this cals to us al aloud to love peace O love peace Is God so set upon peace as he is and is he willing to be at so great cost for peace Oh let us love peace let us follow peace le ts pursue peace let 's seek peace let us do what we can possibly for peace If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men Let us account peace never bought too dear with any thing but sin The Lord Christ would not sin to purchase peace if it could possibly have been conceived that any sin should have bin committed Christ would never have purchased peace that way but if it be by any way of suffering by his being willing to leave the Heavens for a while to take upon him the form of a servant yea to have the sence of the influences of the love of his Father ecclipsed for a time he was willing to endure yea to be made a curse whatsoever he suffered in his Name he was willing to endure any thing to make peace between God and man to reconcile the World to Heaven Oh! let us love peace that 's becoming the Gospel of Christ for our hearts to be set upon peace And the exhortation that you have in the Ephesians before mentioned it is likewise built upon the consideration of Christs working so for our peace Ephes 2. 14. For He is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us having abolished in Hiâ— flesh the enmity And then in the 16. verse That He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Cross having slain the enmity thereby So that this Scripture holds forth not only that Christ is our peace in respect of God and he died for that end to make peace between God and us but likewise that Jesus Christ did die to make peace between man and man it was one fruit of His death to break down the middle wall of partition between us and to slay the enmity he doth not say to kill our enemies but to kill the enmity it 's self the meaning is this that Christ died to take down the partition wall between Jew and Gentile there was an enmity between the Jew and Gentile that they might not one converse with the other now it was a fruit of the death of Christ to take down the partition wall and to slay the enmity between them that so there might be but one sheep fold that He might reconcile both unto God in one body Now was this the end of the death of Christ not only to reconcile us to God but one unto another in one body Jew and Gentile Certainly there cannot be such a distance between one Christian and another as there was between Jew and Gentile and Christ did so love unity and peace in the world especially among those that made any profession of his Name that he would die to that end He would lose His life that He might procure peace between Jews and Gentiles and bring them into one body And truly so it should be with us we should be willing and those whose hearts are right I say cannot but be so sensible of the breaches that are among us and the unpeaceableness of mens spirits as if they could by the laying down of their lives procure peace they should be willing to do it every Christian should make it appear that he is so set upon peace that if
from the things of this world a Conversation that shall manifest the hearts being taken off and disingaged from sublunary comforts and accommodations a Conversation which proves that the soul seeks not great things for its-self here below but is fully content with a morsel of bread and a cup of cold water though others fare deliciously every day so beleevers should manifest in their Conversations that they do not much pass or care how things go in this world because Christ is not of this world and the Kingdom of Christ in which they make account their happiness to be involved that is not of the world yea they are men redeemed from this present world Gal. 1. 4. it is said That by Christ we came to be redeemed from this present evil world it 's a very remarkable Scripture who gave himself for our sins to what end That he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father I beseech you observe this text Christ gave Himself to deliver us from our sins that we might not perish eternally And was that all No That He might deliver us from this present evil world I do not know a more forcible text in all the Book of God to take off the hearts of those that profess the Gospel from the world so as they should not whine and murmur at the loss of every little thing in the world nor be solicitously careful for the things of this life nor be offended though the men of the world prevail in the world and have the upper hand and carry things in a worldly way let them go on in all their pagentry and greatness but if thou beest one that belongst to Christ know that Christ hath laid down his life to purchase this for thee to deliver thee from this world Now is Christ blood laid down to purchase this and yet wilt thou have thy heart glewed to the ground and wholly place thy contentment in the earth and seek for thy happiness here in the dust Oh get up thy heart then from all these things and make it appear by thy Conversation that thou art one that by the vertue of the death of Jesus Christ art delivered from this world and therefore though thou hast not such a portion in worldly goods as other men have never envy them for Christ hath ransomed you from the world there 's another kingdom that thou hast thy portion and interest in Christ hath made us Kings and Priests to his Father and hath made us heirs and co-heirs of that Kingdom that His Father hath given Him yea and that He Himself hath purchased and so you must in your Conversations make it appear that you do see another kingdom beyond this kingdom of the world that you are made partakers of wherein you shall reign with Christ for ever now this Conversation doth beseem the Gospel And therefore you shal find it in the 10 th of Matth. about the 37. vers Christ shews what kind of Conversation He would have in those that once come to beleeve in Him saith He He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me And he that taketh not up his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me He that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it Here he shews what it is that would make the soul worthy of Christ in a Gospel sense If our hearts be taken off from father and mother and those comforts relations that are the dearest in the world brother or sister or son or daughter not to take off our natural affection but to take off our hearts so as they should not be hinderances of us in spiritual things that our main affections should flow forth after spiritual things then we come to be worthy of Christ then the other conversation is unworthy of Christ Didst thou ever know the Lord Jesus Christ and the way of His Kingdom Then why is thy heart set upon the world as the hearts of other men that are strangers to Jesus Christ In Eph. 5. 3. when the Apostle speaks of those things that most men in the world are greedy after But fornication and all uncleaness or covetousness let it not be once named among you as becometh Saints As if he should say Saints those that know Jesus Christ and the way of His Kingdom for them to have their hearts either set upon bodily lusts or covetousness the things of this world it doth not becom them it is not a Gospel Conversation becoming Saints a heart greedy of the things of this world and wallowing in the lusts of this world Oh 't is unbeseeming Saints those that do profess the Gospel of Christ that shews unto us that the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world Again Another great point that the Gospel holds forth to us is this The great difference or the change that it makes in the estate of a man or woman when once it prevails with him then the great difference is made in him from what he was before and from other men this is held forth in the Gospel and no where else I say the wonderful change that the Gospel makes in men when once it comes to work upon their hearts in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit and the great difference between their estates before and what now is and between them and other men I put these two together First The great change that the Gospel makes in the hearts of men from what there was before the Gospel came You know the Scripture in prophesying of the times of the Gospel saith That the Wolf shall eat with the Lamb and the Lyon with the Kid and the child shall play upon the very hole of the Asp the meaning is generally carried thus that when the Gospel comes it shall change the hearts of men so mightily that though they were wolvish before and cruel as if you should see a Wolf changed into a Lamb or as if you should see a Lyon changed into a Kid you would say this were a mighty change the Gospel makes such a change as this is they that are in Christ are new creatures it 's a new Creation suppose God should make a new world what a mighty thing were this or a new Sun should be created in the Firmament that never was before how would we stand and wonder Those that are in Christ are new creatures God puts forth a creating power upon them 2 Cor. 5. Old things are pass'd away all things are become new you know the Apostle saith and the change that is made it is called a new birth Except you be born again you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven John 3. If there were a new soul put into one or if God should infuse a rational soul into a beast
on in the Gospel What is it Let me labor to serve it whatsoever in me lieth Now if you reade in the Gospel you shall find that the Design that God hath it is To purchase to Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works to promote holiness and godliness that we being redeemed from the hands of our enemies might serve him in holiness and righteousness all the daies of our lives This is the Design that God hath I see that Mankind is fallen from me and the people in the world are generally fallen into wickedness the whole world lieth in wickedness over head and ears in sin but I would have holiness advanced I would have my Image renewed I would have a peculiar people that might live for ever to serve and worship me Here 's the Design of God Oh let me now serve this design of God and labor to do all that I can to serve and honor and blesse and magnifie that God that hath wrought such glorious things for us as He hath wrought in the Gospel And as Christ saith in Mat. 3. when He came to be paptized of John It becomes us to fulfill all righteousness Now shall the Lord Jesus Christ Himself say thus It becomes us to fulfill all righteousness surely then it becomes you to fulfil al righteousness Would you walk as becomes the Gospel Give up your hearts strength and endeavors what possibly you can to fulfill all righteousness do not say Why should I do thus and why need we be so forward and strict Oh remember the text If any talk of too much strictness and too much forwardness then answer thus I heard in such a place such a Text opened and applied to me that my Conversation must be as it becomes the Gospel and certainly let me do what I can I cannot do so much but that the Gospel will require ten thousand times more than I can do and therfore I do endeavor to walk as becoms the Gospel And I hear that Christ Himself saith that it became Him to fulfil all righteousness And why should not I walk as Christ Himself walked O my life hath bin too vain heretofore my heart hath been dead and I have not been quickned up so as to walk worthy of the Gospel but for the time to come my care and endeavor above all things in the world shall be That I may honor this glorious GOSPEL of Jesus Christ from whom I do expect to have such glorious things hereafter Consider now what hath been said and the Lord give you understanding in these things that you may be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord JESUS CHRIST SERMON I. IF you please to reflect back upon the last daies Exercise when we finished that Scripture in the Philippians that teaches us to walk as becomes the Gospel in the prosecution of which we shewed what it was the Gospel principally did hold forh unto us and what Conversations ought to be in the Professors of it sutable unto those things the Gospel holds forth and among those this was one particular of great moment that we did then but hint out unto you in a word or two That the Kingdom of Christ was not of this world They are Christs own words Now because it is a consideration of very great use I would be loth the benefit of it should be lost therefore I have now pickt out that to speak to more largely and to open the meaning of it unto you from this Scripture JOHN 18. 36. Jesus answered and said My Kingdom is not of this world THE words are a part of the story of Christs arraignment before Pilat Behold here the King of Heaven and Earth stands arraigned at the Barr of a wicked man In this Arraignment we find a special Charge which his Adversaries bring against Him which was this THAT HE MADE HIMSELF THE KING OF THE JEWS He was an enemy to Government The usual charge that the world hath had against the Saints that they are enemies to Government They fare no worse here than Christ did Pilat requires of him to answer to the Charge whether it were so or no that He hath made Himself a King Now you shall find in the answer of Christ He doth not deny the thing but implicitly grants it neither doth he answer him fully to his mind but saith My Kingdom is not of this world My Kingdom As if he should say I acknowledg that I have a Kingdom as mean and low as I am brought now though I stand here before you as a despised man a Carpenters son yet I confess I have a Kingdom but it is not of this world Not of this world He doth not say not IN this world but saith it is not OF this world it is not a worldly Kingdom We have in the words these two things First That Christ hath a Kingdom Secondly What kind of Kingdom Christs is Not of this world I shall not here speak much unto the former and so to handle the common place of Christs Kingly Office but only hint it to you as it makes way to the latter there we shall stay a while Christ he hath a Kingdom He is anointed by the Father to be King as well as Priest and Prophet of His Church Psal 45. 6. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever the Scepter of thy Kingdom is a right Scepter that Psalm is a Prophesie of Christ And in the 19. of Revel 16. Christ is there called The King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ God-man is the King of Heaven and Earth Christ God-man is the King of Angels and over all the World and we must know Christ as a King and act our faith upon him as a King or else we know Him not aright we have not the true work of faith except I say our faith act upon Him as a King as well as a Savior In Acts 2. 36. God hath made Him saith the text both Lord and Christ Mark He it not only Christ but Lord and Christ though it is true that in the word Christ all His Offices are implyed which signifies anointed to them all but yet this is expressed by its self Lord and Christ for indeed properly He is Christ unto His Church but He is also Lord over all the World in some sense But then you will say How doth He say that His Kingdom is not of this world if He he Lord over all the world Now that I might come to that point that I have chosen the text for we are to know that Christ hath a double Kingdom First Together with the Father He hath a Providential Kingdom as I may so say for distinction sake Secondly He hath a Mediatory Kingdom as Divines call it First A Providential Kingdom together with the Father whereby He mannages all the affairs of the world I say God-man the second Person in Trinity doth mannage all the affairs of the world His Scepter ruleth over all as
soul this would be the answer of one that is chosen out of the world that hath a gracious heart and is brought under the Kingdom of Jesus Christ 2. A second note that I would give to know whether a man be a man of this world or no is this A man of this world is one that accounts the possessions of worldly comforts to be greater rices than any riches conteined in the promises that looks upon the comforts of this world as real things they have them in possession But looks upon the promise as that that hath but a notion in it as if there were no such reality and excellency in the things of the promise a man that dares not trust God upon his word upon his promise without seeing in a way of reason or sence how things may come in unto him for supply from the things of this world this is a man of the world he hath a promise but things go very ill with him in respect of his outward estate in respect of whatsoever by sence or reason he is able to discern he looks upon himself as miserable if indeed God would give him in the things of the world in real possession that would satisfie him but not the promise This is an evidence of a worldly heart that regards more the possession of the things of the world than the promise of God for provision for him as for promises he thinks that that man is but in a sad condition that hath nothing but bare promises to live upon here 's a worldly heart that hath low and mean thoughts of the promises But now one who is taken out of this world and translated into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ regards more to have a promise to live upon than to have possessions to live upon Promises in the word are greater and more real things to that soul than any Bills or Bonds from men can be he can live better upon a Promise than upon Bils or Bonds or Leases or any such things in the world Hast thou found such a principle within thee that canst close with the promise and canst bless thy self in the promises I have title to and an interest in many promises in the Book of God for life and godliness are more to me than all the treasures of Egypt and though I do not enjoy so much in the hand as others yet my heart hath enough because it is possest by Christ in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen that is sure and infallible God is faithful who hath promised this is an argument that thou art taken out of the world and taken into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ but otherwise thou that canst not trust God for thy outward estate body and soul upon a promise this is an evidence of one that hath his heart set on the world 3 A third sign of a man of this world is this A man of the world blesses those that are like himself looks upon and measures the happiness or misery of other men according to what they do enjoy or according to what they do enjoy in this world They call the proud happy I mean by this they measure the happiness of other men according to what they have of the world and think that the meer enjoying of worldly accommodations is enough to make men happy notwithstanding they see them to be very wicked and sinful yet so long as they flourish as a green bay tree yet rejoyce in them and with them yea get themselves in the midst of the guilt that is upon them when conscience as a woolf in their bosom flyes in their faces yet they can blesse themselves in the enjoyment of outward comforts and set that against any trouble of mind whatsoever as if so be it were enough to make up their comforts I have been at such a place and contracted such guiltiness upon my soul committed such sins Oh! what shall comfort me now well he comes home and sees all wel about him his house furnished his table spread means coming in as a floud and this quiets him here 's a worldly heart whereas were the heart taken off from the world the possession of al under Christ would never calm a conscience that hath any guilt upon it when I have contracted any guilt upon my soul although I see all well about me Oh! till I have an assurance from the Holy Ghost the Witness of the Spirit that the guilt of my sin is washt away in the blood of Jesus Christ what wil all these do me good I have these and these comforts Oh! but I have an unclean conscience a leprous soul Doest thou set the good things here to countervail the evil of sin Certainly thou art a man of the world thy name is written in the earth thou art but living dust and ashes at the best And the world is like to be the only portion of thy soul thou art a stranger to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ That 's a second Use Vse 3. The third Use should have been this Here we see the main thing that doth hinder people from the Kingdom of Jesus Christ What is that which keeps off men from coming under the Scepter of this King of Saints from subjecting themselves to His Kingdom Certainly this point shews it cleerly His Kingdom is not of this world were the Kingdom of Jesus Christ of this world then people would flock into it Who would not joyn in such a Kingdom and be a member therof where he could have worldly glory and pomp and riches and bravery but now because it is not of this world therefore they slight it As I remember we reade in the Gospel of Herod that when he heard of the great Miracles that Christ wrought Herod sent for Christ and he longed a great while to see Jesus Christ but when Christ came and he saw Him a poor mean contemptible man to the outward eye he thought to have seen him to have done such and such great things and to have been such a man as not the like upon the earth But Christ contemn'd Herod as much as Herod contemn'd Him and Christ would not shew his glory before Herod but appeared in his outward meaness and the text saith Herod set Him at naught he set Him at naught when he saw him so outward contemptible And so it is reported of the Roman Emperors that hearing that Christ should be the King of the Jews and that out of Davids stock there should come a King of the Jews they sought to destroy all of that family that they could find out and all the Tribe of Judah But afterward when they found out some that were of the Kindred of Jesus Christ and saw that they were poor laboring men that labored with their hands to eat their bread by the sweat of their brows they set them at naught and contemn'd them certainly this is the great offence to the world that the Kingdom of Christ is not of
all that they are like ever to have But now for the people of God they must not look to prosper outwardly in this world John 16. 33. In the world you shall have trouble saith Christ Christ does tell His Disciples plainly beforehand That in the world they shall have trouble never make account to have ease and prosperity here below in the world Certainly you shall have trouble this is not your kingdom and therefore John in the 1. of Rev. 9. ver There he stiles himself in writing to the Churches Your Companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ Observe it John that was such an Eminent Member of the Kingdom of Christ when he speaks unto others that are brought into the kingdom of Christ saith he â— John who also am your Brother and Companion in Tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ These two may well stand together to be of the Kingdom of Christ and companions of men in the Kingdom of Christ and in Tribulation yea mark how the Kingdom of Christ is set in the middle Companion in Tribulation and then Kingdom and then patience So that trouble and afflictions are on both sides as it were of the Kingdom of Christ And it 's very observable here John he doth not to get himself credit say I John that was the Apostle of Jesus Christ I John that was the beloved Disciple of Jesus Christ I John that was a Kins-man of Jesus Christ no but I John your Companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ If you would be the Companion of the Saints in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ you must be willing to be their Companion in Tribulation and in the patience of Jesus Christ So things are ordered by Christ that the Saints should be in Tribulation live in trouble in this world When any of you that are godly shall meet with crosses and afflictions the briers and thornes which spring out of the world ever since it was cursed by God the very thought of this Text may be a means to quiet your hearts and not to have any risings in your bosomes against the dispensations of God towards you Do not I desire to fear the Lord and follow Him in all His waies and yet how doth the Lord cross me in this world These murmuring and repining thoughts will be yea it may be since the time that God wrought upon me by His Word I am more afflicted than before Is not God displeased with me it may be I am not in the right way because of these afflictions Oh take heed of these temptations let my text come into your minds and answer all these temptations Christ saith His Kingdom is not of this world since the time I was called out of darkness by the Ministry of the Word no mervail though I meet with afflictions more than before for I am translated into another Kingdom which is not of this world it pleases the Father to make Christ who is my Captain to be perfect through sufferings Heb. 2. 10. For it became Him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings It 's an excellent Scripture to quiet the hearts of the Saints in the midst of their sufferings It became Him saith the Text for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings The Captain of your salvation yea your King that is the King of glory yet He was made perfect through sufferings Now you must go the same way that He did Now if you must enter into a full possession of this glorious Kingdom through sufferings why should you murmur Luke 24. 26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His Glory It 's a speech of Christ Himself So I say concerning you Ought not you to suffer first and then to enter into your glory Why should not you come to the fulness of the glory of that Kingdom that is prepared for you as Jesus Christ your Head came to the fulness of the glory of His Kingdom It was by suffering Remember His Kingdom is not of this world 6. Vse Here 's the reason why the wicked hates the Saints Why they love their own John 15. 19. If you were of the world the world would love you but you are not of the world therefore the world hates you you are translated into another Kingdom and therefore their spirits are bitter against you and their tongues as sharp as two edged sword you come to live by other Laws than they do they know no other Law but the Law of the Land where they live but you have other Laws that they do not understand the authority of you have other rules for your consciences than they have their consciences can yeeld to this or that according as may serve for their worldly ends but now your consciences are subjected to another authority you cannot have your consciences yeeld up and down as they can and thereupon they think it to be â—â—outness in you but God knows it to be otherwise And they wonder at this they understand not the reason of this and therefore it is that they malign you they hate you with a perfect hatred you are Rebels against their kingdom they are under the kingdom of Satan but you are brought under the kingdom of Christ and so do Rebel against that kingdom We hate Rebels It 's true in some sense all the Saints are Rebels that is they do rebel against the kingdom of Satan and the powers of darkness and if any thing should be enjoyed by men yet if it be against the Kingdom of Christ they cannot but rebel in a sense that is their spirits must needs be against it and whatever they suffer they cannot submit to it they do not rebel against lawful authority but against the kingdom of darkness and the power of darkness and therefore it is that the world doth so much hate them When you come into the kingdom of Christ you live upon other principles and have other ends you are a kind of separated people from the world and we know there is nothing more odious to the world than that we should be a certain kind of separated people from them the world would have all to be like themselves and for any kind of people to make a profession as if they were call'd out of the world and live after another kind and fashion and have other sort of hopes and comforts and ends and rules by which they live Oh this the world cannot endure so long as Paul was in the world and liv'd as the men of the world they loved him and he was a man of authority among them but when he was called out of the world then a pestilent fellow then
in opposing the Kingdom of Christ when as it is not of this world it is not that that doth intrench upon their worldly priviledges 8. Vse Hence this Kingdom if it be not of this world then it doth not depend upon 〈◊〉 world become of the world what will the Kingdâ—â— of Christ will go on Men are afraid Oh! if the Enemies should prevail and overcome and take away our Civil Rights Oh then the Kingdom of Christ what will become of that Let us not be too solicitous about that for the Kingdom of Christ is of another world there is no such dependance of the Kingdom of Christ upon the Kingdoms of this world but though they were broken the kingdom of Christ would subsist We indeed should labor to preserve our Civil Liberties as much as we can yea and our Civil Liberty in exercise of Religion in a War-like way and I should wonder that any should mistake in that when as this hath been so declared from the beginning of the War to this time that we may fight for the Civil Liberty we have to the peacable practice and profession of our Religion so far we may and that hath been the ground of our War had we indeed liv'd in such a Country as the Christians in 〈◊〉 primitive times where the Governors and the generâ—â—â—ty of the Country had been against it then indeed the taking up of Arms might have been very questionable but now when we live in such a place where our Civil Laws are for the protection of us in the practice of our Religion if any will come and disturb us we may take up Arms because we have a right to the profession of it by the Laws of the kingdom 〈◊〉 have to our Houses Lands and Estates but that by the way But that 's the thing I aim at in this use that though our Civil Right should be lost yet the kingdom of Christ would go on for all that Heb. 12. 28. this is a kingdom that cannot be shaken At those times when the Magistrates were the greatest enemies unto the kingdom of Christ yet even then the kingdom of Christ went on as fully as ever it hath done since that time but the Magistrates may be helps and there is a promise that Kings shall be nursing fathers and Queens nursing mothers to the Church but yet so it fell out that at the first when the Church was in its infancy that it did thrive as much when Magistrates and Civil Power was against it as ever it hath done since and thereby Christ would shew us that His Kingdom doth not depend upon this world but the Kingdom of Christ doth stand and will stand and it doth and will prevail to the end of the world The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it it shall be more than conqueror and this is a great comfort to the Saints 9. Vse If the kingdom of Christ be not of this world but of another then hence we collect the absolute necessity of living by faith Christians had need then have a principle of faith to live by for their greatest good is in things that are beyond this world their very King that they obey is a King that cannot be seen by the eye of sence nor by the eye of reason they had need have an eye of faith to behold their King in his glory The Throne of this King of Saints is not a visible Throne to be seen by the eye of sence and reason but by the eye of faith The Priviledges that we speak of are â—ot to be seen and enjoyed by sence and reason but by faith And so the Ordinances of this Kingdom and the Laws and Statutes of it they are Spiritual and must have faith to close with them and all the comforts of this Kingdom must be drawn in by faith therefore it is of absolute necessity that the Saints should exercise much faith in their lives that they should live continually by faith As the Apostle saith in 2 Cor. 5. 7. For we walk by faith and not by sight It is not by Sight we walk indeed all the good things that there are in the kingdoms of the world they are seen by sence and reason reason and sence is enough to order us in the matters of the kingdoms of this world but now the kingdom of the Son of God that we are translated into it 's a Spiritual an Heavenly kingdom so that the Saints must walk by faith and not by sight therefore my brethren labor to strengthen faith and act your faith and live upon faith exercise faith in all your waies make much of grace and faith or you will never have much good in the Kingdom of Christ but that grace will help you comfortably to enjoy and spiritually to improve all the good things in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to an everlasting advantage 10. Vse If the Kingdom of Christ be not of this world then the greater mercy to thy soul that ever thou wast brought under this Kingdom of Christ Oh! thou maiest look back unto thy former time and know that thou hadst a worldly heart worldly apprehensions thy spirit was worldly altogether for things of the world taken with the pomp and glory and the pleasures of this world How comes it to pass that thou shouldest have a Heavenly Kingdom reveal'd to thee Whence was it that ever Jesus Christ should be known to thy soul that was so worldly so drossie so earthy a soul thou wast as deep rooted in the world it may be as any and yet that the Lord should cull thee out of the world and reveal such a Kingdom to thee that is such a mystery as the Princes of the world have not known that thou that art a poor creature shouldest come to understand the â—â—alities of Christ that the wise and learned men of the world have not known Oh! the Free Grace of God to thee and not unto the world As Judas not Iscariot said How is it that thou revealest thy self to us and not unto the world how comes it to pass that such wise men that bear sway in the world they have very poor and low and mean and contemptible thoughts of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ they look upon it but as a meer notion and a conceit of men and the rather because they see but a few poor people that are but of mean parts that do imbrace such a way upon that they contemn it and through the worldly wisdom that they have they come to undervalue it Oh! then bless God that ever he should chuse such a poor weak wretch as thou art for to make known the things of the Kingdom of Christ unto and therfore of al men you rich covetous men they are hardest to be wrought upon by the Ministry of the Word When Christ Himself was preaching it is said in Luke 16. 14. That the Pharisees who were covetous they derided Him they blew their noses at Him for that
a little portion here yet there is as fair a way for you to have the God of Heaven and Earth to be your Portion to have whatsoever Jesus Christ hath purchased by His blood to be your Portion to have Heaven and Eternity and Immortallity to be your Portion I say there is as fair a way for it as for the greatesest Prince in the Earth you may come to have a Portion Here indeed many a poor Apprentise may say My Father is dead and hath left me no Portion I but you that are poor Apprentises and others and the poor Hospital Boys that live upon Charity It 's possible some poor wretches there may have their portion in God and Christ and Immortallity aswel as the greatest and richest of all therefore raise up your hearts here you that are the poorest and meanest and know you are born for high things If I should come and tell one that is a poor Boy in a blew Coat Whatsoever you are now there is such a rich man will adopt you to be his Child and make you his Heir that would raise up his heart Well how meanly soever you live now you may be a glorious Creature hereafter if so be you have an heart to put upon it and to seek after it for your portion Then you 'l say Lord what should we do that our portion should be an higher portion than in this world The First thing I would put you upon is this 1. Let the whole Course of your life be steered as it were with the fear of God lest that this should be all that you have as it was a sign before so now I may make use of it as a means I say let your course of life be steer'd as it were with the fear of God lest that God with this should put you off hold forth this in every action that any one may see by your Conversation surely this man this woman hath some fears lest God should put them off with a portion in this world And especially you that have great portions in this life and you know you have done God little service you know there are many poor people that live upon Alms have done God more service than you you have most cause to fear They that are Rulers and Governours have most cause to fear unless they have mighty good evidence in their hearts Chrysostom upon the 13. of the Hebrews speaking of those that are Governours I wonder that any Governour should be saved he hath such a speech there we will not say so but he saith so there is a great deal of hazard Christ tels us too that a man that hath a great portion in this world though it 's possible he may have more hereafter yet it is doubtful It is the Counsel of one to a King of Portingal saith he I desire you to grant me this favor that every day you would but think of this Text What profits it a man If he should gain the whol world and lose his own soul Spend some little time every day to think of this Text and pray to God that he would give you the true understanding and sense of this Text and let it be the conclusion of al your prayers that God would shew you what there is in this Text what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul The same counsel I give to you Daily pray to God to make you understand what there is in this Text that there are men that have their portion in this world 2. Labor to take off your hearts from all these outward comforts that are here take off your spirits He that will be rich shall fall into many temptations Know it is not necessary so you should conclude every one in your own hearts it is not necessary I should have estate in this world but it is necessary I should make my peace up with God it is necessary I should provide for my soul but how things are with me here there is no great necessity And then 3. Set you the glory of Heaven and Eternity daily before your eyes and be trading for higher things than these are you that are great Merchants you are trading for thousands when as many poor people now that go up and down in the streets and cry some mean thing they think well if they can get eighteen pence in a whole day carrying things upon their heads and crying in the streets but a rich Merchant can go out in the morning and make a bargain and perhaps get five hundred pound in an hour he is trading for somewhat like So the men of this world are like the poor women that go with things about upon their heads and get eighteen pence in a day but a godly man hath communion with God and in a quarter of an hour gets that he would not lose for hundreds nor for thousands It was a speech of Cleopatra to Anthony Why Anthony thou art not to fish for Gudgeons and Trouts but thou art to angle for Castles and Towers and Forts and Cities thou art to fish for them so may I say If thou hast an immortal soul within thee thou art not so much to angle for to make provision for the flesh for meat and drink and cloathes c. but for Heaven and Immortality set that continually before thine eyes And the next thing is this 4. Honor God with thy substance here lay out thy portion here for God and Oh that I could but convince you of one Principle of Divinity more and that is this That there is more excellency and good in one vertuous Action than there is in all the creatures in Heaven and Earth besides the works of Angels and others of the Saints excepting them Take all Creatures Sun Moon Stars Seas Earth all the riches in the world Pearls put all together this is the true Divinity I say that there is more excellencie in one vertuous Action than there is if thou hadst all these things to be thy possession If men were convinced of this they would be abundant in good works then Thou thinkest it a brave thing thou hast so much coming in by the yeer do but one good action for God out of an upright principle and there is more excellency in that one action than there is in thy estate if thou hadst ten thousand times more added to it Certainly this will make them that are rich to be rich in good works so the Scripture saith Charge them that are rich in this world that they be rich in good works There is a richness in good works as well as in an estate Oh! improve lay out thy estate for God Ambrose I remember upon that place his Sermons upon the rich man saith he Is it not more honor that so many children shall ask of you as their father than that so many pieces of gold shall call you their lord These pieces of gold they do