A DISCOURSE OF Christ's Second Coming, AND The Purging of his Kingdom. In Two SERMONS on  Matth. xiii. 41. 
Th● Son of Man shall send forth his Angels, and shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that ●ffe●d, and them that work Iniquity.  
By SAMVEL TOMLYNS, A. M. Preacher of the Gospel at Marleborough.  
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside, near Mercer's Chapel, 1695.   

FOR MY Much Honoured Friend Sir William Ashurst, Knight; Alderman of the City of LONDON.  
YOU were lately so signally Instrumental in Reforming the Manners of the City of London in your late Mayoralty, that I have thought it proper to dedicate to you this small Treatise concerning Christ's purging and cleansing his Kingdom from all scandalous Persons and Workers of Iniquity. It is a great Reproach to Christianity that so many pretend to it, that enervate in Principles, contradict and subvert its great Designs. How uncomely is it to be Clay Members, under a Golden Head; for carnal Creatures to claim Relation to a spiritual and heavenly King? God promises to lay all Sion's Borders with pleasant Stones, Isa. 54.12. Sanctius in his Commentary conceives, the Holy Ghost alludes to those Stones that did divide and distinguish one Man's Land from another, in a common Field: And so this great Truth it taught by this Promise, That the Church and its true and genuine Children should be distinguished from the rest of the world, not by ordinary and common things, but by pleasant and precious Stones. It is the precious and saving Knowledge of God in Christ, precious Faith in him, a precious Divine Nature received from him, that puts a difference between the Church and the World. Noting and Speculative Knowledge, a cold and barren Profes●es, a Form of Godliness, a Name to live, a Lamp of Pr●●esion, are low and mean things to distinguish between t● Church and the World. The Lord Jesus Christ will ●●●●ly appear, and sit on the Throne of his Glory: it 〈◊〉 then brand Persons with eternal Infamy and Ignominy, 〈◊〉 be disowned as no Members, to be disclaimed as no Subjects of Jesus Christ, to be plucked up as Tares; to be 〈◊〉 away as dross, cast away as bad Fish, and winnowed any as Chaff, to be found such as have lied to Jesus Chri● and have woefully cheated and deceived their own S●●● It concerns us therefore to look well to it, that we experience the Fellowship of Christ's Sufferings, and know 〈◊〉 power of his Resurrection, Phil. 3.10. These are 〈◊〉 important and most necessary things, to have our Lusts killed, and our Souls quickened; 
Rom. 6.5, 6. Col. 3.1. Rom. 6.13. 1 Pet. 2.24.  to have our Old Man nailed to the Cross of Christ, the the Body of Sin may be destroyed, that a may no more serve Sin, and to be pl●●●d in the likeness of Christ's Resurrection●, so that we rise with him, yield our self to God as those that are alive from the dead, live 〈◊〉 Righteousness, and seek the things that are above; s● Christ will recognize us as his Members, and acknowledge us as his Subjects, and we shall not be turned out of the House of God, but stay and abide in it for ever, and when others burn with the Tares in the Furnace, we seal shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of our Father. If this small Treatise may contribute any thing to your spiritual Good, and eternal Salvation, it will be very grateful and acceptable to  
June 1●th. 1695. Your Affectionate, And Humble Servant; Samuel Tomlyns.   

THE Purging of Christ's Kingdom.  Mat. xiii. 41. 
The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them that work iniquity.  
IN the words we have 1st. A Subject spoken of, and that is, The Son of man. 2dly. We have what is related and affirmed concerning this Subject, viz. That he shall send forth his Angels. 3dly For what end? Answ. To gather out of his Kingdom; to Purge and Cleanse it. Some have no Right to be in Christ's Kingdom; they are a Dishonour and a Reproach to it; they lie to Jesus Christ, they cheat and deceive their own Souls. 4. Who they are that shall be gathered out of Christ's Kingdom? rooted out of his Fields? driven out of his House? Answ. All Things, or all those that do offend, and them that work iniquity. They are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, mere Stumblingblocks: They offend, grieve and trouble those that are in Christ's Kingdom; they prejudice those that are without; possess their Minds with hard and bad thoughts of Christ's Kingdom, and so hinder them from entering into it, from embracing the Christian Religion, and from subjecting themselves to Christ's Yoke 〈◊〉 Government: And all they that work equity, and so serve Christ's Enemies, 〈◊〉 undo and destroy their own Souls.  
The wo●● may be handled as a Doctrine Proposition.  
I. Doct. The Son of Man shall send fo● his Angels, and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend, and them that w● iniquity.  
1. I shall consider the Subject spoken 〈◊〉 the Son of Man. Who is meant by the 〈◊〉 of Man? Answ. Jesus Christ: He that ● called the Son of God, Joh. 9.35. Dost th● believe on the Son of God? Yea, he is style the only begotten Son, Joh. 3.16. & Joh. 1. ●. God hath many Adopted Sons: Many S●● are led to Glory by the Captain of Salvati●● Heb. 2.17. But God hath but one begotten Son: He is therefore, by way of Emph●● and Excellency, called his own Son: Rom. 5. ●. God spared not his own Son, but gave him 〈◊〉 to the Death. This Son of God, in the T●● is named the Son of Man: He that was 〈◊〉 Son of God from Eternity, became the 〈◊〉 of Man in time: He that was the Bright●● of his Father's Glory, was veiled and clou●● with a Humane Nature: This was as co●● Sackcloth, and as a Darklanthorn ab●● the Son of Righteousness: He that made 〈◊〉 things, was made Flesh, 1 Joh. 1.2.4. ●e that was the Creator, debased himself and stooped to become a Creature. Which was more than if the Ocean had been lessened ●o a Drop, or the Sun had joined a petty or ●im Lamp to itself; or the greatest Emperor ●n the World had been made a Worm, to be rushed and bruised, to redeem Worms from Destruction. He that was the Head of Angels, lay under the Feet of Sinners.  
This Title, The Son of Man, deserves further to be considered. For, 1st. It seems 〈◊〉 look back on the Old Testament, and to be borrowed from Dan. 7.13. I saw in the night ●●is●ns, and behold one like the Son of Man ●ame with the clouds of heaven, and was brought 〈◊〉 before the ancient of days. This is a Prophesy of Christ's glorious Exaltation and ascension into Heaven: The Father then ●noured him, and said, Sat thou on my right●nd, till I make thy foes thy footstool, Ps. 110.1. The New Testament explains the Old Testament, and the old Testament confirms the ●ew. Daniel prophesied of the Coming of 〈◊〉 Son of Man, and the New Testament solares Christ to be that Son of Man that ●s foretold to come into the Worldly. Christ is styled the Son of Man, with spect to what he was to do, in Purging Church, and Judging the World. The race here points at the great Exaltation of ●ist, and the Glory put on Him. The of Man should send forth his Angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all 〈◊〉 offend, and work iniquity. This is a g● and glorious Work, to purge and 〈◊〉 his Kingdom, to put away Dross, to 〈◊〉 up Weeds, to banish the Workers of In●●● out of his Kingdom, to confine them to 〈◊〉 proper place, and cast them into the ● nace, and shut them up in the Prison. 〈◊〉 evidences that Christ hath a higher 〈◊〉 than a Humane Nature; and that 〈◊〉 doing of this great Work, he will p●nour and Glory on the Humane Na● which he was humbled and abased. 〈◊〉 hath appointed a Day to Judge the 〈◊〉 by the Man that he hath 〈◊〉 Act. 17.31. and hath given Christ ●●rity to execute Judgement, because 〈◊〉 Son of Man, Joh. 5.27. (that is) 〈◊〉 the Son of God did stoop, did 〈◊〉 empty and abase himself to be the 〈◊〉 Man, and to suffer and die in this 〈◊〉 therefore God will put Honour on 〈◊〉 mane Nature, and exalt it, to try the censure the Actions of Men, and 〈◊〉 them to their Eternal Place. He 〈◊〉 sentenced at the Tribunal of M●● arraign the whole World before 〈◊〉 ment-Seat. The Son of Man is 〈◊〉 nently dignifyed, when he shall 〈◊〉 his Angels, and by them shall purge●● and cleanse his Vineyard.  
2. I shall now apply myself to open what is affirmed of the Son of Man. It is said, He shall send forth his Angels. 1st. Observe, The Angels are called Christ's Angels. 2dly. The Work they are employed in, viz. To gather out of his Kingdom those that have neither Right or Fitness to con●inue there. 3dly. The Fitness of the Angels to that Work.  
1. This is Honourable to Christ, that the Angels are called the Angels of the Son of Man. Here we may observe, That our Humane Nature is so exalted in Christ, that it is Lord over the Angels, doth commissionate, send forth and employ them on his Errands, and in his Service: 1 Tim. 3.16. It is said to be part of the Mystery of Godliness that God manifested in the Flesh, was seen of Angels. They saw him first debased, and made lower than themselves; Heb. 2.7. Thou ●ast made him a little lower than the Angels: That He might be capable of Sufferings, and feel the Edge of God's Sword, and drink the Wine of his Wrath. This was matter of Wonder, That the Lord of Angels should in the form of a Servant be subjected to the ●age and fury of Men. And then the Angels saw him exalted, and lifted up by God very much above them; and this did greatly astonish them, That he entered into Heaven, Angels, Principalities and Powers being made subject to him, 1 Pet. 3. ult. When he was but a Babe in the Manger, than the Angels of God were called to pay their Homage, and perform their Adoration to him, Heb. 〈◊〉. When he brought the First Begotten into 〈◊〉 World, he saith, Let all the Angels of Gaworship him. And if they adored him lying in the Cradle, much more may we thir●● they will worship him sitting on the Thro●● Mat. 25.3. When the Son of Man shall co● in his glory, and all the holy Angel's w●● him, then shall he sit on the Throne of● Glory. When the Son of Man shall thu● on the Throne of his Glory, the Angel's 〈◊〉 be ready to give their Attendance, to ren●● their Obedience, in gathering elect Members to their Head, in presenting Criminal to his Bar, and in executing his Sentence 〈◊〉 them in these following Scriptures, Mat. 24. ●. Luk. 19.27. Mat. 13.42. The Angels the gather the Elect to their Kingdom, b●● Offenders before their Judge, and cast 〈◊〉 Tares into a Furnace of unquencheable Fi●●  
2 I shall a little dwell on the Work asen●● to the Angels, in the Text: They shall g●● Men out of Christ's Kingdom. 1. This is ve●● observable, That those whom Men-Ang● do gather into the Church, into the Vi●● Kingdom of Christ, those Spirit-Ange● shall gather out of it. The Officers 〈◊〉 Pastors are called the Angels of the Church. The Seven Stars are said to be the Angels: the Seven Churches, Rev. 1.20. So we read 〈◊〉 the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos, in the 2d. of the Revelations. And what is the work of these Men-Angels? They gather Souls into the Church, and they bring in many Hypocrites among the Sincere, Mat. 22.10. Christ's Servants go forth into the Highways, and gather together unto the Feast as many as they find, both Bad and Good: so the Net gathers and encloses Fish of all kinds, both good & bad, Mat. 13.47. The Good Fish are the Upright, and the Bad Fish are those that are Unsound, and merely Nominal and Titular Christians. But there shall be a Separation, when the Net is drawn to the shore; then Spirit-Angels shall gather these bad Men out of the Church, which Men-Angels did gather into it. Men may be imposed on, and be deceived, but Angels will not be cheated and deluded. What doth it advantage Hypocrites, to blind the Eyes of Pastors? They cannot cast a Mist before, or put a Veil on the Eyes of Angels: Those that are passable Pieces, and current Coin among the Saints, will ye be discovered to be reprobate Silver, and counterfeit Coin, by the Angels: They will know those that Ministers cannot discern.  
2. Good Angels will gather out of Christ's Kingdom, those that Bad Angels do gather into it: Mat. 13.25. While men slept, an enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. Who is this Enemy? Christ, in Mat. 13.39. tells us, it is the Devil. What are the Tares? Christ erpounds this of the Children of the wicked one, Mat. 13.38. The Field of Christ is the Universal Visible Church, spread through the World, Mat. 13.38. The same that is called the Kingdom of Christ in the Text, i● the World in Mat. 13.38. It is not to be understood of the World at large, but the Cultivated, the Manured, the Tilled part of the World; and that is the Universal Visible Church spread through many Nations of the World. So that it is plain from this Scripture, that Satan brings and sows many of his Children in the Church: But is it 〈◊〉 strange, improbable, and almost incredible that Satan should bring Men into the Church. Is not this a dangerous Place for his Subjects to be in? May he not lose them Answ. Satan doth bring many into the Church with a deep Design, and for politi●● Ends. 1. Satan counts this for his Ho●●● and Glory, to have Subjects, Servants and Children of his even in the Church, a well as without; That he has Vassals for 〈◊〉 service, among the Vessels of Honour the are for God's use. As this exalts Christ, 〈◊〉 he rules among his Enemies, Psal. 110.2 Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies; so th● advances Satan, that he also rules among 〈◊〉 Enemies, that he can retain his Prey, kee● his Captive, preserve his Subjects fast, and close to him among his Enemies, even where God and Christ rule, and Saints do yield obedience; That he can maintain an interest for himself, where the Light shines, Grace beams, the Laws of Christ are proclaimed, and the danger of rebelling against them is openly declared; That yet his Soldiers will not leave his tents, nor his Subjects cast of his yoke, nor renounce their obedience to him. 2. Satan is content and willing that many of his Children should creep into and be joined to the Church, that they may be more secure; that now they may slatter themselves that they are safe from danger, and may bless themselves in the hope of a Place in God's Kingdom, and a Portion among his Sons and Daughters. How many do betake themselves to the Church, as a City of Refuge, as a Sanctuary to preserve themselves from Destruction, though they go on in their wickedness? God, by Jeremiah, complains, Jer. 7.12. That the prosane Jews did use the Temple as if it were a Den of Robbers: as Robbers do spoil Travellers, and then retreat to their Dens, as places of safety and security; so they did steal, murder, commit Adultery, swear falsely, and then come and stand in the Temple, offer some Sacrifices, and then conclude a Compensation was made to God for all the wrong they had done him; that now they were delivered from the guilt they had contracted, and secured from the punishment they had deserved. So Augustine, in his 22d. lib. de Civitate (as I remember) speaks of many Christians in his time, That though they did lead lend and lose lives, yet they thought they should be saved at last, because they believed the true and right Doctrine. And how many in these days do cast their cold and formal Prayers, their blind and heartless Devotions into the scale, to balance and weigh down all their gross and notorious Wickedness. Thus is a false Notion of the Church and Kingdom of Christ, a great Means, and a mystical Instrument to uphold Satan's Throne, and keep the Crown on his Head. The Name of Christianity encourages many to persist in the practice of Iniquity, without fear of Misery & Destruction. 3. Satan brings Men into the Church, that they may do him more service in the Church, than they could do out of it. The Tares did draw away the Sap and Strength of the Earth from the good Corn, did entangle and harle about the Wheat, pull it down, keep it low, hinder its growth and flourishing: so Satan's Children in the Church, they aspire to, and reach after the highest places, they grasp the Honours and Prosits that were designed for better Men, they keep the sincere People of God low, they pull them down, and lay such under them, they will hardly allow them a place and subsistence in the Church, they traduce and reproach them as Puritans, Praecisians, fanatics, that make the Way to Heaven narrower, and the Yoke of Christ heavier, and the Commands of Christ stricter than indeed they are: They think they call Men to hard services, and bind heavy burdens on them, when Christ gives larger allowances, and Men may go to Heaven without such strictness, without so much ado, without keeping so strict a rain on the flesh, without continual curbing of their lusts, and denying their natural appetites and inclinations; and when these Men have advantages on their side, and carnal Rulers that will comply with them, they are ready to persecute; they are forward to execute Penal Laws, and persecute those of the same Nation, City, Neighbourhood, to the utmost, that they may ruin and undo them; as in Abraham's Family, Ishmael persecuted Isaac: Gal. 4.29.30. It is now they that are born after the flesh, persecute those that are born after the spirit. Calvin would say, That a Man need go no farther than Geneva to be persecuted. I have heard that some profane Ones in that City, would, in contempt and hatred of Calvin, call their Dogs Calvin. This holy Man chose rather to leave Geneva, and to go into voluntary exile to Strasburg in Germany, than to admit lose and profane Men to the Table of the Lord. The Tares do much mischief to the good Corn, and much service to Satan, by being in the same Field, the same Church with the sincere and upright Servants of Christ.  
But those that Satan hath thus, and for these Ends introduced into the Church, vailing their Enmity against Christ, and his People, under the name of Christianity; these the Good Angels will separate and gather out of the Church, that they may suffer for mocking of Christ, for hating and hindering his People.  
3dly. Let us consider how meet and fit Good Angels are for this Work to which they are designed, and in which they are employed.  
1. They excel in Judgement, Wisdom and Understanding. To be Wise as an Angel of God, was grown to a Proverb in Israel, 2 Sam. 14.20. My lord the king is wise as as angel of God. As the Angel that destroyed the Egyptians Firstborn, could observe and distinguish between the Israelites Houses that had Blood sprinkled at the Door of them, and the Egyptians Houses that had no Blood sprinkled on them, though it were in the midst of the Night: So the Angels of God do know and will understand, who are sprinkled with the Blood of Christ, and so must stay in Christ's Kingdom; and who are not, and so must be gathered out of Christ's Kingdom, and destroyed: They will discover those that have escaped the Observation of Pastors, and have deluded them with their fair Pretences: They will be able to wash off the Paints, and pull away the Veils of Hypocrites, and so will pull them out of the Kingdom of Christ: They know that they were not sent forth to minister to the Wicked, but to the Saints, Heb. 1.14. that Hypocrites were no part of their charge; that they did not attend on them, and therefore can distinguish and mark them out, to be gathered out of the Kingdom of Christ.  
2. The Angels do excel in Strength: Bless the Lord, ye his Angels, that excel in strength. As Nabuchadnezzar employed the most mighty Men in his Army, Dan. 3.20. to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the Fiery Furnace; so the Angels are the mightiest Soldiers in God's Host, the most valiant of his Army, and these he charges to reap the Tares, to bind them in bundles, and to cast them into an Eternal Furnace, Mat. 13.30, 39, 42. The Angels are strong and mighty Reapers. Can the Tares stand before the Hook, or withstand the Sickle of these mighty Reapers? Can the Tares hinder themselves from being bound up in bundles, and cast into a Furnace of unquenchable Fire? Though wicked Men are many, a huge multitude, and great in power, and high in authority here in this world, yet their numbers, strength or force cannot secure or protect them from these mighty Reapers.  
But who are those that shall be gathered out of the Kingdom of Christ? This is for Christ's Glory: If the whole Church is the Kingdom of Christ, it is his Dominion; and this is farther for his Honour, that he will purge this Kingdom of his, that the Beauty, Purity, and Holiness of it may appear. As Jesus Christ is fairer than the Children of Men, Psal. 45.2. So the Church is to appear as the fairest among Women, 1 Cant. 8. The Church is styled the Mountain of Holiness, Jer. 31.23. and vastly differs from the Kingdoms of the World, that are called Mountains of Prey, Psal. 76.4. That Society that is set forth as the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 25.1. and is indeed the Suburbs of Heaven, should not be clogged with foolish Virgins, and be defiled with the Workers of Iniquity. Wicked Men and Hypocrites are called Dross, Psal. 119.119. Reprobate Silver, Jer. 6.30. Brass, Tin, Iron, and Led, Ezek. 22.18. And what doth such base Metal do among the Vessels of Gold and Silver? 2 Tim. 2.20. Should not Christ's Floor be cleansed from Chaff? Mat. 3.12. Should not bad Fish be plucked out of the Net, and cast away? Mat. 13.47, 48. What should those do in God's House that are not Sons of God, John 8.35. but are Children of Satan, John 8.44. and Servants of Sin? John 8.34. What should they do among the Guests at the Feast, that have neither Appetites, nor Wedding-Garments, Mat. 22.10, 11. Can carnal Creatures partake of spiritual Blessings? Men are born Flesh, John. 3.6. and spiritual Blessings are to be enjoyed in Heavenly Places, Ephes. 1.3. Can Earthly Men and Women inherit a Heavenly Country, Hebr. 11.16. they whose Thoughts and Hearts dwell on Earth, Luk. 21.35. they that pant after the Dust of the Earth, Amos 2.7. they that mind Earthly Things only, Phil. 3.19. that seek nothing higher, than what they shall eat, what they shall drink, wherewithal they shall be clothed? Mat. 6.31, 32. Can these live in the pure and sine Air of spiritual Comforts, Delights, and Enjoyments? Can dead Creatures converse with the living God? Can those that wear fordid and filthy Garments present themselves with acceptance before a God that is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity? Hab. 1.13. An Hypocrite shall not come before him, Job. 13.16. The Foolish shall not stand in his sight: Evil shall not dwell with him. God hates all the Workers of Iniquity, Psal. 5.4, 5. What should profane Ones do in the Mountain of Holiness? Jer. 31.23. What should the Unrighteous do in the Habitation of Justice? What should corrupt and stinking Creatures do in the Mountain of Myrrh, and in the Hill of Frankincense? Cant. 4.6. Such gangrened Members must be cut off from the Body: Such Spots must be washed away out of the Face of the Church.  
But more particularly, I shall address myself to consider the Words in the Text: The Angels shall gather out of Christ's Kingdomed things that offend, and them that work iniquity 1. The Angels shall gather out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is, all the Scandals, all the Stumbling blocks, all that offend others, and obsh●● their entering into the Kingdom of Ch●● It is sad to be in the Church only as Sunbling-blocks to disgrace the Faith, to reproach the Doctrine of Christ, to stop or cool other in the way everlasting, to turn them out o● the Paths of Holiness, and to hurry the● headlong to destruction. How do the 〈◊〉 Examples of some influence, and learn others! one Man's wicked Life and Do●● infects another's: If some Neighbour's a●● Drunkards, are Swearers, are Whoremaster are Liars, are Sabbath-breakers, negl●●● Prayer in their Families, do not instra●● their Children, or restrain their Serva● from Wickednesses; if they are Mock●●s Religion, Scoffers at Godliness, and H●● of Good Men that will not run with 〈◊〉 to the same excess of Riot, 1 Pet. 4. 4● These evil Precedents do easily and qui●● prevail on others. It was grown to a 〈◊〉 verb in Israel, Ezek. 16.44. As is the 〈◊〉 so is her Daughter: So I may say, As is 〈◊〉 Father, so are his Children; as is the ●ster, so are his Servants; as is the Neighbour, so are his Companions, and those that converse with him. Ezek. 20.18, 21. God said to the Children, Walk ye not in the statutes of your Fathers, neither observe their Judgements: Yet they walked not in God's Statutes, nor observed his Judgements, but persisted in a conformity to the evil Practices of their Parents, that were so powerful, that they had the force of Statutes, Judgements, and binding Laws. How hard, how rare is it to cast off, or desist from a vain Conversation, delivered by Tradition from Forefathers and Neighbours, 1 Pet. 1.18. How pernicious, fatal, and destructive, are such Scandals! For 1. Such do teach others the way of Sin and Wickedness: Jer. 2.33. Therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways. When Christians ought to teach Transgressor's, Psal. 51.13. by their Doctrines and Examples, God's ways for their Conversion, and Salvation, they teach wicked Ones their own corrupt ways for their destruction. 2. Such do justify the Wicked of the World in all their lewd Practices: Ezek. 16.51. Thou hast justified thy sisters in all thine abomination, which thou hast done: 46, 48. Samaria was her Sister, and Sodom, and these Sisters, Jerusalem had justified by her Abominations O that those that pretend to be Christ's Subjects, should justify his open and professed Enemies, and approve the Heathen World in all their Drunkenness, Lying, Injustice, and Adulteries! 3. Such do comfort Sinners in their ungodly Practices: Ezek. 16.54. That this mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort to them. If so be those that are not of the Church, but Strangers and Enemies to it, do see Christian's roll in Filthiness, and drink in Iniquity like Water, How will they be encouraged to, and comforted in their sinful Practices? Such will conclude there is no danger in their ways, or judgement towards their Persons, but that they may sin without fear of punishment, or dread of vengeance.  
4. How great a Scandal is it, when those that profess themselves the People of God, and pretend to be of the Church, shall out go, and outstrip Heathens in their Wickedness! Jer. 5.28. They overpass the deeds of the wicked; that is, of the wicked Heathen! Ezek. 5.6. She hath changed my judgement's 〈◊〉 wickedness more than the nations, and my statute more than the Countries that are round about 〈◊〉 Ezek. 16.48. God confirms this truth with a● Oath, As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodo● thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughter, as thou hast done: Ezek. 16.51. Neither 〈◊〉 Samaria committed half of thy sins. How horrible a Scandal is this, when the Heath●● are ashamed of, and reflect on the Sins of those that call themselves of the Church Ezek. 16.27. The daughters of the Philistines are ashamed of thy lewd way. I have heard from one that lived at Smyrna, That the Turks will laugh, and make Tricks at the Grecian Christians there, when they are drunk. These blind Mahometans do dislike and are ashamed of Drunkenness.  
5. Such Scandals, or scandalous Persons, cause the Name of God to be profaned and blasphemed among the Heathen: Ezek. 36.20. When they entered in to the Heathen whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land; that they committed such Wickednesses, and were for this cast out of their Land. This caused the Heathen to think basely of God, that he was like them, and did approve of their Wickednesses, or that he was weak, and could not preserve his pretended People in their own Land; but the Heathen prevailed against them, and led them captive: Rom. 2.23, 24. Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. Salvian tells us how much the Vandals reflected on Christ's beholding the wicked Life of Christians; Si Christus Sancta docuisset, Christiani Sanctè vixissent: That Father saith, The Christians were Drunkards, Whoremasters, Unjust; when the Vandals were Temperate, , and more Just in their Deal. It is ordinary, if you question a Turk in his Deal, Whether what he saith of the price or value of Goods be true, to break out into a Reproach of Christianity thus, Dost thou think I am a Christian, and that I will lie and cozen in my deal? How much were the Indians in the West-Indies prejudiced against Christianity, by the barbarous and cruel deal of the Spaniards with them? An Indian asked a Spaniard, Wither the Spaniards did go after Death? and the Spaniard answering that they went to Heaven: the poor Indian Heathen replied, He would not go to Heaven, to meet such a cruel and bloody People there; but would rather 〈◊〉 to Hell, where his Ancestors and Fath●● were. Yea, these poor Heathen Idolater justified themselves, and said, Their Gods were better than the Spaniard's God: Fee the Indians worshipped Gods of Gold and Silver; when the Spaniards worshipped tw● Sticks across; that is, they adored a woode● Cross.  
6. These Scandals do foment Atheism, e●crease and spread it in the World: 1. 〈◊〉 their teaching pernicious, and Heretical Doctrines, contrary to the Truth of Christ, 〈◊〉 so divide Christians, crumble them into little Parties, and Factions, cause them so to clash and interfere one with another, to oppose, decry, contradict, judge, and cens●●● each other. Grotius takes in this as part of the sense of the Words, That there are Scandals in Doctrine, 
in Locum.  as well as in Manners. The Apostle Paul speaks of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Rom. 16.17. Scandals other than the Doctrines he and others had preached: Mat. 18.7. Christ faith, It must needs be that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Offences come: Which Paul expresses thus, 1 Cor. 11.19. For there must be also Heresies among you. Gretius doth parallel these two Texts, and thinks they intent the same thing. Certainly variety of Opinions, rotten and corrupt Doctrines, do much contribute and conduce to Atheism. How many resolve only to stick to Morality, and just Dealing with Men, accounting that all Religion is but a Fable, or Fiction, because Men have such contrary Notions, such contradictory Sentiments about it. 2. Scandals in Action: A lewd and wicked Life doth exceedingly advance Atheism. I have heard of a Woman that fell off from all Religion, and turned a professed Atheist; and when the Minister of her Parish went to discourse with her, and rebuke and reprove her for her Atheism, she smartly replied, That he was the cause of it; when she heard what he preached in the Pulpit, and observed how contrary he practised out of it, what a lose and wicked Life he led, she was tempted to conclude that all Religion was but a Cheat, a mere politic Contrivance; for if he himself believed what he spoke in the Pulpit to be true, he would never lead such a scandalous and bad Life out of it, he would restrain himself from vice, and order his Conversation aright. How many would incline to Atheism, and think the Christian Doctrine but a Fable, if it brought forth no better Fruits in the Lives of others, than these? And that Heave● were but a Fiction, if none were more fitted and prepared for it than these carnal and profane Christians are? How righteous and requisite is it then, that Persons that so offend others, dishonour God, and reproach Christianity, should be gathered out of the Kingdom of Christ.  
2dly. Those that work iniquity shall be plucked out, and for ever separated from the Kingdom of Christ. First there are some that pretend to be Members of the Church that do work iniquity. 2. I shall show what a heinous Evil, what a crying Provocation it is to work iniquity in the Church; that is, the visible Kingdom of God and Christ.  
1. There are some that are got into the Visible Church, and are called God's People, that yet work Iniquity. 1. They early begin this Employment, Zeph. 3.7. They rise up early, and corrupted all their do. How cross and contrary are Men to God? He did rise up early, and send his Prophets to instruct them in their Duty, to dissuade them from Sin, and to exhort them to Righteousness; the Prophets came early in the Morning to teach the Jews in the Temple; yet all was in vain; no dams would stop, no Banks would bond in the Torrent of their Sins: The Imaginations of Man's Heart are evil from his Youth, or Childhood, Jer. 3.25. We and our fathers have sinned against the Lord our God, from our youth unto this day: Jer. 22.21. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that that thou obeyedst not my voice. 2. They do this work diligently, Mich. 7.3. They do evil with both hands earnestly, Jer. 9.5. They weary themselves to commit Iniquity: They drink in iniquity like water, Job 15.16. Like as a thirsty Man drinks in Water, and can hardly satisfy himself, they draw iniquity to them with cords of vanity, that is, with sinful, corrupt, unbelieving Reasons and Suggestions: those indeed are false and very weak, and therefore may well be called Cords of Vanity; yet on wicked Men they have the force of a strong Cart-rope, Isa. 5.18, 19 They think God will not draw near to them in Judgement, or show his work of Vengeance and Severity on them. 3. They only follow this work and no other: A corrupt Tree can bring forth no other but corrupt Fruit, Mat. 7.17, 18. An unclean Fountain, night and day vents no other but polluted Streams, Jer. 6.17. Satan's Mint is still going in the Soul. An evil Man brings forth evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart, Mat. 12.35. God accuses the Jews by Jeremiah, That that they had done nothing of all that God commanded them; That the Children of Judah had only done evil before the Lord; That the Children of Israel had only provoked him to anger, Jer. 32.23, 30. 4. They persist, continue and go on in this work: Ezek. 23.43. I said unto her that was old in adulteries, W●● they now commit adulteries with her, and she with them? Yet in ver. 44. it is said, She continued in her whoredom, and did not give off. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots? then may they that are accustomed to do evil, learn to do well, Jer. 13.2. The Hearts of Sinners are bend to backslide, Hos. 11.7. They have loved Strangers, and after them they will go, Jer. 2.25. They are of their Father the Devil, and his lusts they will do, Joh. 8.44. This they are fised in, this they are resolved on; and tho● it be the Duty of Men to receive the Law from God's Mouth, Job 22.22. yet they declare they will do whatsoever proceeds out of their own mouth, Jer. 44.17. and so they oppose their own mouth to the mouth of God. 5. They rejoice to do Evil, Jer. 11.17. When thou dost evil, than thou rejoycest. Sinners choose their own ways, and their Soul delights in their Abominations, Isa. 66.3. They count it pleasure to riot in the daytime, 2 Pet. 2.13. Thus deceived Sinners imagine and conceit a Heaven in that which indeed fits them for Hell, and prepareth them for everlasting Torments. The day is coming, when they that shall review all their sensual Delights, and draw their greatest bitterness out of that which hath been most sweet to them; Oh, how terrible will it be, to draw a Real Hell of Misery out of their Imaginary and Momentary Heaven of Felicity! Their present Pleasures will be a seed of Pain, and of eternal Torments.  
2dly. I shall show you what a heinous and provoking thing it is, to work Iniquity in the Kingdom of Christ. For, 1. They that are of the Church, they do profess and avow the Lord to be their God, Hos. 8.2. Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. Yet in ver. 3. it is said, Israel hath cast off the thing that is good. And Aholah (saith God) played the harlot when she was mine, Ezek. 23.5. How treacherous are they that say, God is their Father? Joh. 8.41. We have one Father, even God; yet they partake of Satan's corrupt Nature, bear his Image, and do his Lusts: John 8.44. Ye are of your Father the devil, and the lusts of your Father ye will do. How abominable is this, to wear God's Livery, and yet do Satan's drudgery? How doth God complain, and call Heaven and Earth to witness against Israel! I have nourished and brought up Children, yet they have rebelled against me, Isaiah 1.2. The Heaven and the Earth, and all the Creatures, serve Man, yet he denies Obedience to his Maker. Those that are in the Church are under more Ties and Obligations than others: Amos 3.2. You only have I known of all the families of the earth: When it is said of the Gentiles, That they were a People that Christ did not know, Isa. 55.5. Yet Christ came to his own, and his own received him 〈◊〉, John 1.11. Who should welcome him, 〈◊〉 open their Hearts, and receive him, if not his own? Yet Christ's own rejected him Not only they shut the Door against hi●, but also poured out their Fury on him, and cut him off from the Land of the Livi●●. God complains, Psal. 81.11. But my pe●● would not hearken to my voice: Israel would b●● none of me. And indeed, would be none o● his. 2. Those that are in Christ's Kingd●● they are near to God, and in his special Presence; and it is therefore more heinous 〈◊〉 such to work Iniquity: 1. They are near 〈◊〉 God, Jer. 13.2. God bids Jeremiah to ●e him a Linen Girdle, and put it on his Lo●●● and God expounds the meaning of this Sig● ver. 11. For as the girdle cleaveth to the 〈◊〉 a man; so have I caused to cleave unto me 〈◊〉 whole house of Israel, that they might be 〈◊〉 me for a people, and for a name, and for a pra●e, and for a glory: but they would not hear. God speaks here of Israel as his visible Church: And by the Covenant that was between God and them, they were as a Girdle put on bound to him, and were to cleave to him, both for God's Honour and Glory. As a Girdle is an Ornament to a Man; so those that are truly God's People are his Glory, Isa. 46.13. I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel my Glory: 2 Cor. 8.23. The Apostle speaks of the Messengers of the Churches, that they were the Glory of Christ; such Church-Members ought to be. Yet those that work Iniquity in the Kingdom of Christ, are a Dishonour, a Disgrace, a Reproach to Christ. 2. A Girdle is put on and worn about the Loins of a Man; and this is an Honour to the Girdle itself, that it is so near to a Man, and is worn as an Ornament by him: So God is the Glory of Men, Isa. 60.13. Thy God shall be thy Glory. For Men to be brought under a Covenant with God, and by this means to be joined to God, this is the Glory of Men, Psal. 50.5. Gather my Saints together, that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice. To be God's Confederates is the Honour of Men; but those that work ●niquity in Christ's Kingdom, do turn this Glory into Shame. This is their Infamy, To break the Marriage-Covenant, Hos. 4.12. to go a whoring from under their God; to dote on Creatures, and prostitute themselves to Idols: Such shall bear the Reproach (saith God, Micah 6.16.) of my People: They shall be exposed to everlasting Infamy, for mocking of God, and lying to him, Psal. 50.16, 17. What best thou to do to take my covenant into thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee. Though they were call●● Saints, by reason of their profession and coligation to be such; yet, Psal. 50.16. they are called wicked, by reason of their hating Instruction, and casting God's Words beh●●d their Backs. 2. Those that are in Christ's Kingdom, they are in God's special Presence For God dwelleth in Zion, Joel 3.21. The Name of Spiritual Jerusalem is Jebo●● Shammah, The Lord is there, Ezek. 48. 3● And this is a great Affront, to provoke God to his Face, to sin under his Eye, and in 〈◊〉 special Presence, Isa. 65.3. A People that 〈◊〉 voketh me to anger continually to my face. Go● Temple and Habitation was among the and thereby their Gild was exceeding heightened and aggravated; they did d● God, and Affront him to his Face: wh● as the Gentiles might be said, comparati●ly, to sin behind God's Back, because 〈◊〉 special Presence was not among them. 〈◊〉 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his D●nion, Psal. 114.2. And how much d● this increase Gild to be Rebellious, 〈◊〉 work iniquity in God's Sanctuary, and in 〈◊〉 peculiar Dominion: Zeph. 3.5. The just 〈◊〉 is in the midst thereof.  
3dly, It is a heinous Evil to work iniquity where the Rule of Righteousness is professed, pressed and taught. I have written to them the great things of my Law, but they counted them strange things, Hos. 8.12. The just Lord brings Judgements; that is, his wise and holy Laws to light every Morning, and sets his Laws before Men, Dan. 9.10. And they ought to choose them, and set them before themselves, Psal 119.30. I have chosen the way of truth, and thy judgements have I set before me: Yet those that work iniquity turn to God their Backs, and not the Face, Jer. 32.38. And cast God's Words behind their Backs, Psal. 50.17. Hid their Eyes from it, and are willingly ignorant of it. O what a Shame and Reproach is this to Men, that Beasts and Birds are better governed by Sense and Instinct, Isa. 1.3. Jer. 8.7. than Men are by Reason, and a written Law of God How do Men pervert and abuse their Reason and more than Brutisie themselves! When as God taught them more than the Beasts of the Earth, and made them wiser than the Fowls of Heaven, Job. 15.11.  
4thly, It greatly burdens and provokes God, for Men to work iniquity in a Land of Uprightness, and where others do work Righteousness: Isa. 26.10. The Wicked in the land of uprightness will deal unjustly: The Land of Canaan, where the People of God dwelled, is called the Land of Uprightness, and the People of Israel are called Jesherus, Deut. 33.26. There is none like to the God of Jesherun. This Name is derived from 〈◊〉 Jashar, which signifies to be right; because this was the People that were taught, and professed Uprightness, and Righteousness. Those that are truly the People of God, are said to have wrought his Judgement, Zeph. 2.3. Now this augments Gild, when Persons shall work iniquity in a Land of Uprightness, where Righteousness is professed and practised by many. These, by their Example, show, that the Yoke of Christ is not intolerable, and that Godliness is not impossible or impracticable: These, by their Strictness, Holiness, and Zeal, do condemn the looseness, profaneness, and coldness of the work●● of iniquity: The circumspect and exact Li●● they lead, should stir up and awaken other that behold them, to a serious, exact, and powerful Religion. The very Examples of Saints do teach, and should mightily affect others.  
5thly, It is heinous to work iniquity, when Men are taught, That Jesus Christ ga●e himself to redeem Men from all iniquity, Titus 2.14. and from a vain conversati●y 1 Pet. 1.18. These Men clash with, and contradict the great End and Design of Christ's Death: They frustrate the Sufferings of Christ, and resolve still to be the Servants of Sin, the Portion and Possession of Satan, as if Christ's Blood were no valuable Price to purchase them, or to oblige them to cease to be their own, and to engage them to be the Lord's Servants and People, as if Christ's Blood should purchase all for them, but buy nothing of them, nor from them.  
6thly, It is very provoking to work iniquity where the Lord useth many means to purge Men from Iniquity, Ezek. 24.13. Because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged any more from thy silthiness, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee. Instructions in Righteousness, Reproofs for Sins, Afflictions without, and the Strive of God's Spirit within, when it counsels Duty, warns of Danger that attends the practice of Iniquity, are all means to purge Men from their Filthiness. But when God shows Men what is Good, and dehorts them from Evil; when he puts them into the Furnace, and kindles the refining Fire, and yet the Dross of Wickedness cleaves close to them, and is not removed from them. This renders the workers of iniquity more obnoxious to Wrath, and revenging Justice. When Men will not stop and cease from Sinning, than the Fury of God will rest upon them, and they be exposed to Torments without end.  
7thly, It mightily provokes God, when Men bear corrupt Fruit, and work iniquity in his own Vineyard. God sets a great Price and Value on every spot and inch of his Vineyard-Ground. Shall that then be clogged and pestered, not only with empty Vines, Hos. 10.1. but with strange and degenerate Vines, Jer. 2.21. such Vines as bear Grapes of Gall, and bitter Clusters, that yield Wine; that is, the Poison of Dragons, and the crude Venom of Asps? Are these Grapes fit for the Lord of the Vineyard to eat of? Is this meet Wine for his to drink? Would it not be intolerably bad for a Child to present such Wine to as Earthly Father to poison him? And is it not infinitely worse for Men to render such Wine to their Heavenly Father? Is there any thing he doth more abhor than these Clusters, or more detest than this Wine. W●● God bear always such corrupt and pernici●●● Trees in his Vineyard.  
The Use of this Doctrine is Fourfold: 

1. For Terror.  
2. For Examination.  
3. For Exhortation.  
4. For Caution.    
1. Use is, For Terror to lose, scandalous, and profane Christians; they shall not still continue in the Kingdom of Christ: The time draws near when Christ will send forth his Angels, and gather them out of his Kingdom. The Harvest is at hand, when these Tares shall be cut out of God's Field The Net will quickly be drawn to the Shoar; and if bad Fish be cast away, God will not value or regard them to all Eternity, but cast them off, and reject them for ever. Consider, and weigh all these following Particulars, that speak much Terror to the workers of iniquity.  
1. You shall be known: Prov. 10.9. He that perverteth his ways shall be known. Though he veil, disguise, endeavour to conceal himself, yet the day will reveal every Man's State and Work, 1 Cor. 3.13. Though Hypocrites are as Graves that appear not, Luk. 11.44. their Rottenness and Wickedness appears not to Men, yet God knows their Hearts, Luke 16.15. He inspects their Souls, and discovers all the Filth and Wickedness that is there. How terrible is Light to Malefactors? How bitter and unwelcome is it to Adulterers, and Thiefs? They desire, and affect Darkness, that they may be concealed, and a Veil cast over their Wickedness: Job. 24.17. The morning is to them as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. Doth God, the Judge, know Men? And will he bring to light all the hidden Things of Darkness, and make manifest the very Counsels of the Heart, all the secret Principles, carnal Motives, corrupt Ends that have biased and fwayed Sinners in their Actions? And shall not this Light of Divine Knowledge, this Day of Divine Judgement, strike Horror into the Hearts of secure Sinners! Their inside is so bad, that it is a terrible Threatening, that God saith, They shall be known. They have been called by the Worthy, Lovely, Honourable, Glorious Name of Christ; they have been styled Christians: but they have profaned, stained, reproached this Excellent Name; therefore they shall be divested, and stripped of it; all their Veils, Cloaks, Pretences shall be plucked off; they shall be known what they are, and be called by their own Name. The Wife of Jeroboam did disguise herself, and feigned herself to be another Person; yet she did not deceive the Lord: He knew her, and informed his blind Prophet Abijah of her, 1 Kings 14.2, 5, 6. God was acquainted with her Design; so that when she came to the Prophet's Door, he presently calls her by her Name, Come in thou Wife of Jeroboam, W●y feignest thou thyself to be another? So God will know Sinners in all their Disguises, and under all their Veils: He will call them by their proper Names; he will style them no more Christians; but say, You Infidels, you pros●●● and ungodly Swearers, Drunkards, Whoremasters, Liars, Oppressors, and unjust Persons, appear in my presence, give your Account at my Bar, and Tribunal: You Backsliders in Heart, you rebellious Creatures, hear your Doom and Sentence: You Lying Children, you perfidious Apostates, receive your Portion from me. God will call you Dross, and Reprobate Silver. This shall be your Infamy and Reproach, that all the Creatures are God's Servants, Psalms 119.90, 91. But you have been Rebels and Enemies. God's Word hath run very swiftly on Earth, Psal. 147.15, 18. All do yield to it and comply with it; but you workers of iniquity have stopped it, resisted it, opposed it, and rebelled against it. You have been miry Places and Marshes, where the Waters of the Sanctuary have been stayed and stood, Ezek. 47.11. Though Men call themselves of the Holy City, Isa. 48.2. yet God will call them Revolters, Corrupters, Brass, Iron, Reprobate Silver, Rebellious and Lying Children, Jer. 6.28.30.  
2. This will be their great Shame to be known, when it shall appear, that all their Religion hath been but embalming a Carcase, painting the Cheeks of a dead Man, and building a beautiful Tomb of Profession over a corrupt and rotten Heart, Matth. 23.27. O how ignominious will this be, when it shall be manifested, that in your best Performances you have but compassed God with Lies, Hos. 11.12. Ephraim compasseth me about with Lies: With a lying Profession, lying Services, lying Prayers, lying Praises, lying Obedience. Those whose Hearts are not sound in God's Statutes, shall be ashamed, Psal. 119.80. They shall be ashamed of all the Profession they have made; of all the Works they have performed; of all the Hopes they have entertained; of all the Relations they have pretended: Even in the Great Day they shall arise to Shame and everlasting Contempt, Dan. 12.2. How will Confusion cover them, when these Graves shall be opened? when all Veils shall be pulled off, and all the artificial Paint shall melt and vanish away? when the Filth, Nakedness, Deformity of their Souls shall appear? When Satan's Image shall be discerned in them, and his Law shall be read in them, in vain have they endeavoured to blind the Eyes of Omnisciency. They could not cast a Mist before him, or put a Fallacy and Cheat on him: Hos. 5.3. I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me Jer. 13.27. I have seen thy adulteries, 〈◊〉 neighings, and the lewdness of thy whoredem. Sinners only blind their own Eyes, that the● may not know what they are, and see whther they are going, but that Satan may lea● them the more tamely, quietly, and peaceably unto Destruction.  
3. O what an amazing Disappointment will the workers of iniquity meet with, wh● they shall be gathered out of the Kingd●● of Christ! They will look for Light, and God will turn it into gross Darkness, and i● to the Shadow of Death: Jer. 13.16. What dreadful Frustration will this be instead of a Inheritance, among the Saints in Light, 〈◊〉 have a Portion with the Wicked in the Regions of Darkness, and under the horrors of an eternal Night! How tormenting will this be, to look for Favour and to meet with Fury! to expect Salvation, and then their Eyes see their Destruction; and instead of drinking new Wine of Joy, to drink the Wine of the Wrath of the Almighty, Job. 21.20. It was terrible to Israel, for God, as a Token of his Displeasure, to send Thunder and Rain in Wheat-Harvest, 1 Sam. 7.17. And will it not strike more horror into the workers of iniquity, when they think to reap a Harvest of Happiness, for God to thunder Wrath and Vengeance on them; and to rain Fire and Brimstone, and an horrible Tempest on them; and to allot this to them, as the Portion of their Cup? Psal. 11.6. Were not the Syrians amazed and terrified, when their Eyes were opened, and they saw themselves in the midst of Samaria, in the Hands, and under the Power of their Enemies? 2 Kings 16.20. But will it not more astonish Sinners, to have their Eyes opened at last, and to see themselves in the midst of Devils and damned Souls, under the Power of Satan, and under the Wrath of God? Sinners do drouze and Sleep now, but they will, too late, lift up their Eyes, as Dives did, in Hell, Luke 16.23. when it will be too late to decline the fatal Blow, to prevent Misery, and fly from Destruction. O how will this cut Sinners to the Heart! for Jesus Christ to profess that which is directly contrary to their Profession, Matth. 7.23. Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity. They profess, Isa. 58.2. to work Righteousness, and to yield Obedience: And this they counted their Glory. But Christ will profess to them, Ye are workers of iniquity: And this will be to their Ignominy and Reproach Christ's Profession concerning Men, is more to be credited than what they profess concerning themselves. Those spoken of here, seem to be workers of iniquity in a more spiritual, secret, and mysterious way: They acted from old and carnal Principles; they served in the oldness of the Letter, not in the newness of the Spirit; they did some things materially Good, but with regret and relectancy, not with pleasure and delight, Rom. 7.6. They were acted by base Principles and selfish Ends; and so served themselves and their Lusts, rather than the Lord Jesus Christ. They failed in the manner of these working, and so are called workers of i●quity. The Pharisees thought they well observed the Laws of God, Luk. 15.29. L●● these many Years do I serve thee, neither tr●●gressed I at any time thy Commandments. Yet how contrary to this Boasting is the Charge and Accusation of the Prophet Jeremi●h, Jer. 32.23. They have done nothing of all thou commandedst them to do. Israel doth cry unto the Lord, My God, we know thee, Hos. 8.2. Yet here Christ professes the contrary, I never kn●w you, Luke 13.27. Christ expresseth himself thus, Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity. That Phrase, all ye workers of iniquity, is emphatical: Christ will pass the same Doom on workers of iniquity in the Church, as he doth on those that are out of the Church: He is no Respecter of Persons; he hates Iniquity wherever he finds it. Such as turn aside into crooked Paths in the Church, shall be led forth with the workers of iniquity: They shall be joined to them, ranked with them, Psal. 125.5. shall be accounted of the same Body, shall receive the same Sentence, and feel the same, or rather worse Punishments. O how will this vex and perplex, proud Hypocrites! that have thought themselves, for many Years, to be Members of God's Family; and that they have had much acquaintance and long converse with Christ, to hear him to reject them as utter Strangers to him, and that he never knew them? O, what a wounding and killing Word will this be to them? Surely Strangers shall not dwell with God, or inherit with his Children; they that have served Sin in God's House, John 8.34, 35. will be discovered and cast out. God that saith, Ye are not my people, and I will not be your God, Hos. 1.9. doth also threaten, Hos. 9.3. They shall not dwell in the Lord's land. The Lord's Land is for the Lord's People: If those that were not the Lord's People should not dwell in the Lord's Land, that was but an Earthly Canaan, much less shall they dwell in the Lord's Land, that is a Heavenly Country and Canaan.  
4thly, They that be gathered out of Christ's Kingdom shall be deprived of the best Good, of True Happiness; they shalt not taste of Christ's Supper, they shall not sit in his Throne; they shall not feast at his Table, in his Kingdom, or partake of his Glory. To have no part with Christ, John 13.8. is threatened as the worst and greatest Evil; And not to taste of his Supper, Luk. 14.24. On the other hand, To see Christ's Glory. John 17.24. to sit with him in his Throne, Revel. 3.24. to sit with him at his Table, and to eat and drink with him in his Kingdom, Luk. 22.30. is promised as the chiefest and best Good. But ye workers of iniquity, O what will ye do in the Solemn and Great Day, and in the day of the Feast of the Lord! Hos. 9.5. Your present Pleasures and Delights will cease, your Banquet will end and be removed, Amos 5.7. you will Famish. And when others feast, you will be slain with Thirst, Hos. 2.3. When others shall drink of the River of God's Pleasures, Psal. 36.8. yea drink abundantly at the Fountain of Life. You will roar and howl, when others shall sing and rejoice. Job complains, Job 9.25. That his Days did slay away, they saw no Good: But workers of iniquity will more dreadfully and dolefully complain, That Millions of Years do pass over them, yet in them all they see not Good.  
5thly, Those that are gathered out of Christ's Kingdom, are without hope of ever returning to it, or being let in, and received into it for ever, Luk. 13.25. When once the Master of the House is risen up, and hath shut the Door, he will never rise up again to open it; than it will be too late to knock, or plead for Admission; the Bridegroom hath done Wooing; the great Shepherd will call no more; the gracious Physician will practise no more; the Ladder which joins Heaven and Earth together will be drawn up, and all Treaties of Peace will be at an end: As when God did shut the Door of the Ark, Gen. 7.16. Noah was included, and his Family, and all the rest of the World were excluded, though they did cry never so bitterly, groan never so deeply, plead never so earnestly, yet, they could not be admitted, they could not be received; the time of God's Patience was at an end, and the Day of his Wrath and Vengeance was come. So Christ will not be entreated, will not relent; as Sinners hardened their Hearts in time, so Christ will harden his Heart to Eternity; as they had no love for Christ, so he hath no Bowels to yearn towards them, no Bosom to receive them: Their Condition was once hopeful, but now it is desperate, Isa. 5.2. The Hands of Christ were once stretched out, Prov. 1.24. to allure and receive them; but now the Arms of Christ will be stretched out to punish them: They did their own and Satan's Will in time, and they must now suffer God's Will to Eternity: They were once invited, and importuned earnestly to come into his Kingdom; but then they shall be violently thrust out of it, and everlastingly debarred from it. There is a vast difference between these two Expressions, Luke 14.23. Compel them to come us and that in Luke 13.28. And you yourselves thrust out. They that have wearied the Patience, and slighted the Grace of God, shall be eternally cut off from seeing of him, and conversing with him. Mercy will issue in Severity, and Patience will end undeterminate in Fury.  
6. Those that are gathered out of Christ's Kingdom, shall behold the Happiness, Feast, and Glory of the Saints of God, and gnash their Teeth for envy and rage, seeing what others enjoy, and they themselves are deprived of, Luke 13.28. There shall be weeping, and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. This shall heighten the Saint's Felicity, to see the Misery and Torments of the Damned. Isaiah 66.24. They shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their Fire be quenched: thus Esau, and other Reprobates shall eternally serve Jac●b, and the other Elect, the misery of the Damned, shall cause them more to admire the Mercy extended to them: their weep and howl shall heighten Saints Songs, Praises and Thanksgivings, Psal. 58.10. The righteous shall rejoice when he seethe the vengeance: so on the other hand, this shall increase and heighten the Misery of the Workers of Iniquity, that they shall see the Feast, the Honour, the Glory of the Saints, that they are deprived of, 2 Kings, 7.1, 2. Elisha prophesieth of a sudden plenty the very next day in Samaria, where they had been under a long and grievous Famine: A Lord in Samaria would not believe it, the Prophet tells him, that yet he should see it, but should not eat thereof: So Sinners now will not believe what Rest, what Honour, what a Feast Saints shall enjoy, when they sit down with Abraham, jaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of God, Matth. 8.11. but yet they shall one day see it, but shall not share in it, nor partake of it. O how will their Hearts fret and rage, to see those that they have so much despised, hated, and abhorred, to sit in the Throne, when they shall be made Footstools; to enjoy the greatest Plenty, when they shall lie under eternal Penury, and want of all Good.  
7. This may affright and terrify the Workers of Iniquity, that they, as vile and worthless Creatures shall be cast away, Matth. 13.48. the bad Fish shall be cast away as those that God hath no esteem of, Love to, o● Delight in; they have cast away the Law of the Lord, Isa. 5.24. and now they themselves shall be cast away; they would not put away the Lusts of their Hearts, the Evil of their Do, and now therefore they must be put away as Dross, Psal. 119.119. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the Ea●● as Dross: But this is not all; the Tares shall be cast into a Furnace of unquenchable Fire, Matth. 13.12. It is honourable to be Trees for Fruit, but it is disgraceful and reproachful to be Trees for Fuel; Hay serves for Food to , but Tares do serve only to heat the Oven, and to burn in the Furnace. O how dreadful is this for to be cast into a Furnace heated by the Anger and Fury of God? Can we imagine how terrible that Fire is, which is kindled by incensed Justice, and blown up by the Breath of an angry God? a Fire that will indeed devour all that is pleasant, and coniume all that is sweet and grateful in Life, yet leave still a Being to feel Misery, and endure Eternal Torments. We should be amazed to see a Wisp of Straw, a Bundle of Tares to hold out one day, and not be consumed; but this is a great Miracle of the Power of God, to uphold and preserve Sinners to be an eternal Mark for God to shoot at, an eternal Footstool for him to tread on: Eternal Vessels for him to drop his Wrath, and pour out his Fury into: The Evil of Sin, doth not consume, is not expiated by all the Torments of the workers of iniquity; and so their Misery cannot abate, their Punishments cannot lessen, nor the Fire go out: they suffer from God and hate him; they endure Blows and Wounds from him, and blaspheme him for them: they Rebelled against God, they suffered Sin and Satan to Rule in them, and now full sore against their Wills, God will Reign over them with an outstretched Arm, and Fury poured out, Ezek. 20.33. they would not come under Christ's Pastoral Rod, Ezek 20.37. but they must be forced to fall under Christ's Iron Rod, Psal. 2.9. their Sin did grieve God, and God's Sentence, and the Execution of it will eternally sting, and vex them. Oh, it is dreadful for Sinners to be preserved in being, for their hurt; to have an immortal Existence, that they may feel an immortal Punishment, Misery and Torment! If Christ that was a green Tree, Luke 23.31. that was full of the vital Sap of Holiness and Righteousness, and did continually abound in spiritual Fruit, had yet such a Fire of Wrath burning against him, and kindled on him, when as Evil Fruits were only hanged on him by imputation, but did never grow in, or on him, what must dry Trees expect that are destitute of the Life of God, and did never bear Fruit to Christ, what an everlasting Furnace, what an Eternal Fire will be their Portion? Christ could pass the Cup from him by his drinking of it, Mat. 26.42. but workers of iniquity shall drink of the Cup of God's Fury, yet it shall never pass from them, but stay at their Lips, and be sucked and soak into their Souls.  
2. Use. I would now put you on the Search, Trial, and Examination of yourselves: Are you truly Members of, and sincere Subjects in this Kingdom of God? Are you such as shall stay in the Kingdom of God, or such as shall be gathered out of it? There is a great deal of difference between treading in God's Courts, Isaiah 1.12. and growing in God's House, or being planted and flourishing in God's Courts, Psal. 92.13. those that only tread in God's Courts, may not stay in his House, John 8.35. but may be driven out of it. Hos. 9.15. I will drive them out of my house; I will love them no more: but those that are planted by God, and are green Olive-Trees in the House of God, they shall never whither, or be rooted up, Psal. 52.8. they trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever, and mercy will follow them all their days, Psal. 23.6. and mercy will be built up for ever, Psal. 89.2. It is worth the while to inquire what we are, and whose we are, that we may not flatter and deceive our own Souls. In a Family there are Sons and Servants John 4.35. in a Great House there are Vessels of Gold and Silver, and Vessels of Wood and Earth: in great Cities, as in Rome of old, they did distinguish the Inhabitants into two sorts, the Advenae, or Strangers; the Cives, or Citizens that were born and bred there. O consider, Are you Titular or Real? Are you Transient or Abiding Subjects in Christ's Kingdom? Are ye rescued and delivered from the adverse Prince, and contrary Kingdom? Men are born under the Law of Sin, Rom. 8.2. and under the power of Satan, Acts 26.18. the God of this World is their Father, John 8.44. the Prince of this World is their King. Oh therefore ask this serious Question, Is the Prince of the World cast out of your Hearts? John 12.31. now shall the Prince of the World be cast out: And are you plucked out of his Paw, rescued out of his. Kingdom,? Col. 1.13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: the Father hath by a strong hand, by a mighty arm plucked, and snatched his Redeemed from the Power of Darkness: Ignorance and Sin are Darknesses, and Satan is the Power and Prince of Darkness; he rules Men by their Ignorance and Lusts; and therefore he is styled the ruler of the darkness of this world, Ephes. 6.12. Ignorance and Sin have a strange Power over Souls, as if they were rightful and lawful Powers, and Satan's Kingdom is grounded and built on them: Sinners know not what they do, whither they go, whom they serve; and hence it is they do so readily and willingly yield themselves to obey the Commands of these Enemies, that hoodwink them, and hurry them on to Destruction: Are your Eyes opened? Are Satan's Snares and Sin's Bonds broken? Are you turned from darkness to light; from the power of Satan to God, Acts 26.18. are you made free from the law of sin and death? Rom. 8.2. darkness did chain the Egyptians in their Places, that they did not remove, or go about, Exod. 10.22, 23. but when the Light returned, than they were set at Liberty to walk about, and work: so have you known the Truth of Christ, and been made free by it, John 8.32. Is the Veil of Ignorance drawn off from your Minds? And are the Chains of Lust fallen off from your Wills? A Veil is a Restraint and Bondage on the Eye. Those that do not see the Evil of Sin, will not fly from it; they that behold not the Excellency of the Kingdom of God will not press into it.  
2ly, Are you translated into the Kingdom of Christ? Col. 1.14. We are born in Satan's Kingdom as our Country and Natural Soil; but by Grace we are led forth as a Colony into the Kingdom of Christ, which is, to a natural Man, a strange Land, and a new Soil. But how are Men translated into the Kingdom of Christ? surely it is by effectual Calling, and Regeneration. We are called as rational Creatures, and we are regenerated, as corrupt and impotent Creatures. God is said to call us to his Kingdom and Glory, 1 Thes. 2.12. Except a Man be born again, he cannot see, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, John 3.3.5. He cannot see, or understand that there is such a Kingdom, or be willing to enter into it, or be fitted to enjoy the Benefits and Blessings of it: As Children must be born to be the Subjects of Earthly Kings; so Men must be reborn to be the Subjects of the Heavenly King. This is for the Honour and Glory of Christ's Kingdom, that none can pass into it, but by Regeneration: Those that are the genuine, and true Citizens of Zion, and Members of the Church, are said to be born there, Ps. 87.4, 6. Those that God writes up as Citizens of Zion, are such as are born there. God's Register, and the Church's Roll, or Catalogue, do many times much differ. The Church owns those for her Children, that God doth not acknowledge for his Sons and Daughters: The Church takes in those that God will turn out: God will repute none his Jewels, call none his own, but they that are born again of his Word and Spirit, Mal. 3.17. 1 Pet. 1.23. John 3.6. And indeed, How can Men possibly be Subjects in God's Kingdom, except they have spiritual Minds, converted Wills, heavenly Affections? A vain Mind, a carnal Heart will only flatter and lie to Christ, Matth. 3.2. Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand: Men cannot be Subjects in, or Heirs of the Kingdom of God, without Faith and Repentance. The good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom, Matth. 13.35. Those that receive the Word, are begotten by the Word of Truth, John 1.18. that have it rooted in their Souls, spreading and prevailing in their Hearts, these are good Seed: Jesus Christ doth not only sow Doctrinal Truths, but living Christians: He begets Sons and Daughters to God; by the Word they are changed by, and born of the Word, and so are called Seed. That Word is styled the Good Word, Heb. 6.5. and they that are born of it, are therefore called Good Seed. Divine Chrysostom, a Grecian Orator, in one of his Orations, derides the Folly of the Grecians, that did call that one Man's Statue, which was carved to resemble, and set up to the Honour of another. There was no new carving of, or alteration in the Statue, but only the Title of it was changed. And do Men so easily pass out of the Kingdom of Satan, into the Kingdom of Christ, only by the changing of a Name? No, there must be another kind of Alteration: There must not only be a new Name, but a new Heart, a new Nature, Ezek. 36.26. 2 Pet. 1.4. O descend into your Hearts! What Experience have you of the Work of the Spirit, in dethroning Satan, and inthroning Christ in your Hearts; destroying the Kingdom of Sin, and exalting the Kingdom of God. Consult your own Souls about this: Can you be totally ignorant of it, if such a change hath been made in you? Doth not every one take notice of public Revolutions in Government, if one Prince die, or be deposed, and another succeed, and be set up in his Place? And hath there been so great a spiritual Revolution in thy Soul, hath Satan been cast out, and hath Christ entered to dwell and rule in thy Heart, and hast thou no knowledge of it? Hast thou no experience of a new light set up in thy Mind? a new Byass put upon thy Will? new Motions raised in thy Affections towards spiritual and supernatural Objects?  
3dly, Are the Laws of this Holy King, and of this Heavenly Kingdom writ in thy Heart? according to that promise of the new Covenant, Jer. 31.33. I will write my laws in their hearts, and put them into their inner parts. This is the Glory of Christ, that he writes his Laws in the Table of the Mind and Will, 2 Cor. 3.3. His Subjects not only know, but love and ask his Laws. Their Obedience to them is not forced or feigned; but they obey from the Heart. Rom. 6.17. They delight in the Law of God according to the inward Man, Rom. 7.22. God's Subjects are thus described, That the Law of God is in their Hearts. It is not an urging Letter without, but a vital Principle within: Psal. 37.31. The law of his God is in his heart: and Isa. 51.7. Harken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the People in whose heart is my law. Christ plants such Dispositions, such Inclinations as are suitable and agreeable to the Law of God, and may be styled a counter p●●t of it, and do answer to it: Psal. 119.112. I have inclined my heart to perform thy Statutes always, even to the end. This is a writing that doth exact and ennoble the Table, th●● is, the Subject of it: And this is an high Act of Grace, when God doth not only write his Laws to us, but in us. Do you approve, allow, delight in the Laws of God▪ Do your Souls break for the Long ye have to, and after them? that they might be more revealed to you, and impressed on you. Psal. 119.20.  
4thly, Are you led by the Spirit of the King? Rom. 8.9, 14. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, are the Se●● of God. This is a wonderful and a great Mystery, that the Spirit of the King is in his Subjects, and they all make but one mystical Body; and the Spirit is as the Soul that animates this Body. Were ever King and Subjects so nearly linked, united, related to each other? Christ is not only a politic Head that gives Laws, but as a natural Head that giveth Life. The Spirit that influenced Christ, acts them; the Spirit that resides in Christ, dwells also in them. The People of Christ must needs therefore be a free and willing People. Do not the Members of the natural Body, without Regret or Reluctancy, obey the Dictates of the Head? How powerful, yet how easy and sweet is the Government of the Head over the Members? Christ's Spirit doth not only teach and direct, but powerfully bend and incline the Will to walk, yea to run in the way of God's Commandments, Psal. 119.32. Saints do not desire the way to Heaven to be made broader, but their Hearts to be made larger; to have their light and love increased. The Spirit is styled, A Spirit of Revelation, Ephes. 1.17. A Spirit of Life, Rom 8.2. A Free Spirit, Psal. 51.12. A Spirit that makes us free and forward in our Obedience. We are not only restrained from Sin by an outward Prohibition, but we hate it; our Nature is averse from it, and abhors it. We are not merely constrained by an imperious and urgent Command, enforced with terrible Threaten, but sweetly and powerfully inclined by an inward Disposition and vital Principle. Do you love your Heavenly Master, and would not go free from him, but be more subjected to him? when others do break the Yoke of God, and do burst his Bonds, Psal. 2.3. Jer. 5.5. Do you put your Necks into Christ's Yoke? Matth. 11.29. and bend yourselves with his Laws, as pleasant, light, and ornamental Chains? Isa. 45.14. They shall come after thee in Chains. Kings and Nobles are willingly bound with these Chains, Psal. 149.8. As the desire of Israel was to Saul, and to have him to rule over the●, 1 Sam. 9.20. so the Nations did run to Christ, Isa. 55.5. and desire him to rule over them, Isa. 11.10. The Gentiles are said to seek to him: And also the converted Jews Hos. 3.5. should seek to him, as a King, that he might give Law to them, and rule over them. Christ's Kingdom is not forced and obtruded on his People, but voluntarily chosen, and freely submitted to.  
5thly, Examine how are your Hearts and Lives ordered: 1. How are your Minds, Wills, Affections ordered, Isa. 9.7. Jesus sits on a spiritual Throne to order it: The Soul is Christ's Throne, and till he sits and rules in it, all is disorderly. The Thoughts are ●ain, the Will rebellious, the Assections vile and inordinate, as at first the Water overwhelmed and covered all, Gen. 1.2. till God said, Let the waters be gathered into one place, Gen. 1.9. and then dry land appeared; and a Place was prepared for men's Habitation● So while there is nothing but a spiritual Chaos, Self-love, as a Sea, covers all, swallows up all true Love to God, and Man: But when God, by his Grace, doth gather the Affections into their proper Channels, and unto their right Objects: When God bounds, banks, and limits them, then dry Land, in a spiritual sense, appears for God's Habitation in the Soul; then room and place is made for him. Are your Hearts directed into the Love of God? 2 Thes. 8.5. And are you taught of God to love your Brethren? 1 Thes. 4.9. Then Self love is ordered, and is confined within its due and proper Bounds.  
2. Are your Conversations ordered aright? Do you set God's Laws before you, Psalm 119.30. as the Rule of your Hearts, Words, Actions? Is it your true and greatest design to please God, 1 Thes. 4.1. and to be accepted with him? 2 Cor. 5.9. When Christ comes into the Soul, he Judges, Isa. 2.4. he Reproves, Isa. 11.3. Jesus Christ censures what is contrary and displeasing to God: He rebukes men's Lusts; he puts a new Bias on the Will, and inclines the Soul to a new way and walk, Jer. 3.17. They shall call Jerusalem (that is, the Church; that 〈◊〉, Spiritual Jerusalem) the Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: they shall walk no more after the Imaginations of their evil hearts. But they that walk in the light of the Lord, Isa. 2.5. and in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of his holy Spirit, Acts 9.31. If thou dost still walk in thy own Counsels, and in the Lusts of thine own Heart, Psal. 51.12. and in the common way of the World, Isa. 8.11. and, as other Gentiles do, in the Vanity of thy Mind, Ephes. 4.17. besure thou hast had no Experience of the Kingdom of Christ come into, and set up in thy Heart: If thy Heart be cast into a new Mould, Rom. 6.7. and brought under a new Lord and Law, thy Soul must needs stee●● new course. As Heaven and Hell do vastly differ, so do the narrow and broad way exceedingly differ, that lead to a blessed, and miserable Eternity: You reproach and disgrace the Kingdom of Christ, if your Hearts are not leavened with Faith and Love, and if your Conversations are not ordered better than others. Christ's Sheep come and go at the Direction and Command of the great Shepherd; but others, out of Christ's Kingdom, are as wild Beasts that run to and fro, move here and there at their own Pleasure; they are turned up and down by the dictates of a vain Mind, and wicked Will: but yet if you are Christ's true Subjects, you will not be brought under the power of tempting Objects without, or reigning Lusts within, 1 Cor. 6.12.  
3. Use, Shall the workers of iniquity be gathered out of Christ's Kingdom, than I would Exhort you sincerely to subject yourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, as your King. Let not your Lips slatter, and your Tongue lie to Jesus Christ; but indeed take Christ's Yoke, come under his pastoral Rod, enter into his Fold, and into the Bond of the Covenant, Matth. 11.29. Ezek. 20.37. John 10.9.  
1. Consider, Jesus Christ is not  of, or sets a value on, neither is he pleased and delighted with empty Names and Titles: Matth. 7.21. It is not every one that saith Lord, Lord, that shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ will not own, approve, admit such in the Great Day; a form of Godliness will yield but a vain Image of Happiness. Would an earthly King be satisfied, if Rebels did call him their Lord, and would receive his Picture into their City, but did shut out his Person? And will the King of Glory be appeased and quieted with a Picture of Piety, or with a cold and dead form of Religion? We are bid not only to give the Hand to the Lord, 2 Chron. 30.8. (so it is in the Original, and so in the Margin, with allusion to those that did make Bargains, and to conclude them, did strike or give their Hands to each other) but we are also required to give our Hearts to the Lord, Prov. 23.26. The Life of the natural Man is but a vain show of Life, Psal. 39.6. Surely every man walketh in a vain show: And will it advantage us to add a vain show of Religion to a vain Show of Life? Can Men make up a Sum to enrich them, by multiplying Ciphers? And Hypocrite is styled a vain Man, James 2.20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead. And the formal Prayers of Hypocrites are called Vanity, Job. 35.12, 13. Men cry, but none giveth answer. But why are Prayers this fruitless and ineffectual? the next Words toll us the Cause: Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. Both natural and instituted Worship is to be a Wine-press, Matth. 21.33. and so to squeeze and draw out the Juice and Quintessence of Grace that is in the Soul, else Christ will not regard Lip-labour, and bodily Service. The Heart is Christ's House and Throne; the Mind and Will are the Tables he writes his Laws in, 2 Cor. 3.3. He requires the best Room, the Guest Chamber: It is an Affront, and an Indignity to Christ, to be thrust into the Stable again, or to be entertained only in an out Room. Will a Master reward a Servant, that only wears his Livery, but doth not his Work.  
2dly, Jesus will look into the Souls, and see through all outside Shows and Appearances, Isaiah 11.3. Jesus judgeth not according to the sight of his eyes, nor reproveth according to the hearing of his ears. Jesus Christ doth not stop, or stay on the surface and outside of things, neither doth he receive Intelligence and Information from others that may be mistaken themselves, and so might deceive and abuse him, but he hath a Window into the Breasts and Bosoms of Sinners, he searcheth the Hearts, he trieth the Reins, he weigheth the Spirits of Men, he detects inward Poverty, Emptiness and Filth, Matt. 12.44. he finds it out, if the House be empty of Grace, and destitute of the Spirit, at best but swept from grosser Sins and Crimes, and garnished with Morality, and a Form of Godliness; but rather it was swept and garnished, and fitted for the return of the unclean Spirit into it, Matt. 12.45. Christ discerned the House of the Soul to be swept from all spiritual Good, and garnished in Satan's Eye with ungodliness and unrighteousness. Christ will discover those that make a fair Show of Religion; that have a Name to live, that yet they are really dead, Rev. 3.1. he looks through the beautiful Sepulchre and Tomb, and seethe the Filth and Rettenness of a carnal and dead Heart underneath. The Jews did account that Men were defiled by touching or walking over a Grave; and therefore when a Grave was sunk, and did not appear, Luke 11.44. they used to go forth in the Day before their Festivals, and cast Lime, or Chalk on them, and so by whiting the ground, to give notice of a Grave, that Persons might not come near it, and be polluted by it. A Learned Man doth think that Jesus Christ alludes to this Custom, when he calls the Hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees graves that did not appear; but he by his Reprooss and Discoveries of them, did white them, that so Persons might know them, beware, and take heed of them. There is not the closest Hypocrite in the World, but Christ can find him out, and white him, Isaiah 11.3. Christ is of quick understanding, or of quick scent and smell, (as it is in the Hebrew) in, and about the Fear of the Lord, he doth wind he doth scent Hypocrisy, though it be veiled and cloaked over with a beautiful Show of Religion and Righteousness. If you are Hypocrites, and think to blind Christ's Eyes with a specious Form of Godliness without the Power of it, you are guilty of a kinded Blasphemy. If you think that Christ may be cozened with your Cased Pieces, and doth not know your counterfeit and brass Money, Rev. 2.9. I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not, 〈◊〉 are the Synagogue of Satan. It is no less than Blasphemy for thee so to think to put a Fallacy and Cheat on Christ, who knoweth all the hidden things, and will bring to light all the deep Counsels of it, 1 Cor. 4.5. he will lay open all the secret Lusts, all the corrupt and base Ends that insluenced and swayed Men under a Profession of Religion and the practice of some outward Duties.  
3dly, Men may call Christ Lord, and yet repeat, and act over all the Indignities that were offered to Christ by the unbelieving Jews, that were his Enemies; they Crowned Christ, but it was with Thorns; they put a Sceptre into his hand, but it was a Reed; they saluted him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews; but all this was but in mockery and derision, for they smote Christ on the head, Matt. 27.29, 30. and are not many nominal and outside Christians guilty of the same things in a Mystery, their hearing some Sermons now and then, with a wand'ring and roving Mind, with a drowsy Ear; their repeating some Forms of Prayer in a cold and heartless manner, without Understanding, or Faith, without inward Groans, spiritual Wrestle and Importunities; their owning some Doctrinal Points of Religion, and practising some just things as to the Matter of them, is the Reed they put into Christ's Hand; some outward Acknowledgements they make of his Lordship and Dominion over them, but in the mean time they Crown Christ with Thorns, by their Oaths, Curses and Lies; they smite Christ by their Drunkenness, their Uncleanness, their scorning at Godliness, their Reproaching them that will not profane the Lord's. Day as they do, and will not neglect God's Worship in their Families as they do, and will not run with them to the same Excess of Riot, drink in Iniquity, and roll in Filth and Uncleanness as they do; they take no care to engage their Hearts to Christ, to keep them with all diligence, to watch over their Tongues, to order their Conversations aright, and spend their Time well. As the Jews were incensed against Christ, Isaiaha●. 24. they pretended he did forbid to pay Tribute to Caesar, and would justle him out of his Throne: when as the true Cause of their Controversy with, and Enmity against Christ was, that he would thrust Satan out of his Throne, and did forbid Sinners to pay Tribute to their Lusts: So Men now are enraged against Christ for the same Reason, because his Holy Will crosses their cornat wills, his Commands clash with their Lus●, and he restrains them from the Pleasures of Sin that are so sweet to them, and calls theat to Purity and Strictness in Religion, which is so bitter and unpleasing to them. Will Christ accept of Honour in Words, when it is joined with Reproach in Deeds? Witted verbal Friendship be regarded, when accompanied with real Enmity? Will Christ repute those his Subjects, that serve his Enemies, and gratify Satan and their own Lusts? Shall pretended Obedience bring Men unto Heaven, and real Disobedience not throw them to Hell? Shall a Lie ingratiate Men with God, and true Impiety not render them odious to God?  
4thly, Consider Jesus Christ will set up his Kingdom in the World, and at last Rule over you, whether you will or no: As none can hinder the rising of the Sun, or obstruct the blowing of the Wind; so all the opposition, and rage of the World shall not hinder the rising of the Son of Righteousness Mal. 4.2. and of the Glory of the Lord, Isa. 60.1. nor obstruct the blowing of the Wind of the Spirit, Acts 2.2. This mighty rushing Wind filled the World with the Doctrine of Christ, as that Wind at Pentecost filled the House where the Apostles of Christ were sitting. Though Kings, and the great Men of the World, did join their Counsels, and unite their Strength and Force to keep down Christ's Kingdom, and to suppress the beginnings of it, yet he that sat in the Heavens did laugh at all their Policy and Power, and had all their Attempts and Endeavours in derision, and did prevail, notwithstanding all their Malice, to set his King on his Holy Hill of Zion, Psal. 2.4, 5, 6. And Christ did reign over his Enemies full fore against their Wills. They designed and endeavoured to break Christ's Bands in sunder; but Christ did break them with his Rod of Iron, and dash them to pieces as a Potter's Vessel, Psalm 2.9. The Jews persecuted Christ's Apostles and Servants, and sent many of them to Heaven on this Message and Errand, to tell Christ how the Jews are bend against his Kingdom, and would not have Christ to reign over them, Luke 19.14. yet Jesus Christ did gather, subdue, and convert many of their Nation to be his Subjects; and as for the Body of the People that continued in their Unbelief and Disobedience, this Glorious King sent forth his Armies, that is, the Romans, and destroyed them, and bunt up their City, Mat. 22.7. And at the last Day, he will severely sentence and punish the Rebellious: Luke 19.27. As for these mine enemies that would not have me to rule over them, bring them before me, and let them be slain in my presence. Though they do not allow Christ a Throne in their Souls, yet Christ will erect his Tribunal, and sit 〈◊〉 Judgement on all that oppose and stand o●● against him. Where Grace doth not reign, Justice will reign: If Christ doth not coedemn and execute Sin in us, he will condem● and execute us: Either Satan's Works and Lusts must be crushed and destroyed in us, or we must be cut off, and perish for ever. Those that Christ doth not prune, he will fallen; those that he is not a refining Fire to, he will be a consuming Fire; if the Old Man be not pierced and wounded by Christ's Arrows, the Souls of Men must be Christ's Mark, and feel the edge and point of his glittering Sword. If Christ doth not rule to save Men, he will rule to destroy them. The Civil Law mentions some Malefactors that are called 
* Vid. Paciamin: 1 Lib. institut. Tit. 12. Sect. 6.  Servi Poenae, such as were condemned to row at the Oar, or to dig in the Mines; because they did not obey the Law, and live honestly, they were subjected to hard Service, and did live miserably: So those that are not Subjects to Christ, as a King, shall be Servants of Punishment; they shall serve the Glory of God's Power and Justice, in their eternal Misery and Sufferings.  
5thly, Consider the Nature and Advantages of the Kingdom of Christ. There are sweet Fruits of the Kingdom of Grace, and there are enriching Benefits of the Kingdom of Glory. It was prophesied of Christ, as a King, That Men should be blessed in him, and Nations should call him Blessed. What a Glory is this to Jesus Christ, that Men are blessed, and shall bless themselves in this King, that ever they were conquered by the Sword of his Word, that ever they were brought under the Sceptre of his Grace: They shall rejoice that ever they were bound with the Cords of his Doctrine, and Laws, and subjected to the Yoke of his Government. They call their King Blessed, that is raised above the reach and rage of all his Enemies, and is now victorious and triumphant over them; that reigns so righteously, so peaceably, so prosperously; that dethrones' Sin and Satan, and inthrones God in the Souls of Men; that preserves his People from sinking into an extremity of Misery, and exalts them to possess an eternal Felicity. They call him Blessed, that hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him, and that hath the Key of Hell and Death, Matth. 28.18. Rev. 1.18. that hath such an unbounded Empirt, and so large, and such an extensive Kingdom; hath power over all Flesh, that he might give eternal Life to as many as the Father hath given him, John 17.2. and is made Head over all things to the Church, Ephes. 1.22. that nothing may hinder the Salvation, or obstruct the Happiness, but all things may promote the Good and Welfare of the Church.  
1st. Consider who Jesus Christ is: He 〈◊〉 God's Righteous Servant, Isa. 53.11. and he Wellbeloved Son, Matth. 3.17. Is it not better to be in the Kingdom of God's Righteous Servant, than to be under the power of a wicked, hardened, obstinate Rebel? Is it not more  to be translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son, Col. 1.13. than to be at the beck and command of God's bitter Enemy, and implacable Adversary? Christ, the Son of God by nature, grants the Privilege of Adoption to all his Subjects, John 1.12. This is such a Mercy, as no Son of an earthly King vouchsafes to his Subjects.  
2dly, Jesus Christ reigns to do Right to God, and to establish his Throne in the Souls of Men. He was designed to raise up those that fell off from God, and sunk into Ruin, Isa. 49.6. Christ is God's Servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob, and to bring back those that were gone astray from God, Isa. 49.5. and to restore such as were alienated from God, Isa. 49.6. Christ retrieves, recovers God's Right; he establishes his own Throne by Justice and Judgement, Isaiah 9.7. and he is said to execute Justice and Judgement in the Earth, Jer. 23.5. Christ executes Justice, in restoring and giving back to God that which is his own: and he executes Judgement in destroying Satan's Works and Lusts, 1 John 3.8. in mortisying the vile Affections of Sinners. This was one great Benefit of the Jubilee, that the Servant returned to his Family, Levit. 25.10. He that was alienated from his Father, and served Strangers, now returned to do his Duty, and rendered Obedience to his Parents: Even so Jesus Christ restores Men to God's Family, and grants unto them, as a great Favour and Privilege, that they may serve him without slavish Fear of Destruction, in Holiness and Righteousness all the Days of their Lives, Luke 1.74, 75. Yea Christ restores the Creatures unto God: The Subjects of Christ use them purely; they did not feed and fuel their Lusts with them, but receive them with thanksgiving, as their Father's Goods, and Gifts, and use them to strengthen and support them in the Lord's Work and Service. It is a great perverting, abusing, enslaving the Creatures, when they victual Satan's Garrisons, and feed his Soldiers: But then the Creatures are rescued from Bondage, when they nourish God's Priests, and feed his Worshippers.  
3dly, Those that are in Christ's Kingdom are nearly related to him, and to each other.  
1. They are nearly related to Christ: They are his Seed and Children, Isa. 53.10. He shall see his seed.— Behold, I and the Children, whom God hath given me, Isa. 8.18. Jesus, as a second Adam, as an everlasting Father, begets them, Isa. 9.6. He is made Sanctification to them, 1 Cor. 1.30. They receive of his fullness, Grace for Grace, J●●s 1.16. They are Christ's Brethren, Psal. 22.22. I will declare thy name unto my brethren He is not ashamed to call them Brethren, Hebr. 2.11. They are the Lamb's Wife, Rev. 19.7. They are the Members of Christ, Ephes. 5.30. We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bone. As Eve was taken out of Adam, as to her human Nature, so we are taken out of Christ, as to our new and divine Nature. Water and Blood came out of Christ's Side, John 19.34. The Blood of Christ is the meritorious Cause of our new State of Justification, and the Water signified the Spirit that gives a new Nature in Sanctification. And how Honourable is it for Subjects to be so nearly related to the King of Glory? And how sweet, easy, and gentle, is Christ's Government over his Children, over his Brethren, over his Spouse and Members? Surely Christ will not carry a hard, a heavy, a rigorous Hand over those that are so near and dear to him: He shall spare the poor and needy, Psal. 72.13. And, as a Shepherd, shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young, Isa. 40.11. Was there ever such an Honour put on a Flock, as that they should be Members, and Brethren, and Children of the Shepherd.  
2. Christ's Subjects are nearly related to each other; and this is a most sweet Truth, as well as a great Mystery: They are not only Fellow-Servants in the same House, and Fellow-Citizens in the same City of God; but they are Brethren in the same Family, and Members of the same Body, and animated, or influenced, and acted by the same Spirit, and therefore have the greatest Obligations laid on them to love each other, to seek one another's Good, and promote one another's Welfare. Shall Brethren clash with one another, or Members fight against each other? He that for Christ's sake is hated of his Father, Mother, Brethren, Sisters, he doth, by virtue of his Interest and Union with Christ, recover a hundred fold more Kindred and Relations: Elder Christians are as his Fathers and Mothers, younger Christians are his Brothers and Sisters, Mark 10.29, 30. yea as his Children to serve and cherish him. O what a blessed Kingdom is this! when the Subjects are so endeared to each other, that they have not only sold their Lands to relieve their spiritual Brethren, Acts 2.4, 5. Acts 4.34. but have also jeoparded, and hazarded their Lives, to preserve the Lives of their Holy Kindred, Rom. 16.3, 4. Aquilla and Priscilla laid down their Necks, exposed themselves to the greatest Dangers, to preserve the Life of Paul: Rahab ventured her own Life, to preserve the Spies that were the People of God, Joshua 2.15.  
4thly, If we consider the great Benefits that we receive from Christ's Kingdom.  
1. He heals, washes, refines, anoints, his Subjects. A Governor is called a Healer, Isa. 3.6, 7. Jesus Christ, as a King, is a Healer, a Physician to his whole Kingdom, and to all his Subjects, Matth. 9.12. Our Souls are diseased, weak, feeble, ruined; and woe be to us if this Ruin be not under Christ's Hand! Never was there such a Physician that died to provide a Remedy to recover and restore his Patients: By his Stripes we are healed, yea by his Death we live, If a King, that is but a political Head, be the Breath of his Subjects Nostrils, Lam. 4.20. much more is Christ the Breath of our Nostrils; as he is a natural Head that gives Life, and continual influences of Grace.  
2. Jesus Christ washes, John 13.8. Except I wash thee, thou hast no part with me; that is, in the eternal Inheritance in the Kingdom of Glory. None washes so powerfully as Christ; he can wash away a Backsliding, Revolting, Rebellious, Whorish Heart; he can wash away our Spiritual Leprosy, and Plague-Sores; he can wash our Aethiopian Skin, and our Leopard Spots, Jer. 13.23.  
3. Jesus Christ Refines, Mal. 3.23 and there is no such Refiner as Christ, no such refining sire as Christ's is. A Refiner, or his Fire, cannot change Iron, Brass, Tin, or Led, into Gold and Silver; but Christ, by separating our Dross from us, renders us precious, and makes us Vessels of Gold and Silver, 2 Tim. 2.20.  
4. Jesus Christ anoints his Subjects, Ezek. 16.9. And I anointed thee with Oil. This is an Allusion to the sweet-smelling Oils, that Persons were purfiied with, Esther 2.12. The Graces of Christ's Spirit are fragrant, and cause us to smell sweet in the Nostrils of God and Man. Saints are called Christians, because they partake of Christ's Ointment, 1 John 2.20, 27. You have an unction from the Holy One, that is, from Christ: As the Mediator is anointed himself, so he is styled Christ, and as we are anointed by this Anointer, so we are called Christians: And this is peculiar to Christ's Subjects, that they are all anointed, and partake even of the unction of their King. If we have not the unction of the Spirit of Christ, he will not own us to be Subjects in his Kingdom; or to be Members of his Body: Rom. 8.9. If a● man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Christ's Unction doth purify us from Sin, consecrate us to God, teach us the sublime Truths, and wonderful Mysteries of the Kingdom of God, 1 John 2.20.27. The Prophets were anointed, 1 Kings 19.16. and they, by the unction of the Holy Ghost, were Seers, 1 Sam. 9.9. They did see sarther, and know more than others. From hence I conceive the Phrase is borrowed, That the anointing teacheth us; and Christ, by anointing us, fits and exalts us to be spiritual Kings, Rev. 1.5, 6. He hath made in Kings. Saints do command and rule their own Spiri's govern their Thoughts, order and bond their Affections, kerb, restrain, and keep under their Passions; and, as of old, Wrestlers were anointed, 
* Fabius' Agonisticon.  that the Hand of the Adversary might slip off from them, and take not fast sure hold of them, to throw them; so Christ by anointing us with his Spirit, Satan is defeated, he is disappointed, he cannot fasten on us, and have Advantages against us; first to throw our Minds to the Earth, and then to cast our Souls to Hell.  
2dly, In Christ's Kingdom, we have Rest, Matth. 8.11. Many shall come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of God. Souls travel up and down, traverse the Earth to and fro, disquiet themselves in vain, and weary themselves to no purpose; they never come to sit down till they press and get into the Kingdom of God, and here is a most honourable rest to sit in the Throne with Christ, Rev. 3.21.  
3dly. In Christ's Kingdom is a Feast; but in Satan's Kigndom Souls famish, starve and perish with thirst, Luke 22.29, 30. that you eat and drink at my table, in my Kingdom. God makes a Feast in his Holy Mountain, Isa. 25.6. Saints have the first Course in this World, and so it is a Dinner, Matth. 22.4. they shall enjoy the second and third Courses in Heaven; and so it is the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb, Rev. 19.9. Did ever any Shepherd feed his Flock with his own flesh and blood? Is there any that is a Pastor, and a Pasture too? yet so is it here, John 6.53, 54, 55, 56, 57 we here eat the flesh, and drink the blood of the Son of Man in this Life; and in Heaven to all Eternity we shall feed on the delicious Fruits of Christ, the Tree of Life, Rev. 2.7.  
4thly, In Christ's Kingdom is Liberty, John 8.36. If the Son doth make you free, th●● you shall be free indeed. Christ reigns to destroy the reigning Power of Sin and Satan, to cast the Prince of this World out of his Throne and Kingdom, John 12.31. N●● shall the Prince of this World be cast out. Christ reigns to tumble down the God of this World from his Heaven, Luke 10.18. Is●● Satan falling as Lightning from Heaven Christ breaks this oppressor to pieces, Psal. 72.4▪ he bursts the Yoke of Sin, snaps in sunder the Snares of Satan, and delivers from the bondage of Corruption.  
5thly, In Christ's Kingdom is safety. This great Shepherd keeps his Sheep, and watch●● over his Flock in this Night of Time, in this Wilderness of the World, John 17. 1● While I was with them in the World, I kept the● in thy Name, and none of them is lost. Saines are said to be preserved in Christ Jesus Judas 1. Christ guards his Flock, and is a wall of fire round about them, Zech. 2.5. no Lion shall be there, nor any ravences Beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there: but the Redeemed shall walk there. Satan, that roaring Lion, shall not pray on Christ's Lambs, or Sheep; they shall be as safe, as if there were no Beasts of Prey about them; they shall lie down safely in the wilderness, and sleep securely in the woods, Ezek. 34.25. Satan shall not be there to hurt them, because their Shepherd is still with them to save them, Psal. 23.4. Thou art with me in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; I will fear no evil, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me continually. As David, when a Shepherd, did fight with a Lion and Bear, and slew them, to rescue a poor Lamb of his Flock, 1 Sam. 17.34, 35, 36. so Christ did once in his own Person encounter with, and destroy Satan, Heb. 2.15. and he doth by his Spirit and Grace in his Members, daily sight with him, and foil him, 1 John 2.14. ye are strong and have overcome the wicked one. Christ stands, feeds and keeps his Flock in the strength of the Lord, Micah 5.4. and so this one Shepherd is stronger than all the Beasts of Prey, whether they be wicked Men, or evil Spirits: as he is omniscient he understands all the difficulties and dangers of his Sheep; and as he is omnipotent, he can rescue, save, and preserve them. Tho' this great Shepherd hath a numerous Flock scattered through the World, yet he knows all his Sheep, and doth hear all their Cries and Prayers, Psal. 72.12, 14. He shall deliver the needy when he crieth: the poor also, and hi● that hath no helper. He shall redeem their S●● from deceit and violence, and precious shall they blood be in his sight. Spiritual Enemy's 〈◊〉 attempt against the People of God, by Policy or Power; yet Christ frustrates the● Adversaries in both: he redeems the Soul's 〈◊〉 his People both from Fraud and Violence no earthly King can know every Subjects or hear the Cries and Petitions of all that are oppressed.  
5thly, Jesus Christ strengthens and ennobles his True Subjects to obey him, as Chr●●● dwells in their Hearts by Faith, Ephes. 3.17. so he strengthens his People, Phil. 4.13. 〈◊〉 can do all things through Christ that streng●●●● me. I will put my Spirit into them, and 〈◊〉 them to walk in my statutes, Ezek. 36. 2● Christ gives Influences, Aids, and Assistan●● for every Act of Obedience, because he is 〈◊〉 a Natural Head that communicates Sp●●● to his Subjects, as Members, and as a Ro●● that derives Sap to all his Branches. T●● Subjects of Earthly Kings have no such nee● of them, or dependence on them, 〈◊〉 strength to yield them Obedience. But i● was prophesied of Christ, Psal. 72.6. 〈◊〉 shall come down like rain on the mown gr●● as showers that water the Earth. This Scripture teaches us how great a Dependence Christ's Subjects have on him, and how precious a Benefit they receive by him; the ●owen Grass cannot spring and grow with●●t Rain from Heaven: so Christ's Subjects cannot spring up in Holiness, or bring forth any Fruits of Righteousness, except they have a Rain of Influences, a Shower of gracious Communication from the Lord Jesus Christ. Every Subject of Christ is a dry ground, Isa. 42.3. and needs watering from that River, yea from that Fountain of Grace that is above in Christ. We cannot take one step in the way towards a Blessed Eternity, but leaning on Christ, Cant. 8.5. the Church cometh up out of the wilderness, and travels towards the Heavenly Canaan, leaning on her beloved. Ezek. 45.17. the King there spoken of, was to provide and prepare all Sacrifices, as Burnt-Offerings, Sin-Offerings, and Thank-Offerings, for the People his Subjects. By this King I understand Christ, as he did give himself for us, a Lamb for a burnt-offering, John 1.29. as a sin-offering, 2 Cor. 5.21. so he furnishes us with Thank-Offerings, he kindles Love in our Hearts by his own Beams, he circumcises our Hearts, Col. 2.11. cuts off the filthy foreskin of sinful, inordinate Self-love, that did hinder and intercept our Love to God, and it is by virtue of our Marriage-Union with him, that we bring forth Fruits to God, Rom. 7.4. all the fruits of righteousness are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God, Phil. 1.11.  
6thly, Jesus Christ receives the Souls of 〈◊〉 Subjects at last; as he committed his ow● Soul at death, to the hands of the Father Luke 23.46. so now he hath merited and ●●tained this Honour to be the Receiver a●● Guardian of departing Souls, Acts 7. 5● Stephen called upon God, saying, Lord Je●● receive my Spirit: he called upon God, t● it was through Christ the Mediator; God would not receive, but reject, and ab●●● our Spirits, were they not joined to, 〈◊〉 accepted in, and had access to him thro●●● Christ: Oh how desirable a King is Je●● Christ, that will be a Friend to us, when 〈◊〉 forsake us, or can do nothing for our So●●s Oh what a Trust doth Jesus Christ undert●●e, to keep departed Souls till the last day, and then restore them to glorious Bodies. O●● departing Souls must fall into the hands 〈◊〉 an angry Sin-revenging God, were the● not such a gracious King in whose Hand we might deposit and trust them.  
7thly, Jesus Christ is such a King that 〈◊〉 conquer and destroy Death, 1 Cor. 15. ●● he threatens it, Hos. 13.14. O death I will 〈◊〉 thy plague: O grave I will be thy destruction here is a promise in the Verse to the Sain●s I will ransom them from the power of the gr●●● I will redeem them from death: and this promise is joined with a threatening against Dear● and the Grave. How wonderful, ho● great and mighty a King is Jesus Christ, that threatens so powerful and victorious a King as Death is! How long hath Death reigned, and how large an Empire hath it had in the World! it is said Rom. 5.14. Death reigned from Adam to Moses; yea, we may extend the duration of its Kingdom further; it hath reigned from the Fall of the first Adam to this day; and how many conquered Subjects hath it had? 1 Cor. 15.22. in Adam all died. Death is such a King as shakes its Black Rod over, and brandishes it's sharp and glittering Sword against the whole World; it hath threatened, arrested, and cut off the Greatest Kings and Conquerors; it hath been very Terrible to them that by Oppression, Violence, and Cruelty, caused their Terror in the Land of the Living, Ezek. 32.23. none of the Kings of the World can prevent the Fatal stroke of Death on themselves, much less can they divert it from their Subjects: but Christ is such a King as combats with Death, and overcomes it; he tasted Death indeed himself once, Heb. 2.9. but it was to abolish it, 2 Cor. 1.10. he became a Subject to it for a time, that he might swallow it up for ever, and be a Lord over the dead to raise them up, Rom. 14.9. and rescue them from this Enemy. And how strong, yet how sweet are these Words of Christ, I will be the plague of death; I will be a Discase, yea, a mortal Disease to kill Death itself: and, Grave, I will be thy destruction. Christ fulfils his threatening, when he seeks out the Dust of his People, and forms it up into a Body: this defeats and disannuls the Victory of the Grave, that it may be said, O Grave▪ where is thy victory? though thou didst corrupt, putrefy, and dissolve our Bodies, th●● thou didst devour our Flesh and crumble it into Dust, and take away the very shape of a Body, yet we have new Bodies form and organised again, and when these Bodies shall receive their Souls, and be quickened by them, than it may be said, O death, where is thy sting? 1 Cor. 15.55. What ha●● thou gotten by stinging and killing our Bodies? behold, they are alive again! The●e is a Day when the Lord will make up●● Jewels, Malachy 3.17. And then God's Jewels are made up, when immortal Souls shall be joined to, and set in the Rings of Glorious Bodies. Christ is such a King as will conform all his Subjects to himself, both is Soul and Body: When he regenerates the Soul, than it bears the Image of the second Adam; when he raises the Body, this is ●s proper Regeneration to be begotten, and born from the dead, as Christ was, Col. 1. 1●. Revel. 1.5. When old Adam's Tenor is out, and quite abolished; when Christ, b● his Spirit, quickens the Body, Rom. 8.11. than it bears the Image of the Heavenly Adam, and is held of him, 1 Cor. 15.49. Saints are the Children of God, as they are the Children of the Resurrection, Luke 20. ●6. This is a new Ground, and Reason, why they should be called the Children of God, the Seed of Christ. When Saints awake out of the Dust, they shall be satisfied with God's likeness, Psal. 17.15. When they are begotten again into a lively Hope, 1 Pet. 1.3, 4. they bear God's Image in their Souls; but when they shall be raised, or be begotten from the dead, than they shall also bear Christ's Image in their Bodies, and so shall be satisfied with the Image of Christ as an Everlasting Father. O what a precious Merby! What an incomparable Privilege is this! that Jesus Christ will not forget or reject our Dust for ever, but seek it out, and form it up as an Habitation for our Souls, and an everlasting Temple for his Spirit to dwell in.  
8thly, Jesus Christ is such a King, as will gather and draw up all his sincere Subjects to him, to be with him for ever, 1 Thes. 4.17. As he receives their Souls in a dying Hour, Psal. 49.15. Acts. 7.59. so he will come again to revive their Bodies, and then he will receive their whole Man to himself, John. 14.3. What wonderful Grace and Kindness is this, that where the Master is, there the Servant shall also be, John 12.20. That the Sheep shall for ever dwell with the great Shepherd, and all the Subjects of this Glorious King shall abide with him, and see his Glory, so as to share in it, and partake of it, John 17.24. 2 Thes. 2.14. Christ, the King, is the Harbinger and Forerunner of his Subjects, Hebr. 6.20. He is gone into another World to choose an Eternal Inheritance for his Brethren, Psal. 47.4. He shall choose our Inheritance for us: And Christ, by interceding with his Father, that his People may be with him, doth prepare a Place for them, John 17.24. John 14.2, 3. Christ's Intercession is so powerful, that it cannot be denied.  
I would now give you some Counsels and Directions, that you may stay and contin●e in this Kingdom, and not be gathered 〈◊〉 of it, and deprived of the Blessedness and Glory of it.  
1st. O come forth and see King Solom●●, Cant. 3.11. This King Solomon is King Jesus; he hath made him a rich and glori●● Chariot to ride forth in, and to visit Kingdoms, Nations, and People. The Gospel as preached in the World is the Spiritu●● Chariot, that Christ sits in, and the wh●● Horse he rides on, Rev. 6.2. The Church in her Ministers may be, and is compar●● to the Horses in Pharaoh's Chariot, Cant ●. 9. The Church, by her Ministers, does dr●● Jesus Christ about the World. O consider this, the Gospel is not fixed to one Nation; the Chariot of Christ is moving, and may quickly pass by us and be gone from us. It is a great Mercy, that Christ's Chariots come to us, that he appears among us. O slight not the Opportunity; neglect not the Day of Grace: Come forth from your Ignorance and Night of Darkness; come forth from your slight, low, and contemptible Thoughts of Christ: O fix the Eye of your Minds on him, look with a steady Eye on Christ, John 6.40. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, We should contemplate the Son, our Minds should dwell on him; we should not content ourselves with seldom and transient Glances on Christ, but our Thoughts should be conversant about Christ. Do we not need Christ? Is he not absolutely necessary for us? Must we not wander, if Christ doth not guide us, and fall if he doth not support us; and be a Prey to Satan, if he doth not guard and protect us? Must we not famish, if he doth not feed us; and perish, if he doth not fold us? And be Friendless and Harbourless at last, if he doth not receive us? How will you look Death, or the Judge in the Face, if you do not first see Christ, and his Salvation? O view, and look well on Christ. Is there any thing in him to be disliked, to be excepted against? Is he not altogether lovely, Cant. 5.16. Whatever is , all meets in Jesus Christ, and there is nothing in him but what is lovely; what may kindle Love, draw Hearts, captivate Souls. If you dislike any thing in Christ, if you harbour any Prejudice, cherish any Objection against him, it is because Satan hath blinded your Minds, and cast a Veil over your Hearts, 2 Cor. 4.4, 5.  
2dly, O run to Jesus Christ: Isa. 55.5. Th●● shalt call a nation thou knowest not, and people that knew not thee, shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God; because of the holy one of Israel that hath glorified thee. O will you not run to him who is the Seat of Beauty, the Fountain of Honour, the Treasury of all spiritual Riches, the Subject and Centre of Life? Will you not run to the Captain, the Author, the Wells of Salvation? Hebr. 2.10. Hebr. 5.9. Isa. 12.3. O will you not fly from Sin, Satan, and Eternal Death, by running to Christ? Is there any shadow from scorching Heat, but Christ's? Cant. 2.2. Any Wing to cover you from Birds of Prey, but his? Psal. 36.7. Any Fold to protect you from Beasts of Prey, b●● Christ's Fold? John 10.9. He that enters by me (that is into the Fold) shall be saved. 〈◊〉 Sinners can give no Reason why they wil● Dye, Ezek. 18.31. surely they can give ● Reason, why they should not run to Jes●● Christ. That Text, Isa. 55.5. affords cogent Arguments, mighty Reasons why we should run to him.  
1. God is his God: If ever we would have any comfortable Knowledge of God, any honourable Relation to God, any sweet Communion with God, we must run to Jesus Christ. God is only to be found, and enjoyed in Christ. Will you cut yourselves off? Will you estrange yourselves for ever from God? Will he not be a satisfying and an everlasting Portion, when all other Comforts fail, all other Friends forsake, all our Lamps are put out?  
2. God the Father hath glorified him: He hath exalted him. And shall we depress, debase him, and keep him still in a state of Humiliation? Hath the Father given him a Throne in Heaven; and shall we deny him one in our Hearts? Are Angels, Principalities, and Powers made subject to him, 1 Pet. 3.32. and shall we lift up ourselves against him? Do the noblest Creatures worship at his Footstool, and execute his Commands; and shall we reject his Yoke, affront his Authority, and trample his Laws under our Feet? Is Christ glorified; and will you despise and slight him? Is not a glorified Redeemer worthy of our Love, Praise, and Obedience? Shall vile and dunghill Objects draw away our Affections, and a glorified Saviour be denied our Hearts? Would we not commend our Spirits to him at last, and shall we not give our Hearts to him now, Prov. 23.26. Shall our last Act be our first Gift to Jesus Christ? Wilt thou commend thy Soul to Christ only, when thou canst keep it no longer in the Body? Is it not dreadful for a Glorified Christ with his Omnipotent Arm to fall on thee for Destruction? Is it not desirable that a Glorified Christ by his Almighty Power should draw thee up to him for Salvation?  
3. Kiss the Son, Psal. 2. last. this is a spiritual Act of Homage, 1 Sam. 10.1. Samuel did anoint and kiss Saul, thereby recognising his Authority, and obliging himself to Obedience and Subjection to him, as his Sovereign: The Promise is the Mouth of Christ, and Faith is the Mouth of the Soul, and when the Mouth of Faith is applied to the Mouth of Christ in the Promise, than we give Christ a spiritual Kiss; when Christ speaks, and offers himself, we should come in with our Amen of Faith, 2 Cor. 1.20. to the word of him who is the Amen, and the faithful witness, Rev. 3.14. our Obedience and Subjection to Christ should not be feigned, or forced, but begin in a faithful and loving Kiss to him that is Love itself, Cant. 3.5. when Christ applies his Words and Promises of Grace to us, than he kisses us with the kisses of his Mouth, Cant. 1.2. when we apply our Mouth of Faith to Christ's Word of Grace, when we sincerely declare our Assent and Consent to it, than we kiss Christ.  
4. We must press into the Kingdom of Christ, as it were force a Passage into it, and take it by violence, Luke 16.16. Matth. 11.12. we must have a Room, a Place in Christ's Kingdom, he must reign over us, or else Sin, Death, and the Devil, will reign over us: We must enter into Christ's Palace, or be shut up in his Prison: we must press into Christ's Kingdom, that we may avoid a future eternal Storm of Vengeance. Those that are hungry and famishing, will force into a place where there is Plenty of Bread. Poor necessitious Soldiers will storm, will break into a rich City with the hazard of their Lives, and shall we not be urgent to get into Christ's Kingdom, where there is a Royal Feast, a sweet Rest, unsearchable and eternal Riches? if you are not Christ's, you will be Satan's. Do you not fear to see God's frowning face, to feel his punishing hand, to drop into the bottomless Pit, to be cast into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone for ever. Be not cold or indifferent whether you get into Christs's Kingdom or no. Do not content yourselves with lose hopes, ungrounded and presumptuous Confidences, lukewarm and lazy Endeavours. It is said, the Gentiles should fall down to the Church, and make Supplication to her, that is to prevail with her, to be admitted and received by her into the Kingdom of Christ, it is further foretold, Zech. 8. last, That ten men of all Languages of the Nations should take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, and so is a True Believer and a spiritual Worshipper, and say, we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. They would not be put by, they would not be shaken or cast off, they resolved they would join themselves to the Church of God, and not be excluded, kept, or thrust out. It is said, the Gentiles should flow as waters to God's Holy Mountain, Is. 2.23. and should fly as clouds, and as doves to their windows, Isa 60.8. this expresses serious, earnest, and spiritual Violence.  
5. That you may be thus Earnest, you must desire Christ to cast chains of Light, and Love about you; to subdue, conquer, and overcome you, Isa. 45.14. it is promised that the Gentiles should come over, a●● come after the Church in Chains. Christ must fasten those Chains on, and about the Souls of Sinners, and draw them that they may run after him, Cant. 1.4. though Christ's Name be as a fragrant Ointment, Cant. 1.3. as a strong perfume, though there be a drawing Beauty, Excellency, Treasure, Love, in Christ, yet all these will not prevail without an Almighty and drawing Arm, such is out averseness and perverseness. It is prophesied of Christ, That he should subdue the People's and the Nations under the Feet of the Church, Psal. 47.3. so that they shall bow at the Feet of the Church, and worship God at her Feet as her Disciples and Children, Revel. 3.9. And we cannot be subdued to Christ, if our Iniquities are not subdued, Micah 7.19. Christ cannot rule over us, if Sin do reign in us; the Law of Christ, and the Law of Sin are contrary and inconsistent.  
6. We must openly own and avow Christ, and most strongly engage ourselves to him. 1. We must openly own, confess, and avow Christ. It is prophesied of Egypt, That there should be an Altar to the Lord in the midst of the Land, and also a Pillar at the Border, to declare to all, That Egypt was converted to, and become a Worshipper of the Lord, Isa. 19.19. Those that stood with the Lamb on Mount Zion, had their Father's Name written in their Forehead, Rev. 14.1. Cyprian saith, That when Christians were apprehended, they did not deny, but confessed themselves Christians, always to the danger, and sometimes to the loss of their Lives. 2. We must most solemnly and strongly engage ourselves to the Lord. It is said, That the Egyptians should swear to the Lord, Isa. 19.18. and so as it were take an Oath of spiritual Allegiance to Christ, Psal. 119.106. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgements. Another remarkable Expression we find, Isa. 44.5. One shall say, I am the Lord's, another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord. Converts should as it were draw Indentures, and give it under Hand and Seal, That they would be the Lord's Servants; That they would not start, recoil, or go back from him, Jer. 50.4, 5. Let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. As a bought, a redeemed People, they are devoted, and consecrated as First-fruits to God and the Lamb, never to be alienated, or put to a common use any more, Revel. 14.4.  
7. We must daily grow in Grace, and be adding new Cubits to our spiritual Stature, 2 Pet. 1.5. The new Creature must, as a Tree, spread and strike its Roots deeper into our Souls, Hos. 14.5. The Water that Christ gives us, must, as a Well, spring up higher and higher in our Souls, John 4.14. Worldly Men are still coveting more Earthly Treasure, to add House to House, and to join Field to Field, that they might be plac●● alone in the Earth, Isa. 5.8. And is the●● not more reason, that we should add Grace to Grace, one degree of Grace to another that Christ and the new Creature might be placed alone in our Souls, without Riv●'ss Competitors, or Enemies. By growth i● Grace, we pass and get farther into Christ's Kingdom, we have an abundant Entrance into it, we press even into the very Heart and Centre of Christ's Kingdom, and do not stay in the Out skirts and Borders of it. God hath promised to Christ the increase and enlargement of his Kingdom, Isa. 9.7. with Zech. 9.10. And 〈◊〉 we restrain and straiten the Kingdom of Christ? As this Stone grows and fills the Earth without, Dan. 2.35. so it should increase, and fill the Soul within. It was prophesied of Christ, That he should reign and prosper, Jer. 23.5. That he should ride forth conquering and to conquer, Revel. 6.2. Let these Prophecies be fulfilled in thee; do not stint, stop, or bound Christ's Kingdom in thy Soul.  
8. We must be diligent, active, industrious Servants: Trade with Christ's Talents, improve his Stock, increase his Pounds. Our Lord that is gone into a far Country, yet hath disposed his Goods, hath bestowed Gifts on his Servants, and enjoined every one his Work, Mark 13.34. with Luke 19.13, 15. Christ would have no idle, no lazy, no droneish Servant in his House. All these Talents and Gifts are bestowed, that we might act for Christ, enlighten, and draw in others to Christ, promote and advance his Kingdom, and increase the number of his Subjects. Our Candle of Knowledge should tind and light many other Candles: Our Fire of Love and Zeal, should warm and inflame many others. While the Church gave a Character of Christ's Worth, a Description of his Beauty, Cant. 5.9, 10, 11, 12, 13. the Daughters of Jerusalem apprehended and conceived that he was some extraordinary Person; one transcendantly Excellent, that she had such fervent Love to him, and did so earnestly inquire after him. And this so wrought on them, that their Hearts did burn with desires after Christ, and they would seek him with the Church, Cant. 6.1. We should say as the godly Jews, Cant. 8.8. We have a little sister that hath no breasts, What shall we do (that is to promote a Marriage between Christ and her) in the day she shall be spoken for, and be wooed to be espoused to Christ? The Church promises she would cause Christ's Name to be remembered in all Generations; that is, by the preaching of the Word, and thereby bringing forth a Holy Seed to continue, and perpetuate Christ's Name in the World, Psal. 72.17. His name shall be continued for ever: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jinnon (that is his Name) shall have Sons. Thou art concerned in, and bound by this Promise: Every true Member of the Church is obliged by it, to do what he can to propagate Christ's Interest, to promote his Kingdom, and continue his Name in the World.  
9 We must be willing to suffer for the Kingdom of God, 2 Thes. 1.5. The Apostle John joins the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ, Revel. 1.9. but Paul joins the Kingdom and Glory of God, 1 Thes. 2.11. First we must pass through the Kingdom and Patience of Christ, before we pass into the Kingdom and Glory of God. We cannot enter into, and continue in the Kingdom of Christ, but the World will hate and persecute us: John 8.14. I have given them thy word, and they have received it, and the world hath hated them. Saints suffered so freely, so willingly, so joyfully for the Kingdom of Christ, that the World was amazed. Cyprian tells us, That Christians, when their Enemies offered to apprehend them, they did not resist; when they asked them of their Religion, they did not tell a Lie, or deny their Faith; they took joyfully the spoiling of Goods, Heb. 10.34. rejoiced that they were counted worthy to be beaten for Christ, Acts 5.41. If they were to be offered up to confirm the Faith of others, and to evidence their own Faith, they did rejoice, Phil. 2.17. They endured exquisite Torments with such undaunted Courage, and such unrelenting Spirits, that Natural Men would rather have denied things clear by mathematical Demonstrations, than have exposed themselves to such Tortures. As 
* In his Preface to his Disputations on Thomas Aquinas.  Medina truly affirms.  
10. You must lead Holy Lives your Light must shine before Men, Matth. 5.16. you must hold forth the Excellency, Power, and Efficacy of the Word in your Actions, Phil. 2.6. when Paul had asserted his Faith, that he did believe a Resurrection of the just, and the unjust, he presently declares the Fruit of this Truth, Acts 24.15, 16. In this I exercise myself, to keep a Conscience void of offence both toward God and man: he did act and practise according to this Truth, it had a prevailing Influence on his Heart, a commanding Authority over his Actions; you must much converse with God here, Psal. 139.17. when I am awake, I am ever with thee: and how fitly do those Two Expressions agree; Devid was ever with the Lord on Earth, and Paul saith, Christians should be ever with the Lord in Heaven, 1 Thes. 4.17. there must be a walking with God on Earth, Gen. 8.24. Enoch walked with God, and God took him, and why did God take him, and for what End? was it not to walk with him in Heaven, Rev. 3.4. those that had not defiled their Garments should walk with Christ in white, we must shine as lights in this world, Phil. 2.15. that hereafter we may shine a the sun, in the kingdom of our Father, Matth. 13.43. Jesus Christ must be glorified in us now, John 17.10. I am glorified in them, that we may be assured he will be glorified and admired in us hereafter, 2 Thes. 1.10. when he will be revealed from Heaven, he will be glorified in his Saints, and be admired in them the believe. Christian's must not be like the Heathen Philosophers. Athenagoras in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or Apology for the Christians, charges the● that they sought and aimed at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, an Art of Words, but not a Demonstration of Works; but he saith, that Christian Handicraftsmen and Old Women that could not discourse for their Religion, did yet demonstrate its Excellency in their Works. When they were beaten, they would not strike again; when they were wronged in their Estates, they would not go to Law; they would pray for them that persecuted them, and love those that hated them.  
11. Consider how great Gild you will contract, and what hateful and abominable Creatures you will be, if you reject the Word of the Kingdom, and enter not into it. Christ bid his Disciples to shake off the Dust of their Feet against such, Luke 10.9, 10, 11. for a Testimony against them. They that refuse the Gospel of the Kingdom, and turn away from the King of Glory, are such unclean Creatures, that Christ's Ministers were not to defile themselves, or their Feet, by carrying away any of their Dust; but to shake it off, and leave it as a witness there, that Christ's Ambassadors had been there, had preached to them, and been rejected by them. This very Dust should remain with them to testify, and give in Evidence against them in the great Day, that they would not open their Ears to Christ, speaking in his Ministers, but obstinately hardened their Hearts, both against the Master and the Servants, against the Lord and his Subjects. Tas● heed therefore, that you reject not him that speaks from Heaven: Be jealous over your own Souls, that you receive not the Doctrine of Grace, the Word of the Kingdom in vain, 2 Cor. 6.2. as the Highway, the stony, and thorny Ground did. Let Christ's Word root in your Hearts, shine and reign in your Lives: Do not think to blind your Eyes, stupefy your Consciences, and cheat your own Souls with an outside Religion. Great was the Sin of Ananias and Saphira, that pretended to devote the whole Price, that they sold their Land for, to the Service of Christ and his Church, yet kept back part of it; and so lied to God, and tempted the Holy G●o●●, Acts 5.3, 9 O do not dare to tread in their Steps: Will you tempt Christ and his Spirit, whether they are omniscient? Or try when there you cannot put a Fallacy or Cheat o● them? Will you make a costly and dangerous Experiment, whether they cannot find out your base Metal, your counterfeit Coin, your hypocritical Services: Though you pretend to know God, Hos. 8.2. yet without sincerity, Christ will not approve and know you, Matth. 7.23. Let not Christ's Word be received only into your Memories, but let Christ himself be entertained in your Hearts, to order your Affections, and direct your Conversations. If you do not ope● to Christ your Hearts below, he will not 〈◊〉 pen to you his Heaven above.  
4. Use, For Caution: Take heed you do not rashly judge, and hastily pass a Censure on the Kingdom of Christ, and on the Church of God. Turk's, Jews, and Heathens, that see the lose and wicked Lives of some Christians, do presently condemn all Christians, as if there were no sincere Piety, powerful Religion, or Beauty of Holiness among them; and thereby take an advantage to reproach Christ himself, and to reflect on his Gospel, as if it did allow, and he did approve such things: When as Christ loveth Righteousness, and hates Iniquity, Psal. 45.67. He forbids all Sin, he dislikes and abhors all Iniquity, Matth 22.10, 11. Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment. Christ hath spoken plainly enough, Except a man be born again, unless Men repent and be converted, John 3.3, 5. Matth. 18.3. they cannot enter into the kingdom of God: That without Holiness Men shall not see God, Hebr. 12.14. These Instructions and warnings of Christ are plain, yet many presume, and thrust into the Church of God, and give the Lie to Jesus Christ, as if they should live in Glory, though they be dead in Sin; and see God, though they are ●oid, and utterly destitute of Holiness. But ●●ere will shortly be an end of all their Presumptions and ungrounded Confidences, of 〈◊〉 their deceitful and treacherous Hopes; and those that stumble at the seandalous Persons that are in the Church, let them wait but a little, and these Spots shall be washed off from the Face; these Wens, these gangrened Limbs shall be cut off from the Body of the Church; this Dross shall be p●● away for ever. Jesus Christ hath a shaip Sickle to cut those Tares, Rev. 14.14. An Axe to hue down those barren Trees. a Fan to purge his Floor, a Furnace 〈◊〉 unquenchable Fire to burn up the Chaff Matth. 3.12. The Goats and the Sheep go in the same Pasture in the Daytime, b● when the Evening comes, there is a Separation; the Goats go to their Pen, and ●e Sheep to their Fold: So Jesus Christ, when he comes to judge the World, shall separate the Goats and Sheep, Matth. 25.31, 32 Though they are now in the same visible Church, yet Jesus Christ shall part them, and set the Sheep on his Right-hand, and the Go● on his Left. Christ will disown Hypocrites and exclude them out of his Glory: He wil● own the Sincere, and call them to inherit 〈◊〉 Kingdom, Matth. 25.34. Do not rashly judge those to be related to Christ, that will be rejected by him. They that Feign, that Flatter, that Lie to Josus Christ, will be detected and abhorred by him; his Eyes will be as a flaming Fire to discover them, and his Wrath will be as a consuming Fire to bum them up. But then the true Church of Christ shall be as a Bride adorned for her Husband, Revel. 21.2. She shall shine with beautiful Holiness, and glorious Righteousness, and be without spot and wrinkle, Ephes. 5.25, 26, 27. meet to be presented and fit to be married to Christ, and to be an Object of his Love for Christ to rejoice in, and delight himself with to Eternity. Then shall there be no more a pricking Briar, a wounding or piercing Thorn, no stinking Weeds, no empty Vines, no barren Figtrees in the Garden of God. Nothing shall any longer desorm, or defile the Church. The People of the Church shall be all righteous, the Branch of God's planting, the Work of his Hands, that he may be glorified, Isa. 60.21. The Image of God shall be fully drawn on them, the Law of God shall be perfectly transcribed into them, no Fooesteps of Sin shall remain on them, no dross of Corruption shall cleave to them; they shall be transformed by the perfect renewing of their Minds: Then they will appear as Trees of Righteousness, Isa. 61.3. and bear all pleasant Fruits, and the chief of Spices, Cant. 4.13, 14. And those that have flourished in God's Nursery below for a time, they shall at last be transplanted into, and so grow in the Heavenly Paradise for ever.  
FINIS.   

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These BOOKS are Published the Author of this Book.  
1. THE Great Duty of Christi● to go forth without the Ca● to Jesus: Set forth in several Serm● on Hebr. 13.13.  
2. Supplication to the Sovere● Judge: The Duty of the best M● Set forth in several Sermons 〈◊〉 Job. 9.15.  
3. A Discourse in several Serm● on the 1 Peter 3.19. By which also went and preached unto the Spirits Prison.