TWO SERMONS PREACHED: One before the Right Honourable House of LORDS, On their Public Fast, May 26. 1647. THE OTHER, Before the Honourable House of COMMONS, On their Public Fast, in Margaret's Church in Westminster, Septemb. 29. 1647. By THOMAS VALENTINE one of the Assembly of Divines, and Minister in Chalfort in the County of Bucks. LONDON: Printed by M S. for John Rothwell at the Sun and Fountain in Paul's Churchyard. 1647. A SERMON Preached at Westminster before the Honourable House of Commons at their Public Fast, Septemb. 29. 1647. REVEL. 3.18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness appear not, and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. THe Title of the Book tells you, It is the Revelation of John, and John tells you chap. 1. vers. 1. It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which he vouchsafed to his Servant John, when he was banished into the I'll Patmos, by the cruelty of Domitian the Emperor: Wherein all things necessary to be known from that time, to the end of the world are revealed. In which Book (as in Paul's Epistles) many things, nay almost all, are hard to be understood. Yet that part which contains the Epistles to the seven Churches, having in it Reproofs, Admonitions, Exhortations, and Counsel, is more easy and plain. This Text is part of that Epistle which was sent to the last of the seven Churches viz. lukewarm Laodicea, the particulars charged upon this Church and the rest, are more easy to understand. The difficulty is, in determining whether these Asian Churches do typify other Churches, and what they are, and where they are planted. For the probability of the opinion, that some were aimed at in them, divers reasons might be alleged, as this, that this Book is not a bare Narration of things heard and seen, but a Prophecy of things that were afterward to come to pass. Others would have the state of the Church in general deciphered out, but with Reference to particular times, as Ephesus points out the purer primitive times, which did retain their integrity, but yet the mystery of iniquity began to work, so that there was need of caution. Pergamus and Smirna, point at those times when Arianisme and Popery got up, and did domineer. Thiatira resembles the times, wherein the Church began to rise, and get from under the power of Antichrist; and they being in their rise, their works are commended to be more at last than first. Sardis and Philadelphia, set out the Churches that did not rest in some beginnings of Reformation, but made better progress. Laodicea is the last, and typifies a Church, which having escaped Babel, did rest in their Gifts, Calling, and Profession, and did judge themselves rich, whereas she was poor, blind, and miserable, and this Church was in a middle way, partly Romish, and partly Reform, not very good, nor extremely bad, she did adhere and cleave too much to Rome, and did please herself in her Pomp; therefore she is taxed, and secretly threatened to be spewed out. The Epistle to this Church gins vers. 14. wherein is the preface or inscription, containing the Person writing; Amen; the faithful Witness, the beginning of the Creation of God, to the Angel of Laodicea: The matter of the Epistle is, First, A discovery of the Sin, vers. 15.17. Thou art neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm; And thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and hast need of nothing. Secondly, The reproof and threatening, vers. 16. Because thou sayest so, and art lukewarm, therefore I will spew thee out of my mouth. Thirdly, The counsel given, and that is the Text which I have read. Fourthly, There is a gracious promise made to this Church, vers. 20, 21. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. The form of my Text is a Counsel. The Matter is a Duty which this Church is counselled unto. First, The Duty is to buy. Secondly, The object of it, or what we are to buy; And that is set out three ways. First, What it is; And it is a threefold Commodity. 1. Gold. 2. Raiment. 3. Eyesalve. Secondly, What kind; And they are excellent, as appears by the qualities of them. 1. Tried Gold. 2. White Raiment. 3. Good Eyesalve. This last is employed. Thirdly, What use; And that likewise is threefold: 1. To enrich us. 2. To clothe us. 3. To make us see. The Sense of the Text. I counsel thee, etc. This manner of speech is not so frequent, for God doth ordinarily command, or reprove, or instruct, or threaten, or promise, and most things in Scripture may be referred to those heads. But this Text hath another face, and comes in another form; It is a counsel or wholesome advice to this Church, which in the precedent verses, is instructed, reproved, and threatened; and here counsel is added to the former, and in it you may discern much Love and Wisdom; Love desiring her good, and advising her to a way that might prevent her Ruin; Wisdom likewise appears, in that the Lord Jesus Christ, offering to sell these Commodities, doth not command us to buy them, nor force us to have them, but doth, as men that bring their Commodities to the Market, show them, and set them forth, commend them, but leave it to their own choice to buy what they please; yet if a friend come, they will advise him to buy, and give their word, and pawn their credit for the goodness of the Commodity: So the Lord Christ would have you take his word for these Wares, and to go through with the bargain, and not want them any longer. And that we may see reason to buy them, consider what they are, Gold, Raiment, and Eyesalve. We are by nature poor, here is gold to enrich us; and we are naked, here is raiment to cloth and cover us; we are born blind and here is eyesalve to cure us; gold for our estates, raiment for our bodies, eyesalve for the chief of our senses. What pincheth more than Poverty? What shames us more than Nakedness? What grieves us more than Blindness? Here is a remedy for every of these Maladies, here is a plaster for every wound, and by the epithets given, you may perceive that here are no drugs, no counterfeit wares, but all of the best, the very best that Heaven can afford; tried gold, pure raiment, excellent eyesalve; What more precious than tried gold? What more glorious than white raiment? What better for a blind man then good eyesalve? But I need not set forth the goodness of these Wares, they will commend themselves. Yet a word to tell you what they are, (if I can) but there is some difficulty in that. Laodicea was a true Church, for it was planted in the Apostles times, and Paul gave charge that his Epistle to the Colossians should be read in the Church of the Laodiceans, and that they should read the Epistle from Laodicea, Col. 4.16. Therefore they had ordinances, and we cannot conceive but that they were pure, for those times did not admit of impurity in the Ordinances of Christ: We cannot think they wanted Officers, for the Apostles would look to that in all the Churches; nor can we imagine they wanted Discipline and Government; a Church Constituted so early in the first day of the Gospel could not but be well erected. And in the reproof of this Church, they are not taxed for want of these, or any of them; nay, they writ to Paul (as Calvin thinks) and if there had been such a defect in their Church, the Epistle to the Colossians would not have supplied that want, for it speaks nothing of Government, and he gives order it should be communicated to them. Therefore according to the tenor and scope of the charge brought against this Church, we may safely say, that their graces and gifts, were not so good, so rich, so right, as should have been; for their works are challenged, vers. 15. I know thy works, and their zeal was not good, it was not hot enough: Therefore I think the constitution of the members of their Church was not good, they were not zealous, not fervent in spirit; and if that be a heat arising from many graces, or if but one, yet a defect therein proves a want and decay in others, so that their graces were not golden but rather copper; and Laodicea being a rich City, and dealing in Merchandise, they might rather look after the material gold, and after pure raiment for the body, than these golden and silver graces. The Church in the Constitution of it might be good, yet the members resting in their Church-priviledges, and in the abundance of outward things, might be wanting in their graces, the doctrine of faith might be pure and sound, and yet the grace of faith might not be good and saving in them; their worship might be pure, and yet they not zealous for that God they worshipped. In this great house of the Church of Laodicea, the members, many of them, were not vessels of gold and silver, but of wood and earth. 2 Tim. 2.20. therefore they are justly reproved. Other things might be faulty in this Church, but I name this, as being clear, and it will make way for our better instruction. Let us begin with some Observations; and first, you may see plainly in your view, from the beginning of the Text this to be offered. 1. Observe. That the Lord Jesus Christ, doth not always command like a King, but sometimes counsels like a Friend. We read in Ephesi. 3.10. of the manifold wisdom of God, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 multiformis sapientia, a wisdom that hath many faces, and looks variously; sometimes God speaks like a King, and sometimes like a Judge, and sometimes like a Friend; In precepts Authority, in reproofs Anger, in threaten Severity, in counsel's Love, and care of our good most appears. To counsel one, it is to propound something to his consideration that is fit for him to think of, and useful for him to do, and it supposeth some principles in a man whereby he is counselable; and there is nothing to which we are counselled, but the same things are also commanded, only the manner is more taking, and the matter must be of importance, else we take it not into consideration, Prov. 22.20. Have I not written unto thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge. To counsel us. First, It is a rational way, and fit to work upon a man, and God that tries always to do us good, takes this course to counsel us, Hos. 11.4. I have drawn thee with cords of a man, and bands of love; I have dealt with thee more human●, for man is counselable, but so is not a beast; coge pecus, you force a beast, but man is to be persuaded; speak reason, and express love, and you cannot be despised or slighted, reason cannot be gainsaid; though the man will not confess he is conquered by your argument, yet the understanding secretly must assent, and love cannot be contemned; the party may, but love cannot; but when the Wise God shall speak reason, and manifest his love, we should not despise his counsel: Nay, many join together in this coonsell, so the word imports, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to counsel with others, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, consilium quod aliqui simul ineunt, God counsels you, his Spirit counsels you, his Messengers counsel you, and your own Consciences counsel you. For as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a knowing together, so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is conselling together; divers sit in counsel together about the good of man; and hereby it appears how we should esteem of the kindness of God; the word is Mat. 12.14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, they held a counsel that was against Christ, but the blessed Trinity hold a counsel for the good of man; Let us make man, let us redeem man, and advise him for his good. Secondly, It is very fit and proper for the action of buying, you shall not be compelled to buy the Commodities here offered, but you shall use your reason, whether a poor man should not do all he can to get good gold, and a naked man clothing. But here I must needs explain this point, lest we should think that a man were left to his own liberty in the point of his conversion, and this simile of counselling to buy must not be extended beyond the scope; and we say, That the will of man is overruled, and overpowered by the Spirit of Christ, so as it cannot but come in upon the offer of grace, and the will is determined to one thing, not left to itself, to take or refuse what is tendered to it; and it is no absurdity (whatever Arminians think) to say, in the conversion of a sinner there is a violence offered to the corruption of the will, and yet the will not wronged, a suspending of the liberty of the will, and no destroying of it. If you consider a man affrighted out of his sins in a way of terror, as the Gaoler, Act. 16.29. who came trembling; you may say he could do no other. Suppose a man pursued by a Bear or any ravenous Beast, if he have the use of his legs, and of his reason, he cannot but run away from the danger; Hell frights the sinner, Conscience flies in his face, and he cannot but come to Christ. The propensity and act of the creature may be suspended, and not destroyed; the Lions could not devour Daniel, the fire could not burn the three young men; God did suspend the act of those creatures, but their natures were not destroyed, for their enemies found the Lions to be fierce, and the fire to burn; the will of man chooseth to come, and cannot do otherwise, for it is moved and guided by a supernatural power. Thirdly, God doth counsel us, for in all things of any importance we take counsel, here is more need, and if we follow our own counsels we perish, Prov. 11.14. Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety, Prov. 20.18. Every purpose is established by counsel, and with good advice make war. If in other things we take advice and not this, it shows we are more careless of Heaven then our affairs on earth. 1. Use. Take counsel of him that is wise, and reject it not; lean not to your own wisdom, for that will destroy you. A man that follows his own thoughts in matters of Religion, is sure to miss his way, and lose his hope: The counsel of God is good, we cannot say so of the wisest man, but his counsel is good at all times, for he knows all things and all events, which no man doth, Prov. 19.20. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 2. If we do not, we set up our own thoughts and wisdom above Gods, and we oppose Christ's Prophetical and Kingly Offices. 3. Grace makes us teachable, and men should inquire what they ought to do, Act. 2.37. Men and brethren, what shall we do? Act. 9.6. Lord, what will thou have me to do? And they obeyed and followed the directions of the Apostles; David did bless God for Abigails counsel, 1 Sam. 25.22, 32. And if we receive not the counsel of God, we shall in the end bewail our folly, and read our misery, arising from our own rebellious and desperate denials of grace; and as the Pharisees rejected the counsel of God against themselves, so do many in these days. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, and white raiment. 2. Observe. It is the wisdom of men to buy grace, and the means of grace, whatever they cost them. Qualis emptio absque pretio? Quomodo hoc convenit magnificentiae Dei si emenda est illius gratia? parum laudis habet ●●ns cujus aquae venales habentur. Obj. But how can we buy? What shall we give to God for these rich Commodities? And how can it stand with the bounty of God to sell them to us? And how doth it undervalue the grace of God when it is offered to sale? Solut. For answer to this objection, and for opening of the point propounded, we must know, That the grace or favour of God cannot be bought at all. And we must distinguish between 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the free grace of God, his good will and pleasure, which is from all eternity, and the fruits thereof, the gifts of the Spirit, together with all the means by which the Spirit works in the hearts of God's Elect: These latter are here offered to you to be sold, not the former. We cannot properly buy so as to give a valuable consideration for these Heavenly Commodities; to buy, is to give a price to the seller, for which he makes over his right to you, and puts you in possession of that which was his. But properly we cannot buy so as to give a valuable consideration: And that because, First, All things are Gods already, unless it be your sins, the Cattles upon a thousand Hills are mine, saith God, Job 41.11. Whatsoever is under the whole heavens is mine: So that you cannot pay God with his own, for if I buy of a man I give him somewhat that is mine, and receive of him somewhat that is his. Secondly, All things that we have are inferior to grace, and the means of grace, they are but transitory and fading, but Heavenly things are lasting and durable, and there is no proportion between the largest offer of thousands of Rams, and ten thousand Rivers of Oil, and the least dram of saving-grace, and we must not think that money or mony-worth can purchase Heaven or grace; nay, to take off our thoughts, the Lord tells us his mind, Isa. 55.1. Buy wine and milk without money. But what must be done? First, Buy it with thy prayers and tears, and tell the Lord thou hast need of them, and cannot live without them; Rome teacheth her children to buy grace with the improvement of parts of nature, and to buy Heaven with their good works, and tell us of such perfection in some works, that there is no sin in them; but when they offer so largely, God must trust them, for they have no ready money; but we teach our Chapmen to turn poor beggars, and you may get more by begging at the hands of God, then by working, and yet we beg a stock of grace that we may go to work. Secondly, Buy it with thy labour and toil, travel for it if thou hast it not at home; the sons of Jacob go into Egypt if there be no Corn in their own Country, and what pains men take to get the Commodities of the world, they should do more for Heaven; in former times, before this Parliament sat, there was a great scarcity, the markets did rise, there is now more plenty; but the evil of the present times is, that there is a price in men's hands, and they have not hearts. Thirdly, It may be it will cost thy purse, if with the Merchant in the Gospel thou hast found the Pearl, buy it though thou sell all▪ Mat. 13.46. and it would further your accounts, if your Bills of expense for Building, for Purchases, for Portions, nay, for Sports and Recreations, (which rises to great sums) you could bring in somewhat answerable for the Gospel and Religious uses. Whatsoever it will cost thee, break not for price, buy it at any Rate. First, It will enrich thee, you may buy Land too dear, and Gold too dear, but grace and the means of grace cannot be bought too dear, nay, the dearer bought the better, you will keep it the better, and esteem it the more: The more it costs a Christian to get Christ, and obtain assurance of God's love, the better it is, Prov. 3.14. The merchandise of wisdom is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof then fine gold, more precious than the rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her. Secondly, It is of general use for all persons, and at all times, when you shall throw away your gold and silver, a dram of grace shall be in great esteem and will comfort your souls: Religion is not like a Soldier in time of Peace, or a Chimney in Summer, but of good & necessary use at all times; in prosperity to teach you moderation, in adversity to bear up your spirits, in life, in death it is a Crown to you. Thirdly, This Bargain proves better than was conceived; temporal things seem better than they prove, and no man finds that in them which he imagined; but spiritual riches afford more to the soul then at first was believed; here that's true, It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer; but when he goeth apart he boasteth, namely, of his great pennyworth, Prov. 20.14. Therefore be as the buyer in these particulars: First, find thy need of these Commodities, let thy soul say to God, give me Christ and Faith, or else I die; you must not so think or speak of any thing else. Secondly, See the goodness of them, you cannot know the excellency of them till you be instructed and have experience, you cannot see till you have this eyesalve; and therefore no wonder if the Lord Christ offer his Commodities, and put off but little, because men know not the worth of them. Thirdly, No deceit in this bargain, you shall not be overreached, fair and plain dealing to them that will buy the truth; Rome sells you sophisticated and adulterated Wares, and her Tradesmen have dark Shops, and false Lights, and will not have the people to know, or be able to judge of these Commodities; they must not look into the Scriptures, nor understand the Doctrine of Faith, but take all upon their word, and believe as the Church doth; but the Text offers tried gold; And we must try all things, and hold that which is good. Mat. 6. ●0. 〈…〉 Domi●us 〈…〉 quo s●●● vel 〈…〉 ad 〈…〉 debeant pe●petuò 〈◊〉. Mus● Quia minus ratione co●se●ta●●● est quam 〈◊〉 su● locare ubi vel sp●●te 〈…〉 ab ho●●●ibus? Fourthly, Thiefs cannot break through and steal these Commodities; As there is a greater excellency, so more certainty in them. In all the troubles and persecutions in the world, if you keep your courage and resolutions, and would not part with your riches, neither Devils nor men can rob you of them; you may have the gold and silver in your Chests taken from you by violence, and your estates wrung out of your hands, but your graces cannot be lost unless you consent to lose them; and they being of so high a nature, and so great worth, get them whatever they cost you, and keep them carefully as you do your gold. First, The more to persuade you to this, consider further of this twofold Simile of tried gold and white raiment. He that hath gold hath all things vendible, he may have House, Lands, an Office, Honour and Preferment, and whatever (of this nature) he can desire: for gold will procure it, and gold virtually includes all things that are to be sold. 1 Cor. 3 22. So he that hath Christ, and Faith, and other graces, hath all things Heavenly; all are yours, none can speak such Language as Believers; other men may have a great deal, Esau may have enough, Ge●●3 9 but Jacob hath all. None so rich as the people of God, they have in their possession all the fine gold and rich raiment, they are well clad, and richly furnished, and they should live answerably; they have got such a bargain at the hands of Jesus Christ as hath made them for ever, and they should rejoice in their condition; rich men please themselves in telling their gold, and thinking of their wealth; let the Christian look upon his graces and privileges with delight, and take great contentment in them. Secondly, He that hath tried gold needs not fear the touchstone, he that hath tried graces needs not fear further trials; It ought to be the care of every one to see that his graces be of a right kind, that he have gold, not brass: Many Protestants in the Church of England have too much pleased themselves with Copper Faith, or they have taken a guilded glistering piece of wood for gold; there is that which looks like faith, and zeal, and love, but is not so indeed. We should try all things, we take not a piece of gold or silver but weigh and ring it, because we would not be deceived; and it were a shame for a man to put off his Commodities, and think he hath made a good bargain, when the money that he receives is false and counterfeit Coin. It is an evil thing to rest in a show or form of godliness, all that comes of it is to be thought by ourselves and others that we are Religious: The Pharisees had a name, they were esteemed by the ignorant people to be devoute; but what will that avail in the day when our works must be tried by fire? It is only gold a solid metal that will endure the fire, hay and stubble, and all light stuff will burn and consume away. Luther speaks of one Arsenius that had eminent gifts, and made a profession of Religion, and was more forward than others; who being sick, his friends and acquaintance visited him, and for his comfort told him that he could not but have a great deal of joy and peace that was fare before many others in Religion; he answered them, That he had not so much comfort as they imagined, and he now found it to be with his soul, not according to what they thought of him, but according to the judgement that God passed upon him, and God judgeth (said he) not after an outward appearance, but with a righteous judgement. It were a vain thing in a man, that being Arrested and going to Prison, should charge the Officers with doing him wrong, because he was esteemed by all his nighbours a rich man, and worth many thousand pounds; in such a case the name of a rich man will neither free from danger, nor pay debts. But he that hath this tried gold hath enough to pay his debts, and a stock to live upon besides, he fears no danger, no trouble, no persecution, not death, no not the fiery trial, for his tried gold will hold out and pass for currant, when all gilding will wash off and waste away. Great then may be the comfort of such as look after truth and the reality of graces, they are happy both in life and death, they are rich, and shall carry their wealth with them into Heaven: You must part with your friends when you die, and you must leave your riches behind you, but your graces shall go with you. Vincent. in Specul. Mora. To set out the dignity of them above your material gold, One tells you a Story of a man that had a Suit, and when his Cause was to be heard, he applied himself to three friends to see what they would do with him; one answered him, he would bring him as fare on his journey as he could; the second promised him to go with him to his journey's end; the third engaged himself to go with him before the Judge, and to speak for him, and not to leave him till his Cause was heard and determined. These three are a man's Riches, his friends, and his graces; his riches will help him to comfortable accommodations while they stay with him, but they may take their wings and fly away from him before he die. His friends and kindred they will go with him to his journey's end, bring him to the grave, and inter his body, & then they leave him to his graces; Misericordia comes defunctorum. It is true of that and all other graces. Rev. 14.13. they go further, & accompany the soul when it goes before God, and speak for him, and do more for him then the other can do: Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord, they rest from their labours, and their works follow them But sad is the condition of evil men, for when they appear before God, there will be no Intercessor for to speak for them, their sins will dog them even unto the Tribunal Seat of God, and drag them down to Hell. We have done with the tried gold, now a word or two of the white raiment; by which is understood our Justification, and Sanctification, Ordinances and Graces, and to show the glory and purity of them they are set out under white raiment. White is a pure colour, and betokens innocence; by nature we are naked, but here is a glorious garment. White is more excellent than Scarlet, for it is a natural colour, and all natural beauty is above that which is artificial; Mat. 6.29. Mat. 17.2. Solomon in all his glory was not like the Lilies of the Field. When Christ was transfigured on the Mount his raiment was white; and the glorious condition of the Saints in Heaven is set out in this, Rev. 19.14. that they shall be clothed with fine linen, white and clean. No doubt this Church was exhorted to look after their Justification, to join nothing with the righteousness of Jesus Christ who is set out to be white and ruddy, Cant. 5.10. and to preserve the doctrine of it pure and clean; and also Sanctification is herein comprised, so that the former point is now propounded under another comparison of white raiment, and we are to be persuaded to buy it: And therefore con●ider, First, It is of necessity to have raiment, we must not go naked; It is a shameful imagination in such as in imitation of Adam's perfection will pray, and preach, and hear naked; they should be ashamed of it: August. 14. de Civit. dei. c. 12. And we see that nature teaches us to look for a covering for the body, and the Text persuades us to get this white raiment for the soul; food and raiment must be had, and men of quality will have garments answerable to their condition; and whereas there is variety of clothing for the body, nothing will serve the turn for the soul but this white raiment, Rev. 3. we must have long white robes, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is long enough to cover us all over, Rev. 7. but every thing else is too short and narrow; he finds us naked, and gives us his own robes, that our nakedness may not appear; and he makes a garment for us; he causeth inherent graces to grow and abound in us, but we must not think that our graces help to cover us as a piece to be added, for nothing can add to our Justification, or to our title, we may as soon gild gold with clay, as by any graces or services of ours make ourselves in a better condition. We must put on the Lord Jesus Christ, Rev. 13.14. and that's sufficient to present us faultless and blameless before God. Secondly, It is for honour and ornament white clothing was used in King's Courts, and he that hath this raiment shall be in the Court of Heaven; great men are distinguished by their apparel, yet some are so proud that they care not what they lay upon their backs, and you cannot know by their outside what they are, but this white raiment is only for the King's Children, and they are glorious within. Dives base in heart, having nothing but rottenness within, yet was clothed with Purple and fine linen; but the Saints are made glorious and excellent when this raiment is upon them, and in Heaven when no apparel shall be upon their bodies, yet that stola corporis shall be glorious, as that the beams thereof shall be much better than any garment to cover them, and no nakedness can appear to cause any shame. 1. Use. And hence you are to be exhorted to get this white raiment: None but madmen go naked, none but beggars go in patched clothes; here is a garment, and it is glorious; It is made ready for you, and there wants nothing but putting it on. And what contempt will this be, that apparel be brought home to you, laid on the Table by you, and you will not put it on, and wear it, but give in your own rags, and live and die in your sins? Secondly, This raiment will fit you, and well become you, and you will appear glorious, and be so indeed: A Stage-Player that personates a King hath clothes answerable, yet is a base fellow; and in the end of the Play, when he puts off his clothes it appears so: but this will befall none that have true faith in Christ. Hypocrites will be uncased, but all else shall wear their clothes unto eternity, and never put them off. Nay, they cannot be without them; this white raiment shall never decay, nor be worse for wearing, it will fit all persons, and at all seasons; and therefore buy it at any rate. Thirdly, And if you fear your money will not hold out to make such a great purchase, then know, that your God will not stand with you for price; he saith not you must have so much Faith as Abraham had, so much Zeal as Phineas, so much Courage as David, so much Wisdom as Solomon, or else you cannot be saved: No such thing is said in Scripture; but if you see the usefulness of these Commodities, and desire them, and will use all good means to obtain them, you shall certainly have them; nay, you have them already. For this is one difference between Temporal and Spiritual things, the evil of the one sort cleaves to you before. Fourthly, You have them, you are covetous before you be rich; but in those Heavenly Blessings you look after, you have them, and the good of them, when you first make after them. He that really and unfeignedly desires Christ, and Faith, and other graces, hath them already in some degree, and shall have more, for all supernatural desires come not from nature, but our Union with Christ. Fifthly, And the last thing to be urged, is, That such as have this white raiment should carefully keep it: A spot in a pure colour is a great blemish, and soon discerned. It is pity to see Christians walk loosely or indiscreetly, but worse if scandalously; Rev. 16.15. If they be blessed that watch and keep their garments, what will become of them that defile them? It is a glorious thing to maintain an unspotted profession to the end. And in case we have taken a fall, and fouled our clothes, let us not lie still, and wallow in the mire, but rise, and wash our garments till we make them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev. 7.14. Men must have clothes though they go upon trust, and run into debt; and when they have them they should keep them carefully; For the Wise man bids you to have your garments white at all times. Eccl. 9.8. How will this condemn many that live in the visible Church, that have never a rag to cover their nakedness, and yet are contented with it? Others take up a profession of Religion, and yet keep not their garments clean; they go unhandsomely and slovenly. 1 Joh. 3 9 It is said, That he that is borne of God cannot sinne, he hath another nature given him; and while he is himself, he cannot go against the principles of grace, as a neat cleanly man would not do a slovenly act though no body should see him; and a curious workman cannot bungle, so a godly man cannot sinne and tumble ●n the mire, for he is a Sheep, not a Swine. It is reported of the Ermine, which is a neat creature, that if a puddle be on the one side, and Dogs on the other, he will choose to die rather than defile himself. I wish we could see this cleanliness in Christians; It ought to be so, and Schoolmen give a good reason for it, because grace works not by fear only, but by hatred: A man fears a drawn Sword when the point is set against his breast, and it is in the hand of an enemy; but if it lie on the Table, or be in the hand of a friend, it is not feared. Men may fear sin when God doth threaten to run them through, but if he put up his Sword their fear is removed; therefore the kindly work of grace is by way of hatred and loathing; a man would not take a Toad in his hand though he knew the poison would not hurt him; this hatred and loathing of all filthiness and pollution should be in those that have this white raiment, and then they would keep their garments clean. Use. And now give me leave to make a further application to you that are the Great Council of the Kingdom; and let me tell you, that the people of this Land look for this pure gold and white raiment, and to purchase them they have offered fair; Their Plate, their Money, their Horses, their Servants, and their Sons; they begin to fear they shall not have these Commodities which they have bidden well for, because in all this time they had little else then ends of gold and silver; we will persuade them to wait longer, and to help you by their prayers, that you may become the happy instruments of the Kingdom's good, in making the gold and raiment in the Text, as plentiful as the material gold was in Solomon's time. To effect this, you have need of Solomon's wisdom; the present Divisions and Distractions of the time require it; and unless God interpose his own power and wisdom, we conceive, we shall be still under the troubles of War, such as were in David's time; And though you do well to think of building the Temple, and ye contribute somewhat towards it, yet we doubt whether we that are alive shall see it done, and enjoy the peace and happiness of Solomon's time; Yet however, let me represent unto you the state of the people in this Land, which is much like to these Laodiceans, they are poor, and naked, they have thought themselves rich in their Clergy, and honoured above others in their outward pomp and glory; and for their wealth and goods, they have abounded, and had need of nothing; now they see themselves poor in every kind, and they lament their poverty, they are naked also, both in regard of raiment and armour, and Aaron hath made them so, Exod. 32.25. They hope that you will take care to enrich them, and provide such as will cloth them. You did purge the Sons of Levi, and took away many that were no better than dross and Tin; you now give over. It is much feared, lest many Congregations shall still be poor and naked; the people desire a golden ministry, such as have golden gifts and graces, and then they hope there will be golden Christians; and the golden days will come, in so much as in you lies, you should pity and relieve the Kingdom herein, by setting up a godly ministry, and countenancing it against the reproach and contempt of these present times, which is greater than heretofore hath been known. We thought the witnesses had been slain, because it is said, in Rev. 11.3, 7, 9 that after they had Prophesied in sackcloth a long time, than they were killed, and then they were unburied three days and a half; There is no doubt but godly Preachers (among others) were the witnesses that gave testimony to the truth, and they have Prophesied mournfully, even in sackcloth a long time together, and then they were slain, they were suspended, which was a civil death; they were not killed as men, but as Prophets, and they were in the streets as dead men, not suffered to execute their Ministerial Functions; and this was for three days and a half, and the time of continuing the suspension of many Ministers by the Bishops, which was three years and a half, did fall out so pat and punctual, as it might well be thought to be the slaying of the witnesses in England. It is not necessary to make this kill of the witnesses, to be in all places at the same time, but that it fell out among us at this time; the words following in the Text plainly show; for after that time of three days and a half, the Spirit of Life entered into them, and they lived again as Prophets, and were restored, and great fear fell upon men. Those that were Actors in killing them, desired them to go and desire their freedom, which was quickly and easily granted, they were glad to be rid of them: * Ornati ●; ummo honore & gloria ad exemplum Ch●isti qui post mortem debellatam sublatus est in caelum quod autem vox auditur jubens ascendere eo significatur non aspiraturas prophetas ad hoc honoris suo in arte sed aliorum authoritate collo candas esse in isto fa●●igio pu●a Sol●●ni aliqua principum sanctiore. Brightman in Locum. And further, to confirm this, It follows in the Text, that there was a great voice from Heaven, saying unto them, Come up hither. Heaven is the highest part of the visible World, and it resembles men in highest place and power, King, and Parliament; And this great voice from Heaven was from the State; and you said to poor despised Preachers, Come up hither; You gave them countenance and encouragement, even before their Adversaries; You said to the proud prelatical idle Clergy, Come down hither; and I think you said well; But to the godly despised Ministers of the Gospel, you said, Come up, ascend higher; and you gave them respect; But now there is a voice from the Earth, which saith, Come down hither. The people that Petitioned you against the maintenance of the Ministry, they say, Come down to us, you are too high, do as we do, work for your living as we do. Whether this voice from Heaven or Earth shall prevail? We leave it with you and the God of Heaven to determine: Only let me give you an Item, to take heed in this case of doing, as David did between Mephibosheth and Ziba 2 Sam. 16.3, 4. He accused Mephibosheth that he aspired after the Kingdom, and looked after great matters; and when the Innocent lame man had opportunity to make his own defence, yet David unjustly gave away half his Land to his Accuser, 2 Sam. 19.29. They are like enough to say of us, W●e would get higher, and we look after great matters; but take heed of dividing upon such a false surmise; and give one half away to satisfy their desires, and leave the other half for us to live upon in a poor manner. But I forbear the further pressing of these things, and in a word return to the first Branch of my Exhortation: I beseech you give us nothing but gold; let not your Authority countenance any thing but what is good and precious; You are Gods Merchants, and you should have put off more than you have done: Many things come before you, little is settled. It were an evil thing, for many Causes to come before a Judge and nothing to be determined; The Lord quicken your spirits, and guide you in your way. And for you the people of this Land, be wise to judge of things as they are indeed; There is gold to be had, and white raiment, the Lord Jesus Christ would sell you these; You sometimes cheapen them, and inquire after them, but you go not through with the bargain. Who would want gold in his purse, and good raiment upon his back, if he could have them? You may have these if you will, and it will be a horrid thing in the day of your account, to render and return poor naked souls before Go, that might have been enriched and clothed. FINIS.