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 I THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, ^ 
 
 Princets>n, N. J. 
 
 ( fV/.sv, Division. .0,V:^.Srr....Al 
 
 Ji 
 
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 !» \ 
 
,<^t^^^iJ^>r*. 
 
 The ADVANTAGE of the 
 
 Kingdom of Chrift, 
 
 In the Shaking of the 
 
 Kingdoms of the World ; 
 OR, 
 
 Providential Alterations in their Sub 
 ferviency to C H R I S T^ Exal^ 
 tation^ 
 
 Opened in a 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached to the 
 
 .PARLIAMENT, 
 
 A folemn Day of THANKSGIVING 
 for the Deftrudion of the 5 C T^ 
 Army at IVorceJier^ with fundry 
 other Mercies. 
 
 By John OwEN^, Mimjicr of the Gojpcl. 
 
 Vol. U 
 
 LONDON, 
 Printed for J o s e p h M a r s h a l l at the 
 
 Bit/c in Kcwgiitc-flrrct, 1720. 
 
Tuef day the 2 8. o( OSloher^ 1^51. 
 
 Ordered by the Parliament, 
 
 THA T the Thanks of this Uoiife he given to 
 Mr. Owen Dean of Chr ift-Church in 
 Oxford, y^r his great Tains taken in his Sermon 
 preached before /^^ P a R L i a m e n T at Mar- 
 garef i" Weflminfter, on Friday the 24/6 of 0£lo- 
 ber, ( being a Day fet apart for Vuhlick Thankf- 
 giving:) And that he he defired to Frint his Ser- 
 mon: And that he have the like Vrivilege in 
 Printing the fame^ as others in like Cafe have ufurU 
 ly had. And that the Lord General do give him \ he 
 Thanks of this Houje, and defire him to Frint his 
 Sermon accordingly. 
 
 Hen. Scobell^ Cler. Parh 
 
T O T H E 
 
 Supreme Authority of the Nation, 
 
 The COMMONS AlFcmblcd in 
 
 PAPvLIAMENT. 
 
 Right Honourable, 
 
 F all the Times tvhich the Holy One o^ 
 Ifrael hath canjcd to pafs over the Kation^ 
 of the JVorldy there hath not any (from the 
 T>ays of Old) been Jo filled uith eminent 
 Dtfccveries of his Prefence, Power^ and Frj^ 
 vtdence in difpofwg of all Affairs here Below ^ 
 according to the Couniel ot his own Will, 
 as the Scdfon wbcrem he hath made lou a Spc(^acle unto 
 Men and Angels, being the Injirumnit in his Hand, to prr- 
 form ail his Flcafurc. JMcitber in this Sealcn hath he^ 
 upon any Opportunity^ fo ghrioufly laid huld upon his own 
 Strength and Goodnejs^ to manifcjt the Fixcdnels of his Eye 
 on thofe who are as the Apple of it, as in that mighty Dc- 
 liveranee^ the high Praifes whereof^ according to his good 
 Hand upon you, you Utcly rcndred unto him. 
 
 The more Beauty and Vefirablenefs any I^efjgn again jl tJjc 
 Lord Chrifi is cloathcd withal^ the more Power ard Subiilty 
 it is fupported with^ the greater is the Br'ie.htuvh of his 
 Coming for its Wajhng and Vefolation, fVith what Dc- 
 ceivablcnefs of Unrighteoufncfs, and Lyes in Hypocrily, 
 the late grand Attempt of thofe in Scotland, with then Ad^ 
 herents^ (which alfo was of the former, ani is gone into Dc- 
 firuUion) was carried on^ is^ in fomc meajur , now made 
 fiskcd to the loathing of its Abominations. In digi^ing deip^ 
 to lay a Foundation for Blood and Revenge ; ;/; covering pri^ 
 vate and fordid Ends^ with a Pretence of Ihings puhlick and 
 glorious ; in limning a face of Kdigion upon a worldly Sto^k ; 
 in concealing difiant Aims and bloody Annrnfities^ to cowpjfs 
 $ne Common End^ that a Iheatre might be provided to ail 
 
 A 3 fvcral 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory 
 
 feveral Parts upon ; in pleading a Mcefjiy frvn? an Oath of 
 God UHto moji dtfprate Undertakings againji God ; and 
 fuch-lih Ihings as thfe: Ferhapy it gives not place to any 
 rJhich fortnet Ages have been acauainted withal. Notp ta 
 rejeli all the Claims of the Authors and Abettors thereof^ 
 to any Commifton from Above, to diveft them of all Pretences 
 to Religion and Zeal thereof^ to difappoint them in their ex^ 
 peeled A{fociations^ and to mak^ all their Strength to become 
 as Tow that hath frock the Fire, hath been his Workalone^ 
 who takes to himfelf his great Power, to carry on the In- 
 tereft of his Kingdom againji all Oppofers, Vndcr the 
 Ihadow of this Mercy^ compofed of as many Branches of 
 Wifdom^ Popper^ Goednefs^ and Faithfulnejs^ as any out- 
 ward Vifpcnfation hath brought forth^ fince the Name of 
 Chriniatt was known, d§ lou now fit in Council^ and the 
 Kefidueofih Nation in Peace, What Obligations from the 
 Lord ? What Cords of Love are upon us ? The Returnal 
 and Improvement of all his Dealings with us^ which he re- 
 quireth and expcUeth from us^ I have pointed you unto in the 
 following Sernion. For the prefent, I jhall only add^ that' 
 as whatever there hath been, of Beauty^ Glory^ or Advantage 
 unto the People of God in the late Jranfaltions^ hath been 
 eminently of undefcrved Grace ; fi the dreadful Vengeance 
 which the Lord hath executed againji the Men of his Enmity 
 and Warfare^ hath hen mpft righteoufly procured, by their 
 cloathing curfed Vefigns of Revenge^ Perfecution^ Bondage in 
 Soul and Body, Spoil and Rapine^ with the mofl glorious 
 Pretences of Zcal^ Covenant^ Eefermation^ and fuchM^e 
 Things^ which mvir came into their Hearts, Therefore^ that 
 ih^ God of all our Mercies and Deliverances weuld for ever 
 keep alive in your Hearts a faithful Acknowledgement of his 
 Grace^ and a pratlical Detefiation of thofe Ways which are 
 flich a Provocation to the Lyes of his Glory ^ Jhall be the con^ 
 jiant Prayer of\ 
 
 From my Your moA humble Servant 
 
 Study, Ch, 
 
 Ch, Oxon. Ui our dearcft Lord, 
 
 Nov. 7* 
 
 John Owe?/. 
 
The ADVANTAGE of the 
 
 Kingdom of Chrift, ire 
 
 E Z E K. xvii. 24. 
 
 Ani all the trees of the field pall knovff that I 
 the Lord have brought down the high tree, 
 and have exalted the lovo tree, have dried up 
 the green tree, and have made the dry tree to 
 flourijl) : I the Lord have fpoken it, and have 
 done it, 
 
 although all the Works of God's Provi- 
 dence, (which are ireat, and fought 
 cut of all that have Fleafurc in them, 
 Pfal. III. 7.) have fuch a Stamp and 
 Imprefs of his own Image on them, 
 his Wifdom, Goodncfs, Power, Love, 
 that they declare their Author, and reveal from Hea- 
 ven his Kindnels and Wrath towards the Children of 
 
 A i Men, 
 
6 the Advantage of the Kingdom of Chrijt^ &c. 
 
 Men, FfaL jp. i, 2. Rom. i. i8. A&s 27. 26, 27. 
 Yet lucii are the Prejudices, Lulls, Inordinacy of At- 
 feaions and Interefts of many, that it hath always 
 htm a long and difficult Task to convince them of his 
 Trefence in them, when it hath been moil uncon- 
 trollably evident. 
 
 The Egyptians will wreftle with many a Plague, by 
 thinking the Magicians can do fo^ Exod. 7. 11, 12, 
 and the ?hilijiincs will try to the utmoll whether it 
 be his liand^ or a Chance^ that it hapned to them, 
 I Sam. 6. 9. Lord (fairh the Prophet) when thy hand 
 is lifted lip^ they will not fee ^ lia. 16. 11. 
 
 Yea, of ten-times, (er^pcchlly wh^n judicial Blindnefs 
 is gone forth upon them, Ifa, 6. 11, 12.) though they 
 cannot but iee his Arm awaked, as of old, and made 
 bare, they will not reft in his fbveraign Difpolal of 
 Things, but rife up againfl the Works of his Revenge 
 and Hoiinels: like Wild Beafts that are purfued, 
 when all Ways of Efcape and Turning are fliut up, 
 they fly in the Face of him that follows them : They 
 repent not of their evil deeds, bta bite their tongues 
 for anger, and blafpheme theGodofheaven^ Rev. i^. 
 
 10, IT. 
 
 Yea, fuch is the Power of deceivable LuJIs, that 
 many will admire at the Blindnefs of others in former 
 Generations, who confidered not the Works of God, 
 (as the Jetvs in the Wildernefs,) when themfelves are 
 under aflual Contempt of no lels glorious Difpenfi- 
 tions ^ like the Fharifees, who bewailed the Folly of 
 jher Fathers in perfecuting the Frophets, when Them- 
 ielves were endeavouring to kill the Son of God^ 
 Matth. 2^ 29, 30. 
 
 To bring then upon the Spirits of Men a Convi^ion 
 of the Works of God, and his Righteoufnefs therein, 
 lb as to prevail with them to reft in his Determina- 
 tion of Things, is a Task meet only for him who 
 
 knows 
 
preach d to the ParUament^ Oft. 24. 1651, 
 
 knows all their Hearts w"thin them, and can carry on 
 the Iflbes ot his Providence, until to a man thcv Jhall 
 fiiy^ Verily there is a revOiird for the righteous : ve- 
 rily he is a God vrho juJgeth in the earth, PfaL 58. 11, 
 and this is that which the Lord here undertakes to 
 accomplilh. xind, laith he, all the trees^ &c. 
 
 In the Preaching and Prophelying oi'Ezekiel, this 
 one thing, among others, is eminent, that he was 
 Art if ex Faraboliiruf?!, a wonderiul Framcr oiSimiH- 
 tudes and Parables, Ezek. 20. 45. a way of Teach- 
 ing, attended with much Evidence, Clearneft, and 
 Power. 
 
 In particular, he frequently compares the World 
 to a Held, or a Foreji, and the Inhabitants of it to 
 the Trees therein. An AUufion exceedingly proper, 
 confidering the great Variety, and Difterence ot'Con- 
 dirion both of the one and the other. The Trees of 
 the Held are fome hi^h, fbme low, fome green, fbme 
 dry, Ibme ftrong, rbme weak, fome lofty, fbme con- 
 temptible, ibixit fr^jtjul, fome barren, fome ufeful, 
 fome altogether uj^hifs : So that you have all forts of 
 Perfons, High and Low, of what Condition, Relation, 
 or Interelt ibever, clearly reprefented by the Trees of 
 the Field ; and thefe are the Trees in my Text. 
 
 This Chapter, unto ver, 22. is taken up in a Rid- 
 dle, a Parable, with the Expofition of it, chap. 17. 2. 
 The Time being come, that God would dellroy the 
 Outward Viilble Monarchy of the Jews, for their 
 Falle-worfliip, Tyranny, Perfecution, and Opprdlion ^ 
 he employs the King of Babylon in that Work, 2 Qjron, 
 ^6, 17. who fubdues the Nation, takes away two 
 Kings one after another, and appoints Zedekiah a 
 Titulary Governor under him, 2 Kings 14. t, 2, ?. 
 But the Wrath of God being to come upon xhora to 
 the uttermoft, he alio clofes with Egypt, rebels againlt 
 him by whofe Appointment alone he had any Right 
 
 A 4 to 
 
8 The Advantage of the Kivgdcm of Chrifi. 6cc, 
 
 m II ■ « I ■ . — .- 
 
 to ^ be a Ruler, ver, i6. lb Way is made, by his 
 Ruin, ro r-t an End to the Kingly Reign of the Houfe 
 O^Dav'h- Jerufale7n, Jer. 29. 16, 17. 
 
 The T .-rd had, of old, ere£led a Kingly Govern- 
 tnent ir/;!^:" Houfe of David. Not for any Emi- 
 nency in^-; Government it felf, or for the Civil 
 Advantage I that People •, for he had long before 
 chofen and- c 'blifhed another, confifting oi feven- 
 ty elders of the people^ Numb. 11. 24. to whom 
 he added Prophets and Judges extraordinarily railed 
 up in leveral Generations, according to his Promife, 
 J^eut^ t8. 18. which when the People rejefled, he 
 faid. They reje^ed him, or his Inftitution, i Sam, 8. 7. 
 but that it might be ^ + Type of the Spiritual Domi- 
 nion of their MeJJiah, and fo was a part of their Pe- 
 dagoj^ie and Bondage, as were the refidue of their 
 Types every one of them'^ yea, the molt glorious En- 
 joyn-ienti whatlbever, which were granted them, which 
 did vet reprefent Ibmething that was afterwards to be 
 brought in, was part of that fervile Estate wherein 
 God kept that People, that without us they fhould 
 not be made perfeO:. But now this Carnal People 
 beholding the "outward Beauty, Luftre, and Glory of 
 the Type, they began to relt in it, to the negle£l 
 of the Spiritual \\ Kingdom of Chrift reprefented 
 thereby. And thus did they with the reft of their 
 Types, until the Lord deftroyed all their outward 
 Pomp and Glory, Ifa. i, 11, 12. ^er. 7.4, 14, 15:. 
 So in particular dealt he with their Kingly Govern- 
 ?z?^^?r, when -once they began to account their iB^;?- 
 dage their Glo?% and to embrace the Shadow inftead 
 
 * ]er. ^7. I. 2 Kings 24. 17. 2 Chron. 56. 10. 2 Sam. r,' 
 ii,&:i2.io. tPfal»45.6. Hor.3. 5. ini.9-7.&i^» 
 
 5, & 22.22. Jcr. 25. $, Amos p, 11. Ezek. 54. 25,240 & 
 37.24,2^. (] j'Cor. xc» n. Afts 15. 10, Gal. 3.4. 
 
preaclfd to the Pjrliament^Od. 24. 1651. 9 
 
 of the SubjJimcc. And this did he, to recall them 
 ro a lerious Confideration ot the Tendency of all 
 lypiCid Inflitutions, and the Dcfign he ' '^^ carrying 
 on, concerning the Kingdom of Chrilt. 
 
 Hence vcr. 22. of this Chapter, hecaj' *i|em from 
 their Thou^htfulnefs about the Dclhu" JTOelbla- 
 tions, and Conrenticns tiiat were ar :gU them in 
 reference to their Civil Rule, to the .onfideration of 
 that Defign, which he was fecretly and iilently car- 
 rying on under all thefe Difpenfations : / ziv// nlfo 
 take of the highcfi branch of the high cedar ^ and will 
 Jet jt^ I mil crop off from the top of his young twigs 
 a tender one^ and will plant it upon an high mountain 
 and eminent. In the ??iountain of the height of Ifrael 
 imll I plant it :• and it fhall bring forth boughs^ and 
 hear fruity and be a goodly cedar: and under it fhall 
 dwell all fowl of every wing^ in the fhadow of the 
 branches thereof fhall they dwell. 
 
 As if the Lr^rd fliould fjy ^ There is a great Noife 
 in the World about letting up and plucking down of 
 Kings in this their carnal Rule, and many of you lee 
 nothing elle, you will look no fanher j but I alio 
 have my Work in hand, my Defign is not bounded 
 •within theie Limits and outward Appearances, 1 am 
 letting up a King that fhall have another manner of 
 Dominion and Rule than thefe Worms of the Earth. 
 He fl-)all fiand^ as Micah 5:. 4. 
 
 The letting up, then, of the Kingdom of Chrift, 
 vdho is the highefl branch of the high cedar ^ and plant- 
 ing it in the Church, the mountain of Ifrael^ with 
 the Profperity hereof, and the Safety of him that fliall 
 dwell therein, is the Subjeft of t;^;*. 22. chap, 2?. 
 
 This being thir, to the Confideration whereof God 
 here calls his People in fuch a Seafon, I fjiall name 
 one or two Obltr\ acions from this connexion of the 
 
 Words. 
 
 Obf. 
 
10 The Advantage of the Kingdom ofChrifl.Scc. 
 
 ObfjJ] In the midft of all the Tu?mlts and 
 Embroilments of the Nations, that which the Lord 
 takes peculiarly as his own L)efign, into his own Ma- 
 nagement^ is the carrying on of the Kingdom of the Lord 
 Jejus. You are about your Work ( laiih che Lord,) I 
 alio am about mine 5 you have your branches and 
 cedars^ I alio have one to plant that fJiall tiourilh. 
 
 Dan. 2. 44. In the days of thefe kings fl? all the God 
 cf heaven Jet up a kingdom that fhall never be deflroy- 
 ed^ &€. Were not thole Kings and Kingdoms alfb of 
 his letting up, that it is laid, in their days he (hall 
 let up one of his own > Yea, doubtlefs, tie chang- 
 eth the times and the feafons : he-fetteth up Kings^ 
 and removeth Kin^s^ Dan. 2. 21. He ruleth in the 
 kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomfoever he will^ 
 chap. 4. 25r. There is not a perfecuring Pharaoh^ but 
 he raifes him up for his o-n purpoje^ Exod. 9. 16. 
 But yet, in refpeS of the Kingdom of his Son, he 
 fpeaks of them as if he had nothing to do with them ^ 
 In their days I will do my own Work, advance the 
 Kingdom of the Lord Chrili 
 
 There are great and mighty Works in hand in this 
 Nation ^ Tyrants are puniflied, the Jaws of Oppreffors 
 are broken, bloody, revengeful Perlecutors difap- 
 poinred, and, we hope. Governors fet up, that may 
 be jufl^ ruling in the fear of the Lord^ that may be 
 as the hght of the morning^ &:c. 2 Sam. 23. ?, 4. 
 The Hand of the Lord hath been wonderfully exalted 
 in all thele Things : But yet, ll:iould we relt in them, 
 fliould they not be brought into an immediate Sub- 
 ferviency to the Kingdom of the Lord Jefus, the 
 Lord will quickly diltinguifh between them, and his 
 own peculiar Defign, and lay. In the days oj thefe 
 changes, I will do fo and fo ^ fpeak of them, as if he 
 had nothing to do with them. The carrying on of the 
 Interelt of Chrift, is his peculiar Aim , he, of his Good- 
 nefs, make it ours alfo. Qbf. 
 
peach'dto the Varliarnent^ Ocl. 24. 1651. 1 1 
 
 Ohf. 2."1 Among all the Dcflgns that are on foot in 
 the IVor/J, there is none that hath either P,/bi//ty. fix- 
 edncfs, or final fucccjs^ hut only the dejl^n of God 
 concerning the kingdom of ChnJL ^ Other Bunches 
 may be iet, but the Branch of the Lord only pro- 
 ipcrs : The likdkil appearances ot other Undertakings, 
 are but as the glorious rifing of the Sun in the Morn- 
 ing, quickly clouded. The Inrerdt otChrilt is like 
 Jojcpb, Gen. 4 9. 23, 24. Oft-times the Archers (hoot 
 at it and//7>w ;/ : but in the dole, the Bow thereof 
 abides in Itiength •, and therefore this is the Klue of 
 all Difpv.nfations,T/,v// the Kingdoms andXations are at 
 length to be poffifjed by the Lord Chrijf^ Ila. 6c. 1 2, 
 13. Rev. II. 15. his Sheaf (landing up, and all 0- 
 thers bowing thereunro. 
 
 And unto the confideration of thefe things, in the 
 midlt of all the Tumults in the World, doth God 
 eSeftujlly recall his People, and withal tells them how 
 he will carry it on, in the words of my Text, And 
 all the trees^ &c. 
 
 In the words, three Things are to bg obferved : 
 
 I. The Work that God afcnbes to hiwjclf-^ and that 
 he fetsdown under a two-fold hmilitude: 
 
 1. Of pulling down the high tree^ and Jetting up the 
 low tree, 
 
 2. Of drying up the green tree^ and ?naking the dry 
 tree to HourifJ). 
 
 And both thele Similitudes are coincident, ferving 
 only in this redoubling, for the clearer illuHration oi' 
 that which they (liadow out. 
 
 *<• Hagg. 2. 6. 6, 7. Hcb. 12.25,27. Ifj. 8. 9, \o.cbsp. 9. 
 7. cfc4^ 46. lu. d:A^. 53. 10. I'fal. 33.11. Vrov. 19. 31. 
 iha^» l\.^ 30. Job 23. 13, 
 
 2. Thcr€ 
 
2 The Advantage of the Kingdo?n of Chrifl &c. 
 
 2. There is the IJfu^ that God will carry this out 
 unto, in refpeli of others ^ All the trees of the field 
 flmll know. 
 
 9. A particular Ajjurance that the 'Lord, gives for 
 the accomplijhment of all this, from the engageinent of 
 Us 'Name, I the Lord, ^c 
 
 For the firft, the expreffion of the Work of the 
 Lord, may be taken two ways : i. Stri^lly and fro- 
 perly, 2. Largely, and by the way of Analogy and 
 Proportion. 
 
 In the firft way, you may confider, 
 
 1. The Tree that is to be caft down andwithered, 
 and that is the high tree^ and the green tree : A tree 
 that, in their Eyes, had both Beauty and Vigour, high 
 and green : This was the Judaical Kingdom, admired 
 and delighted in by the Jews : This, lays God, I will 
 reieO: ^ as alfo he will many a tall Eliab, that even 
 lome Samuels may think to be his Anointed. 
 
 2. The Tree that is to be exalted and made to 
 flourifh, and that is the low tree, the dry tree, con- 
 temptible for Growth^ it is low. ufelefs for Fruity 
 it is dry. And this is the Ipiritual Kingdom of the 
 MeJJiah, contemned, defpiled 5 this, fiys God, I will 
 exalt, carry on, and make glorious : For though the 
 Intereft of Chrift and the Golpel may feem low and 
 dry for a fealbn, in compirifon of the Glory of other 
 flourifhing Interefts, yet in theiffiie, it (hall be exalted 
 above them all. 
 
 5. As taken more Largely^ and by the way 0^ Ana- 
 logy ', and fo the high and the green tree are the 
 things of the molt glorious appearance in the World, 
 Perfons and States, that feem to be exceedingly fuit- 
 ed for the Work that God hath to do ; that are in 
 the greatelt probability to be eminently inftrumental 
 in his Hand : but alas, fays> God, thefe I will pull 
 downandcaufe to wither. Perhaps you will thinkit 
 
 ftrange, 
 
peaclfdtotheParlument,0&.2\. 1651. 13 
 
 flrange, that a mighty Monarchy, a triumphing Pre- 
 lacy, a thriving Contormity, fliould all be brought 
 down ^ but fo it fliall be, Every mountain Jhalt b» 
 made a plain. 
 
 2. The loxc tree^ and the dry tree^ are Things, Per- 
 ibns, Aflemblics, outwardly weak and contemp- 
 tible, luch as wife Men do verily believe that God will 
 never ufe : They will not understand that fuch Mofes» 
 fliall be Deliverers, E^cod. 2. 14. but cry. Who made 
 them Judges and Rulers ? Ath 7. 27. But even thefe 
 will God exalt and caufe to flourilli : Every valley 
 Jlhill he exalted. 
 
 Two Obfcrvations flow from hence, which I fhall 
 infift upon. 
 
 1. In the carrying on of the Inter eji of Chriji and 
 theGoJpe/y Godmlluork wonderful providential Al- 
 terations. 
 
 2. the aUings of God's Providence, in carrying on 
 the Inter eji oj ChriU^ Jhall be exceedingly unfuited to 
 the Reafonings and Expeffations of the moJloftheSoni 
 cfMen, 
 
 Some Trees mull be pluck'd down, and fome rai- 
 fed up^ yea, high Trees thrown down, and the low 
 caufed to tiourilh. 
 
 2. There is the IJfue of God's thus dealing in re- 
 fpefl of others, Jll the trees of the field, ^c. By the 
 trees of the f eld, are meant Men oi all forts that are 
 concerned in thefe TranlaSions , and herein you may 
 obferve two things : 
 
 1. Something intimated, and that is an unwilling- 
 nels in Men to own thefe Dilpenfations of God : 
 Hence the Lord undertakes himlclf to fct on a Con- 
 viftion upon them, as a thing of j^reat difficulty. 
 
 2. Something exprrj]cd, which is the G'nv-£^ion 
 itfelfj that fliall, in the llliie, fall upon ihcm, not- 
 
 vvitli- 
 
14 The Advantage of the Kingdom ofChrifl^dcc. 
 
 withftanding all their reluSlancy. Hence alfo are thele 
 two Oblervations. 
 
 I. Men are exceeding unwilling to fee and own the 
 hand, of God^ in thofe Works of his Providence which 
 anfmr not their Reafonings^ Interejis^ and Expe&a- 
 tions, 
 
 7, The Lord will not cenfe walking contrary to the 
 carnal Reafonings of Men ^ in his mighty Works, for the 
 carrying on of the Inter ejl of the Lord Jefus, until his 
 Hand befeen, ownd, and confeffed. 
 
 For what remains concerning the affurance of the 
 Accomplifhment ot all this from the engagement of his 
 'Name, 1 (hall only add, 
 
 That the Power and faithfulnefs of God are enga- 
 ged in the carrying on the things of the Kingdom of 
 ChriH, to the convidion of the mojl flubborn Oppo- 
 fers. 
 
 I begin with the firft. 
 
 In the carrying on the Inter efi qfChrifl and the Go- 
 Jpel, God toill work wonderful providential Alterations 2 
 Alterations among the Trees of the Field, Nations, 
 States, and Men on the Earth. 
 
 When the beginning of the Saints departure from 
 under the Dominion of Antichrift, was followed 
 with Wars, Tumults, and Deflru£lions, it was ob- 
 jefled to Luther, That, that DoQrine could not be 
 of God, which was attended with fuch Defolations : 
 He reply d, according to the Vigour of his Spirit, Ego 
 nifi tumultus ijlos viderem, Chrijium in inundo ejje 
 non crcderem \ Did he not lee thole Tumults, he 
 would not believe that Chrift was come forth into 
 the World. 
 
 The Lord tells you how he will bring on his King- 
 dom, hag. 7. 6, 7. / Will fhake the heavens and the 
 earth, and the fea^ and the dry landt And I will fhake 
 all nations^ and the dcfire oj all nations fh all come, &c. 
 
 The 
 
preach' d to the Par!'uime'ni^Q&,. 24, 1 65 r. 15 
 
 The drjire oj the nations^ is to be brought in, by the 
 Jhaking oj the nations. They arc to be civilly moved, 
 that they may be fpintually eftablifhed. Neither 
 are they only to be (hakcn, but alio to undergo great 
 Alterations in their (bakings. Ucb, 12. 27. This word 
 once more^ fignijics the removing of thoje things that 
 are fhtiken, as of things that arc made^ that ihofe 
 things that cannot be fJ?akcn may remain. They mult 
 have a removal as well as a (baking ^ fxcra'-^^tcrtv, a 
 change, a trandation. Molt Nations in their Civil 
 Conftitution lie out of order, for the bringing in of 
 the Intereft of Chrift : They mult be (haken up, 
 and new difpoled of, that all OMtacles may be ta- 
 ken away. The day of the Gofpel is not only terri- 
 ble in its dif covering light ^ and as it is a trying fur- 
 nace^ MaL 9. 2. but alio in its devouring fury ^ as it 
 is a confuming oven, chap. 4. i. 
 
 There are three principal fealbns of the Lord's emi- 
 nent appearance to carry on the Kingdom of Chrilt, 
 and the Gofpel, and all attended with dreadful /?;'r>i;;- 
 dential Alterations : And unto one of thele Heads, may 
 all particular Aftings be reduced. 
 
 I. The firlt is, the promulgation of the Gofpel a- 
 mong the Jews, by the Lord Chrilt himfelf, and his 
 Apoltles : What this was attended withal, is graphi- 
 cally delcribed, -^^//, 24. 6,7. Andyefhallhear cfiKars^ 
 and rumours of wars ^ Yor nation fhall rife againjl nation^ 
 and kingdom againfl kingdom^ and there flmll he famines^ 
 and pcflilences, and earthquakes in divers f laces. And 
 the clofe of it you have ver, 29. Immediately after 
 the tribulation of thofe days ^ fhall the Sun be darkned^ 
 and the Moon fJ)all not give her light ^ an<i the Stars 
 fhall fall from Heaven, and the Potccrs of Heaven fhall 
 beflmkcn. The Judaical State in all the Height and 
 Glory of it, was utterly confumed ^ lb that all flefly^ 
 ^11 the Jews, were in danger of utter Ddlruflion, ver. 
 
 22. 
 
1 6 The Advantage of the Kingdom of Chrijl^ 6cc. 
 
 22. Their own Hiftorian himfelf, a Jew, atSrming, 
 That from the Foundation of the World, never was 
 there fuch a Deftru£lion and Delblation brought up- 
 on any Nation. Which words of his, are a Com- 
 ment on that Prediftion of our Saviour, Matt, 24. 21. 
 and the Reaifon of this eminent Defolation you have 
 Jfa, 9. 5;, 6. 
 
 2; The fecond is, in the further catrying on of the 
 Gofpel after the Dellru^ion of Jerufalem^ through- 
 out the World of the Gentiles, fubje£t then in a great 
 proportion to the Ro?nan Empire. And what is the 
 Iflue hereof? The the opening of the fix Seals imme- 
 diately follows thereon, Rev, 6. Which ( after mani- 
 fold and various alterations) end in that dreadful 
 Diffolution of the Pagan Empire, which you have 
 delcribed from ver. 14, to the end. 
 
 3. The moft fignal, is, the coming of the Lord Chrift, 
 to recover his People from Antichriftian Idolatry and 
 Oppreflion ^ which, of all others, is and (hall be at- 
 tended with the moft afionidiing Alterations and De- 
 iblations, pulling down of high Trees, and exalting 
 them that are low : Thence is that War, delcribed 
 Rev. 17. 14. and that mighty Vengeance poured out 
 by the Lord Chrift on the Nations, their Kings and 
 Captains, chap. 19. ver, 11, to the end; which the 
 Holy Ghoft defcribes, by a colleSion of all the moft 
 dreadful Expreflions which are any where uled to let 
 ort great Devaftations, in the Old Teftament. 
 
 And this is the Head whereunto the prefent Agings 
 oj Providence in this Nation are to be referred, they 
 all tend to the accomplifliment of his main Defign 
 therein. He that thinks Babylon is confined to Ro?ne 
 and its open Idolatry, knows nothing of Baby /on^ nor 
 of the new Jerufalem : The depth of fubtile Myftery 
 doth not lie in grofs vifible Folly ^ it hath been in- 
 ijnuating itfelf into all the Nations for 1600 Years, 
 
 and 
 
preac/ydto the Parlument, Oft. :?4.i65i. i7 
 
 and, to molt of them, is now become as the Marrow 
 in their Bones : Before it be wholly (haken our. thcfe 
 Heavens mult be dillblved, an:I the T.mh Ihaken^ 
 their tall Trees hewed down, an : iet a howl'ng. Rev, 
 1 8. and the refidue ot them tranlplanied from one 
 end of the Earth to another. 
 
 This, I lay then, is the Work that the Lord hath 
 now in hand ^ And this is a Day oF Thankfii nels, in 
 reference to what he hath done for us in this Nuion. 
 I know no better way of Praifing God for any Work 
 than the finding out of his Defign therein, and doling 
 with him in ir. God hath gone with you (I hope) 
 now to the end of your Work ^ leave him nor, until 
 he comes to the end of his. He hath compelled you 
 to go zviih him one inile for your own Good ^ go 
 with him two for his Glory. The two Tribes and in 
 half fate not down in their own Polieflions, until the 
 whole Work of the Lord was done. I fpeak not 
 with refpefl to any Fngagements of War with Foreign 
 Nations \ what have I to do with Things that are 
 above me ^. You will find Work enough for your 
 Zeal to the Kingdom of Chrift at Home ^ and cnis 
 is the Work of Thanktulncls which ye are called 
 unto. 
 
 Now the Reafbns of this, are, 
 
 '^enf. I.] Becaufe amongft all Men, where the 
 Kingdom oj Chrift is to be let up, there is lbmerhinc» 
 or other poflcfled, which he alone muft and will 
 have •, and therefore the Lord, giving Jefus Chrift 
 but his own Inheritance, it mult needs bj arrcnded 
 with great Alterations. I dare fay, until of late 
 (whatever now is) there was not any State or Na- 
 tion in the World, where the Name of Chrift is 
 known, but thai there was an Intrenchmcnt upon that 
 Which is the pure Portion and Inheritance r»f the 
 Lord Chrift, and that dctainc-d with FalihooJ ani 
 Vol.11, B Force» 
 
1 8 The Advantage of the Kingdom ofChrift^ &c. 
 
 Force. Yea, fuch is the fo//y and bl'indnefs of the 
 molt of Men, that they thiri their greatell Intereft 
 lies, in holding that faft, which Chrift will take 
 from rhem : Pharaoh like, that thought it the great 
 Advantage of his Kingdom, not to let the People go, 
 when it proved the R^ine of him and his Land. 
 This, I dare fay, will in the Ifliie be the Ruine of all, 
 or molt of the tall Trees of Europe •, they have 
 grafped much of the Power of Chrift, and endeavour 
 to impofe on the Confciences of his in the Worfhip 
 ot God, or otherwile opprefs them in what he hath 
 purchafed for them ^ and, by a dreadful Millake, they 
 luppole their own Intereft lies therein, which makes 
 them hold faft, until Chrift hath fhaken rhem all to 
 pieces, and taken away even that alio which was 
 their own. The late King had learned a Saying 
 from his Predeceflbr, No Bifloop^ no King : Hence he 
 fuppofes his main Intereft in holding faft Trelacy ; 
 whatever he feems to part withal, that he will not let 
 go, that's his main Intereft : And what is tVisTrelacy^ 
 a meer Antichriftian encroachment upon the Inherit- 
 ance of Chrift. Chrift coming to take his own, 
 (hakes the other to pieces ^ thole who would have 
 been our Oppreflbrs in Scotland^ but that God hath 
 crulhed the Cockatrice in the (hell, and filled the 
 pit with their dead bodies which they had digged 
 for us li they alio had prepared a Procrujies bed^ a 
 heavy yoke, a heafl that had it grown to perfeSion, 
 would have had horns and hoofs •, and in maintaining 
 this, they think their great Intereft to lie. 
 
 And in holding this faft, are they, after all their Al^ 
 Ibciations, broken in pieces : And this is one Caule. 
 
 Reaf. 2.] The Works that God hath to do in fuch 
 a leafon, require it : God hath three great Works to 
 do, iii the day of his carrying on the Intereft of Chrift 
 and the Golpel : 
 
 I He 
 
preached to the Parliament^ Od. 24 1 6 5 1 19 
 
 1. He hath great Revenges to take. 
 
 2. He hath great l^clivcranccs to tcorL 
 
 . ^ 3. //(? hath great Di/covenes to make. I (hall 
 but touch on each. 
 I. He hath great Revenges to take \ and that on 
 three lorts of Krlons : 
 
 1. On Opprejfing Babylonians ^ Faire-VVcrHiippers 
 and Perfecutors : Whillt the Bride isprtp.irin^ tor the 
 Lord Chri/}^ he goes forth, with the Armies of heaven 
 fo//owing him, ta take Vengeance on theie hib Enemies, 
 Rev. 1 9. 1 1 . * Thefe are the Ahfoloms^ the Ulurpers 
 of his Throne, the Hamans, the Forcers of his Spouie, 
 the chiefelt Advcrlaries of his Kingdom ; He Jh all fill 
 f I aces with dead bodies of the/e, and, upon this account, 
 vjound the heads over many countries, Pfal. iic. 6. 
 The axe is laid to the root of many a tall tree on 
 this fcore, even in this Nation where he is reckoning 
 for Blood, and impofition of Yokes ; and he hath 
 found out Men inheriting this Spirit from one Gene- 
 ration to another. 
 
 2. Scoffing Edoniites : There is a two-fold Quarrel 
 that God hath with that Generation of Men. 
 
 1. Their rejoycing at Sion's Difircfs^ and de firing 
 its Encreafe, rial. 157. 7. 
 
 2. Their endeavour to deftroy the refidue. wbcii at 
 any time Itreightned, Ohed. vcr. 14. How many, in 
 the late trial, rcjoyced in the Straights of Sion^ 
 that fite expefting our Dcltrudion, that they mif ht 
 have riiln to Itand in the crofs-u\iys to have cut off 
 them that clcaped, wherewith (hould they have recon- 
 ciled themlclves to tl.eir Maltcr, but wiih rhe Heads 
 of the Icrvants ofChrilt ?» (-od hath Vengeance in 
 fuch a day as this {'oiFJom alfb. 
 
 * Ifai. 43. 14. jcr. 25.12. chaf. 51. 35. Rev. i5. 19. 
 
 B 2 ^. Luke- 
 
20 The Advantage of the Kingdom ofChriJl^ Scc. 
 
 3. Lukewarm Laodkeans^ Neutralifts, that drink 
 XVine in howls, and are no-way moved at the Suffering 
 of Jofeph ^ Gallios^ that care for none of .thele 
 things ? There is not a Generation in the World, 
 by whom the Lord is more provoked, than with 
 this Meroz Generation : When God is jealous ibr 
 Sion, he is difpleafed with them that are at eafe, Zech. 
 I. 14, 5. Now, confidering how many Perfons of 
 all thefe forts are fixed in the Nation, and you will 
 fee that Vengeance cannot be taken on them, without 
 great Alterations. 
 
 •2. lie hath t)e/iverances to work : It is the time of 
 vijiting the Prif oners of Hope : The Prey muft be taken 
 out of the jaws of the terrible ^ every ftaff of the 
 opprejfor broken in pieces : yea, he delivers his Saints, 
 not only from all that they have luffered, but from 
 all that was in the Contrivance of their Enemies to 
 bring upon them, which is greater than they can 
 execute : And this will coll Ibmething, before the 
 FharaoFs of the Nation will let his People go. 
 
 3. He hath great Trials to make : 
 
 1. Of his Own, that they may be purged, 
 
 2. Of Hypocrites, that they may be dij covered. 
 
 1. The Day of carying on the Interelt ofChrift, 
 is a Day of Purifying and Purging: T^an. 12. 10. 
 Many fhall be purified and made white and tried 5 
 that is,, a Day like a furnace, Mai. 3. 3. that will 
 confume Drofs and Tin. The remainder of the 
 people mufi be brought through the fire, Zech. 13. 9. 
 JoJhuah\ Garments are defiled, by dwelling in Babylon^ 
 Zech.?. 3. Many ofChrift's Own have contra£led 
 Rull and Soil, have got carnal Interefts and Engage- 
 ments that muft be fcoured from them. 
 
 2. Of the difcovery oi Hypocrites : It is empha- 
 tically fa'd of the Saints, that they follow the Lamb 
 vohitherfcever he goetb^ Rev. 14.4. John. 6. 26. All 
 
 Ibrts 
 
-preach d to the ParliiTncnt^ Oft. 24. 1651. 11 
 
 forts of ProfeHbrs will follow him in /owe pjths^ in 
 fuch as are confiltenc with their^ Power, Dominion, 
 and Advantages, they are even ready to run before 
 him . but he hath iome Paths that are unplcjfing to 
 FKfh and Blood, Paths that he gives no Jdives in ^ 
 here Men that iay rhey are Jercs, iwd are nor, but 
 lye give quire out from him. Now, upon all thefc 
 leveul Accounis mult that Day of the Golpel, of 
 neccflicy, be attended with great providential Altera- 
 tion. 
 
 Vfe I.] To difcover where dwells that Spirit 
 which aQuares all the £^reat Alterations which have 
 been in theie Nations. Such Things have been brought 
 to pils, as have frlfd the World with Amazement : 
 A Monarchy of Ibme Hundred Years continuance, 
 always affefting, and at length wholly degenerated 
 into Tyranny, deltroyed, pulled down, fwallo wed up 5 
 a great and mighty Fotentate, that had cauled Terror 
 in the land of the living, and laid his fcoord under his 
 headj brought to Punifhmcnt for Blood ^ Hypocrites 
 and lelnfh Men abundantly difcovered ^ U^ife Men 
 made Fools, and the Strong as Water ^ A Nation^ 
 fthat of Scotland) engaging for and againft the fame 
 Cauie, backward and forward, twice or thrice, al- 
 ways leeking where to find their own Gain and In- 
 tereft in it, at length totally broken, in oppofition to 
 that Cauie wherewith at firlt they clofcd : multitudes 
 oiPrrft'JJbrs, one Year Praying, Faffing, mightily Kc- 
 joycing upon the leaff Succels, bearing it out as a i\^n 
 of the Prefcnce of God-, another Year, whilft the 
 fame Work is carry 'd on, Curfing, Repining, flighting 
 the marvellous appearance of God in Anfwer unto 
 Prayers and moff fbleinn Appeals, being very angiy 
 at the Deliverances of Sion : On tlie other fide, all 
 the mighty Succefles which God hath followed poor 
 defpifed Ones withal, being with thewi as with thofc 
 
 B ? in 
 
22 the Advantage of the Kingdom of Chrift, &c. 
 
 in days of old, Hebr, ii. 93. who through faith fub- 
 dued k'lng'hms, wrought righteoufnefs^ obtained pro- 
 jn'ifes^ jippped the mouths of iyons, quenched the vio- 
 lence of fire^ efcaped the edge . of the fword^ out of 
 weaknefs were made jh'ong, waxed valiant in fight ^ 
 turned to fiight the armies of the aliens. He, I fay, 
 that fhail confider all this, may well enquire after 
 that Principle, v/hich being regularly carried on, yet 
 ineeting with the corruptions and lulls of Men, fliould 
 lb w^heel them about, and work lb many mighty Al- 
 terations : Now, what is chis, but the moft efFe£luaI 
 defign of the Lord, to carry on the Intereftof Chrift 
 and'the Gofpel, whatever Hands in the way i 
 This bears down all before it, wraps up Ibme in 
 Blood, lome in Hardneis, and is moft eminently 
 firaight and holy in all thefe tranlaftions : Ifai. 14. 92. 
 Whatjlmll one then anfwer the mejjengers of the nation ? 
 That the Lo^d hath founded Sion^ and the poor of his 
 people Jhall truJI in it, 
 
 Ufe ?..] To maenifie the Goodnefs ot God, who 
 unto us hath fw ccned and lealbned all his dreadful 
 Difpenfitions, and all the Alterations in thofe Na- 
 tions, with this his gracious Dehgn running through 
 thern all . This is that which puts all their Beauty 
 and L'^fire on them, being outwardly dreadful and 
 horrible. The carrying on of this, (which is hidden 
 from the Men of the World, who have therefore no 
 Joy) is tne only thing we have to rejoyce in this 
 Day •, our Viflories have no Glory, but what they 
 receive from hence : Ifai. 4. 2. That Blood" which is 
 an acceptable Sacrifice to the Lord, is the Blood of 
 the Enemies of this Defign of his : The Vengeance that 
 is to be delighted in, is the Vengeance of the Temple .- 
 Heaven, and all that is in it, is called to rejoyce, when 
 Babylon is deflroyed with violence and fury ^ Rev. 18. 
 •:o, 21, when thofe who would not have the King of 
 
 Saints 
 
preached to the Parliar/ient^ Od. 24. 1 6 5 1 . 23 
 
 Saints reign, are brought forth and (lain before hl$ 
 Face : And in this God makes dillinguilhing work, 
 and calls to rejoycirtg. I/a. 65. u, la. Therefore 
 thus faith the Lord GoJ^ Myfervantsjhall eat^ but ye 
 Jhall he hungry : 7ny fervants jhall dnnk^ hut yejhall 
 be thirjly : hehold^ my fervants rejcyce hut ye j}) all be 
 afhamed: behold^ wy fervants jhall fwgj or joy of hearty 
 but ye Jl)all cry jar farrow of hearty and fhall howl 
 jar vexation offpirit. 
 
 Thus the Saints are called to fing iht fong of Mo- 
 les the fervant of God^ and the fong of the Lamb, 
 Rev. i^. :•• The Deliverance by 7iIo/es, was a Tem- 
 
 ?oral Deliverance from outward Yokfs and Bondage : 
 'he Deliverance ot'the Lamb, was a Spiritual Delive- 
 rance from Spiritual Bondage. The Deliverance that 
 God will give his Saints from this OppreiTion, fliall 
 be mixed ^ as their Bondage partakes ot both, ib fhall 
 their Deliverance be^ and therefore they fhall ling 
 the fong of Mofes and the Lamb. If ever any Per- 
 fons in the World had caule to fing the fonii ^/Mo- 
 fes and the Lamb^ we have this Day •, the Bondage 
 prepared for us, was both in Spirituals and Tempo- 
 rals ^ about a Tyrant full of Revenge, and a Difcipline 
 full of Perfecution, hath been our Conteftj whether 
 the Yoke of the one and the other, fhould by the Sword 
 and Violence, be put upon our Necks and Ccnfciences, 
 is our controverly : There was both yEj:ypt and Babel 
 in the Bondage prepared, and both thefe enraged. 
 Fharaoh doubled the Task of the Ifraelites when 
 they did but fpeak of Liberty : What would he have 
 done, had he recovered them under his Hand after 
 they were efcaped i* What would the Tiioughts of 
 that Man of Blood have been, and his Ways, had he 
 prevailed, after lb many Provocations? Crde a: fan- 
 quine^ quifquis ah exilio. And what would r'^cir 
 Ways have been, who thought to (it on his nght hani 
 
 B 4 ^nd 
 
24 The Advantage of the Kingdom ofChriJi^ &cc. 
 
 end his left in his kingdom ? But of this afterward. 
 New God having broken both the one Snare and the 
 other, furely we have caule to fing the Jong of Mo- 
 les and of the Lamb this day : When others are in the 
 condition mentioned, I/a. 8. 2T, 22. 
 
 It is true, all things are not clear to all, perhaps, 
 that ferve ihe Lord: Some cannot rejoyce in the Works 
 ofourGod,but they are not the firfi on whom that Sin 
 hath been charged : Nothing more frequent in Scrip- 
 ture, than the laying this Sin at the door ot Profel^ 
 ibr% th'it they fet not their hearts to the works of 
 the Lord: lia. 4^. 18. Pfal. 48. 42, 43, 4^. Judg. 
 5. 15, 17, 23. If they are of the Armies in Heaven^ 
 they will at length learn to follow the Lamb : And 
 for the prefent. Mufick with fome Difcords, may 
 make Melody for the Lord : The Song 0? Deborah is 
 full ot complaint : Divifion ofR^ben, Gi/rad^ Dan and 
 Afhr^r^ flow m their Helps, Meroz wholly Neutral. 
 Though we have all of thele Ibrts, yet may we make 
 a Song xo the Lord, that in Jefus Chrift they may 
 be acceptablt^ this Day. 
 
 And the Lord, I hope, will open the Fyes of them 
 amongft us, and give them to cry lor Mercy, when 
 his righteous Judgments have driven them from all 
 their Holds. ^Vhen the mighty Army was deftroyed 
 in the 1^'orth about three Years ago, many would fee 
 norhing in it, but that they had not the bleffing of 
 the Church : Hence they began to think of it, as Ba/ak 
 did of Balaam, vohom he b/ejjed, they were bleffed^ and 
 whom he citrfed^ they were curfed^ Numb. 22. ver. 6. 
 1 King. 18. 26. God could not bear the robbing him 
 of his Glory, and giving it unto feliifh Men: They 
 fhall blels, and b!^^s again, and be no more heard than 
 the Baa/ijfs cry : Even to the Lord ftiall they cry, but 
 he will not regard them : The Lord, I fay, will 
 drive them fron:} fuch Holds a$ thefe, th^t they may 
 
 acKnow^ 
 
•preached to the Parliament^ Oft. 24. 1 6 5 1 . 25 
 
 acknowledi^e his Hand. Let then the great Work of 
 the Lord bj owntjd, be rcjoyced in, tor it will certain- 
 ly bear down all that ita'n 1 in the way of it : Nei- 
 ther is there the lealt true Conlblation in any ot thefe 
 Alterations, hue what arilcs from a doling with it. 
 
 Come we to the i'^cm^ ObRrvation. 
 
 Obf, 2.] I1)c ailiniis ofGois Providence^ in carry- 
 ing on the Inter eft cfChrift^ are^ andjhn/l be exceed- 
 ingly unfuited to the Pcjfonings and Expeclations of 
 the moft of Men. 
 
 He hath a glorious Work here to be accomplifhed ^ 
 ofwhoni fhould he now make ufe ?» Surely the high 
 Tree^ the green Tree, will be employed. If one be 
 to be Anointed in the Family of JelJe, will it not 
 be gcod/y Eliab ^ If the King will Honour any, who 
 fhould it be but / ^ fays Hainan. But all on the con- 
 tnry, the loxv dry Tree is taken, David irom the 
 Flock, and Mordecai from the Gate : The Thoughts 
 of God are not as our Thoughts 5 neither doth he 
 look on oucw.irJ Appearances. 
 
 To give fomc Iiiftances in his moft fignal Aflings 
 in this kind. 
 
 The fevcs knew that God had a great Work to do 
 in giving ot a Meffiah^ the Saviour ot the World : 
 They are raited up to the expeLlation of it ^ upon 
 every confiderable Appearance, they cry, Is this he > "*" 
 And what withal did they expeQ? outvoard Glory ^ 
 Beauty, Deliverance, carnal Power and Dominion: 
 God at length comes to do his Work, and bringeth 
 forth a poor Man, that had not where to lay his 
 Head, followed by a tew Filhermen, and fimple Wo- 
 
 * Luke 5. 15. John i. 19, 20. Arts \.6, Mart. 20. 2f, 
 »2. Matt. 19. 55. r/.\j;. 8. 20. John 4. 48, 4;?. II j* 55- 2, 3* 
 
 J'hil, 2. 7, 8, Sec, 
 
 men. 
 
26 The Advantage of the Kingdom ofChnfiJb^c. 
 
 men, that had neither form nor comlinefs^ that he 
 Should, he dejired^ perfecuted, defpifed, from the be- 
 ginning to the end ^ quite another thing than what 
 they looked for. Thus lays He the Foundation of 
 the Gofpel, in the Perfon of his Son, by fruftrating 
 the Expe£lations of the moll of Men ^ Thefione which 
 the builders refujed^ &c. 
 
 Again, feeing Salvation is of the Jews^ the rod of 
 Chrijfs Jlrength being to be Jent out of Sion^ and that 
 living waters were to flow forth from Jerufa- 
 km 5 the Gofpel being from thence to be publilhed 
 through the World : Who (hould the Lord chuie to 
 do it ? Surely, the Great, the Wife, the Learned of 
 that Nation, the High-Priefis^ learned Scribes, devout 
 tharifees^ ^ that might have won their Meflage 
 lome Repute and Credit in the World. But contrary 
 10 all the Wifdom of the Flefh, he takes a few igno- 
 rant, weak, unlearned Fifhermen, defpifed upon all 
 Accounts, and commits this great Work unto them : 
 And accordingly out they go, Friendlefs, Helplefs, 
 Harbourlefs, unto their great Employment. The like 
 Inftruments, for the moft part, did he employ, to 
 make an entrance upon the great Work of calling 
 down Falfe-worfhip and Idolatry. 
 
 Moreover, in that great Work for the Lord Chrift, 
 which is to be accomplifhed in the Ruine and De- 
 ftru£lion of Babel, when it mull be done with Might, 
 Power, and Strength, with Armies and Blood, will 
 not now the Lord ule the high and green Tree ? Ma- 
 ny Kings andVotentates having in Profeflion embraced 
 the Doftrine of the Gofpel ^ 'Nobles and Great one$ 
 having given up their Names, in appearance, unto 
 Chrifl, who but they fhall now be ufed in this Work 
 
 Ezek. 47. I. Zech. 14. S. 
 
 of 
 
 * John 4. 22. Pfal. no. 2. Eze 
 Afts4. 15. I Cor. I, 20, 25, 27, 28. 
 
preached to the Parluir/ient^ Oft. 24. 1651. 27 
 
 of the Lord ? But yet plainly the Lord tells them 
 the contrary, Rtv. 18. 9. all thefe Perlbns bewail the 
 Judgmtnts ot Goi that are executed on Babe/^ which 
 (hall be done by low dry T/ccs, 
 
 To give one Inllante in the mighty Works which 
 God hath lately wrought in thele Nations, A vcork 
 of Reformation and carrying on the Interelt of Chrilt 
 is here undertaken: What upon this are the Thoughts 
 of the molt of Men ^. Whither were their Eyes turned > 
 TaU'Trces^ Green Trees are pitched on: This and 
 that ^reat Lor J, popular with the Multitude ^ E/iabs 
 m their Eyes, they muft do it ; the Scots fhall cer- 
 tainly efteft it : The King fliall be taken from his 
 evil Counltl, he fliall be aclive in it. A Church- 
 Government fhall be fet up ^ and no Man fuftered to 
 live in the Nation, that will not fubmit unto it. Some, 
 like the Sons oj Zebedee fliall fit on the right and left 
 Hand of Chrilt, in the Kingdom they were fetting 
 up for him ^ thefe and ihoih found good Men fliall 
 be next the King, then all will be great and glorious 
 indeed. W'hat now I pray ? do all things indeed 
 fuit and anfwer thefe Expectations and Realbnings of 
 Men > Doth God accompli fli the Thoughts of their 
 Hearts ^ Alas, the high Trees refied on^ proved, for the 
 moft part, broken Reeds that run into our Hands, and 
 let out our Blood in abundance to no purpole ^ the T^p 
 bough, hoped for, fallen as an abominable Branch \ the 
 Scots fliaken and broken with unpirallefd Deltru£ti- 
 on, in the maintenance ot the Interelt and Caufe, 
 which at hrlt they profperoufly oppofed •, the Iron 
 1'oke, pretended to be that of Chrilt, ( though it 
 be Fleflily, Carnal, and Cruel, fuitcd to the Wil- 
 dom of a Man, and his Rule be Spiritual, Meek, and 
 Gentle) call off and thrown away^ low Trees, dry 
 Trees, defpifed Ones, contemned Ones, without 
 Form or Comlinils, exalted, ufcd, employed, and 
 
 the 
 
28 The Advantage of the Kingdom of Chrijl^ 6cc. 
 
 <^l— — — I I r« I _______ 
 
 the Hand of the Lord evidently lifted up in all theft 
 Tranfaftions. 
 
 Some Reafons of this may be given, and the firft is 
 taken, 
 
 I. From the corruptions of the hearts of men ^ Iqua- 
 ring the Works of God to their flefhly Reafonings,' 
 corrupt Interefts and Principles ^ they are bold with 
 the Wifdom of God, and conclude thus and thus 
 things ought to be ^ ordering their Thoughts, for the 
 molt part, according to their corrupt and carnal Ad- 
 vantages : I (hall inftance both as to carnal Advantages 
 and trinciples. 
 
 i» Carnal Power and Glory feem excellent to the 
 Jews: Hence, think they, when God gives us our 
 Meffiah, all this muft be Accompliflied \ Their Ajfe- 
 Gions are dilbrdered by corrupt Lufts and Defes, and 
 that enflaves x\i€\xIAinis ro ftrange Apprehenfions : God 
 comes in his own Way, and how crofs do things 
 run to their ExpeOations > What was the corrupt De- 
 fign of many in Scotland^ that they might let up a 
 Son oiTabea/ in England, and themfelves be great un- 
 der him ? That they and their Partakers might im- 
 pole on the refidue of the Nation, efpecially in the 
 Things ot God > Their great DeGrethat things (hould 
 be thus, corrupts their Minds to think that it ought 
 to be fo, and (hall be fb. Hence, Ambition to Rule, 
 and to have all under their Power, even in Confci- 
 ence. is quickly miftaken for Zeal to the Kingdom 
 of Chrift •, re-inthroning of Tyranny, is Loyalty, and 
 all according to Covenant : As if Men had fworn to 
 be good to themfelves^ and to be true to their own In- 
 terejl all their days, wh'ch furely few need to be 
 fworn to. Thus Mens Minds and Judgments are di- 
 flempered by their Lufts and Interefts, which makes 
 them frame a way for God to proceed in ^ which 
 when he doth not, how are they furprlfed ! 
 
 2. ¥or 
 
« 
 
 preached to the Parliament^ Oft. 24. 165 1. Q9 
 
 2. for Trinciples, Men take up Frinciplcs that 
 they will adhere unto : Wile Principles, forfooth, 
 yea and very Righteous too: All things whatever 
 that fall out, mu(t be Iquared unto their Frinciplcs •, 
 they expeft that nothing mull be done but what fuits 
 unto them ^ and if any thing contrary be wrought, 
 even of God himfelf, how deceived, how dif appoint- 
 ed are they ! 
 
 The moft tremendous Judgment of God in this 
 World, is the hardning of the Hearts of Men ^ this 
 feals them up, for the molt part, to Deftruftion : It 
 is a thing often mentioned in Scripture, and many 
 iubtile Difputes there are, how it fhould come forth 
 from him, who is mofl Uoly^ feeing it is the greatelt 
 Sin of the Creature : I fliall give you my Thoughts 
 in a moft eminent Inftance or two, as to one Particu- 
 lar of it. 
 
 I. Look on Pharaoh^ of whom it is mofl fignally 
 fpoken, that God hardned his Heart. How did the 
 Lord accomplilh this ? Pharaoh fettles himfelf upon 
 as Righteous Principles as ever any of the Sons of 
 Men could do : One is, That it belongs to the chief 
 Ruler of a A'ation to fee the Profit and Glory of the 
 Nation : What more Righteous Principle is there in 
 the World ? You that talk of your Principles, give 
 me one more Righteous than this. Hence he con- 
 cludes, that if it be incumbent on him to fee that 
 the Realm receive no Detriment, he mult not let 
 the People go. by whom they received lb many great 
 Advantages : God confirms his Heart in thelc Princi- 
 ples, which axQgood in thcmfclves, but abominable 
 when taken up againft the Mind and Providence of 
 God : Hence he and his pcrifhcd m their Principles, 
 afling againfl the appearance ot God. 
 
 2. It 
 
50 The Advantage of the Kingdom ofChri/f^5cc. 
 
 2. It is alio laid of Sihon^ the King of the Amo- 
 rltes^ that his heart was hardned^ that he would not 
 let the people go through his land ^ How, I pray > Even 
 by adhering to that wife Principle, That it is not 
 meet to let a potent Enemy into the bowels of a 'People ; 
 and this made way for his Ruin. 
 
 Thus it is with many, they fix on Principles 
 good in general, and in their leaibn : Old Bounds muft 
 not be broken up •, Order mutt not be difturbed : Let 
 God appear never fb eminently, io mightily, they 
 will keep to their Principle ^ What is this, but Ju- 
 dicial Hardnefs ^ And this (I fay) is omReqfon, why 
 the A£lings of God, in fuch a day as this, are fo un- 
 luited to the Expetbtions of Men j they Iquare his 
 Works to the Interefts and Principles which it will 
 not anfwer. 
 
 2. God chufeth thus to do things above and befides 
 the Expeftations of Men, that his Prefence^ and the 
 Prefence of the Lord Chrift, may be the more con- 
 fpicuous in the World. Did the Lord always walk 
 in Paths that Men had rationally^ that is, fooUJhly 
 (for fuch is our Wifdom in the ways of God) alot 
 to him, the appearances of his Glory would be ex- 
 ceedingly eclipfed. It is hard for Men to have a 
 clear and naked view of the Pox)oer of God in effeft- 
 ing any thing, Judg, 7. 4, when there is great help of 
 means to do it ^ but it is much harder to difcern the 
 Wifdo?n of God in an Affair, when Mens own Wifdom 
 and Defigning is all accompliflied. But now, when the 
 Way of ^God is like the way of an Eagle in the air ^ 
 when his paths are in the decp^ and his footfieps are 
 not known ^ then is he glorious in his Goings. Men 
 think all things would be very glorious if they might 
 be done according to their Mind ^ perhaps indeed 
 they would, but with their own Glory, not the Glory 
 of God. 
 
 3. God. 
 
preach* d to the Parliaments Od. 24, 1 6 5 1 . 31 
 
 9. God will do it for the ^ hardning of many falfe, 
 empty Profellbrs, and others in the World, that the 
 Judgments appointed may come upon them to the 
 uttcrmoft. The hardning of Men to tlicir Deftru- 
 8ion, being a clofe and inward Work, is one" of the 
 molt eminent AQs of the Providence of God, in 
 governing the World : By this, he accompliflieth 
 molt of the Judgments that he hath threatncd. Now 
 there is not any Difpenfation of God towards Man, 
 but he can, and doth Ibmetimes, caule it to be lb 
 managed and ordered, that it fhall be a Way and 
 Means of hardning fuch as he hath appointed there- 
 unto : Some are hardned by the Word, Ibmeby Mer^ 
 ties, fbme by Judgments. Amongfl other Ways that 
 he ufeth for this Purpole, this is one, the Dil]X)ral 
 of the Works of his Providence contrary to the Rea- 
 Ibnings of Men, doing Things unlikely and unfitly 
 in the Eyes of Flefli and Blood, that fo they may 
 defpiie thofe Ways of his, and be broken in Oppofi- 
 tion unto them. Take an Inftance in Pharaolfs laft 
 hardning for Deftruftion : When he brought the Peo- 
 ple out of y^ypty he did not lead them the direft 
 Way into Canaan^ but carries them into the Wilder^ 
 nefs^ and (huts them up between the Mountains and 
 the Sea ^ Fhamoh juftly concludes, that they are en- 
 tangled beyond Efcapc, and that he fhall furely over- 
 take them and deihoy them: This draws him out. 
 to his Ruin. Had God led them in the itraight Path, 
 
 trobably he had not purfued after them ^ but the 
 ord lays thij> as a Plot for his Dtltru^^ion. God 
 will harden Jeroboam, and therefore n Lyon Jl) all flay 
 the Prophet that preached againlt his Idolatry. So 
 
 * Rom. 9.18. Dcur. 2. 30. Vdl. 2i. 12. ^ 69.22. }o{\]. u: 
 2c. Ifa. 6. 9, ic, II, 12. Joh. 12. 4. , 41, 42, 45. Dcuc, 3:. 15. 
 
 was 
 
3 2 The Advantage of the Kingdom of Chrijl^ &c. 
 
 was it with the Jews^ they expeft all Glory to at- 
 tend the Comihg of the MeJJiah •, and after the Co- 
 ining of him, indeed, God follows them with Judg- 
 ment to a total Defolation ^ which being lb unfuit- 
 ed unto the Difpenfation they expe£led, liardnefo 
 thereby is come upon them to the uttermoft. TertuUi- 
 an lays, He dares lay, That the Scriptures were on 
 purpofe framed in many Things^ to give occafion to 
 proud and curious unhumbled Wits to Jiumble and 
 fall And, I dare lay, that the Lord doth order ma- 
 ny of his Works in the World, in Ways pajl finding 
 cut^ on purpole to give occafion to many to liumble 
 and fall. God fulfilleth many mighty Works that 
 could not otherwile be brought about, by hardning 
 the Hearts of Men. The hardning of the late King's 
 Heart, Was an Engine whereby he wrought mighty 
 Things and Alterations: Had not God laid Obdurate- 
 nels and Stubbornnels upon his Spirit, we had long 
 iince, in all probability, been ruined. To accomplifh 
 this End then, God will fo order the Works of his 
 Providence, that Men Ihall reafon themlelves into 
 unrealbnable and brutifh Hardnels and Stupidity. 
 Thus hath God done in the Days wherein we live ; 
 his mighty A£ls that he hath wrought, both for the 
 matter of the Things done, and the manner of their 
 doing, have been lb contrary to Mens Principles, In- 
 tercfts^ ExpcBations^ and Reafons^ that they have 
 flighted them to fuch a degree of Hardning, that 
 they feem to have no Realbii left at all ^ and when it 
 comes to that, God will fall judicially upon the very 
 Faculties of their Souls ^ he will blind their Eyes, de- 
 prive them of their Judgment and Infight into Things, 
 that they fhall be as incapable of God's Mind as 
 Fools, and give them up /(? vile Aife&ions, to do the 
 Things that are notfeemly, as it hath fallen out with 
 too many amongft us. Let us now make fome Ule 
 of this Point. It lerves then, i. To 
 
preacl/d to the Parliament^ Od. 24, 165 1. 33 
 
 I. To difcover the Vanity of thole Men, who, be- 
 /caufe the Works of God have not been carried on 
 in Ways fuitabie to their Reafomngt <ind' txpecia-^ 
 tions, do uitctly rcje£l them, dilown them, and op- 
 jwfe him in them. On thele Men give any one Ui- 
 fiance of any one eminent Work cj God^ that he hath 
 brought about by luch Ways and Means, as Men 
 ivould rationally allot thereunto, elpecially in Things 
 that are in immediate fubferviency to the Kingdom of 
 the Lord Chrilt > Can they inllance, that they have 
 been fo managed ? Nay, hath not this been a Means 
 to harden Multitudes in their DefiruHion^ that have 
 limited the Holy One, and chalked out Paths for him 
 to walk in > I cannot but tear, that it was a great 
 Provocation oi'the Eyes of God's Glory ^ that at thei 
 Beginning, and in th? Carrying on of the great Alte*' 
 lations that have been wrought by his Providence 
 among us, we did fpeak of confirming and continu- 
 ing under any Condition whatlbever, any Things or 
 Perlbns, which it was his Defign to avert : We muft 
 be promiflng to keep up the hrgh Tree^ and to keep 
 down the low Tree, which was not at all in his 
 Thoughts, neither ever came it into his Heart. I 
 hope he hath taught us {though voith Tf)orns ) to 
 follow him fometimes, like Abraham, not knowing 
 vihither v^e go. Now, the Lord convince them who 
 are yet under this Darknels^ that think the Ways of 
 God not equal, becaule not meafured by their Line^ 
 that bring their aooked Rules unto that which is 
 really Itrait, and call it away, as abominable. The 
 Children of Ifratl had got a Proverb againft the 
 Ways of God, EzcL 18. 2. it was 16 taken tor grant- 
 ed, that, the Ways of his Providence were not rii^hc 
 and Itrait, that it was grown into a common Bye- 
 word : A little Difcovcry of the Pride and Hypocri- 
 (jr cf their own Hearts undeceived them at lalh 
 
 V L. 11 C \ ^)^ 
 
34 The Advavta^^ of the Kingdom of Chnji^ &c. 
 
 'i.^,^ -. ■■ ^ 
 
 --1 .(hall not Tat t6 ^^"^ Brethren, that they have 
 fhewed this Daf, thit if Abfolom had lived, and all 
 we h^d beenflaln, it would have been well-pkafing 
 tovthem: But' this I (hall lay, that it is a iad fign, 
 that our Ways pleale not God, when his Ways pleafe 
 not us at all. 
 
 • -There being not Space for the handling of the re- 
 maining Propofitions, I (hall- go forth to one general 
 Ule; and fo Conclude. 
 
 Now, this r (hall take from that of the Prophet 
 Amos, chap. 4. 1 2.- the generality of the People being 
 exercifed with various Judgments, the refidue of thent 
 are laid to be ' Slaved ^^j- a fire-brand out oftheBurn'^ 
 ing V that i^, powerfully, -eifteflually; from a very 
 terrible and- a ( very near DeltruSion. After all thB 
 Lord's great Dllpenfations of Providence, iri carry- 
 ing on hrs own Defign, this being /^^ Condition of 
 the People of thit JSlation., many: -being deftroyed hy 
 foregoing Judgments)^ and the tefidue - now feved like 
 nf- Firebrand out of the Burning, God having givai 
 us. this IflTue of his mighty Wotks, in pulling ddwrt 
 the\bigh Tree^ and exalting the low Tree, it cannot but 
 be our Wifdom to cloie with the Counfel which God 
 gives in fuch a Condition ; and that you have, I lay, 
 Amos 4. 12. Becaufe I will do rhis unto thee, prepare 
 to meet thy God, 0' If rael, SQomg tint all this is 
 done, Prepare to meet ■ thy Godj '■ England v ipre- 
 pare to meet thy God, Far li amen t -^ prepare td 
 meet thy God, Army. To lead you a little towards 
 the :Performance:of' this Duty, > it being that, and 
 that alone, which is incumbent On you, I fhallfhew 
 you thefe two. Things: - ''' •' 
 :ii%.' tV hat it is wherein vk 'aM}) meet^ our GoJw' / 
 -'islsUow we mufi met him therein, - - ^"-^'^ i'-*-- 
 jy ..... .;;•.-..' Al A ! htcy 
 
preached to the Parliament^ Od. 24. 1651. 55 
 
 For the firit : There are three Ways wherein we 
 mult meet the Lord, if we delirc to anfwer hib Mind 
 in any ot thefe Difpeniations. 
 
 1, In the xciiy of 'his Providence. 
 
 2. In the 07 J V of his WorfJ?ip. 
 
 ^. In the wjy of his Ho/inrJ}- i.'t 
 
 " Firft, The eminent Ways of the Providence of God 
 in thefe Days, may be referred unto three Heads : 
 
 I. His genet- a/ I^rjign to full down all thofe high 
 bppofitions to the Kingdom of his Son, ivhicb I hiive 
 Tnentioned, 
 
 • 2, His peculiar Aim to JJain the Glory of allYlcfl)^ 
 tojiull dotcn high Trees, thdt no Flrfh ftijy glory, 
 
 5. Hisjhaking of all the Endearments and Enjoyments 
 here below\ that' the Hearts of his may be jixcd only 
 en the Things that cannot be fhaken, 
 *^^And thefe, upon all Accounts and Confiderafiorts 
 whatever, appear to be the main Tendencies of the 
 j^ftings of Providence in thele our D lys. 
 
 Secondly, There is the zvay of his ti^orjhip^ where- 
 in alio he will be met: It is moft remote trdm my 
 Thoughts to eiirer inrb Cornells concerning that pecu- 
 liar way of Gofpel'Wo^f/?ip which Clwilt hath^appoinJ- 
 ied.' It fufficeth me, that feeing^ God hath promiled, 
 that in thele Days he will haVe his Tabernacle uitb 
 'MhiX and ihdX' B/irrenncfs and^Drought fnall be on 
 'every Soul that' comes not up- to I'is hafl (f Taber- 
 naclcs ^ it is BqtcDm jutiicient to prds Men to meet 
 him in that IVay;' according as he ihali gracioully 
 make out Light 1^0 them. 
 
 %. There it tie voay of his Hrlinefs-, as he is 
 Holy, \o are dll his Wiys Hnly^ lo he will be mec 
 and. walked with in all Ways of Holinels and Ohedi- 
 erice to J^ fjs Chrilt ^ and thefe are the Ways where- 
 in God Will be met by his Remnant, hii Delivered 
 
 ^' -^ C 2 2. What 
 
36 The Advantage of the Kingdom of ChriJi,S>cc, 
 
 2. What then is it to meet tl^e Lo^d in any of 
 thefe Ways ? What is it to meet him in the way of 
 his Providence, hisWorfhip, his Holinels? y'o?neet 
 one in any thing, is to clofe with' him in that Thiijg: 
 We fay, herein^ 1 meeet you, when we are of one 
 Mind. To 7neet the Lord in theie Things, is to clofe 
 with the Will and Mind of God in thenj : This is 
 that which I would exhort you unto, yea, lay th& 
 Charge of God upon you this Day, even on you and 
 your Compcinions^ who are as a ^rftridjfnatchei o^t^^ 
 the Burning. - - - • .• , >» 
 
 I. Meet him in his general Defign of cafting dotwn 
 all combined Oppofition to the Kir^dom of his Son* 
 That God in his appointed Time will bring forth the 
 Kingdom of the Lord ,Chrifl, unto; more Glory and 
 Power than in former Days,,"! prelume, you are 
 perfwaded ^ whatever will be more, thefe fix Things 
 are clearly promiftd. ; 
 
 1. lulnefs of Teace tinto the Gqfpet^ and the. Vro- 
 fejjors thereof] Ifa. ii. 6, 7. chap. $,^^ 25. chap. ^i. 
 20, 21. Rev. 21. 25:. ^ . 
 
 2. Furity and Beauty of Ordinances^ and Gofpel- 
 Worjhip, Rev. j7. i. chap. 2ivj.w The Tabernacle 
 was wholly made by Appointment, Mai. ?. 5, 4. 
 Zech. 14. 16. Rev, 21. 27. Zech. 14. 2?. Ifa. 35. 8.- 
 
 9. Multitudes of Converts^ many Terfons, yea^ 
 T^ations, Ila. 60. 7, 8. chap. 66. 8. chap, 49. 18, 19, 
 20, 21, 22. Rev. 7. .9. .^, 
 
 4. The full cafiing out and re]eUing of all WilU 
 %X)orJldip^ and their attendant Abominations^ Rev. 1 1. 2. 
 
 5. Frofiffed Subje^ion of the Nations throughout the 
 tchole World unto the Lord Chriji^ Dan. 2. 44. chap. 7. 
 ult. Ifa. 60. 6, 7, 8. the Kingdoms become, ^(^r. 
 amonglt whom his Appearance fliall be lo glorious, 
 ihat David himfelfih^W be ftid to reign. 
 
 6. A 
 
preacJjd to the Parliavicnt^ Ocl. 24. 1651. 57 
 
 6. A 7nojl glorious and dreadful breaking rf all that 
 rife in Oppofition unto him^ II J. 6c. 12. never liich 
 Delbhtions, Rev, \6. 17, 18, 19. 
 
 Now, in order to the bringing in of tli's his Kulc 
 and Kingdom, with its Attendencits, the Lord Chrid 
 goes forth, in the rirft place, to call down the Things 
 that ftand in his Way, dajh'wg his Enemies m pieces^ 
 like a IWrcrsVeffel : This is a part of the Ddign of 
 Providence, wherein we are to meet him in thefe 
 Days : And here I flnll fpeak a Word, i. unto them 
 who are enabled to look through the Clouds and Dark' 
 refs, whereby his Paths are encompaflcd : 2. unto 
 them who cannot. 
 
 I. Be you pcrfvvaded to meet the Lord in this his 
 Dcfign, yet to continue (ledfaft in helping him againll 
 the Mighty : 1 fpeak not only to you n-^bo are in Autho- 
 rity, nor unto you to whom the Si^ord is girded.* 
 But unto all that wifh well to Sion, We have every 
 one our Mite that we may calt into this Treafury ^ 
 we may be all Princes in this Cafe, all I/raels, Pre- 
 vailers with God and Men. There be three Things 
 whereby even you, who are but as the number, the 
 common Soldiers of Chrilt, may meet the Lord in this 
 Defign. 
 
 I. By faith 5 believe the Promifes, clofe with them, 
 a£l Faith upon them, and you will believe the "^ Peajl 
 unto Deflrul/ion, Antichrifl into the Pit, and Magrg 
 to Ruin ^ believe that the Enemies of Qvifr fhall he 
 made his Yootfool, that the Nations (hall be his Inhe- 
 ritance, that he fhall reign glorioufly in Beauty, that 
 lie fhall/w//^ in pieces the Heads over divers Katinns : 
 Live in the h'aith of thelc Thinp.s ^ and as it will give 
 you the Sweetnels of them before they Come, lo it 
 
 * Pfil.uo. 1,4. Vul.2.7,2. Mic. 5. J,4- IU'6j.12. 
 
 C I will 
 
38 The Advantage of the Kingdom of Cbrifi^5Cc. 
 
 will haften their Gotning beyond the Endeavours of 
 ofThoufands, yea. Millions of armed Men. 
 
 2.^ Meet him with your Supplications ^ cry unto 
 himras FfaL 45;. 3, 4, 5. Gird, thy /word upon thy 
 thigh^ mojl mighty : with thy glory and thy 7najefty. 
 And in thy majejfy ride profperoufly, becauje of truth, 
 and meeknefs^ and right eoufnefs : and thy right hand 
 Jhall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are 
 Jharp in the heart of the kings enemies^ whereby the 
 people fall under thee. This will make you to be the 
 Armies of Heaven, that follow him in his great Un- 
 dertakings, Rev. 19. 14. it is his Praying People that 
 are his Conquering Armies that follow him: Now 
 you find it coming, leave not pulling with all your 
 Strength, left it roul back again ^ fhoot not two or 
 three Arrows, and fo give over •, but never leave 
 (hooting, until the Enemies of the Lord be all de- 
 flroyed. 
 
 5. Seeing it is his Gofpel whole Advancement the 
 Lord Jefus aimeth at in all thefe Difpenfations, and 
 whole Quarrel alone he revengeth, (whatever Men 
 may doj help on to the Advancement of that Goipel 
 of his, which, as formerly, it was opprefled by the 
 height and Tyranny of the Tower of Babel, 16, for the 
 prefent, is exceedingly defiled and incumbred by the 
 Rubbifh of it, being in ibme mealure caft down. 
 
 4. Whereas in thele Diipenlations, it is moft emi- 
 nently and frequently in the Praile of Chrilt, laid, 
 that he is Juit and Righteous in all his Ways ^ as 
 you may fee in all the Acclamations of the Saints 
 upon the Execution of his Judgments on his Enemies, 
 (juji and righteous art thou) which is fignally done 
 on this Account, becaule the Ways whereby he doth 
 it, are counted moft unrighteous in the World ; in 
 this then alio fs he to be met, even in the Admi- 
 piftration of Juftice and Judgment 5 you will other- 
 
 wift 
 
preached to the Parria?;icnt^ Oct. 24. i 651. 39 
 
 wife certainly be found in a- croG Path unto Jiim, 
 and be borne down before him. This is rhatWif^ 
 dom which he calls lor among the Judges of the 
 Earth, when he is fet to reign on his Holy Hill, 
 Tfdl, 2. 10, II. 
 
 2. I ihall add one Word or two unto them, who 
 either from the Darkncfs ot the Things themfelves, 
 or iiom the Prejudices and Teniptjtions of their 
 own. Spirits, are noi: able to dilccrn the Kightcoul- 
 nefs ot the Ways of God, but rather lift up them- 
 felves againlt h m. 
 
 1. TiKn, conlider ye the conWint appearing of God 
 againlt eveiy Party, that under any Colour or Pretence 
 whatever, have lifted up themlcives for the Rein- 
 forcement of Things, as in former Days^ what Colour 
 or Pretence Ibever they have put on, or which way 
 Ibever they have turn'd themfelves, God hath Itill 
 appear'd againlt them. Can you not dilcern his lea- 
 vening their Councils with Folly and Madnefs, weak- 
 ning their Hearts and Hands, making the Strong be- 
 come as Tow, and the 5//<rr^/W a Reproach : Though 
 they have gone from Mountain to Mountain to feek 
 for Idlv'ination^ and chang d their Pretences almoft as 
 often as l.ahan did Jacob <> Wages, yet they find nei- 
 ther fraud nor tnchantmcnt that will prevail : And 
 doth not this proclaim, that the Dehgn which God 
 had in Hand, is, as yet, marvellouily above you. 
 
 2. Confider the conltant Anfwcr ofFrayers which 
 thole which have waited on God in thele Difpcnla- 
 tions (to their unfpcak ible Conlolations; have recei- 
 ved •, finding God to be nigh unto them in ail that 
 they call up^n h'i?njor : if in this thing thry regarded 
 iniquity in their Hearts^ furely God would nor have 
 heard them : (Jthcrs alio cry, even to the Lord do thry 
 cry, but he will not bear Witnefs to the Abom-nition 
 of their Hearts. O that, upon thele and fucii-likc 
 
 C ^ Confidera- 
 
40 The Advantage of the Kingdom of Chrifi^ &c. 
 
 Confiderations, you would at laft take the Counfel 
 of the Vfalmijl^ 46. ic. Be Pill^ and know that he u 
 Ged \ Be filent before him, for he is rifen cut of his 
 Holy Habitation ^ lay, God hath done great Things 
 for thefe : Who hath hardned himjelf againji him^ and 
 pro/per ed ? And this is the firft Particular. 
 
 2. The fecond Defign of Providence in thefe DiC 
 penlations, is evidently to JIain the glory of all flejh^ 
 lo If a. 2^. 9. never did the Lord any Work more 
 eminently. What Ibrt of Men is there amorigft us, 
 v\/hole Glory God hath not Ilained ? I had rather 
 leave this unto a filent Thought, than to give you 
 particular Inftances of it ^ otherwife it were very ealy 
 to make it as clear as the Sun, that God hath left 
 neither Self-honour nor Glory to any of" the Sons of 
 Men 5 meet him then in this alfo, 
 
 1. Ceale putting Confidence in Man \ fiy, He is a 
 Worm ^ and the Son of Man is but a Worm, his 
 Breath is in his Nofrils^ and wherein is he to he ac- 
 counted of? This Ufe doth the Church make of 
 Mercies, Pfal. 20. 6, 7. Some trujl in Horfes and 
 fome in Chariots , but we will remember the 'Name 
 
 of the 'Lord •, we will not truft in Parliaments or 
 Armies, all flefh is grafs, flfa. 40.) let it have its 
 withering Time, and away : See no Wijdom but the 
 Wifdom of God, x^o Str ength hwiih^ Strength oi Goi^ 
 no Glory but his. 
 
 2, Have any of us any Glory, any Crotons^ any 
 Gifts, any Graces, any Wifdom,' or Valour, any ufe- 
 ful Endowments, let us call them all down at the 
 Feet of Jefus Chrift ^ if we look on them, if we keep 
 them as our own, God withers all their Beauty, all 
 their Glory: Thus' do the Elders who worfhip the 
 Lamb for ever, Rom. 4. 10, 1 1. fay to him. Lord 
 Jef js, thine is the Kingdom and the Glory •, thine are 
 iJl the rvighty Works n^hich have beenmougbi in our 
 
 days 
 
preach' d to the Parliameift^OA. 24. 1651. 41 
 
 » . I ■ — ^— ^.— ^— — _^__^____^________^.,„____^_^____^__ 
 
 djys, thine are all the Mcini whereby they have been 
 accompli (lied , we are nothing, we can do nothing, 
 thou art All, and in All. And this is the lecond. 
 
 ?. He aims at the ^/7Ai/t/>7^ ot all thele Things here 
 below : He is taking down the Rate and Price of ali 
 things here below 5 on that which wa^ worth loco/. 
 he takes his B'll and writes down Icarce the icccth 
 part : He hath laid his hand upon the /?rRs of the 
 Nation^ and hath fitted win^s unto all their TrealiireSi 
 and lb eminently written Vanity and Uncertainty on 
 them all, as mull needs lellen their Efteem, were noc 
 Men blinded by the god of this World. In this alfo 
 are we to meet the Lord. 
 
 1. By getting a lovo ejlee??t o{' the things that God is 
 thus fhaking, and that upon this Account, that he 
 fhakes them for this very End and Purpofe, that wc 
 (hould find neither Relt nor Peace in them. Perhaps 
 thou hall had a defire to be Jomebody in the WorlJ^ 
 thou feed thy felf come fhort of what thou aimedit 
 at ; fay now with Meph/bo/heth, upon the return of 
 David, not only ha/J, but let a// go, feeing that the 
 Lord Jefus (liall reign with Glory: A Man may fome- 
 times beat a Servant, for the Initruftion of his Son : 
 God hath fhaken the Enjoyments of his Enemies, to 
 lead his Friends to difefteem them : God forbid the 
 quite contrary fliould be found upon any of us. 
 
 2. By labouring to find all Riches and Treafurcs in 
 the Lord Chrid : The Earth daggers like a drunken 
 Man : The Princes of it are reduced to a morfel of 
 Bread : All that \'^Jeen is of no Value : Doth not God 
 dire£t us ro the hidden paths, to the Treafures that 
 cannot be deflroyed ^ Many lay, toho will fln-zc us any 
 ^ood ? Lord, lift thou yp the light of thy countenance 
 upon us. 
 
 2. We are to meet the Ijord in the way of his Ordi- 
 nances^ in the way ot Gofj-clworfhip : The exalting 
 
 of 
 
42 The Advantage of the Kingdom of Chriji ^5cc, 
 
 of the Lord Chrift herein, is the IQue of all the migh- 
 ty Works of God. This is given in as the End of all, 
 B.ev, 21. g. The tabernacles oj God, ^c, after great 
 flicikings, the Promile Itill is of a nexio Heaven and 
 Earth, Ifi. 65:. 17. Rev. 21. i. And this is that the 
 People of God put themfelves upon, in the days 
 wherein Babylon is to be deflroyed, Jer. 50. 4, 5;, 6, 
 
 ^, 8. that is the Work they then take in- hand : The 
 nd of all is the building of the Temple, EzeL 47. 
 And this is the Conclufion that the People of God 
 do make, IJa, 2. 9, 4. and if this be negle£led, the 
 Lord will fay of us, as David of Kabal^ Surely in 
 vain have I kept thefe men and all that they have. To 
 ^neet the Lord in this alio, 
 
 1. Inquire diligently into his Mind and Will, that 
 you may know his Paths, and be acquainted with his 
 Statutes ^ I dare fay, no Temptation in the World 
 prefles with more Colour and Violence upon Men 
 tinder Mercies, than that to a negleSl of walking and 
 holding Communion with God in his Ordinances ; 
 the Devil thinks thus to revenge himlelf of the Lord 
 Jefus : His own Yoke being broken, he thinks to pre- 
 vail to the calling away of his : Chrift hath a Toke 
 though it be gentle and eafy. 
 
 2. You that do enjoy holy Ordinances^ labour to 
 have holy Hearts anfwerable thereunto. You have 
 heavenly In ft it ut ions, labour to have heavenly Conver- 
 fations. If we be like the World in our Walking, it 
 
 is no great matter if we be like the World in our 
 Worfhip. It is fad walking contrary to God in his 
 own Paths : Shew out the Power and Efficacy of all 
 Go/pel Injlitutions, in a frame of Spirit, courfe oj Life^ 
 and equability of fpiritudl Temper all your days. 
 
 :?. Keep up the Power of private Worfhip, both 
 Perfonal and Family. I have leen many good Laws 
 for the Sabbath, and hope I (hall fee fome good Ex- 
 amples; 
 
•preached to the Varl'ument^ Ofl. 24. 1651 
 
 '> 
 
 amples : Look, what the Roots are in the Family, 
 fuch will the Fruit he in the Church and Coni- 
 mon-wealth. It your Spirits arc not well mjnured 
 there, you will be utterly barren el leu here : That 
 Is done molt clearly to God which is done within 
 doors. 
 
 9. Meet him in the Kny of his hoUncfs ^ in the 
 cry of the Saints unto the Lord, for the execu- 
 tion of his Judgments and Vengeance, they in an e- 
 Ipecial manner invocate his Holinefs : Rev, 6, 10. 
 liow long^ Lord, holy and true^ dofl thou not judge 
 and avenge our blood on them that dvoell on the earth ^ 
 And in their rendring Prailes to him, they (till make 
 mention of his Uolmefs and Right eoufncfs in all his 
 toays. Tho' the Ways of God are commonly tra- 
 duced as unequal and unholy ways^ yet in the clofe, 
 there is no Property of his that he will more vindi- 
 cate in all his Works, than that of his Holinefs ; in 
 this then we are alio to meet the Lord in this Day of 
 our Deliverance, the Day wherein he hath wrought 
 iuch great and wonderful Alterations. 
 
 This Ufe the Holy Gholt maketh upon fuch-like 
 Difpenfations, 2 Pet. 3. 11. Seeing that all thefe 
 things., 6^V. And fo alio, Heb, 12. 27, 28. And this 
 word yet once more fignifieth the removing of thcfc 
 things that arefhaken., as of things that are made^ that 
 thefe things which cannot be fhakcn., may remain. 
 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be 
 moved, let us have grace ^ vcherehy vce may fervc God 
 acceptably, zvith reverence and godly fear. All things 
 oppohng removed, a freedom eltablifhcd ; therefore 
 let us have Grace : God is the thrice holy One •, hol^ 
 in his Kature, holy in his Word, and holy in all his 
 Works, and he requires that his People be an holy 
 People. To this he (till ur^cd his ancient People, 
 from the Argument pf bis Prcfence amonglt them. 
 
 Ob, 
 
44 T^^^ Advantage of the Kingdom of Chriji^ Sec. 
 
 Oh, that the Spirit of the Lord would bring forth 
 • this one fruit of all his dealing with us, that we 
 might be an holy People : If we put God's pure and 
 clean Mercies into impure and unclean Veflels, they 
 will, to us, be defiled'. Let us take heed of proftra- 
 ting the mighty Works of God to the lervice of our 
 Lufls. Should we now majke fucji Conclufions to 
 -our lelves, as the rich Fool in the Gofpel, and iay. 
 Well, we have now Peace and Profperity laid up 
 for Ibme Years, Soul take thy eafe, eat, drink, and 
 he merry, grovo rich and great, follow after Vanity^ 
 Fride, Folly, Uncleannefs, enjoy with delight the things 
 vihich we have, and heap up thereto : Why, as this is to 
 labour to draw the Lord God into a Partnerfhip with 
 our Abominations, and to enforce his mighty Works 
 to bear Witnefs to our Lults^ fo certainly it is fuch 
 a frame as he will furely and fpeedily revenge. The 
 End why God delivers us from all our Enemies, is, 
 not that we may ferve our Lulls and our lelves 
 without Fear, but that we may ferve him without 
 Fear in Righteoulhels and Holincls, all the days of our 
 Lives : Let then this be the llTue upon our Hearts, of 
 all the Viflories and SuccelTes, and returns of Prayers 
 that we have received •, tloat we give up our lelves to 
 the Lord in all manner of Holinels ; This is that which 
 ^he Lord's Voice calls us unto: Let not now him that 
 \s fJthy, be filthy ftill ^ let not him that is worldly,hQ 
 worldly ftill •, let not him that is looje, and hath call 
 off the Yoke of Chrift, be 9^ fill ; let not him that 
 hath fought himlelf, do fo ftill ; let not him who 
 Iiath contemned the Inftitutions of Chrift, do ^o ftill ; 
 ' let not him that hath been lifted up above his Bre- 
 thren, be fb ftill: But let every one forlake his 
 ^evil way, and the Iniquity that is in his Hand, that 
 we, who were ?2ot a Veople at all, may be a people 
 Jp thje pr^if^ (f ihe Gpd of all : Th^t you who rule 
 
 o'^er 
 
preach' d to the Parliament^ Oft. 24. 165 1. 45 
 
 ever mcn^ may he juj}, ruling in the fear of the 
 Lord, that you may be as the light of the morning 
 when the Sun is rtfcn^ even as n morning without 
 clouds^ as the tender grafs f fringing out of the tdirth 
 by clear fhining after rain : That we who are under 
 Rule, may fir under our vines and fig-tncs^ fpeak- 
 ing well of the Name of God, and labouring to carry- 
 on the Kingdom of the Prince of Peace, even every 
 one as we are called^ and abiding therein with God t 
 That as when you fought this Mercy of God which 
 VJQ rejoyce in, in folemn humbling cf your lelveb be- 
 fore the Lord, I made it appear unto you, that it 
 was the remnant of Jacob, God's fecret and holy ones^ 
 lying in the bozvels of the Aation^ that mult be tha 
 rife of all our Deliverances •, fb we would now, every 
 one, drive to be of that Number, for they alone en- 
 joy the fvjfeetnefs of this and every Mercy. 
 
 THE 
 
.viislv! 
 
 ^ 
 
THE 
 
 Labouring Saints 
 
 Difmifllon to REST. 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached at the F u N e R A L 
 
 Of the Right Honourable 
 
 HENRY IRETON, 
 
 Lord Deputy of I R E L A N D^ 
 
 I N T H E 
 
 Abbey-Church at Weflminfter 
 
 The 6th Day of Fdbruary^ 1651. 
 
 By John Owen, MimJisroftbeGofpcl. 
 
 LONDON, 
 Printed for J o s e p h M a r 9 h a L L at the 
 
 Bib/e in Kai)gate-Jlrcer, 1 -j 2 o. 
 
? i 
 
 IT/ 
 
 \a\ ^t <^i'{'\w\ 
 
 I 
 
 ^.■.'■V'. 
 
 ir 
 
 ?.? A 
 
 t 
 
 {•a 
 
 "i 1 
 
49 
 
 To the Honourable^ 
 
 AND 
 
 My very worthy Friend 
 
 Col. Henry Cronwel. 
 
 S I R, 
 
 TH E cnfuing Sermon wasprcacVi upon as fad 
 an Occafwn^ as on any part'icuLr Account hath 
 been given to this A at ion in this our Genera-- 
 tion. It is now publijloed^ as at the Dcjire oj very many 
 vcho love the favour oj that Ferfujne which is diffufed 
 zjoith the Memory oj the Koble Ferfon peculiarly men- 
 t toned therein : So alfo upon the Requejis of fuch others^ 
 as enables me juflly to entitle the doing oj it Obedience. 
 Being come abroad^ it was in 7ny Tl?oughts to have di- 
 reded it immediately in the jirjl place to Her^ who of 
 any individual Perfbn was mojl nearly concerned in Him, 
 But having obferved how near Jhe hath been to be 
 fwallowed up ofSorrovo^ and what /low Frogrefs he who 
 took care to feal up Inflrudion to her Soul by all Dif- 
 penfitions , hath given her hitherto toward a con- 
 quell thereof^ I was not willing to offer direHly a 
 new Occajwn unto the multitude of her perplexed 
 Thoughts about this thing. Ko doubt, her Lrfs 
 being as great as it could be upon the account of One 
 fubjeQ to the Law of Mortality, as many grains of 
 Grief and Sorrow are to be allowed her in the Bal- 
 lance of the Santluary, as God doth permit to be laid 
 out and difpended about any of the Sons of Men. He 
 who is able to make fwcet the bitterefl Heaters, and 
 
 V L. a D tp 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory, 
 
 ' to give a gracious Iffue to the moft grievous Trial^ 
 voill certainly^ in iue tme. e?ninently hrwg forth that 
 Good upon her Spirit^ whfch he is caufing all thefe things 
 to vcork together j or. In the mean time, Sir^ thefe Lines 
 are to you : Jour near Relation to that Example of 
 Right eoufnefs, Faith ^ Holinefs, Zeal^ Courage, Self -de- 
 nial, Love to his Country^ Wifdo?n and Induflry, men- 
 tioned in the enfuing Sermon ^ the 7nutual tender Affe- 
 Hion between you tvhiljl he was living-^ your ^refence 
 with him in his lafl Trial and Confli^l ^ the deferved Re- 
 gard you bear to his Worth and Memory ^ yoi^r De/ign 
 of looking into^ and following after his Steps and Pur- 
 pofe in the Work of God in his Generation^ as fuch an 
 accomplijio dP attern as Jew Ages have produced the like-^ 
 with many other Reafons of the like Nature, did eafily 
 induce me hereunto. That which is here Printed, is 
 hut the Notes Ifirfl took, not having had leifure Jince 
 to give them aferious Verufal ^ and upon that account, 
 wiijl beg a candid Interpretation unto any thing that 
 may appear not fo well digefied therein as might be ex- 
 pehed. I have not any thing to exprefs concerning your 
 Self but only ivy Dejires, that your Heart may be fixed 
 to rhe Lord God of your Fathers, ^;?i that in the midjl 
 of all your Temptations and Oppojitions, wherewith your 
 Vilgri?7iuge will be attended^ you may be carried on and 
 'eftabl/JI?ed in your inward fubjedion unto, and outward 
 contending for the Kingdom of the Dearly-beloved of our 
 Souls ; not fainting, or waxing zi^eary, until you receive 
 your 'Dlfniffion to Reji, for' your lot in the end of the 
 days. 
 
 S I R, 
 
 •Ch..Ch. Ok. 
 
 ^F'^^ 2d. Your moll humble and 
 
 affectionate Servant, 
 John Owen. 
 
51 
 
 The Labouring S A I N T^s 
 Difmiflion to RES T. 
 
 D A N. xii. 13. 
 
 But go thou thy xcay till the end he : for thou^ 
 f)alt reft^ and Jland in the lot at the end cj 
 the days. 
 
 TH E Words of my Text having no de- 
 pendance (as to their Sence and Meaning, 
 but only as to the Occafion of tliem.^ on 
 the Verfes foregoing, I (hall not at all look 
 backward into the Q^dptct\ bur fall im- 
 tnediately upon them, that I be not hindred from my 
 principal Intendment ^ being unwilling to detain yoii 
 long, tho' Willing to fpeak a Word from the Lord, 
 to iuch a Congregation gathered together by fuch an 
 eminent Aft of the Providence of God. 
 
 The Words are, the Lord's Difmiflion given to a 
 moft eminent Servant, fiom a molt eminent Fmploy- 
 ment, wherein thele Four things are Obfervabie : 
 
 I. The UifmiJJion itfelf, in thefirll wordSy Go thou 
 thy ways. 
 
 II. The Term allotted for his Continuance under 
 that Dilhiilfion, until the end be. 
 
 III. His State and Condition under that Difmiflion, 
 J or thou J1)iilt refl. 
 
 ■"IV. The utmolf Iffuc of all this Dilpcnfation, both 
 
 as to his foregoing Labour, his Difmiflion, and 
 
 ^ ^ D 2 Kelt 
 
52 The Labouring S a i n t '^ 
 
 Reft following, Jland in thy lot at the end of the 
 dayes. 
 
 Go thou thy ways, &:c. 
 In the Firft, I fhall confider two things : 
 
 1. The Ferfon difmijjed, (Thou,) Go thou thy 
 ways, 
 
 2. The Difmiflion it felf, Go thou thy ways, 
 
 T. The Perfon Difmifled is Daniel^ the Writer of 
 this Prophecy, who received all the great Vifions of 
 God mentioned therein: And I defire to obferve 
 concerning him, as to our Purpofe in hand, two 
 things ; 
 
 i/?, His ^allocations, idly^ His Employment, 
 
 For the firft, I fhall only name Ibme of them that 
 were moft eminent in him, and they are three. 
 . I. Wi/dom, 2. Love to his People, g. Uprightnefs 
 and Right eoufnefs in the dilcharge of that High Place- 
 whereunto he was advanced. 
 
 For the firft, the Holy Ghoft beareth ample Tefii- 
 mony thereunto, Dan. i. 17, 20. As for thefe four 
 children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all 
 learning and voifdom : and Daniel had underjlanding in 
 all vifions and drea7ns. And in all ^natters of wifdom 
 and underflanding that the king enquired of them, he 
 found them ten times better than all the magicians 
 and aftrologers that were in all his reahn. 
 
 In all Matters of Wifdom and Underflanding^ none 
 in the whole Babylonian Empire, full of Wile-Men and 
 Artifts, were to be compared to Daniel and his Com- 
 panions. And Ezekiel, chap. 28. ^. rebuking the 
 Pride and Arrogancy of Tyrus with a bitter Scorn, 
 he fays. Behold, thou art wifer than Daniel, or thou 
 thinkeft thy felf fo : intimating, that none, in wifdomy 
 was to be compared unto him. 
 
 2. Love to his People. On this account was his 
 mcft diligent Enquiry into the Time of their Deliver- 
 ance^ 
 
Difmifion to Kkst. 53 
 
 ance, and his earnelt Contending witli God upon the 
 dilcovery of the Seaibn when it was to be accom- 
 plifhed, chap. 9. i, 2, 25, 4. Hence, he is reckoned 
 amonglt them, who, in their Generation, (lood in 
 the Gap, in the behalf of others, Koah^ J^.wicl^ and 
 Job. Hence, God calls the People of the Jews, his 
 Feoplt\ chap. 9. 24. Seventy vrecks' are determined on 
 thy people ^ the People of thy Afteftions and Defires ^ 
 the People of whom thou art, and who are fo dear 
 unto thee. 
 
 n,. For his Righteoufnefs in difchargingof his Trult 
 and Office, you have the joint-Tellimony of God 
 and Man : His High Place and Preferment, you have 
 chap. 6.2. He was the firft of the three Prefidents 
 who were fet over the Hundred and twenty other Princes 
 of the Provinces : And the Holy Gholt tells you, that in 
 the difcharge of this high Truft and great Employment, 
 he was faithful to the uttermoft, ver. 4. Then the pre- 
 fidents and princes fought to find occafwn againfl Daniel 
 concerning the kingdom^ hut they could find none occa- 
 fion nor faulty foraf7nuch as he was jaithful : neither 
 was there any err our or fault found in hi?n. Which alfo 
 his Enemies confefs'd, ver. ^. Then /aid thefe Alen^ 
 We fhall not find occafion againjl this Daniel^ except tee 
 fmd it {{gainjl him concerning the law of his God. 
 Thefe Qualifications, I lay, amongit others, wer« 
 
 molt eminent in this Per Ion, who here received his 
 
 Difinifiion from his Employment. 
 
 idly^ There is his Employment it felf, from which 
 
 he is difmifled : And herein 1 Ihall only Obferve 
 
 thele two things ^ 
 
 J. The Nature of the Employment it felf . 
 2. Some confiderahle Circumfiances of it. 
 For the firlt. It confided, in receiving from God, 
 
 and holding out to others, clear and cxprefs \ ihons 
 
 ^ncerning God's wonderful providential Alt crut ions 
 
 D 3 i« 
 
54 The Labouring S A i n t ' ^ 
 
 in Kingdoms and Nations, which were to be ac- 
 complilhed, from the Days wherein he lived, to the 
 End of the World. All the Prophets together had 
 not fo many clear Difcoveries, as this one Daniel, 
 concerning thefe Things. 
 
 1, For the latter, This is Obfervable, That all his 
 Vi/ions ftill dole With fome eminent Exaltation of 
 the Kingdom ofChnJiy that is the centre where all 
 the lines of his Vifions do n^eet, as is to be feen in. 
 the clofe of almoft every Chapter; And this was the 
 great Intendment of the Spiiit, in all thoit glorious 
 Revelations unto Daniel lo n^anifelt the fublerviency 
 of all Civil Kevo'utioiis unro che Intereft of the 
 Kingdpm of the L^rd Chrifh 
 
 This then is xht Fc?fon concerning whom thefe 
 \S/ords were nfed, and chis was his Employment. 
 
 2, .There is his D'ljm'iffion it lelf Go thou thy ways. 
 NovV'this may be conlider q two ways •, 
 
 ii: Singly, relating to his Employment only, 
 2, In reference to his Life alfo 
 
 Invthe iiilt fence, the Lord difchargeth Daniel 
 from -his further Attendance on him, in this way of 
 receiving Vifwns and; Revelations concerning Things 
 that were fhortly to come to pafs, altho' haply hisj 
 portio^i might yet be. continued in the Land of 
 tjie Living : As if the Lord fhould fay. Thou art 
 an inquiring Man, thou art ftill feeking for further 
 acquaintance with my Mind in thefe Things : but 
 (Content thy felf j thou flialt receive no more Vifions ^ 
 I will now employ Haggai^ Zechariah, and others ; 
 thou fiialt receive no more. But I cannot clofe with 
 this fence : For, 
 
 I. This is not the Manner of God, to lay afide 
 thofe whom he hath found faithful in his fervice : 
 AJen indeed do fo^ but God changeth not 5 whom he 
 h^th begun tp honour with any Employment, he con- 
 
 tinuetb 
 
Difmifion ro Re s T. 55 
 
 tinueth them in it, whillt ihey are faithtul to 
 him. 
 
 2. 'Daniel was now above an Hundred Years old, • 
 as may be ealily demonltrated, by comparing the 
 T\mt of his Captivity, which was in the third Year 
 of the Reign 0^' Jchoiakim, chap. 1.1. with the Time 
 of his Writing this Prophecy, which is exprelly GId 
 to be in the Reign of Cyrus the King ofVcrfia^ chap. 
 10. I. and thert^fore, probably, his End was very 
 nigh \ and after this, you hear othim no more ^ who, 
 had he lived many Days, it had been his Sin, not to 
 have gone up to Jcrufalem^ the Decree of Cyrus 
 giving L.berty tor a Reiurn, being pafled. 
 
 It is nor. then, God's laying him afide from his 
 Office, limply, but alio his intimation that he muft 
 fhoitly lay down liis Mortality, and lb come into the 
 Condition wherein he was to rcj\ until the End : 
 This then is his Dijmijjion^ he died in his Work •, 
 Life and Employment go together, Go thou thy to ays. 
 
 Ohf. \7\ There is an affointed. fcnjon wherein 
 the Saints oj the ?noJl eminent Abilities, in the 7noJl 
 ufiful Employments^ mujl receive tJ^eir DifmiJJ/on, be 
 their Work of never- fo-great. Importance, be their Abi- 
 lities never-lb-choice and eminent, they mult, in their 
 lealbn, receive their Difmiflion. 
 
 Befbre I handle this Propofltion, or proceed to 
 open the following Words, I fliall crave Leave 
 to bring the Work of God, and the Word of 
 God, a little clofe together, and lay the Parallel 
 between the Pcrfons difmilfed, the one in our Text, 
 the other in a prcfciit Providence, which is very 
 near, only that the one lived not out half the Days 
 of the other. 
 
 Three Perfonal Qpalihcations we oblerved in Damcl^ 
 all which were.vety eminent in the'Pcrlbn of our 
 Defires. 
 
 D + I. n 7/: 
 
$6 The Labouring S A i n t '^ 
 
 ^ I. Wifdom : There is a 7nanifoli Wifdom^ which 
 God imparteth to the Sons of Men ^ there isjpirituai 
 Wifdom, which, by the way of eminency, is faid to 
 he from above. Jam. 3. 17. which is nothing but the 
 gracious acquaintance of the Soul with the hidden 
 Wifdom of God in Chrift, i Cor, 2. 7. and there is 
 a Civil Wifdom, or a ibund ability of Mind for the 
 Management gf the Affairs of Men, in liibordinatiori 
 to the Providence and Righteoufnels of God. Tho' 
 both thefe were in Daniel, yet it is in refpeft of the 
 latter that his Wifdom is ^0 peculiarly extolled. And 
 tho' I am very far from affuming to my felf the skill 
 of judging of the Abilities of Men, and would be far 
 from holding forth things of meer common report 5 
 yet upon affured grounds, I luppole this Gift of God, 
 Ability of Mind, and dextrous Induftry for the Ma- 
 nagement of Human Af&irs, may b^ aftribed to our 
 Departed Friend. 
 
 There are lundry things that diftinguifh this Wif^ 
 dom, from that Policy which God abhors, which is 
 carnal, fenfual, and devilifl:. Jam. ^. 15". tho' it be the 
 great Darling of the Men of the World : I fhall name 
 one or two of them. 
 
 I. A gracious dilcerning of the Mind of God, ac- 
 cording to his appearance in the Affairs wherein Men 
 are employed, Mic 6. 9. The Lord's voice crieth 
 unto the city, the man of wifdom Jhall fee thy name ,• 
 hear the rod, and who hath appointed it. It is the 
 Wifdom nf a Man, to {eethe Name of God, to be ac- 
 quainted with his Will, his Mind, his Adu in Things, 
 when his providential voice crieth to the city. All 
 the Works of God have their Voice, have their In- 
 flruQion : Thofe of fignal Providence ipeak aloud, 
 they cry to the City, Here is the Wfdom of a Man^ 
 he is a Man of Subflance, a Subllantial Man, that 
 can fe^ his Name in fuch Difpenfaeions. This 
 
 carnal 
 
Difmi/fwTi to K K s T. 57 
 
 cdrna/ Policy enquires not into, but is wholly Iwal- 
 lowed up in the concatination of things among them- 
 lelvcs, applying lecondary Caulcs unto Events, with- 
 out once looking to the Aame of God ^ like. Swine 
 following Acorns under the Tree, not at all looking 
 up to the Tree irom whence they tall. 
 
 2. Such Acquaintance with the Seafons of Provi- 
 dence, as to know the Duty of the People of God in 
 them, \Chron. j2. 7,2. the Children oi Ijjach^r^ Men 
 that had Underftanding of the Times, to know what 
 Ifracl ought to do : This it is, indeed, to be a Man 
 cfUndef-flanding^ to know in any Sealbn the Duty of 
 Ifrael, that they may walk up to Acceptation with 
 God in the performance thereof A thing which is 
 neither prefcribed in the Rules, nor followed in the 
 the Praflice of Men, wife only with that curfed 
 Polity which God abhors ^ to have a Mind fuited 
 unto all Seafons and Tempers, fb as to compafs their 
 own felhfh Ends, is the utmofl of their Aim. 
 ' Now in both thefe did this Gift of God fhinc in 
 this decealcd Saint. 
 
 I. He ever counted it his Kij]fdom^ to look after 
 the Name of God, and the Teftification of his Will, 
 in every Difpenfation of Providence wherein he was 
 called to ferve : for this were his Wakings, Watchings, 
 Enquires ^ when that was made out, he counted not 
 his bufinefs half done, but even accomplifhed, and 
 that the iHue was juft at the door ^ not, what faith 
 this Man, or what iTaith that Man, but, what faith 
 the Lord ^ that being evident- he conlulted not with 
 Flefh JnJ Blood, and the wifdomof it, (whereof, per- 
 haps, would he have leaned to it, he was as little 
 deflitute, as any in his Gencriit'wn, I mean, the whole 
 Wifdom of a Man.) The A'j;;;^ of God, was as Land 
 in every Storm, in the difcovery whereof, he had 
 as happy an eye at the greatclt fecming diftance, 
 ■" when 
 
58 the Laboimng S a i n t ' 5 
 
 when the clouds were blackeft, and the Waves 
 higheft, as any. 
 
 2. Neither did he reft here : what Ifrael ought to 
 do^ in every fealbn, was alio his enquiry •, fome Men 
 have a Wifdom to know Things, but not Sealbns in 
 any meafure ^ furely, a Thing in fealbn, is no left 
 beautiful than a Word in fealbn •, as Apples oj Gold 
 in Figures of Silver : There are few Things which 
 belong to Civil Affairs, but are alterable upon the 
 incomprehenhble variety of Circumftances. Thele 
 alter and change the very Nature of them, and make 
 them good or bad, that is, uleful or deftru£live. He 
 that will have the Garment that was made for him 
 one Year, lerve him and fit him the next, mult be 
 fare that he neither encreale nor wane. Importunate 
 infifting on the molt ufeful Things, without refpe£l to 
 Alterations of Seafons, is a fad fign of a narrow 
 Heart. He of whom we fpeak, was wile to difcern 
 thefeafons^ and performed Things, when both them- 
 lelves, and the ways of carrying them on, were ex- 
 cellently fuited unto all Coincidences of their Sealbn. 
 And indeed, what is mofl wifely propofed in one Sea- 
 Ibn, may be moft foolifhly purfued in another. It 
 had been Wifdom in Jofhua not to have made any 
 CompaQ:, but to" have flain all the Giheonhes •, but 
 it was a Folly fbrely revenged in 5^/^/, who attempted 
 to do the fame. He who thinks the molt righteous 
 and fuitable Propolals or Principles that ever were in 
 the World ( letting afide general Rules of unchangeable 
 Righteoufnels and Equity,compafling all Times, Places, 
 Ways and Forms of Government ) mult be perform'd 
 as defirable, becaule once they were, lb, is certainly a 
 itranger to the Aflairs of Human Kind. 
 
 Some Things are univerfally unchangeable and in- 
 difpenfable amongft Men, fuppofing them to live 
 anlwerable to the general Principles of their kind \ 
 
 as. 
 
Difmf/ion to Re st. 59- 
 
 as, that a Governinent mult be, without which, eve- 
 ry one is the Knemy ct every one-, and all rend to 
 mutual DcltruQion, which are appointed of God for 
 mutual Prelirvation ^ that in Government lome do Rule, 
 and lome be in SubjetUon •, that all Rule be for the 
 Good of" them that are Ruled •, and the like Princi- 
 ples that flow neccIFarily from the very Nature of 
 Political Society. 
 
 Some things again are alterable and difpenfable, 
 mecrly upon the account of prelerving the former 
 Principles, or the like : If any of them are out of 
 Courle, if is a Vcicumn in Nature Politick, for which 
 all particular Elements inltantly diflodge and tranf- 
 pofe themlelves to fupp'y •, and luch are all Forms 
 of Government amonglt Men, which, if either they 
 fo degenerate of themlelves, that they become direfl- 
 ly oppofite, or are fo (battered by providential Re- 
 volutions, as to become ulelcfs to their proper End, 
 may and ought to be changed, and not upon other 
 i\ccounts : But now for other things in Government, 
 as the particular wny whereby Pcrlbns fliall be defigned 
 unto it, the continuance of the fame Perlons in it, 
 for a Iclsor a greater proportion of Time, the exercilc 
 of more or lefs Power by fome forts, or the whole 
 Body of them that are ruled, the uniting of Men 
 for lome particular Ends by Bonds and Engagements, 
 and the like occafional Emergencies, the univerlal dif- 
 polal of them is roll'd on Prudence, to a£t according 
 to prefent Circumlhmces. 
 
 2. Love to his Fcnplc. This was the the lecond 
 Qualification^ wherein Dame/ vvasfb eminent : And our 
 deceafed Friend, not to enter 'nrocomparifon with them 
 that went before, had clearly fuch a proportion as wc 
 may heartily dehre that thofe who follow after may 
 drink but r^;//^/ Draughts of the lame Cup ; that as 
 his Pains, Labour Travel, jeopards of hib Life, and 
 
 all 
 
6o The Labouring S A i n T ' 5 
 
 all that was dear to him, relinquifhtnent of Relatr 
 ons and Contentments, had Sweetnels and Life from 
 this Motive, even intenfenefs of Afetlwn to his Peo- 
 f/e, the People of whom he was, and whole Profpe- 
 rity he did defire, needs no further Demonftration, 
 than the great neglefl of Self, and all Self-concern- 
 ments which dwelt upon him, in all his tremen- 
 dous Undertakings : vicit amor patria^ or certainly 
 he who had upon his Breaft and all his Undertakings 
 Selfconte7npt fo eminently engraven, could not have 
 perfifted wreftling with ^o many Difficulties to the 
 end of his days : It vJdLsJerufalem^ and the Prolperity 
 thereof, which was preferred to his chief Joy, Neither, 
 
 3. Did he come (hort in Right eoufnefs in the Ad- 
 minlftration of that high Place whereunto he was cal- 
 led ? Nay, than this, there was not a more eminent 
 Stone in that Diadem which he had in the Earth. If he 
 lay not at the Bottom, yet at lead he had a fignal 
 concurrence in fuch A£ls of Juftice, as Antiquity hath 
 not known, and Pofterity will admire. Neither was 
 it this or that particular A£l that did in this belpeak 
 his Praile, but a conftant Will and Purpofe of rendring 
 to every one his due. 
 
 I (hall not infill upon Particulars in thele and liin- 
 dry other perlbnai Qualifications, between the Perlbns 
 mentioned a Parallel may lie. 
 
 2. As to Employment, that of Daniel was menti- 
 oned before : Ic was the receiving and holding out 
 from God, Vijions of fignal providential Alterations, 
 difpofing and tranrpofing of States, Nations, King- 
 doms, and Dominions \ what he had in Speculation^ 
 was tiais Mans part to follovy in AQion 5 he was an 
 eminent Inlkument in the Hand of God, in as tre- 
 mendous providential Alterations, as fuch a fpot of 
 the World hath at any time received fince Daniel 
 foveCiw in general them all : and this, not as many 
 
 havp 
 
Difmiffwn to K E s T. 6i 
 
 have been canied along with the Stream, or led by 
 outward Motives and Confiderations, tar above their 
 own Principles and Defires,but leeingly and knowingly, 
 he doled with the Mind of God, with lull purpole of 
 Heart to ferve the vci/I of the Lord m his Genera- 
 tion, And on this account did he fee every fnoun- 
 tain made a flam before-hand^ by the Spint rj the 
 Lord, aud Itaggered not at the grcatelt Difficulties 
 throuih unbelief, but being fJedfiJi in lairh, he gav6 
 glory to God. And to compleat the Parallel, as Da- 
 niel's Vifions were itill terminated in the Kingdom of 
 Chrift, fo all his Aftions had the lame Aim and 
 Intendment. This was that which gave Life and 
 Sweetnels to all the moll difmal and black Engage- 
 ments that at any time he was called unto. All 
 made way to the coming in of the promiled Glory. 
 It was all the Vengeance of the Lord and his Temple : 
 A Davidical Preparation of his Paths in Blood, that 
 he might for ever reign in Righteoufhefs and Peace; 
 but be he fo or lb, the truth of our Propoiition is 
 confirmed towards him. 
 
 There is an appointed feafon^ vchen the Saints of 
 the tnofl eminent Abilities in the mojl ufejul Employ* 
 ments^ fhall receive their Difmijfwn, &c. 
 
 I (hall briefly open the red of the Words, and ^o 
 take up the Propoiition again which was firlt laid 
 down. 
 
 2. Then, there is the term allotted to him in thi^ 
 State of his Difmiflion, until the End be. 
 
 Three things may be here intended in this ivoxi 
 End, until the End be. 
 
 f . The end of his Life ^ Go thou thy zoays to tha 
 end of thy life, and days ^ but this we before dilal- 
 lowed, not contenting tiiat D.micl rcceivt:d a Dil^ 
 milTion from his Frnploymciu before tb'j end of 
 his Life and Pilgi image. 
 
 -, T!.>0 
 
62 The Labouring Saint'^ 
 
 2. 7he end of tie World ^^ Go thy ways to the end 
 vf the World '^ till then thou (halt reft in thy Grave: 
 But neither yet doth this feem to be peculiarly in- 
 tended in thefe words. The words in the cloje of the 
 Text, do exprefly mention that, calling it the end of 
 the days^ and in lo few words, the lame Thing is not 
 needlefly repeated : Befides, had this Expreflion held 
 out the whole time of his abode in the Itate of Reft 
 here iignitied, it muft have been. Go thou thy ways^ 
 for thou fhalt reft until the End be : So that, 
 
 3 J/k, The End here, is to be accommodated unto 
 the things, whereof the Holy Ghoft is peculiarly deal* 
 ing with Daniel'^ and that is, the Accomplifliment 
 of the great Vifions which he had received, in break- 
 ing the Kingdoms of the World, and letting up the 
 Kingdom of the holy one of God: Daniel i% difmifled 
 from further attendance in this Service, he fliall not 
 fee the aflual Accomplifhment of the things mentioned, 
 but is difmiffed and laid afide unto the end of them. 
 The word until m the Scripture, is not fuch a limi- 
 tation of Time, as to aflerr the contrary to what is ex- 
 cepted, upon its Accompli (hent : until the end^ doth 
 not fignify that he fhould nor Reft after the end of 
 the things intimated, no more than it is affirmed that 
 Michal had Children aftet her death ^ hecaule it \i 
 faid, that until her death, fhe had none, 2 Sam, 6. 2g. 
 This then is that End that he is diliniffed unto ^ the 
 appointed fcafon for tlye acco7nplifJwient of th of e glo- 
 rious things which he had forefliewn. 
 
 Obf ] God oft e n- time sfuffers not his choice ft fer- 
 vants to fee the Ifjiie and Accomplifhrnent of thefe glo^ 
 rious things, vohcrein themfelves have been moil e7ni' 
 ncntly engdged, 
 
 ?. The \hird thing (that we may make hnftc) is 
 his State -and Condition during the time which he 
 lies under this Dilmiilion, in thele words, /^^' thou 
 JJ^ah ref}. There 
 
Dimijfion to Re sr. 65 
 
 There is nothing of difficulty in thele words, but 
 what will naturally fall under Conlkleration in the 
 opening of the Propolition which they bold CAitj 
 which is, 
 
 Obf 2."] Tbc condit'icn of a dif miffed Saint, is a con- 
 dition of Reft : Thoujhalt reft until the end be. What 
 this Kelt is, and from what, with wherein it confilts, 
 fhall be afterwards explained. 
 
 4. The laft thing in the Text is the utmoft iflue of 
 all thele Diipenlations, both as to his foregoing La- 
 bour, and his prefent Viffnijfion, and Jollowwg Reft : 
 TI?ou fhalt ftand in thy lot, ^c. 
 
 Here are two things confiderable in thefe words ^ 
 The feafon of the Accompiiftwient of what is here 
 foretold and promifcd unto Daniel, and that is in the 
 end of the days •, that is, when Time fliall be no more 5 
 when a period fliall be put to the days of the World, 
 called the laft day, the great day, the day cf Judg- 
 ment ; that is, the fealbn of the accomplifliment of 
 this Promile \ the day tvherein God will judge the 
 world by the man whom be hath ordained, 
 
 ObfJ There is an appointed determinate feafon, 
 wherein all Things and Per/ons, according to the Will 
 rf God, will run into their utmoft Iftue and everlafting 
 Condition, 
 
 2. The thing foretold and promifed, that is, that 
 hefhould ftand in his lot, 
 
 Obf] There is an appointed lot for every one to ftand 
 in, and meafured portion, which in the end they fhall 
 receive. 
 
 2. There is an eminent Lot hereajter for Men of 
 eminent hjnploymcnt for God here. 
 
 I fliall not be able to handle all thcle feveral 
 Truths which lie in the Words-, thofe only which 
 are of molt hnportance, and moW/mtable, may bricHy 
 be handled unto you ^ and the tult is, 
 
 There 
 
64 The Labouring S A i N t' x 
 
 There is a?i appomtei Sea/on wherein the Saints of 
 the moft eminent Abilities in the moll ufetul Employ- 
 ments, mult receive their DifmifiiQii, Zech i. 5. Tour 
 fathers, where are they ^ and the prophets, do they 
 live for ever ? Fathers arid Prophets have but their 
 feafon, and they are notj they have their Dlfmifli- 
 on: So old Simeon protefleth, Ki/nc Di?mtis,Lide 
 2. 29. Now thou giveft me a DiJmiJJion, They are 
 fclaced of God in their Station, as a Centinel in his 
 Watch-tower, and they have their appointed Seafbn, 
 and are then difmifled from their Watch. The 
 Great Captain of their Salvation comes, and laith. 
 Go thou ihy ways, thou haft faithfully dilcharged thy 
 Duty •, go now unto thy Reft. Some have harder 
 Service : Some have harder Duty than others : Some 
 keep Guard in the Winter, a time of Storms and 
 Temptations, Trials and great PrelTures: Others irt 
 the Sun-fhine, the Summer of a tiiore flouriftiing E- 
 Itate and Condition •, yet Duty they all do ^ all at-^ 
 tend the Service ^ all endure Ibme Hardfhip, and have 
 their appointed Sealbn for their Difmiliion. And 
 be they rieVer ib excellent at the difcharging of their 
 Duty, they fhall not abide one Moment beyond the 
 Bounds which He hath fet them, who faith to all his 
 Creatures, thusfarfl)all you go, and no farther. Of* 
 ten-times this Difmiffion is in the midft of their Work 
 for which they feem to be moft eminently qualified. 
 
 The three moft eminent Works of God, in and 
 about his Children, in days of old, were, i. His gi- 
 ving his People the Law, and fettling them in the 
 Land of Canaan. 2. His recovering them from the 
 Baby/onijh Captivity: and 9. His promulgation of 
 the Gofpel unto them. In th^fe three Works, He 
 employed three moft eminent Petfbns-, Alofes in the 
 fii-ft, Danie/ in the fecond, and fohn Baptiji in the 
 third; and neither of them Cxv; the WorH accom- 
 
 plifhed 
 
Difmifion to R e sr. 63 
 
 pliftied wherein they were ib eminently employed 
 Alofes died the Year before the People entred Canaafi \ 
 Diwicl Ibme few Years Ixrfore the foundation of the 
 Temple ^ and John BciptiJ} in the fird year of the 
 Bapcilm of our Saviour, when the Gofpel, which he 
 began to preach, was to be publifhed in its Beauty 
 and Glory. They had all but their appointed Sca- 
 fons, though their Abilities were eminent: Who 
 like unto them i^ and their Employment excellent ^ 
 what like it in the Earth ? Yet at their Sealons they 
 they mulf go their ways to ReJ}^ and lie down //// 
 they ftund in their Lot at the end of the djys. 
 
 Reaf. I.] The general condition of their Mortality 
 doth require that it fhould be lb: // is iippointedto 
 ell men once to die, Heb. 9. 7. There is a (table Law 
 fixed concerning the Sons of Men, that is not, upon 
 the account of any ulefulnefs here, to be difpenlei 
 withal : The nu?nber of our ?7ion-ths are zvith God j 
 he hath fixed our bounds^ which we floall not pafs • 
 Our days are as the days of an Hirelin^^, that have a 
 certain prefixed and determinate End : Their Strength 
 is not the ftrength of Stones, neither is their Fklh 
 of Brais, that they fhould endure for ever. See Job 
 14. 10, IT, 12. This (May) retjuires that there 
 fhould bean appointed feaf on for their Ejuployment^ 
 for it is fo for their Lives : And yet there is more 
 in it than this •, for in the courle of 5:000 Years, 
 God hath exempted two Pclbns, by his Sove- 
 reignty, from the condition of Mortality^ Who walked 
 with fiim in their Genetations. So that the boundi 
 fixed to them were not upon the account of thcit 
 Lives^ bur meerly of the Work they had in hand. 
 
 2. God doth it, that he may be the more emt- 
 
 nently feen in the carrying on his own Works, which 
 
 in thei^ f^^fon, he commits to them. Should he 
 
 leave hi3 Work always ow one Hand, ic Would S^^^m 
 
 Vol. It £ at 
 
66 The Labouring S a i n T ' j 
 
 at length to be the Work of the Infirument only. 
 Though the People Oppofed Mofes at the firft, yet 
 it is thought they . would have Worlhipped him 
 at the laft ^ and therefore God buried him where 
 his Body could not be found. Yet indeed he had 
 but the Lot of moft who faithfully lerve God in 
 their Generations, defpifed whillt they are preient, 
 idolir^ed when they are gone. I do not know of any 
 great Work, that the Lord carried out the iame Per- 
 16ns to be the Beginners and Enders of : He gave 
 them all their Sealbns, that his Power and Wifdom 
 tn^ght the more evidently appear, in carrying it from 
 one Hand to another. 
 
 5. God makes room, as it were, in his Vineyard^ 
 for-the budding, flourifhing, and fruit-bearing of other 
 Plants which he hath planted. Great Employments 
 call for great exercife of Graces. Even in Employ- 
 ments in and about providential Things, there is the 
 exercife of fpiritual Grace-, as much Faith and Prayer, 
 as much Communion with God, walking before him, 
 and wreflling with him, may be uled in cafting down 
 of Armies^ as in fetting up o¥ Churches •, God exerci- 
 feth all the Graces of hh in the Work he calleth them 
 out unto : He principles them, by Faith and Fellow- 
 (hip with himfelf^ for their Employment ^ and there- 
 fore He gives each Individual but his appointed Sea- 
 fon, that others in whofe Hearts he hath lodged the 
 fame Spirit wherewith they are endued, may comie 
 forth, and (hew the Fruits thereof Dame/ lieth 
 down in the Dull in Reft and Peace ^ and why fo ? 
 The Spirit of Prophecy is poured out on Ha££ai and 
 Zechariah, 6^c. they mult alfo carry on this Work, and 
 bear my Name before my People. Confider the Ule. 
 of this. 
 
 Ufe I.] of Exhortation unto all that are employed 
 in the Work of God, elpecially fuch as with eminent 
 
 Abilities 
 
Difmijfion /o R e s t. 67 
 
 Abilities are engaged in eminent Emplcyments,, you 
 have but your jllottca Scafbn for your Woik ^ your 
 Djy hjth its clofe^ its Evening ^ your A/^/;r comcth, 
 wherein none can Work : The grave cannot fraife the 
 hord^ death cannot celebrate him, it's the living^ the 
 living that arc fitted j or that icork, Ifa^^S. u, 19. 
 It is true, Men may allot you your Sealbn, and all in 
 vain, but your Times are in the hand of God • that 
 which he hath appointed out unto fhall Hand : Be 
 you never Ilo Excellent, never fo Vfeful, yet the days 
 of" your Service are as the days of an hireling, that will 
 expire at the appointed Sealbn: Be wife then to im- 
 prove the Time that is in your Hands ; This is the 
 praife of a Man, the only praiie whereof in this 
 World he is partaker, that he doth the Will oj God, 
 before he fall afleep '^ that he faithfully ferves his Ge- 
 neration until he be no more. 
 
 For a dyin^ Man to wreftle with the rebukes of 
 God, and the complaints of his own Confcicnce, for 
 meeting with the end ot his Days, before he hath at- 
 tain'd the midfl of his T^uty, is a fad Condition. 
 
 You have your Seafon, and you have but your Sea- 
 fon ^ neither can you lie down in Peace, until you 
 have fome perfwahon, that your Work, as well as 
 your Life, is at an end ; whatever then you find to do, 
 do it with all your Strength, for rherc is neither 
 Wifdom nor Power in the Grave, whither you are 
 going, Eclef. 9. 10. 
 
 Some particular Rules may direcl yru herein. 
 
 I. Compare your felves with the Saints ol' God 
 who were faithful in their Generations, and are now 
 fallen a-ileep. What a deal of Work did Jofiah do 
 in a fhort Sealon > What a Light did John fet up in a 
 few Years? With what unwearied Pains and Induiiry 
 did our decealed Friend fcrve his Generaricn > It is 
 fuid (JiC^Jar^ that he was alhamed of his own Sl<''th, 
 
 E 2 vvlicn 
 
-Ti n^i 
 
 68 the Labouring S A i n T *i 
 
 when he found that Aiexani€r had conquered the 
 Eaftern World, at the Age wherein he had done 
 nothing. Behold here one receiving his Difmiflion 
 about the Age of forty Tears, and what a world of 
 Work for God, and the Interell of the Lord Chrift, 
 did he in that fealbn ! and how well in the clofe, 
 hath he parted with a temporal Life for him, 
 who by his Death procured for him an eternal Life. 
 And now Reft is fweet to this labouring Man : Pro- 
 voke one another by Examples. 
 
 2. Be diligent to pafs through your Work^ and kt 
 it not too long hang upon your Hands •, your ap- 
 pointed lealbn may come before you bring it to the 
 clofc 5 yea, fearch out Work for God. You that 
 are intruded in Power, trifle not away your fealbn. 
 Is there no opprefled Perfon that with Diligence you 
 might relieve ? Is there no poor diftrefled Widow 
 or Orphan whofe righteous Requefis you might ex- 
 pedite and difpatch ? Are there no flout Offenders 
 againft God and Man that might be chaftifed ? Are 
 there no flack and flow Counties and Cities in the 
 execution of Juftice, that might be quickned by your 
 Example? No Places deflitute of the Gofpel, that 
 might be furniflied and fupplied by your Induftry 
 and Wifdom^ Can you not find out fomething of 
 thefe or the like Nature, to be difpatched with 
 Vigour and Diligence ? Nay, do not innumerable 
 Particulars in each kind lie upon your Hands ? And 
 is not your performance of them fuch a Sacrifice as 
 wherewith God is not well-plealed ^ Your Time is 
 limited and appointed, you know not how loon 
 you m.ay be overtaken with it •, and would it not 
 be defirable unto you, that you had done thefe things > 
 Will it be bitternefs in the end, that you fo laid out 
 your Endeavours ? 
 
T)if?m(fio7i to R K s t. 6^ 
 
 Ufa 3.] All Men /;.;Lr bur their Sdifons in any 
 Work^ only God abideth in it for ever : In every Un- 
 dertaking let your Eye Hill be on him, with whom is 
 the Fulnefs and the Rcfidue of the Spirit. JcremuTh\ 
 great bewailing of Jofuih\ Death, was, doubtlefs, 
 made upon the account of his difccrning, that none 
 would come after him to carry on the Work which 
 he had begun ; but the Wickednefs of that People 
 was come to their height, elfe God can raife up yet 
 more Jofmhs. Let him be eyed as the Principal and 
 only abiding Agent in any great Undertaking. 
 
 In the refidue of the Oblervations, I (hall be very 
 brief. The next is, 
 
 ObC 2.] Goi qftcH-tvnesfujfers not the choicejl of 
 his Servants to fee the Accowpiijhmcnt of thofe flori- 
 Things xchercin them/elves have been ;noJf eminently 
 engaged. 
 
 The Cafe of Mofes is moft eminently known, he 
 had a large Ihare in fuftering the Perfecutions which 
 were allotted to the People -, forty Years Banifliment 
 he endured in tiie Wildernefs, under the Reproach 
 of Chrilt ; forty Years more fpent in wrellling with 
 innumerable Difficulties, dangerous Perils, Mutinies, 
 Wars, and Contentions. At the Clofe, when he 
 comes to look upon the Land, when the End of all that 
 Diipenfation was to be wound up, and the Kelt and 
 Reward of all his Toil and Labour to be had, which 
 formerly he had undergone for twice forty Years-, 
 Go thou thy av/yj, faith the Lord, tlwu Jhalt ref^^ 
 take thy Dlfmiflion, thou fhalt not enter into the 
 good Land, lie down here in the Wildernels in 
 Peace. , 
 
 John Baptij} goes and preaches the dr.mmg nigh oj 
 the kingdom of God; but lived only to point out 
 Chrilt with his Finger, cries, Bcho/d the Lamb of 
 Cod, I muft decreafc •, and is cut oft: D^td makes 
 
 E ? «he 
 
70 The Labouring S A i n t * ^ 
 
 the great Preparation for the Temple, but he fliall 
 not fee 16 much as the Foundation laid. Men muft, 
 take their appointed Lot. God mil fend by the hand 
 cfhbn whom he mil fend, Daniel muji reji until the 
 end be. It is faid of Ibme, they began to deliver 
 Ifrael The Cale of Zerubbabel was very rare, wrho 
 few the Foundation, and alfo the Top-ltone of the 
 Temple laid, and yet the Work of Jerufalem was 
 not half finifhed in his Days, as you may lee, Zech. 
 chap. I. • . 
 
 Reaf I.] God often-times receives fecret Provo- 
 catiohs from the choicelt of his Servants, which 
 moves him to take them flio'rt of their Defires, 
 Thole of his own, whom he employs in great Works ^ 
 have great and clofe Communion with him. God ufii- 
 ally exerciles their Spirits innearASs ofFellowfhip 
 with himlelf ^ they receive 7nuch from him, and are 
 conflrained /^ unburthen themf elves frequently upon 
 h'lm. Now, when Men are brought into an Intimacy 
 With God, and have received great Engagements 
 from him, the Lord takes notice of every Working 
 and Afling of their Souls in an elpecial manner, and 
 is* often- times, grieved and provoked with that in 
 them, which others can take no notice of: Let a 
 Man read the Story of that Action o^ Mofes, upon 
 which the Lord told him dire£lly, he fhould not lee 
 the jinifhing of the Work he had in hand, nor enter 
 mxo Canaan, Numb. 20. 7,8,11. It will be a hard 
 matter to find out wherein the Failing was : He fmote 
 the Rock with the Rod, with Ibme Words of Im- 
 patience, when he fliould only have Ipoken to it, and 
 this with Ibme lecret Unbelief as to the thing he had 
 in hand. God deals with others vifibly, according to 
 their outward A£lions •, but in his own, he takes no- 
 tice of all their Unbelief, Fears, Withdrawings, as 
 proceeding from a Frame in no meafure anlwering 
 
 • t|ioIe 
 
Difvnjfion ro R E s t. 71 
 
 thofe gracious Difcovcries of himfdt; which he hath 
 made unto them • and on this account it is, that 
 Ibme are taken o\\ in the midlt of their Work. 
 
 2. To manifelt that he hath better Things in llore 
 for his Saints, tlian the bcft tind utfnofl of what they 
 can defire or aim at here below ^ he had a Heaven 
 for A\oJcs^ and therefore might in Love and Mercy 
 deny him ilanajn. He employeth lome eminently ^ 
 their \i\v'k is ^rear, their End glorious ^ at the very 
 lalt Step almolt of their J )urney, he takes oft one and 
 another, lets them not (ce the Things aimed at. Thh 
 may be thoLghc hard N4 -afure. ItriQ Severity, cxaQ 
 Jiiltice, y:^a, as Job comp'ains, taking Advantages 
 againj] them : See but what he calls them to, in call- 
 ing them oti" from their greateft Glories and Excel- 
 lencies on the Earth, and all this will appear to be 
 Love, Tendernefs, and Favour in the highelt. Whilft 
 you are labouring for a handful of FirfJ-fruits, he 
 gives you the full Harveft ^ whillt you are labouring 
 for the V/£ure here Below, he give you the Subftance 
 i\bove. Should you ice the greateft JVork, wherein 
 any of you were ever engaged, brought to Perfeffion^ 
 yet all were but as a few Drops, compared with that 
 Fulnefs which he hath prepared tor you. The Lord 
 then doth it, to witneis to the Children of Men, 
 that the Things which are Icen, the belt of them, 
 are not to be compared with the Things that are 
 not feen, yea, the lealt of them, injfmuch as he 
 takes them whom he will honour, from the very 
 Door of the one, to bear them into the other. The 
 meanelt Enjoyment in Heaven is to be preferred be- 
 fore the richeft on Earth, even then when the King- 
 dom of Chriit (hall come in moU Beauty and Glory. 
 
 Ufe 2.] You that are engaged in the VVork of 
 God, feek for a Reward of your Service in the Set* 
 vice it felf. Few of you may live to lee that Beau- 
 
 E4 V 
 
73 The Labourhg S A i n t *; 
 
 ty and Glory which, perhaps, you aim at as the 
 End of all your great Undertakings for God, where- 
 into you have been engaged. God will proceed his 
 own Pace, and calls on us to go along with him, 
 and, in the mean time, until the determinate End 
 come, t;o wait in Faith, and not make Halte. Thole 
 whole Minds are lb fixed on, and fwallowed up with 
 Jo;;/e &i (though Good, ) which they have propoled 
 to themfelves, do feldom fee good Days and feren^, 
 in their own Souls: They have Bitterncfs, Wrath, 
 and Trouble, all their Days ; are (till piefling to the 
 Ef^d propoled, and commonly are dilmilled from their 
 Station before it be attained. There is a Sweernels, 
 there is a Wages to be found in the Work of God 
 it felf Men who have learned to hold Communion 
 with God in every Work he calls them out unto, 
 though they never lee the main Harveft they aim at 
 in general, yet liich will reft latisfied, and lubrnit to 
 the Lord's Limitation of their Time ; they bear their 
 own Sheaves in their Bofoms. Seeing God oftenr 
 limes difmifles his choiceft Servants, before they lee 
 or tafte of the main Fruits of their Endeavours, I lee 
 not upon what account Confolation can be had in 
 following the Lord in difficult Difpenfat'wns, but only 
 in that Reward which every Duty bringeth along 
 with it, by Communion with God in its Performance. 
 Make then this your Aim, that in Sincerity of Heart 
 you do the VVork of God in your Generation : find 
 bis Vvejcnc^ with you, his Sfirit guiding you, his 
 hove accepting you in the Lord Chrift, and when- 
 ever you receive your Difmiffion, it will be B.efl and 
 Peace ; in the mean time, you will not make hafte. 
 
 2. See a Bottom and Ground of Conlblation, wherj 
 fgch eminent Inftruments as this departed Worthy, are 
 C3lled off from their Station, when ready to enter up^ 
 en the Harveft of all th^ir Labours, W^^chings, Tpil^ 
 
Difmijf/ion to R h: s t. 73 
 
 ings, and Fxpcnce ot Blood ^ God bath better Things 
 tor them in Itore, didi^£ ihings^ that they fliall not 
 enjoy tor a Day or tno, which is the bcR oi what 
 they could hop J tor heic, had they lived to lee all 
 their Defires accompli (l)ed, but fuch as in the Fulnels 
 whereot they may lie down in Peace to Eternity. 
 Why do wc complain? For O'.r own Lols^ Is not 
 the Rtiidue ..nd Fulnels ot the Spirit wiUi him, who 
 gave him his Difmiflion ? For his Lois, he lived 
 noc ro lee Ireland in Peace, but enjoys the Glory of 
 that Fternil Kingdom that was prepared jor him be- 
 fore the joundation of the icorld, which is the Con- 
 dition held out in the Third Oblervation. 
 
 Obf i The Condition oj a Difw/Jjed Saint, is a Con- 
 iition of Refi : Go thy way until the end be, for thou 
 fhalt refl. The ^poltk gives it in as the Ifliic of a 
 Dilcourle from a Pailage in the Vfalms, There remain- 
 Cfh therefore a refl ifnto the people of God, Heb. 4. 9. 
 it remains, and is refqrved for them. This the Lord 
 hath folemnly proclaimed from Heaven, Rev. 14.1^. 
 Blcjjcd are the Dead which die in the Lord, jrom hence- 
 Jprth ; Tea, faith the Spirit, that they may reft from 
 their labours •, and their works do Jollovo them -, they 
 go into a blefled Condition of ReU. There is not any 
 Notion under which the State of a Difmiflcd Saint 
 is {b frequently delcribed, as this, of Refl, which, 
 indeed, is the proper End and Tendency of all Things ^ 
 their Happintfs is their Reft ^ their Kelt is all the 
 Happinels they can be Partakers of: Fm/?/ nos ad te 
 Domine, 6"' inquictitm eft cor noftrum^ donee vcmat 
 ad te. 
 
 Now Ren holds out two Things unto us, i. A 
 Yreedom from what is oppolite thereunto, wherein 
 thole that are at Kelt have been excrcifed, in retd- 
 rencc whereunto they are faid to be at Kelt. r. Some 
 ihing which iuites then], :;nd Jitistie;i their Nature 
 
 in 
 
74 ^^^ Labouring S A i n T ' j 
 
 __^ III! ■-■--^-. 
 
 in the Condition wherein they are ^ and therefore they 
 are at Reft^ which tiiey could not be, were it not id 
 with them -, for nothing can reft but in the full frui- 
 tion and enjoyment of that which fatiates the whole 
 Nature of it in ail its Extent and Capacity. We muft 
 then briefly inquire, i. What it is that the Saints 
 are at reji from ; and 2. What it is that they are at 
 reft in; which I (hall do very fpeedily. 
 
 I. The many Particulars which they are at Reft 
 from, may be referred unto two general Heads, i. Sin. 
 *?. Labour and Travail. 
 
 . I. Sin. This, on all Confideration whatever, is the 
 main dilquiemels of the Soul, Temptations to it. Act- 
 ings in it, Troubles for it ^ they are the very jT^gypt 
 of the Soul, its Houle and Place of Bondage and 
 Vexation ; either the Fewer of it indwelling^ or the 
 Quilt of it fr effing^ are here ft ill difquieting the Soul. 
 For the firft, hovv doth Vaul complain, lament, yea, 
 cry out concerning it, Rom. 7. 24. wretched man 
 that. I ami And what a fad, reftlefs, and tumultua- 
 ting Condition upon this account, doth he delcribe 
 in the Yerles foregoing ? The heft^ the mfeft^ the ho- 
 Heft 0? the Saints, on this account, are in a reftlels 
 Condition. 
 
 Suppole a Man a Conqueror in every Battle, in 
 every Combat that he is engaged in, yet whilft he 
 hath any fighting, though he be never foiled, yet 
 he hath not Peace : Though the Saints fhould have 
 fucceis in every Engagement againft Sin, yet becaufe 
 it will ftill be rebelling, ftill be fighting, it will di- 
 fturb their Peace. 
 
 So alfo doth xh^ guilt of it : Our Saviour teftifieth, 
 that a lenle of it will make a Man to be weary and 
 heavy laden^ Matt. 11. 28. This ofren-times makes 
 the Inhabitants of Sion fay they arefick ; for though 
 an end be made of Sin, as to the guilt of it, in the 
 
 Blood 
 
DifmJ/lon ro R E s t. 75 
 
 Blood oi Clirilt, yet by rcafon of our Darkneis, Fol- 
 ly, and Unbelief, and the biding of the countenance of 
 Cod^ the Conlcience is otten-timcs prcllcd with it, no 
 lels than it they lay indeed under the whole weight 
 and burthen ot it. 
 
 1 fhall not inllance in more P;;niculars concerning 
 this caufe of" want of Kelt and Dilquietnels, the per- 
 plexity ot Temptations, buffet ings and ivinncwings of 
 Satiin. y^.llurements and Aiirightments of the World, 
 Darkncls and Sorrows of Unbelief, and the like, dc all 
 ftt in againlt us upon this account. 
 
 Thisln general is the hrit thing that the difmiiled 
 Saints are at Krli from: They fin no morc-^ they 
 iwund the Lord Jefus no more ^ they trouble their 
 own Souls no more ; x\\zy gncve the Spirit no more; 
 they difhonour the Gof'pel no more \ they are troubled 
 no more with Satan\s Temptations without, no more 
 with their own Corruption within, but lie down in 
 a conltant enjoyment of'one everlafting Viftory over 
 Sin, with all its Attendants: Saith the Spirit, They 
 reft from their labours, Ktw 14. thofe labours which 
 make them faint and weary, their contending with 
 Sin to the uttermolt : They are no more cold in 
 Communion, they have not one Thought that wanders 
 cfi' from God to Eternity : They lofe him no more, but 
 always lie down in his bofom, without the Icaft foffibi- 
 ///y ot'DiRurbance : pA'en the very remembranc-e of 
 Sin is fweet unto them, when they fee God inhnitc- 
 ly exalted and admired in the Pardon thereof. 
 
 They arc free from Trouble, and that both as do- 
 ing and futfering : Few of the Saints but arc called 
 out in one kind or another to both thclc : Fvery one 
 is c'rher doing for God, or fufjering for God, fbmc 
 both do and fuffer great things for Him: In cither 
 of them there is Pa1n, VVearinefs, Travail. Labour, 
 Trouble, Sorrow and Anxiety of Spirit : Neither is 
 
 there 
 
y6 The Lahouring S a i n t ' j 
 
 there any eminent doing or working for God, but is 
 carried on with much fuffer trig to the outward Man. 
 
 What a Life of Labour and Trouble did our decea- 
 fed Friend lead for many Years in the Fiefli ? How 
 were his Days conlumed in Travail > God calling him 
 to his Foot, and exerctfing him to underftand the 
 Iweetnels of that Promife, that they that die in him, 
 Jha/I have Reft. Many Ipend their days delicioufly, 
 with ib much contentment to the Flefh, that it is im- 
 poffible they (hould have any fore-talte and fweet re- 
 iifh of their Reji that is to come. 
 
 The Apoftle tells us that there remains a ReJi for 
 the Feop/e of God:, and yet withal, that they who 
 believe, are entred into that ReJi : Thole who in 
 in their Labours, in their Travails, do take in the 
 Iweetnels ot that Promle ofReJl, do even in their La- 
 bour make an entrance thereinto. 
 
 This ^hen Secondly, Tney reft from all Trouble 
 and Anxiety chat attend them in their Pilgrimage, 
 either in doing or liiffering for God. Hek 4. 10. 7. 
 They enter into r-'li^ and ceaje from their work, God 
 wipes all Tears from their Eyes, there is no more 
 Watching, no more Rafting, no more Wreflling, no more 
 fighting^ no more B/ood, uo more Sorrow •, the Ran- 
 Ibmed of the Lord do return with everlafting Joy on 
 their Heads, and Sorrow and Sighing fiy away. There 
 Tyrants pretend no more Title to their Kingdom j 
 K'ebels lie not in wait for their Blood ; they are no 
 more awakened by the found of the Trumpet, nor 
 the noile of the Inflruments of Death ; They fear not 
 for their Relations, they weep not for their Friends, 
 the Lamb is their Temple^ and God is all in all unto 
 them. 
 
 1. This will not compleat their Reft, Ibmething 
 further is requited thereto ^ even fomething to fatisfy, 
 everlaltingly content and fill them in the State and 
 
 Con- 
 
DijrniJJion r(? R E s T. 77 
 
 Condition wherein they arc. Free them in your 
 Thoughts from what you plcafc'^ without this, they 
 arc not at Refl, This then you have in the fecond 
 Place, God is the rcjf to their Souls^ Flal. 116. Re- 
 turn to thy reft, my Soul. DilmifTed Saints reft 
 in the Bolom of God, becaule in the fruition and 
 enjoyment of him, they are everlaltingly latisficd, as 
 having attained the utmolt Fnd whercunto they were 
 created, all theBleflednels whereof they are capable. 
 I could almolt beg tcT Liberty a little to expatiate in 
 this Meditation of the Iweet, gracious, glorious, fatis- 
 fied Condition of a difmiflcd Saint. 
 
 But the Time is Ipent, and therefore without hold- 
 ing out one drop of Water to quench the feigned 
 Fire of Purgatory, or drawing forth any thing to dif 
 cover the Vanity of their Aflertion, who affirm the 
 Soul to Sleep, or to be Nothing till the KefurreQion ; 
 Or their's, who alhgning to them a itate of Subfifjence 
 and Perception, do yet exclude them from the fru- 
 ition of God, without which there is no Rel\ untiL 
 the end of all, with fuch other hyc-ferfvo.ifions as 
 would difquiet the Condition, or abridge the Glory 
 of thofe bltflcd Souls, which yet were a facile Un- 
 dertaking, I fhall draw towards a Clofe. 
 
 There are three Points yet remaining; I fhall fpcak 
 only to the firft of them, and that as an Vfc of the 
 Dolirine lalt propoled, and I have done. 
 
 I. then. You lee there is an appointed, determinate 
 Sea [on. wherein all Things and Ferfcns^ accordir^ to 
 the Will of God, will run into their utmojl IJJue 
 and everlajling Condition. Thou art going, whoever 
 thou art, mto an abiding Condition, and there is 
 a Lot appointed for thee, wherein lies an I Ifatc 
 everlaflingly unchangeable. It is the utmofl Fnd 
 vvhereunto thou art dch'gned ^ and when once thou 
 art cntred into that Lot, thou ait everlaltingly en- 
 gaged > 
 
78 The Labouring Saint'j 
 
 gaged •, no more Change, no more Alteration 5 if it 
 be well with thee, it will abide ^ if otherwife, expe£l 
 not any relief In our few days we live for Eternity : 
 In our mutable Efface we deal for an unchangeable 
 Condition. It is not thus only in refpe£l oiFarticu- 
 lars, but God hath appointed, a day wherein he mil 
 judge all the world by the man whom he hath 
 ordained. An End is coming unto all that whole 
 Difpenfation under which we are. To you, who by 
 the riches of Free-grace, have obtained Union and 
 Communion with the Lord Jelus, Reft and Peace •, 
 when God fliall everlaftingly rain Snares, Fire and 
 Brimftone, upon the workers of Iniquity. Some mock 
 indeed, and fay. Where is the promife of his coming^ 
 But we know the Lord is not flacky as fome Men 
 count flacknefs^ but exercileth Patience until the ap- 
 pointed lealon for the bringing about of his own 
 glorious Ends which he hath determined concerning 
 his Creatures. Why fhould we then complain, when 
 any one, perhaps before our Expe£lation, but yet 
 according to God's Determination, makes an en- 
 trance into the end of all ? All things work to that 
 Sealbn. This Itate of Things is not for continu- 
 ance. That which is incumbent, is, in this uncertain 
 Ipace of time, allotted to us, -to give all diligence 
 to make our Calling and Ele£lion lure, as alio to 
 Icrve the Lord faithfully in our Generations, wherein 
 we cannot be lurprized : We have an Example in 
 him who is gone before. It is true, the Lord Jefus 
 is our primitive Pattern and Example; but thole alfo 
 who have followed him, wherein they have follow- 
 ed him, are to be eyed and marked as Provocations 
 to the fame Labour of Faith aud Love wherein they 
 were exercifed. And that this Ule may be made h^ 
 this Aflembly, I fhall add one Word concerning him 
 trom whom is the Occafion thereof 
 
 Every 
 
Dmifion to Ke sr, 79 
 
 Every Man Hands in a thrcc-lold Capacity, i. Na- 
 tural. 2. Civil. 3. Religious. And there are di- 
 Itinft ^ualijicatlons that are fuitcd unto thefc fcve- 
 ral Ciipacities. To the firlt, as the Ornaments and 
 Perteftions of Nature, are liiited fome Seeds of thofe 
 Heroicdl Vertues, as Courage, Permanency in Bufi- 
 neis, ^c, which being in themfelves morally indiffe- 
 rent, have their Foundations eminently laid in the 
 Natures of fome Perlbns, which yet hinders not, but 
 that their good improvement is of Grace. 
 
 2. To the fecond, or Man's Civil Capacity, there 
 are many Eminencies relating as peculiar Endow- 
 ments, which may be referred unto the three Heads 
 of Ability, lathfiilnefs^ and Induftry, that through 
 them, neither by Jf'eaknefs^ Ireachcry, nor S/ot}\ the 
 Works and Employments incumbent on Men in their 
 Civil State and Condition may lijfier. 
 
 ?. Mens peculiar Ornament and Improvement in 
 their Religious Capacity, lies in thole fruits of the 
 Spirit which we call Chnjium Graces : Of thefe, in 
 refped pf ufefulncfs, there are three mcff eminent, 
 viz. fW//;, iLove^ and Self-denial. 1 fpeak of them 
 upon another account than the ApoMe doth, where 
 he placeth Hope ^mongii the firjl three of Chrittian 
 Graces. Now all thefe, in their feveral kinds, were 
 as eminent in the Perfon deccaled, in his Icveral Ca- 
 pacities, as perhaps is ufually found in any one in 
 a Generation. My Bufinefs is not to make a Fu/te- 
 ral Oration. Only 1 fuppofe, that without Offence, 
 I may dcfire, that in Courage and Vcrmancmy in Bu- 
 finefs, ("which I name in oppohtion to that unfcttleJ, 
 pragmatical, fliufliinL^ Dilpofition which is in lomc 
 Men) in ability for \Vif^"iom and Counlcl, \\\ f.iith- 
 fulnefi to his Truit, and in his Trulf, in indefatigable 
 Induflry in the purfuit of the Work committed to 
 him, in l\iith on the Promifes of God, and Ac qua m- 
 
 tance 
 
8o 
 
 the habourmg S A i n t' ^ 
 
 tance mth his Mind in his mightjr Works of Provi- 
 dence, in Love to the Lord Jefus and all his Saints^ 
 in a tende?' Regard to their Intereji, delight in their 
 Society, contempt of" himfelfi and all his^ for the 
 Gofpel's fake, with eminent Self-denial in all his Con- 
 cernments, in Impartiality and Sincerity in the exe- 
 cution of Jultice^ that in thele and the like things^ 
 ive may have many raifed up in the Pov^er and Spi- 
 rit wherein he walked before the Lord, and the In- 
 habitants of this Nation. This (Hay) I hope I 
 may fpeak without Offence, upon liich an Occafion 
 as this •, my Bufinefs being occafionally to preach the 
 Word, not to carry on part of a Funeral Ceremony, 
 I fhall add no more, but commit you to Him, who 
 is able to prepare you for your Eternal Condition. 
 
 A SER- 
 
 \ 
 
SERMON 
 
 Preached to the 
 
 PARLIAMENT, 
 
 Oct OB. igth, 1652. 
 Ai Day of Solemn Humiliation ; 
 
 Concerning the Kingdom of ChrisT;> 
 
 AND 
 
 The Power of the Civil Magiftratc 
 about the Things of the VVorlliip 
 of God. 
 
 By John ojven. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for J o s e p h M a R s h a l l at the 
 Bib/e in Kcwiatc-Jlrcct. 172c. 
 
 Vol. 11. " F " 
 
«? 
 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Prcach'd to the PARLIAMENT. 
 OCTOE. l^th^ 1652. 
 
 DAN. vii. 15, 16. 
 
 / Daniel xvas grieved in my fpirit in the midjl 
 of my body^ and the lijions of my head troubled 
 me. 
 
 I came near to one of them that flood by^ and 
 asked him the truth of all this : fo he told 
 me^ and made me knoxv the interpretation of 
 the things. 
 
 HAT there is of concernment for the 
 right underftanding of thcfc W'xds, in 
 that part of the Chaffer which goes 
 before, may he conlidcr d in the open- 
 ing of the Words ihcmlelvts, and 
 therefore I fhall immediately attend thereunto. 
 
 F ':> There 
 
64 A Sermon preach'd to the 
 
 There are in them Four things confiderable. 
 
 I. The State and Condition which Daniel, the Pen- 
 man of this Prophecy, expreiTeth himlelf to be 
 in, wherein he hath Companions in the days 
 wherein we live ^ He was grieved in his fpirit 
 in the midjl of his body. 
 
 II. The Caufe and Means whereby he was brought 
 in this perplexed frame of Ipirit^ The vifions 
 of his head troubled hifn, 
 
 HI. The Remedy he uled for his Delivery from 
 that intangled condition of Spirit wherein he 
 was J He went nigh to one of them that flood by^ 
 end asked him the truth cf all this. 
 
 IV. The IfTue of that Application, he made to that 
 one that food by, for Redrels ^ He tcld him, and 
 made him knoio the interpretation of the things, 
 
 AH thefe I (hall briefly open unto you, that I may 
 lay a foundation for the Truth which the Lord hath 
 futnifted m^ with, to hold out unto you this Day. 
 
 I. In the Firfl, the Perfon fpoken of is Daniel him- 
 felf^ 1 Daniel : He bears this Teftimony concerning 
 himlelf-, and his Condition was, that; he was grieved 
 in his fpirit. 
 
 The Perfon himfelf was a Man highly favoured of 
 God, above all in his Generation-, fb richly fur- 
 nifned with Gifts and Graces, that he is once and 
 3gain brought forth as an Example, and inltanced in 
 by God himfelf, upon the account of Eminence in 
 Wifdom. and Fiety : Yet all this preferves him not 
 from falling into thi5 perplexed Condition, Dan, 1. 
 17,20, Es^/^, 9, 24. chap, 28. 3, 
 
 Mqw, 
 
Parliament^ Odob. 13. 165a. 85 
 
 Now as the principal Work of all the holy Pro- 
 phets xichicb have been fince the world began, Luke 
 I. 70. I Pet, I. 10, II, 12. was to preach, fet forth, 
 and declare the Lord Jefus Chrift, the Mefliis, who 
 was to come ^ fb Ibme elpecial Concernments of his 
 Perlbn, Righteouliieis, and Kingdom, were in efpe- 
 cial manner committed unto them, refpcftively. His 
 Faflion and Righteoufnefs to Ifaiah, the Covenant of 
 Grace in him to Jeremiah, and to this Daniel, molt 
 eminently the great Works of the Providence of 
 God, in the fliaking and overturning of Kingdoms 
 and Nations, in a fublerviency to his Kingdom, with 
 the Revelation hereof^ for the Conlblation of the 
 Church in all Ages, did the Lord honour him of 
 whom we fpeak. 
 
 For the preient, he delcribes himfelf in fomewhat 
 a perplexed Condition. His Spirit (Mind and 
 Soul) was grieved fick, troubled, or dif quieted in the 
 midji of his Body -^ that is, deep' 7, nearly, clolely : It 
 fets out the Greatnels of his Troiible, the Anx^ery of 
 his Thoughts within him ; like t\:vid, when he ex- 
 poftulated with his, Soul about it, Pfal. 43. 7. Why 
 art thou fo fad, ?ny foul ^ and why art thou Jo dij 
 quieted within me ? He knew not what to Ly, what 
 to do, nor wherewith to relieve himlelf : He was 
 filled with fad Thoughts, fad Apprehenfions of what 
 was to come to pals, and what might be the Iflue of 
 the Things that had been dilcovered unto him. This 
 (I lay) is the frame and temper lie defcribes hin> 
 felf to be in ; a Man under lad Apprehenhons of 
 the Iflues and Events of Things, and the Difpcnfations 
 of God, as many are at this Day -, and upou that ac- 
 count clolely and ncjrly perplexed. 
 
 2. The Caule of liiis Perturbation of Mind and Spi- 
 rit, was from the Vijions ojhis Head-, The vi/ions of his 
 head troubled him. He culls them vijions of the 'hrud^ 
 
 F 3 becauli 
 
86 A Sermon preacFd to the 
 
 becaufe that is the feat of the Internal Senles and 
 Phantaly whereby Vifions are received. So he calls 
 them a dream^ vet. i. and vifions of his head upon 
 his bed: YqI fuch Vifions^ fuch a Dream it was, as 
 being immediately from God, and containing a no 
 left, certain difcovery of his Will and Mind, than 
 if the Things mention'd in them, had been fpokea 
 face to face^ he writes them by the Infpiration of the 
 Holy GhoJ}^ ver. 2. for the Ufe of the Church. 
 
 I fhall not take the advantage of going forth unto 
 any Difcourfe of Dreams, Vifions, Oracles, and thole 
 other . divers ways and manners, Hebr. i. i.' of re- 
 vealing his Mind and Will, which God was plealed 
 to^ ufe with his Prophets of old, Numb, 12. 6, 7, 8« 
 my Aim lies another way : It fufficeth only to take 
 notice, that God gave him, in his Sleep, a Repre- 
 fentation of the Things here exprefled, which he was 
 to give over, for the Ufe of the Church in following 
 Ages. The Matter of thefe Vifions which did fo 
 much trouble him, falls more direQly under our 
 Confideration. 
 
 Now, the fubjed: of thefe perplexing Vifions, is a 
 a Reprefentation of the four great Empires cf the 
 World, which had, and were to have. Dominion in 
 and over the Places of the Church's greateft Con- 
 cernments, and were all to receive their Period and 
 Deltrutlion by the Lord Chrift, and his revenging 
 Hand : And thefe three things be mentions of them 
 therein -, 
 
 I. Rife. 1. 'Nature, '^. Deflru[lion. 
 
 I. Ver. 2. he dellribes their Rife and Original : 
 it was from the firivings of the four Winds of the 
 Heavens, upon the great Sea •, he compares them to 
 the molt violent, uncontrollable, and tumultuating 
 Things in the whole Creation. Winds and Seas f 
 What Waves, what horrible Storms, what mixing of 
 
 Heaven 
 
Parliament, Oftob. i^. 1652. 87 
 
 Heaven and Earth, what Confufion and DeftruQlon 
 muft needs eniue the fierce Contelt of all contrary 
 Winds upon the great Sea ? Such are the Springs 
 of Empires and Governments, for the molt part, a- 
 mongll Men, fuch their Entrances and Advance- 
 ments. In particular, fuch were tlie beginnings of 
 the four Empires here fpoken of: Wurs^ tumults, 
 Confitfions ^ Bloody Deflrutlion^ DefoLition. were the 
 Seeds of their Greatnels ( Vajtitiem uhi-fcccrunt^ pa- 
 cem vociint Galgac. apud Tacit.) Sea^ and great Wa- 
 ters do in the Scripture reprefent People and Nati- 
 ons, Kev. 17. 15. The waters which thou fawejf^ 
 ivhere the whore Jitteth^ are people^ and 77jultitudes^ 
 and nations^ and tongues ^ as Waters, they are un (ta- 
 ble, fierce, reltlefs, tumultuating, and when God 
 mingleth his Judgments among them, they are as 1 
 fed of glafs mingled with foe, brittle, uncertain, de- 
 vouring and implacable. 
 
 It is a Demonltration of the Sovereignty of God, 
 that he is above them ^ Ffa/. 9^. ^, 4. The floods have 
 lifted up, Lord J the floods have lifted tip their voice ^ 
 the floods lift tip their waves. The Lord on high is 
 mightier than the noife oj many waters, yea, than the 
 mighty waves of the fea. Now from thele, tolled 
 with the Winds of Commotions, Seditions, Oppref^ 
 fions, Paffions, do flow the Governments of the 
 World, the Spirit of God moving upon the face of 
 thqfe Waters, to bring forth thofe Forms and Frames 
 of Rule which he will make ule of 
 
 2. Unto ver. 9. he defcribes them in order, as to 
 their T\'ature and Kind •, one of them being then 
 ready to be deltroyed, and the other to fuccced, until 
 the utter Defolation of them all, and all Power 
 rifing in their Spirit and Principle. 
 
 I flvjll not pafs through their particular Defcription, 
 nor Itay to prove, tliat the loitrth Bcjfi, without 
 
 F 4 Nvimc 
 
88 A Sermon peacFd to the 
 
 Name or Ipecial Form, is the Roman Empire^ which 
 I have ^ elie-where demonftrated ^ and it is Ibme- 
 thing elle which, at this Time, I aim at. This is that 
 which troubles and. grieves the fpirit of Daniel^ in the 
 mdjloj his body ;He law what Worldly Powers (hould 
 arife, by what horrible Tumults, Shakings, Confu- 
 fions, and Violence they (hould Ipring up ^ with what 
 Fiercenefs, Cruelty, and Ferfecution they fhould rufe 
 an the World, and flamp all under their Feet. 
 
 3. Their End and DefiruSion is revealed unto him, 
 from ver, 10, unto 12, i^ And this by the Appear- 
 ance of the Ancient of Days^ the Eternal God in 
 Judgment againll them-, which he lets out with that 
 Solemnity and Glory, as if it were the great Judg- 
 ment of the Laft Day ^ God indeed thereby giving 
 a Pledge unto the World of that univerfal Judgment 
 he will one Day exercile towards all, by the man 
 whom he hath ordained^ ASs 17. 31. And this en- 
 crealeth the Terror of the Vifion, to have fuch a Re- 
 prefenration of the Glory of God, as no Creature is 
 able to bear: God alio manifefts hereby his imme* 
 diaie A£lings, in the letting up and pulling down 
 the Powers of this World, which he doth as fully 
 and efteOually, as if he £ite upon a Throne of Judg* 
 ment, calling them all by Name to appear in his Pre- 
 ience •, and upon the Evidence of their Ways, Cruel- 
 ties, and Opprefiion, pronouncing Sentence againft 
 them : Be wife therefore, ye Kings : be infiruBed^ 
 ye Judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear ^ 
 and rcjoyce with trembling, Plal. 2. it, 12. He chang- 
 eth the tmes andfeafons^ Dan. 2. 21. He ruleth in 
 the k'ngdom of?nen, andfetteth over it whom he plea* 
 feth, chap. 5. 21. And this is the firft Thing in this 
 Vifion, at which the Prophet was perplexed. 
 
 ^ Sermon on Heb. 12. 27, 28. 
 
 2. There 
 
Parliament, Oftob. 15. 1652. 89 
 
 2. There is the Approach of the Lord Chrift unto 
 the Father, with his Entrance into his Kingdom and 
 Dominion, which is evcrlafling, and pdjjeth not ^ooay^ 
 ver. 14, This being the End of the Vifion, I mutt 
 a little infill upon it , not that I intend purpofely to 
 handle the Kingdom of Chrilt, as Mediator, but on- 
 ly a little to confider it, as it lies here in the Vifion, 
 and is needfijl for the right bottoming of the Truth 
 in our Intendment. 
 
 Various have been the Thoughts of Men about th« 
 Kingdom of Chrift in all Ages. Thar the lAefJiah 
 was to be a King, a Vrince, a Ruler ^ thjt he n?jf to 
 have a Kingdom, and that the Government was to be 
 en his Shoulders, is evident from the Old Teifamcnt ; 
 that all this was, and is accomplifhed in J^fus of 
 "Nazareth, whom God exalted, made a Prince and a 
 Saviour, is no lels evident in the New. 
 
 But about the Nature of this Kingdom, its Rile, 
 and Manner of Government, have been, and arc the 
 Contefts of Men. 
 
 The Jews to this very Day expeft it, as a Thing 
 Carnal, and Temporal, Vifible, outwardly Glorious, 
 wherein, in all manner of Pleafure, they fliall beat 
 Rule over the Nations at their Will -, fuch another 
 thing of all the World as the Popedom, which the 
 Gentile, or Idolatrous Worfhippers of Chrift, let up 
 for his Kingdom : And of Ibme fuch thing, it may 
 be luppoied, the Apoltles themfelves were not with- 
 out thoughts, until they had converfed with the 
 Lord after the Refurreftion, Luke 9. 46. Ads 2. 6. 
 Neither are all amongft us free from them at this 
 day. 
 
 Thofe who with any fimplicity profels the Name 
 of Chrift, do generally agree, that there are three 
 Parts of it. 
 
 firfl, 
 
^o A Ser/Tion preac//d to the 
 
 Firft, and Principally -^ In that which is fe^r«^/ and 
 Spiritual^ in and over the Souls of Men, over Spirits 
 both good and bad, in reference unto the Ends which 
 he hath to accomplifh upon them : Of that which is 
 dlre£l and immediate upon the Hearts and Souls of 
 Men, there are two Parts. 
 
 I. That which he exercifeth towards his EIe£l, 
 who are given unto him of his Father, Converting^ 
 Ruling^ Vreferving them^ under and through great 
 variety of Difpenlations, internal and external, until 
 he brings them unto himlelf : He jlands and feeds 
 ihein in the flrength of the Lord^ in the majefiy of 
 the 'Name of the Lord his God^ Mich. 5. 4. Even he 
 who is the ruler of Ifrael^ ver. 2. He is exalted and 
 made a Prince and a Saviour^ to give repentance to 
 Jfrael^ for the forgivenefs ofjins^ A£ls ^. ? i. He makes 
 his people a willing people in the day of his power ^ Flal. 
 110. 3. Sending out his holy Spirit to lead them in- 
 to all Truth, and making his Word and Ordinances 
 viighty^ throng}^ God, to the pulling down ofJJrong holds 
 in their hearts, cafling down imaginations^ and every 
 high thing that exalts it felf againjl the knowledge of 
 God^ and bj'inging into captivity every thought to the 
 obedience of himfelf 2 Cor. 4. 5. He takes pofleflion 
 of their Hearts by his Power, dwelling in thepi by 
 his Spirit, making them Kings in his Kingdom, and 
 bringing them infallibly into Glory. Oh, that this 
 Rule, this Kingdom of his, might be carried on in 
 our Hearts ! We bufie our felves about many things, we 
 (liall find at length this one thing neceffary. This is that 
 Part of the Kingdom of Chrift which we are prin- 
 cipally to aim at, in the preaching of the Gofpel : 
 We preach Chnjl Jefus the Lord, i Cor. 4. 5:. Him 
 to be Lord and King, though others have had Domi- 
 nion over us : They are the Grains of Ifrael^ which 
 the Lord feeks for in his fifting the Nations by his 
 
 Word, 
 
Parliament^ Odob. 13, 1652. 91 
 
 Word, as well as by liis Providence ^ and we are in 
 the VVork of the Goipel to endure all things for the 
 EleHsfake^ 1 Cor. 2, lo. 
 
 2. In the Power which he exercifch towards o- 
 thers, to whom the Word ot the Golpd duth come, 
 calling, convwc'wg^ cnlightning, hirdning inany^ who 
 yet htmo^ not his Jhecp^ nor of his Fold, he will never 
 take to himlelf, but leaves to themfelves under ag- 
 gravations of Condemnation, which they pull upon 
 themlelves by the contempt ot the Gofpel, 2 Cor. 2 
 16. Hcb, 10. 29. He lends his Spirit to convince 
 even the perifhing world of fin^rightcoufnefs^ and judg- 
 ment^ John \6. 8. He fendeth fharp arrovrs into the 
 very hearts of his enemies^ Pfal. 45. 5. making them 
 Hoop, bow, and fall under him-, lb bounding their 
 Rage, over-bearing their Lulls, leaving them without 
 Excufe in themfelves, and his People ofren-times not 
 without Profit from them ^ with Ibme dealing, even 
 in this Life, more feverely, cauiing the JVitnefJes of 
 the Gofpel to torment them by the preaching "of the 
 Word, Rev. 11. ic. Yet giving them up to Itrong 
 Delufions, that they may believe Lyes, and be dam- 
 ned, 2 Thejj. 2. II, 12, &c. 
 
 3. In carrying on of this Work towards the one 
 and the other, he puts forth the Power, Rule, and 
 Dominion, which he hath of his Father over Spirits, 
 both good and bad ^ beinf^ made head of Principali- 
 ties, iind Powers^ and exalted tar above every name 
 in Heaven or Earth, being made the Fir/i-bcm of eve- 
 ry creature, and all the Angels of God icing command- 
 ed to worff)ip him, Hcb. i. 6. and put in fubjetlion 
 under his feet : He fends them fbrtli, and ules them 
 as minifjring Spirits for them tvho f})all be heirs offal- 
 vation, ver. 14. appointing them xo behold the face of 
 his bather^ ready lor hh Command on their behalf. 
 Matt, 18. IC. Atcendirg in their Ajjemblics^ \ Cor. 
 
 II. 
 
9 2 A Sermon preach'd to the 
 
 ir. ic. And to give them their Affiftance in the time 
 of danger and trouble^ A£ls 12. 9. Deftroywg their 
 adverfaries^ ver. 23. with innumerable other advan- 
 tagious Adminiftrations, which he hath not thought 
 good to acquaint us withal in particular, tliat our de- 
 pendance might be on our King himfelf, and not on 
 any 0^ omfellow-fervants^ though never lb glorious 
 and excellent, Rev» 22. 9. 
 
 2. For Satan, as he came to bind the ftrong man 
 tirmed^ and to fpo'il his goods ^ Matt. 12. 29. To de- 
 firoy him that had the power of death, Heb. 2. 
 14. And being made manijejl to this end^ that he 
 Tnight dejiroy his works ^ 1 Joh. 3.8. in the Souls of 
 Men in this World, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5;. So having in his 
 own Perfbn conquered thefe 'Principalities and Tower t 
 of darknefsj 7?iaking an open fhew of them in his 
 crofs, and triumphing over them^ Col. 2. 15;. He 
 continues over-ruling and judging him and them in 
 their oppofition to his Church, and will do fo, un- 
 til he bring them to a full Conqueft and Subje£lion, 
 that they fliall be judged and fentenced by the poor 
 Creatures whom, in this World, they continually pur- 
 lue with all manner of Enmity, i Cor, 6. 5. 
 
 And this looketh to the inward fubftance of the 
 Kingdom of Chrilt, which is given him of his Fa- 
 ther, and is 72ot of this world, tho" he exercife it in 
 the World to the Lafl: Day : A Kingdom which can 
 never be fliaken, nor removed : The Government of 
 It is tcpon his fhoulders^ and of the increafe of it 
 there fhall he no end, 
 
 2. That Rule or Government^ which in his Word 
 he hath appointed and ordained for all his Saints 
 and chofen Ones to walk in, to tefdfy their inward 
 fubjeftion to him, and to be fitted for uiefulnefs one 
 to another. Now of this part, the Adminiftration 
 is wrapt up in the Laws, Ordinances^ Inflitutions, and 
 
 Appoint' 
 
Parliament, Oftob. 13. 1652. 93 
 
 Appoint?riem5 of the Gofpel -, and it is frequently 
 called the Kingdom of God. That Jefiis Chrift doth 
 not ri^/e in thefe things, and is not to be obeyed 
 as a King in them, is but a late Darknels, which 
 though it fhould fpread as a Cloud o\ er the face of 
 the Heavens, and pour forth fome Showrs and Tem- 
 pelts, yet it would be as a Cloud (till, which will 
 ipeedily fcatter and vanifh into nothing. 
 
 And this is that, whole propagation, as the Means 
 of carrying on the former fpiritual Ends of Chrift, 
 which you defire Strength and Direftion for this 
 Day, tfc. 
 
 Men may gather together unto Chrift, and fay, 
 with Heads full of Hopes, poor Souls, and Eyes fixed 
 on ri^ht hmd iind left^ Lord, vci/t thou at this time 
 reflore the Kingdom to IfraeH Take you his Anfwer, 
 and l)e contented with it •, // is not ]or you to know 
 the times and fcafons which the father hath put in 
 his own power, A^s 1. 6, 7. 
 
 I know, in this thing, it is far eafier to com- 
 plain of you for not doing, than to direct you what 
 to do ^ the Lord be your Guide, and give you Jiram 
 where- ever bricks are required of you. 
 
 ?. In the univcrfal Judgment^ which the Father 
 hath committed to him over all, which he will moft 
 eminently exercife at the LaftDay, RLVvarding,Crown- 
 ing, receiving fome to himfelf; Judging, Condemn- 
 ing, cafting others into utter Darknefs ^ Joh. $, 2, 
 27. A^s 2. 36. Rom. 14. 9. Affs 17. :?r. 
 
 And of this univerfal righteous Judgment he giyeth 
 many Warnings unto the" World, by pouring forth 
 fundry Vials of his Wrath upon great jMmrods and 
 Oppreflbrs, ?///. no. 6. Mich. 4. :?. Rev. 19. 11, 
 12, 13. And in the holding forth thcfe three parts 
 of the Kingdom ol" the Lord Jefus, doth the Scrip- 
 ture abound. 
 
 But 
 
94 -^ Sermon -preacVd to the 
 
 But now, whether over and beyond all theie, the 
 Lord Chrift (hail not bear an outward, vifihle glori- 
 ous Rule \ fetting up a Kingdom like thofe of the 
 World, to be ruled by Strength and Power ? And if 
 fb, when or how it (hall be brought in ^ into whole 
 Hands the Adminiftration of it fhall be committed, 
 and upon what account ^ whether he will Ferfonally 
 walk therein or no ^ whether it ftall be clearly di- 
 ftinQ from the Rule he now bears in the World, or 
 only differenced by more glorious degrees and mani- 
 je flat ions of his Fower ? Endlels and irreconcileable 
 are the Contefts of thofe that profefs his Name : 
 This we we find by zvoful Experience^ that all, 
 who from the fpirituality of the Rule of Chrifi, and 
 delight therein, have degenerated into carnal appre- 
 henfions of the Beauty and Glory of it, have, for the 
 molt part, been given up to carnal A£lings, fuited to 
 fuch Apprehenfions, and have been fo dazled with 
 gazing after temporal Glory, that the Kingdom which 
 comes not by Obfervation, hath been vile in their 
 Eyes. 
 
 Now, becaufe it is here fallen in my way, and is 
 part of the Vjfion, at which the Frophet voas fo much 
 troubled, 1 fliall give you Ibme brief Oblervations 
 of what is clear and certain from Scripture, relating 
 hereunto, and fo pals on : It is then certain, 
 
 I. That the Interefl of particular Men^ as to this 
 Kingdom of Chrift^ is co look where the univerfal 
 concernment of all Saints, in all Ages, doth lie: This 
 undoubtedly they may attain, and it doth belong to 
 them. Now certairiy this is in that part of it which 
 comes not by obfervation^ Luke 17. 20. but is within 
 ^x, which is right eoiifnefs^ peace, and joy in the 
 liolyGhofl^ Rom. 14. 17. This may be poflefled in 
 a Dungeon, as v/ell as on a Throne. What outward 
 Glory Joever may he brought in, it is but a (hadow 
 
 of 
 
Parl'ument, Odob. 13. 1652. 95 
 
 of this. This is the Kingdom tl)Jt cannot be moved^ 
 tohich requires grace in us to Jcrve God acceptably^ 
 fjoith reverence and godly jcar^ Heb. 12. 28. Many 
 have failed in gafping atrer outward Appearances : 
 Never any failed ot Blellednefs, who made this their 
 Portion. Oh, that this were more purfued and 
 followed after ! Let not any think to let up the King- 
 dom ofChrilt in tht World^ while they pull it dowa 
 in their own Hearts by Sin and Folly : In this let 
 the Lines fall to me, and let my Inheritance be a- 
 mon thofe that are fan£lified. Yet, 
 
 2. This is certain, that all Nations whatever, which, 
 in their prefent State and Goverment, have given 
 their Power to the Dragon and the Beaft, to oppole the 
 Lord Chriit withal, Ihall be broken, (haken, tranflattd, 
 and turned off their old Foundations and Conftitu- 
 tions, into which the Antichriltian Intcrelt hath been 
 woven for a long leafbn. God will (hake the hea- 
 vens and the Earth of the Nations round about, un- 
 til all the BahylonifJ} Rubbifh, all their original En- 
 gagements to the Man of Sin, be taken away. 
 
 This 1 have fully demonltrated elfewhere. All 
 thole great Wars which you have foretold, wherein 
 the Saints of God fhall be eminently engaged, are up- 
 on this account. [Vid. Serm. on Heb. 1 2. 28.] 
 
 3. That the Civil Powers of the World, after 
 fearful Shakings and Defblations, (hall be difpoled 
 of into an uleful fubferviency to the Intcrcfl, 
 Power, and Kingdom of Jcfus Chrifi : Hence they arc 
 laid to be his Kingdoms, Rev. 11. 15:. that is, to 
 be difpofed of for the behoof of his Intcrelt, Rule, 
 Dominion : Of this you have plentiful Promifes //./. 
 60. and elfewhere. When the Nations are broken 
 in oppofition to Sion, their gain viuH be confecratcd 
 70 the Lord, and their fubJJance to the Lord of the 
 f^ho/e earthy Mich. 4. IJ. Even Judges and Rulers 
 
 (as 
 
96 A Sermon f reach' d to the 
 
 ( as fuch ) mull klfs the Son^ and own his Scepter, 
 and and advance his Ways. Some think, if you 
 ivere well fettled, you ought not in any thing, as Ru- 
 lers of the Nations, to put forth your Power for the 
 Intereft of Chrift ; The good Lord keep your Hearts 
 from that apprehenfion. Have you ever, in your Af- 
 fairs, received any encouragement from the Promifes 
 of God > Have you in times of greateft Diftrefs been 
 refreflied with the Teftimony of a good Confcience, 
 that in godly fimplicity, you have Ibught the Ad- 
 vancement of the Lord Chrift ? Do you believe that 
 he ever owned the Cauie as the Head of his Church > 
 Do not now profefi you have nothing to do with 
 him : Had he fo profefled of you and your Affairs, 
 what had been your Portion long fince ! 
 
 4. Look what Kwgdom foever the Lord Chrift 
 will advance in the World, and exercise among his 
 holy Ones^ the beginning of it mult be with the 
 "^fem ^ they are to be Caput Imperii, the Head and 
 Seat of this Empire mufi be amongft them: Thefe 
 are the Saints of the mofi High mentioned by Daniel : 
 And therefore in that part of his Prophecy, which 
 he wrote in the Chaldean Tongue^ then commionly 
 known and fpoken in the Eaft, being the Language of 
 the Bahylonifh Empire,^ he fpeaketh of them obfture- 
 ly, and under borroi'ved Expreffions ^ but coming to 
 thole Vifions which he wrote in Hebrew for the Ible 
 Vih of the Church, he is much more exprels con- 
 cerning the People of whom he fpake. The Rod of 
 Chrijfs Jirength goes out of Sion^ and thence lie pro- 
 ceeds to rule thofe thnr were his Enemies, Pfal, no. 
 2. All the Pro.nifes of ih?: glorious Kingdom of 
 Chrilt, are to be accompli. flied in tiie gathering of 
 the Gentiles, with the Glory of the Jews. Tfe Re- 
 deemer cornes to Sion, and to them that turn from 
 tranfgrejfton ( that great tranjgrejfton of unbelief ) 
 
 in 
 
Parlij?nent^ Oflob. 13. 165-2. 97 
 
 in Jacobs Ifa. 59. 20, T\)cn Jhall ihc Lord rife upon 
 ihem^ and his glory J})cill he fee n upm thcm^ the Gen- 
 tiles JJ)ull come to their light ^ ana Kings to the bright- 
 nefs uf their rifins^^ Hi. 60. 2, 3. 1 dare S^s"^^ there 
 is not any Promifc, any whereof railing up a King- 
 dom unto the Lord Chriji in this World, but it is 
 cither expreflcd, or clearly intimated, ihat the begin- 
 ning of it mult be with the Jews^ and that in contra- 
 diltinaion to the Nations, fo eminently in that glo- 
 rious defcription of it, Mich. 4. 7, 8. / will make her 
 thiit halted^ a remnant^ and her that was caji afar o§\ 
 afirpng Nation \ and the Lord /hall reign over them 
 in Mount Sion from henceforth even for ever : And 
 thou^O lower of the flock^ the ftrong hold of the Daugh- 
 ter of S ion, unto thee Jlhill it come ^ even the fir fl do- 
 ininion^ the kingdom fh all come to the Daughter of Je- . 
 rufalem. When the great hunter Nwirod fet up a 
 Kingdom, xht beginning of it rva^ Babel, Gen 10. 10. 
 and when the ^x^dX Shepherd fets up his Kingdom, the 
 beginning of it fhall be Sion : So farther it is at large 
 exprcfled, Alich. 5. 7, 8. Nothing is more dear to 
 any, who, being not carried away with weak, carnal 
 Apprehenfions of things prefent, have once lerioufly 
 weighed the Promiles of God to thispurpofe: What 
 the Lord Chrift will do with them and by them, is 
 not lb clear •, this is certain, that their return fhall 
 be marvellous, glorious, as Life frorn the dead. When 
 then Euphrates Jhall he dried ;//?, Turkijh Fower, and 
 Vopijh Idolatry be taken out of the World ^ and theie 
 Kings of the Eaft are come, when the Seed if Abra- 
 ham, being 7nultiplied like the [Jars of Heaven, and 
 the fands of the Scajhore, fhall podefs the Gates of 
 their Enemies, and Ihall have Peace in their Borders, 
 we may lift up our Heads towards the iulnels of our 
 Redemption. But whilft thele things are, or may^ 
 b6 ( tor any thing we know ) afar otf, to dream of 
 V L. II, G ^ fetticg 
 
58 A Sermon preacFd to the 
 
 letting up an outward, glorious, vifible Kingdom of 
 Chrilt, which he mufl bear Rule in, and over the 
 World, be it in Germany^ or in England, is but an 
 ungrounded Prefutnption. The Jews not called, Anti- 
 chrift not dettroyed, the Nations of the World gene- 
 rally wrapt up in Idolatry ind Falfe-worfhip, little 
 dreaming of their Deliverance : Will the Lord Chrift 
 leave the World in this State, and fet up his Kingdom 
 here on a Mole-hill ? 
 
 5. This is a perpetual Anthhefis and Oppofition 
 that is put between the Kingdoms of the Worlds and 
 the Kingdom of Chrifl ^ that they rile out of the 
 ftrivings of the Wind upon the Sea, he comes with 
 the Oouds of Heaven : They are brought in by Com- 
 motions, Tumults, Wars, Defolations, and lb fhall all 
 the (hakings of the Nations be, to punifh them for 
 •their old Oppofition, and to tranflate them into a 
 lublerviency to his Intereft : The Coming in of the 
 Kingdom of Chrift, fhall not be by the Arm of 
 Fiefli, nor (hall it be the produ£l of the Strifes and 
 Contefts of Men which are in the World ; It is not 
 to be done by might or power, but by the Jpirit of 
 the 'Lord oj hojis^ Zech 4. 6. Great Wars, Defola- 
 tions, Alterations fhall precede it ; But it is not the 
 Sons of Men that by outward Force fhall build the 
 nevi) Jerufale7n -, that coines down from Heaven, adorn- 
 ed as a bride jor Chrifl^ fitted and prepared by him- 
 felf Certainly, the Strivings of Men about this 
 Bufinefs, fhall have no Influence into it. It fhall be 
 hy the glorious Manifeftation of his own Power, and 
 that by his Spirit fubduing the Souls of Men unto it ^ 
 not by the Sword of Man, letting up a few to rule 
 over others. Hence it is every-where called a crea- 
 ting of a new heaven, and a new earth, Ifai. 65. 17. 
 a Work, doubtlefs, too difficult for the Worms of the 
 Earth to undertake. There is nothing more oppo- 
 
 fite 
 
Parliament^ Oftob. 13. 1652, 99 
 
 fite 10 the fpirit of the Gofpcl, than to fuppole that 
 Jefus Chrilt v;ill take to himlelf a Kingdom by the 
 carnal Sword and Bow ot the Sons of Men. The 
 raifing of the tahcrnacJe of Diivid ivhicb is fJIen dowriy 
 and thcfetung up the decayed places cf'it^ MX. i^. 1^. 
 is done by his vi/inng the people with his J pi rir and 
 ivordy ver. 14. It is by xhQ pouring out of hi^jp'^^^ 
 in a covenant of mercy ^ Ifai. 5:9, 21. 
 
 Thus the Lord lets up on^ Jhi'^^^^ ^J his people, 
 and he Jhallfeed them, ^i;r/» v ^aith he) 7rjy Jcrv-.mt 
 David 5 he Jhall feed /^v;/, and he fl?afl be their 
 fhepherd : And I the ^rd will he their God, and my 
 fervant David aj^nnce among them, Ezek. 34. 24, 25:. 
 he brings in tfie Kingdom of his Son, by makit-g the 
 Children of Ifracl to Jeek the herd their God, and 
 D^vid their King, and to fear the Lord and his good- 
 nefs, Hof ^ 5. Who now can fathom the Couniels 
 of the Almighty, who hath iearcbed his bofom, artd 
 can by computation tell us when he (hall pour out 
 his fpirit for the Accomplifhment of thefe things > 
 
 This then is the lajl thing in this Vifion, whofe 
 Coniideration brought the Prophet into lo great 
 Perplexity and Diltrels of Spirit. 
 
 3. There is the Means that Daniel uled for Kcdrefs, 
 5n that fid Condition whereunto he was brought by 
 the confideration of this Vifion ; He drew near to one 
 of them that flood by, and asked him the truth of 
 all this. 
 
 This alio was done in Vifion : There is no rnen- 
 tion of his Waking before his making this Addrcfs : 
 but the Vifion continuing, he draws nigh in the f ime 
 manner to one of them that flcoi by ; one of thcfc 
 Angels or holy Ones that Hood m'milhing before the 
 throne oj God, who was comm'ifiond to acquninc 
 him with the Mind and W^ill of God, in the Thinr^s 
 rcprefemed to him. This then is the Remedv he 
 
 G 2 applies 
 
100 A Sermon preach' d to the 
 
 applies himfelf unto : He labours to know the Mind 
 and Will of God, in the Things that were to be done ^ 
 this, it feems, he pitched on, as the only way for 
 quieting his grieved and troubled fpirit : And 
 hereupon, 
 
 4. He is told and made to know the Interpretation 
 of the things •, lb tar, at leail, as might quiet his 
 jin* :* in the Will ot God : Not that he is clearly 
 initruSea \^ every Particular ^ for he tells them, in 
 the clofe of the chapter, that he had troublelbme 
 Thoughts about the Vvv^ie , his cogitations troubled 
 him, and his countenance changed, ver. 28. but ha- 
 ving received what Light Goa -xj^s, willing to com- 
 municate to him, he enquires, no fgrther, but ad- 
 drefles himfelf" to his own Duty. 
 
 Take then, from the Words thus opened, thefe 
 Prcpoiitions, fome wdiereof I fliall do little more than 
 name unio you. 
 
 *Obf?i.] //? the consideration oj Go£s marvellous 
 Actings in the World, in order to the carrying on of 
 the Gcfpel, and Intereft cj the Lord Jefus Chriji, the 
 Hearts of his Saints are oft en-times filled with Per- 
 plexity and Trouble : They know not what will be 
 the lilue, nor, fometimes, what well to do. Daniel 
 leceives a V if ion of the Things wiiich, in part, we. 
 live under : And if they fill his Heart with Aflonifh- 
 ment, is it any Wonder if they come clofe to us, 
 and fill us with anxious perplexing Thoughts, upon 
 whom the Things themielves are fallen? 
 
 Obf 2.] The only vcay to deliver and extricate 
 our Jpirits jrom under fuch Verpkxities. and En- 
 tanglc7nents, is to draw nigh to God in Chrift, for dif- 
 covery of his Will : fo did Daniel here ^ he went to 
 one ofihem that miniftred before the Lord, to be ac- 
 quainted with his Will, otherwile Thoughts and Con- 
 tiivances will but farther perplex you 5 like Men in 
 
 the 
 
the Mire, whillt they pluck one Leg out, the other 
 fticketh tatter in : Whillt you relieve your lelves in 
 one thing, you will be more hampered in ancther. 
 
 Yea, he that incrCiifcth WiJ'dom, incrcnjcth Sorrow ^ 
 The larger the Viiions are, the greater will be their 
 Troubles, until being conlumed in your own Fears, 
 Cares and Contrivances, you grow ulelels in your Ge- 
 neration : Thole who fee only the outhde of your Af- 
 fairs, deep (ecurely •, thole who come nigher to look 
 into the Spirits of Men, Relt is taken from them : 
 And many are not quiet, becaufe they will not : The 
 great healing of all is in God. 
 
 Obf 2.~\ When God. makes known the Interpreta- 
 tions cj things^ it will quiet your Spirits in your zva/Zc- 
 ing before him J and a flings with him. This was that 
 which brought the Spirit o{ Daniel into a lettlemenL 
 How God reveals his Mind in thele things, by what 
 Means, how It may be known by individual Per- 
 Ibns, for their Quiet and Settlement, how all 
 God's Revelations are quietting, and tend to the 
 calming of Mens Spirits, not making them foam 
 like the Waves of the Sea, fliould be handled on 
 this Obfervation : But I begin with the firlt. 
 
 When John received his Book of Vifions in refe- 
 rence to the great things that were to be done, and 
 the Alterations that were to be brought obout, the' 
 it were fwret in his mouthy and he rejoyced in his 
 Employment, yet it made his belly hitter^ Rev. to. 
 9, 10. It filled him with Perplexity, as our Pro- 
 phet fpeaks, in the midit of his Body ^ he fiw Blood 
 and ContuHon, Strife and Violence ^ it made his ve- 
 ry Belly bitter. 
 
 Poor Jeremiah^ upon the fame account, is fo op- 
 prelled, that that it makes him break out of all 
 bounds of Faith and Patience, to curfe the day of his 
 birth 3 to wax quite weary of his Employment ^ r/j.i ^ 
 
 G 7, Our 
 
102 A Sermon preacFd to the 
 
 Our Saviour defcribing fuch a Seafon, Luke 21. 
 26. tells us, that mens hearts fhall fail them for fear ^ 
 and for looking after thofe things that are coming up- 
 on the earth : They will be thinking what will be- 
 come of them, and what will be the Iffue of God's 
 Dilpenlations ^ fearing that the whole frame of 
 Things will be wrapt up in Darknefs and Confu- 
 Gon. Hence our Saviour bids his Difciples not be 
 troubled w^hen they hear of thefe things. Matt. 24, 
 6. intimating that they will be very apt fo to be. 
 
 Now the Caules and Occafions ( which are the 
 Reafons of the Point ) arile, Firft, From the Great- 
 nels and Altonifhablenefs of the things themfelves 
 which God will do -, even great and terrible things 
 vphich men looked not for ^ Ifa. 64. 2, g. wien he comes 
 to make his name known to the nations, that his Ad- 
 verfaries may tremble at his prefence •, and doth ter- 
 rible things quite above and beyond the expe£lation of 
 Men, which they never once looked for : No won- 
 der if their Hearts be furprized with Amazement, 
 It bath of late been fb with this Nation: All Pro- 
 feffors, at the beginning of thele days, joyned ear^ 
 neftly in that Prayer Ifa. 63. 17, 18, 19. chap. 64. 
 I. God, in anfwer hereunto, comes down and rents 
 the heaven, and the mountains flow down at his pre^ 
 fence, according to the defire of their Souls ^ yet 
 withal he doth terrible things, things that we look- 
 ed not for : How many poor Creatures are turned, 
 back with Altonifhment, and know not how to a- 
 bide with Him '^ When our Saviour Chrift came in 
 the Flefh, who had been the Defire of all Nations 
 tor 40CO Years, and moll importunately fought af- 
 ter by the Men of that Generation wherein he came, 
 yet doing great and unexpe£led things at his coming, 
 who was able to abide it ? This, fays Simeon, will be 
 the IfTue of it, Luke 2. 34, 35. He fhall te for the 
 
 fall 
 
Pdvliajnent^ Oftob. 19. 1652. 103 
 
 fall and r'lfc of rnany 5 and the though: s of ?nany 
 hearts fhall be revealed. Hence is that Exclamation, 
 Mai. 7,, 2. Who }nay abide the day of his coming.^ and. 
 zvho /ball J} a /id Ziehen he appear eth? His coming is 
 defiteJ indeed, but few can bear it : His day mil 
 burn MS an oven, as a furnace, ch- 4. i. fome are 
 over -heated by it ^ fbme confufnc in it : Bleded are 
 they that abide. This is one Cauie ot the perplex- 
 ing the Spirits of Men. The conGderation of the 
 things thcujlelves that are done, being above and be- 
 yond rheir Expe£tations ^ and this even many of the 
 Saints of God are borne down under at this day: 
 They little look d tor t'le Blood and Banifhment of 
 Kings, Change oi Government, and Alteration of Na- 
 tions, fuch Shakings of Heaven and Earth as have 
 enfijed ^ not confidering that He who doth thele 
 things, weighs all the Nations in a Balance, and the 
 Rulers of them are as the Dull thereof before Him. 
 
 2. From the manner whereby God will do thefe 
 things. Many perplexing, killing Circumftances at- 
 tend his Difpenfations : 1 Ihall inltance only in one, 
 and that is Darknefs and Oblcurity, whereby he 
 holds the Minds of Men in uncertainty and fufpenie, 
 for his own glorious Ends : Such, he tells us, fhall 
 his Day, and the Works thereof be, Zech. 14. 6, 7. 
 And it fhall co?ne to pafs in that day, that the light 
 f)all not be clear, nor dark ^ But it fl)all be one 
 day which JJ)all be knovcn to the Lord -, not Day nor 
 J^ight : But it fhall come to pafs that at evening- time 
 it fhall he light. Men fhall not know what to make 
 of it, nor what to judge : He brings not forth his 
 Work all at onCe, but by degrees, and fometimes fets 
 It backward, and leads it up and down, as he did 
 his People of old in the VVilderneis, that none mii^ht 
 l<now where they fliould fall or fettle-, and he that 
 Believeth will not make hafte. When God is doing 
 
 G 4 5reat 
 
104 A Sermon preached to the 
 
 great 'things, he delights to wrap them up in the 
 Clouds, to keep the Minds of Men in Uncertainties, 
 that he may let on work all thai is in ihcm and 
 try them to the utmoft, whether they can live up- 
 on his Care and Wifdom, when they fee their own 
 care and wifdom will do no good. Men would faia 
 come to Ibme certainty, and con*.monIy by the 
 thoughts and ways whereby they prels unto it, they 
 put all things, into more uncertainty than ever, and lo 
 promote the Defign of God, which they 16 ftudi- 
 oufly endeavour to decline. Hence is that defcrip- 
 tion cf the Prefence of the Lord in his mighty Works, 
 TfaL 1 8. 9, II. Durknefs was under his feet : Men' 
 could not fee his Paths, ^c. He hath Ends of Stir- 
 frijal^ Uardning, and i)efiruUion towards Ibme, for 
 which they mult be left unto their own Spirits, and 
 led into many Snares and Bye-paths, for their Trial, 
 and the Exercife cf others, which could not be ac- 
 complifhed, did he not come in the Clouds, and 
 were not Darknefs his Pavilion, and his fecret Tlace, 
 On this Account i" that Cry of Men of prophane and 
 hardned Spirits, If a. 5. 19. Let him make fpeedand 
 ^AJlen his work^ that we may fee it : and let the 
 counfel of the holy One of I/rae/draw nigh, that we may 
 know it. They know not what to make of what they 
 fee, of all that as yet is done or accomplilhed ^ they 
 would have the whole Work out, that they might 
 once fee the end of it, and lb know what to judge : 
 They would be at a Point with him, and not always 
 kept at thole perplexing Uncertainties. And this is 
 another Caufe of the trouble of Mens Spirits, in con- 
 fideration of the Difpenfations of God : God Hill 
 keeps a Cloud hanging over, and they know not when 
 it will fall, nor what will be done in the ifllie of 
 things : This makes Ibme weary of waiting on him, 
 and with the profane King of Ifrae/, to cry, this evil 
 
 is 
 
Parliament, Odob. 15. 1652. loj 
 
 IS of the Lord, there is no end, Confbfion will be 
 the iiiiic ot all, why fliould 1 abide any longer? 
 
 ?. The Lujls 0] Men do commonly, under fuch 
 D'.lpeniations, icaifully and dtlpcrately tumuhuate, 
 to the dilturbance of the molt Icttled and weighed 
 Spirits : Sjtiin takes advantage to draw them out In 
 fuch a fejfbn to the utmolt, both mSpintud/s midCivifs. 
 What; will be the conltant deportment ot men ot cor- 
 rupt Minds in iuch a time, our Saviour lets torth. 
 Alar. 24. 8. They fliall co;;;e in the ncme of Chnjl to 
 deceive, andfhdl deceive many, and caufe iniquity to 
 abound, Obad. 12. n- I^- 7- I" ^"ch a day Edojn 
 will appear an Enemy, and Ephraim with the Son of 
 Remj/iah, will joyn with Syria for the vexing of 
 Jadcib : Hence are Perplexities and Swords piercing 
 through the very Souls ot Men. Take an Inltance in 
 the days wherein we live : From the beginning of the 
 Contefts in this Nation, when God had cauled your 
 Spirits to reiblve, that the Liberties, Privileges, and 
 Rights of this Nation, wherewith you were intruded, 
 fhould not (by his Affiltance) be wrelted out of 
 your Handb by Violence, Opprcffion, and Injultice ; 
 this he alfo put upon your Hearts, to vindicate and 
 aflert the Gofpel of Jefus Chrilt, his Ways and his 
 Ordinances, againft all Oppolition, the' you were but 
 inquiring the way to Sion^ with your Yaces thitherward : 
 God lecretly entwining the interefl of Chrilt with 
 yours, wrapt up with you, the whole Generation 
 of them that feek his Face, and prolpered your Af- 
 fairs on that account : So that, whereas Caufcs of as 
 dear a Rir.hteoufnefs among the Sons of Men as yours, 
 have come to nothing, yet your Undertaking hath 
 beai like the She^f of Jofeph in the midlt of the Na- 
 tions, which hath Jhod ///?, .when all the others have 
 bowed to' the Ground : Being then convinced thai 
 ypur Affairs h:ive fallen under his Promifes, and have 
 
 come 
 
io6 A Sermon peach' d to the 
 
 come up to an acceptance before him, folely upon the 
 account of their fubferviency to the Intereft of Chrift^ 
 God hath put it into your Hearts to leek the Pro- 
 pagation of his Golpel. What now, by the Lufts 
 of Men, is the ftate of things > Say fome, there is no 
 Golpel at all 5 lay others, if there be, you have no- 
 thing to do with it : So?ne lay, L^, here is Chriji ; 
 others, lo there : Some make Religion a colour for 
 one thing, Ibme for another ; fay fome, the Magi- 
 flrate muft noc fupport the Go/pel : lay others, the 
 Go/pel muft fubvert the Magiflrate : Say fome, your 
 Rule is only for Men, as Men, you have nothing to do 
 with the Intereft of ChriJ} and the Church ^ fay others, 
 you have nothing to do to rule Men, but upon the 
 account of being Saints. If you will have the Golpel, 
 iay Ibme, down with the Minifters of it, Chemarms^ 
 hocujis, ^c. And if you will have Light, take care 
 that you may have Ignorance and Darknels : Things 
 being carried on as if it were the Care of Men, that 
 there might be no Trouble in the World, but what 
 the natne of Religion might lie in the bottom of 
 Now thofe that ponder thele things, their Spirits are 
 grieved in the midfl of their Bodies ^ the Vifions of 
 their Heads trouble them ^ they looked for other 
 things from them that profelFed Chrift ^ but the Sum- 
 mer is ended, and the Harveft is patt, and we are 
 not refrefhed. Again v God had lb ftatcd your Af- 
 fairs, that you were the Mark of the Antichriflian 
 World to fhoot at, in the beginning, and their Ter- 
 ror in the dole : And when you thought only to have 
 purfued Sheba the Son of Bichri, the Man of your 
 firft Warfare, behold, one Abel after another under- 
 takes the Quarrel againft you, yea, fuch Abels as Scot- 
 land and Holland, of whom we laid in old Times, we 
 xoill enquire of them, andfo ended the Matter: And 
 there is not a Wife Man or Woman a?non§ them, 
 
 that 
 
?arlid?nent^ Odob. 15, 1652. 107 
 
 that can diflvvadc them : Strangel that Ephrdim fliould 
 joyn with Syria to vex Judah their Brother ! That 
 the Netherlands, whofe Being is founded meerly up- 
 on the Interejl you have undertaken, Hiould joyn 
 with the great Antichriltian Interelt, which cannot 
 poflibly be let up again, without their inevitable Ru- 
 ine ! Hence alio are deep thoughts of Heart, Men 
 lire perplextd, dilquieted, and know not what to 
 do. 
 
 I could mention other Lulls and Tumultuatings of 
 the Spirits of Men, that have an Influence into the 
 diHurbance of" the Hearts of" the molt precious in 
 this Nation, but I forbear. 
 
 ^. Mens own Lulls difquietthiir Spirits in fuch 
 a feafbn as this : I could inltance in many, but Ihall 
 name only four: 
 
 I. Vnfldhlcnefs of Mind. 2. Carnal fears, 3. Love 
 of the World. ^. I^cfirc of V re- eminence. 
 
 I. Unltablenels of Mind, which makes Men like 
 the Waves of the Sea that cannot ref\ : The Scrip- 
 ture calls it dy.cf,a<;a(Tiav^ tumultuaiingnels of Spi- 
 rit : There is fomething of that which Jude Ijpeaks 
 of, in better Perfons than thole he defcribes, raging 
 like waves cf the Sea, and foaming out their own 
 Jhame^ ver. 19. If God give Men up to a refllefs 
 Spirit^ no condition imaginable can quiet them, Itill 
 they think they fee lomething beyond it that is defi- 
 rable. Hannibal laid of Mar cell us, that he could ne- 
 ver be quiet, Conqueror nor Conquered. Some Mens 
 Defires are fo enlarged, that nothing can fatiate them. 
 Wile Men that look upon fundry godly Perfons 
 in this Nation, and beholding how every loke cf 
 the Opprejfor is broken from oft their Kecks, that no 
 Man makes them afraid, that they are looked on as^ 
 jhe head, not as the Tail, enjoying the Ordinances of 
 God, according to the Light of their Minds, and De- 
 files 
 
io8 A Sermon preached to the 
 
 fires of their Hearts, no Man forbidding them, are 
 ready to wonder, (I fpeak of private Perions) what 
 they can find to do in their feveral Places and Call- 
 ings, but to ferve the Lord in Righteoufnefs and 
 Holinefs, being without Fear all the days of their 
 Lives. But alas, .when poor Creatures are given up 
 to the Power of an unquiet and unftable Mind, they 
 think Icarce any thing vile, but being voife unto Johr'iety ^ 
 nothing defirable, but what is without their proper 
 Bounds,and what leads to that Confufion, which them- 
 felves, in the iifue, are leaft able, of many, to under- 
 go. It is impoflible but that Mens Hearts fhould be 
 pierced with Difquietnefs and Trouble, that are given 
 up to this Frame. 
 
 2. Carnal Year u Thele even devour and eat up 
 the Hearts of Men : What fhall* we do > what fhall 
 become of us ? Ephraim is confederate with Syria, and, 
 the Hearts of Men are fhaken as the Trees of the 
 Wood, that are moved with the Wind : What, new- 
 Troubles ftill ! new Unlettkments ! This Storm will 
 not be avoided ; this will be worfe than all that hath 
 befallen us from the youth of our Undertakings. 
 God hath not yet won upon Mens Spirits to trull 
 in Shakings, Perplexities, Alterations 5 they remem- 
 ber not the maniieitations of his Wifdom, Power, and 
 Goodnefs in former days, and how tender hitherto 
 he hath been of the Inrerefl of Chrift, that their 
 Hearts might be eflabliflied. Could we but do our 
 Duty, and truft the Lord with the performance of 
 his Promiies, what Qiiietnels, what Sweetnefs might 
 we have ? I fliall not inftance in the other Particu- 
 lars, it is too manifeft, that many of our piercing 
 and perplex; nc; Thoughts, are from the timidtuating 
 find dif order of our own Lujis . So that what remains 
 of the time allotted to me, I (hall fpend only in the 
 ufe of this Point, and proceed no farther. 
 
 Vfe 
 
Parlumevt, Odob. 13. 1652. 109 
 
 Vfc I.] Ot lnlhu[Iicn. To JircLl you into Ways 
 and Means ot (iuietntls, in reference unto all thele 
 Caufls and Occafions ot piercing, dividing Thoughts, 
 in fuch a (ealon as this. The good Lord leal up 
 InflruQion to your Souls, that you may know the 
 Things thdt belongs to your Fence^ and what Ifrael 
 ought to do at this, even at this time; lor my Bre- 
 zhrens and Companion s fake^ I u ijl) you Vrojpenty : 
 Though my own Porrion fhould be in tlic Duit, ibr, 
 the true fpiritual^ not maginufy carnal Intercfi of 
 the Chuich of God in this Nation, and the Nations 
 about, I w5f]] you Profpcrity. 
 
 I. Firft then, in reference to the Things that God 
 is doings both as to their Grcatncfs and their A\an- 
 ner oj doing ^ whole Confideration fills Men with 
 Thoughts that s^rieve their Spirits in the midlt of 
 their Bodies ! Would you have your Hearts quieted 
 in this refped > Take my lecond Obfervjtion for your 
 Direftion ^ The only way to extricate and deliver our 
 Spirits from under fuch Perplexities andlntanglcmcnts^ 
 is to draxx^ nigh to God in Chrijl, Jor the difcovery 
 of his Will : So did Daniel here in my Text ^ I fear 
 this is too much neglefled.^ You take Counfel with 
 your own Hearts, you advife with one another, hear- 
 ken unto Men under a repute of Wijdom j and all 
 this doth but increafe yourTiouble, you do but more 
 and more intangle and difquiet your own Spirits : 
 God fhnds by and iliys, / am wife alfo ^ and little 
 notice is taken ot him : We think we arc grown 
 wile our (elves, and do not remember that we never 
 profpcrcd, hut only when we went unto God, and 
 told him plainly we knew not what to do. Tub- 
 rickVafnngs are negle£led, dcfpifcd, fpoken againft; 
 nnd when appointed, praflifcd according as Mens 
 H'jarts are principled to fuch a Duty, coldly, dead- 
 ly, unacceptably : Life, hcat^ xcarmth is gone ^ and (hall 
 
 not 
 
 L 
 
110 A Sermon preacb'd to the 
 
 not Blood and all go after ? The Lord prevent it : 
 Private Meetings are uled to (hew our lelves Wile 
 in the debate of things, with a Form of godly Words 5 
 Ibmetimes for Strife, Tumult, Divifion, Dilbrder^ 
 and (hall we think there is much Cloiet-inquiring 
 after God, when all other aflings of that Principle 
 which ihould carry us out thereunto, are oppoled 
 and flighted ? When we do fometimes wait upon 
 God, do not many feem to ask amils, to Ipend it 
 on their Lulls 5 not waiting on him poor, hungry, 
 empty, to know his Will, to receive Direction from 
 him 5 but rather going full, fixed, refolved, fet- 
 tled, on thoughts, perhaps Prejudices of our 
 own ; almoft taking upon us to prefcribe unto 
 the Almighty, and to impofe our poor, low, carnal 
 Thoughts upon his Wifdom, and Care of his Church > 
 Oh, where is that holy and that humble frame, 
 wherewith, at firft, we followed our God into the 
 Wildernefs, where we have been fed and cloathed, 
 preferved and protefted for lb many Years? Hence 
 is it that the Works of God are h^covnQ Jirange, 
 and terrible^ and dark unto us •, and of neceflity fbme 
 of us, many of us, mull fhut up all with Dilappoint- 
 ment and Sorrow : We fill our Souls boldly, confi- 
 dently, with crofs and contrary Apprehenfions of the 
 Intendments of God, and of the mediums whereby he 
 will accomplifli his Ends 5 and do not confider that 
 this is not a frame of Men, who had given up them- 
 felves to the All-fufficiency ^/G^J. Some, perhaps will 
 lay, this belongs not unto them, they have waited up- 
 on God^ and they do know his Mind^ and what are 
 the things he mil do^ and are not blind alfo^ nor in 
 the dark, as other Men. But if it be ^o^ what means 
 this bleating of Sheep and Oxen in 7nine Ears ^ Yea, 
 what means that roaring and foaming of unquiet 
 Waves which we hear and fee ^ hard Speeches, pal^ 
 
 fionate 
 
Parliament^ Ot\oh. 1^. 165?. m 
 
 fionate Reproaches, (harp Revilings of their Brethren, 
 in boundlefs Confidence, endlefs Enmity, caufing evil 
 Surmiies, biting, tearing, devouring Terms and Ex- 
 prcflions, calling our the JWimes rj ^\cn ufright m 
 their Generations, Joying the Lord be praijcd ^ When 
 the Lord difcovers his Mind and Will, it fetleth the 
 Heart, compoieth the Mind, fills the Soul with Re- 
 verence and godly Eear, conforms the Heart unto it- 
 felf, fills it with Peace, Love, Meeknels, Gentkneis, 
 i!fc. And (liall we be thought to have received the 
 Mind, the Will of God, when our Hearts, Words, 
 Ways, are full of contrary Qiialities ? Let it be cal- 
 led what it will, I (hall not defire to (hare in that 
 which w^ould bring my Heart into fuch a frame. Well 
 then, Beloved, take this for your /;yf DireSion: Be 
 more abundant with God in Faith and Prayer : Deal 
 with him in Publick and Private, take Counfel of 
 him, bend your Hearts, through his Grace, to your 
 old frame, when it was your joy to meet in this 
 Place, which now I fear, to many, is their Burthen : 
 Seek the Lord and his Face, leek him while he may 
 be found ^ and hereby, 
 
 I. You will empty your Hearts of many perplex- 
 ing Contrivances of your own, and you will find 
 Faith in this Communion with God, by little and 
 little working our, killing, (laying thele Prejudices 
 and Prefumptions, which you may be Itrong in, 
 that are not according to the Will of God ^ lo you 
 be fure to come not to have your own Luffs md. 
 carnal Conceptions anfwered, but to have the Will 
 of God fulfilled. When Men come unto the 1 ord 
 to have their own Vifions julfilled, it is righteous 
 with God to anfwer them according to rhofe Vifions, 
 and confirm them in them, to their own Dilturbance, 
 and the Diiturbance oi' others. 
 
 t. You 
 
112 A Sermon preacFd to the 
 
 2. You JJmU certainly have Teace in your own 
 Hearts, in the All-fufficiency of God ^ this he will give 
 m upon your Spirits, that whatever he doth, all his 
 Ways (hall be to you Mercy, Truth, Faithfulnels, 
 and Peace 5 yea, the Difcovtries which you (hall have 
 of his own Fulnels, Sweetnels, Suitablenefs, and the 
 Excellency of Things which are not feen^ will work 
 your Hearts to fuch a frame, that you (hall attend to 
 the Things here Below, meerly upon the account of 
 Duty, with the greateft Calmnels and Quietnefs of 
 Mind imaginable. 
 
 g. You (hall lurely know your own particular 
 Paths, wherein you ought to walk, in ferving God 
 in your Generation : Thole that wait upon him he 
 will guide in Judgment ^ he will not leave them in the 
 dark, nor to diitrafted, divided, piercing Thoughts % 
 but, whatever others do, you fliall be guided into 
 Ways of Peace : This you fhall have, when the Lufls 
 of Men will let neither themfelves nor others be at 
 quiet. Oh then, return to your-Relt; look to him 
 from whom you have gone aftray 5 take no more 
 difturbing Counfel with your felves or others ^ renew 
 your old frame of humble Dependance on God, and 
 earneft feeking his Face ^ you have certainly backflideri 
 in th's Thing. 
 
 Is not the Lord the God of Counfel and Wifdom^ 
 as well as the God of Force and Fower^ that you run 
 to him when in a ftraight in your Anions? but when 
 your Counlcls ftem, fometimes, to be mix'd with a 
 Spirit of Difficulty and Trouble, he is negleQed: 
 only come with humble depending Hearts, not every 
 one to bring the Devices, Imaginations, Opinions, 
 Prejudices, and Lull of their own Hearts before 
 him ? 
 
 2. For the Troubles that ariie from the Lufls of 
 $ther Men ; and that firit, about the Go/pel, and the 
 
 Projpagatiorl 
 
Parliament, Odob. 13. 165-2. 113 
 
 Fropiigation thereof: The tumultuating oFthe Lufts of 
 Men, in reference hereunto, I gave you an Account of 
 formerly ^ there are many piercing Thoughts of Heart. 
 What Extreu7ncs^ I had almolt laid, Extravagances^ 
 Men have in this Matter run out into, 1 fhall not 
 now infilt upon, only I (hall you a few Dire£Vions for 
 your own Pra6Vice. 
 
 I. It it once comes to that, that you fliall fay, 
 you have nothing to do with Religion^ as Rulers of 
 {he 'Nation ^ God will quickly manitelt, that he hath 
 nothing to do with you, as Rulers of the Nation. 
 The great Promife of Chrift, is, that in thele latter 
 Days of the World, he will lay the Nations in 1 
 Subferviency to him, the Kingdoms of the World 
 fhall become his ^ that is, aft as Kingdoms and Go- 
 vernments no longer againlt him, but for him. Sure- 
 ly, thofe Promifes will fcarcely be accompli iTied, in 
 bringing Common-wealths of Men profefling his 
 Name, to be of Gallia's frame, to care for none of thofe 
 Things \ or as the Turk, in an abfblute Indiffercncy 
 Tvhat any profefs, I mean, that are not his own, for 
 in refpefl of them he changes not his God : Not that 
 I would you fliould go and fet up Forms of Govern- 
 ment, to Compel Men to come under the Line of 
 them, or to thruft in your Swotd to cut the lefler 
 Differences of Brethren ^ not that 1 think Truth ever 
 the more the Truth, or to have any thing the more of 
 Authority upon the Confcicnce, for having the (lamp 
 of your Authority annexed to it, for its Allowance 
 to pafs in thele Nations. Nor do I fpenk a word 
 of what is, mjy, or may not be incumbent on you, 
 in refpeft of the molt proflip,ate Oppolers of the 
 Truths of the Gofpel •, but only this, that not being 
 fuch as are always learning, never coming to the knots- 
 lege of the Truth, hut being fully perJivaJed in your 
 9wn Minds, cettaiijly it is incumbent on you, to 
 Vol. It H tak« 
 
114 ^ Sermon peach* d to the 
 
 take care, that the Faith which you have received, 
 which was once delivered to the Saints^ in all the ne- 
 cefiary Concernments of it, may be proteQed, preler- 
 ved, propagated to, and among the People, which 
 God hath let you over. If a Father, as a Father, is 
 bound to do what anlwers this in his Family, unto 
 his Children •, a Mailer, as a Mafter to his Servants : 
 If you will juftify your felves as Fathers, or Rulers of 
 your Country, youll find, in your Accompt, this to 
 be incumbent on you. 
 
 2. Take heed of them that would temper Clay 
 and Iron, Things that will not mingle, that would 
 compound Carnal and Flefhly Things with Heavenly 
 Things and Spiritual, that they may not entangle 
 your Spirits : The great 'Dejign of grafping Temporal 
 Tower ^ upon a Spiritual Account^ will prove at laft to 
 be the greatefl Badge of Antichrift. Hitherto God 
 hath appeared againft it, and will, no doubt, to the 
 End, if either you, by the Authority He hath given 
 you in the World, (hall take upon you to rule the 
 Houle of God, as formerly luch, as his Houle ; tho" 
 you rule the Ferlbns whereof it is made up, or thofe 
 who are, or pretend to be of that Houle, to rule 
 the World on that Account, your Day and theirs 
 will be nigh at hand. 
 
 3. Now, becaufe you wait on God for Dire£lion, 
 in reference to the Propagation of the Gofpel^ and 
 the preventing that which is contrary to found Do- 
 Urine and Godlinefs^ I fhall very briefly give you, 
 to this End, Ibme Principles whereon you may reft 
 in your Agings -^ and fome Rules for your Dire£lion •, 
 and lo draw to a Clofe. 
 
 I. Take, in the firit place, what God hath promi- 
 sed concerning Magiflrates^ KingSy Rulers^ Judges^ 
 and Nations^ and their Subferviency to the Church : 
 What God hath promlfcd they (hall do, that is 
 
 .xi^f^l' their 
 
 /^' 
 
Parliameiit^ Oftob. 13. 1652. 115 
 
 their Duty to do ^ he hath not mealured out an In- 
 heritance for his People out of the Sins of other 
 Men. Let us a little view Ibme ot thele Promiits, 
 and then confidcr their Application to the Truth we 
 have in hand, and what is cleared out unto us by 
 them ; they arc many : I fhiU inltance in Ibme of the 
 molt obvious and eminent : Ila. i. 26. Iwill rcjiorc their 
 judges^ and fricfls, and counfcllors^ as at the begin- 
 ning. It is to Sion redeemed, purged, waflied in the 
 Blood of Chrilt, that this Promile is made. 
 
 Ila. 4 9. 7. Kings JJ:}aIl fee and arife^ and princes 
 Jl)all hovo down the mf elves. The Jcvos being, tor the 
 greateft part of them, rejected, upon the Coming of 
 Chrift, this Promife is made unto him upon his 
 pouring out of the Spirit for the bringing in of the 
 Gentiles ^ as it is farther enlarged, ver, 2?. Kings 
 Jimll be thy nurjing-fathers^ and their queens thy nur- 
 fing-mothers. 
 
 If a, 60, looks wholly this way: Tafte of the Na- 
 ture and Intendment of the Whole ^ And the Gentiles 
 Shall come to thy light ^ and kings to the bright nefs of 
 thy rifing. Therefore thy gates JJ) all be open continual- 
 ly^ they fh all not be Jhut day nor nighty that men may 
 bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles^ and that 
 that their kings may be brought. Thou fJ)alt a If a 
 fuck the milk of the Gentiles^ and fh alt fuck the breaft 
 of kings ^ and thou fl)alt know that I the Lord am thy 
 fwiour and thy redeemer^ thc?nighty One of Jacob, lor 
 brafs I will bring gold^ and for iron I will bring filvcr^ 
 and for wood brafs^ and for Jlones iron : I will alfo 
 make thy officers peace ^ and thine exaflours righte- 
 cufnefs^ ver. ;^, 11, 16, 77. To which add, the Ac- 
 complilhment of all thole Promilcs mentioned Rev. 
 II. 1^. and 21. 24. 
 
 You lee here are glorious Promilcs, in the lite- 
 ral Expreflfion, looking dircflly to what we allert 
 
 H 2 concerning 
 
Ii6 A Sermon preach' d to the 
 
 concerning the fubftrviency of Rulers to the -Gofpel, 
 and the Duty of Magiftrates, in fupporting the In- 
 tereft of the Church : Let us, concerning them, ob- 
 lerve thefe three things ^ as, i,To Whom they are 
 made : 2. On what Occafwn they are given : 3. What 
 is the Suhje^i or Matter of them in general 
 
 I. then, They are all given and made to the Church 
 of Chrift after his coming in the Flelh, and his 
 putting an end to all ceremonial^ typical^ carnal In- 
 Ititutions. For, 
 
 1. They are every- where attended with the Cir- 
 cumltances of calling the Gentiles, and their flowing 
 in to the Church ^ which were not accomplifhed 
 'till after the Deftru£lion of the Jewijh Church, ^c. 
 
 So is the Cale in that which you have Ifai.^^, 20. 
 The children which thou Jloalt have, after thou hajl 
 lojl the other ^ fhall fay again in thine ears, The place 
 is too fir ait for me : give place to 7ne, that I may dwell. 
 It fhall be when the Church (hall have received the 
 new Children of the Gentiles, having loft the other 
 of the Jews -, which he exprefleth more at large^ 
 •ver. 22. Thus faith the hordGod, Behold, I will lift 
 up mine hand to the Gentiles, and fet up my Jhndard 
 to the people : and they fhall bring thyfons in their 
 arms, and thy daughters fJoal I be carried upon their 
 fhoulders. So alfo are the reft. When God gives 
 the Nations to be the Inheritance of Chrift, the Holy 
 Gholt cautions Rulers and Judges to kifs the Son, 
 and pay the Homage due to him in his Kingdom^ 
 Ffil. 2. 10, IT. 
 
 2. Becauie thefe Promifes are pointed unto, as ac- 
 compliihed to the Chriftian Church, in that place in 
 the Revelation before mention d. And the feventh , 
 angel fou7ided, and there were great voices in heaven^ 
 faying. The kingdoms of this world are become the 
 kingdoms of our Lord, and ofhisChrifi, and he fhall 
 
 reign 
 
Parliament^ Oclob. i::;. 1652. ii7 
 
 reign for ever and ever^ clup- 11. \%, And the 
 nations of them which are faved^ f})all \xalk in the light 
 oj it : and the kings of the earth do bring their glorf 
 and honour in to it, chap 21. 24. So thut there are 
 plainly Promilcs of Kings and Princes, Judges and 
 Rulers, to be given to the Church, and to be made 
 ufeful thereunto, and Kingdom and Nations, People 
 in their Rules and Governments, to be Inllrumental 
 to the Good thereof: So that thefe Promiies belong 
 dire^Hy to Us, and our Rulers, if under any Notion 
 we belong to the Church of Cluift 
 
 2. For the Occafion of thele Promifes •, it is well 
 known what a Trult, by God's own Appointment, 
 there was invelled in the Rulers, Judges, Kings, and 
 Magiltrates of the Judaical State and Church under 
 the Old Tellament, in reference unto the Ways and 
 Worfh^p of God : The profecution and execution of 
 the Laws of God, concerning his Houfe and Service, 
 being committed to them ^ further, when they faith- 
 tijlly difcharg'd their Trult, promoting the Worfliip 
 of God according to his Inltitutions, encouraging, 
 fupporting, direfting, reproving others, to whom 
 the immediate and peculiar adminiftration of Things 
 lacred were committed, dellroying, removing what- 
 ever was an Abomination unto the Lord \ it was 
 well with the whole People and Church, they 
 flouriihed in Peace, and the Lord delighted in 
 them, and rejoyced over them to do them Good : 
 And, on the other fide, their negle£l in the dif- 
 charge of their Duty, was then commonly attend- 
 ed with the Apnfacy oj the Churchy and great break- 
 ings forth of the Indignation of the Lord ; This the 
 Church found in thofc days, and bewailed. To hold 
 out, theretbre, the happy State of his People, that he 
 would bring in, he promiies them fuch Rulers and 
 Judges as he gave at firlt, who faithfully difcharged 
 
 H 5 the 
 
ii8 A Sermon preach' d to the 
 
 tfe Trufl committed to them : Not that I fuppole 
 them bound to the Mofaical Rules of Penalties in 
 reference to TranfgreJJions and Offences againft Gofpel- 
 Infiitiitions^ but only that a Duty in general is incum- 
 bent on them in reference to the Church and Truth 
 of God, which they (hould faithfully difcharge : Of 
 which afterward. 
 
 This then being the Occafion of thofe Promiles 5 
 and their Accomplifhment being, as before, in a 
 peculiar manner pointed at, upon the Shaking, Call- 
 ing, and New-moulding of the Kingdoms and Na- 
 tions of the World, which had given their Power to 
 the Beaft, and thereupon framed a-new into a due 
 fubferviency to the Intereft of Chrift^ here is not 
 the leafl: (hadow or colour left, for the turning off, 
 and rejefting the fweetnels of all thele Promiles, 
 upon account of their being meerly metaphorical^ 
 and (hadowing out fpiritual Glories : neither their 
 beginning nor ending, neither their rife nor fall, will 
 bear any fuch glofs or corrupting interpretation. 
 
 3. As to the Matter of theie Promifes, I (hall only 
 alfert this in general, That the Lord engageth, that 
 Judges^ Rulers, Magiflrates, and fuch-like, (hall put 
 forth their Power, and aft clearly for the Good, Wel- 
 fare, and Profperity of the Church ^ this is plainly- 
 held out in every one of them : Hence the Kingdoms 
 are faid to ferve the Church ^ that is, all Kingdoms, 
 they muft do fb, or be broken in pieces, and ceale to 
 be Kingdoms. And how can a Kingdom, as a 
 Kingdom, (ior it is taken formally, and not mate- 
 rially, meerly for the Individuals of it, as appears 
 by the threatning of its being broken in pieces) lerve 
 the Church, but by putting forth its Power and 
 Strength in her behalf? IJai. 60. 12. And therefore, 
 upon the Accomplilhment of that Promile, they are 
 faid to become the Kingdoms of the lord Chriji, Rev, 
 
 U.K. 
 
Parliament^ Oftob. 13. 1652. 119 
 
 II. 15. becaufe, as Kingdoms, they lerve.him with 
 their Power and Authority ^ having before, as luch, 
 and by their Power, oppolcd him to the utmolt. 
 They mult nurfe the Church not with dry Brealts, 
 nor feed it with Stones and Scorpions, but wirh the 
 good Things committed to them. Their Fewer and 
 Subflj/ice m Prore£lion and Support m^^nt, arc to be 
 engaged in the behalt thereof: Hence Go J is laid to 
 give thdc Jj^J^es, Rulers, Fr'mccs, Kings. Queens to 
 the C/;//;t/; ^ not ictting thtm in the Qiurch, us 0^ 
 cers thereof, but ordering their State in the VVorld 
 {Rev. II. 15?.) to its behoof In fum, there is not 
 any one of the Promifes recited, but holds forth the 
 utmolt of what I intend to aflcrt from them all, 
 (viz.) That the Lord hath promiled, That the Mag'f 
 fi rates whom he veil I give, own, and blefs^ Jloall put 
 forth their Power, and all in that capacity wherein 
 he hath placed them in the World, for the Good, Fur- 
 therance, and Prcfperity 0} the Truth and Ontrch of 
 Chrijl : They fliali protcft them with their Power, 
 feed them with their Subltance, adorn them with 
 their Favour, and the Privileges wherewith they arc 
 intrulted ; they fhall break their fbrcibly-opprefling 
 Adverfaries, and take care, that rhofe who walk in 
 the Truth of the Lord, may lead a peaceable life in 
 all godl'incfs and honeffy. If then you are fuch Ma- 
 giftrates as God hath promiled, (as, woe be to unto 
 you if you are not !) know, that he hath undertaken 
 for you, that you fhall perform this part of your 
 Duty : And I pray that you may rule with Him 
 therein, and be found faithful. 
 
 2. The Second ground which I would point unto, 
 as a bottom of your Aftings in this Thing, arileth 
 from fundry undoubted Principles, which I (hall 
 briefly mention : And the Firlt is, 
 
 H4 I-fcr/ 
 
I2G A Sermon -preach' d to the 
 
 That the Go/pel of J ejus Chriji hath a right to he 
 preached, and propagated in ivery 'Nation^ and to every 
 Creature under heaven, Jefus Chrift is the Lord of 
 lords ^ and King of kings ^ Rev. 17. 14. The nations 
 are given to be his inheritance^ and the utmoji parts 
 of the earth to be his pofjejfwn^ Pfal. 2. 8, 9. He is 
 appointed the heir of all things^ Heb. i. 2. God hath 
 iet him over the works of his hands, and put all 
 things in fubje&ion under his jeet^ Plal. 8. 7. Asd 
 upon this account he gives Coinmiffion to his Mef- 
 lengers to preach the Gofpel to all Nations, Matt. 28. 
 19. or, to every creature tinder Heaven, Mark i5. 
 17. The Nations of the World being of the Father 
 given to him, he may deal with them as he plea- 
 leth, and either bruife them with a rod of iron, and 
 break them in pieces as a potter s vejfel, Pfal 2. 9. 
 he may fill the places of the earth vcith their dead 
 bodies, and [Jrike in pieces the heads of the countries^ 
 Pfal. no. 6. Or, he may make them his own, and 
 bring theni in fiibjeflion unto hjmfelf ^ which to- 
 wards Ibme of them he will efiFe£^, Rev, 11. 19. 
 Nov/ the Gofpil being the rod of his power] and the 
 fcepter of his kingdo^n, the grand Inftrument whereby 
 he accomplifheth all his Defigns in the World, whe- 
 ther they be for life or for death, 2 Cor. 2. 16. He 
 hath given that a Riglit to take PoffelTion in his Name 
 and Authority, of all that he will own in any Na- 
 tion under Heaven. (And indeed, he hath in all of 
 them, feme that are his peculiar Purchale, Rev. ^. 9. 
 whom, in defpite of all the World, he will bring 
 in unto himfelf.) To have free paflage into all Na- 
 tions, is the' undoubted Right of the Gofpel ; and the 
 Perfons of Chrilf s Good-will, have liich a Right to 
 it, and IntereR in it, that look ftom whomfbever they 
 may claim Prote£lion in reference to any other of 
 their moft undoubted Concernments amongft Men, of 
 ' ' ■ •' ■ fiien^' 
 
Parliament^ Odob. 13. 1652. 121 
 
 them may they claim Prote£lion, in refpeft of their 
 quiet enjoyment and pclltflion of the Golpel. 
 
 2. Ihdt zd? ere- ever the G of pel is by any Kotwn 
 Cdoned^ received^ emhriued^ it is the Bhjjing^ Benejit^ 
 Proffer ity^ and Advantage of that JKation. They that 
 /eve Sion Jl^a// pro/per^ Pfal. 122. 6. God/imfs hath 
 the promfe of this life, and is profitable unto all^ 
 I Tim. 4. 8. The reception of the Word of Truth, 
 and fubjedion to Chrilt therein, caufing a People to 
 become "willing in the day oj his power, entitleth that 
 People to all the Promifes that ever God made to 
 his Church : They (hall be eflabliJJjed in right eoufnefs^ 
 they Jl)all be far from opprcjfion, and for fear and 
 terror^ they fhall not draw nigh unto them: Who- 
 Joever contends again j\ fuch a people^ Jh all fall thereby : 
 no weapon that is formed againjl them Jhall profper^ 
 every tongue that fhall rife againjl them in judgment 
 they fhall comdemn^ for this is the inheritance of the 
 fervants of the Lord, Ila. 14. 14, 15;, 17. To the 
 Profperity of a Nation, two things are required. 
 
 1. That they be freed from Opprefiion, Injuftice, 
 Cruelty, Diforder, Confufion in themfelves, from 
 their Rulers, or others. 
 
 2. That rhey be protefled from the Sword and 
 Violence of thofe that feek their Ruinefrom without. 
 And both thefe do a People receive, by receiving the 
 Golpel 
 
 I. For the firft, they have the Promife of God, 
 and they fliall have 7^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ thefrfr, Jfa. 1. 26. 
 fuch as in Julfice and Judgment fhall bear Rule over 
 them and among them, as the firlt Judges whom he 
 Itirred up and gave to his ancient People : 7?;^/> Of 
 peers fhall be Peace, and their ExaUors Right eoufnefs^ 
 Ifj. ^c, 17. Even the very Gofpcl which they do 
 jereive, is only able to inltruft them to be Juft, ru- 
 ling in the fear of thp Lord, lor that only cSl^£fu- 
 
 ally 
 
122 A Sermon peached to the 
 
 ally teacheth the Sons of Men to live rjghteoujly, 
 foherly^ ani godly in this prefent World^ Tit. 2. 1 2. 
 
 2. And for the fecond, innumerable are the Pro- 
 miles that are given to fuch a People ^ whence the 
 Pfalmift concludes, upon the conhderation of the 
 Mercies they do and (hall enjoy, Happy is the peo- 
 ple vohoje God is the Lord, Pfal. 144. 15. The glori- 
 eus God voill be to them a place of rivers and broad 
 waters, in which no gaily with oars, nor gallant fhip 
 fijallpaf^by: tbe Lord will be their redeemer, lavo- 
 giver, king, and faviour, Ifa. 33. 21. It will inte- 
 teft any People in all the Promifes that are made for 
 the ufing of the Church, to threfh, break, defiroy, 
 burthen, fire, confume and flay the Enemies thereof: 
 So far fhall a People be from fuffering under the hands 
 of Oppreflbrs, that the Lord will ufe them for the 
 breaking and deltruftion of the Kimrods of the Earth 5 
 and this Bleffing of the Nations do they receive by 
 the Faith of Abraham, 
 
 3. 'Xhe reje^ion of the Go/pel by any People or 'Na- 
 tion to- whom it is tendred, is always attended with 
 the certain and inevitable Defru^ion of that People 
 or Nation, which, fooner "or later, fhall without any 
 help or deliverance be brought upon them, by the re- 
 venging hand of Chrifl. 
 
 When the Word of Grace was rejeaed and delpi- 
 fed by the fews, the Meflengers of it profeffedly 
 turning to the Gentiles, Afts 13. 46. and chap.^ 28. 
 ver. 28. God removing it from them, unto a Nation 
 that would bring forth jruit. Matt. 21. /\ 7,. as it did 
 in all the world, or among all nations, for a ikdSmy 
 Col, I. 6, With what a fearful and tremendous De- 
 Iblation he quickly waRed that People, is known to 
 all : He quickly flew and deltroyed thofe Husband-men, 
 that fpoiled his Vineyard, and let it forth unto others 
 that might bring him his fruit in duefeafom 
 
 Hence, 
 
Parlia?ne7it^ Oftob. 13, 1652. 123 
 
 Hence, when Chrift is tendred in the Gofpel, the 
 Judges iirid Rultfs of the J\ations are exhorted to 
 Obedience to him, upon pain ct being dcftroyed up- 
 on the rctufal thercoi, rjal. 2. 12. And we have the 
 Experience ot all Ages, ever fince the day that 
 the Gofpel began to be propagated in the World. 
 The Quarrel ot it was rtvenged on the Jews by the 
 Romans ^ upon the Romans, by the Goths, Vanda/s, 
 and innumerable barbjious Nations^ and the Venge- 
 ance due to the Antichnftian World is at hand, ev'n 
 ar the door. The Lord will certainly make good 
 his Promif:^ to the urmoft, that the kingdoms and 
 nations rvbich tvill not ferve the church, even that 
 kingdom and thofe nations JJ)ali utterly perijh^ lia. 
 6c. 12. 
 
 4. That it is the duty of Magifl rates to feek' the 
 Good^ Veace^ and Frofpenty of the Feople committed 
 to their Charge^ and to prevent^ obviate, remove, take 
 away every th.ng that will bring Confu/ion, Dfffrul/ion^ 
 Dejolation upon them : as Alordecai procured good things 
 for his people^ and profperity to his kindred. Either 
 10. 4. And David defcrihts himfelt with all ear- 
 neflnels, purfuing the lame Defign, Tfal. loi. Magi- 
 It rates are the miniJJers of God for good, ( univerla! 
 Good) otthem to whom they are given, Rom, n. 14. 
 and they are to watch and apply the mf elves to this 
 very thing, v. 6. And the Reafon the Apoflle gives 
 to Itir up the Saints of God to pray amonglt all Ibrts 
 of" Men, in fpccial for Kings, and thofe that are in 
 Authority, to wit, that they may in general come to 
 the knowledge of the Faith, and be laved, and in 
 particular, difcharge the Duty and Trult commmited 
 to them, ( for on that account are they to pray for 
 them, as Kings and Men in Authority) is, that we 
 may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinefs 
 and honeffy^ 1 Tim. 2. J, 2, ?, 4. it being incumbent 
 
 on 
 
124 ^ Sermon preached to the 
 
 on them, to aQ even as Kings and Men in Authority ^ 
 that we may fb do : They are to feed the Veople com- 
 mitted to their Charge^ vcith all their mighty unto uni- 
 verfal Peace, and Welfare. Now the Things that 
 are oppofite to the Good of any Nation or People, 
 are of two Ibrts : Firft, fuch as are really, direftly, 
 and immediately oppofed to that State "and Condi- 
 tion wherein they dole together, and find Profperity. 
 In general, Seditions, Tumults, Diforders ^ in parti- 
 cular, violent and fraudulent Breakings-in upon the 
 refpeQive defigned Bounds, Privileges, and Enjoy- 
 inents of Angular Perlbns, without any Confideration 
 of htm who ruleth all Things, are of this kind. If 
 Nations and Rulers might be fuppoled to be Atheiftsj 
 yet luch Evils as thele, tending to their Diflblution, 
 and Not Being, they would with all their Strength 
 labour to prevent, either by watching againft their 
 Commiflion, or infli8ing Vengeance on them that 
 commit them, that others may hear, and fear, and 
 do fo no more. 
 
 2. Such as are morally and meritorioudy oppofed 
 to their Good and Welfare, in that they will cer- 
 tainly pluck down the Judgments and Wrath of 
 God upon that Nation or People where they are 
 praSifed and allowed. There are Sins, for which 
 the Wrath of God mil be afjuredly revealed from Uea- 
 ven againfl the Children of Difobediemce : Sodom and 
 Gomorrha are fet forth as Examples of his Righteous 
 Judgment in this kind. And fhall he be thought a 
 Mngifrate^ to bear out the Name, Authority, and 
 Prefence of God to Men, that fo he and his People 
 have prefent Peace ? like a Heard of Swine, cares not, 
 though fuch Things as will certainly firft eat and de- 
 vour their Strength, and then utterly confume them, 
 do pals for current : Seeing that they who rule over 
 Men^ tnufl be ju[i, ruling in the fear of the Lord, the 
 
 fble 
 
Parlument, Oftob. 13. 1652. 125 
 
 fole Reafon why they flieath the Sword of Jultice 
 in the Bowels of Thieves, Murtherers, Adulterers, 
 is not becaule their outward Peace is aftually dU 
 fturbed by rhim, and therefore they mull give Ex- 
 ample of Terror to others, who being likeminded, 
 are yet not a^lually given up to the praftice of 
 the like Abomination ^ but alio, yea principally, be- 
 caufe He in whofe ftead they Itand and minilter to 
 the World, is provoked, by luch Wickedncls, to de- 
 (troy both the one and the other : And if there be 
 the fame Realbn to be evidenced concerning other 
 Things, they alio call tor the lame Procedure. 
 
 To gather up now what hath been fpoken, confi- 
 dering the Gofpefs Right and Title ro be fropigated 
 toith all its Concernments^ in every l\ation under Hea* 
 ven^ the Blej]ing^ Feace, Frofperity^ and Frotetlion 
 wherewith it is attended, vohen, and where received-^ 
 and the certain Deflrutlion and Dejolation which ac- 
 companies the Rejetlion and Contempt thereof^ confi- 
 dering the Duty that^ by God's Appointment, is incum- 
 bent on thetn that rule over Men, that in the fear 
 of the Lord they ought to feek the Good^ Peace, 
 Welfare^ and Frofpenty of them committed to their 
 Charge ^ to prevent^ obviate, remove, revenge that 
 txihich tends to their Hurt, Perturbation^ Dijjolution^ 
 De[}rudion, immediate from Heaven, or from the 
 Hand of Men ; and in the whole Adminiflration, to take 
 care that the Worfhippers of God in ChriJ] may lead 
 a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godlinefs and Hone fly. 
 Let any one, who hath the lealt Senfe upon his Spi- 
 rit, of the Account which he mull one Day make to 
 the Great Kin^ and Judge of all the Workl, of the 
 Authority and Power wherewith he was intruded, 
 determine, whe*-' er it be not incumbent on him, hj 
 all the Proteliivn he can afford, by all the Privileges 
 he can indulge^ the Supportmcm that he can graiit, bf 
 
 all 
 
126 A Sermon preacFd to the 
 
 all that Incouragement^ which, upon the higheft Ac- 
 count imaginable, he is required or allowed to give 
 to any Peribn whatfoever, to further the Propagation 
 ■ of the Gofpel, which, upon the Matter, is the only- 
 Thing of Concernment, as well unto this Life, as 
 that which is to come. And if any thing be allowed 
 in a Nation, which, in God's Efteem, may amount 
 to a Contempt and Defpifing thereof. Men may be 
 taught, by fad Experience, what will be the Ilfue of 
 fuch Allowance. 
 
 9. I (hall only propofe one Thing more to your 
 Confideration : Although the Inflitutions and Examples 
 of the Old Teftament, of the Duty of Magijlrates, in 
 the Things^ and about the WorJ})ip ofGod^ are not^ in 
 their whole 'Latitude and Extent, to be drawn into 
 Rules that fliould be obligatory to all Magiltrates 
 now under the Adminiftration of the Gofpel 5 and 
 that becaufe the Magiflrate then was cufios^ vindex^ 
 ijj adminiftrator legis judicialis^ & politic Mofaica^ 
 from which, as molt think, we are freed •, yet, doubt- 
 lels, there is fomething moral in thofe Inftitutions, 
 which, being uncloathed of their judaical form, is 
 ftill binding to all in the like kind, as to fbme Analo- 
 gy and Proportion : Subdu£l from thole Adminiltra- 
 tions, what was proper to, and lies upon the ac- 
 count of the Church and Nation of the Jews, and 
 what remains, upon the general Notion of a Church 
 and Nation, mult be everlattingly binding. And this 
 amounts thus far, at leaft, that Judges, Rulers, and 
 Magiftrates, which are promifed, under the New 
 Tejhment, to be given in Mercy, and to be of lingular 
 Uiefulnels, as the Judges were under the Old, are to 
 take care that the Golpel- Church, may, in its Con- 
 cernment as fuch, be fupported and promoted, and 
 the Truth propagated wherewith they are intrulled 5 
 jis the others took care^ that it might be well with 
 
 the 
 
Parliament^ Odob. 13. 1652. 127 
 
 the Judaicdl Church, as fuch. And on thele, and 
 fiich-like Principles as tliefe are, may you lafely bot- 
 tom your felves in that Undertaking, wherein you 
 ieek tor Dire£\ion from God this Day. 
 
 For the Rules which I intimated, 1 fliall but name 
 them, having ibme ^ Years lince delivered my 
 Thoughts to the World, at large, on this Subjcft, 
 and I fee no Caule, as yet, to recede from any thing 
 then fo delivered. Take only then for the prefent 
 thefe brief Direftions following. 
 
 T. Labour to be fully perfaaded in your own 
 Minds, that you be not cajried 7rp and dovcn voith 
 every wind of Do^rine, and be tempted to hearken 
 after every Spirit, as though you had received no 
 Truth as it is in Jefus. It is a lad Condition, 
 when Men have no Zeal for Truth, nor againft 
 that which is oppofite to it, whatever they feem to 
 profefs ^ becaule, indeed, having not taken in any 
 Truth in the Power and Principle of it, they are up- 
 on fad Thoughts, wholly at a lols, whether there 
 be any Truth, or no : This is an unhappy frame 
 indeed, the proper Condition of them whom God 
 voill fpuc out of his mouth, 
 
 2. Know, that Error and Falfliood have no Right 
 or Title either from God or Man, unto any Privi- 
 lege, ProteQion, Advantage, Liberty, or any good 
 Thing you are intrutted withal : To difpofe that un- 
 to a Lye, which is the right of and di. - to Truth, 
 IS to deal treacheroiiily with him by whom you are 
 employed : All the Tendernefs and Forbearance unto 
 fuch Pcribns as are inft£led with fucli Abominations, 
 is Iblely upon a Civil Account, and that Flea which 
 they have for Tranquility, whilft neither direflly nor 
 morally they are a Dilturbance unto others. 
 
 J Difcourfe sf Tolcfirion. 
 
 :5. Know, 
 
128 A Sermon preach' d^ &c. 
 
 5. Know, that in Things of Praflicc, fo of Per- 
 fwalioiv, that are impious and wicked, either in theni- 
 felves, or in their natural and unconftrained Conle- 
 quences, the Plea of Confacncc is an i\ggravation of 
 the Crime : If Mens Confciences are feared, and them- 
 felves gives up to a reprobate Mind, to do thofe 
 Things that are not convenient, there is no doubt 
 but they ought to fuffer fuch Things, as to fuch 
 FraQices are afligned and appointed. 
 
 Should I now defcend to Particulars in all the 
 Things mentioned, and infill on them. Time would 
 wholly fail me, neither is it a Work for a fingle 
 Sermons and therefore, in one word, I iliall wind up 
 the whole M.uter, and Ejid. 
 
 Know them, then, that are faithful and quiet in 
 the Land, regard the Truth of the Gofpel \ remember 
 the Days of old, whit hath done you good, quiet- 
 ed your Hearts in Dlltrefs, crown'd your Undertakings 
 with fweetnefs ; lofe not your hrll Love •, draw not 
 out your own Thoughts for the Counfel of God \ 
 feek not great Things for your felves ♦, be not moved 
 at the Lulls of Men ; keep Peace what in you lieth 
 with all that fear the Lord ^ let the Glory of Chrifl 
 be the End of all your Undertakings, ^c. 
 
 ^^ m^ ^^ 
 
 <i^ ^^^ <?m 
 
 COD'f 
 
G D^ s Work in Fonnding Z i O N'^ 
 
 AND 
 His Peoples Duty therenfxm. 
 
 S E r'm O N 
 
 Preached in the 
 
 Abbcy-Chiirch at Wejlminjler ^ 
 
 At the Opening of the 
 
 PARLIAMENT, 
 
 Se PTE MB. IJth^ 1(555. ' 
 
 By J O H N O W E N, a Senant of Jcfus 
 Chrifl in the Work of the GofpcL 
 
 M^dlk about Sion, srj go round Jkowt fc^, tell the 
 
 towtn thereof . 
 M^zrk ye well her bulwarks^ confider ber pjidce* ^ 
 
 that ye may tell it to the ienerahonfcUofJcir^. 
 For this God IS our y^- i ever : be tciU 
 
 be our ^'jide evenu . :__; . r-_ .l2. 12. i?, i^. 
 
 LO U D V, 
 
 PrJited for J o s E p H M A t s H A L L at the 
 
 Bible in Xerrgjte-flreet. i - : c. 
 
 Vol. U. ' I~ 
 
J^ „.^^.^^.r..^-^^ .^.-.. ^^r^^r^^jrJXhR/ 
 
 5^wtyv«*u<a/^>**vi«^^--<^i^^^\ir«^\i*^U»<^^ 
 
 Wednefday the lythoi September^ 1656. 
 
 ORdered by the Parliaments That iWr. Maidfton, 
 and the Lieutenant of the Tower, do give the 
 hearty Thanks of the Houfe to Dr. Owen, Dean 
 of Chrifi-Church, and Vice-Chancellor of the Uni- 
 verfity ^Oxford, for his great Pains taken in his 
 Sermon preacFd this Day in the Abbey-Church at 
 Weltminfter, before his Highne/s the Lord Proteftor, 
 and the Members Ele^ed to Sit this prefent Par- 
 liament : And that he be dejired to Print his Ser- 
 mon : And that no^ Man prefume to Print it mth- 
 out his Leave, 
 
 Hen. Scobell^ Clerk 
 of the Parliament. 
 
To His Highnefs the 
 
 Lord PROTECTOR, 
 
 A N D T O 
 
 The PARLIAMENT'of thcCom- 
 mon-wcalth of England^ Scotland^ and 
 lrela?id^ &c. 
 
 Lthottgh I need plead no other Keafon forjhi 
 Fublijhtngthe cnfuing Difcourfe, bnt your 
 Ord^r and Comnund for my fo doiri^^ yet 
 b^cjafc I l^ion? that your peculiar Intcrfjf^ 
 as Governors of this Cummon-rvealth, in the 
 Jeveral Stations wherein you are placed of 
 God^ is truly jiated thtrctn^ in the purjuit 
 whereof your Peace^ and the Peace of theft Nations^ rvill be 
 found to lie'^ I crave leave to add that Gmfidcratien alfo» 
 Being fully acquainted^ in, and with what lVcak,ncjs it was 
 compofed and dtlivered^ I cannH but conclude^ that it was 
 meerly for the Truth s fah therein contained^ which is of 
 God^ and its Suitablencfs, through his wife Providence^ to 
 the prefentjljte rf Things in thcfc Nations^ that tt found Ac^ 
 ccptancc and Entertainment with you^ which aljo makts mc 
 willing to be therein your Kemembranar a fecund time^ 
 From the Day wherein I received a Gnnmian'J and Gall unto 
 the Service of Preaching unto \uu^ unto this i(fuc of it, where^ 
 in it is cloathed anew with Obedience to ynur Order ^ I found 
 Mercy with God to have that Caution of the gnat /ipojilc 
 abiding in my Heart and Ihoughts^ \i I yet plcalc Man, I 
 am not a Servant of God : Htnce 1 can with Bnldncfs pro- 
 
 2}, that influenced^ in fame meafure^ with the Pvw.r of 
 tt Vircdion^ 1 jiudioufly avoided whatever might be Jug" 
 gejied with the leali Vnfuitablcncfs thcrcuntOy with r^fpc^ 
 tit her to my ft If or others. 
 
 It was for SionV Jake that t was williMg to undertake thi§ 
 t>ffty and Snvitc^ rtioycing that I bad onct more an Oppor^ 
 
 t 2 twuty 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 tunity to give Pitblick Tefiimony to the great Concernment of 
 the great Coi^ and our dear Lord Jejus Chrijij in all the 
 Conctiffions ef ^^^ 'Nations in the IForldy and peculiarly^ m 
 bis wonderful providential Vifpenjations in theje wherein rve 
 live. And here^ as the Sum of all^ fo ufe Plainnejs and Li* 
 berty of Speech^ ^ f^y^ V *^^^^ ^^ ^^y *^^i^g-i in any Perfon 
 vphatfoever^ in theje 'Rations^ that cannot jtand with^ that 
 can jiand without the general Inter ejl of the People of God^ 
 pleaded for^ let it fall and rife no more : And the Lord^ I- 
 know^ will fend his Blejfing out of Sion, on whatever^ in fin- 
 glenefs of Hearty is done in a Tendency to the Eiiahlijhment 
 thereof. 
 
 Farther, Ijhall not need to fuggejl any thing of the Vefign 
 oftheenJuingDifcourfe: They who tal^ thcmflves to be con^ 
 ccrn'd therein, will acquaint them fives with it by its peru^ 
 fal, Ijhall only add^ if the general Principles ajjerted there- 
 in^ he in your Hearts, if, in purfuit thereof you endea" 
 vour^ that in no Corner of this Njtion it may he faid^ This 
 is Sion that no Man careth for ; hut that thofe who love the 
 Lord Jefus Chrifi in Sincerity, and are by. Faith and Obe- 
 dience feparated from the Periffjing IVorld^ following the- 
 Lamh^ according to the Light which he is gracioufly pleafed 
 to impart unto them^ and engaged by the Providence ofGod^ 
 in that Work which he hafh undertaken to accomplijh amongft 
 Its, he hot overborne by a Spirit ofProphanenefs^ and Contempt 
 of the Power of Godlinefs raging in the Earth ; that they may 
 ve preferv*d and fecured from the Return of a Hand of Vio- 
 lence, and encouraged in the Tefiimony they have to bear fo 
 the Kingdom ofChriji, in Oppofuion to the World^ and all the 
 Ways which the Men thereof have received by Tradition from 
 their Fathers, that are not according to his Mind , you will 
 undoubtedly y in your fever al Conditions^ receive Blejjing from 
 God ; which alfd that you may in all your Concernments, is 
 the daily Prayer of^ 
 
 Your humble Servant in the 
 
 Work of our dear Lord Jefus, 
 
 jQhn Oivm^ 
 
19? 
 
 !^'^j^ 
 
 I SAIAH xiv. 32. 
 
 jrhjt JIjjH one then anfwer the rneffengers of 
 the nation^ That the Lord hath founded 
 Zion, and the foor of the people jl)aU truft 
 
 in It. 
 
 H E Head of the Prophecy, whereof 
 thefe Words are the (Jofe, lies in ver. 
 28. (/« the year that king Ahaz died^ 
 was this burden^ which gives us the 
 Seafon, and jult Time ot its Revelation 
 and Delivery. 
 The Kingdom of Judah was, at that Seafon, low 
 and broken : Foreign Invafions and inteltine Divifions 
 had made it fo •, an Account hereof is given us, 
 2 Chron. chap. 28. throughout ^ as it is efpecially 
 iumm'd up, ver. 19. of that Chapter ; I'or the Lord 
 brought Judah low, bccauje of Ahaz King of IJrael \ 
 for he made Judah naked^ and tranfgrrjjed fore agamjl 
 the Lord. 
 
 Amongll their Opprefling Neighbours that took 
 Advantage of their low and divided Condition, their 
 old Enemies the Phil,f}ines, the Pofterity of Cham in 
 Canaan, had no fmull Share, as ver, 18. ot that 
 Chapter. 
 
 I 5 The 
 
J34 God's Work in founding Z'wn^ &c. 
 
 The ThUiJlines aljo had invaded the cities of the 
 low-country^ and of the fouth of Judah^ and had ta- 
 ken Beth-Jhemejh^ and Aialon^ and Gederoth^ and 
 6hocho with the villages thereof and Tmnah with the 
 villages thereof Gimzo alfo and the villages thereof: 
 and they dvoelt there. 
 
 In this date of Things, God takes notice of the 
 Joy^ and Triumphing of the whole J^and of Faleflina^ 
 that is, the Country of the Fhilijiines, in that the 
 Rod of him th^tfmote them voas broken •, that is, the 
 Power of the Kings and Kingdom of Judah^ which, 
 for many Generations, had prevailed againft them, 
 elpecially in the Days of David, 2 Sam, $. and of 
 Uzziah, 2 Chron, 26. 6. and kept rhem under, was 
 made weak and infufEcient for that Purpole, ver, 29. 
 Rejoyce not^ thou whole land of Palefiinaj becaufe the 
 rod of him that f mote thee is broken. 
 
 It is no wonder, i^PaleJlina, that was to htfmitten 
 and broken by the Rod of God among his People, 
 rejoyce at their Perplexities and Diltrefles, when 
 we have leen Men fo to do, who pretend to dwell 
 in Jitdah. 
 
 To take them off from their Pride and Boajiing, 
 
 their Triumph and Rejoycing, the Lord lets them 
 
 know, that from the 1 eople whom they delpifed, and 
 
 that broken Rod they trampled upon, their Defola- 
 
 lion was at hand, though thty feemed to be perplexed 
 
 and forfaken for a Seafon, ver, 29, 30, 51. Rejoyce not 
 
 thou^ whole Paleftina^ becaufe the rod of him that 
 
 fmote thee is broken : for out of the ferpents root 
 
 fh all come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit fhall be a 
 
 fiery flying ferpent. And the firfl-born of the poor floall 
 
 feed, and the needy fhall lie down infafety 5 and I will 
 
 kill thy root with famine, and he fljall flay thy rem- 
 
 vant, hovol^ gate:, cry, city, thou tvhole Pale fii- 
 
 na art d/ffolved ^ for there foall come from the north 
 
 ■ a ffuoke^ 
 
preach' d to the Parliament^ Sept. 17.1656. 1^5 
 
 a ffnoke^ and none Jf) all be alone in his appointed times. 
 That it is Hczekiah who is principally intended in 
 theft lofty allegorical ExprelTions, that w is then rifing 
 up from the broken rod of Judal\ is -\ *Jent : He is 
 termed a Cockatrice^ ind a fiery Hying Serpent •, not 
 from his own Nacuie. which was lender^ meek^ and 
 gentle^ wherein the Compjrilbn doth not at all lie, 
 nor hoid, but in relpeft of che Mifcf^ef which he 
 fhould do unto, and irrecoverable Deflrutlion which 
 he fhould bring on the Land oiPaleJfina: which ac- 
 cordingly he performed, 2 King. 18. 8, He fmote the 
 Vhilifiines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof 
 from the towre of the watchmen to the fenced cities ^ 
 that is, he wafied and delhoyed the whole Land from 
 one end, ev'n to the other. 
 
 It is, it feems, no ncxx> thing, that the leafbn of 
 the Enemy's rejoycing, built upon the outward ap- 
 pearance and (fate of Things among the People of 
 God, is the beginning of their Difappointment and 
 Defolation : The Lord make it io \n this Day of 
 England's Expe£lation, that the Rod of it may be 
 firengthned again, yet to fmite the tvhole Land of 
 Palejiina. 
 
 The words of my Text, are the refult of Things, 
 upon God's Dealings and Difpenfations before men- 
 tioned. Uncertain it is, whether they ought to be 
 retrained to the immediate Prophecy before-going, 
 concerning Paleflina •, or whether they relate not alfo 
 to that in the beginning; of" the Chapter, concerning 
 the Deltruftion of the AJJyrian^ which is fummed up, 
 ver. 24, 25, 26. The Lord of hojis hath f^orn, faying^ 
 As I have thought^ fo fhall it come to pafs ; and as 
 I have purpofed^ it fhall JIand : That I will break 
 the Affyrian in ?ny land, and upon ??iy mountain tread 
 him under foot : Then ^fhall his yoke depart from off 
 them^ and his burden from off their fJypulders, It is 
 
 1 4 the 
 
ig.6 God*s Work in founding Zion^ Sec. 
 
 the Ruining oi Sennacherib and his Army, in the days 
 oiHezekiah^ that is foretold. Yea, and this leems 
 to claim a peculiar fhare and influence into this omvi- 
 3110V, or triumphant dole •, becaufe e?mnemiy andy^- 
 nally, not long after, Meflengers were thus lent from 
 Babylon, to enquire of the Health, and congratulate the 
 good Succels oiliezekiah. And well had it been for 
 Him, and his Poflerity, had he given thole Mejjengers 
 the Return to their Enquiry, which was here prepared 
 for him, Ibme Years before : His Millake herein, 
 was the fatal Ruin of Judalos Profperity. 
 
 Let not then that Confideration be excluded, tho" 
 the other infilled on be principally intended. 
 
 The Words, you lee, have in them an Enquiry, and 
 a Refolution thereof: I (hall open them briefly, as 
 they lie in the Text. 
 
 1. What SHALL one •, What Jhall, or, What 
 ought. What is it their 'Duty to do, or to fay ? 
 or, Vi^2Xjhall they, upon the Evidence of the Things 
 done, fo do, or fay ^ Either their Duty, or the Event 
 is denoted, or bothy as in fuch Predi£lions it often 
 falls out. 
 
 2. What Jh all NE -, that is, any one, or every one : 
 The Anlwer fpoken of, is either the Duty of every 
 one to give ^ or it will be lb evident, that any one (hall 
 be able to give it. The word one, I confels, is not 
 exprefly in the Original, but is evidently included in 
 the Veib rfDy'-n)D\ What (hall be anfwered ^ that 
 is, by any o?2e whatever. There is no more in the 
 Tranflation, than is eminently infolded in the Original 
 expreffion of this thing. 
 
 g. What Shall one THEN, that is, in thcfeafon 
 Tvhen God hath difappointed the Hopes and Expefta- 
 tions of the Enemies of his People, and hath 
 firengthned their rod to bruife thepi again more than 
 ^ver : That is a feafon wherein gre^t Enquiry wiU 
 
preacJ/d to the Parliament, Sc\^Uiy. 1656. 137 
 
 be made about tliofe Things •, What (hall one 
 tbe/i aiifwcr > This word alio is included in the 
 Interogatwn^ and much of the ^mphnfis of it (:onfiIts 
 therein. 
 
 4. Anjvccr the Mejjengers ^ that is, Men coming 
 on let-purpole to make Enquiry after the liate of 
 i\ftiirs amongll God^s People ^ Amballadors, Agents, 
 Spyes, Medengers, Enquirers of any Ibrt : Or the 
 word may be taken more largely^ for any Stranger that 
 came xo Jerufalem, ThtSeptuugint render theie words, 
 BacrjX«f £9va)v, the Kings of the Nations, what Jhall 
 they Jciy, in this Cafe ^ t/ ^Tray.^S^n'rov'J) • what fhall 
 they anfwer, or fay > io that word is Ibmerimes ufed. 
 Some think, that for ^-dn^td, which they fliould have 
 rendef d "AfyeXc:, or Medengers, they read >Dbr:, or 
 K'wgs^ by an evident Miftake : but all things arc cleat 
 in the Original. 
 
 ^. Of the 'NATIONS :, that is, of //;/x or that 
 Nation, of any Nation that fliall lend to make En- 
 quiry : >>y of the Hccithe/j, fay fome ; thole com- 
 monly Vo called, or the Nations ejfnwged from God, 
 are ufually denoted by this word in the p/uni/ num- 
 ber : yet not always under that confideration ^ fb 
 that there may be an analogy of nu?nher^ the Nation 
 for the Nations^ which is ufual. 
 
 What Jhall one anfwer them ? They come to 
 make Enquiry after the Worl^ of God among his 
 People, and it \sfit that an Anfwer be given to them. 
 Two things are obfervable in this Interrogation : 
 
 Obj. 1 . 1 The Nations about will he diligently enqui- 
 ring after Gnds Difpenfitions among his People ^ be- 
 lides what Reports they receive at Home, they will 
 have Meffen^ers, Agents, or Spyes to make Enquiry. 
 
 Obj. c.] The iffues of God's Difpenfjtions amongjl 
 his People., fhall hefo evident and glorious, that every 
 cne^ d/iy one, tho' never Jo weak^ if not blinded by 
 
 prejudice. 
 
I ■ — 
 
 2^8 God's Work in founding Zion^ &c. 
 
 J^rejudice, Jlmll be able to give a convincing Anfwer 
 concerning them, to the Enquiries of Men. 
 
 Something (hall be fpoken to thefe Proportions in 
 the procels of. our Dllcourfe. 
 
 2. There is the Refolution given of the Enquiry 
 made in this Interrogation •, hereof are two Parrs. 
 
 1. What God hath done. 
 
 2. What his People Jhall or ought to do. 
 
 Wrap up, at any time, the Work of God, and the 
 'huty of his People together, and they will be a fuf- 
 ficient Anfwer to any Man's Enquiry after the ftate 
 of things amongft them. As to our Wifdom in re- 
 ference unto providential Dilpenfations, this is the 
 whole of Man. 
 
 1. The firft thing in the Anfwer to be given in, 
 is the Work of God ^ the l.ord hath founded Sion. 
 Sion-^ that is, his Church, his People, his CholenOnes; 
 called Sion, from the Place of their fokmn Worfliip 
 in the days of David, the Figure and Type of the 
 Golpel-Church. Ueb. 12. 22. le are come unto 
 Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the 
 heavenly Jerufakm. 
 
 It is generally, ufed not for the whole Body of that 
 .People, unlefs as they were typically confidered, in 
 which relpe£l they were all holy : But for the fecret 
 covenanted ones of that People, as is evident from 
 iall the Promiies made thereunto, yet with fpecial 
 legard to the Ordinances ofWorflnp. 
 
 2. Thi^ God hath /^/W^rf^ founded or EHabliflied, 
 ftrengthned, that it (hall not be removed. Vfal By, 
 is a Comment on theie words -, He hath founded it ; 
 that is, in faithful Promifes and powerful Per- 
 formances, fufficient for its Prefervation and Eftablifli- 
 menr. 
 
 Now this Exprefhon, [The hor d hath founded SiorT^ 
 as it is an Anfwer tQ the the Enquiries of the 
 ■ - Mef-^ 
 
preached to the Parliament, Sc^^t, 17, 1656. 139 
 
 MeJ]engcrs of the Kutio/is, may be taken two 
 ways. 
 
 1. As giving an account of the U^or^ it f elf done ^ 
 or what it is that God hath done in and amongft his 
 People. What is the Work that is lo fam d Abroad, 
 and Ipoken of throughout the World, that being at- 
 tempted in many Places, and proving abortive, is here 
 accomplifhcd > This is it, (hall one lay ^ God hath 
 eflablijh'd his People, and iht'n Inter eji •, it is no luch 
 thing as you fuppofe, th^t Jome die Jet up, and Ibme 
 puird down ; that new Fabricks of Government or 
 Ruling, are erefted for their own Mes, or their 
 fakes who are interelted in them. But rhis is the 
 thing that God hath done, he hath founded Sion^ 
 eftablilhed his People and their Inter ej}, in defpite 
 of all Oppofition. 
 
 2. As giving a Reafon of the Work done ^ whence 
 it is that the Lord hath wrought ib 7night'ily for you, 
 amongjl you, in your behaf^ preierved you, rccovcr'd 
 you, 'fupported you, given you fuccefs and Viftory, 
 when all Nations confplred your Ruine > Why this 
 is the Reafon of it. God hath founded Sicn, He 
 bore it good-will, hath taken care of the Intereft of 
 his Church and People. 
 
 The words may be taken in either Senfe ^ the 
 ifTue of their Intendment, as to our Inltruftion, will 
 be the fame. This is the Anfwer to be given to 
 the Meffengers of the Nations, who perhaps expefled 
 to have heard of their Strength and Po/icy, of their 
 Councellors and Armies •, of their Wealth and their 
 Riches-, of their Triumphs and Enjoyments^ no! 
 God hath founded Sion. And well had it been for 
 Hezekiah, had he given this Anlwcr, prepared for 
 him fo long before, to the Meffengers of Babylon. 
 
 7,. Tl)e great Defign of God, in his mighty Works 
 and Difpetifaticns in the World^ is the eflabliJJj^nent 
 
140 God*s Work in founding Zion, &c. 
 
 of his People, and their proper Inter eft in their f eve* 
 ral Generations, 
 
 Give me leave to lay, It is not for this, or that 
 form of Government, or civil adminiftration of Hu- 
 man ASairs \ it is not for thefe, or thofe Governors, 
 much lefi for the Advantage of one or othei Ibrt of 
 Men, for the enthroning of any one or other Perfwa- 
 lion, gainful, or helpful to ibme few, or 7nore, that 
 God hath wrought his mighty Works amongft us. 
 But it is that Sion may be founded, and the general 
 intereji of all the Sons and Daughters of Sion be pre- 
 lerved ^ and fo far as any thing lies in a fubfervi- 
 ency thereunto, ^ofar, and no farther, is it with him 
 accepted. And whatever, on what account Ibever, 
 fets up againft it, (hall be broken in pieces. 
 
 What Anfwer then fhould we give to Enquirers? 
 That the Lord hath founded Sion. This is that, and 
 that alone, which we fhould infift upon, and take no- 
 tice of, as the peculiar Work of God amongft us. 
 Let the Reports from other Nations be what they 
 will ; let them acquaint the MeJJengers of one ano- 
 ther, with their Glory and Triumphs, enlarging of 
 their Empires and Dominions. 
 
 When it is inquired what he hath done mEnglanJ^ 
 let us fay, he hath founded Sion : And he will not 
 leave until every Man concerned in the Work fliaU 
 be able to fay we have bufied our felves about things of 
 no moment, and confumed our Days and Strengh, in 
 fetting up Sheaves that muft bowe hereunto. This is 
 the 7nain of God's Intendment, and whilft it is Jafe^ 
 he hath the Glory and End of his Difpenfations. 
 
 2. The other part of the Anfwer relates to the 
 People ; the poor of his people fh all trufl in it. 
 
 The vvoi:ds contain either their Duty, they ought 
 to do fo ^ or the Event^ they fhall do fo ^ or both 
 joyntly. , 
 
 I. The 
 
preach'dto the Parliament, Sept. 17. 1656. 141 
 
 I. T^ he poor oj his people, ver. ^0. They are al- 
 kd the fir fl- born of the poor arid needy 5 that is, 
 thole who are very Poor. Now this Kxprenion may- 
 denote either the Veople in general, who had been 
 poor and affliflcd \ and i'o the poor of his people, is 
 as much as his poor people-, ox Jome in particular, 
 that partly upon the account of" their lovo cutvcdri 
 Condition, partly on the account of their loKlmefs 
 of Mind, are called \\\tpoor of his people -, and fo the 
 words are excellently paraphrased, Zeph. 5, 12, i^. 
 / vcill alfo leave in the 7mdf\ of thee an afflided and 
 poor people, and they fl}all trufl in the name oj the 
 Lord: The remnant of IJrael fhall not do iniquity, nor 
 /peak lyes • neither fhall a deceitful tongue he found in 
 their Mouth, and none fhall make them afraid. We 
 may take the words in a fence co?nprifing both thefe ^ 
 namely, for the poor preferved remnant, carried thro' 
 thG fiery trial, and prelerved to fee fome comfortable 
 Iflue of God's dealing; with them, tho'yet wreltiing 
 with Dijfieulties and Perplexities. 
 
 2. What Hiall they do> They fhall trujl in it ; 
 inn^ n^i, and in it they fhall trufl \ that is. being in 
 it, they fhall trult, conhde, acquiefce, namely in the 
 Ijord, who hath wrought this Work: Or in it : that 
 is, either in the Work of God, or in Sion fo elia- 
 blifhed by God. 
 
 The word here ufcd for trufing, is fomctimes 
 taken for to repair, or toretreat to any thing, and net 
 properly to put truft, affiance, or confidence- and fo 
 it is lendred in the Margin of your Books -, they 
 fhall betake them/elves to it. So is the VVord ufed, 
 Judges 9. 15;. Pfal. 7,6. 7. 
 
 So the Intendment is, that the poor prefer vd people 
 cfGoJ, feeing h*s Defign to found Sicn, and to clfa- 
 blifli the Intereff o\ h\s Chofen, fhall leave elf all 
 other Def/gns, Aims, and Contrivances, and winde 
 
 vp 
 
J 42 God*s Work in founding Zion^ See. 
 
 top all on the fame bottom : They JJmII not, at leaft 
 they ought not (for I told you the words might de- 
 note either their T^uty^ what they ought to do, or 
 the Events what they Jhall do ) fet up Defigns and 
 Aims of their own, and contend about other things 5 
 but betake their Hopes to that which is the main 
 Intendment of God, the Eftablifhment of the Intereft 
 of his People, and caft all other things in a fubfer- 
 viency theteunto. The fum is, 
 
 Ob. 4. ] It is the Duty of Gods poor preferved 
 Remnant^ laying afide all other Aims and Contrivances^ 
 to betake themf elves to the Work of God, founding 
 Slon, and preferving the common Inter ejl of bis Peo- 
 ple. 
 
 Of the Propofitions thus drawn from the Words, 
 I (hall treat feverally, fo far as they may be founda- 
 tions of the Inferences intended. 
 
 The Firft is this : The Nations about mil be dili- 
 gently enquiring concerning Gods Difpenfations d- 
 tnong his People ^ Their Eyes are upon them, and 
 they will be enquiring after them. 
 
 In the handling of this, and all that follows, I hum- 
 bly defire, that you would confider in what capacity^ 
 as to the difcharge of this Work, I look upon my felf 
 and you. As you are hearers of the Word of God, 
 ( in which State alone at prelent, tho' with reference 
 to your defigned Employment, I look upon you ) as 
 you are not at all diltinguiflied from others, or a- 
 mong your felves, but as you are Believers, or not i 
 Regenerate Perfons, or coming (hort thereof And 
 on this account, as 1 fhall not fpeak of my Rulers 
 Wxihowt Reverence, fo I (hall endeavour to fpeak to 
 my Hearers with Authority. 1 fay then, 
 
 1. There are certain Affe^ions and Principles that 
 are aftive in the Kdtions, that will make them reft- 
 lels, and always put them upon this Enquiry. The 
 
 Peopl© 
 
preac6'd to the Parliiment^Scipt, 17. 1656. 145 
 
 People of God, on one account or cibcr^ fliall be in all 
 lealons 'dfeparatcd' people. Num. 23. 9. L^, the people 
 Jh all dwell alone ^ and JJj all not be reckoned among the 
 nations ^ yea, they ziQ/iparatcd from them, whillt 
 they are m their bowels, and dwell in the midjl of 
 them, Mic. 7. 7, 8. whether they are amonglt them, 
 as ih^fpring of their Mercies, or the njc of their 
 Deltrudion, (one of which they will always be) yet 
 they are not of them. No fooner then is any l^co^ 
 ple^ or portion of them, thus dedicated to God, but 
 all the Nations about, and thofe amonglt them, not 
 ingaged in the fame way with them, inftantly look 
 on them as utterly fever d from them, having other 
 Ways, Ends and Interells than they, being built up 
 wholly on another Account and Foundation : They 
 reckon not of them as a People and Nation. The 
 Conclufion they make concerning them, is that of 
 Hainan ^ Either 3.8. There is a certain people feat- 
 tcred abroad^ and difperfed among the people in all 
 the provinces of thy kingdom, and their laves are dj- 
 verfefrom all people. Not their Moral diU^ Judicial 
 taws, which were the fum of that Perfeflion, which 
 all Nations aimed at •, on which account they faid of 
 them. Surely this great nation is a vo'ife and under- 
 fl^nding people, Dcut. 4. 6. And the keeping of thofe 
 Laws, was their Wifdom and Underftanding among all 
 Nations: Nor yet meerly the L^rvx of their Religi- 
 ous Worfhip^ but the whole Way, Intercjl, Defign^ 
 Profeifion of that People, is comprilcd in this Kx- 
 preffion, they are divcrfe from all People. Looking 
 on them in this State, they have Principles (as I 
 faid) that will carry them out to an enquiry into their 
 State and Condition. 
 
 I. They are full of Envy agiinfi them : TheyJJhtll 
 he a^jamcd of their envy at thy people, IQ. zC. li. 
 looking on them, ^^viholly feparaied from thcT?:. —' 
 
 Ka. - 
 
144 (^od's Work in founding Zion, &c. 
 
 ftanding on another account than they do, they are 
 full o^Envy at them. Envy is a relllefs Paflion, full 
 of Enquiries and Jealoufies 3 the more it finds o^toy- 
 fon, the more it fwells and feeds. It will fearch into 
 the bottom of that which its Eye is fixed on. The 
 tranfaftion of the whole bufinels between Kehemiah 
 and SanbaUdi, gives light to this Confideration. See 
 'Keh. chap. 4. i, 2, 9, 4, 5, ^* . 
 
 And ever the nearer any Nation is to this People, 
 the greater is their Envy. It was Edom, and Moah^ 
 and Ammon, the Nations round about, that were moft 
 filled with Wrath arid Envy againft Ifraeh Yea, 
 when that People was divided among themlelves, and 
 the true Worfhip of God remained with judah^ and 
 they becdme the fepar at ed people^ Ephraim was in- 
 ftantly filled with Envy againit them. Ifa. 11. ig. 
 The envy alfo of Ephraim Jhall depart^ and the adver^ 
 far'ies of Judah Jhall be cut off, Ephraim Jhall not 
 envy Judah •, For there muft be a defire of the fame 
 thing, as fomething anlweting it ( which befalls in 
 proximity of Habitation ) that a Man is envied for, 
 in him that envies him. This is one fountain of the 
 Nations enquiry after your Affairs, 
 
 Through ihQ providence of God, you dvvell alone 5 
 that is, as to your main Defign and Interefl : You are 
 not reckoned among the Nations^ as to the State of 
 being the People of God ^ fo far, and under that Con- 
 fideration, they count you not worthy to be reckoned 
 or elfeemed a Nation. They envy to fee the Men 
 of their contempt exalted^ blefTed. The fame is the 
 Condition cX Ephraim amongft us •, Men not engaged 
 in the fame Cauje and Way with you, they are full 
 ti^Envy. Wherefore do they enquire of your Wel- 
 fare, of your State and Condition, of your Affiirs? 
 Is it that they love you ?• that they defire your Vro- 
 Jpetity ? that they would have you an eJiabltJFd 
 
 Nation ? 
 
preached to the Parliament, St^t. 17. 1656. 145 
 
 Nation '^ No, only their Errjy makes them reltlcS'. 
 And as it is in general, fo no fooncr doth any Man,* 
 upon a private Account^ leparate himfcrf'trom the 
 publick Intcrdt ot the People ot God, but he is in- 
 Itantly filled with Envy againft the Manarcrs of it. 
 And notwithfhinding all our Animofitics^ if tliis hath 
 not hefiilhn us in our Diftercnces and Divifions, I no 
 way doubt a peaceable Compofure and bleflcd IfTue 
 of the whole. If Envy be not at work, we fliall have 
 EJldbliPment. 
 
 2. A Iccond Principle, whereby they are put upon 
 their Enquiries, is Year : They fear them, and there- 
 fore will know how things jland with them, and 
 what are the Works of God amonglt them. ' Hcb. 
 3. 7. I favo the tents of CuOhin in nffli^Iicn, ani the 
 curtains oj the land of Midi an did tranhle : I laiv if 
 when God was doing the great Workdelcribed in that 
 Chapter, with many lofty allegorical Exprefllo^s of 
 bringing his People out of Bondage, to fettle them in 
 a new State and Condition : The Nations round a- 
 bout that looked on them, were filled with AffliRion^ 
 Fear and Trembling: They were afraid whither thefe 
 things would grow. i^j/. 48. i, 2, ^,4, 5, 6. G;r.;r 
 is the Lord, and greatly to be prated in the city of 
 our God, in the ?nountain of his hoUnfs \ Beautful 
 for fituation, the joy of the vchole earth is mount Sion^ 
 en the fides of the north, the city of the great King ^ 
 God is known in her paUaces for a refuge. \:ot h^ 
 the kings were ajfembled, they pa (Jed by together -, thry 
 faw it, and fo they marvelled, they were troubled, and 
 fo they bajied away ^ For fear took bold upon them 
 there, and pain as of a woman in travail. The clofj 
 of all the Conhderations of thcfc Kings, and their 
 Attendants, is, that fear took hold upon them. Fe:ir 
 is foiicitous and enquiring -, it will leave nothing 
 unfearchcd, unlocked into, it would find the mfide 
 . Vol, II. K *nd 
 
146 God's V/ork in founding Z'lon, &c. 
 
 and bottom of every thing wherein it is concerned. 
 Though the more it finds, the more it is Increafed^ 
 yet the greater Jiill are its Enquiries^ fearing more 
 what it knows not, than what it knows, what is be- 
 hind, than what appears. This, puts the Nations up- 
 on their Enquiry ^ they are afraid what thefe things 
 will grow to. VfaL 1 76. 2. Then voas our mouth 
 filed tcith lait^ner, and our tongue wth finging ^ then 
 J aid they ajnong the heathen, Jhe Lord hath done great 
 things for them : They are the w^ords of Men pon- 
 dering their Affairs, and tilled w'lth fear at the ijjue. 
 If God do fuch things as thefe for them, what think 
 you will be the iffue ^ I dare fay of the proudeft 
 Adverfaries of the^ People of God at this day, not- 
 withflanding all their Anger, they are more afraid 
 than angry. The like alfo may be laid concerning 
 their Ji^rath, Revenge, and Curioilty, all prefling them 
 to fuch Enquiries, 
 
 This is the Jjjue of this Propofal. If we are not a 
 fepcrated Fecp/e unto God, if our Portion be as 
 the Porion of the Men of the World, and We 
 are alio as they, reckoned among the Nations, if 
 we have had only national Jrorh, in the execution 
 of Wrath on Men fitted thereunto amongft us, woe 
 unto us that we were ever engaged in the whole Af- 
 fair that for fome Years we have been interejied in i 
 It will be bitterncfs and Difappointment in the latter 
 end. If we be the Lord's peculiar Lot, leparate 
 unto him, the Nations about, and many amongft our 
 felves, on the manifold Accounts before-mentioned, 
 will be enquiring into our' State and Condition, and 
 the Work of God amongft us. Let us confider what 
 Tve fliall anjvcer them, what we ^idW/ay unto them, 
 what is the Account we give of God's Dealings with 
 us, and of his mighty Works amongft us •, what is 
 the Frofefiion we make 3 it we leek our felves -, if 
 
 we 
 
preached to the Parliament^ Se^t. 17. 1656. 147 
 
 we are full of Complaints and R^imngs one againll 
 another \ if every oneluth his ovjn Aims, his own D^- 
 figas^ ( for what we do, not whai we fjy, is the An-* 
 fwer we make^) if we meafure the Work of God by 
 lis fuitablenijs to our private Inferelts : It this be the 
 Iflije of all the Dealings ot God amonglt us, we Ihall 
 noi have vohercin to rejoyce -, but of theie things af- 
 terwards. The lecond Propofition is, 
 
 Obj. 2. ] The Ijjue of God's Dealing with, and Dif- 
 penfjtions among bis People, fhall he Jo perfpicicous 
 end glorious, that one, any one, every one, Jhall be 
 able to give an Anfocer to thejn that make Enijuiries 
 €.hout them. What (hall one then fay ? whether it be for 
 Judgment or Mercy, all is one ; He will make the 
 Event to be evident aud glorious : He is our Rock., 
 and his work is perfeH ^ and he will have his Works 
 To known, as that they may d[\ praife him. Be it in 
 Judgment, lee what Ijjue he will bring his Work un- 
 to. Dcut. 29. 2^, 25:. Even all nations Jhall fay ^ 
 Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this Land ^ 
 Wloat meaneth the heat of this great anger f* Then men 
 fhall fay ^ Becaufe they have forfaken the covenant of 
 the Lord God cf their fathers, which he made toith 
 them, when he brought them forth out of the land of 
 JEgyft. MEN fhall lay, ordinary Men fh;ill be 
 able to ^ive this/ji ilr^:^//;?/ of the Rcafbn of the 
 Works of God, and his Dealings with his People. So 
 alio as to his Difpenlations in Mercy ^ Ifa. 76. ir. 
 Ijord, when thy hand is lifted up^ they will not fee: 
 but they fhall fee, and be ajhamed jor their envy at 
 the people, yea, the fire of thine enemies fl)all devour 
 them. He will not not leave the Work of h\s favour 
 towards his People until thofe who are willing to 
 (hut their Eyes againjl it, io fee and acknowledge his 
 Hand and Counccl therein. 
 
 K ^ I do 
 
148 God's Work in founding Zwn^ 5cc. 
 
 I do not fay this will hold in every Difpenfation 
 of God, in all feafons, from the beginning to the 
 ending of them. In many Wotks of his Power and 
 Righteoulhels, he will have us bowe our Souls to the 
 haw of his Providence, and his Sever aignty^ Wifdom, 
 and Goodnels therein, when his footfteps are in the 
 Veep, and his Paths are not known, which is the 
 reafonableft thing in the World. 
 
 But this, generally^ is the way of his Proceedings^ 
 efpecially in the common Concernments of his People, 
 and in the difpofal of their publick Interefts •, his 
 Work, his Will, and Councels therein (hall be emi- 
 nent and glorious. 
 
 It is chiefly from our Jelves and our own Wlies^ 
 that we come fliort of fuch an acquaintance with the 
 Works of God, as to be able to give an Anfmr to 
 every one that (hall demand an Account of them. 
 When Vavii was ftaggerM at the Works of God, he 
 gives this Realbn of it ^ / xcas foolifh, and as a beajl 
 before him, Pfal. 73. 22. That Thoughtfulnels and 
 Wifdom which keeps us in Darknels, is our Wiy. 
 
 There are fundry things that are apt to cloud our 
 Apprehenfions, as to the Mind of God in his Dealing 
 with his People. As, 
 
 I. Selffulnefs of our own private Apprehenjions and 
 Defigns : A private T^ejign and Aim in the Works of 
 Providence, is like a private Bye- opinion in Matters 
 of Religion. 
 
 You feldom fee a Man take up a Bye-opinion (if I may 
 ^0 fpeak ) but he inftantly lays more weight upon it, 
 than upon all Religion befides. If that be not en- 
 throned, be it a Matter of never fo f?jiall Importance, 
 he fcarce cares what becomes of all other Truths 
 which he doth imbrace. When Men havefix'dtothem- 
 felves, that this 'or that Particular muft be the pro- 
 duft of God's providential Dilpenfations, That alone 
 
 fills 
 
p'ejc/yd to the Parliament, Sept. 1 7. 1656. 149 
 
 fills their Aims and Deflres, and leaves no room for 
 any other Apprehenfion. Have we not leen Perfons, 
 in the days wherein we live, ^o fixed on a Reign^ a 
 Kingdon^ I know not what, that they would Icarce 
 allow God h'lmfclj to he vo'ife, it' their Minds were not 
 latisfy'd . Give ?ne this Child, or I die. Now, is it pro- . 
 bable, that when Mens whole Souls are poileflcd wirh 
 a dfj/gn and deiire ot their own, fo fully, that they are 
 caft into the mould of it, are transformed into the 
 image and likenefs of it •, they can fee, hear^ think, 
 talk, dream nothing elfe^ That they fhall be able to 
 dilcern anght, and acquiefce in the general iflue of 
 God's Diipenfations, or be able to anfxer the Mef- 
 fengers of the Nations, making enquiry concerning 
 them : YciV\ Hope^ Wrath, Anger, Difcontentment, with 
 a rabble of the like Mind-darkning afteftions, are the 
 attendants of fuch a frame. He who knows any thing 
 of the power of Prejudices in diverting the Minds of 
 Men, from pafiing a right judgment on Things pro- 
 poled to them, and the efficacy of difordered dffe&ions, 
 for the creating and confirming of fuch Prejudices, 
 will dilcern the Power of this darkmng Di- 
 Iturbancc. 
 
 2. Private Enmities, private Difappointments, pri- 
 vate Prejudices, are Things of the fame Confidera- 
 tion : Let a Man of a free and large heart znd fpirit 
 abftraQ his Thoughts from the ]'>ijferences that are 
 among the People of God in this Nation, and keep 
 himfclf from an engagement into any particular De- 
 fign and Dcfire ; it is almolt impoflible that he fliould 
 wink fo hard, but that the ijjue and rea/on of God's 
 dcaline; with us, will fliine'in upon his Underltand- 
 ing ^ fo that he fhall be able to give an Account of 
 them, to them that fhall make Enquiry. Will he 
 not be able to iliy to the Meflengcrs of the Nations, 
 and all other Obfervers of the Providential Altera- 
 
 K 5 tioib' 
 
J 50 God*s Work in founding Zion^ &c. 
 
 tions of the /ate Times that have pafled over us : 
 The People of God in this Nation were defpifed^ 
 but are now in efteem ^ they were under fubjettion to 
 cruel iask-mafters, ibme in Prifons. fome banKh'd to 
 the ends of the Earth, meerlv on the account of the 
 Worfliip of their God ^ the Coniciences of all en- 
 thrall'd, and of many defiled and broken on the 
 Scandals lay d before them, whilft Iniquity and Su- 
 perltition were eftablifhed by Law. Buc this is that 
 which God hath now done and accompliJlS d ^ the 
 Imprifond are at Liberty, the Bm'ilJid are Recalled ; 
 they that have lien among the pots have got dove's 
 mngs ^ Confcience is no more enthralled, their Sacri- 
 fices are not mixed with their Blood, nor do they 
 meet with trembling m the Worfhip of God. ye 
 Mefjengers of the Nation, this is that which the 
 Lord hath done ! Who (I fay) not entangled with 
 one prejudkate Engagement or other, may not fee 
 this with half an eye? But fuch is out JIate and con- 
 dition, liich our frame and temper, fo full are we of 
 our own Dejtres^ and fo perplexed with our own 
 Difappointments, that we can fee nothing, know no- 
 thing, nor are able to give any word of Account, that 
 may tend to the Glory of our God, to them who 
 enquire of us ^ but every one vents his own Difcon- 
 tentments^ his own Fears, his own P-erplexities. The 
 Lord look down in Mercy, and let us not be found De- 
 fpifers of the Work of his Power and Goodnels. Ah ! 
 how many glorious Appearances have \feen^ of which 
 I laid, Under thQ Jhadow hereof Jhall we live among the 
 heathen ^ but in a fhort fpace they have pafled away. 
 Shall we therefore chufe us a Captain,^ and go down 
 aga^n into Egypt ? The Third Propofition enfues. 
 
 Obj. 5.] The great Dejign of God, in his mighty' 
 Work and Difpenfations, is the eftahlifhment of his 
 People^ and their proper Inter eli^ in their fever al Ge* 
 neratiofis. \ ; To 
 
preach' d to the Parliament, Sept. 1 7. 1 6 56. 151 
 
 To make this clear, fome few Things are previoudy 
 to be conhder'J : As, 
 
 1. The proper {ntcrcfi of the People of God, is 
 to glorify him in their ieveral Flaces^ Stations, and 
 Generations ^ none of us are to live unto our felves. 
 It is for this Knd, that God hath taken a peculiar 
 Feople to himfelf in this World, that he might be 
 glorified by thtm. that his Name mjy be borne forth 
 by them, and upon them : This is the great End 
 xvhereunto they are defigned^ and that which they 
 ought to aim at only, even to glorify God. 
 
 If this be not done, they fall ofi' from, and are 
 befide their proper Intereft. Befides innumerable Tefii^ 
 monies to th.s Purpofe, I might give evidence to this 
 Aflcrrtion, from G^'i's eternal eletling love towards 
 them, with his Intendment therein ^ from their re- 
 demption out of every Kindred^ Tribe and Family un- 
 der Heaven, by the Blood of Chrift ; from their 
 ffp'iration from the World, by their efteftual Calling 5 
 and the like Confiderations : But I have the confenting 
 voice of them all in general^ and of every individual 
 in particular, crying out, This is onr^ This is my 
 proper Intereft, that we may glorify God ^ fail we, 
 and come (liort in this, we come (hort, and jail in 
 the vohole : ib that I fhill not need farther to con- 
 firm it. 
 
 2. God is the only proper and infallible Judge In 
 what f\dte and condition his People will bcf\, and 
 mo^glorifie his Name, in their feveral Generations. 
 I think I need not inhft on the Proof of this Afler- 
 tion •, Should it be according to thy mind, faith he, in 
 Job^ chap. 7,^. :?4. or according to the Mind of God ? 
 Should the Difpofal of Things be according to his 
 Will, or ours, whole End is to be obtain'd in the 
 Kiue of all > Is it not his Glory > Who hath the 
 molt Wifdom to order Things aright, He or we ? 
 
 K + Who 
 
152 God'i Work in foimding Zio% Sic. 
 
 lA/ho hath the chiefeft Intereft in, and Right unto 
 the Things contended about > Who fees what will 
 be the Event of all Things, He or we ? Might Men 
 be Judges, Would they not univerfally praQically 
 conclude, that the Condition wherein they might 
 ht^ glorify God, would be, that they might have 
 Teace and Reft from their Enemies \ Union and a 
 good Underftanding among themfelves ^ that they 
 might dwell peaceably in the Worlds without Controul, 
 and have the Necks of their Adverfaries under their 
 Feet ? This in General In Particular ^ that this or 
 that Verfcoafton that they are peculiarly engaged in, 
 might be always enthrond-^ that their Y^iopex Sheaf 
 might fland upright, and all others bowe thereunto ^ 
 and that nothing is contrary to the Glory of God, 
 but what diflurbs this Condition of Affairs : I know 
 not what may be accompliflied before the End of the 
 World •, from the beginning of it, hitherto, for the 
 moft part, the. Thoughts of God have not been as 
 thefe Thoughts of ours ^ he hath judged otherwile 
 as to the Condition wherein his People (hould glo- 
 rify him. God is Judge himlelf ^ let us, I pray you, 
 leave the Determination of this Difference to him : 
 And if it be fo, as to our general Condition, much 
 more is it lb as to our peculiar Dejigns and Aims 
 wherein v^e are divided. 
 
 3. Providential Di/penfationsy are Difcoveries of the 
 Wifdom of God, in difpofing of the Condition of 
 his People, fo as they may beft glorify him. To 
 difpute againft the Condition wherein at any Time 
 we are call by his Providence, is to riie up againft 
 his Wifdom in difpofing of Things to his own Glory. 
 
 Thefe Things being premised, it is eafy to give 
 Light and Evidence to the Alfertion laid down. 
 
 I might go through the 5/ma of God's Dealings 
 .with the Nations of the World, and his own People 
 
 amongft 
 
preac/yd to the Parliament, Sept. 17. 1656. 1 53 
 
 amonglt them, and maniftlt in each Particular, that 
 Itill his D^h'gn was, the Eltabliflimcnt ot his Peoples 
 proper IntercR. But, inltead of Inltanccs, take two 
 or thee Tellimonies that occur ^ Dcin.r^2. 8. When 
 th' 7fwii High divided to the nations their inheritance^ 
 iKihen hefeparatcd the Jons oj Adam^ hefet the bo and: 
 of the peop/e according to the number cf the children 
 of IfracL From the beginning^ God hath lb order'd 
 all the 'Nations ot" the World, that they may bear 
 a Proportion to what he hath to do with his People ^ 
 that he may fo order and difpole of them, as that 
 his Defign tow^ards his oven may be accompli flied : 
 Amos 9. 0. \or lo^ I zoi// command, and will fift the 
 houfe of Ifrael among all nations, like ai corn is fifted 
 in a five, yet f})all not the leafi grain fall upon the 
 earth. All the Stirs and Commotions that are in the 
 World, are but God's fitnngs of the Nations, that his 
 Chofen Ones may be fitted for himlelf, and not lolt 
 in the Chaff and Rubbifh. 
 
 Hcb. 12. 26, 27. Whofe voice then fJjook the earthy 
 but now he hath promijed, faying, let once fnore I 
 fhake not the earth only^ but aljo heaven. And this 
 tvordy let once more, fignifieth the removing of thofc 
 things that are fJ)akrn, as of things that are made^ 
 that thoje things which cannot be fl)akcn ?nay remain. 
 All the Shakings of the Nations are, that the un- 
 fljakcn Inter efi of the Saints may be eltablifhed -, 
 If a. 71. 15, 16. But I am the Lord thy God that di- 
 vided the fea, vohofe waves roared : the Lord ofhofis 
 is his name. And I have put my zcords in thy 77wuth^ 
 and have covered thee in the fliadow oj mine hanJ^ 
 that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations 
 of the earth, and f ay unto Zion, T!)ou art my people. 
 Heaven, and Harth, and all Things therein, are dif- 
 pgftd of, that Sion may be built apd elhbliflied. 
 
 All 
 
1 54 God's Work in founding Zion^ &c. 
 
 All God^s Works in this World, lie in a fubfervien- 
 cy to this End and Purpole. 
 
 Doth God at any time pro/per an evil or a wick^ 
 ed Kation ? an Antichrijlian Nation ? Is it for their 
 own fakes ? Doth God take care for Oxen ^ Hath 
 he Delight in the Profperity of his Enemies ? No ; 
 it is on^y that they may be a Rod in his Hand for a 
 little moment, and a Stafi for his Indignation^ againll 
 the Milcarriages of his People^ Jfa, lo. 5;, 12. 
 Jijjyrian, the rod of mine anger ^ and the fiajf in their 
 hand is mine indignation; This, in fuch a Seafon^ is 
 their proper Intereft, to glorify God in Diitrefs. 
 Doth he break, ruin, and deftroy them, as fooner 
 or later he will leave them neither Root nor Branch? 
 All that he doth to them, is a Recompence for the 
 Controverfy of Sion, Ila. 94. 8. "Eor it is the day of 
 the Lords vengeance, and the year of recompence s for 
 the controverfy of Sion. 
 
 We fee not, perhaps, at this Day, wherein the 
 Concernments of the Remnant of God's People doth 
 lie, in the great ConcuJJions of the Nations in the 
 World •, we know not what Defign, in reference to 
 them, may lie therein : Alas ! we are poor Jhort- 
 Jightcd Creatures, we know nothing that is before us,^ 
 much leis can we make a judgment of the Work of 
 God in the midft of Darknefs and Confufion that is 
 in the World, until he hath brought it to Perfe£lion. 
 All lies open and naked to his Eye ^ and the Beauty 
 of all his Works will one Day appear. The true and 
 proper Intereft of his People, fo as they may beft 
 glorify him in the World, is that which he ispurfu- 
 ing in- all thefe Dilpenfations. 
 
 The Grounds^ Reafons, and Foundations of this 
 Truth, in the Counfel, from the Love, and At- 
 tributes of God, the Redemption in the Blood of 
 
peaclfdtothe ? arliament , Sept. 17, 1656. 155 
 
 Jefiis, 1 mult not now purfue: This one Thing I 
 fliall only oiier : 
 
 The State ot Sion^ of the People of God, being 
 much to depend upon the Difpojuh ot them, whom 
 God, by his Providence, raiieth up to Rule and 
 Government among the l\ations , though lometimes 
 he lets up Mcn^ whole Hearts and Mmds are upright 
 with himlelt, yet he will not trult his own to their 
 Macy, and the Variablenefs of their Wills in gene- 
 ral ^ but will fo difpoje, alter, weaken, and Itrengihcn 
 them, fo let them up, and pull down, that it fliall 
 be their Intcreff, to which they will always abide 
 faithful, lo to deal with his People, as he will have 
 them dealt with, that they may belt glorify him in 
 their Generations. 
 
 If it be in the mjinite wife Counfel of God, to give 
 his Saints, in this Kation, Peace and Tranquillity, 
 they fhall not have \x prccarwufly upon the Wills of 
 Men ; For he will not leave moulding and difpofing 
 of the Affairs of the 'hatwn, until it find that it 
 is its proper Interejl to give, and meafure out unto 
 them, what is to the Mind of God. All that hath 
 been done amongit us, all that we are in Fxpefla- 
 tion of; turns on this hinge alone. But laftly, 
 
 Obf 4.] // is the Duty of Gods prefcrved Fern- 
 Tlant^ laying afide all other Aims and Contrivances^ 
 to betake themfelves to the Work of God. founding 
 Sion^ and prejcrving the common Interefi of his Peo* 
 fie. 
 
 God hath founded Sion, and the Poor of the Peo- 
 ple Ihall t?-uf} therein, or betake themlelves unto it. 
 
 We are apt to wander on Hills and Mountains, 
 every one walking in the Imagination of his own 
 Heart, forgetting our Refing-place. 
 
 When God was bringing the Power of the Bahy- 
 Ionian upon his People, the Prophet Jerem'i'ih could 
 7;? neither 
 
1 56 God*s Work in founding Zion, 6cc. 
 
 neither perfwade the whole Nation to fubmit to his 
 Government^ nor many Individuals among them to 
 fall to him in particular. And when the Time of 
 their Deliverance from that Captivity VJ^'b accom- 
 plifhed, • how hardly were they perfwaded to em- 
 brace the Liberty tendred 5 notwithftanding all Encou- 
 ragements and Advantages, the greateft part of them 
 abide in that Place of their Bondage to this Day. 
 So hardly are we brought to dole with God's pecu- 
 liar Work, and our own proper Interefl, although his 
 Glory and our own Sajety lie therein. The Reafons of 
 t\i\s frame, I have, in part, touched before , I (hall 
 add but Two more. 
 
 I. Difcontentment with our peculiar Lot and Por- 
 tion in the Work of the Lord, and common Interefi 
 ot his People. It is with us, in our Civil Affairs, 
 as the Apoftle laith it is not in the Natural Body, 
 nor ought to be in the Spiritual or Church Body : 
 The foot doth not fay, becaufe I am not the Uead^ 
 I am not of the Body : No, it doth not ^ but is con- 
 tent with its own Place and Ufefulneft. It is fb 
 with the reft of the Members that are more noble, 
 and yet are not the Head neither. It is otherwife 
 with us. I interpole not my Thoughts as to your 
 preleiit Conftiiution, and the Order of Things amongft 
 us. I fpeak no more than I have lundry Years fince, 
 fundry Times complained of, to a Farliament of this 
 Common-voealth, Every one, if not perfonally^ yet in 
 Allbciation with them, of fbme peculiar Verfwajion 
 with himlelf, would be the Head, and becaule they 
 are not, they conclude, they are not of the Body, nor 
 will care for the Body, but rather endeavour its 
 Ruin. Becaufe their peculiar Inter cfl doth not reign, 
 the common Interefi (hall be defpiled -, and this hath 
 been the Temper^ or rather D/flemper of the People 
 of God in this Nation now, for fundry Years -, and 
 
 wha^ 
 
preac/ydto the Parliament, Sci^t. 17. 1656. 157 
 
 • 
 what it may yet produce, I know not. Only for the 
 prefent, the Work of God \n founding Sion, in purfu- 
 ing his Peoples coinmon Interefl, is dcfpiled, thought 
 light of, and all the pleafant Things thereof trodden 
 under foot. Unleis God end this Yramc. my Ex- 
 pcQjtions, I contefs, of an happy Kfue of the great 
 Work of God amongft us, will wither Day by 
 Day. 
 
 2. The fuflering of our Wilis and Judgments, as 
 to the Produfts ot Providence, to run before the Will 
 of God. This, the Experience of thefe Days hath 
 taught us. Thofe who have a Forwardnefs in pre- 
 fcribing to God what he fhould do, as to the 7nodus^ 
 •r manner of the Work which at any time he hath 
 to accomplifh, are Wuhhoinly backiucird in clofing with 
 what he doth aflually produce. Thele, and the like 
 Things, which might be in large Catalogues reckoned 
 up one after another, detain the Minds of Men from 
 acquiefcing in the Common IntereJ} of Sion, whofe 
 Prefervation is the whole peculiar Defign oi'iht great 
 Work of God in any Place or Sealbn. Thefe Founda- 
 tions being laid in the Words of the Text, let usnovr 
 fee what Inferences from them may be made for our 
 Advantage and InllruQion. 
 
 Ufe 1.] Let us then confider diligently what we 
 fhall anjuer the Mejjengers of the ]\ at ions. Some 
 think, that by the Nation, is peculiarly intended the 
 Nation of the Jews themlelves, whofe Mcflengers 
 from all Parts came to Jerufalem to enquire of the 
 Work of God, and to advife about the Affairs of the 
 Whole. In this fence you are the Meffengers of this 
 Nation^ to whom an Anlivcr is to l)e returned -, and 
 becaufe the Text faith, ONE fliall do it, that is, 
 any one, \ fliall make bold, before we clofe, to give 
 an Anfwer to your Enquiries, and endeavour to fa- 
 tisly your Expectations : In the mean time, as the 
 
 Words 
 
158 God*s Work in found 'ng Zion^ 5cc. 
 
 Words feem more direQly to refpefl: the Enquiries 
 of other Nations^ fb it is in a Ipecial manner incum- 
 bent on you, who will be efpecially enquired of, to 
 return an Anfooer to them. Be provided then, I pray, 
 in your own Hearts, to give an Anfwer in this Bufi- 
 nefs 5 and oh, that you could do it with one heart 
 and Lip, with one Confent and Judgment! On 
 whom are the Eyes of this Nation, and ot'thofe round 
 about? From whom are the Expe^ations of Men ? 
 To whom fhould we go to enquire what God hath 
 done in this Nation, what he is doing, what are the 
 Effe^s of his Power, if not of you ? Some of you 
 have been engag'd in this Work with the Lord from 
 the Beginning •, and, I hope, none of you have been 
 engag'd in Heart or Hand againft it, and you ipeak 
 ftill with living Affe^ions to the old and common 
 Caufe. If you will be able to Jieer your Courfe 
 aright, if you would take one Jlraight Step, have in 
 a Readinels an Acquaintance with the Work of God, 
 what it is that he aims at, by which you may be 
 guided in all your Undertakings. Suppole now, a 
 Man^ or Men, (hould come and ask of you, What 
 God hath done in thele Nations? What he hath 
 wrought and effefted ? What is brought forth ? 
 Have you an Anfwer in readinefs ? Certainly, God 
 hath done lb much, as that he expels you fliould be 
 able to give an Account of it. Take heed, that every- 
 one of you be not ready to fpeak the Difquletments 
 of your own Spirits, and xo call Contempt on the 
 Work of God. Something elfe is requif d of^ you. 
 I have fon^times, in Darknefs and under Tempta- 
 tions my lelf, begun to think. That what hath been, 
 is the 'thing that is, and there is no new thing 
 under the Sun : As it hath been among the Heathen 
 of" old, io it hath been amongft us, or as it was with 
 Ifrael^ 1 Kings i6. 21, 22. Then were the people of 
 
 Ifraet 
 
f reached to the Parliament, Sept. 17.1656. 159 
 
 Ifrael divided into two psrts : half of' the people fol- 
 lowed Tibni the f on cj Cinath, to makchim king^^ uni 
 hdij jolloxoed Omri, But the people that jollovocd Omri^ 
 prevailed again ft the people that follovocd Tibni the Jon 
 of Ginath : fo Tibni died, and Omri reigned : That a 
 common thing, and frequent in the World, had befallen 
 us, \f herein God had no Hand, but that of common 
 Providence, indafhing oney^rr of Men againlt ano- 
 ther. SofooliJJj have I been, and, as a Bra If, lo rea- 
 dy to condemn the Generation of the Rigiueous -, (o 
 unbelieving, and ready to caft away the Faith and 
 Prayer of Ten thoufand Saints, one of whofe Sighs 
 fhall not be loft. But lijch fearful Effetls, feme- 
 times Trouble, Difquietment, Dilappointment, and 
 Carnal Fear will produce. But certain it is, none 
 of the many Cnes of the People of God liiall be 
 loji, nor their Faith be difappointed. God hath a 
 peculiar Defign in hand, and we are to (ind it out, 
 that we may be able to anfwer them that make En- 
 quiries, If you lay not this Foundation of your Fro- 
 cedures, 1 fhall not wonder if you err in your Ways j 
 it is your Po/eStar, and will be lb, by which your 
 whole Courfe is to be (leered •, yoyr Shield, which 
 whiift it is fife, though you die, yourGlcry abides. 
 
 But you w.ll fay. What then is th's great IV- 
 fign of God amori;^ his People? Let tlie Holy One 
 of Ifrael brint^ nii;h his Work, that we may know 
 it ♦, what is that true and f?eneral Intcrdt of Zion 
 that he hath founded -, Ic:t us know it, that \vc may 
 be able to give an Anfwer to them that enquire 
 after it. 
 
 I. Ask thcmr:!vcs. thole who have /T..')r^ for it, 
 tcaited for it, r./'.^'W it, arc made Partakers ci' it, 
 do enjoy it, live upon it, prohi^^v they will be ;iMc 
 to give you an •: < •• v^.it is thc't peculiar and 
 only Intercjl 'd^ j i ., f '/._'. !^r:al T/'n- -^jtions ^ 
 
 furdy. 
 
i6o God's Work in founding Zion, 5cc. 
 
 iiirely, they cannot but know that which they enjoy, 
 and /ive upon. 
 
 But you will lay, Of all others, this is the moft 
 tinlikely and irrational Courfe ^ a way to perplex and ' 
 entangle, not to inform us ar all: Is it not clear, 
 that rhey are divided anmong themlelves >. Is not 
 their Language, is not their Voice like. that of the 
 Jews, at the Yi\iMvi%oii\\Q feconlTemple^ Some 
 Jhoutedfor Joy, and Ibme wept at the Remembrance 
 of the former Te77iple •, Are not their Defires rather 
 like that, and thofe of theirs who built Babel, than 
 of thole who cry, Grace, Grace ! whilft God is 
 founding Sion ^ Do not many of them utterly deny 
 any Work or Defign of God, ( I mean, what is pecu- 
 liar) in the Affairs of this Nation, and utterly fall 
 away from the Society of them who are otherwile 
 perfwaded ? And is it likely that we can gather 
 any Refolution from them ? Doth not the greateft 
 Danger of our own Milcarriage lie in this, that we 
 may be apt to attend to their ^peculiar Dejires, and 
 lb to divide amongft our lelves, as they are divided ? 
 
 And is this the Return that, indeed, is to be 
 made ! Oh, that mine Eyes might run down with Wa- 
 ter Day and Night on this Account, that my Heart 
 might be ;;^^i;^i within me, for the Folly of my Peo- 
 ple ! Ah, foolijh People, and unwile, do we thus re- 
 quite the Lord ! 
 
 It is true, many, at all times, have defired the 
 Day of the Lord -, who when it hath come,, have not 
 been able to abide it, it hath conlumed them, and all 
 the Principles whereon they have a6fed, and upon 
 which they did defire it : But that thofe who have 
 their Share in it indeed, lliould be thus broken 
 among themfelves, fliould bite one another, de- 
 vour one another, and Icarce allow one another to 
 be Sharers in the Common Intereft of the Saints, 
 
 in 
 
freach'd to the Parliament, Sti^t. 17.1656. 161 
 
 In that day ^ this is a iMmentation, and (hall be for 
 a 'Lainentat'ion, 
 
 But yet fomething may be farther preGed on them 
 in this Bufinels. When One went to demand of" the 
 Vhilofophers of the levcral Se£ls, which was the beji 
 of them, every One named his own Sc[? and Party 
 in the firft Place ^ but r?// of them in the y^r^//^/ Place, 
 granted that of Flato to be the moft eminent. The 
 Enquirer knew quickly what to conclude ^ letting a- 
 fide prejudicate Affeflions, Self-love, and Bye-inte- 
 relts, he fiw that the Judgment of all run on that of 
 Flato, as the hejl and molt eminent &^, and which 
 thereupon he preferred before the reft. 
 
 May not ibme enquiry of the like Nature be made 
 of the People of God amongft us? Ask them what 
 is the co?nmu?2 htcrejl oi'Sion, that God takes care of^ 
 that he hath founded in the days wherein we live, 
 in the great Tranfaftions of hovidence that have paf^ 
 fed over us. S^y fomc. That fuch a formof Church- 
 tcorjhip and Idifc'if line be ellabliflied, fuch a Rule of 
 DoQrine conhrmed, and all Men whatever compel- 
 led to fubmit unto them : Herein lies that Kingdom 
 of Chrift which he takes care of, this is that which 
 God will hdi\<: founded and eftablifhed : And what this 
 lorm^ what this Rule is, we are to declare. 
 
 That that Difcipline be eradicated, the Minilters 
 Vrovifwn dellroyed, and the Men of" fuch a Perfwa- 
 fion Enthroned, to Rule all the reft at their Flc^ifurc, 
 feeing, that notwithltanding all their pretended Re- 
 formation, they are yet Antichrijiian, (liy others. 
 
 Say fbme. That a Kingdom and Rule be let up in 
 our Hands, to be exerciled in the Name and Authority 
 of Jefus Chrill, taking away 2\\Law and Mi(fiPr,uy 
 already ellabliflied, to bring forth the Law of R;/-^/f- 
 cufnefs conceived in our MinJs, and therein to be pre- 
 fervcds all uniting only in this, that a Sjvera'ignry^ 
 V o L, n, L as 
 
i62 God's V/ork in founding Zion^ &c. 
 
 *- ■ ■ ■ ■■ ■ " ■'^ 
 
 as unto adminiftration of the things of God, is to be 
 theirs. 
 
 Say others, laflly. That the Feople of God he de- 
 livered from the hands of their cruel Enemies, that 
 they may lerve the Lord without Fear, all the days 
 of their Lives, in Righteoufnels and Uolinefs , that 
 notwithftanding ih€\x prefent Differences^ they may 
 live peaceably one with, or at leafl: one by another^ 
 enjoying Rule and Promotion, as they are fitted for 
 E7nploy?nents^ and as he gives promotion in whole 
 Hand it is, that Godl'mefs, and the love of the Lord 
 Jefus Chrift be preferved, prote£led , and lecured 
 from a return of the hand of Violence upon it : 
 Herein, fay ibme, lies the common Intereft of the 
 People of God ^ this He hath wrought out for them, 
 herein he hath founded Sion, Ask now the Feople of 
 God in this Nation, I fay, or any of them, one or 
 more, at any time, what he, or they, look upon as 
 the chief thing aimed at in the mighty Dilpenlations 
 of God amonglt us •, will they not every one anfwer^ 
 in the firll Place, That is aimed at, that is to be en* 
 throned -, that fo doing, k the Will of God, the End 
 of his Works among them, wherein their, or his! 
 particular Engagement and Intereft lies > But ask 
 them now again, in the lecond Place, which of the 
 lemaining Perfwafions concerning the Work of God, 
 and the common hterefl of his People, they would 
 prefer next to his own ^ will they not all unani- 
 moitjly fix on that nnentioned in the lafi TIace, rather 
 than any of the other > Is it not then evident, 
 that fetting afide tprejudicate AffeQions, and fuch De- 
 terminations as may reafonably be fuppoled to arile 
 from them,- laying away all private Animoftties, 
 and defire of Rule and Preheminence, with other 
 worldly and felfifh Defigns ? The tmiverfdity of the 
 People of God do anjjf^er to them that en^uire^th^t in 
 
 thQ 
 
preached to the Parlument^ Sept. 17. 165 (^. 163 
 
 the lall Pcrfwafion lies the Aim^ and Work of God 
 in our Generation. For my own part, on this and 
 other Conliderations hereafter to be mentioned, 1 (hall 
 dare treely to give this Anfuoer to the Mcffengers of 
 th'is^ or any Nation in the World, who Ihall make 
 fnquifition alter the Work of God amongit us, and 
 his Dejign^ in reference to his People ^ and it is no 
 other than my Heart hath been fixed upon for many 
 Years, and which I have feveral times, on one Account 
 or other, intimated or prelled unto the Parliament^ 
 which hrft I undertook to manage, and luccefstully 
 carried on that Caufe^ in whole Proteftion you are 
 now engaged. 
 
 This Hay then, God hath fouTided Sion, he hath 
 taken care oi' the Generation of the Righteous, the 
 Children of Sion^ however difterenced among them- 
 lelves ^ hath broken the Yoke of their Opprejjors ^ 
 given them Peace ^ ordered the Affairs ot this A'^- 
 tion fo, that they do^ or may^ all of them enjoy 
 Quietnels, one not envying the other, nor they vexing 
 them, but ferving God according to the Light which 
 he is gracioufly plealed to afford them 5 they wait tor 
 farther rnamfeftations of the glorious Golpel ^ and that 
 God hath broken, and will break, evciy Dehgn, that 
 either openly and profelledly, or upon fpecious Pre- 
 tences of crying, lo here is Chrift, or lo ihere, hath 
 fought, or fhall feck and endeavour to lubvert this 
 his Work, to the prefcrvation whereof he will cer- 
 tainly 7?wuld the Government, and Inferefl ofthis Nati' 
 on, ordering its Affairs in a peculiar manner on that ac- 
 count only ^ and not that hedelighteth in one Way ot 
 Form, whereinto it hath been caft more than another. 
 And whatever high-minJed Alen, full of their own 
 Apprehenfions and Wifdom, may do to this Work cf 
 Cod, th^ jpQor of his People fhall repair. And for my 
 
 L 2 inhft- 
 
164 God's Work in founding Zion^ &c. 
 
 infifting on this Anfioer, and this only^ I have thele 
 further Reafons to add for my Juftification. 
 
 1. This is an Jnterejl comprehenfive of all the Sons 
 of Sion^ whole fouund'wg God intends ^ it excludes 
 none that can claim a Jhare in the City of the living 
 God. God takes equal care of all //;^ Dvoelling-plaeei 
 oiSion: Every Dwelling-place oiSion hath its Beau- 
 ty, hath its Glory, Ifa. 4. 5. The Glory of one, may be 
 as the Glory of the Su??-^ of another, as the Moon-^ of 
 others, as the Stars^ and thofe differing from one ano- 
 ther in Glory, yet each hath its Glory ^ and upon it 
 there fhall be a Defence, a Covering, a Proteftion. This - 
 is the Promife •, this hath been the Work of God. 
 
 2. This comprlfeth all them who have lived hy 
 Faith, and abode in Supplications in reference to God's 
 late Difpenfations amongfl us. Who dare defpile any 
 one of thole linle ones, and lay, God hath heard ^/?^,not 
 you ^ regarded me, not you ^ you have no fhare or por- 
 tion in the returns of Supplications which we enjoy? 
 
 3. This alone prelerveth the dooellers ofSion from 
 ofiering Violence one to another -, from taking the Work 
 of Babylon out of its Hands, and devouring one another. 
 Let any other Apprehenfion whatever, of the Work 
 of God be embrac'd, and the firft Work that thereby 
 Men will be engagd in, is the opprejjing^ferfecuting^ 
 ruining of their Brethren, which whether it be the 
 founding of 5/^/?, or no^ the Day of Judgrnent fhall 
 determine 
 
 4. This is that which the common enemy feeks ta 
 deftroy. It is not this or that Party that he would 
 devour ^ it is not this or that Perfwaiion he would 
 call call down ^ his hatred -sr^s" to ysv©*, againlt 
 the whole Race and Kind •, this is that which he 
 would accomplifli, that all the Children of God, 
 however difterenced among themlelves, might be ru- 
 ined, deflroycd, calt down, and rooted out for ever 5 
 
 • " ■"' that 
 
preached to the Parliarnevt^ Sept. 17. 1656. 165 
 
 that the name oif/rac/ might no more be liad in re- 
 membrance. This then is that which God, in their 
 difjppointment, aims to elbblifli. 
 
 5. Becaufe xh^jounding of Sion doth not confift in 
 this or that Form ot" the Civil Admim ft ration ot" Hu- 
 mane Affairs, there being nothing p'romifed nor de- 
 figned concerning them, but that they be laid in an 
 orderly fuhjcrviency to the common IntercR of the 
 Saints ^ which, let Men do what they will, yea what 
 they can, all Government fliall at hit be brought 
 unto. And who is there amongit us, that m Jingle nefs 
 of Heart, dares make fuch an Anlwcr to the AleJJen- 
 gcrs of the Aations enquiring atter the peculiar Work 
 of God amongit us •, namely, that it confilts in the 
 eltablifliment of this or that Form of Civil Admini- 
 flrations ? tho' much of the Work of God lies there- 
 in, in relation to this General End. This then is 
 the An/wer which I fhall give to the MefFengers of 
 the Actions, and of it there are thefe three Farts. 
 
 1. God hath broken^ deltroyed, ruined them and 
 their Contrivances, who made it their bufinrfs to 0- 
 verthrow Sion^ and to root out the Generation of the 
 Righteous^ not under this, or that Way or Form, where- 
 by they are differenced among themlelves, but ^sfuch^^s 
 the Saints of the holy One, and will continue lb to do. 
 
 2. He hath given to them, to the poor of his Peo- 
 ple, Peace, Liberty, freedom from Impofitions on their 
 Confciences, with much glorious Lighp in leveral de- 
 grees, in his Worfhip and Service. 
 
 3. He hath calt ( as he hath promifed ) the Tovccr 
 of the Nation into 2 fuhf£rvie?hy to this Common In- 
 terelt of Chrilt and his People in this World, and 
 hath made, or will make them to undcrltand, that as 
 the Feace ofSion^ lies in their Peace, fo their Peace lies 
 in the Peace of Ston : And what to fay more to the 
 M-Ucngers of the Nation, 1 know not. 
 
 L ? Vfc 
 
i66 God*s Work in founding Zion^ See. 
 
 Ufe 5.] If this then be the Work of God, let us 
 repair to it 5 the poor of the people Jhall truft therein^ 
 or joyn themfelves thereunto. That you may do 
 this in Judgment, be plealed to take thefe Dire^ions^ 
 which with all Humility I offer to you, and, I hope, 
 fi-om the Lord. 
 
 I. Engage in no Way, no Counfels, be the Rea- 
 Ibnings and Pretences for them never ib fpec'wus^ 
 which 'have an inconfiftency with this common Inte- 
 rejl of Sion in this Generation. If inftead oi repair- 
 ing to the Work of God, you (hould be found con- 
 tending againft it, and fetting up your own Wildom 
 in the place of the Wifdom of God, it would not 
 be to your Advantage. I know many things will 
 be fuggefted unto you •, fettling of Religion^ eftablifh- 
 ing a DifcipHne in the Church ^ not to tolerate Er- 
 rors, and the like : From which D-lcourles, I know 
 what Conclufions Ibme Men are apt to draw, if no 
 otherwife, yet from what they have been doing for 
 many Years : Do we then plead for Errors and Un^ 
 fettiement ^ God forbid ! God hath undertaken to 
 found and ejiahrjjh Sion, to fettle it, and he will do 
 it ^ and I pray God you may be inflrumental therein 
 according to his Mind. He will alfo give his People 
 one Heart, and one Way : And I pray that you^ by 
 your Example of union in Love, and by all other 
 good Means, may be inflrimental towards the ac- 
 complifhment of that Promile amongft us. 
 
 It is only the Liberty and VroteUion of the People 
 of God, as fuch, that is pleaded for, and he that 
 ifhall let up any thing inconfiftent therewith, as lb 
 let up, will lay the Foundation of his Building in 
 the firft-born of his Teace, and let up the Gate of it 
 in the utmojl and laft of his Welfare. In a word j 
 the People of God may poflibly, in this Nation, de- 
 vour one another, and wafh their Hands in the Blood 
 ^ ■ of 
 
 \\- 
 
freacfyd totheParliaTneiit^ Sept. 17. 1656. 167 
 
 of one another, by widening the Breaches that are 
 among them ; and vooc be to them that (hall be in- 
 Itrumental herein : But if ever they come to a coalej- 
 cency in Love and Truth, it mult be by their mu- 
 tual forbearance of one another, 'until the Spirit b^ 
 pour'd down from on high, and the fruits of Peace 
 be brought forth thereby ^ and herein the Lord make 
 you as the mountains that bring forth right eoufnefs^ 
 and the little hills that bring forth Peace unto his 
 People. 
 
 There are Ibme things that I am afraid of that lie 
 contrary to what 1 am exhorting you unro ! I wifh 
 the. Event manifeft, that I am ajraid without caufe : 
 However, give me leave to caution you ot- them, 
 becaufe I cannot be faithful to my Call, it* I do not. 
 
 I. Take hced^ left that Evil be ftill abiding upon 
 any of our Spirits, that we fhould be crying out and 
 calling for Reformation^ without a due Confideration 
 of what it is, and how it is to be brought about. 1 
 With one of many of them, who haxQpray^d for it, and 
 complained for want of it, had endeavourd to carry it 
 on as they might : Would you have a Reformation ^ 
 Be you more Humble^ more holy, more Zealous^ de- 
 light more in the Ways, Worfhip, Ordinances of God : 
 reform your Ferfons in your Lives, Relations, ¥a??ii- 
 lies, Fariffjes, as to Gofpel Obedience, and you 
 will fje a glorious Reformation indeed. What mean 
 you by a Reformation > is it the hurting of othcrf^ 
 or diom'^^ good to our felves ? Is it a Foioer over other 
 Mens Ferfons^ or our own Lulls > God hath now for 
 fundry Years, tryed us, whether indeed wc love Re- 
 fer mat ion ^01 no > Have any provoked us, or compelled 
 us to defile the Worfliip of God, with Ceremonies 
 or Superltitions, and our own Confcicnces therewithal ? 
 Have we been impofed on in the Ways of God, by 
 Men ignorant of them ? Hath not God laid to us, 
 
 L 4. You 
 
l68 God's Work in founding Zion^ 6cc. 
 
 You ^that have frayed under Perfecution, for Re- 
 formation ; you that have fought in the high Places 
 \n the Field, for Rejormation ^ you that have cove- 
 nanted and /worn, for Reformation ^ Go now, refortn 
 your f elves : You Minijiers, preach as often as you 
 will, as freely as you pleafe, no Man fliall controul 
 you, live as hoUly as you can, fray as often, faft as 
 often as you will, be fiill of bounty and good, works^ 
 giving Examples to your Flock, none fhall trouble 
 you •, be inftant in feafon, out of fed/on^ preach the 
 whole counfel oj God without controul .* You People 
 be ho/y, ferve God in holinefs, keep clofe to his 
 Worfliip and Ordinances, love them, delight in 
 them, bring forth fuch fruits as Men may glorify 
 God on your account, condemn the World, jufijy 
 the Caufe of God, by a Gofpel Converiation -, Take 
 feven years Y^zct and Plenty, and lee what you can 
 do. If^ after all this, we flill cry out, Give us a 
 Reformation ^ and complain not of our own KegH- 
 gence. Folly, and hatred of Perlbnal Reformation^ to 
 be the only caufe of that want •, it is eafy to judge 
 what we iK)ouli have, had we oyr Defires. 
 
 2. Take heed left a^y who have formerly defired 
 the day of the 'Lor d^ confidering the purity and holinefs 
 wherewith it will be attended, grow weary of it 
 and its work, as not being able to abide it^ and fo 
 lay afide all thoughts of growing up with it in the 
 Will of God : left any fay. Is this the Day of the 
 Lord, th2it Hc/inefs, Godlinefs.Gx^Ei OhediQnce fhould 
 be prized, exalted, efteemed > that Rrofanenefs, Pride, 
 Selhfhnefi, Formality fhould be defpifed, confumed, 
 devoured > we will have none of this Day. 
 
 ?. Take heed that there rile not up a Generation 
 
 that knew not Jcjeph\ that knew us not in. the days 
 
 of our Dilireis, and contending with thole who 
 
 would have dfjiroyd us , who were not engaged 
 
 ' ■ • ' : ' vjith 
 
f reached to the Parliament, Sept. 17. 1656. 169 
 
 with us in fraying, /i/?///^, fighting^ in England^ Scot- 
 land^ and Ireland, but were unconcerned in all our 
 Affairs ^ who know nothing of the cryes, tears^ trem- 
 bling, and fears wherewith this Caufe hath been /T^a- 
 naged : Can we expecl that they (hould be aUed by 
 xh^f flirt ot it, or h:ive a due lenfe of what they 
 mult be engaged in >. What know they of" the Com- 
 munion wc have had with God in this Bufinefs all 
 along, what An/voers he hath given us, what Obliga- 
 tions he hath put upon us thereby ? The whole 
 Bufinefs is to them as a Story only of that which is 
 paft, wherein they are not concerned : There are fuch 
 abiding Impreflions kit on the Souls of as many as 
 have been engaged in the Work of God in this Na- 
 tion, from the beginning to the end, as will, never be 
 blotted out. If a fpirit not fenfible of fomier Ways 
 fliould arile amonglt us, and prevail^ it would be 
 fad with the Interelt of Chrilr, and his People ia 
 this Nation. To return to my Direftions. 
 
 2. Make this Work of God your Pole-Jlar, that 
 you may Iteer and guide your cour/e by it : in all 
 your Confultations and A^lions, whatever is pro- 
 poled, whatever is to be done, let this Confideration 
 attend it. But how zvi// it fuit the Defign of God, in 
 eflahliffung Sion ? Men, fpeaking of a thing of ma- 
 nilelt Evidence, fay, that it is written vcith the beams 
 of the Sun. Give me leave to tell you of a thing, 
 that is written in the Prayers of the Saints, the 
 fears of your Enemies, the Condition of this Nation, 
 the Counfels of Princes of the Earth, the Affairs oi the 
 Nations abroad in the World, all the Illues of the 
 Providence ot God in thefc Pays ; all which con- 
 curring, I fuppofc will give as good an evidence as 
 any thing in the like kind is capable of What is 
 this ;> you will fay. It is, in brief. Let the Work 
 of God, as Itated, bs your Guide in all your Con- 
 fultations, 
 
i70 God's Work in founding Zion^ &c. 
 
 lultations, and it will direfl: you to aim at thefe 
 tvio Ends: 
 
 1. To preferve Veace^ to cotnpofe Differences, to 
 inake up Breaches^ to avoid all Occafions of Divi- 
 fions at Home. 
 
 2. To make up, unite, gather into one Common 
 Interefi the Proteflant Nations abroad in the World, 
 that we may ftand or fall together, and not be de- 
 devoured one after another : That thele are the 
 Things which God calls you to mind, and do, if 
 you will bear any Regard to his prefent Work, is, 
 I lay, written tvitti all the J^^^^y of Providence before 
 mentioned. If the Lord fhould fuSer you to be 
 regarilefs either to the one or the other ^ know you 
 not that it would be bitternels in the end ? Ask 
 your Friends what they defire, your Enemies what 
 they fear, the Nations abroad what they are doing : 
 Confider Babylon^ confider Sion^ and if one and the 
 iame voice come from them all ^ not to attend unto 
 it, would be, not to attend to the Voice of God. 
 It is, indeed, an ealy thing for you to gratify Satan^ 
 fatiate the Defires of your Enemies, lay a foundation 
 o^ Troubles ^ it is but attending to the clamours of 
 Men without, and the tumultuating of Lufts and 
 carnal Wifdom within, and the whole Work is done. 
 But to carry on the work of God in the Particulars 
 mentioned, this is not fb ealy a task : Jelf mult be 
 denied, many glorious pretences lay'd afide, contrary 
 reafonings anfwered, Mens WeakneJJes, Mifcarriages, 
 Failings borne withal^ becaule they are Men ; and, 
 which is more than all, our own particular dar- 
 ling dc fires, it may be, let go unlatisfy'd, though 
 moulded into Contrivances for many Years. The 
 truth is, the Combinations of the Antichriftian Varty 
 in the World, are ^o evident, their Succefles ^o no- 
 torious, their Defigns fo fixed, their Advantages to 
 
 carry 
 
preach'dtothc F arliarnent , Sept. 17, 1656. 171 
 
 carry them on, io inany ^ that to perfwade with 
 them who have pov:cr tor that end and purpole, to 
 make it their hufinefs to keep union amongit 'our 
 felves, on all good and honelt terms, and to endea- 
 A cur the union of all that call on the Name of the 
 Lord Jefus Chrift, their Lord and ours in the World ; 
 were to calt a reproach upon their Wi/dom^ Forcfight^ 
 and Zeal : lo that it futBceth me to have ?nentwned 
 thefe Things. 
 
 Vfe 4.] Encourage all things that lie in a tendency 
 ^n^fubferviency to the Work of God, unfolded and 
 infilled on. For inftance : 
 
 1. Where-ever you fee any work of real Reforma- 
 mat ion ^ tending to the advancement of the Gofpel 
 dilcarding of old ufelels forms, received by Tradition 
 from our Fathers, leparating the preciotn from the 
 vile, according to theieveral mealures 0^ light which 
 God, in his infinite Wifdom, hath gracioufly impart- 
 ed ; let not nced/efs Objeftions and Hindrances lie in 
 the way, but give in all due Encourageinents to the 
 Men of fuch Engagements. Perhaps the bufinefs of 
 carrying on Reiormation is grievous to fome, who in 
 their Anger and Wrath, Revenge and Diiappointment, 
 may make Complaints of it to you, in private or in 
 publick : The Lord give you Wifdom, that you may 
 never weaken the hands 01 fadden the /7^//r/j of Men 
 who are willing to join Hearts and Hands with you 
 to fave a poor Nation, and to keep lite in the Work 
 of God in the midlt thereof 
 
 2. What you find tltablifhed already in this kind^ 
 encourage, prcfcrve, improve, that the Work fail 
 pot. 
 
 ?. Find out what is v:anting, and purfue it, as God 
 gives you Advantage and Opportunity. 
 
 4. Where Men, under pretence of Religion^ make 
 it their bufinefs to dcjilc themfelves, or dilturb the 
 
 civil 
 
172 God's Work in founding Zion, Sec. 
 
 civil Peace and Quiet of others ^ let them know, that 
 the Sword is not borne in vain. I can but name^thefe 
 Things. 
 
 Honourable! 
 
 My Heart's Defire and Prayer to God for you, is. 
 That you may be the Repairers of Breaches, and the 
 Reftorers of Paths tor Men to walk in ^ That you 
 may be the Prefervers of the Good Old Caufe of 
 England, according to the growth it received in, 
 snd under feveral providential Dilpenlations. Many 
 Particulars lie in my heart, to propole- unto you ^ 
 but on very many Confiderations, I (hall name none 
 of them at prefent, but Clofe All with ibme General 
 Dire&ions. 
 
 1. Secure your Spirits, that in fincerity you ieek 
 the publick Good of the Nations, and the Prolperity 
 of the good 'People therein, who have adhered to 
 the good Caule of Liberty and Religion : If this be 
 in your eye, as that which is principally intended, 
 as you may pray in faith for the Prefence of God 
 with you, and have a comfortable Expectation of 
 his Froteilion and Favour ^ ib if, in the purfuit of 
 it, through hurmn frailty, you (hould err, or miftake 
 in the choice of Means, Paths, Ways tending to that 
 End, God will guide you, and lead you, and not 
 leave you until he hath made flraight paths for 
 your feet : But if at the bottom there lie lecret 
 Animofities, Self will, defire of obtaining Greatnels 
 or Power, on the one hand, or other •, if every fiich 
 Thing be not, on all hands, fubdued unto publick 
 Good \ Prayers will be weaknei, carnal Wifdom en- 
 creafed, the Counfel of God reje£led, and you will 
 wander in all your Ways without Succels. 
 
 2. Keep alive this Principle, Twhich whether any 
 will hear, ox whether any will forbear, 1 kno\v not ♦ 
 
 but 
 
preach' d to the Parlii7ment ^ScT^t. 17. 1656. 173 
 
 but this I am fure of^ in the latter end it will be 
 found to be true : ) according as you regard^ cleave to, 
 promote, protefl on rhe one fide, or defpi^, contemn, 
 and oppole on the other, the Common Intercft of 
 Sion, the People of God, before laid down ^ fb will 
 your Aftairs either fiourifh, profpcr, and fucceed on the 
 one hand, or wither, decay, and be fruitlefs on the 
 other. In all other Things that fhall fall under 
 your Confideraiion, which relate to the Civil Govern- 
 ment of the Nations, Prudence, Conjeflure, Probabi- 
 lity, Confidcration of Circumflances, and the prefent 
 pofture of Things, may take place : This is capable 
 of no framing to the one hand or other, upon any 
 Pretence whatexer. 
 
 5. If it be poflible, keep up a fpirit of Love and 
 Forbearance among your felves ^ hove thinketh none 
 evil : Do not impofe Defigns on one another, and 
 then interpret every thing that is fpoken, tho' in 
 never-lb-much fmcerity and fimplicity of fpirit, in a 
 proportion to that dejign ; this will turn judgment 
 into wormwovdy and truth into hemlock* 
 
 GOD'S 
 
G D"* s Prejencc with a PEOPLE 
 THE 
 Sprhig of their FROSPERITY., 
 WITH 
 
 Their fpccial Interest in abiding 
 with HIM. 
 
 S E R M O N 
 
 Preached to the 
 
 PARLIAMENT 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Common- wealth of Eugland^ Scot I ami ^ 
 and Irelamly at Wejimwjicr^ Oftob. 
 30th3 16^6^ 
 
 A Day of Solemn Humiliation. 
 
 By JOHN OWEN^ D.D. a Servant of 
 Jefus Chrift in the Work of the Gofpcl. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for J o s e p h M a r s h a L l at the 
 
 Bib/e in Ncw^atc-Jirect. 1720. 
 
Friday the 3 ift of OSloher^ 16^6. 
 
 ORderei by the Parliament, That the Thanks 
 of this tioufe he given unto Dr. Owen, 
 Dean of Chrift-church, and Vice-chancellor of the 
 Vniverfity of Oxon, for his great Fains taken in 
 his Sermon preached before this Uoufe leflerday, in 
 Margaret'-f Church, Weftminfter, being a Dayfet j- 
 fart for Solemn Rafting and Humiliation ^ and that 
 he be defired to print his Sermon : And that he 
 have the like Privilege in Printing thereof as hath 
 been formerly allowed to others in like Cafes. And 
 Major-General Kelfey is defired to give him the 
 Thanks of this Eoufe accordingly. 
 
 Hen. Scobell^ Clerk 
 of the Parliament. 
 
 mmmm^m&m^^^^ 
 
177 
 
 TO T H E 
 
 Parliament of the Commonwealth 
 of Engla}7dj Scotland^ and lrela?id^ with 
 the Dominions thereunto belonging. 
 
 SIRS, 
 
 T hope that fome Imprejfion may 
 pojjibly remain upon your Hearts 
 and Spirits^ of, and from the 
 Things delivered unto you in the 
 enjiiin^ Sermon, make me xviUing^ 
 unto the Obedience of Prefentin^ it 
 untoyou^ upon your Command in this manner. Were 
 I net perfxcaded that your Peace^ Interejl and 
 Concernment is expre/jfed therein^ and know not 
 rvith xchat fimphcity of Heart you xvere minded 
 thereof^ 1 jhould have chofen^on many Accounts^ 
 to have vpaved this Duty, But having nouf 
 performed what is incumbent on me, to render 
 this Service tifeful, recommending it yet farther 
 to the Grace of God, I humbly beg that it may 
 Tiot^ in this Return unto you, be looked on as a 
 Vol. II. M thing 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 thing of courfe, andfo laid afide^ hut be reviewed 
 mtb that intenfwn of Spirit which is necejfary 
 in Duties of this Importance 5 whereby you may 
 manifeft that your Command unto this Service^ 
 was gromided on a fenfe of fome Advantage to 
 be made by that Performance of it. Sundry things^ 
 I covfefsy that were fpoken unto you^ are gone 
 beyond my recovery^ having had their rife 
 from the prejent Ajfijiance vohich God was plea- 
 fed to aford in the management of the Work it 
 felf The fum of what was provided before-hand^ 
 and no otherwife^ without the leajl Addition^ is 
 here prefented nntoyou^ with hearty Dejires that 
 the Vifion of the Iruth herein confidered, may 
 be to them that love you^ and the Accomplijlment 
 thereof^ be found in the midjt of you. So Prays 
 
 Your Humble Servant^ 
 Nov. 17. 
 4 1656. in our dear Lord Jefus^ 
 
 John Owen. 
 
 A SER 
 
179 
 
 SERMON 
 
 PrcachM to the PaPvLIAMEnt of 
 England J C^c. at their Publick Faft^ 
 held the 30th of OBober^ 16^6. 
 
 2 C H R O N. XV. 2. 
 
 And he went out to 7?ieet Afa, and faid unto hhn^ 
 Hear ye me^ Afa^ and all Judah and Benjamin^ The 
 Lord IS with you, while ye he with him ^ and if yc 
 feck him, he will he found of you -^ hut if ye for- 
 fake him, he will forfake yoti, 
 
 T will not, 1 am furc, feem ftrange 
 to any, that I have taken a Text to 
 preach on, in a D.iy of Uumiltaticn^ 
 i out of a 'Ihankfgiving Sermon, fuch as 
 i this DircourleoViicjr/W; feems to be - 
 it" they fhall but conhder the luitablc- 
 ncfs of the Inltruftion given therein, to any great 
 and fblemn Occafion, whether ot Humiliaticn 01 ^e- 
 joycino. The words indeed ate the fum of all Di- 
 
.i8o God*s Prefence mtb a People, 5cc. 
 
 reftions -that in fuch Ca/es can be given ^ the Stand- 
 ard of all Rules and Exhortations, wherein any A^^- 
 tion or People in any Condition^ are, or may be coti- 
 cerned, lb plainly meafuring our the Fate and Lot^ 
 the Event and IjJ'ue of our Aftairs, with ail the great 
 Undertaking of the People of God in this Nation, 
 that of themfelves, I hope, they will make ibtnQfa/' 
 fage to the Hearts of them, to whom the Inferences 
 from them, (hall this day be applied. 
 
 In the foregoing Chapter^ we have an agcount of 
 a great Vitlory that Afa, and the People of Judah 
 fighting in Faith, and with Prayer^ obtained againft the 
 huge HoJI of the JEthiopians^^ with the abundant Spoils 
 which they took, and carried away thereupon. 
 
 In their Triimphant return to Jerufalcm^ the Spi- 
 rit of God ftirs up a Prophet to go out and meet 
 them, to give them an account of the rife and Qaufe 
 of their Succefs, and Direction for their future De- 
 portment under the enjoyment of liich Mercies and 
 Deliverances. 
 
 The Lord knows how apt ev'n the belt of Men, 
 are to forget the fpr'ing of their Mercies \ how neg- 
 ligent in making iuitable Returns, by a due improve- 
 ment of the Advantages put into their Hands, unto 
 the Lord of all Mercies. Therefore are they in all 
 feafons to be minded of their proper Intereji and 
 Duty : This is done in my Text to Jfa and Judah^ 
 by Oded'^ and I defire in my Sermon, that it may, 
 with the fame Spirit, and the lame Succefs, be done 
 by me unto you. 
 
 The Words I intend principally to infill on, having 
 the fame things for fubflance, thres times repeated 
 in them ^ the opening of the firft Qaufe, with the ge- 
 neral tendency of the vohole, will fufBce as to their Ex- 
 poftion, and the grounding of that general Propofition, 
 which I fhall improve. Two Things are ih^nprincl- 
 ■pally to be inquired into. Fijlt, 
 
preac/yd to the Par!u?ncvt^ 061. 50. 1656. 181 
 
 Firft, VVhat it is tor Cod to be Kith any People, 
 Secondly, What it is tor a Pjople to bc\ or abide with 
 God ; and according to the analogy ot thele two, the 
 following Aj]ertioni oi fee king i\\q. Lord, dud Jorfu- 
 king him, will bw ealily underltood. For though the 
 words differ in cxprejjion, yet they are all of the 
 fame way of Ajjcmon ; They are three hypothetical 
 Propo/i/ions, or promillory Allertions on Suppofi- 
 tion. It you abide with the Lord^ he will be with 
 you 5 it you feek the Lord, he will be fot/nd ot 
 you^ if you forfake the Lord, he will forfake 
 you : The lame Matter is trebled, for the fuller 
 and furer contirmation of the thing ajfertcd. On- 
 ly, whereas the laji Propofition fuppoleth a thing 
 pojjible^ namely, that they might forfake the Lord : 
 The hrft fuppofes a thing prefcnt, and therefore it is 
 fo exprefled, whilf\ you are zvith him •, becaufe they 
 had abode with God in their late War and Trial, 
 
 Before I enter upon the opening of the Words 
 themfelves, I cannot pafs by the Earneft Preface of 
 the Prophet^ Hear ye nie, Afa : He faw the Pt'^pA*, 
 upon their Succefs, taken up with many Thougnts^ 
 thinking of many Bufinejjcs, full of many Contrivan- 
 ces, one imagining one thing, another another ^ all 
 of them (it may be) how they fhould ule and im- 
 prove their Peace and Succefs to their Advantage, In- 
 ttTclt, Proht, or Security. Or the Princes and Ru- 
 lers, as it is probable and ulual in fuch Cafes, might 
 be confidering how to carry on their Villory, how to 
 make the belt Advantage of it, in their dealing 
 with Neighbour Princes and Nations, in making 
 Peace or War. In the midlt of thcfc Thoughts, the 
 Prophet meets them, and diverts them with 'all Larn- 
 eltncfs to things quite of another Nature, and of un- 
 fpeakably greater importance and concernment to them. 
 Hear ye mc^ faith he j It is not your own Counfel, 
 
 M 3 nor 
 
iS^ God*s Prefence mth a People^ &c. 
 
 nor your own Valour, that hath brought about this 
 Great Work, this mighty ViSory •, the Lord himfeli:' 
 hath d«ne it, by his Prefence with you : It is not of 
 any Concernment unto you, what other Nations do, 
 or tt]ay do, but the Prelence of God concerns you 
 alone to look after. 
 
 ObH] 'Ihe great Concernment of any People or Na- 
 tion, is to know, that all their Profperity is from the 
 Prefence of God amongfl them, and to attend to that 
 zvhich mil give continuance thereunto. You may tire 
 your felves in the Imaginations and Contrivances 
 of your own Hearts, and lay out your Thoughts 
 and Time about things that will not profit, nor ad- 
 vantage you ', this is your Intereft, this is your Con- 
 cernment .* Hear ye me, Afa, and all Judah and Ben- 
 jamin, Of this Fropofition afterwards. 
 
 For the Words them/elves. The firft thing propo- 
 ied to be enquired into for their Explanation is this \ 
 What it is for God to be with a People: God may be 
 laid to be voith Men, or prefent with thctn, in fundry 
 refj)e£ls. 
 
 I. Firft, He may be laid to be with them in re- 
 ipeS: of the Omniprejcnce of his Eflence \ fo he is 
 naturally and necejjarily prelent with all Creatures, 
 indijhnt from them, prefent with them. The Ubi- 
 quity and Immenfity of his Efjence, . will not allow 
 that he fhould be dijiant froni any thing to which 
 he hath given Being. The heavens, even the hea- 
 ven of heavens cannot contain him, i Kings 8. 27. 
 Doth he not fill heaven and earth ? Is he a God at 
 hand only, and not afar oft', as to the ends of the Earth > 
 This Prefence of God with all things, T>dvid empha- 
 ucally declares, Pfal 1^9. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. But 
 it is not that which is here intended -, that is univer- 
 fal to all Creatures, natural and neceffary, this efpe- 
 
 cial 
 
freach'dtothe Parliament^ Od. 50, 1656. 183 
 
 cial to fome, voluntary and of Mercy •, that of 
 Jslature and Ejjence^ this of Will and Operation. 
 
 Secondly, God may be laid to be with one, in re- 
 Ipeft ot terjonal Vnion ^ io he was u///j and cnly 
 toith the Man Chrilt JeliiS, AUs 10. ?8. ei^ ^v fjitl* 
 a-lr^^ God vcjs voith him, that is, in Vt^rjonal Union ^ 
 the humane Nature being taken into Jubjiflcrtcc with 
 the Son ot God. 
 
 7,. Thirdly, God is frefcnt^ or xc'nh any in refpefl 
 tK X\it Covenant c^ Grace. He is with them to be 
 their God in Covenant ^ the Tenour whereof is, that 
 he will not leave them, nor fliall they forfake him, 
 he will h^ for them, and they (hall h^for him, and 
 not tor another. He is rr///; them for all the ends of 
 Mercy\ Love, K/ndnefs, Pardon^ Salvation, that afe 
 frapofed and exhibited in it. But neither is this the 
 Prefence ot God here intended, though this h& fprne- 
 thing that flows from it, and does attend it: For, 
 
 I. Firlt, That Prefence of God with his People, 
 hath not fucb a rW/>/t^/?^// Fftablifhmcnt, as this here 
 mentioned : h Itands on other terms, and better Se- 
 curity than that here propoled s it hath received an 
 eternal ratihcation in the Blood of C^rirlt, is iounded 
 in the immutahle purpofe of Grace, and. is not left 
 to the condit tonality here exprelled, as we llijdl lee 
 afterwards. 
 
 -2. Secondly, The Prefence here mentiowd, re- 
 fpe^fs the whole Body of the People ^ all fudah and 
 Bcnjdfnin in their national Rate and conrfiderjtion, un- 
 to whom, as luch, the eftedlual Covenant of Grace 
 was ne\'er extended •, Vor they were not all Ifrael vrho 
 nere of Ifrael. 
 
 ^. Thirdly, The Prefence here promifcd, refpe61s 
 immediately the peculiar End of bleflm^ the whole 
 People with Succels in their Wan and Undertakings; 
 lb the occafion of the Words and ihs Context, with 
 
 M 4 regard 
 
184 God^s Prefence voith a People^ Sec. 
 
 regard to the following Dilcourle, do undeniably e- 
 vince : It is not then this Prefence of God only that 
 is intended, though, as it will afterward appear, it 
 is not to be feparated from it. 
 
 4. Fourthly, There is a Prefence of God in refpe£l 
 O^frovidentialD'fpenfations, and this is two-fold. 
 
 1. Firft, General'^ Ordering, Difpofing, Guiding, 
 Ruling all things according to his own IVifdom^ by 
 his own Power, unto his own Glory : Thus he is al- 
 io prefent with all the World. He difpofts of all 
 the Affairs of all the Sons of Men as he pleafeth,y?/x 
 up one, and pulls down another , changes limes, Sea- 
 Jons^ K;>7^rf^;^x, Bounds of Nations, asfeems good to 
 him'. The help that is given to any, he doth it him- 
 lelf The Shields of the Earth belong unto God; 
 He works Deliverance in the Earth, even among them 
 that know him not. 
 
 And the Evils, Defolations and Deftruflion, that 
 the Earth is full of, are but the EiFe£ls of his Wrath 
 and Indignation, revealing it felf againlt the Ungodli- 
 nels of Men. He is thus preient with every Perlbn 
 in the World, holds his Breath, and all his Ways in 
 his Hand, dilpoles of his Life, Death, and all his 
 Concernments, as he pleafeth : He is prefent in all 
 Nations, to fet them up, pluck them down, alter ^ 
 turn, change, weaken, eftablifh, flrengthen, enlarge 
 their Bounds as he fees good -, and the day is coming 
 when all his Works will praife him : Neither is this 
 here intended : It is necefiary, and belongs to God, as 
 God, and cannot be promifed to any : It is a branch 
 of God's natural Dominion, that every Creature be ru- 
 led and difpofed of agreeably to its 'Nature^ unto 
 the End whereunto it is appointed. 
 
 2. Secondly, Special-, attended with peculiar Love^ 
 Favour, and Good-will ; Ipecial Care towards them, 
 with whom he is lo prefent ; So Abimekch ohierved 
 
 that 
 
preached to the Parliament^O^. 30. 1656. 185 
 
 that he was with Abraham, Gen 21. 22. God is voith 
 thee in all that thou doeft : With thee, to guide thee, 
 blefs thee, frejerve thee, as we fhall fee afterwards : 
 So he promiled to be with Jojlma^ chap. i. 5;. And fb 
 he was W\t\\Gideon^ Judges 6. 12. to blefs him in his 
 great Undertaking: And lo with Jererny^ chap. ij. 
 20. This is fully exprefled, Ifa. 43. i, 2, 9. / have 
 redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy na?ne, thou 
 art ynine : When thou pajfeji through the water, I will 
 be With thee, and through the rivers, they fliall not 
 overflow thee\ And this is the Vrefence of God here 
 intimated i \i\^?rejence with the People, as lofpaial 
 providential Dirpt;nlations, as is manifelt from the 
 whole Difcourfe of the Prophet -, and wherein this 
 confifts, fhall be afterwards at large declared. 
 
 2. Secondly, What is a Peoples abiding with God : 
 There is a two-fold abiding with God. 
 
 1. Firit, In perfcnal Obedience, according to the 
 tcnour of the Covenant : This is not here intended^ 
 hnt fuppofed. There is no abiding in any thing with 
 God, where there is not an abiding in this thing: 
 Vet this, as I faid, is not here principally intended, 
 but fuppofld •, fomething further is intended : For, as 
 hath been declared, it is National wotk, and National 
 abiding, that is intended. So that, 
 
 2. Secondly, There is an abiding with God in 
 National Admimflrations : This is djruit of the other, 
 in thofe who are called to them : And that this is 
 principally here intended, is evident, from that Qle 
 that 4/^; made of this Information and Exhortation 
 of the Prophet : He did not only look to h\s per/onal 
 Walking thereupon, but alio immediately let upon 
 the Work of Ordering the whole Aftairs of the King- 
 dom, \o as God might be glorified thereby : How this 
 may be effefled, fliall at large afterward be declared ; 
 what hath already bcvn Ipokea, may fufSce for a 
 
 Ibun 
 
1 86 God*s Prefence vpith a People^ &c. 
 
 foundation of that tropofition, which I fhall this Day 
 infilt upon : And it is this, 
 
 Ob.] The Prefence of God with a People in Jpe- 
 cial providential bifpenfations for their Good, depends 
 en their obediential Prefence with him in national 
 adminijf rat ions to his Glory : The Lord is with you, 
 whilft you are with Him. 
 
 For the Explication of this Proportion, Ibme few 
 Things are to be premifed : 
 
 I. Firit, The Prefence of God with his People, as 
 to fpecial Grace in the Covenant, and his Prefence 
 with them, as to fpecial AJftflance in Providence, pro- 
 ceed on very different accounts. 
 
 J. Firlt, They have a very different Rfe : The 
 foundation and principal Law of fpecial Grace dif 
 fenfed in the Covenant, is this, That Ibme finned^ 
 and another widiSpttnifhed : ib it is laid down exprefly, 
 ifai. '^oi, 6. All we likefheep have gone aftray^ we have 
 turned every one to his ocan way^ and the Lord hath 
 made to meet on him the iniquity of us all, 2 Cor. 
 5.21. He was made fin for us, that we might become 
 the right eoufnefs of God in him. Gal. ^. 15, 14. 
 a ciafe for us, that the blejjtng of faithful Abraham 
 might come on them that believe, i Pet. 2. 24. This 
 is xht great zndfovereign Principle of the Covenant 
 ' of Grace, that a Commutation fhould be made of 
 Perfans^ as to Punifhments, and Rewards \ that 5/«- 
 ^^rx fhould be provided of a Subftitute, one that 
 fliould undergo the Pnnifhment due to them, that 
 ^hey might. go free, 2ind procure a Reward for them 
 who could procure none for themf elves. 
 
 Now the f up re me and fbveraign Law of Providen- 
 tial Difpeniations, is utterly diverfe and alien from 
 this of the Covenant of Grace. This you have 
 ^afierted fcf ^. t8. 20. The foul that finneth it fhall 
 die : one fJjall not bear the inii^uity oj another : 
 
 the 
 
prejc/j'd to the Parliament^ Oft. 30. 1656. 187 
 
 rhc ri^htcoufncfs of the righteous JJyall be "upon him^ 
 and the mckcdncjs nj the wicked flnill he ufon him : 
 Take this for a Law ot Univerljl Right, and indiC 
 pcnlable, extend it to ihc Covenant ot Grace, and it 
 is ablblutely cxclufive o{ the SuMtitution and Satit 
 faflion ot Chrilt. But ir is the Ground, Rule, and 
 Law o\ providential Difpenfations wliichGod is there 
 treating about ^ and vindicating his dealing with any 
 People, as to his Pretence with them, and AQing 
 towards them therein ^ which is d'rverfe, as you 
 fee from the foundation of the Covenant before 
 mentioned. 
 
 2. Secondly, As the foundations are diverle, fb is 
 theRuleof their r(?/^//;?/^j;7r^. What is the rule and 
 Tvcafure of God's Continuance with his People in 
 the Covenant ot Grace ? Plainly this, That he will 
 never forjake them ^ and on that account will take 
 care that they fhall never forjake him, but abide 
 with him tor ever. It is not n/';//? they do ^o^ and 
 ^0^ he will abide with them, and when they ceafe ^o 
 to do, he will forjake them, as to his fcederal and 
 Covenant Prefence : there is not fuch zfandy founda- 
 tion left us, of our abiding with God in Chrilt See 
 the tenour of the Covenant, Jer. ;i. -ii,. chap. 'x,i. 
 98, :?o, 40. The fum is, that God will be mth 
 them^ and take care that they alvcays abide with him •, 
 and therefore hath he provided tor all Intervenicnaes 
 imaginable, that nothing fliall violate this Union : 
 God lays his Vnchangeahlcnefs as the foundation of 
 the Covenant, MaL :?. 6. and he therein makes us 
 unchangeable \ not ahfolutely fb, tor we change every 
 moment : but with refped to the terms and bounds 
 of the Covenant, he hath undertaken that xce fhall 
 never leave him. The havo of God's PrtfLnce, in re- 
 fpcQ of Providential Difpcnfations, and all /fecial 
 tr'ivilrges attcnding.it, \i quite of another importance-^ 
 
 it 
 
1 88 God's Prefence with a People^ 6cc. 
 
 it is purely conditional, as you may lee in my Text. 
 The tenour of it is exprefled to the height, i Sam.2. go. 
 I /aid indeed, that thy houfe, and the houfe of thy 
 father Should voalk before me for ever : hut now the 
 Lord faith, That be far from me ^ for them that ho- 
 nour me, I mil honour, and they that defpife me, 
 fhall be lightly efleemed. Here is no Alteration of 
 Counfel or Purpofe in God, but meerly an explana- 
 tion of the Rule, Law, and Tenour of providential 
 Difpenfations : no interpretation of the Covenant of 
 Grace. Eli held not the Priejihood by that Covenant, 
 but an explication of the tenour of a Privilege given 
 in efpecial Providence, PfaL 89. 32, 33. Hence is 
 that variety of God's Dealings with Men, mentioned 
 in the Scripture, which yet are always righteous, ac- 
 cording to one or other of thefe Rules, and Laws : 
 If a. 45. 23, 24. lays God of his People, Thou hafi not 
 called upon me^ Jacob, hut thou hajl been weary of 
 me, Ifrael. Thou haft not brought me thefmall cattle 
 of thy burnt- offerings, neither hafi thou honoured me 
 with thy facrifices. Thou hafi bought me no fweet 
 cane with money, neither haft thou filled me with the 
 fat of thy facrifices : but thou haft made me to ferve 
 with thy ftns, thou haft wearied me with thine iniqui- 
 ties. What then fhall be done with this People ? 
 depart from them, deftroy them, let them die : No ^ 
 ver. 27. /, even I am he that blotteth out thy tranf- 
 grejjions for ?mne own fake, and will not retnember 
 thy fins. So alio chap, % 7. ver. 1 7. for the iniquity 
 0/ his covet oufnefs I was wroth, andfmote him : I 
 hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly 
 in the way of his heart. Surely now God will 
 utterly confume them, root and branchy as Perlbns 
 incorrigible, and irrecoverable : No -, theCale is quite 
 otherwlfe, ver. 18, 19. / have feen his way, and will 
 hpal hitn 3 / oaill lead him alfo, and refiore comfort 
 
 to 
 
^ - - • ■ L 
 
 preach d to the Farl'idment^O^.'^^o, 16^6. 189 
 
 to h'm : I will pity him, pardon him, fave, lanflify 
 him, and hll him with Conlblation. Go now to 
 Ezekicl^ chap. 7,-^. 18. WHyen the righteous turns from 
 his righteoujnefs ; What then ^ God will heal him, 
 and rellore Comforts unto him, as it was in the 
 f laces before mentioned : No, No ! he jhall die \ 
 he fhall be cut off. What is the reafbn ot this di* 
 verfity ^ Why ! in the firlt place, God Ipeaks ot" his 
 dealings unto their Sou/s as to his Covenant ofGrace^ 
 and all the Mercies of it ^ in this Lij}, as to his 
 dealing with their Tcj-fons, and their outn\ird con- 
 cernments^ in the Difpenlations of his Providence. 
 And the not Jredin^ hercot, hath made fbme pro- 
 nounce inconfiderately^ the Co\cnant of Grace to he 
 fTieerly conditional \ becaule they find many Mercies 
 and Privileges Ipoken ot under fuch a notion j not 
 confidering that all thofe Vropojals belong to the 
 Law 0^ outv.\irdTrovidcnce, and not to the nature of 
 the Covenant ofPromife^ ellablifhed in the Blood of 
 Chrilt. And unlets this be allowed, nothing can be 
 more contrary to my Text, than that Promilc, (and 
 luch as that) which we have IJai. -5; 4. 9. where 
 provifion is made for God's abidjng with his Teoplc^ 
 notwitliltanding all their hackflidirgs and Provoca- 
 tions, which he will lb tar heal, as that he may 
 not tf^rfakc them •, and this is, in the Firlt place, to 
 be Obfervcd, That we do not, in the confideration of' 
 God'i Vrcfcnce and Wuhdravckgs^ as to Providential 
 Dijpcnfations, call any rcfleilion on tlie Stability and 
 Unchangcublcncls of the Covenant of Grace. David 
 hath fully Itjted this buhnels, 2 Sanj. 2:>. <j. faith he. 
 Although ;;;/ houfe he not Jo ivith God ^ yet he hath made 
 iLith me an roerlajlmg covenant, ordered in all things^ 
 and Jure : for this is all myjalvation, and all my dcjire, 
 although he make it not to grow. Dav/d Iv^d 2 
 Promife tor the Pr.fperiry of his Houfe -, he had al(b 
 
 an 
 
190 God's Prefence with a People^ See. 
 
 an Engagement of th^fure Mercies of the Covenant. 
 The difterent tenour of thefe Engagements, as to 
 their fuccels and eflablifhment, he gives us this Ac- 
 count of: The Covenant is ahfolutc and. unchangeable^ 
 that is, order ei in all things^ and Jure ; the Profpe- 
 rity of his Houfe depends on another 'Law and Rule^ 
 that is, fubje£l to Alteration. 
 
 2. Secondly, Obferve the nature of this depend* 
 ance .of God's Prefence, on our abiding with him : It 
 doth nor depend upon it, as the Ejjed: upon hs proper 
 Caufe^ as tho' it were proci^ed by it, merited by it ^ 
 we enjoy not the leajl morfel of Bread on any luch 
 account, much lels fuch eminent Privileges as attend 
 God's Ipecial Providential Prefence ; We dejerve 
 nothing at the hand of God, and therefore if he 
 (liouid take us in the midlt of the cboiceft obedience, 
 and fill us with the fiercell of Mileries, he did us 
 no wrong: and therefore the Lord doQs/o deal iomQ- 
 times with his ^ and that not only with particular 
 Perfons^ as in the Cale of Job^ but alfb with his 
 People \n general, as Pfal. 44. 17, 18. 19. All this is 
 come upon us ^ yet have we not forgotten thee, neither 
 have voe dealt falfly in thy covenant. Our heart is not 
 turned back^ neither have our fteps declined from thy 
 Way. Though thou haff fore broken us in the place of 
 dragons^ and covered us with the fl)adow of death, 
 Tho' he requires our Duty at our hands, yet he is 
 not tied to any fuch prefcnt Reward. This is all : it 
 ordinarily depends upon it, as a Confequent upon an 
 Antecedent, vyhich allows an interpofition of Grace 
 and Mercy ^ as Nchcm. 9. 1 9. Keverthelefs, thou being 
 mercful^ forfookeft them not : So elfewhere that good 
 Man prays, Remember me for good, and /pare me, 
 according to the multitude of thy mercies. For the 
 glory of his Righteoufnefs, and of his voays in the 
 World, God hath ordered, that his People (hall txialk 
 
 with 
 
preach' d to the Farlutment, Oft. 30. 1 6 56. 191 
 
 with him, when he abides eminently and confpicu- 
 oufly in a fpecial manner with them. 
 
 ^. Thirdly, Obfcrve, That our ubiding with Go^^ 
 even in National Adminiltrations, is the proper 
 EffcQ of his Frefcncc with us in Covenant Dijpcn- 
 fnt'lons • fo that all in the Ijjuc^ is of mere Mercy 
 and Grace : Though the Condition fecms to he mpo- 
 fed on us, yet it is from him alone that we have 
 Strength for its Performance. It is in this, and luch- 
 like C//?j, as l^cruid faid it was with them, at their 
 dedicating their Silver and Gold for the building of 
 the Temple^ ^d crc«\ h<r ciJv, 0{' thine oven, LorJ^ 
 have we given unto thee : We do but return him his 
 cvcn^ we give him but the Fruits of his civn Grtice ^ 
 and without it, we can make no Return whatever. 
 
 Thefe Things hQ\x\g premised, I fhall give the Pro- 
 pojition fbme Confirmation^ and fo delcend to the 
 due Improvement of it. 
 
 I luppofe I need not go for Proof beyond the Oh- 
 fervation of the conftant tenour of God's Proceedings 
 with his People of old. When did he not deal thus 
 with them ^ What Inftance can be given of tranf- 
 grefling this Ru/e ^ Is the whole Stcry of the Na- 
 tion of the Jews any thing but the llluflration of 
 this Propofition ? Some ruled tec II, and fought the 
 Lord, and the Lord was with them, and prolpercd 
 them in all their Ways ^ {bm^ fell Jrom him, and 
 walked according to their own Imaginations, and the 
 Lord cut them (hort on that account. Yea, fbme- 
 times the lame Man, as Solomon, Afa^ I ^cciah, expe- 
 rienced both thele States and Conditions. Hath not 
 the State of all Nations, fince tbey came into the 
 Power of Men projcffing the Knowledge of him, been 
 the fame ^ Look on the Roman Kmpire, did it not 
 flouriJJy under the Hmi of Men who rufd with God, 
 and were faithful with the Saints * h not the pre- 
 
 fcnt 
 
^192 God's Prefence mth a People^ Sec. 
 
 fent Diftraflion of it under the Fury and Cruelty of 
 TurA and Pope^ the ifTue of the Violence, Unrighte- 
 oufnels, Idolatry^ Luxury, and Perfecution of ill Go- 
 vernors ? Doth not the Demonftration of all God's 
 People in the World, the Confideration whereof in 
 particular, might be infilled on as the Ground and 
 Reafon of the Truth infilled on, require that it fhould 
 be thus > Leviticus 26, and almolt the whole Book 
 of Deuteronomy, are Sermons on this Text, and every 
 Verfe almoft in them would afford a nevp Confirmation 
 of the Truth in hand •, I (hall need rather then, to 
 caution from Miftakes, than farther to confirm the 
 Propofition. For this End, take thele enfuing Ob- 
 fervations. 
 
 I. Firlt, All outward fiourifhing or Vrofperity of a 
 People, doth not always argue thtfpecidl Prefence of 
 God with them. There are fundry Things required 
 to make Succefs and Profperity an Evidence of the 
 Prefence of God. 
 
 I. Firlt, That the People themfelves profpered, be 
 his People, his peculiar. How many wicked Nations 
 are there in the World, that for a long feafbn have 
 received Bleffings (as it were) and Succefs in their 
 Undertakings ? Is the Lord amongft them by his 
 fpecial Prefence ? Not at all : He is ufing them, in- 
 deed, for his oTion End and Purpofes, to break others^ 
 or fill up the meafiire of their own Iniquities, that 
 their Deflruftion may be an evident Demonftration of 
 his Vengeance and righteous Judgments to all the 
 World -, but prefent with them, in the fenfe contend- 
 ed about, he is not. The Cafe is itated, Heb. i. 2. 
 as you may fee in thofe Chapters at large. It is the 
 lame Cafe with the Antichriftian and Mahometan Na- 
 tions in the World at this Day : Their Profperity is 
 no Evidence of God's Prefence, becaufe themfelves 
 are his Enemies. Other Bottoms, Reafbns, and 
 
 Grounds 
 
preached to the Parlument, Oft. 50. 1656. 1 9* 
 
 Grounds there are of their Succrfjcs •, God's ownj/^g of 
 them, is none of them. 
 
 2. Secondly, That the whole JVor^ be good, and 
 have a tendency to God's glory\ wherein they are en- 
 gaged. David's Counlcl tor the killing of Uriah, 
 profpered and took efieft, yet was not God with him 
 therein ^ the Work engaged in, mult be according to 
 his Mi fid: And, 
 
 :j. Thirdly, Made ufeful and fubfervient to his 
 Glory. When the Hearts of a People can fccure 
 themlelves in thefe things, then may they rejoyce in 
 their Frofpcrity^ as a pledge of God s Prefence with 
 them. 
 
 7, Secondly, Even great AffiRions, eminent 'Diflref- 
 fcs, long Perplexities^ may have a confiftency with 
 God's Jpecia/ Prefence : Tho' the WTlxel ^oq.s on, yec 
 it may have a crofs Wheel in it, that may caufe Rubs 
 and Dilturbances. The Rule of God's acting in his 
 prefence, is his own Wifdom, and our Good in the 
 IlTue, not our/7jr/7j/felfdeltroying Defires. Had the 
 bed People in the World all their own Defires, they 
 would be every way ruined. When God is mgh to 
 us, he knows what is belt for us. Security from 
 dcflroying Evils, not trying Evils, he gives to them 
 with whom he is. 
 
 And this is all that I fliall offer for the Explica- 
 tion, Confirmation, and Cautioning of the Fropojition 
 infilled on ^ what remains further to be opened, will 
 fall in under the Ujes ot it ^ which now cnfue. 
 
 Ufe I.] 1l\\\s fpecul Prefence ot God, being (as^ 
 you have heard ) the great and only Concernment of 
 any People, the tenour or condition thereof being o« 
 abiding with him , let our firit UJe be to inllruQ us 
 particularly, 
 
 I. Firlt, What thi5 /fro j7Pr(/?/r<:^ cf God Is, and 
 wherein it doth confid 
 
 VOL, ii; f* 4. Se- 
 
194 ^^^'^ Prefence vc'ith a People^ &c. 
 
 2. Secondly, What it is for us to abide with God, 
 fo as we may enjoy it. For the full difcovery of 
 the firft, I fhall confider it in that eminent Inftance^ 
 wherein of old he did grant his Prefence to his Peo- 
 ple. The bottom of that ftupendous Undertaking of 
 the Ifraelites in leaving Egypt ^ and journying through 
 the Wildernefs into Canaan^ lay in the promife of this 
 Prefence 0^ God with them, Exod, 7. 10, 11, 12. 
 On this one Confideration their whole Undertaking 
 and Affair turned : To this Iffue it is put by Mofes^ 
 Exod. 33. 15:. Jf thy prefence go not with us ^ carry us 
 up not hence. They will not move one pep without 
 hi?n ^ and mth him they care not whither they go. 
 Now this Prefence of God with Xkvtm^ fymhoUcally 
 did confift in, or rather was reprefented by two 
 things : 
 
 1. Firft, The pillar of the cloudy and fire^ which 
 was with them ordinarily, 
 
 2. Secondly, The Appearance of his Glory ^ which 
 they enjoyed on extraordinary Occafions. 
 
 I. The firft ^ with the firfi Ufe of it is mentioned 
 Exod, 13. 21, 22. And the Lord 'went before them by 
 day in the pillar of a cloudy to lead them in the way, 
 and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, to 
 go by day and ?2ight : He took not away the pillar of 
 the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by nighty frotn 
 before the people. 
 
 There is mention here, as if it were o^ two pil- 
 lar s, one by day, and another by night, but it leems 
 to have been the fame pillar with leveral properties ; 
 for Chap. 14. to, 20. the fame pillar, at the fame 
 time, performs both thefe Offices, in refpefl of feve- 
 ral Perlons -, to fome it was on the one fide a cloudy 
 and darkneis, to others bright and Jhini/tg as fire : The 
 pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and 
 flood behind the?n ^ and it came between the camp of 
 
 the 
 
-preached to the Parl'ument^ Oft. 30. 1656. 195 
 
 the Egyptians^ and the Gwtp of Ifrahl^ and it vcas a cloui 
 ofdarknefs to them^ and it £avc light by mght to thefe. 
 
 After this, when the Ark was made, and the Ta- 
 hernacle eredled, this Cloudy which until then went 
 before the Cmp^ came and covered thu labcrnnck 
 Night and Day, as itltood in the midlt of the Camp, 
 or the Congregation ^ as a cloud it was by djy^ and as 
 2pilld?' cj pre by night,ly.o^, 4c. :54, ^5, ?6, 57, n\ 
 And there it continued with the People all the while 
 they were in the fVilderne/s, Aehem. 9. 19/ Thi^ 
 being the firlt eminent Pledge of the Prefence of God 
 with that People, let us confider what was indulged 
 or granted to them thereby. 
 
 J. Firlt, They had hereby conjlant direUion in all 
 their Journyings and Undertakings, they were by 
 this Villar dire£led in their way : So at large it is 
 expre^d, 'Kumb. 10. 9^ as alfb Exod. 40. God 
 by this Pledge of his Yrcfence^ was the beginning of 
 all their Refi and Motion ^ the Guide and Direflor of 
 all their Undertakings : So that they moved, a£led, 
 retted, proceeded according to his Will and Counlcl^ 
 He guided them by his Eye ^ and led them by his: 
 Counfel, Plal. :?2. 18. Sometimes, perhaps, they would 
 be forvoard, they would be up, u^ling^ doings their 
 Hearts are full of Defires, and they arc impatient of 
 dcLiy. If it be not according to his Mind, he will 
 cjufc a Cloud to abide on their Xibernacle^ or their 
 Aliemblies and Meeetings • a Cloud that (hall darken 
 them, and diltradt them in their Confultations, that 
 they (hall not be able to take one ftcp forward. 
 Though their Defires be great, their IntcJiuns good, 
 yet the Cloud (hall be upon them, and they (hall not 
 knew their way. 
 
 Sometimes, perhaps, they are heavy Jearful^flcthful^ 
 there is a l.wn in the way. Giants are in tlie Land, 
 Dijfficulties and Perplexities lie in the way before them 
 
 N 2 in 
 
196 Qod's Prefence vp'ith a People, 6cc. 
 
 in fiich and fiich Undertakings^ they have no heart to 
 them, the v:ay is long and perilous, better re mm 
 than go forward. Would God now have th^mpafs 
 on and engage? the cloud (hall break up, and go 
 before them,, they fhall fee fo far on their way, as 
 to go forth with chearfulnefs. Only obferve this! 
 that when the cloud was taken up, they knew they 
 were to go on in the way wherein they were, and 
 journied accordingly ^ yet they know not whither 
 they fhould go, nor what would be the end of their 
 Journey : And therefore it is faid, that when they 
 journled, the Ark went before them to feek out a 
 refling- place for them^ Numb. 10. 35. It was carried 
 on^ to fee where Xht pillar or cloud of dire^ion would 
 ilay, and there they refled where-ever it were. When 
 God gives a People fb much Direftion, as that they 
 fee it is their Duty to go on, and to trult him in Ij:^ 
 doing ^ though they fee not the End, nor know what 
 their Refting-place will be, yet it is 2i pledge of God's 
 Prefence with them. 1 fuppofe, in your Ajfembly you 
 have had the cloud taken oif, as to your Engage- 
 ments in Ibme Undertakings, concerning which you 
 are to trult, that the Ark of God's Prefence^ the 
 Lord Jefus Chrijl, will find you out a Relting-place, 
 which, as yet, appears not unto you. 
 
 What a full Experience have we had of this kind 
 of proceeding among us? In the laft Ajfembly of Par- 
 liament, how many had no lejs real Intentions to 
 be at work for God, than now ? God faw that it 
 ivould not be for the advantage of the People that 
 they fliould proceed : Hence the cloud relied on that 
 Ajfembly^ that they could rot fee how to take one 
 ficp forward. He was Itill prcfent with us, but \t 
 was by a darkning cloud, that we could not journey 
 towards our Reft. Nor is it the Will or Counfel of 
 Man, but of God, that is to be looked to in thele 
 
 thin^v 
 
preaclfdto the Parlidmcnt, Oft. 50. 1656. 197 
 
 things. We now hope the cloud is ///?, and we are 
 journying townrds our Refl. The Great Angel oj hn 
 frcjcncc will find J rcH tor us in the good Provi- 
 dence of God. 
 
 This then lies in God's JfcccUil Frcfrnce ^ He is 
 with us, to give us Direftion in all our Undertakings ^ 
 to take away Darhufs, Perplexities, Difficulties from 
 our Councels, or to caufe us to rcj] and ceafe from 
 whatever may come into our Hearts that is not ac- 
 cording to his IWind: The Lord give us evermore of 
 this his Frefencc. 
 
 I cannot Itay to (hew you the feveral vcays where- 
 by God now communicates Direction to a People, 
 how he inclines their Hearts infcnfibly, yet povccrfu!- 
 ly 5 fixes the bent of their Sfints ejfctluaUy^ (their 
 Hearts being in his Hand as the Rivers of Water, 
 which he turns as he pleafeth,) fupplies them with 
 Keafonings 2nd Confu /tat ions beyond the verge of their 
 own Wifdom •, propoles, occafions, Invitations, Pro- 
 vocations ^ gives them Spirit and Courjge beyond 
 their natural Frames and Tempers ^ enlarges them in 
 Prayer, or fhuts them up -, makes flV/j on the one 
 hand, and open Paths on the other ^ with innumerable 
 fuch Ways and Means as in his infinite Wifdom he 
 is pleafed to make efieclual for their guidance. It 
 fuffices, that in the ufe if Means, through Patience 
 and waiting upon him, they fliall be direiled to that 
 which x^pfeajing to him-, lb is he with them. 
 
 2. The lecond ife of this Pillar, was, to give 
 them TroteUion and Defence in all their way. So 
 Exod. 14. 19, 20, 24. This prote£fcd them from 
 the Egyptians, and from thence God ' troubled their 
 Enemies; out of the Pillar, that is, from his cfpecial 
 Prefence: This [/c of it is infilted on, Ifa. 4. 7, 6. 
 The cbud that was as fmokc by day, and as fire by 
 N ? nigliti 
 
io8 God's Prefence voith a People, &Cc. 
 
 night ; was alfo a Jhadow^ a place of refuge^ and a 
 covers: in one word, a Prote&ion , or a Defe?2ce, 
 
 And this is a fecond thing which is in God's fpe- 
 cial Prefence : He will proteft or defend them with 
 whom he is fo prefent ! He is their Dwelling-place, 
 Tfd, 90. then when in .this World they had none ^ 
 their refnge in* the time of trouble. So Ifa, 25;. 4. & 
 26.1. &: 3 1.4 . Promifes and Inftances, to'make this good, 
 abound ^ they are known to all. The time would/?// 
 me to infill upon them. 1 might go over all the 
 Caufes, Means, and Ways, of the fears. Dangers^ 
 Rzanes of liich a People, and fhew you how a D^- 
 j^;^^^ is provided againftthem all. 
 
 ^ Are their Fears from them/elves^ becaufe of tjieir 
 Yolly^ Weaknels, and Divificn ? or from pretended 
 friends, becaufe of their Envy and Dcfertion> or from 
 open Enemies, becaufe of their P^iwfr, Cruelty, Malice, 
 and Revenge ? a Defence is provided on every ac- 
 count 5 Heat, Rain, Tempefts, Storms, Adverfity, 
 Profperity, all are provided againll, where God is 
 fjreient, Ifa. 32. i, 2. And if any People in the 
 World have Experience of this Truth, we have it this 
 day. Had' not the Lord been with us, who had not 
 ' ijbilrcyed us ? Enemies, Friends, Abroad, at Home, 
 \^m own Follies, all, any of them, had done the 
 Work, had not the Lord himfelf been with us. 
 -" Only obieive, that the Prefence of God, as to thefe 
 Effecls, may fometimes, in fome Particulars be eclip- 
 fed^ and the Effe&s themfelves, for fome fealbn, be 
 intangled, though there be not an utter breach be- 
 tween him and his People. How often did the I/rae- 
 ^/V^i attempt things without his Dire ff ion "! How of- 
 ten did he break m .upon them to their Woe and Sor- 
 Tow 1 yet, for the main, he forfook them not, until 
 the great Work intended by them was accomplifhed, 
 ^chcf?i. o. 10, It is not every Intanglement^ every 
 
 Diftp- 
 
preacb'd to the Par lu?/icnt^ Sept. 17. 1656. 199 
 
 Difappointment, every Defeat, that argues God's de- 
 pariure, as to his fpccial Prclencc. It mjy be -good 
 for us Ibmetimes to be in liich a Condition, ana then 
 that deltTtion ihat carries in to it, is irom the Pre- 
 fence of God : We are now grown to that, that if 
 every thing immediately furmount not our Imngind' 
 tion, fay Ibme, G^d is gone jrom Them ^ not becaule 
 it is lo, but becaufe they would have it .fo ^ but he is 
 merciful with whom we have to do, and will not 
 call off his People for ever. 
 
 2. Secondly, The People with whom God was, 
 had the Glory cf Jehovah, as a Pledge othis Prefenc 
 with them ^ this appeared only at extraordinary fea- 
 Ibns ; lo it dki at the giving of the Lfitv^ Exod. 24. 
 16. fo alfo at the Jetting up of the Tabernacle. 
 It differed from the C/oud ^ for when the C/oud 
 was upon the Tabernacle, the g/ory of the Lord 
 filled it. It appeared again to all the People, Levir. 
 9. 2;. I fhall not now enquire what was this vifikic 
 reprefentation of theMajeRy of God ^ it futficeth, as 
 to x.\\t purpofe in hand, that when God. gives his 
 Prefence to a People, at extraordinary Icafbns, he af- 
 fords them extraordinary Manifeflations of his Glory. 
 So in EzckieFs Vifion of thole dreadful Wheels of 
 Providence, the Glory of the Lord is faid to appear 
 in the Temple ^ and as his efpecial Prefence departed 
 from the Temple and the City, {q the Glory, by fe- 
 veral degrees, t/^/j^r;^^/ alfo, chap. 2. 10, 18, 19. cb. 
 II. 2:^. 
 
 Eminent and glorious Appearances rvith, and for a 
 People in extraordinary fjalbns, is then another thing 
 that accompanies God's fpecial providential Prelcnce 
 with them, when they are nt an utter lols in their 
 Counfels, at 2 ft and in their Motions, difappointed in 
 their Undertakin^^^s, delated in their Enterprifcs, prcl- 
 fed on every fide above meafure, or called to Ibme 
 
 N 4 extra- 
 
Qco God's Prefence vpith a-PeopIe^&cc, 
 
 extraordinary Work^ ^o that their ordinary T^lreUion 
 and Protetlwn will not carry them on, nor bear them 
 up 5 then will God relieve them, by fbme efpecial 
 appearance of his Glory. In the Mount will the 
 Lord be feen : This will give a relief, when all is 
 at a lols •, and in this lies the moft difcriminating 
 evidence of fpecial Providence. Glorious Appearances 
 in great Jlre'i^ts, are eminent Teftimonies of God's 
 Regard. Could I now infill on Ibme of the Inflances, 
 that might be given, of this kind pf dealing with 
 us in England^ in the purfuit of the Cauje we have 
 in hand, it would make us ajhamed of all our Un- 
 worthinefs, carnal Fears, and Unbelief. 
 
 This \%x}cit Jecond Evidence o^QlO^^ Freience: He 
 is with a People, to dlreU them, to proteU^ to mani- 
 feft his Glory amongll them ^ his Glory, in balancing 
 the Ilfues of Providence one in refpeQ of another ^ 
 Jo that all fhall acknowlege, that of a Truth the Lord 
 is amongft them. Blejjed is the People^ that is in 
 fuch a Cafe \ yea, blcffed is the People wbofe God is 
 the Lord. What would you havp more ? Here is 
 Ea/e of all Cares; a Remedy for all Sores, Security 
 in the m\dQ.oi Troubles, Reft, and Peace, and aflu- 
 red Dwelling-places, though the AJJyrian fhould be 
 in the Land. 
 
 Thus you fee what is this great Concernment of 
 any People j let us now confider the Tenure of this 
 Blejjcdnefs, on what Account it is to be obtained or 
 enjoyed : Now this is, our abiding with God. This 
 tl^en is next to be cor^fidered, what it is for a Peo- 
 fh\ what It is for you and us ^o to abide with 
 God, as that we iuay, m all our Affairs, enjoy his 
 Prcfme in the Ways before defcribed. 
 
 Now fomething is hereunto previoufly required 5 
 fbmething it confills in ; ' 
 
 I, Firft^ 
 
-preach* d to the Parliament, 0&. 30.1656. 2Ci 
 
 I. Firit, Tint we may abide wiih God^ this is in- 
 difpenlibly required, that we may have Peace with 
 hni] in Jtlus Chrilt. It' we are m'ver with him, wc 
 cannot abide with him ^ no Man can abide ivhere he 
 never comes. The Acceptance of our Perfons, lies at 
 the bottom of the Acceptance of" our Duties. As the 
 fpccial Prejcnce of God with any, is in and by Chrilt, 
 and no otherwife \ lb is our abiding with God, in 
 gnd through him. God with us, is the Name of 
 Chrilt : Our being with God, is in him who is our 
 Peace. Tea) cannot walk together, unlefs they be fo 
 agreed, Amos 3. :?. Now, becaule this is not to be 
 expciled from all the Individuals of a Nation ^ yet 
 this Thing is to be endeavoured, 
 
 That the Rulers of it be fuch as have this Inter efl. 
 I do not dived of a fliare in Government, thole who 
 have no fiare in Chrilt, if lawfully called thereunto. 
 But I fay, When God gives Governors, whom he 
 intends to make a blejffing unto a People, they fiiall. 
 he fuel) as are blefled ot him in Chrilt. And if ever 
 the Government of this Nation, in this prelent Confli- 
 tuticn, fuppole it the molt exa£tly framed, and 
 balanced, in the feveral Parts of it, tor the further- 
 ance ot Publick Good, be devolved into the hands 
 of Men not interelted in God by Chrilt ; tho' the 
 Conftitution may be abfolutely good, yet the Govern- 
 ment will not be blelled, and the Nation will be 
 ruined ^ for God and his glory will depart : Micah ^- 
 %, 6. ft is Chrijl that is our Peace, ev'n in Outward 
 Troubles : Tiny are feven JJjepherds under bun, and 
 eight principal men, accepted with him, that are to 
 be our Relief 
 
 It is true, for fomc particular AOicns, or Work.^', 
 a Wicked Man may be anointed ; particularly, as 
 Jehu, and Jeroboam the Son o^Joafl): But you have 
 no Inltance that ever God v/as with a People to blefs 
 
 {hem 
 
202 God's Prefence mtb a People^ &c. 
 
 them indeed, in a courfe o^fpeckl Providence, when 
 wicked Men, by their own conjent, were their Rulers 5 
 where the l/«/^/? zvA Relation between them and the 
 People is confiderable. I confefs unto you, I never 
 think of the State of England^ but my Heart trembles 
 at this thing, namely, that thofe who have, and it is 
 fit Jhould have lb great 2iJJ)are in the Government of 
 this Common-weal, (hould have their rife from the 
 body of the People, that is dark, and profane, and full 
 of Enmity agamft the Remnant : Did not God over- 
 rule Men, contrary to their own inward Principles 
 and Lufts, how foon would Ruin and Delblation 
 break in upon that hand! And give me leave to 
 lay, That God, in his Ibvereign Providence, having 
 called lb mmy at this time to the Place of Rule and 
 Authority, who indeed (as we believe) love the Lord 
 Jeliis in fincerity 5 it feems to me to look as your 
 Duty, to confider all Ways and Means whereby the 
 Tower of thele Nations may be m fucceeding feajons 
 devolved on Men of the WkQjplrlt and Condition. 
 
 I fhall not interpole in that, which by Ibme is To 
 much fpoken of, The Reign of the Saints 5 1 am fure, 
 the Means ufed and attempted by fome, to let upon, 
 and to let up luch a Rule and Dominion, have not ht- 
 covn^foher Men, much lefs Saints ofChrift ^ yet this 
 \ mufty^;^, and in th^ faying of it, I dare lay, Hear ye 
 vie. A/a, and all Judah and Benja7nln -, If ever God 
 ceale to call Saints, that is, Men interefted perfonally 
 in Chrift, to Places of Chief Authority in this Nation, 
 or commit the Power of it into other hands 5 and 
 when thole called to Power, ceale to exert it in a 
 fithfervlency to the Kingdom of Chrift, for the 'true 
 fplrltual Advantage of his People, there will he an 
 end of England'^ Glory and Uapplnefs : I f^jy, Hear ye 
 this, all ye People ! 
 
 This 
 
freach'di tbeFarluwievt.Odi. o^o. \6^6, 205 
 
 This I hive delivered long fincc^ and' many times 
 in x\{\^ place : This I fay ftill, and in this Fcrfw^fion 
 hope iG live, and die. 
 
 The 1 ord guide you in this thing : However, we 
 fliull live on the good Vrovidence ot our God, who 
 hath hitherto tiiken Care lor us. 
 
 This then, 1 lay, is pre-required, as a qualification 
 of any Pcrfon, to the performance ot this Dury of 
 ab'idir.g With God. It is the FJalmiJl'S Advice, i/j/. 
 2. 11,12. Let this Principle be always owned a- 
 monglt you : by it, honour Chrilt in the World ^ 
 g've Him the prcheniwcnce^ it is the Father's Will 
 He fliouid have it in all things Expcft not ihtFre- 
 fence ot God, but upon this account. Bear Tcliimony 
 hert-n againft the zcorld ofprojane Men who delpile 
 thelc Things. Seeing then it cannot be expefted to 
 have this Qualification diffufed univerfally, as yet, 
 through the body of the People, let the Rulers take 
 care that they be not the Caufe of God's departure 
 from us. 
 
 2. Secondly, What is it now for fuch Terfons to 
 abide with God, io as they may expeit covijortahly 
 the continuance of his Pretence with them, wliich is 
 their All that they 7iecd or defire: I (hall name 
 fome lew Things that are fignally required there- 
 unto. 
 
 I. Firft, That they enquire of God, mk Counfcl 
 at his hand, look to h'm for direction in all their 
 Affairs. He is prejent with them to give them Di- 
 rection : Not xofcek for it at his hand, is exceedingly 
 to defpife him ^ it mult arife trom one of iheic two 
 cpprchenfions^ either he dires no\fcr us^ or he Xv/^irx 
 not how to direft us. When he gave Direftion by 
 the Chud on the Tabernacle, the People being re- 
 proved t^'-r their carnal Fears, and Unbelief* upon the 
 return of the Spies ^ Ibme pf them would needs injlmtly 
 
 unto 
 
204 God's ?re fence vpitb a People, &c. 
 
 unto the Mpuntains^ and fight with the Canaanites 5 
 but, (ays the Holy Ghoft, the Ark abode in the Camp : 
 They went without Goi's UreUion^ and prolpered 
 accordingly. With what Contempt doth God fpeak 
 of the W'ljiom and Counfels of the Sons of Men, 
 when they will adhere unto them? How does he 
 make it \{\% glory to turn all their Confultations into 
 Folly, and to make them err in their Ways, like a 
 drunken Man ! How doth he bid them take counjel 
 together, when he intends to deftroy them ! What 
 Inftances may be given of all ^^^i and profperous Ru- 
 lers of old, of their leeking Diretiion from God ? 
 What Vromifes of a Succels and a bleffed llTue in lb 
 doing, are there ? The words of my Text will fuffice, 
 as an Inftance in every kind. 
 
 But you will fay. How (hall we enquire of God > 
 The J<!ations had their Oracles, whereby they deluded 
 themfelves. The People of God had their Urim and 
 ^JOnmmhn, their Prophets and Oracle. Bring hither 
 the Ephod^ and enquire of God, was the word witfi 
 them : But alas ! what is all this, to the advantage 
 we have of leeking Counfel of God, and taking Di- 
 re£lion from him ? We have an Uigh-Vrieji always 
 prelent with us, by whom we may enquire. Our 
 High-Friejl is the Angel of God's Fre/ence, the Migh- 
 ty Qcuncellor^ the Power, and Eternal Wifdom of 
 God himfelf: And where is he? He appears in the 
 Vrejence of God for us, in the Holy Place not made 
 with Hands ^ having made a ne\x) and living Way for 
 U5 to come within the FW/, to Enquire of the Oracle, 
 What would we have more ? He is our Captain^ our 
 Leader, our High-Prief, Urim and Thummi???, our 
 Oracle, our Ark, on whom the Cloud of DireSion 
 refts and abides for ever. 
 
 Would 
 
frejch'd to the Parliivnent, OA.^0. 1656. 205 
 
 Would you then be ivith God ? Take Dire^ion from 
 him, by Chrift, in all your Undertakings j fo do in 
 Deecf^ and not in Word or PrefelTion only. 
 
 I hope I need not Itay to give you DireHions how 
 this Duty is to be performed, the VnSion will teach 
 it you^ and your Fellowfliip, I hope, is with the Fa- 
 ther, and with his Son Chrilt Jefus j only now take 
 thele few words with you. 
 
 1. Firft, Ciptivdtc all your Defires to his Glory; 
 let your Hearts on nothing, but with thisexprefs re- 
 ferve^ if it is confident with, and expedient unto the 
 Glory oF Chrift and his Kingdom. Be wot Jick of 
 your own violent Defires, but lay all your Aifns and 
 Defigns at his F>et, always •, becoming as weaned 
 Children before him. 
 
 2. Secondly, Bear before him zreal fenfe of yo]M 
 own Weaknejs and Folly, both leverally and joyntly, 
 if not dircUcd by him, that in his pity and compajjion 
 he may relieve you. 
 
 3. Thirdly, Keep your Hearts in that Integrity, 
 that you may always prefs and urge him with his 
 own Concernment in all your Affairs ^ this is a thing 
 that none but upright Hearts can do uprightly. 
 
 4. Fourthly, A8ually enquire, hyEiitb and Prayer^ 
 what is his Will and Mind -, do it fcverally and 
 joyntiy • do it privately^ piihlickly ^ do it roery day, 
 and on Days fet a-part lor that purpofc ; he will al^ 
 furedly be found of you. You know how eafie it 
 were to exemplify all thefe things, by Teltimonies 
 and Injlanccs^ but Time will not permit. 
 
 If inltead of" thele things, you bear your felves up- 
 on the Wings of your own Wifdom and Contrivari' 
 ccs^ though you may leem for a Icalon to have at- 
 tained a fdh pitch 2nd fight, you will be entangled, 
 and brought down in the ?r:id(} of your Courfc, with 
 Shame and foirow , lor the Lord will not be with vou. 
 
 'Sc- 
 
2o6 God's Prefence with a People, &c. 
 
 Secondly, Another thi?2£ wherein we are to be with 
 Cod, is, by trulting in him for Proteftion. ! truli 
 in the Lord for ever^^ for in the Lord Jehovah^ there 
 is everlafling fire?7gth. This man made the Lord his 
 refuge. He that triifleth in the Lord [locill be as 
 Mount Sion, that fJoall never be removed. Commit 
 your ways to the Lord^ roul your burthen on him., 
 flandftill and fee his falvation. What glorious things 
 are fpoken of this trufiing to the Lord for ProtetUon, 
 you all know. It were endlefs to infift on Commands 
 and Promifes to this purpoie ; and to fingle out one 
 or two^ were but to weaken the Caule in hand, fee- 
 ing hereunto the whole Scriptures bear witnels. I 
 fliall only fliew you what it is lb to do, in fome few 
 Particulars. 
 
 Firft, It is to frcngthen and encourage your Hearts 
 in difficult Aftairs, a comfortable Iflue whereof you 
 cannot on vifible Caules conjeflure, on the account of 
 God's engagement for your Good. To omit the in- 
 ftance of 4/^, Jehofhaphat, and many others, take that 
 fjgnal one of David in his great diftrels at Ziklag, 
 I biam. 50. You know the Story : His Habitation was 
 burnt dxi^f polled, his Wives and Children captiv'd, his 
 People confulting to ftone him, lb that he was great- 
 ly diftrejjed, the Enemy numerous, and without his 
 reach ♦, all Means of relieving his Condition, and 
 bringing it to a comfortable Ifliie, far removed: But 
 what Courle did he now take? Did he Defpond} 
 Did he give over? Did he rejl on his own Counfel 
 and Strength ^ No, laith the Holy Gholt : But David 
 OKouraged hhvjclf in the Lord his God. Have you 
 any Aftair that lies before you that xsgoodm^ honeft, 
 but yet dreadful, dificuli, entangled? Your Hearts 
 are ready to faint whenever you think of it ^ it is 
 cihnoft bevond your Imaginations to contrive a com^ 
 fortablc liiiie. In fuch a feafon, if vou will be mth 
 
 God, 
 
f ready d to the Parliaments Oft. 30. 1656. 207 
 
 God^ he will be with you ^ ii' you fo truji him as to 
 encourage your Hearts on the account of his Wifdom^ 
 Gvodnrjs^ Power, that he can find out, and bring 
 about a comtortablc glorious Hnd ; this is to trult 
 him for Prore^iion. f lal. 46. is this Doftiine deliver- 
 ed to the lull. 
 
 2. Secondly, To rruji God for Troteniort^ is to wait 
 under Dilcouragemcnts and Difappointments for a de- 
 fircd HIiic of the AHairs we commit to him. He that 
 hclicvcth^ xcill not make hcijit\ Ifi. 28. 16. This the 
 Lord pleads for, hab. 2. 21, 4. Men will have their Dc- 
 fires precifely accompliflied this Tear^ this Jllontb, 
 this li/eck, or they will wait no longer : Thefe, lays 
 God, are pro:^d Men, their Hearts are /jftcd up in 
 them, they trult not Me for Proteftion. Men love 
 to trufl God ( as they profels ) for what they have 
 in their hinds m pojjcjjion^ or what lies in an eafie 
 view ^ place their Deiires ^/^r oft'^ carry their Ac- 
 complifliment behind the Clouds^ out of their fjghr, 
 interpole Difficulties and Perplexities, their Hearts 
 are inltantlyy7r/(\ they cannot vx^ait for God, they do 
 nor trult him, nor ever did. Would you have the 
 Vrefencc of God with you > Learn to wait quietly 
 for the Salvation you expeft from him. Then in- 
 deed is he glorijied^ when he is trulted in a Siorm ^ 
 when he is xisaued for under long Perplexities and 
 Diltrcfles. Want of this, ruined the Ijraelites in the 
 VVildernefs ^ their Work was long, their l)ijficultns 
 and Intanglements many ; they would have had an 
 immediate tviJ of their Troubles. What! 7rwre Ditti- 
 culties, more Hardjl)ips ! nay then, let us chuje a Cap- 
 tain^ and go down again into Egypt ; we know tlie 
 worlt of that, where this will end wc know nor. This 
 laid \\\t\iCarcaj]es in the Wildcrnefs, and deprived 
 them of enjoying the good Land. 
 
 Thirdly 
 
2o8 God's Prefence vcith a People^ &c. 
 
 5. Thirdly, It is to conDnit your Affairs to the 
 Lord^ \^\xhfubmiJJion to his Will, as to their IfTue and 
 /leeompllfhment. Trujl refpefts ProteQion^ but it 
 preftribes nor, as to particular Events, It is to com- 
 mit our AfFairs to God, with thoughts of his infinite 
 Wifiom^ Soveraignty^ and Goodnnels, with Reloluti- 
 ons thereupon ^ that the produ£t of his Will is that 
 which will be good^ be befi tor us, though it (hould 
 not at all fall in with our prefeht Defires. It is 
 true, the Pfalmijl fays, Commit your loays unto the 
 Lord, trujl alfo in him, heJJ)all bring it to pafs. PfaL 
 57. 5. and fo he Jhall and will in all fuch Cales as 
 that there particularly infilled on by the Pfalmifl^ 
 wherein his own Glory is particularly engaged. But 
 this prefcribes not, as to all Cafes, that we (hould cry. 
 Give me this Chili, or I die. The Rule is known ; 
 abide in this frame, and we fhall have that we dejire, 
 or that which is better for us : But I mutt not abide 
 in thefe things. See Vfal. 97. 9, 4, 5. & 73. 2^, 
 24, 2^, 26. 
 
 And thefe ate fbme of thole ways wherewith we 
 abide with God, as to out trufling of him, in refe- 
 rence to J pecial Prote6:ion. 
 
 A third thing I fliould fix upon, is^ a Peoples 
 univerfil owning of God's Concernments in the World, 
 His Prelence with them, is, his owning their Concern- 
 ments ', and certainly, he expefts that they abide with 
 him in the owning of his. God's Concernment in the 
 World, is his People^ as invetted with the Privileges 
 purchafed tor them by Chrift, P)eut, 32. 9. The 
 Lord's portion is his feop^e. This is that which the 
 Lord has particularly kept tohimfelf ^ the Vineyard 
 that he has chofen out of all the ForePs of the World 5 
 the handful that he hath taken to himfelf, his Sons 
 and Daurbfers, his Family : Thefe he expefls that 
 you abide by, ifyoa would have him abide by you.- 
 
preached to the Parliament^ Oft. 30. 1656. 209 
 
 Yea, it is molt certain^ as your Refpe£t and Regard 
 (hall be to them and their Intereft, as his People 5 
 fb will his Refpeft and Regard be to you^ and your 
 Interelt, as the People ot this Nation. But 1 have 
 formerly ipoken hereof unto you, and therefore, 
 tho' it be a Matter oi' th^ great ejl Importance^ I fhall 
 not fljrther infilt upon it. 
 
 And thefe are fome of the Conditions of God s 
 fpecial Prefence with you. Tie af ant Conditions ! their 
 Performance, is your Glory, your Re(t, your BleUcd- 
 nels ^ not your Bondage, not your Burthen : Not 
 one Duty doth God, on this account, require of you, 
 but it is alfo your Reward, O blejjcd Terms of Peace 
 and Agreement ! Blcffcd be the great Peace-maker ^ 
 curfed be the breakers of this blej]ed Agreemenr. Is 
 this all indeed which is required, that we may have 
 the fpecial Prefence of God with us for ever > Oh 1 
 how inexcufable fliall we be, if we negleD: thele 
 Terms ! How jult will be our Ruine ! Behold, I 
 have fet before you life and death this day •, the 
 life or death ot thefe Nations : Oh, chule hfc, fee- 
 ing it may be had on fuch eafy, fuch bhjfed Terms ! 
 Terms, wherein, in doing good to others, you will 
 alio Aogood to your own Souls \ you will give Peace 
 to the Kation^ and have Peace and Relt in your own 
 Souls. 
 
 Vfe I.] Look on this Prefence of God as your main 
 Concernrnent : This is that which the Prophet calls ibr, 
 in the words of the Text. So the PfalmtJ}, There arc 
 many that fay. Who vcilljhew us any good^ Lord^ lift 
 thou up the light of thy countenance upon us, Pljl. 4. 6. 
 Let other Men make what Enquiries they plcafe, look 
 lor Crood, for Rr//, for Peace in what tlicy hd\fanjy ^ 
 ticquiefce you in this, that die light of God's counte- 
 nance ^"X pledge of his PrelLiicc with you, is that alon- 
 wnich you are to r;?y///>v after. I remember, fliicc the 
 Vol. 11. O beginning 
 
2IO God's Prefence mth a People^ &cq, 
 
 beginning of theft /afi wonderful Days^ how often we 
 have thought our f elves utterly ruin d \ if luch Al- 
 terations come^ we are undone j \ifuch Men die^ fall 
 off, oppofe^ there is little hope of the carrying x)n the 
 work wherein we are engaged. If fuchy/;^^/??^^, fuch 
 divjfwns befall us, our ruine is at hand ^ If we break 
 with fuch and fuch foreign Nations^ what hope re- 
 ma ineth ? But alas, we have found by experience^ that 
 our Affairs have turned on none of thefe Things ^ our 
 Profperity\[2S.h. been built on none of thefe Principles : 
 fuch Defertions as we feared, have happened *, fuch Al- 
 terations, fuch Diviffons have befallen us ^ we have been 
 fomefme alrnoft reduced to Gideons Number ; luch 
 breaches mth foreign Nations have enfued ^ one Parry^ 
 that was with us, have gone oft, and asked, what 
 will ye now do ? and then another Party hath gone 
 oft, and asked us, what will ye do now ? And no 
 fooner do any fall oft^ but inftantly they expe£l, and 
 foretel Dcfru&ion to them that do abide •, as though 
 they were God^ and not Man, or as though God were 
 bound to follow them with his Prefence in all their 
 Paffions^ in all their Wandrings. It would, I con- 
 fefs, be more defirable unto 7ne than life it felf; to 
 fee all thofe, at leaft who flick to the Caufe of God, 
 in its greateft difficulties and trials, and then when 
 it ceafed to be carried on in the ordinary paths of 
 "Nations, united again in the fame Common inter eft :^ 
 to fee their Paffions and Freiudices cured, and their 
 Perfons returned to their former Ufefulnels. But 
 this is that which is the refult of all this Difeourfe : 
 It is not this or that thing, or any thing whatever, 
 but the Prefence of God alone with a People, that is 
 their Lfe, their Prefervation, their ProteQion and 
 Profperity : If our Strength had lain in any thing elfe 
 in this World, our light had gone out long ago, 
 and it had departed from us : But hence it is that 
 
 we 
 
preached to the Parliament^ Oft. 30. 1656. 211 
 
 we are not Confumed. Now if you are fo careful 
 not to lole thefe and thcfe Friends, this and that 
 Tarty of" the Nation, not to provoke this or that Peo- 
 ple caufelefly : Oh, what Jf ei^Jn ought it to have up- 
 on your Hearts and Souls, that you provoke not the 
 Lord to depart from you, that you take care for the 
 continuance oj his V re fence with you. This is your 
 Life, your Safety, your Succefs, your Peace: Ltarn 
 Xo prize it, value it, t!fc. 
 
 2. Secondly, Whilft you have any Pledge of the 
 Vrefcnce ofGoiW\\\i you, be not greatly moved, nor 
 troubled by any Difficulties that you may meet with- 
 al -, be not moved with any Terror, but fanftify tlie 
 Lord of Holts in your Hearts, and make him your 
 Dread and your Fear, and he (hall be a Refuge, and 
 a Hiding-place unto you. 
 
 Some pretend to Vifions of God, and ihty prophefy 
 your Ruine and Deltruftion ^ yea, they have limited 
 Times thereof, to the (hame of their Piognoltications : 
 Some diit full of Revenge, and they threaten your Ru- 
 ine, and talk what a Catholick Interelt is complicating 
 and rifing up againlt you : Some are troubled at your 
 Proceedings^ that they are not in lijch cgual paths 
 as might be defired •, as though that were a Work and 
 Way of yeflerday , as though we had not been turn- 
 ed and driven out o^ old Tracks and Paths, above ten 
 Years ago, and as though the old paths were not 
 lb worn to the Interelf of" a profane Multitude^ 
 that it is yet impolTible to keep the Burthen 
 upright in them, whofe guidance you are intrulted 
 with. 
 
 Some fay, you will ne\'er be able to go through 
 with the charge of your Undertakings : As though 
 God had had never faid, the Gold and Silver isvnnc. 
 Should thefe things bufie 01 diff rail you ^ Doth the 
 Ijfue of the Bufinels in hand, depend on the Thoughts 
 
 2 of 
 
212 God's Prefence with a People, Scc. 
 
 ofthefe Men? Will the End be according to their 
 Contrivances ? Have thefe things indeed any influence 
 at all into the determination of this Controverfy > Will 
 not this one Confideration guide your Hearts, and 
 Spirits, when all thele Waves roul all together upon 
 you > Yea, but the Whole of this Affair mult be or- 
 dered^ and will fall out according as the Yrefence of 
 God is with us, or other wile. If God be with us^ 
 who fhall be againjl us ? How may you, on this 
 account, triumph againft all Oppofitions whatfb- 
 ever ! 
 
 9. Thirdly, fix then your Thoughts on the things 
 which lie in a. tendency towards the confirming of 
 God's fpecial providential Prefence with you : You 
 have heard of the tenour of it, the means whereby 
 it is procured and retained, Thefe things I have 
 fpoken to in general before :; befides your own de- 
 pendance on God, and comportment with his Pro- 
 vidence, the things incumbent on you, are luch as re- 
 fped. either Perlbns, or Things. 
 
 I. Firft, For Verfons I it is that which I have 7ninl' 
 ed you of before, and which I tliall do, whilft I have 
 tife and Opportunity to fpeak to you, or any con- 
 cerned in the government of this Nation, in publick 
 or private, becaule I know it is your L;/^, your Peace^ 
 your Duty •, and that is, that the Eni and Aim of 
 all your Confultations, be the Prote£tion, Encourage- 
 ment, Liberty of the feed of Jacob, the Remnant, the 
 hidden People ! thofe whom God hath owned, ac- 
 cepted, bleffed, given his Prefence unto, and amongft 
 them. I plead not for their Exaltation, Fromotion^ 
 Preferment, I know not what ! but charge it as your 
 V>uty, to take care that this be not trodden under 
 foot, nor fvoallowd up, nor expofed to the rage and 
 r^;?/^;^/'/ of the Man of the Earth: It is not this or 
 that Party of them that I fpeak of, but the Genera- 
 tion 
 
preaclfdto the ? arl'iamcnt , Oft. 30. 1656. 213 
 
 tion of them that leek the face of God, whofe Caufe 
 alone it is, and not of any other Men, or fj-ame of 
 Things, that is, through the mighty Power ot God, 
 triutnphant \\\ thefe Nations. They are to God as 
 the Apple of his Eye, and let their Safety be fo alfo 
 to you, and you will not fail of the Prefence of 
 God. 
 
 2. Secondly, For Things : They are either the 
 Things of God J or Men j of each a word. 
 
 I. Firit, For the Things of God, or the pub/icJ^ 
 frofcffion of Religion in the Land, my Time is too 
 far ipent for me to enter into a ferious Difcourfe 
 on the Subjefl : Some things have of late been done, 
 which when Envy, and Anger, and l^'if appointment 
 (hall ceafe to operate, the whole People of God in 
 this Nation will have caufe to rejoyce in. 
 
 Let it not be thought amlfs, if I mind you 0^ one 
 firt of the Nation in efpecial ^ the Example of the 
 Saints allow us a fpecial regard to thofe of our oven 
 Nation, our Kinsfolks In the fleJJ). It is for Wales I 
 (peak, where the unhappinefs of almolt all Men run- 
 ning into Extremes^ hath difadvantaged the Advance- 
 ment of the Golpel, and the Progrefs of it, when we 
 had great ground for the expe£lation of better things. 
 Some are Itill zealous of the Traditions of their fa- 
 thers, and nothing almoft will fatlsfie them, but 
 their old Road of beggarly Readers In every Farlfh, 
 Others again, perhaps out of a good Zeal, have hur- 
 ried the People with violence beyond their Principles, 
 and Ibmetimes, it may be, beyond the Truths and, as 
 Jacob iiiid.Over-drivmg the Cattle and young ones,have 
 almolt deflroycc} the whole Floc/c : Between Complaints 
 on one fide and the other, I fear, between mifgiMed 
 Zeal and formality, the whole Work is almolt calt 
 to the Ground, the bufincfs of Zwn, as fuch, is 
 fcarce by any cared for. The^^^i hord ^uidc you to 
 
 ? fomc- 
 
ii4 God's Prefence with a People, &c. 
 
 Ibmewhat for its relief, that thole who are Godly, 
 may be encouraged ^ and thofe that need Inftrutlion, 
 may not be neglefled. 
 
 2. Secondly, the Things of Man, or righteous Ad^m- 
 Tiijlrations of Jujiice, in things relating to this prefent 
 Pilgrimage, Theft Wheels alio are you to let going. 
 Many Particulars lie before you ^ more will prelent 
 themfelves^ troublefome Times have always produced 
 good Laws : Your Wifdom will be to provide ioigooi 
 Execution, that not only the Generations to come, but 
 the prefent, may eat of the fruit of your Labours and 
 Travail. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 GLORY and INTEREST 
 
 O F 
 
 Nations profefling the Gofpcl : 
 Open'd in a 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd at a 
 
 Private F A ST to the COMMONS 
 Afleinblcd in 
 
 PARLIAMENT. 
 
 PHblifjed by their Command. 
 By John Ow e n^ D. D. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for J o s e p h M a r s h a l l at ihc 
 Bible in Kev:gate-jlrect, 1720. 
 
 - 1 
 
To the Right Honourable 
 
 The Commons of Biglafid Aflcmbled in 
 Parliament. 
 
 Need not give any other Account of my 
 Fubltjhing this en/king fhort Dtjcourjl^than 
 that which ivas alfo the Ground and Rea^ 
 Jon ef its Preachings namely your Com- 
 I . in a lid. Jbofc who arc not Jatijfied there^ 
 J with^ I (hall not endeavour to tender fur ^ 
 thcr grounds of Satisfadion unto, as not 
 having any perfwafion of prevailing, if I Jhould attempt tt. 
 Prejudice J J far often- times prevails^ even on good Soils, that 
 Satis fall ion will not fpeedily thrive and grew tn them, Ihat 
 which exempts me from folicitoufncfs about the frame and 
 temper of Mens Minds and St>irits in the entertainment of 
 Vifcourfes of this nature, is the annexing of that Injuntiion 
 unto our Commijfion in delivering the IVord of God : It mujl 
 be done^ whether Men will hear, or whether they will 
 forbear, lyithout therefore any Plea or Apology for what^ 
 tver may fern m^ji to need tt in this Sermon, 1 de- 
 volve the whAe Account of the Rife and Iffue it had, or 
 may have, on the Providence $f God in my Call^ and your 
 Command. Only I fhall crave leave to add^ that in my 
 waiting for a little letfure to recoiled what I had delivered 
 cut of my own fhort Notes and others^ (that I might not 
 preach one Sermon, and print another) there were fame Con^ 
 fiderations that fell in, txctting me tt the Obedience I had 
 purpofed, Ibc Defire I had to make more puhlick, at this 
 time and fejfon, the 7ejiimony given m fimplicity of fpirit to 
 the Iiucrclt of Chnji in thefe Nations, and therein to the 
 true real Intereji of thefe Nations themflves, which was 
 mv naked Vcfif^n, openly manaced and purfued with all 
 platnnefs of speech, (as the fmall portion of lime allotted to 
 this Extrctfe would albw) was the chief of them. Solicit 
 tations of fome particular trunds, gave alfo warmth unta 
 that Confideratm, I muji further confefs, that I was a 
 
 itttlc 
 
The Epiftle Dedicatory. 
 
 little moved by form Miftakes that Tpere delivered into the 
 hands of Report, to ^ he managed to the Vifcomtenanee of 
 the honeji and plain I'ruth contended for, efpecially when I 
 found tmm^ u^ithout due Confideration^ expofed in Print un* 
 to publick Vien>, 'that is the manner of thefe days wherC" 
 in we live, I knotv full rvell^ that there is not any things 
 from the beginning to the ending of this fh art Difcourfey that 
 doth really interfere tfith any Form of Civil Government in 
 the Worlds adminiftred according to Kighteoufnefs and Equi" 
 ty ; as there is not in the Gofpel of Chrifi^ or in any of the 
 Concernments of it. And I am ajjured alfo^ that the Truth 
 fropofed in it^ enwraps the whole Ground of any juli exfeCta^ 
 tioH of the continuance of the ? re fence of God amongft us^ and 
 bis acceptation of our Endeavours about the allotment and juft 
 ■ difpofal of our Civil Affairs^ let others lay what Weight 
 they will or pleafe upon the lejfer Differences that are a* 
 mongfilus on any account whatever : If this Shield be fafe^ 
 this Principle maintained and ejiahlifhed^ that is here laid 
 down^ and the juft Rights of the Nation laid in a way of 
 ^dminiftration fuited unto its Prefervation and furtherance^ 
 I jhall not eafily be caft down from my Hopes ^ that amongft 
 us poor J unprofitable^ unthankful Creatures ^ as we are^ we 
 may yet fee the Fruit of Righteoufnefs to be Peace ; and 
 the Effed of Righteoufnefs, Quietnefs and AfTurance for 
 evermore. For thdfe then who Jhall caft thsir Eye on this 
 Faper^ 1 would beg of them to lay afide all thofe Prejudices 
 againji Perfons or Things^ which their various eontexture in 
 our publickAffairs^ may pofftbly have raifed in them, I know 
 how vain^ for the moft part^ expectations of prevailing in 
 fueh a Defire^ by naked Rcguefts^ are. But fick Men mnft he 
 groaning^ though they look for no relief thereby. Wherefore^ 
 committing it into that Flgnd^ wherein lie alfo your Hearts 
 and mine, I Jhall commend it for your VJe unto the Sove- 
 raign Grace of Him who is able to work all your prefent 
 IVorks for you^ and^ which is more^ to give you an Inhritance 
 among them that are fanHified, So prays ^ 
 
 Your Servant in the Work of our Lord 
 
 Jefus Chrift and his Golpel, • 
 
 jf. 0. 
 
21 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached within the Commons Houfe 
 of Parliament, at a Faji by them 
 folemnly held upon the 4th of February 
 
 1658. 
 
 ISAI. iv. 5. 
 
 Z)p07i all the glory JJjall be a defence. 
 
 I H E Defign of this Chapter, is to give 
 in Relief againft outvoari Perplexing 
 Extremities, from Gofpel Promifes, 
 and the Vrc fence of Chrilt with his 
 People in thofe Extremities. 
 
 The next intendment of the words 
 in the Ty^e, feems to relate to the Deliverance of the 
 People of the Jcvos from the BabylomfJ) Captivity, and 
 the Prefence of God amongft them upon their Return ^ 
 God frequently taking occafion from thence, to mind 
 them of the Covenant of Grace, with the fijll ratifica- 
 tion and publication of it by Chrift - as is evident 
 from Jer, 91. and 92. and fundry other places. 
 
 As to our Purpofe, we have confiderable in the 
 Chapter 5 the Fcr/ons to whom thcfe Promifes are 
 given ^ the Condition wherein they were, and the 
 Tromijes themfelves that are made tp them' for their 
 Supporrment and Confulation, 
 
 The 
 
^ :c Tbz G:-rj and Inter ej! cf Katbzs, d<c. 
 
 Tr-: rr-^-: -relied, are the Remaant, the e/cj- 
 / f Ifrdfly ds tbe word ^Mties, 
 
 efepe t: ; -.vss tc come on che 
 
 boir :: :. t ?:: e. :ie . vere to pals 
 
 :^::::z: r ' - : Cz .: ::: -.:':. -^ev l-vs 
 
 ; 7 : 3:: : :: :: -z : t : ; i^ i they 
 
 zi.tcritten unto 
 IS dgfignxi unto 
 
 : ^ Is DOC this 
 :e yea r:- *-fv 
 ■ ^eat T: 1 
 
 T: 
 
 .' - tr TriiixS sr^j 
 
 r. Tr.e Vrcrrifcs here made to this People, thus 
 efcped lien: ?: ^ "- " r.f two forts ^ 
 
 felt, origin il f-^z : .... :„^ _:._ ::.tn cirfequentiil 
 
 thereoa 
 
 I. There is the gre^r fpring r^ fount an-Ir: mi fe^ 
 toin which all crhers, as lefe Jlreams, do flow ^ 
 x-sd th2t is the Promife rj Chrifl bimfelf cnto them, 
 2-' -~-^^i ' ^T5 :, x^fr. 2. He is that branch oi 
 J - . : fruit of the eanb, a.^i^i i/ there 
 
 fromifei. 
 
A ^--:-: r-.j. : :: :: ::^ rzr.:^-^-:. 2:1 
 
 Spni:^ md FooiCBD cf ail dsGood tte is c 
 he coasmnottl obd is ^ « oiber ncm 
 
 bur Riomkis fioB tte itMikiHr ; d/ ^ c^ 
 
 and LcT^tbaK is in dK Acnttof Qsift^ of wkick 
 afterwirds. 
 
 2. The Prcmiih tiiac are dsi^ed and low fim 
 linice» may be itfuid oMo thfce HeadsL i. Of 
 &«aK{7 «irf Gk^ Tcr. 2. ?. Of lUmefs ami Pm- 
 rity^ TOL ?, 4. ?. Of Prejirottiim mi Sdf-ty^ 
 ▼tr. T, ^. 
 
 Mj 3/^ lies amoQg tbe i^jf Cst^ and not aasai- 
 i^B kxis to decain yen, I (haH pofi oier tbe A&er, 
 Jod ffimrriiairiy dofe with dsat of our pR&ot Coi- 
 
 Now, tkis ftofuie of rrr. 5. is of a 
 fife BflCBR, ad idales to Spintual and Ikmfard 
 Saietf Off Ptdextaatioo ^ GGdIii3e£s ^K^ogbitbe oor 
 iDDch bdkfed, m, mdeei, hotii riie Proadies of 
 Tbis Lile» and Tlac wlikh is to Coice. 
 
 I IhaD a Etde ofn the iT^jriZf of the Vaie. aid 
 dieiebT giTe U^t to thcfe which I hare chc£n 
 pecntiadT to iattnpoB. k is^ as iiare fiid, &^ 
 ij aod PreferratiGD, both Spirited and TSa^ani^ 
 dot is heit engig^ fci: Aiad "'■■'^■'■■■i; 1^ we 
 faaye coofidcnbie^ 
 
 I. T&f Mamar cfirs Froi^ffarM -• I wlB crrjir ic, 
 filth God. There is a Qeaticg Fewer, seedfd to 
 be exerted, fcf the ftefcnraffiai of Snnts iUnaxai^ 
 Tbeir PteiennicicQ mott be of God's QeKioa k^ 
 HOC odj 00c to be educed out of anj odier Frme^^ 
 or to be wrcught hf asf ocber Auxr ^- r anzfi, 
 as k wier^ by the Ahniglhqr Power of C roiig^ 
 
 OQC of Kotbtng ^ God mnft cietfe k. Ac ka& as 
 there were two fcrts of God s Ootfses k the Be- 
 enmag, tiat idrk Bod) (£Bteier, wbcfe Ri l^ ^g 
 
222 The Glory and Inter eft of Nations^ dec. 
 
 meerly from Nothing ^ and thofe Things which from 
 that dark confuled Heap, he made to be other Things 
 than what they were therein ^ it is of the laft fort 
 of Creatures, if not of the firlt. If the Prefervation 
 of this Remnant be not out of nothing, without any 
 Means at all, yet it is, for the moft part, from that 
 Darknels and Confufion of Things, which contributes 
 very little or nothing towards it : I will create it, 
 iaith God ^ and whilft he continues poflefled of his 
 Creating Tower, it fhall be well with his TJraeL 
 
 2. For the Nature of it. It is here let out under 
 the Terms of that eminent Pledge of the Pretence of 
 God with the People in the Wildernefs, for their 
 Guidance and ProteQion, in the midlt of all their 
 Difficulties and Hazards, by a Yillar of Cloud, and a 
 flaming Fire ^ this guided them thorough the Sea, 
 and continued with them after the fetting up of the 
 Tabernacle m the Wildernefs forty Years. The Ufe 
 and Efficacy of that Villar, the Intendment of God 
 in it, the Advantage of the People by it, I cannot 
 flay to unfold. It may fuffice, in general, that it 
 was a great and fignal Pledge of God's Pretence with 
 them for their Guidance and Prefervation •, that they 
 might a£l according to his Will, and enjoy Safety 
 in fo doing. Only whereas this Promile here re- 
 lpe£ls Gojpel-tmes, the nature of the Mercy pro- 
 mifed is enlarged, and thereby fbmewhat changed. 
 In the Wildernefs there was but one Tabernacle, and 
 fo confequently one Cloud by Day, and one fillar of 
 Fire by Night was a fufficient Pledge of the Pretence 
 of God with the whole People. There are now 7na' 
 ny X^iKjelling-places, many Afjemblies of Mount Sion -, 
 and in the Enlargement of Mercy and Grace under 
 the Gofpel, the fame Pledge of God's Prefence and 
 Favour is promifed to every one of them, as was be- 
 fore to the Whole. The word we have tranflated a, 
 
 Drnielling-^ 
 
A Sermon -preached to the Parlia?r,evt. 223 
 
 VxxtcUing-pIcice^ denotes not a comrncn liahitat'icn^ but 
 a Vlace prepared for God, and is the lame with the 
 Aflemblies and Congregations in the Expreflion fol- 
 lowing. The Sum of all is, God, by his Creating 
 Power, in defpite ot all Oppofition, will bring forth 
 Preiervation tor his iPeople, guiding them in Paths 
 wherein they fliall find Peace and Safety. 
 
 Only ye may obferve the Order and Depcndance of 
 thefe Promiles ^ the Promile o^Uol'mefs^ ver. 4. lies 
 in Order before that of Safety, ver. ^. Unlels our 
 Vilth and our Blood be purged away by a fpirit of 
 Judgment, and a fpirit of Burning, it's in vain for 
 us to look for the Fi/lur and the Cloud. If we are 
 not interelted in HoUnefs, we (hall not be interelled 
 in Safety, I mean, as it lies in the Promile, and is a 
 Mercy waflicd in the Blood o^Jefus • for as for the 
 Peace of the World, I regard it not. Let not Men 
 of polluted Hearts and defiled Hands, once imagine, 
 that God cares for them in an efpccial manner. If 
 our filth and our Blood, our Sin and our Corruption 
 abide upon us, and we are delivered, it will be for a 
 greater Ruin ^ the way unto the Cloud and Tillar^ is 
 by the fpirit of Judgment and Burning. 
 
 The Words of my Text are a Recapitulation of the 
 whole Verfe, and are a Goft)el-?ronnJe, given out in 
 Law Terms, or a Kew Tcflament Alerey, under Old 
 Teltament Expreflions. 
 
 I fhall then briefly fhew you thefe two Things •, 
 
 1. What is here exprcded, as to the Type and figure, 
 
 2. What is here intended, as to the Subfcmcc of the 
 Mercy prom i fed. 
 
 1. For the figure : By the Glory and Defenee, c 
 double Conjort, or two pairs of Things fccm to 
 be intended- i. The /Ir^^ and the yH^rr^-yrj/ ; -. The 
 Tabernacle and the hilar of lire. 
 
 For 
 
2 24 The Glory and Intereft of Nations^ &c. 
 
 For the firjl: The Ark is often-times called the 
 Glory of God '^ Plal. 78. 61. He gave hisjirength into 
 captivity^ and his glory into the hand of his enemies. 
 Where he fpakes of the Surprilal of the Ark by the 
 Fhi/ijiines •, which, when it was accomplifhed, Fhi- 
 nehas his Wife called her Son Ichabod^ and faid. The 
 Glory is departed^ 1 Sam. 4. 21. 
 
 2. The word which we have rendred a Defence^ 
 properly fignifies a Covering^ as was the Mercy-feat 
 the Covering of the ArL So that upon the Glory 
 fhall be a Defence^ is as much as unto you, the 
 Mercy-feat Shall he on the Ark, or, you fhall have the 
 Mercy reprelented and intimated thereby. 
 
 2. The Tabernacle and Cloud, or Pillar of Fire^ 
 are alio called to mind ^ fo the Words are expref- 
 five of that Figure of God's gracious Prefence with 
 his People, which we have recounted Exod, 40. 34. 
 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and 
 the glory of the Lord filed the Tabernacle, So it 
 continued -, the Glory of God was in the Tabernacle, 
 and the Cloud upon it, or over it, as the word here 
 is ; and fb upon all the glory there was a defence, 
 
 I need not ftay to prove, That all thofe Things 
 were typical of Chrift -, he was the End of the Law, 
 reprefented by i\iQArk which did contain it, Rom. 10. 
 3, 4. he was the Mercy-feat, as he is called and fiid 
 to be, Rom. 3. 2^ i Joh. 2. 2. covering the Law 
 from the Eye of Juftice, as to thofe that are inte- 
 refted in him ^ he was the Tabernacle and Temple 
 wherein dwelt the Glory of God, and which was 
 recompenced with all Fledges of his gracious Pre- 
 ience. 
 
 Apply then this Promile to Gofpel-times, gnd 
 the Subftance of it, is comprehended in thefe two 
 Propofitions : 
 
 J. Thi 
 
A Sermon preacl/d to the Parliament. 225 
 
 1. The Frcfcncc of Cbrijl with any Frople^ is the 
 Glory of any Feople. This is the Glory htre fpoken 
 of; as is evident to anyone that will but r^-jt/ over 
 the iecond Verle, and confider its Influence into thele 
 Words, The branch of the Lord 0)all be to them beau- 
 tijul and glorious^ and upon all the glory fljull be u 
 Defence. 
 
 2. ^he Vrcfence of God infpecial Providence over a 
 People^ attends the Prefence of Chnjj in Grace with 
 a People \ if Chrilt the Glory be with them, a De- 
 fence (hall be upon them ^ what lies elle in Al'ufwn 
 to the Mercy-Jcat^ not drawn forth in thcfe Propo- 
 fitions, may be afterwards inhlted on. 
 
 For the hrlt ^ what, I pray, elfe fhould be fo ^ This 
 is their Glory^ or they have none ^ is it in their 
 'Kumber, that they are great, many, and populous > 
 God thinks not fo, nor did he when he gave an ac- 
 count of his Thoughts of his People of old, Deut, 7. 
 7. The Lord did not fet his love upon you ^ nor chufe 
 you., becaufcyou were more in number than any people .^ 
 for you were the few eft of all people. God made no 
 Reckoning of Kumbers •, he chole that People that 
 was few^:ft of all. He elteemed well of them, 
 when they were but a few men in number., yea^ 
 very jevo., and grangers ^ Plal. 105. 12. You know 
 what it colt Davi'i^ m being feduced by Satan into 
 the contrary Opinion : He thought the Glory of his 
 People had been in their Kumber^ and caufed them 
 to be reckoned •, but God taught him his Error, by 
 taking off, with a dreadful Judgment, no fmall Por- 
 tion of the Kufnber he fought after. There is nothing 
 more common in the Scripture., than for the Lord to 
 fpcak contempt of the multitude of any People, as a 
 Thing of nought ^ and he takes Pleafure to confound 
 them by weak and dcfpifed Means. Is it in their 
 Wifdom and Counlel, their underltunding for the 
 Vol. II. P ordering 
 
226 The Glory and Interefi of Nations^ 6cc. 
 
 ordering of their Affairs > Is that their ^^;^ ? Why, 
 fee how God derides the Prince of Tjirus, who was 
 lifted up with an apprehenfion hereof, and counted 
 himlelf as God, upon that furmife, Ezck. 27. 3, 4, 
 5, 6, &c. The Ifliie of all, is, Ihou JJoalt he a ma% 
 and no GoJ^ in the hand of him that flays thee : God 
 will let him lee, in his Ruine and Deltrutlion, what 
 a vain thing that was, which he thought" his Glory, 
 Might I dwell upon it, I could evince unto you 
 thefe two things : 
 
 1. That whereas the End of all human Wifdom^ in 
 .Nations, or the Rulers of them, is, to preferve human 
 Society in Peace and Quietnefs, within the feveral 
 Bounds and Allotments that are given unto them by 
 the Providence of God, it fo comes to pals, for the 
 moft part, through the righteous Judgment and mfe 
 difpojal of God, that it hath a contrary End, and 
 bringeth forth contrary Effe&s throughout the World. 
 Do not the Inhabitants of the Earth, generally, owe 
 all their Diffurbance, Sorrow, and Blood, to the 
 wife Contrivances of a few Men, not knowing how 
 to take the Law of their Proceedings from the mouth 
 of God, but laying their deep Counfels and politick 
 Contrivances in a fublerviency to their Lulis and 
 Ambition. And what G/o7y is there in that which 
 ^Imofl: conftantly brings forth contrary Efte£ls to its 
 own proper End and Intendment ! 
 
 2. That God delights to mix a fpirit ofGiddinefs^ 
 Error, and Folly in the Counfels of the roife Men 
 of the World, making them reel and ftagger in their 
 way like a drunken Man, that they (hall not know 
 what to do, but commonly in their greatell Con- 
 cernments, fix upon Things as devoid of true Realbn 
 and lound Wifdom, as any Children or Fools 
 could clofe withal : He taketh the rx'ife in their own 
 craftinefs^ and the ccunjel of the jrcvoard is carried 
 
 bead" 
 
A Sermon preach' d to the Parliament. 227 
 
 Uadlong^ Job 5:. 13, 14. So at large, //^. 19. 11, 12, 
 I ^14. And now where is their Glory * I could give 
 In^nces of both thele, and that plentifully, in the 
 days and feafons that have palled over our own 
 Heads. 
 
 The like alfo may be Ciid of the Strength, the 
 Power, the Armies of any People^ if cheir Nuinbtr 
 and Wifdom be vain, be no Glory ^ their Strength, 
 which is but the refult or cxurgency of iheir Number 
 and Wifdom, mult needs be lb alio. But you have 
 all this fummed up together, Jerem. 9. 27, 2.v 
 Thus faith the LorJ^ Let not the xcifc fnan glory in 
 his tcijdom^ neither let the 7mghty man glory in his 
 mighty let not the rich man glory in his riches •, but 
 let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he undertland- 
 cth and knoweth 7ne^ that I am the Lord. It is nei^ 
 iher, Wifdom, nor Might, not Riches, that is our 
 Glory, but our Interelt in Jehovah only. 
 
 This, I fay, is in the Prelence of Chrift only : 
 Now Chrift may be faid to be prefent with a Peo- 
 ple two ways. 
 
 I. In refpeft of the difpenfation of his Gofpel a- 
 
 monglt them, the Profelfion of it, and fubieflion to 
 
 the Ordinances thereof. The Gofpel of Chrilt is a 
 
 bleffed Gofpel, z glorious Gofpel m it felfj and unto. 
 
 them that embrace it. But yet this Profelfion, fepe- 
 
 ratcd from the Root from which it ought to fpring, 
 
 IS not the glory of any People ^ Chrifi is net 
 
 their glory who are his Jloame. Empty Profcflion is 
 
 the Shame of Chrill in tie World, and fliall not be 
 
 others Glory. The Apolile tells us, that this may 
 
 confilt with a litter of unclean Lufts, making them, 
 
 in whom it is, abominable to God and Man, 2 Tim. 
 
 ^. d. ^c. If the bare proflHion of the Truth, would 
 
 render a Nation Glorious. Oh, how glorious were this 
 
 Nation I So would have been the People of old, wlio 
 
 P ^ aied 
 
228 The Glory and Intereft of Nations^ &c. 
 
 cried Jhe temple of the hord^ The temple of the hord. 
 But when Men profefs the Truth of Chrift, but in 
 their Hearts and Ways maintain and manifeft an En- 
 mity to the Power of that Truth, and to all of 
 Chrift that is in reality in the World 5 this is no 
 Glory, 
 
 :?. Chrift is prefent with a People, in and by his 
 Spirit dwelling in their Hearts, by his Spirit and. 
 Faith uniting them to himfelf I do not diftinguifb 
 this from the former, as inconfifient with it ^ for tho' 
 the former may be without this, yet where this is, 
 there will be the former alio. FrofeJJion may be 
 without Union, but Union will bring forth Frqfeffion, 
 There may be a Form of Godlinels without Fower ^ 
 but where the Power is, there will be the Appearance 
 alio. Now when Chrift is thus Prefent with a Peo- 
 ple, that is, they are united to him by his Spirit, 
 they are Members of his my ftical Body, that is their 
 Glory. Be they few or ?/iany in a Nation that are 
 fo, they are the Glory of that Nation, and nothing 
 elfe 5 and where there is the moft of them, there is 
 the moft Glory ^ and where they are diminifhed, 
 there the Glory is eclipfed. Chrift myjllcal, rhe Head, 
 and his Body, is all the G/ory that is in the World. 
 If any Nation \^t glorious and honourable above others, 
 it is becaufe of this Prefence of Chrift in that Nation. 
 Chrift is the G/<:'ry of his Saints, Ifa. 4. 2. In him 
 X}aty glory, lia. 45. 25. And the Saints are Chriffs 
 Glory, 2 Cor. 8. 23. They are the Gfory of Chrift, 
 and he glories in them, as God of Job to Satan^ 
 Seejl thou my Jervant Job, chap. i. 8. He doth, as 
 it were, gloi'y in him ngainft the Wickednefs of the 
 World ; and Chrift in them, and they in him, are all 
 the Glory of this W^orld: 
 
 • So Zech. 2. 8. Chrift was in the purfuit of the Col- 
 ieflion of his People from their Difperlion. What 
 
 feeks 
 
A Sermon prejch'd to the Piirlur/i-^Tit, 229 
 
 fecks he afccr^What lojks he tor i> Heroes after 
 the Glory • even to find out them who are God's 
 glory in the World. 
 
 Now this is the glory of any Feople^ upon a three- 
 fold Account. 
 
 1. This alone makes them honourable .xvA precious 
 betore God. So lays God of them, Ifa. ^ ^ i. / have 
 redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art 
 mine-^ thofe are they of whom 1 fpeak : What then? 
 ver. d,, t\)ou art precious in my fight -^ thou art ho- 
 nourable, I have loved thee. How doth God inanifelt his 
 valuation of them-' ver, :^. Why, he will give all the 
 World, the greateft, mightieft, wealthitlt Nations, tor 
 them, ver. 5. All is as nothing, in comparilbn of 
 them who are his Portion and the lot of his Inhe- 
 ritance. The Lord keep this alive upon your Hejrts, 
 that that may be in your Eyes, the Glory of this Na- 
 tion, on the Account whereof, it is precious to God, 
 and honourable in his fight. 
 
 2. Becaufe this Prejence of Chrilt makes Men 
 cpmely unA excellent inthemfelves,- with what Eye Ibe- 
 ver the World may look upon them. The wholeWorld, 
 out of Chrift, lies in Evil, under the Curfc.ofGod, 
 and defilement of Sin : In all the glittering fliews of 
 their Wealth and Riches, in the ftate and magnifi- 
 cence of their Governments, the beauty ot their Laws 
 and Order, ( as they relate to their Perfons') they arc 
 in the Eye of God, a filthy and an abominable things 
 a thing that his Soul loatheth. Cuife and Sin will 
 make any thing to he fo: But now Chrift is to them 
 and in them beautiful and glorious, Ifa. 4. 2. 
 Chrift is fo in himfelf, and he is lb unto them, and 
 makes them to be fo. There is through him beauty, 
 and excellency, 2Lnd comelmrfs, every thing that may 
 make them lovely and acceptable. That the World 
 looks not on them as fuch, is not their fault, but the 
 
 P 3 World'5 
 
230 The GloTj and Interefl of ISaticns^ &c. 
 
 World's Miferv ; it looked on their Mafter, Chiift 
 himlelf, the bright ne/s of his Father's Glory ^ who is 
 altogether Ijvely, the chicjefi of ten thoufani^ v^ith 
 no other Eye, Ifd, 55. 2. They are fo in themfelves^ 
 and are lb to Cnrift ^ being expofed indeed to many 
 Temptations, often-times they are made black and 
 fully by them ^ but yet they are comely ftill, Cara. i. ^. 
 The ways waereby they aie made black, for the moft 
 part, we have exprefled, ver, 6. When the Sun 
 Ihines on them, and they are made Keepers of the 
 Vin^yard^ it comes upon them. Prufperity and pub- 
 lick Employment often-times ^o liilly them, that they 
 are made biack to the reproach of the U'orld ^ but 
 yet to Chrift, who forgives and wjfhes them, they 
 are comely. Yea, this is all the Excellency that is in 
 the World. Sm, with Honour, with W^th, with 
 Power, with Wifdom, is a deformed and contemp- 
 tible thing •, it is Grace only that is beautiful and 
 glorious : It is the grat'ious only that are excellent in 
 the Earth, VpL 16. ;. 
 
 5. This alone mikes any truly ulefiil unto others •, 
 and that, either for ^refervation or Frofperity. 
 
 T. Here lies the Prefervaticn of any Nation from 
 Ruine. lia. 65. 8, 9. Thusfjith the Lord. As the new 
 loine isf:undin the clufter^ and one fahh^ Deffroy it not^ 
 for a blejjing is in it : fo vc ill! do for my fervjnts fakes ^ 
 that I mjy hjt defiroy them all. This is ih^ HeJJins in 
 the clujler^ the hidden and fecret Blefiing, for the fake 
 wherecf, the whole is nor deftroyed : The remnant left 
 by the Lord of Hofts,^.. i. 9. that keeps the whole 
 from be'-ng as S>dc>mo\ Gomorrha, 
 ' If El'ifha, a Servant of the Lord, told the King of 
 Ifriel, in his Diftrels, that if he had not regarded 
 the Prefence of Jehojhafhat the King of Jud^\ he 
 would not ^o much as have fpoken to him: How 
 much mere will the Lord himfelf let a People know, 
 in their Diftrels, that were it not for the regard he 
 
 hati^ 
 
J Sermon preach* d to the ParluT/ient, 231 
 
 hath to his /ecrrt ones, he would not take the lealt 
 notice ( as to Relief) or' them, or their Concernments. 
 Sodam could not be deltioyed until Lor was delivered. 
 The whole World owes its PrclervaTion and Being, to 
 them, whom they make it their bufinefs to root out 
 ot it : They are as the foolifh Woman, that pulls 
 down her own Houfe with both her Hands. It is 
 not your Counjeh, you know how they have been 
 divided, entangled, enlhared j it is not your Armies 
 as fuch ; what have they been, to oppofe againlt the 
 mighty Floods that have rifen up in this Nation? 
 and they alio have been as a Reed driven to and fro 
 with the Wind, ( Mankind is no better-, John the 
 Bapufl fays it of himfelf ^ ) but it is this Prefence 
 ot Chrilt in and with his, that hath been the Prefer- 
 vation o'i England^ in the midit of all the Changes and 
 Re\ olutions that we have been exercifed withaljiTl/V.^.^. 
 2. Not only Frefcrvation, huu Pro/per ity, is from 
 hence alio Mich. 7. 7. And the remnant of Jacob 
 fhall he in the midj} of many people, as a dew from the 
 Lord, as thejhozjcrs upon the grafs, that tarrieth not 
 for yjian, that waits not jor the Jons of men. It is the 
 remnant cf Jacob of whom he fpeaks, that is, this 
 ferple of ChriR, with whom he is fo prefent, as hath 
 been manifelted : And where are they '' They are in 
 the midjl of many people, in their infde/m their Bow- 
 els ; they are woven, by their Relations and Employ- 
 ments, into the Boivels of the Nations^ and on that 
 account, there is neither this, nor any A^ation about 
 us, that fhall fpin out their Mercies or their Milery 
 from their own Bowels^ their providential Fates lie 
 inthem •, as is their Deportment toward^ this Remnant, 
 fuch will their Ifiiie be. But what (liall this remnant 
 do> Why, it fliall be as a dew from the Lord^ and as 
 JI)owrs on the gf\:/s. It fhall be that alone which 
 makes ihcm fruitful, flourifhing, and prolpcrous -, it 
 
 P 4 may 
 
232 The.Glory and Interefl of Nations^ &c. 
 
 inay be it will be ib, provided there be good Afli- 
 Itance, Counfel, and Strength to carry on their Aftairs : 
 yea, blefled be God tor CounJeU^ and tor Armies^ he 
 hath made them ufetul to us : But the Truth is, the 
 blefling of this Dew, depends not on them, it tarri- 
 €th not j or man^ it wajteth not for the Jons of man -^ 
 it will be a Blefiing let Men do what they will, it de- 
 pends not on their uncertain and unftabie Counfel, on 
 their weak and teeble Strength. This Remnant is as 
 t\\^Ark in the lloufe ofObed Edom^ ^^Jojeph in the Houle 
 of Fotiphar^ all is bleiled and profpered tor their fakes. 
 It is not the glorious Battlements, the painted Win- 
 dows^ the crouching Anticks, that fupport a Building, 
 but the Stones that lie unieen in or upon the Earth. 
 It is often thofe who are defpifed and trampled on, 
 that bear up the weight of an whole Nation. All 
 the frefh Iprings of our Bleflings are in Sion. 
 
 It were eafy to rrj^nifeft, that in all our late Revo- 
 lutions^ we have tured on this Hinge. According as 
 the Pretence of Chrift with his People, in the Power 
 of his Spirit, hath received entertainment in thele 
 Ik at ions ^ tp hath our State and Condition been : For 
 many Years before the beginning of thele Troubles^ 
 the L"nd had been full cf Oppreffion, I mean in re- 
 fpscl to the People of God ^ Poverty, Impritbnment, 
 Dangers, Banifhment, Reproaches were their Portion. 
 God was long patient \ at length the height of their 
 Adverlaries came to this, that tliey let not themtelves 
 ib much againfl their Perfons or Ways, as againft the 
 Spirit of Chrilt in and with them: That was made 
 tlieir Reproach ^ that the Bye-word wherewith they 
 ivere defpifed in the Mouths of their Advertaries, 
 and the profane Multitude : When things were come 
 to this, that the very Frefence of Chrift vj'ith his 
 People, was made the direrf Objeft of the hatred of 
 Men, the Lord could bear it no loi^ger, but fwarc by 
 
 himfelE 
 
A Sermon preach' d to the Parliament, 253 
 
 himfelf^ that umeJJwuhi he ^ivcn them no more. In 
 this very llouje he railed up Saviours ana Deliverers 
 on Mount Sion^ to judge the Mount of Edo7n ^ and 
 how did he carry on his Work ^ not by A'^is^ht^ ?ior 
 by Power^ but by the fpirit of the Lord of hofts ^ as 
 Zee. 4. 6. even by that- very fpirit which had been 
 reviled and defpiled. Give me leave to fay, the Work 
 of judging this Nation, was carried on by the Pre- 
 fence of the Spirit of Chnji with his in Faith and 
 Prayer : It wjs not by prudence of Councils, or- 
 frcngth of Armies above that of our Enemies, that 
 'we prevailed, but by Faith and Prayer ^ and if any 
 one be otherwiie minded, I leave him, for his Refb- 
 lurion, to the Judgment of the Great Day, when all 
 Tranfi^fions (liall be called over again : The Adver- 
 faries themfelves, I am fure, acknowledged it, when 
 they openly profefled, that there was nothing left 
 for them to overcome, or to overcome them, but the 
 Prayers of the Fanatick Crew. 
 
 After feme Years contending, when the Lord had 
 begun to give us Deliverance, by breaking the Pow- 
 er of the Enemy, at leaft in this Nation^ befides thofa 
 bitter Divifons that fell out among the People of 
 God themfelves, and the backlliding of lome to the 
 Caufe and Principles they had oppofed ^ this Evil 
 was alfb found rifing again amongft us^ fis>^^ting^ 
 blifphemmg^ contemning under feveral Pretences, of 
 the Spirit and Prefence of Chrid in and with his 
 Saints : You know what enfued, what Shakings, what 
 Revolutions, with new Wars, BloodHied, and Delb- 
 lation over the three Nations. And give mc leave 
 to remember you, as one that had oppotunity to make 
 Obfervations of the Pailages of Providence in thofe 
 days, in all the three Nations, in the times of our 
 greatcit Hazards ; give me leive, I fay, to remember 
 you, that the puhlick Declarations of thofc employed 
 
 in 
 
2 j4 ^^^ ^^^^y ^^^ Inter eft of Nations^ die. 
 
 in the Aftairs of this Nation, in the face of the Ene- 
 mies, their Addrelles unto God among themfelves^ 
 their Prayers Night and Day, their private Dilcour- 
 les one with another, were, that the prefervation of 
 the Interefl of Chrifl m and with his People, was the 
 great thing that lay in their Eyes •, and that if it 
 were not fo, they defired that God would^?^/^ them in 
 that Way, yea, rather caufe their Qarcafes to fall in the 
 high Places of the Field, than to prolper them in that 
 •which fliould be contrary thereunto ^ and we know 
 what enfued. How we have ufed our Mercies is 
 another Matter: This was the Principle that prevail- 
 ed with God and Man. 
 
 Ufe I ] If you defire the Glory of thefe Nations^ la- 
 bour to promote the Intereji ofChriJl in thele Nations : 
 I am not fpeaking unto you about difputable things. 
 Differences among the People of God themfelves, nor 
 am I interpofing my Advice in your Civil Affairs, but 
 I fpeak in general about thole with whom Chrift is 
 Prelent by his Spirit, his Cholen Ones, againft whom 
 there is an old Enmity in Satan and the World. The 
 Glory of thele Nations is, that there is a Veople in 
 them that have Chrifi in the midfl: of them ^ let it 
 be your Bufinels to take care for that Glory. But 
 how fhall we do it> 
 
 I. Labour Verfonally, every one of you, to get Chrift 
 in your own Hearts. I am very far from thinking, 
 that a Man may not be lawfully called to Magiftracy 
 if he be not a Believer^ or that being called, he 
 fliould be impeoed in the execution of his Trult and 
 Place becaule he is not fo ^ I fliall not fufpend my 
 Obedience whilft I enquire after my Lawful Gover- 
 nor's Converfion *. but yet this I fay, confidering that 
 I cannot much value any Good but what comes in 
 by the way ofiVroynife, I confefs I can have no great 
 Expectation from them whom God loves not, delights 
 
 not 
 
A Sermon preach' d to the Parliament. 255 
 
 not in : It any be otherwile. minded, I fhall not con- 
 tend with him j but tor this I will contend with ail 
 the VVoild, that it is your Duty to labour to ahure 
 Chrilt in your own Hearts, ev'n that you may Ix the 
 better fitted for the Work of God in the World. 
 It is the Promife of God to S'lcn^ that her cjficers 
 Jhall be peace, and her exaUours right ecu fnrjs^ Ilai. 
 CO. 17. and then Jha/I /he call her malls Jalvotion, 
 ami her gates fraije^ ver. 18. It will be little ad- 
 vantJge to any, to have the Work of God railed ia 
 the World, and not to have the Foundation ftone 
 laid in their Hearts: If there Ihould be in any of you 
 an Enmity unto Chrilt, and the Power ofGodlintfs, 
 an Hatred and Contempt of the People of God, an 
 Evil Heart of Unbelief^ an EvilCourfe of Life, World- 
 linejs^ Opprelfion, Vanity of Mind, tffe. would it 
 advantage you to be intrufted with Power in thefe 
 Nations ? would it not halten your Deflruftion, and 
 encreale your Account ? It is a noble Promife which 
 we have Ifai. :»2. 17. And the work of right eoujncfs 
 JJ)all he peace •, and the cjfeS of right eoufnefs^ quiet- 
 nefs and affurance for ever. It is a Golpel Kigh- 
 teoufiiefs that is Ipoken of •, and that not of the Caufe^ 
 as fuch on^y, but of the tetfons : the Perlbns being 
 Righteous, and that with the Righteoufnels of Chrilt, 
 the Kifc^s mentioned, (hall follow their Righteous 
 Undertakings : We have Peace now, outward Peace, 
 but alas, we have not qidetncfs ^ and if any thing 
 may be done that may give us quiet nefs, yet perhaps 
 we may not have ajjurance^ -we may be quickly (liakcn 
 again ^ but when the righteoufnefs ot the Fcffons 
 and Caiife meet, all the rcit vvill follow. 
 
 2. Set yourlelves to oppofc that overflozving flood 
 rf Prnfanencfs, and Oppohtion to the power of God- 
 linefs, that is fprcading it felf over this Nation. 
 Know vou not that the Niticn begins to be over- 
 whelmed 
 
2^6 The Glory and Inter eft of Nations, &c. 
 
 whelmed by the pourings out of a profane, wicked, 
 carnal Ipirit, full of Rage and Contempt of all the 
 ivork of Reformation that hath been attempted a- 
 mongft us ? Do you not know, that if the former 
 frofarie Frincipie fhould prove predominant in this 
 Nation, it will quickly return to its former Station 
 and Condition, and that with the price of your dear- 
 eft Blood ? and yet is there not already fuch a vifible 
 frevalency of it, that in many Places, the very pro- 
 fefjion of Religion is become a fcorn ? and in o- 
 thers, thofe old Forms and ways taken up with 
 greedinefs, which are a badge of Apoftacy from all 
 former Engagements and A£lings ? and are not thele 
 fad Evidences of the Lord's departing from us ? If 
 I (hould lay before you a comparifon between the 
 degrees of the appearances of the Glory of God in 
 this Nation, the fleps whereby it came forth, and 
 thofe whereby it feems almoft to be departing, it 
 would be a Matter of Admiration and Lamentation ^ 
 I pray God we lofe not our Ground fafter than we 
 won it. Were our Hearts kept up to our good old 
 Principles on which we firft engaged, it would not 
 be ^0 with us ^ but innumerable Evils have laid hold 
 upon us, and the Temptations of thefe days have 
 made us a woful Prey \ grey hairs are here ani 
 there ^ and it will be no wonder if our Ruine fhould 
 come with more fpeed than did our Deliverance, 
 O then, fet your felves in the Gap \ by all Ways and 
 Means oppofe the growth of an evU^ profane, Cojji- 
 mon^ malignant fpirit amongft us. But 1 hafte : 
 
 3. Value, encourage, and clofe with them, in and 
 u?///;whom is this Prefence ofChrift: They are the 
 Glory of the Nation •, its ?eace. Safety, and Pro- 
 fperity will be found wrapped up in them. I know 
 there lie divers confiderable Objeaions ag'iinft the 
 Pra6lice of this Duty •, I fliall name fome few of 
 
 ' . them, 
 
A Serrncn preacl/d to the Parliajnent. 237 
 
 them, and leave the Kxhortaiion unto your Con- 
 fiderarions. 
 
 1. Wlio are thofc Pcrfons in whom is this Prcfence 
 ot Chrilt * Arc tlay luch as protds indeed Rdiiion^ 
 but negldt all Rules cj Right coujneji ^ that would 
 be accounted gOiU\^ but cure not to be honc^ ^ the 
 marks ot whole Milurriagcs are written on their 
 Foreheads • Are not thele fo tar trom being the ^/c?/^, 
 that they are the flMvie ot' any Nation > 1 pray give 
 me leave to endeavour the rolling away thi.> great 
 
 Jlone of c^cnce^ in thele tew enfuing Conliderations. 
 
 \j\. then, 1 fhall willingly lay this down for a Prin- 
 ciple, That he is not Religious, tcho is not a/fo Righ- 
 teous : As alfo, I (hall noc much value his Righ- 
 teoufnels, who is not Religious. He that is righ- 
 teous, doth rightcoufncls -^ he doth lb, in the bent of 
 his fpirit and courfe ot his ways and walkings. If 
 a Man he J r award, heady, high-minded, fen/ua/, unji/ff^ 
 opprejfive, vjorld/y, Jelffeeking, a hater rj good Men^ 
 jalje, treacherous ^ let him pretend to what he will, 
 that Man's Religion is vain ^ he may have a form of 
 godlmeji, but he hath not the fovccr of it. This 
 Principle we fliall agree upon ^ 
 
 2. There have been, in the days wherein we live, 
 many falje ?rofel]ors, Hypoerites, that have thought 
 Gain to be Godlinels, by rcafon of whole wicked 
 Live^, Ways and Walking, the '^ame of God hath 
 been evil fpoken of ^ and wo to them by whom 
 thele Oftences are come : but yet alio wo to the 
 World kcaufe of Oiitnces ^ it ihcfc Oticnccs turn oft* 
 Men irom an cficcm of the Remnant of Chrilt in 
 whom is his Prcfence, xco to them alfo. I acknow- 
 ledge, thele clays have al)C>i:iiJtd wuh Oftences ^ 
 but xjoo to them who arc turned aJ-de by them from 
 owning the Portion and Inheiitantc of Chrill 
 
 -. I: 
 
238 The Glory and Inter eft: of Nations^ &c, 
 
 g. It cannot be denied, but that many of them 
 ivho do belong unto Ghrift, have wofuUy mifcar- 
 ried in thele days. tell it not in Gath^ publijh 
 it not in Askelon ! Oh, that our Souls could mourn 
 in lecret on that account 5 that we could go back- 
 ward, and cover the nakednels and folly of one 
 another ! But alas, this hath been far from being 
 our trame of fpirit ^ we have every one fpread the 
 failings of his Brother before the face of Men and 
 Devils : But yet, notwithftanding thele Mifcarriages, 
 thole that are the Peope of Chrift, are his Teople 
 flill ^ and he loves them ftill, whether we will, 
 or no : and commonly, thole who are lead able 
 to bear with the Mifcarriages of others, have molt 
 of their own. 
 
 4. That Differences oi Judgments in Civil Affairs, 
 or Church Matters, ought not prelently to be made 
 Arguments of Men •, not being righteous. Some 
 Men think that none are righteous that are not 
 of their Principles 5 than which Principle there is 
 nothing more unrighteous. Let Men that difler 
 from them walk never fo holily, profels never ib 
 firiUly s yet if they are not of their mind, they are 
 not righteous. If Men are ofitended on fuch ac* 
 counts, it is becaufe they will be fo. 
 
 5. This harh ever been the way of the Men of 
 the World, that when any have been unbhmeable 
 and zealous upon the account of Religion, they 
 will attempt their Reputation, tho' without any 
 ground or colour, upon the account of Righteouf 
 nefs. So fuftered the Chriflians of old j and fo 
 the Puritans of former days, uniultly and falfely, 
 as God will judge and declare. The World, then, 
 in this Mater is not to be, believed •, the common 
 Reports of it, are from the Devil r^^ accufer of 
 the brethren, who accules them in the fame man- 
 ner 
 
A Sermon prcjcb'd to the Parlidment. 21^9 
 
 ner bdbrc God, night and day. Thefe arc hut 
 Pretenccb, whereby Men ignorant of the Myftery 
 of the Golpel, and the rower of. Grace, harden 
 themfelvcs to their Ruine. 
 
 6. This remnant of Chrift with whom his Pre- 
 fence is, who are the Glory ot a Nation, is to be 
 found only amonglt the FroftJJors of a Nation. 
 For altho' of thole who are Profejfors, there may 
 be many /W ^ yet of rhofe that are not ProJtJJcfs-y 
 there is not one £ood. Where there is Faith, there 
 will be a prcfcffion. If I fhould not know well 
 where to find them, I am fure I know where I 
 cannot find them \ I cannot find them in the ways 
 of the World, and conformity to it-, in darknels, 
 ignorance, neglccl of Duty, and utter unacquaintcd- 
 neis with Gofpel Truths, the gifts and graces of the 
 Spirit j there I cannot find them : I fhall not iay 
 of them, Behold the Lord's anointed^ let their out- 
 ward worldly appearance be what it will. Now, by 
 the help of thefe Confiderations, thole who have in 
 themfelves Principles of Life and Light in Chrift, 
 will, or may be, fetting afide their Temptations, 
 enabled to diftover this Generation of the Lord's 
 Delight: And for others, I cannot take down the 
 Enmity that God hath let up. So then, notwith- 
 itanding this Ob'e£}ion, I (hall certainly eltecm this 
 Remnant of Chrid to lie among thofe, who having 
 received Gnfpcl Light^ and Go/pel Gifts evidently^ 
 do mike alfo proteHion ot Golpel Grace, union and 
 communicn with Chrilt, feparation from the World, 
 and the ways of it, in a converfation acceptable 
 unto God in Cht'ft. And to this portion, I fhall 
 fay, as Ruth to Kaomi. Let what will be plorious 
 or uppermolt in the World, Khitber thou goeff, I 
 vp/// CO : xjcherc thcu MfrJ}^ I xtUI lodge : thypriple 
 Shall be }r.y people^ and thy G.d my God •, the Lord 
 
 do 
 
240 The Glory and Inter eft of Nations, &ۥ 
 
 do fo to tne^ and more alfo^ if ought fart thee 
 and me ^ with them let my portion be, and the 
 portion ot my Family, whatever their lot and 
 condition in this World (hall be 5 And the Lord 
 iay Amen. 
 
 ' Obj.'j.'] But it will be laid, fecondly, We are 
 ftill at a lofs •, for what woful Divifions are there 
 araongit this generation of Profeflbrs ? fbme are for 
 one way, and lome for another ^ fome fay one fort 
 are the People of God, fbme another 5 fome fay 
 the Trelatifls are fo, fome the Presbyterians, fom» 
 the Independe?2ts, fome the Anabaptifts^ fome the 
 fifth Monarchy men, fome others : And on whom 
 fhould the valuation pleaded for, be call ? 
 
 Anfw, I.] Some do fay fo, and plead thus, it can- 
 not be denied ^ but the truth is, the greater is their 
 weaknefs and folly. It is imipoflible Men acquainted 
 with the fpirit of Chrifl and the Gofpel, fliould 
 fay fo, unlefs they were under the power of one 
 temptation or other. But it is no Varty, but the 
 the Varty of Chrift in the World, and againfi the 
 World, the Seed of the Woman, againft the Seed 
 oiF the Serpent, that I am pleading for ^, that Men, 
 as to their Intereft in Chrift, fhould be judged from 
 fiich denominations, as tho' they make a great noife 
 in the World, yet indeed lignifie very little things 
 in themfelves, is moft unrighteous, and unequal 5 
 nor will Men find Peace, in fuch rafli and precipi- 
 tate Judgments. 
 
 2. There may be many Divifions amongft the 
 People of God, and yet none of them be divided 
 from Chrift the Head. The Branches of a Tree 
 may be entangled by ftrong Winds, and flricken a- 
 gaintt one another, and yet none of them broken off 
 from the Tree it felf; and when the Storm is over^ 
 every one pofleQes its own place in quietnefs, beauty,. 
 
 and 
 
A Sermon preach'd to the Parliament, 241 
 
 and liuitlblnefs. VVhillt the Itrong winds of Tempta- 
 tions are upon the Followers of Chrilt, they may be 
 tolled and entangled \ but not being broken off 
 from the root, when he fhall lay to the Winds, 
 Teace, Be fiiU^ they will flourifh again in peace 
 and beauty. 
 
 ^. Let not Satan cheat you of yout Duty, hj 
 this trivial Obje£tion. If he can keep you from 
 Duty, whilll he can make Divihons, he hath you 
 fure enough. They of whom I fpeak, be they 
 under whac Reproach or Obloquies ibever, 
 they are all true Men, all the Children of one 
 Father, tho' they are unhappily jallcn out by the 
 vcay. 
 
 Ufe 2.] Of Encouragement to thofe who have 
 the Prelence of Chriit with them in the manner 
 declared ^ they fhall be fate ^ in vain it is lor all 
 the world to attempt their Security ♦, either they 
 fhall not prevail, cr they fhall mifchief themfslves 
 by their own prevalency. Mich. 5. 8. As they 
 fhall be a Dew, where they are appointed for a 
 Blefling, fo as a Uon^ where they are opprelled : 
 DeltruQion will come forth on their account, and 
 that terribly, like the DellruQion of a Lion, ipeediiy, 
 in paffing through it fhall be done. And whence 
 is it that this feeble Generation fliall be as a Lion > 
 It is from the Prefence of Chriit among them who 
 is the Uon of the tribe of Judah ^ and to honour 
 them, he affigns that to them, which is his own 
 proper Work : Let Men take heed how they pro- 
 voke th'S ljon\ for the prcfent (0^/7.49.9.) ^^ is 
 gone up jrom the prey •, he J]oopeth down, he cnuchetb 
 cs ii lion, and ai an old lion ^ vohop)iill roujc him up ^ 
 He hath taken his Prey in thcle Nations, in the 
 Defhuflion of many of his tnemies : He IcemctJl 
 now to take his Kelt, to couth dou-n, his Indignation 
 Vol. II. Q, being 
 
24? 1^^ Glory, and Interefi of Nations^ 6cc. 
 
 being overpaft , but who fliall roule him up > Why, 
 what if he be provoked > what if he be Itirred up? 
 Why, he will not lie down, until he eat of the prey, 
 and drink the blood of the flain. Numb. l^. 24. 
 There is- no delivery from him ^ No : But what if 
 there be a lirong Combination of many againft him, 
 will he not ceale and give over ? Ifau 31. 4. Be 
 they who they will, the Shepherds of the People, be 
 they never fo many, a multitude of them, let them 
 lift up their voice and rage never lb much, all is 
 one, lie will perform his Work and accomplifti it, 
 until you have him in the Condition mentioned 
 }fau 63. I, 2, :^, 4, 5-, 6. BlelTed are the People who 
 are under his Care and Conduft, yea^ blejfed are the 
 people vohofe God is the Lord, 
 
 Horn 
 
Hoti? we may bring our Hearts 
 to hear Reproofs : 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach"'d at the 
 
 Morning - Exercife 
 
 A T 
 
 C RIPP LE^GAT E, 
 
 ANNO 1^74. 
 
 By John Owen, D. D. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for J s e p h M a R s H a l L at the 
 Bib/e in Kevogate-flrcet, 1720. 
 
245 
 
 How we may bring our Hearts 
 to bear Reproofs. 
 
 P S A L. cxll. 5. 
 
 Let the righteous [mite me^ it fiall be a kind- 
 nejs ^ and let h'vn reprove ?ne^ it fiall be 
 an excellent oyl^ which JIjjII not break my 
 head : for yet my prayer alfo JJjall be in 
 their calamities. 
 
 T is generally agreed by Expofitor?,' 
 that this Plalm, as that foregoing, 
 with two of thole that tbilow, were 
 compolcd by l\2Vid in the Time of 
 his Baniiliment, or Flight from the 
 Court of Siju/. The State wherein he 
 defcribeth himlLIf to have been, the Matter of his 
 Pleas and Prayers contained in them, with fundry 
 cxprcls Circumltances regarding that Scafbn, and his 
 Condition therein, do manitclt that to h;fVe been the 
 Time of their Compofurc. 
 
 Q^ 3 That 
 
246 Hovp vpe may hring our Hearts 
 
 That the Pfalmifl was now in fome Diftrefs, 
 whereof he was deeply fenfible, is evident from that 
 Vehemency of his Spirit, which he exprefleth in the 
 Reiteration of his Requelt or Supplication, ver. i. 
 and by his Defire, that his prayer might come before 
 the Lord as incenfe \ and. the lifting up of his hands^ 
 as the evening facrifice, ver. 2. The Jevoifh Expo- 
 fitors guefs not improbably, that in that Allufion he 
 had regard unto his prefent Exclufion from the Holy 
 Services of the Tabernacle, which, in other Places, 
 he deeply complains of. 
 
 For the Matter of his Prayer in this beginning of 
 the ?falm ( for I (hall not look beyond the Text ) it 
 refpefteth himfelf, and his Deportment under his pre- 
 ient Condition, which he defjreth may be harmlefs 
 and holy, becoming himfelf and ufeful unto others. 
 And whereas he was two ways liable to mifcarry ; 
 firff, by too high an Exaiperation of Spirit againlt 
 his Oppreflbrs and Perlecutors ^ and fecondly, by a 
 fraudulent ancj pufillanimous Compliance with them 
 in their wicked Courfes-, which are the two Ex- 
 tremes that Men are apt finfully to run into in fuch 
 Conditions ; He prays earneftly to be delivered from 
 them both. The firft, he hath refpeQ unto ver. 5. 
 Set a watch^ Lord, before my mouth, keep the door 
 cj my lips ^ namely, that he might not, under thofe 
 great Provocations which were given him, break 
 forth into an unieemly Intemperance of Speech againft 
 his unjult Oppreflbrs, which Ibmetimes fierce and un- 
 realbnable Cruelties will wreft from very fedate and 
 moderate Spirits. But it was the Defire of this Holy 
 Tfalmifi, as in like Cafes it fliould be ours, that his 
 Heart might be always preferved in fuch a frame, 
 under the Conduit of the Spirit of God, as not to 
 be furprifed into an Expreflion of Diftemper'd Paf 
 iion^ in any of his Words or Sayings. The other he 
 i' ' . ■ . ■ regards 
 
to hear Reproofs. 247 
 
 regards his carnelt Supplication, to be delivered from 
 it, vtr. 4. hit line not wy heart to ijny evil things to 
 praliife wicked war As with men that worA iniquity : 
 and let me not eat of their dainties. There are two 
 parts of his Kcquelt unto the Purpolc inrended, 
 00 That by the Power of God's Grace influencing 
 his Mind and Soul, his Heart might not be incIinLxl 
 unto any Communion or Society with his wicked 
 Adverlarits in their VVickednels. (c^/y.) Tnac he 
 might be preierved from a liking of, or a longing 
 after rhofe Things, which arc the Baits and Allure- 
 ments whereby Men are apt to be drawn into Socie- 
 ties and Confpiracies with the Workers of Iniquity- 
 And let me not eat of their dainties. See Vrov. i. 
 10, II, 12, i;, 14. For he here defcribtth the Con- 
 dition of Men profpering for a Italbn in a Courfe of 
 Wickednefs : They hrit jointly give up themfelves un- 
 to the praftice of Iniquity, and then together folace 
 themfelves in thole Satisfactions of their Luffs, which 
 their Power and Intereft in the World do furnifh them 
 withal. 
 
 Thefe are the Danties, of which an impotent 
 
 Longing and Defire, do betray the Minds of unffa- 
 
 b!e Perfbns unto a Compliance with ways of Sin and 
 
 Folly : For I look on thefc Dainties^ to comprife 
 
 whatever the LuJI of the Eyes, the Luk of the llrJI.^ 
 
 or the Pride oj Life can afford. All thefe Dazid 
 
 prays to be delivered from any Inclination unto, cf- 
 
 pecially when they arc made' the Allurements of a 
 
 Courfe of Sin. In the Enjoyment of thefe Dainties^ 
 
 it is the common Praftice of wicked Men to fboth 
 
 up, approve of, and mutually encourage one another 
 
 in the Way and Courle wherein they are engiged. 
 
 And this compleats that roodly Felicity which in 
 
 this World fb many afpire unto, and whereof alone 
 
 ih^.y are capable. The whole of it is but a Society 
 
 a 4 i« 
 
248 Horv we may bring our Hearts 
 
 \n perifliing lenfual Enjoyments, without Controul, 
 and with mutual Applaufes from one another. 
 
 This the Jfalm'jft had a fpecial Regard unto •, who, 
 cafiing his Eyp towards another Communion and So- 
 ciety which he longed after, ver, 5. that in the firft 
 place prefents it felt unto him, which is molt oppo- 
 fite unto thole mutual Applaufes and Rejoycings in 
 one another, which is the Salt and Cement of all 
 Evil Societies •, namely, Rebukes and Reproofs for 
 the leaft Mifcarriages that (hall be obferved. Now 
 whereas the Dainties which Ibme enjoy in a Courfe 
 of profperous Wickednels, are that alone which 
 leems to have any thing in it amonglt them that is 
 defirable -, and, on the other fide, Rebukes and Re- 
 proots are thofe alone which feem to have any 
 (harpnefs or matrer of Uneafinefs and Diflike in the 
 Society of the Godly, David balanceth that which 
 leemeth to be Jharpefi in the one Society, againft 
 that which feems to htfweetefl in the other, and 
 without relpeO: unto other Advantages, prefers the 
 one above the other. Hence Ibme read the begin- 
 ing of the Words, Let the Righteous rather fmite 
 me, with refpefl: unto this Comparifon and Balance. 
 
 Let the righteous fmite me^ it JJmll be akindnefs\ 
 and, let him reprove me, it Jhall he an excellent 
 oyl, which Jhall not break my head : Jor yet my 
 ^ prayer Jhall be in their calamity. 
 
 The View of our Tranflation will evidence the 
 Words to be Elliptical in the Original, by the vari- 
 ous Supplements which we make to till up the fenle 
 pt them, and render them coherent. And this hath 
 put feme Difficulty on the Interpretation of the Text, 
 and caufed fome variety of Appiehenfions in fpber 
 and learned Expofitors. 
 
to bear Reprcof's. z^j 
 
 It is not unto my prcfcnt Purpofe to engage into 
 a Difcuflion ot all the Difficulties of the Text, feeing 
 I delign to found no other Doftrine thereon, than 
 U'hat all will acknowledge to be contained in the 
 Words, and their Coherence : I fhall only therefore 
 brietly open them, with rel'pe£\ unto our prelent Pur- 
 pofe, and its Concernment in them. 
 
 -iDi p'-^'^ ^DTD'rrr-onv The R/^hreous, is any one 
 oppofed to the Workers of Iniquity, ver. 4. any 
 Righteous Perlon whatever, any one who is of the 
 Society and Communion of the Righteous Ones ^ for 
 all the World falls under this Diltribution, as it will 
 one Day appear. Let him fmite me : The word 
 cjbn is feldom uled in the Scripture, but to fignify 
 a fevere Stroak which Oiakes the Subjeft fmitten, 
 and caufeth it to tremble^ fee Prov. 2^ 27. i Sam[ 
 Id. 6. PfdI. 74. 6. And it is ufed for the Stroak 
 of the Hammer on the Anvil, in fafhioning of the 
 Iron, //;/. 41.7. Wherefore the word ion follow- 
 ing, may be taken adverbially as a Lenitive of that 
 Severity which this word importeth. Ler h'lmfmite 
 me ; but Lenitcr^ Benigne, Miferjcorditer^ Gently, 
 Kindly, Friendly, Mercifully ^ and lb fome Tranfla- 
 tions read the words, Let the Righttcus f?mte me 
 friendly^ or kindly. 
 
 But there is no need to wrclt the word to fuch an 
 unufual Scnle- for the lyalmift intends to (hew, that 
 fb he may be delivered from the Society of Ungod- 
 ly Men, and enjoy the Communion of the Righteous, 
 he would not deprecate the greateU Severities, which, 
 according to Rule, might be ©cercifcd in rebuking 
 or reproving of him. And this he doth with lb full 
 a Satisfaction of Mind, with fuch an high Valuation 
 of the Advantage he fhould have thereby, that he 
 lays not he would bear it patiently and quietly, but 
 npri it vvill be- unto jne a Benignity, a Mercy, a 
 '" ' Kindncfs, 
 
250 How vc^ may bring our He^arts 
 
 Kindnefs, as the word imports. And as it ieems 
 that Ibme Reproofs, at lealt fome regular Dealings 
 of Righteous Perfons with us, may corneas aStroak 
 that makes us (hake and tremble ^ fb it is a good 
 Advance in Spiritual Wifdom, to find out Kindnefs 
 and Mercy in thofe that are fo grievous unco our 
 natural Spirits, unto Flefli and Blood. 
 
 ^3noi^i And let him reprove me. This manifefts 
 what he intends h^ fmiting, in the foregoing words. 
 It is Rep/ oofs that he intends •, and thefe he calls 
 fmiting, in oppofition unto the flattering Compliance 
 of wicked Men with one another, in the Enjoyment 
 of their Dainties, and with refpeO: unto that Smart 
 unto the Mind and AfFe£lions wherewith fome of 
 them are fometimes accompanied. But this word 
 direflly expreffing that Subject-Matter whereof I 
 intend to treat, mult be again fpoken unto. 
 
 ^\i;i^"\ ^y-'b^ \ybi"i p\i; Thele .words have a double 
 Interpretation ^ for they may be cither deprecatory of 
 an Evil implied, or declaratory of the TfahnifTs Senle 
 of the Good he defired. Kimchi on the Place ob* 
 Terves, That his Father Jofeph divided the words of 
 the Text, and began here a new Senfe, wherein the 
 Tfalmijl returns unto the clofe of the fourth Verfe, 
 Let me not eat of their Dainties, and let not their 
 precious Oyl, that is, their Flatteries and Soothings 
 in Sin, break my Head-, but let the Reproofs of the 
 Righteous preferve me. And this Senfe is followed 
 by the vulgar Latin ; Oleum nut em pec cat or um non. 
 impingent caput meum: But the other ConftruQion 
 and Senfe of the words is mpre natural : w^i"^ p^ 
 Oleum capitis, the Oyl of the Head, we render an 
 excellent Oyl •, and countenance may be given unto that 
 Interpretation from E:<od. ?o. 2^ where wn-i a^p^vtrn 
 Spices of the Head, is well rendred Principal Spices, 
 Bat I rather think, that u-'i^-i '?v\Tj'V Oyl poured on 
 
 the 
 
to bear Reprocfs. q^i 
 
 the licad^ which was the manner of all folemn Un- 
 ftions, is intended. This being a great privilege, and 
 the Token ot the Communication ot great Mercy 
 ihQ Fjj/mijl compares the Kchukes of the Righteous 
 thereunto; and thLictbre he adds ^u;n-> ^v.Sv^ it Jim II 
 not break 7vy Head. Confidering Reproofs in their 
 own Nature, he calls them Smitings ^ fbmeofthem 
 being very Iharp, as it is needful they fhould be, 
 where wc are obliged to rebuke, ^o'lofj.uj^^ in a pier- 
 cing and cutting manner, 2 Cor. n. 10. Tit. i. 13, 
 But with relped unto their Uie, Benefit, and Ad- 
 vantage, they are like unto that Anointing Oyl, which, t 
 being poured on the Head, was both gentle and plea- 1 
 fant, and a Pledge of the Communication of Spiri- 
 tual Privileges, whence no Inconveniences would en- 
 fuc. 
 
 The laft Claufe of the words belonging not unto 
 our prefent Delign, 1 fliall not infiit on their Ex- 
 plication. 
 
 Some few Things muft be further prcmifed unto 
 our principal Intention concerning the nature of thofe 
 Reproofs, which are propofed as a Matter of fuch 
 Advantage in the Text. And, 
 
 I. The word n^^ here uled, figniheth to Ar^ue^ 
 to Difpute, to Contend in Judgment, as well as to 
 Reprove^ Rebuke, or Reprehend. Its hrit Signirica- 
 tion, is to Ar^i^e, or to plead a Caule with Argu- 
 ments. Hence it is ufed as a Common Term be- 
 tween God and Man, denoting the Rcalons real, or 
 pretended only, on the one fide and the other. Sq 
 Ciod himlelf fpeaks unto his People nnDi^i dn d^ | 
 lia. I. 18. Go to novo and let us Fead, Realbn, or 
 Argue together. And Job calls his Picas or Argu- 
 ment in Prayer unto God nin:rn chap. 25. 4. Ivoculd 
 fill my mouth vcith Arguments. Wherefore that on- 
 ly hath the true nature of a Reproof, vvliith is ac- 
 
 compajiied 
 
252 Jiow we may bring our Hearts 
 
 companied with Realbns and Arguments for the 
 evincing of what it tends unto. Rafh, groundlefe, 
 wrathful, precipitate Cenfures and Rebukes, are evil 
 jn themfelves, and, in our prefent cale, of no con- 
 fideration. Nor, indeed, ought any One to engage 
 in the Management of Reproofs, who is not furnifhed 
 with Rule and Argument to evince their neceffity, 
 and render them effeSual. Sometimes Things riiay 
 be lb Circumftanced, as that a Reproof (hall fo 
 carry its own Reafon and efficacious Conviftion along 
 with it, as that there will be no need of Arguing, 
 or Pleas, to make it ufeful : So the Look of our 
 Bleffed Saviour on Feter under the Circumftances of 
 his Cale, was a fufficient Reproof, tho' he fpake not 
 one word in its Confirmation. But, ordinarily, cogent 
 Realbns are the beft conveyances of Reproofs to the 
 Minds of Men, be they of what jfort they will. 
 
 2. Reproofs do always refpe£t a Fault, an Evil, a 
 Milcarriage, or a Sin in them that are reproved. 
 There may be mutual Admonitions and Exhortations 
 among Chriftians, with reipeS unto lundry things in 
 the courfe of their Faith and Obedience, without a 
 regard unto any Evil or Milcarriage. The general 
 nature of a Reproof, is an Admonition, or Exhorta- 
 tion ^ but it hath its fpecial nature from its regard 
 unto a Fault in courfe, or particular Fa£l. And 
 hence the word fignities alfb to Chaftife, wherein is 
 a Correftion for, and the Means of a recovery from 
 a Mifcarriage : 2 Sam. 7. 14. / mil reprove him by 
 the rod of men •, that is, Chaflife him. This there- 
 fore is that Reproof which we intend, a Warning, 
 Admonition, or Exhortation given unto any, whereby 
 they are rebuked for and with refpeO: unto fbme 
 moral Evil or Sin, in their courfe, way, pradice 5 or 
 any particular Mifcarriage, fiich as may render them 
 obnoxious unto Divine Difpleafure, or Chaltifemem: ; 
 
 For 
 
to bear Reproofs, 255 
 
 For it is ellential unto a regular Reproot, that in 
 him who givts it, it miy be accompanied with, or 
 do proceed irom an apprehenfion, tliat the Perfbn 
 reproved, is, by the matter of" the Keproofj rendred 
 obnoxious unto the Dilplealure of God. 
 
 3. It may alio be conlidcr'd, that Reproving is not 
 left arbitrarily unto the Wills of Men. Whatever 
 leems to be lb, it lofeth its nature, if it be not a 
 duty in him who reproves, and will come fhort of 
 its efficacy. No wile Man will reprove, but when it 
 is his duty fo to do, unlels he dehgn the Jult reproach 
 of a Buly-body, for his reward. The Command is 
 general, with refpeft unto Brother and Neighbour, 
 Levit. 19. 17. Tf?ou Jhalt not hate thy brother in 
 thine heart : thou JI)dIt in any ivije rebuke thy neigh- 
 bour^ and notfujjer fin upon him : But as to the par- 
 ticular difcharge of this work as a Duty, there muft 
 be either an efpecial Office, or an efpecial Relation, 
 or a concurrence of Circumliances, for its warranty. 
 God hath, in his Wifdom and Care, given Rules 
 and Bounds unto our Engagement unto Duties \ with- 
 out a Regulation whereby, we Ihall wander in them 
 with endlcfs Di(latisia£\ions unto our ielves, and un- 
 necefTary Provocations unto others. Bgt the Duty 
 of Reproving with the Love, Wifdom, Tendernels^ 
 and Compalhon required in the dilcharge of it, its 
 Motives, F>nds and Circumltances, its proper Rules 
 and Limitations, fall not under my prefent Conhdera- 
 tion \ but thefe things in general were necelljry to be 
 premilcd unto what do fb. 
 
 That which theTrA-; inltrufls us in, may be com- 
 prifed in this general Oblervation ^ 
 
 Reproojs^ tho accompanied vcith feme Jhurpnefs^ if 
 rightly received and duly improved^ are a Alercy and 
 Advantage incomparably above all the Sat isf aliens ^ irhich 
 a Joint confent with others m Sin and Pleafures can 
 afford. The 
 
2 54 ^^"^ '^^ ^^y ^^^^S ^'^^ Hearts 
 
 The latter part of the Propofition I have mention'd, 
 only to exprels the balance that is propoltd by the 
 Tfalmifi between the beft and moft defirable Advan- 
 tages of wicked Society on the one hand, and the (harp- 
 eft or molt dilpleafing Severities that accompany the 
 communion of the Righteous, or Godly. But 1 fhall 
 not at all handle the Comparilbn, as definging only 
 Ibme Dire^ions how Men Jhould behave them/elves 
 under Reproofs, that they may be a Kindnels and an 
 excellent Oyl unto them •, or how they may, by them, 
 obtain fpiritual Benefit and Advantage unto their own 
 Souls. And this, however at prefent the Matter 
 may be managed, is of it felf of great Importance. 
 For as in the fl:ate of VVeaknefs and Imperfeflionj 
 of Miftakes and Mifcartiages wherein we are, there 
 is no outward Help or Aid of more ule and ad- 
 vantage unto us, than fealbnable Reproofs 5 ^0^ in 
 the right receiving and improving of them, as high 
 a trial of the Spirits of Men, as to their intereft in 
 Wifdom and Folly, doth confift. as in any thing which 
 doth befal them, or wherewith they may be exercifed. 
 For as Scoiners of Reproofs, thole who hear them 
 unwillingly, that bear them haughtily and impa- 
 tiently, with defigns of Revenge, or difdainful Re- 
 tortions, have the charaQers of Pride and Folly in- 
 delibly fixed on them by the Holy Ghoft ^ ib their 
 due admiffion and improvement, is, in the lame infal- 
 lible Truth, reprefented as an evident pledge of 
 Wifdom, and an efFeflual means of its encreale. This 
 is fo much and ^0 frequently infifted on in that great 
 treafure of all Wifdom, Spiritual, Natural, and Poli- 
 tical, namely, the Book of Proverbs, that it is alto- 
 gether needlels to call over any particular Teftimonies 
 unto that purpofe. 
 
 Two Things we are to enquire into, in compliance 
 with our prefent Defigns 
 
 I. lIou> 
 
to bear Reproofs. 255 
 
 1. How Reproofs TViiy he duly received, 
 
 2. How thy may be duly improved ^ whereunto tht 
 Reafbns fhall be added, why they ought 16 to be. 
 
 I. That we may receive Reproojs in a due manner, 
 three things are no be confider'd : (i.) The general 
 Qualification of the Reprover :; (2.) The Katt/re of 
 the Reproof ; And (3.) The Matter of it. 
 
 I. The Ffilmifl here dehres that his Reprover may 
 be a Righteous Man ^ Let the Righteous fmite me, 
 let him reprove me. To give and take Reproofs, is 
 ^ Diflate of the Law of Nature, whereby every Man 
 is obfiged to feek the Good of others, and to promote 
 it according to their ability and opportunity. The 
 former is direfted, by that Love which is due unro 
 others ^ the latter, by that which is due unto our- 
 felvcs : which two are the great Rules, and give 
 meafure to the Duties of all Societies, whether Civil, 
 or Spiritual. Wherefore it doth not evacuate a Re- 
 proof, or dilcharge him who is reproved, from the 
 Duty of attending unto it, that he by whom it is 
 managed, is not righteous^ yea, is openly wicked : 
 For the Duty it lelf being an efleft of the Law of 
 Nature, it is the fame, for the fubllance of it, by 
 whomfoever it is performed. Yea, oft-times, fuch 
 Moral, or rather immoral Qualifications, as render 
 not only the Reprover Icfs confiderable, but alfo the 
 Reproof it lelf, until thoroughly weighed and exa- 
 mined, obnoxious unto prejudicate conceptions, do 
 occafion a greater and more fignal cxercile of Grace 
 and Wifdom in him that is reproved, than would 
 have been (tirred up, had all things concurred unto 
 the exa£l Regularity of the Reproof However, it 
 is defirahle on many accounts, that he who Reproves 
 us, be himfelf a Righteous Pcrfbn, and be of us 
 etteemed lb to be : For, as fuch a one alone will of 
 can have a duelenfc of the Evil reproved, with a 
 
 right 
 
a^S How vpe may bring our Hearts 
 
 tight Principle and End in the difcharge of his own 
 Duty ^ ib^ the Minds of them that are reproved, are, 
 by their fenle of his Integrity, excluded from thofe 
 infinuations of Evafions, which Prejudices, and Sug- 
 geftionsof juft caufes of Reflexions on their Reprover, 
 will offer unto them 5 efpecially, without the exer- 
 cife of fingular Wifdorii and Humility, will all the 
 advantages of a juft Reproof be loft^ where the al- 
 lowed praSice of greater Sins and Evils than that 
 Reproved, is daily chargeable on the Reprover. 
 Hence is. that Reflexion of our Saviour, on the ufelels, 
 hypocritical diligence of Men in pulling the mote out 
 their brothers eyes^ whilft they have beams in their 
 own. Mat, 7. 9, 4, 5. . The Rule in this Cale, is, 
 tf the Reprover be a Righteous Verfon^ confider the 
 Reprover firft, and then the Reproof : If he be 
 otherwife^ conjider the Reproofs and the Reprover not 
 at all. 
 
 11. The Nature of a Reproof is alfb to be con- 
 fidered j and this is three-fold : For every Reproof 
 is either Authoritative, or Fraternal, or meerly 
 friendly and Occafional. / 
 
 Authoritative Reproofs are either (i.y Minijlerial y 
 or (2.) Parental',, or ("3.) DefpoticaL' 
 
 I. There is an elpecial Authority accompanying 
 Minifterial Reproofs, which we ought efpecially to 
 confider and improve. Now I underftand not hereby, 
 thofe Doflrinal Reproofs, when, in the difpenfation 
 of" that Word of Grace and Truth which \s profitable 
 for Corrosion and Reproof 2 Tim. 3. 16. they fpeak 
 and exhort and rebuke the Sins of Men voith all 
 Authority, T\u 2.15. but the occafional application 
 oF the word unto individual Perfbns, upon their 
 UTanfvverablenefs in any thing unto the Truth wherein 
 t ley have been inftruSed. For every right Reproof^ 
 i> but the orderly application of a Rule of Truth 
 
to bear Reproofs, 257 
 
 unto any Perfon under his Miicorriage, for his heal- 
 ing and recovery. Where therefore a Miniller of 
 theGofpel, in the preaching of the Word, doth de- 
 clare and teach the Rule ot holy Obedience with 
 Miniitcrial Authority, if any of the Flock committed 
 to his Charge, Ihali appear in any thing to walk 
 contrary thereunto, or to have tranlgrelled it in any 
 oftenhve Inltance, as it his Duty, the dilcharge where- 
 of will be required of him at the Great Day, particu- 
 larly to apply the Truth unto them in the way of 
 private perfonal Reproof: fb he is ftill therein ac- 
 companied with his Minifterial Authority, which 
 makes his Reproof to be of a peculiar nature, and as 
 fuch to be accounted for : For as he is thus com- 
 manded, as a Minifter, to Exhort^ Rebuke^ Admoni/J?^ 
 and Reprove every one of his Charge, as Occafioii 
 fhall require j ib^ in the doing of it, he doth dil- 
 charge and exercile his Minifterial Office and Power. 
 And he that is wife, will forego no Confiderations that 
 may give efficacy unto a jud and due Reproof^ clpc- 
 cially not fuch a ofk, as, if it be neglefted, will not 
 only be an aggravation of the Evil for which he is 
 reproved, but will alio accumulate his Guilt with a 
 contempt of the Authority of Jefus Chrift. Wherefore 
 the Rule here is, The more clear nnd evident the re- 
 frrfentat'ion cj the Authority ofChriJJ is in the Reproofs 
 the more diligent ought ice to be in our attendance 
 unto It, and compliance tvith it. He is the great 
 Reprover of his Church, Rev. g. 19. all the L'le, 
 Power, Authority, and Ffficacy of Ecclcjiaftical Re- 
 proofs, flow originally and are derived from him. 
 In Minifterial Reproofs, there is the molt exprefs and 
 immediate application of his Authority made unto 
 the Minds of Men ^ which if it be carelefly flighted, 
 or proudly dcfpifed or evacuated by pcrverle Cavil- 
 ings, as is the manner ct fome in fuch Cafes, it is 
 Vol. IL K sn 
 
558 How we may Wmg mir Hearts 
 
 an open evidence of an Heart that never yetfincerely 
 took upon it his Law and Yoke. 
 
 Thele things are fpoken of the Terfond Reproofs 
 that are given by Minifters, principally unto thofe 
 of their refpeftive Flocks, as occafion doth require 5 
 whereifi I (hall pray, that our Lord Jefus Chrilt, the 
 great Shepherd of the Sheep, would yet make us all 
 more Faithful and Diligent, as the feafon wherein 
 we live doth abundantly require it. But moreover. 
 Church- Cenfures in Ad?nonition and Excommunication^ 
 have the Nature and Ends of Minifterial Reproofs. 
 But the handling of ifieir Nature and Ule, with the 
 Duties of thofe Perfons who juflly fall under them, 
 and the Benefit which they may reap thereby, is too 
 long and latge a SubjeQ: to be here diverted unto. 
 
 2. Authoritative Reproof is Parental, Reproof is 
 indeed One of the greateft and moft principal Duties 
 of Parents towards Children, and without which, all 
 others," for the moft part, do but pamper them unto 
 Slaughter and Ruine, Negleft hereof is that which 
 hath filled us with fo many Hophn'is^ Wineass^ and 
 Abfoloms, whole outragicus Wickedneffes are direQly 
 charged on the finful lenity and negleQ in this Mat- 
 ter, even of Godly Parents. And indeed, whereas, 
 Ibme Parents are openly vicious and debauched, ev n 
 in the fight of their Children, in a fcnfual negleft 
 and contempt of the Light of Nature, whereby they 
 lofe all their Authority in reproving, as well as all 
 Care about it ^ and whereas, the moft have ib little 
 regard unto Sin, as Sin, whiUt things are tolerably 
 vVe-U in outward Concerns, that they negle£l the r€' 
 proof of it as fuch ^ and.many through a foolifli con- 
 temptible prevalency of fond AffeQion, will take no 
 notice of the finful Follies, Extravagancies, and Mii^ 
 carriages of their Children, until all things grow 
 defperate with them, but footh up and applaud them 
 
 iflf 
 
to bear Reproofs. 259 
 
 in fuch eftbfts of Pride, Vanity, and Wantonneis, as 
 ought to be melt fe\ erely reproved in them : The 
 woful and dreadful degeneracy of the Age wherein 
 we live, owes it lelf much unto the horrible neglccl 
 of Parents in this Duty. T^hat Fcircntal Reproof \s 
 a Duty taught by the Law of Nature, confirmed in 
 the Scripture, cnjoyned under levere Threatnings and 
 Penalties, exemplified in Inftances of Bleflings and 
 Vengeance on its Performance or Negle£l^ rendrcd 
 indifpenfably neceflary by that deprivation of our 
 Natures, which works in Children from the Womb, 
 and grows up in llrength and etficacy together with 
 them, I (hould not need to prove, if it lay directly 
 before me, it being a Matter of univerfal ackncv;- 
 ledgment. I fhall only fay, that whereas there is, 
 on many Accounts, an immediate imprefs of Divine 
 Authority on Parental Reproofs ^ that which Children 
 ought to confider and know for themfelves, is. That 
 a conunuancc in the neglc[l^ or contempt of them, is 
 a Token that feldom fi'ils oj apprOiuh'wg temporal and 
 eternal l}ef\ruU'ion^ Prov. qo. 17. 
 
 5. Authoritative Reproof is D^^/T'^r/Vj/ • namely, 
 that of Governors, Rulers, and Matters of Fa- 
 milies : This alfo partakes of the Nature of thole 
 foregoing ^ and being a Duty founded in the Law of 
 Nature, as well as enforced by pofitivc Divine Com- 
 mands, cafts a peculiar obligation to Obedience on 
 them that are fo reproved. And where Servants 
 regard not fobcr and ChrilHan Reproofs, as the Or- 
 dinance of God for their good, they lofe the advan- 
 tages of their Condition, and may be looked upon 
 as unfanftificd Sufferers in a (fate of Bondage^ which 
 hath an efpccial Charafter of the firll Curfe up- 
 on it. 
 
 R 3 2. Re- 
 
26o Hovp we may bring our Hearts 
 
 2. Reproof is Yraternal^ or liich as is mutual be- 
 tween the Members of the fame Church, by Vir- 
 tue of that elpecial Relation wherein they ftand, and 
 the Obligation thence arifing, unto mutual Watch- 
 fulnefs over each other, with Admonitions, Exhor- 
 tations and Reproofs. As this is peculiarly appoint- 
 ed by our Saviour, Matt 18. 15. in confirmation of 
 the Ordinance in the Church of the Jews to that 
 purpofe, Tuevit^ 19. 17, and confirmed by many Pre- 
 cepts and DireQions in the New Teflament, Rom, 
 l^. 18. I Thejj. 5;. 14. Ueh. 3. 12, 13. chap, 
 12. 15^, T<5. fo' the negleQ of it is that which 
 hath loft us, not only the benefit, but alio the very 
 nature of Church Societies. Wherefore our improve- 
 ment of Rebukes in this kind, depends much on a 
 due confideration of that Duty and Love from 
 whence they do proceed : For this we are, by the 
 Royal Law of Charity, obliged unto the belief o^ 
 where there is not open Evidence unto the contrary. 
 And whereas, it may be, thofe things for which we 
 may be thus reproved, are not of the greateft Impor- 
 tance in themlelves, who that is wife, will, by the 
 neglea of the Reproof it felf, contra£l the open 
 guilt of contemning the Wifdom, Love, and Care of 
 Chrift, in the infiitution of this Ordinance ? 
 
 111. And Laftly, Reproofs are friendly or Occafio- 
 nal, fuch as may be adminiftred and managed by any 
 Pcrfons, as Reafons and Opportunities require from 
 the common Principle of univerfal Love unto Man- 
 kind, efpecially towards them that are of the Hou- 
 fhold of Faith. Thsfe alfo having in them the en- 
 tire Nature of Reproofs^ will fall under all the enfu- 
 ing Direftions, which have a general refpeSt there- 
 unto. 
 
 If 
 
to hear Reproof:, 261 
 
 If then we would duly make ufe of, and improve 
 unto our Advantage the Reproofs that may be given 
 us, we are ferioully to conlider the Nature ot them 
 with relpeft unto thoie by whom they are managed -, 
 for all the things we have mention^^d, are Imted to 
 inHuence our Minds unto a regard of them, and com- 
 pliance with them. 
 
 2. The matter of a Reproof is duly to be weighed 
 by him who defigns any benefit thereby. And the 
 firit ConfiJerations of it is, whether it be True or 
 hi/fe. I fhjll not carry them unto more minute di- 
 itribution of the Subliancc and Circumliances of the 
 Matter intended, of the Whole, or Part of it, but 
 do lijppole, that from fome princ'pal Confideration 
 of it, every Reproof^ as to its Ahitrer^ may be de- 
 ncKninated and elteemed True or Falle. And here 
 our own Conlcience% with due application unro the 
 Ru/e, are the proper Judge and Umpire. Conlci- 
 ence, if any way enlightned from the Word, will 
 give an impartial Sentence concerning the Guilt or 
 Innocence of the Perfon, with relpeft unto the Alat^ 
 ter of a Reproof And there can be no more infal- 
 lible Evidence of a Mifcarriage in fuch a Condition, 
 than zvhe/2 PriJe^ or ?alJion, or Trejudice^ or any cor- 
 rupt AffeU'ion^ can either out-brave^ or ftifle that 
 compliance tcrth a jujl Reproof, which Confcience voill 
 ajjuredly tender^ Rom. 2. 14. 
 
 If a Reproof, as to the Matter of it, be jal/e^ or 
 unjulf, and fo judged in an unbiafled Confcience, it 
 may be confidered in matter of Right, and of Fa£l. 
 In the firlt Cjfj the Matter may be true, and yet the 
 Reproof formally filfc and evil. In the latter, the 
 Mjttet may be lalle, and yet the Reproof an accept- 
 able Duty. 
 
 I. A Reproof is faJfc in Mittcr of Right, or form- 
 ally, when we are reproved for that as Evil, wiiicli 
 
 R 3 is 
 
562 How vpe may bring our Hearts 
 
 is indeed our Duty to perform. So I}avii was 
 fiercely reproved by his Brother Eliab^ for coming 
 unto the Battle againft the Fhiiijimes, afcribing it 
 to his Pride, and the Naughtinefs of his Heart : 
 Whereunto he oijly replied, What have I done ^ Is 
 there not aCaufe } i Sam. 17. 28,29. -^^d Feter 
 rebuked our Lord Jefus Chrift himfelf, for declaring 
 the Do^rine of the Crofs, Mark 8. 3?. And fo 
 we may be reproved, for the principal Duties which 
 God requireth of us. And if Men were as free in 
 Reproving, as they are in Reproaching, we fliould 
 not elcape from daily Rebukes for whatever we do 
 in the Worfhip of God. Now, tho' fuch Reproofs 
 generally may be looked on as Temptations^ and lb to 
 be immediately rejeQed, as they were in the Cales 
 inftanced in ^ yet may they Ibmetimes, where they 
 proceed from Love, and are managed with Modera- 
 tion, be confidered as necejfary Cautions to look heed- 
 fully unto the Grounds and Realbns we proceed 
 upon in the Duties oppofed, at which others do 
 take Offence. 
 
 2. If the Reproof be falle in Matter of FaQ:, 
 wherein that is charged on us, and reproved in us, 
 whereof we are no ways guilty, three things are to be 
 confider'd, that it may not be unufeful unto us. 
 
 I. The Circumlfances of the Reprover : As 
 O.) Whether he do proceed on fome probable 
 Millake \ or (2.) Credulity and Ealinels in taking up 
 Reports ^ or (3.^ On evil, groundlefs Surmifes of his 
 his own •, or (4.) From a real godly jealouly, which 
 hath been impoled on, as eafily. it will be, by Ibme 
 appearances of Truth. Without a due Confideration 
 of thefe Tilings, we (hall never know how to carry 
 it aright towards them by whom we are reproved for 
 that whereof we are not guilty. 
 
 2. Con^ 
 
to hear Reproofs. 263 
 
 2. Confider aright the difference between a Reproofs 
 and a Rrproach •, for they may be both falle alike, • 
 and that whereof we are leproved, have no more 
 truth in it than that wherewith we are reproached. 
 Yea, we may be honeltly reproved for that which 
 is talfe, and wickedly reproached with that which is 
 true : ih Au^ujlinc calls the language of the Maid 
 unto his Mother about drinking of Wine," durum con- 
 vitium^ t ho' the matter of it were true enough. But 
 a Kcproach, is the aQing of a Mind defigning of and 
 rc'oycing in Evil. Unto a Reproofs it is eflential that 
 it fpring from Love : Wloom I love I rebuke, is the 
 abfblute Rule of thefe things .Let a Man rebuke an- 
 other, tho' for that which indeed is fille, if it be in - 
 Love, it is a Reproof: But let him rebuke another, 
 tho for that which is true, if it be from a Mind de- 
 lighting in Fvil, it is a Reproach ^ and if it be fuife^ 
 it is moreover a Calumny. 
 
 ^. Where a Man in fuch Cafes is fully juftified by 
 the teltimony of his own Confcience bearing wirnels 
 unto his Integrity and Innocency, yet may he greatly 
 mifcarry under the occilion, if he attend not dili- 
 gently unto his own fpirit, which moft Men judge 
 to be fet at the utmolt liberty und^r Juch injurious 
 Provocations as they elteem them. Wherefore, to 
 keep our Minds unto fedate, Chriflian Moderation in 
 fuch Cafes, and that we may not lofe the advantage 
 of what is befallen us, we ought immediately to ap- 
 ply them unto liich other Duties as the prefent Oc- 
 cafion doth require : As, 
 
 1. To fearch our own Hearts and Ways, whether 
 we have not indeed upon us the guilt of fbme 
 greater Evils than that which is falfcly charged on 
 us, or for which we Lire reproved on miltake : And 
 if it appear fo upon examination, we fhall quickly 
 fcewhat little real on we have to tiimultuate and rife 
 
 R 4 up 
 
264 Hov^ we may bring our Hearts 
 
 up with Indignation againft the Charge we fufFer 
 under. And may we not thence fee much of the 
 Wiidom and Goodnefs of God, who fuffereth us to 
 be exerciied with what we can bear off with the im- 
 penetrable fhield of a good Ccnfcience, whilft he 
 gracioufly hides and covers thofe greater Evils of our 
 Hearts, with refpe£l whereunto we cannot but con- 
 demn ourfelves! 
 
 2. To confider, that it is not of our felves that we 
 are not guilty of the Evil fufpe£led and charged. 
 No Man of Ibbriety can on any Miltake reprove us 
 for any thing, be it never fo falle, but that it is 
 meerly of Ibveraign Grace that we have not indeed 
 contra£led the guilt of it. And humble Thankfulnefi 
 unto God, on this occafion, for his real preferving 
 Grace, will abate the edge and take of the fiercenels 
 of our Indignation againtt Men, for their fuppoled 
 injurious dealings with us. 
 
 5. Such Reproofs, if there be not open Malice 
 and continued Wickednefs manifeft in them, are to 
 be looked on as gracious Trovidential Warnings tQ 
 take heed left at any time we (hould be truly over- 
 taken with that which at preient we are falfely 
 charged withal. We little know the Dangers that 
 continually attend us, the Ternptations wherewith 
 we may be furprifed at unawares, nor how near, on 
 the'r account, we may be unto any Sin or Evil which 
 we judge our felves molt remote from, and leaft ob- 
 noxious unto. Neither, on the other hand, can we 
 readily underftand the Ways and Means whereby the 
 Holy Wife God ifliieth forth thofe hidden provifions 
 of preventing Grace, which are continually adminiflred 
 foi^ our Prefervation. And no wife Man vyho under- 
 ftands any thing of the deceitfulnefs of his own 
 Heart, with the numberlels numbers cf invifible 
 Occafions of Sin wherewith he is encornpafled con- 
 . . " ' ' tinually^ 
 
to bear Reproofs, 265 
 
 linually, but will readily embrace fuch Reproofs, as 
 Providential Warnifigs unto Watchtulnels in thofc 
 things wliereot before he was not aware. 
 
 4. When the Mind, by theie Confiderations, is ren- 
 dred ledate, and weighed unto Chriltian Modera- 
 tion, then ought a Man in fch Cales, patiently and 
 peaceably to undertake the defence of" his Innocency, 
 and his own Vindication. And herein alio there is 
 need of much Wifdom and Circumfpe8ion ^ it being 
 a Matter of no fmall difficulty for a Man duly to 
 manage Self and Innocency, both which are apt to 
 influence us unto Ibme more than ordinary vehemen- 
 cy of ipirit. 
 
 But the Direflions which might, and indeed 
 ought to be given under all thefe particular Heads, 
 would by no means be confined unto the Limits 
 fixed to this Diicourfe, 
 
 3. If the Matter of the Reproof be Tr;/^ in Faa*, 
 then it is duly to be confidered, whether the Offence 
 for which any one is reproved, be Private or Pub- 
 iick^ attended with Scandal. 
 
 If it be Private, then it is to be weighed, whe- 
 ther it was known unto, and obferved in and by 
 the Per/on himfelf reproved, or no, belore he was lb 
 reproved. If it were not fo known, as we may 
 "julily btt reproved for many things, which through 
 Ignorante, or Inadvertency, or Compliance with the 
 Cuftoms of the World, we may have taken no no- 
 tice of ^ and if the Reproof bring a long Light and 
 Conviclion with it, the hrll efpecial improvement of 
 iuch a peculiar Reproof is thankfulnefs to God for 
 it, as a means of deliverance from any Way, or 
 Work./ or Path that was unacceptai)le in his fight. And 
 hence a great Profpe£f may bfc taken of the follow- 
 ing deportment of the Mind under other Reproofs- 
 for a teadinefs to take in Light andConviflion with 
 
 relpefl 
 
,(iS Hovo vce may bring ourH&arts 
 
 terpe£l: unto any Evil that we are ignorant of, is an 
 Evidence of a readinels to fubmit to the Autho- 
 rity of God in any other Rebukes that . have their 
 Convi£tions going before them : So the Heart that 
 is prone to fortify itfelf by any Pleas or Pretences 
 egainft convi&ions of Sin, in what it doth not yet 
 ovonfo to be, wi/i be as prone unto OhjTmacy under 
 Reproofs in vohat it cannot but acknowledge to be 
 Evil. 
 
 K it were known before to the Perlbn reproved, 
 but not iuppoied by him to be oblerved by others, 
 under the covert of which Imagination Sin often 
 countenanceth itfelf, that Soul will never make a 
 due improvement of Reproof who is not firft len- 
 fible of the Care and Kindncis of God, in driving 
 him from that Retreat and Hold where the Intereft 
 of Sin had placed its chiefeft Referve. 
 
 Sins, fb far Publick as to give matter of Offence 
 or Scandal, are the ordinary Subje£i: of all orderly 
 Reproofs, and therefore need not in particular to be 
 Ipoken unto. 
 
 " Having (hewed the Nature of Reproofs in gene- 
 ral, with fuch Confiderations of the Matter of them 
 as have afForded occafion unto fundry particular Di- 
 reftions relating unto the Duty under dilcufTion, it re- 
 mains only that we farther explain and confirm the 
 two Generals compriled in the Obfetvation deduced 
 from the Text •,' namely, (i.) Why voe ought to re- 
 ceive Reproofs orderly, or regularly given unto us, 
 eileemin^ of them as a Angular Privilege : And (2.) How 
 we may duly improve them .unto their proper End, 
 the Glory of God, and the* fpiritual Advantage of 
 our own Souls. As. to the firft of thefe, we may 
 obferve, 
 
 I. That 
 
to bear Reproofs, 267 
 
 I. That mutual Reproofs for the curing of Evil, 
 and preventing of Djngcr in one another, are trimc 
 Ditldtes of the Law ot Nature, and that Obligation, 
 which our participation in the fame Being, Oit-lpring, 
 Original, and End, to ftck the Good oi each other, 
 doth lay upon us. This God defigned in our Crea- 
 tion, and this the rational Conltitution of our Na- 
 tures direfls us unto. To feek. and endeavour for 
 each otlicr all that Good whereof we are capable in 
 Time, or unto. Eternity, was indelibly implanted in 
 our Natures, and indifpenfably neceilary unto that 
 Society among our lelves, with the great End of owr 
 joint-living unto God, for which we were made. 
 All the mutual Evils of Mankind, whether of Per- 
 fons, or ot Nations, defigned or perpetrated againit 
 one another, are Ffiefts of our fatal Prevarication 
 from the Law of our Creation. Hence Cain^ the hrft 
 open violent Tranfgreilbr of the Rules and Bounds of 
 Humane Society, thought to juftiiy or excufe him- 
 felf by a Renunciation of that Principle which God 
 in Nature had made the Foundation of a Political 
 or Sociable Life, with refpeft unto Temporal and 
 Eternal Ends ^ Am /, laith he, wy Brother's keeper ^ 
 Gen. 4. Yea, God had made every Mm the keeper 
 of his Brother {0 far, as that they fhould in all 
 things in their Opportunities, and unto their Power, 
 leek their Good, and deliverance from Evil. In 
 thofe things which are Good unto us, thofe which 
 are Spiritual and Eternal have the Pre-eminence. 
 Thefe nothing can prejudice but Sin and Mortal 
 Evils ^ whole prevention therefore in one another, fb 
 far as we are able, is a Duty of the Law of Na- 
 ture, and the prime EffeQ of that Love which we 
 owe unto the whole Ojf-fprirt£ of that one Blood 
 whereof God hath made all Nations. And one Of 
 ;he molt etieflual M^ans for that End, are the Re 
 
 proor 
 
268 How we may bring our Hearts 
 
 proofs whereof we treat. And the Obligation is the 
 lame on thole that give them, and thole to whom 
 they are given, with relpetl unto their leveral Inte- 
 refts in this Duty. Wherefore to neglefl, to defpife, not 
 thankfully to receive luch Reproofs as are juftly and 
 regularly given unto us at any time, is to contemn 
 the Law of our Creation, and to trample on the 
 prime Effcft of Fraternal Love : Yea, to defpife Re- 
 proofs, and to dilcountenance the dilcharge ot that 
 Duty, is to open a door unto that mutual Hatred 
 and Diflike which, in the fight of God, is Murder. 
 See Levir. 19. 17. with i fob, 9. 15;. Let us there- 
 fore look to our lelves, for there is no greater fign ' 
 of a degeneracy from the Law, and all the Ends of 
 our Creation, than an unwillingnels to receive Re- 
 proofs juftly delerved and regularly adminiftred 5 or 
 not to efteem of them as a blefled Effe£l of the 
 Wifdom and Goodnefsof God towards us. 
 
 2. Whereas the Light of Nature is varioufly ob- 
 fcured, and its direQive Power debilitated in us, God 
 hath renewed on us an Obligation unto this Duty, by 
 particular Inftitutions both under the Old Teftament 
 and the New. The Truth is, the efficacy of the Law 
 of Creation, as unto Moral Duties, being exceedingly 
 impaired by the entrance of Sin ; and the exercile of 
 Original Native Love towards Mankind being impe- 
 ded and obltrufted by that Confufion and Diforder 
 whereinto the whole Hate of Mankind was calt by 
 Sin, every one thereby being made the Enemy of a- 
 nother, as the Apolile declares, Tit. ?. 3. not being 
 cured by that coalefcency into evil Societies, which 
 refpeQs only Volitkal and Temporal Ends, the dil- 
 charge of this Duty was utterly lolt, at leaft beyond 
 that which was meerly FarentaL Wherefore God, 
 in the Inftitution of his Church, both under the Old 
 Teftament and the New, did nK)uld Men into fuch 
 
 peculiar 
 
to bear Reproofs. 269 
 
 peculiar Societies and Relations, as wherein way might 
 be made meet again tor the Exercile thereof. He 
 hath lb dirpoled of us, that every one may know 
 every one whom he is obliged to Reprove, and eve- 
 ry one may know every one whom he is obliged to 
 Hear. And as He hath hereby cured that Confufioii 
 we were calt into, which was obftruflive of the ex- 
 ercile ot this Duty, lo by the renovation of pofitive 
 Commands, attended with Inltruftions, Dircftions, 
 Promifes, and Threatnings, enforcing the giving and 
 receiving of Reproofs, with reipeft unto Moral and 
 Spiritual Ends, He hath relieved us againlt that ob- 
 fcurity of Natural Light which we before laboured 
 under. Should 1 go to exprefs the Commands, Di- 
 reflions. Exhortations, Promiifes, and Threatnings 
 which are given in the Scripture to this purpole, it 
 would be a Work as endlefs, as I fuppofe it needlefs 
 to all that are converlant in the Holy Writings : It 
 may fuffice unto our prefent Purpole, that there be- 
 ing an exprels Inftitution of God for the giving and 
 taking ot Reproofs^ and that an Efieft of infinite 
 Goodnels, Benignity, and Love towards us 5 not 
 thankfully to receive Reproofs, when it is our lot 
 to deferve them, and to have them, is to defpife the 
 Authority of God over us, and his gracious Care for 
 us. When therefore it betalleth any to be jultly and 
 orderly reproved, let him call to Mind the Autho- 
 rity and Love of God therein, which will quickly 
 give him that fenle of their Worth and Excel- 
 lency, as will make him thankful for them 3 which 
 is the hrit flep unto their due Improvement 
 
 ^. A due Confidcration of the Ule, Benefit, and 
 Advantage of them, will give them a ready admif- 
 fion into our Minds and AfJe£lions. Who knows 
 how m.my Souls, that are now at Reft with God, 
 have been prevented by Reproofs, as the outward 
 
 Means, 
 
270 Horv rve may hnng our Hearts 
 
 Means, from going down into the Pit > Unto how 
 man/ have they been an occafion of Converfion and 
 fincere turning unto God ? How many have been re* 
 covered by tliem from a ftate of Backfliding, and 
 awakened from a lecure Sleep in Sin > How many 
 great and bloody Sins hath the perpetration of^ been 
 obviated by them ? How many Ihares of Temptations 
 have they been the Means to break and cancel ? What 
 revivings' have they been to Grace ? What difap- 
 pointments unto the Snares of Satan ? Who can de- 
 clare > The Advantages which the Souls of Men do m 
 might receive every day by them, is more to be 
 valued than all Earthly Treafures whatever : And 
 fhall any of us, when it comes to be our Con- 
 cern, through a predominancy of Pride, Paflion, and 
 Prejudice, or through curled Sloth and Security, the 
 ulual Means of the defeatment of theie Advantages, 
 manifell our felves to have no Interefl: in, or Valua- 
 tion of thefe things, by an unreadinels or unwilling- 
 nefs to receive Reproofs, when tendred unto us in 
 the Way, and according to the Mind of God ? 
 
 But now fuppofe we are willing to receive them, 
 k will be enquired, in the laft Place, what Confide- 
 rations may -further us in their due Improvement, 
 and what DlreSions may be given thereunto? An 
 Anfwer to this Enquiry, fllall (hut up this Difcourle: 
 And I (Iiall fay hereunto, 
 
 I. It there be not open Evidence unto the contra- 
 ry, it is our Duty to judge, that every Reproof is 
 given us in a way of Duty : This will take oft' Of- 
 fence with refpeft unto the Reprover, which unjuft- 
 ly taken, is an afllired entrance into a way of loling 
 .all Benefit and Advantage by the Reproof The 
 Realbn why any Man doth regularly reprove ano- 
 ther, is becauie God requireth him io to do,, and by 
 his Command hath made it his Duty towards him 
 
 thac 
 
to bear Reproofs. 271 
 
 that is Reproved. And do we judge it reafonable 
 that one Ihould negletl their Duty towards God and 
 us, and in Ibme degree or other make himlelf guilty 
 of our Sins, for no other Caule, but lelt we (liould 
 be dilpleaied that we are not fufi'ered to Sin le- 
 curely, and, it may be, to Perifh eternally •* And if 
 we are convinced that it is the Duty of another to 
 Reprove us, we cannot but be convinced, that it is 
 our Duty to hearken and attend thereunto. " And this 
 will tix the Mind unto a due confideration of the 
 prefent Duty that lies before us, and .what is our 
 jult concernment in the Reproof. Befides, if it be 
 done in a way of Duty, it is done in Love ^ for all 
 orderly Rebukes are Eftefls of Love : And if we are 
 convinced of any one, that he doth reprove in a way 
 ot Duty, we mull be fatisfied, that what he doth, pro- 
 ceedcth from Love, without Bye-ends, or Diflimula- 
 tion : For what doth not fo, be it what it will, be- 
 longs not to rebuking in a way of Duty. And this 
 will remove all obltrufting Prejudices in all who 
 have the lealt gracious Ingenuity. Ahab defpiied the 
 Warning oi Micaiah^ becauft he thought they mutu- 
 ally hated one another : He knew how it was with 
 himfelf, and falfely ib judged of the Prophet by his 
 necdiary fharpnels towards him. But where there 
 are fiich Surmifes, all Advantages of Reproofs will 
 be alljjredly lolt. Where therefore our Minds are 
 fatisfied that any Reproof is an EfteQ of Love, and 
 given in a way of Duty, D'mtdiirm faU'i^ we are half 
 way in the dilcharge of the Duty direfted unto. 
 
 2. Take heed of cherifhing habitually fuch Diibr- 
 dcrs, Vices, and Diltempers of Mind, as are contrary 
 unto this Duty, and will frultrate the Defign of it. 
 Such are, {\) Hadinefs of Spirit. Some Mens Minds 
 do with fuch fury apply themfLlvcs unto their firlt 
 apprehenfion of things, that they calt the. whole Soul 
 
 into 
 
272 How we may bring our Hearts 
 
 into diibrder, and render it uncapable of further ra- 
 tional Con(iderations. There may be, it is poflible, 
 Ibme Failures and Miftakes in ufeful and neceliary Re- 
 proofs, in Matter, Manner, Circumftance, fbme way 
 or other. This immediately is feiled on by Men of 
 hajiy Spirits ( a Vice and Folly fufficiently condemn- 
 ed in Scripture,) turned unto a Provocation, made a 
 matter ot Strife and Dilpute, until the whole Advan- 
 tage of the Reproof is utterly lolt and vaniiheth. A 
 Quiet, Gentle, Confiderarive, Sedate frame of Spirit 
 is required unto this Duty. (2. j Pride^ and Haugh- 
 tinefs of Mind, Self-conceit, Elation of Spirit, which 
 will be infeparably accompanied with the Contempt of 
 others, and a Scorn that any (hould think themfelves 
 either fo much Wiler, or lb much Better than 
 our felves, as to reprove us in any kind, are a fenced 
 Wall againft any Benefit or Advantage by Reproofs 5 
 yea, things that will turn Judgment into Hemiock, 
 and the molt foveraign Antidote into Poyfon. No 
 wild Beaft in a Toyle doth more rave, and tear, and 
 rend, than a Proud Man when he is reproved. And 
 therefore he who manlfefls himlelf fb to be, hath 
 fecured himfelf from being any more troubled by 
 ferious Reproofs from any wife Man whatever. See 
 Vrov. 9. 7, 8. (^) Prejudices ; which are fo vari- 
 oufly occafioned, as it were endlels to recount. If. 
 now we make it not our conftant Bufinels to purge 
 our Minds fi:om thefe depraved AfFe£lions, they will 
 never fail efleftually to exert themfelves on all occa- 
 fions, to the utter defeatment of all Ufe in, or Bene- 
 fit by the molt neceflary and re£;ular Reproofs. 
 
 ^ Reckon afluredly, that a Fault, a Mifcjirriage,^ 
 which any one is duly reproved for, if the Reproof 
 be not received and improved as it ought, is not only 
 aggravated, but accumulated with a new Crime, and 
 marked with a dangerous Token of an incuraUe EviL 
 
to bear Reproofs. 275 
 
 SeePn^y. 29. I. Let Men do what they can, bear 
 themlelves high in their Exprcflions, grow Angry, 
 Paflionate, Kxcule, or Palliate, unlefs th.cy are iear- 
 ed, and proHigatcly Ohltinarc, their own Conlci- 
 ences will take part with a jult and regular Reproof. 
 If hereupon th.y come not up to Amendment, their 
 Guilt is encreaicd by the occafional excitation of the 
 Light of Confcience, to give it an cfpecial Charge. 
 And there is an additional Sin in the contempt ot the 
 Reproof itfelf But that which principally niould 
 make Men Careful, and even Tremble in this Cafe, 
 is, that they are put on a Trial, whether ever they 
 will fbrfike the Evil of their Ways and Doings, or 
 no : For he who is orderly reproved for any Fault, 
 and neglefts or defpifeth the Rebuke, can have no 
 allurance that he (hall ever be delivered from the 
 Evil rebuked, but harh juit Caufe to fear that he is 
 entring into a courfe ofHardneis and Impenitency. 
 
 4. It is ufeful unto the fame End, immediately io 
 compare the Reproof with the Word of Truth. This 
 is the Meafure, Scandard, and DireQory of all Du- 
 ties, whereunto, in all dubious Cafes, we fhould 
 immediately retreat for Advice and Counfel. And 
 whereas there are two things confiderable in a Re- 
 proof, Firlt, The Matter of it, that it be true, and a 
 iuU Caufe, or Realbn of a Rebuke: And Secondly, 
 The Right which the Reprover hath unto this Duty, 
 with the Rule which he walked by therein : If both 
 thefe, for the fubftancc of them, prove to be iulti- 
 fied by the Scripture, then have we, in fuch a Cafe, 
 no more to do with the Reprover, nor any of his 
 Circumltances, but immediately and dircclly with 
 God himfelf ; for where he gives expreis Warranty 
 and DircdVion for a Duty in his Word, his own Au- 
 thority is as dircOly exerted thereby, as if he ipoke 
 unto us from Heaven, Hereby will the M nd be 
 Vol. If S prevented 
 
274 Hovp we may brivg our Hearts 
 
 prevented from many Wandrings and vain Reliefs,which 
 foolifh Imagination will fuggelt, and be bound up un- 
 to its prefent Duty. Let our unwillingnefs to be re- 
 proved be what it will, asalfo our Prejudices againit 
 our Reprover, it we are not at leaft tree to bring the 
 Coniideration and Examination of the one and the 
 other unto the Word of Truth, it is becaute our 
 Deeds are Evil, and theretore we love Darknefs m.ore 
 than Light. No milder, nor more gentle Cenfure 
 can be pafled on any, who is not free to bring any 
 Reproot that may be given him unto an Impartial 
 Trial by the Word, whether it be according to the 
 Mind of God, or no. If this be done, and conviQi- 
 on of its Truth and Neceflity do then appear, then 
 let the Soul know it hath to do with God himfelf, 
 and wifely confider what Anfwer he will return, what 
 Account he will give unto Him. Wherefore, 
 
 5. The bell way to keep our Souls in a readinefs 
 rightly to receive, and duly to improve fnch Reproofs 
 as may regularly be given us by any, is to keep and 
 preierve our Souls and Spirits in a conftant awe and 
 reverence of the Reproofs of God which are recorded 
 in his Word. The negleQ or contempt of thefe Re- 
 proots, is that which the generality of Mankind do 
 fplic themfelves upcn, and perifh eternally. This is 
 fo fully and graphically exprefled, Frov. i. that no- 
 thing can be added thereunto. And the great Means 
 whereby much Hardnels comes upon others, through 
 the deceitfulnefs of Sin, is want ot keeping up a due 
 fenfe or reverence of Divine Reproofs and Threat- 
 rings on their Souls. When this is done, when our 
 Hearts are kept up unto an awtul regard of them, 
 exerciled with a continual Meditation on them, made 
 tender, careful, watchful, by them, any jult R-proof 
 from any, that falls in compliance with them, will 
 be confcientioufly obferved, and carefully improved. 
 
 6. We 
 
to bear Reproofs. 
 
 275 
 
 6. We fhall fail in this Duty, unleis we are al- 
 ways accompanied with a deep fenlc of our Frailty, 
 Weaknefs, rcadinefs to Halt or Mifcarry, and i Ik ic- 
 on a neceflity of all the Ordinances and Vifitations 
 of God which are ddigned to prelcrve our Souls. 
 Unlcfs we have due apprehenfions of our own State 
 and Condition here, we fhall never kindly receive 
 Warnings before-hand to avoid approaching Dangers, 
 nor duly improve Rebukes for being overtiken with 
 them. Ic is the humble Soul that feareth always, 
 and that from a lenfe of its own Weaknels -, yea, 
 the Treacheries and Deceitfulnefs of its Heart, with 
 the Power of thofe Temptations whereunto it is con- 
 continually expolcd, that is ever like to make Work 
 of the Duty here diredted unto. 
 
 s a 
 
 T/. 
 
 'je 
 
The Chamber of iM AGE K Y in the 
 Church of KOMEj bid Open • 
 
 R, 
 
 An Antidote againft P O P E R Y. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached at the 
 
 Morning - Exercife 
 
 A T 
 
 CRIPPLE. GATE, 
 
 ANNO 1 6S 7. 
 
 By John Owen, D. D. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for J o s e p h M a r s ii a l l at the 
 
 Bib/e in Kewgate-lhrct. 1720. 
 
79 
 
 2«^/?. How Is the Pradical Love 
 of TRUTH rhebeftPrc- 
 fervative againft POPEKr? 
 
 I PET. ii. 3. 
 
 If fo be ye haz/e iajied that the Lord 
 is gracious. 
 
 i.—±.'.m 
 
 HEN Falfe-Worfhip had prevailed 
 in the Church otold, unto its Ruine, 
 God fliewed and repreiented it unto 
 his Prophet, under the name and 
 appearance of a Chamber of Imagery^ 
 Ezek. 8. 11,12. For therein were 
 pourtraied all the Ahomination wherewith the Wor- 
 fhip of God was defiled, and Religion corrupted. 
 
 Things relating unto Divine Truth and Worfliip, 
 have had again the lame Event in the World, elpe- 
 cially in the Church oCRome. And my prelent Defign 
 is, to take a view of the ChcUJibcrs of their lmjge?y., 
 and to (hew what was the Occafion, and what were 
 the Means of their ErcQion ^ and in them we fhall 
 fee all the Abomination wherewith the Divine Worfhp 
 
 S 4 of 
 
280 How is the PraElical Love of Truth 
 
 of the Golpel hath been corrupted, and Chriftian 
 Religion ruined. 
 
 Unto this End, it will be neceflary to lay down 
 Ibme fuch Principles of facred Truth, as will demon- 
 ftrate and evince the Grounds and Caules of that 
 Transformation of the Subftance and Power of Reli- 
 gion into a Ljfelefs Image, which (hall be proved to 
 have fallen out amongft them. And becaule I intend 
 their Benefit, principally, who refolve all their Per- 
 Iwafion in Relig.ion into the Word, of God, I (hall 
 deduce thefe Principles from that Paliage of it in the 
 Firfi Ep'iftle of the Apofile Peter, Chap, 2, and the three 
 firjt Verfes 
 
 The firjl Verfe contains an Exhortation unto, or an 
 Injun^lion of Univerlal Holinels, by the laying afide, 
 or calling out whatever is contrary thereunto ^ Where- 
 fore lay afide alhnalice^ and all guile, and hypocr'ify^ and 
 envy^ and all evil-fpeakwg : the Rule whereof extends 
 unto all other vicious habits of Mind whatever. 
 
 And in ihtfecond, there is a Profeflion of the Means 
 whereby this End may be attained ;, namely, how 
 any One may be ib ftrengthned in Grace, as to calt 
 out all iuch finful Inclinations and PraQices as are 
 contrary unto the Holinefs required of us, which is 
 the Divine Word ^ compared therefore unto Food^ 
 which is the ^eans of prelerving Life, and of en- 
 creafing its ftrength : As new-born babes defirt the 
 fince7'e milk of the word^ that ye may grow thereby. 
 
 Hereon the Apoltle proceeds to declare the Condi- 
 tion whereon our profiting, growing, and thriving by 
 the Word, doth depend ; and this is an experience 
 of its Power, as it is the Infirument of God, whereby 
 he conveys his Grace unto us ^ Iffo be that ye have 
 iafted that the Lord is gracious. See i ThejJ. i. ^. 
 Therein lies the firft and chief Principle of our en- 
 fuing Dsmonftration : And it is this which follows ^ 
 
 All 
 
the heft Frefervative againft Popery ? i8i 
 
 AI/ the Bcnijit d/hl Advd/!ta£C which any Men do 
 or ?ndy receive by the Word^ or the Truths of the 
 Gofpe!^ depend on an experience of its Power 
 and Efficacy in communicating the Grace of God 
 unto their Souls, 
 
 This Principle is evident in itfelf, and not to be 
 queftion'd by any bur fuch as never had the lejlt real 
 lenle of Religion on their own Minds. Belides, it 
 is evidently contained in theTeltimony of the Apoltle 
 before hid down. 
 
 Hereunio three other Principles of equal Evidence 
 with it felf, are fuppoled, and virtually contained 
 in it. 
 
 1. There is a Power and Efficacy in the Word^ and 
 the Preaching of it, Rom. i. \6. 1 am not afhamed of 
 the gofpel oj Chrifl^ for it is the power of God unto fal- 
 vation. Ic hath a divine Power ^ the Power of God 
 accompanying it, and put forth in it, unto its pro- 
 per Ends ', for the word of God is quick and powerful, 
 Hebr.4. 12. 
 
 2. Ihe Power that is in the Word oJ God, confifis in 
 its Efficacy to communicate the Grace of God unto t})e 
 Souls of Men ^ in and by it they taf}e that the Lord is 
 gracious-^ that is its Efficacy unto its proper Ends. 
 Thefe are Salvation, with all things requifite there- 
 unto ; fuch as the Illumination of our Minds, and 
 the Renovation of our Natures, the Jultification of 
 our Perfons, the Life of God in holy Worfhip and 
 Obedience, all leading unto our Eternal Enjoyment 
 of Him. Thefe are the Ends whereunto the Gofpel 
 is defigned in the Wifdom of God, whereunto its 
 Efficacy is conhned. 
 
 :^. There is an Experience to he obtained of the 
 Power and Efficacy of the Word. In that place of the 
 Apoltle it is exprelled by tafling. But there is fome- 
 
 thing 
 
282 Hove is the VraB'ical hove of Truth 
 
 thing antecedent unto their tajl'mgfpeciallyfo called^ 
 and Ibmething confequent unto it, both infeparable 
 from- it, and therefore belonging unto the Experience 
 whereof we fpeak. 
 
 I. Wherefore : The firft thing required hereunto, 
 is Light:, that is, a fpiritual fupernatural Light, en- 
 abling us to difcern the Wifdom, Will and Mind of 
 God in the Word, in a fpiritual manner ^ without 
 which, we can have no experience of its Power. 
 Hence the Gofpd is hid unto them that perijh^ tho' 
 it be be outwardly declared unto them, 2 Cor. ^. 4. 
 This is the only Means which lets into the Mind 
 and Confcience a fenfe of this Efficacy. This, in 
 the encreafes of it, the Apoftle prays for on the be- 
 half of Believers, that they may have this Experience, 
 Eph. I. 16, T7, 18, i9< chap. ?. 16, 17, 18, 19. and 
 declares the Nature of it, 2 Cor. 4. 6. 
 
 5. The tdfle intended, follows hereon, wherein 
 cOnfifts the Life and Subftance of the Experience 
 pleaded. And this T^^ is a fpiritual fenfe of the 
 Goodnefs, 'Power and Efficacy of the Word, and the 
 things contained in it, in the conveyance of the Grace 
 cf God unto our Souls, in the Inltances mentioned, 
 and others of a like nature : For in a Ta^e, there 
 Is a fweetnefs unto the Palate, and a iatisfa£lion 
 unto the Appetite. . By the one, in this Tafle our 
 Minds are refrefhed \ and by the other our Souls are 
 ndurifhed : Of both Believers have an Experience, 
 And this is let into the Mind by fpiritual Lights 
 without which, nothing of it is attainable. . God, who 
 commanded Light to Jhine out of 'Darknefs,Jnne into 
 your hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of his 
 glory in thefaceofJefusChrifl, 2 Cor. 4.6. . 
 
 ^. To compleat the Experience intended,' there 
 follows hereon a Conformity in the whole Soul and 
 Converfdtion unto the Truth of the W^ord, or the 
 
 Mind 
 
the bejl Prefervative aga'nift Popery ? 285 
 
 Mind ot God in it, wrought in us by its Power and 
 Efficacy. So the Apoftle exprelles it, Eph.i\. 20, 21, 
 22, 2^, 24. //"y^ be that ye have heard him^ and 
 have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jefus : 
 That ye put off concerning the joriner converjat'wn^ 
 the old 7nan, which is corrupt according to the deceit- 
 Jul lujls : And be renewed in the /pint cfyour wind - 
 And that ye fut on the new rnan^ rvhich after God is 
 created in right coufnefs, and true holmejs. 
 
 Hereupon follows our Lift Principle, which is the 
 iinmediate foundation of the enluing Difcourfe, or 
 that which is to be confirmed ^ and it is this : 
 
 The Lojs of an Experience of the Tovoer of Religion . 
 hath been the Caufe of the Lofs. of the Truth of 
 Religion ^ or it hath been the Caufe of RejeQing 
 its Subfance, and fetting up a Shadow or hnage 
 in the room of it. 
 
 ThisTransformation of all things in Religion, began 
 and proceeded on thefe Grounds. Thole who had 
 the Condu£f of it, were always poffelfcd of the 
 General Notions of Truth, which they could not forget 
 without a total Renunciation of the Gofpel it felf. 
 But having lolt all Experience of this Power in 
 themlelves, they wTefted them unto things quite of 
 another nature, defiruQive to the Truth, as well as 
 devoid of its Power. Hereon it came to pafs that 
 there was a dead Image made and fet up of Religion in 
 all the parts of it, called by the name of that''which 
 .■was true and living, but utterly lolt. All Fxpcrience, 
 I fay, of the Power and Efficacy of the Myllery of 
 the Gofpel, and the Truths of it, in communicating 
 the Grace of God unto the Souls of Men, being led; 
 retaining x\\q general Notion of it, they contrived and 
 framed m outward hnage or Reprefentation of them, 
 fuited unto their Ignorance and Superltition. 
 
 Thus 
 
284 Hovp is the PraSlical Love of Truth 
 
 Thus was the Truth of Religion once almoft totally 
 loft in the World, as we fhall lee •, neither, will it 
 ever be loft ar2y other way, or by any other means. 
 Vihcn Churches or Kar ions are poflefled of the Truth, 
 and the Profeflion of it, it is not Laws, nor Fines, 
 nor Imprifonments, nor Gibbets, nor Fires, that (hall 
 ever difpoifeis them, or deprive them of it. 
 
 Whilit an Experience of the Power of Religion 
 continued in the "Primitive Times, all the bloody 
 Rage and Cruelty of the World, all the Craft of Satan, 
 and the Subtilty of Seducers, who abounded, did 
 utterly fail in attempting to deprive Chrifiians of 
 the Truth, and the Profeflion of it. But when this 
 began to decay, and be loft amongft them, they were 
 quickly deceived, and drawn oflF from the fmpUcity 
 of the Go/pel. 
 
 Upon the Reformation of Religion in thefe Parts 
 of the World, when the Truth was received in the 
 hove and Power of it, and multitudes had experience 
 of the fpiritual Benefit and Advantage which they 
 received thereby, in Liberty, Holineis, and Peace ^ 
 all the Prifons, Tortures, Swords, and Fires that were 
 applied unto its extirpation, did nothing but diffufe 
 the Profeflion of it, and root it more firmly in the 
 Minds of Men. It cannot be loft but by another Way, 
 and other Means. 
 
 The Jefuits and their Afjociates have been 
 /for an Hundred Years contriving Methods and Arts 
 for the difpofTelhng Nations and Churches of the 
 Truth which they have received, and the intro- 
 ducing the RomiJ1:> Super ftition : They have written 
 Books about it, and praQiled according to their 
 Principles in every Kingdom and State of Europe 
 who own the Proteftant Religion. But the folly of 
 inoft of their pretended Arts and Devices unto 
 this End, hath been ridiculous and unfuccefsful ; 
 
 and 
 
the bejl Prcjervjtive j^ain/l Fopery > 285 
 
 and what they have added hereunto of Force, hath 
 been Divinely defeated. 
 
 There is but one li^ay^ one effcUual Engine, to 
 deprive any People of the Protdiion ot the Truth 
 which they have once received ^ and that is, by 
 leading them into luch Prophanenels and Ignorance, 
 as whereby they may lofe all Experience oj its Pow- 
 er and Ejficacy, in com?nunicating the Grdcc of God 
 unto their Souls, and therein ot all fenle of the Ad- 
 1 vantage which they might have had by it. When 
 this is done. Men will as eafily lay alide the Pro- 
 feflion of Religion, as burthcnfome Cloaths in Sum- 
 mer. 
 
 There is much talk of a Plot and Con/piracy to de- 
 ftroy the ? rot eft ant Religion^ and introduce Fopery 
 again among us: They may do well to take care 
 thereof who are concerned in Publick Attairs ^ but as 
 unto the Event, there is but one Confpiracy that is 
 greatly to be feared in this Matter, and that is be- 
 tween S.itan and the L///?j- oi Men -, if they can pre- 
 vail to deprive the generality of Men of an Experi- 
 ence in their own Minds of the Power and Efficacy 
 of the Truth, with the Ipiritual Advantage which 
 they may have thereby, they will give them up to 
 be an cufy Prey unro the other Defigners. And 
 there are two Engines that are applied to this pur- 
 pofe, the one is Ignorance, the other is Frofaneneff, 
 or Senfuality of Life. Whenever either of thefe pre- 
 vails, the Experience intended mult neceflarily be lolt 
 and excluded : And the means of their prevailing, are 
 uiant of due InjlruUion by thofe who are the Leaders 
 of the People, and the encouragement ot Scnluality, 
 by Impunity and great Examples. 
 
 This is the only formidable Confpiracy againff the 
 protefTion of the Tiuth in this Nation, without 
 whofe Aid, all Power and Force will be trultrate in 
 
 the 
 
q86 Hovp is the PraBical Love of Truth 
 
 the Illue. And as there is a great appearance of 
 Divine Permiflion of fuch ^Jiate of things at prefent 
 amongfi us, lo if they be managed by Counfel alfb, 
 and that thofe ways of ignorance and Senjudity are 
 countenanced and promoted for this very End, that 
 the Power of Truth being loft, the Profeflion of it 
 may be given up on eafy Terms ^ there is nothing 
 but Sovereign Grace can prevent the Defign. For 
 the Principle which we have laid down is uncon- 
 trollable in Realon and Experience^ namely, That 
 the lofs of an Experience of the tower of Religion^ 
 voill ijjue, one way or other ^ in the lofs of the Truth 
 of Religion, and. the ProfeJJion of it. 
 
 Whence is it that fo many corrupt Opinions have 
 made fuch an inroad on the ProteJia?it Religion, and the 
 Profeffion of it > Is it not from hence, that many have 
 loft an Experience of the Power and Efficacy of the 
 Truth, and fo have parted with it> Whence is it 
 that Profanene/s znd Senfuality of Life, with all man- 
 ner of corrupt Lufts of the Fleih, have grown up 
 unto the ftiame of Profeflion ? Is it not from the 
 fame Caufe, as the Apoftle exprefly declares it comes 
 by ? 2 Tm. 4. 2, 3, 4, 5. One way or other, the 
 lofs of Experience of the Power of the Truth, will 
 end in the lofs of the Profeflion of it. ^ 
 
 But I proceed unto the Inftance which I do defigrt 
 in tke Church of Rome -, for the Religion of it at 
 this day is nothing but a dead Image of the Go/pel, 
 ereSed in the lofs of an Experience of its fpiritual 
 Power, overthrowing its Ufe, with all its Ends, be- 
 ing fuited to the Tafte of Men, Carnal Ignorant, and 
 Superftitious. 
 
 This I ftiall make evident by all Ibrts of Inftances 
 in things relating to the Perfon and Offices of Chrift, 
 the State, Order and Worfhip of the Church, with 
 theGraces and Duties of Obedience required in the 
 
 Gofpel 
 
the bejl Prefervativc againjl Popery } 287 
 
 Gofpd. And in all, my principal Dcfign is, to de- 
 monltrate what is the only Way and Means of J ecu- 
 ring our Souls^ any G'urch or Aation^ jrom being 
 enfnared with, or prevailed againjl by Popery. 
 
 I. It is a general Notion ot Truth, that the Lord 
 Chrijf, in his Perjon and Grace, is to be fropojed and 
 reprefented unto Men as the principal Objeti of their 
 Faith and Love. He himlelf, in his Divine Pcrlon, 
 is abfblutely invifible unto us, and as unto his Humane 
 Nature, abfent from us: for the Heavens mufl re- 
 ceive him until the time of the reftitution of all things. 
 There mult therefore an Image or Reprejcntation of 
 him be made unto our Minds, or he cannot be the 
 proper Objeft of our Faith, Trult, Love, and Delight. 
 This is done in the Gofpel, and the preaching of it 5 
 for therein he is evidently fet forth bejore our eyes 
 as crucified a?nongji us, Gal :^. i. So alfb are all 
 the other Concerns of his Perfon and Offices therein 
 clearly propoled unto us ^ yea, this is the principal 
 End of tht Gofpel, namely, to make a due Keprelen- 
 tation of the Perfon, Offices, Grace and Glory of 
 Chrilt, unto the Souls of Men, that they may be- 
 lieve in him, and believing, have eternal life, John 
 20. 31. 
 
 Upon this Reprefentation made of Chrift and his 
 Glory in the Gofpel, and the Preaching of it, Belie- 
 vers have an Experience of the Povi^er and Efficacy of 
 the Divine Truth contained therein, in the way be- 
 fore mentioned, as the Apoftle declares, 2 Cor. :?. 18. 
 for we all with open face, beholding as in a glifs, t})e 
 glory of the Lard are changed into the fame im.^ge 
 from glory to glory, even as by the Jpirit of the 
 Lord. 
 
 Havinf^ a Spiritual Light to difcern and behold the 
 Glory of Chrilt, as reprefented in the Glals of the 
 Gofpel, they have Experience of its transforming 
 
 Povcer 
 
288 Hovo is the PraBical Love of Truth 
 
 Tower and Efficacy, changing them into the Likenefs 
 of the Image reprefented unto them, that is, of 
 Chrift himlelf, which is the faving Effeft of Gofpel- 
 Power. 
 
 But thxs Spiritual Light was loft among Men, thro' 
 the efficacy of their Darkneis and Unbeliet ^ they were 
 not able to difcover the Glory of Chrift, as revealed, 
 and propofed in the Gofpel, fo as to make Him the 
 prefent Objeft of their Faith and Love, And this Light 
 being loft, they could have \io Experience of the Power 
 of Divine Truth concerning him, changing them into 
 his Image. They could make no effelTing difcovery 
 of him in the Scripture. All things therein were 
 dark and confuled, or at leaft feemed an inacceflible 
 Myftery, which they could not reduce to PraQice. 
 
 Hence thofe who had got the publick Conduct of 
 Religion, drove the People from reading the Scrip- 
 ture, as that which was of no Ufe, but rather dan- 
 gerous unto them. 
 
 What (hall thele Men then betake themlelves un- 
 to ? Shall they reje£l the Notion in general, that there 
 ought to hQ fuch a reprefentat'ion made of Chr'ijl un- 
 to the fninds of Men, as to inflame their Devo- 
 tion, to excite their Faith, and flir up their Afie£ti- 
 on to him ? This cannot be done without an open 
 Renunciation of him, and of the Gofpel, as a Fable. 
 
 Wherefore they will hnd out onother way for it, 
 another Means unto the fame End. And this is, the 
 making Images of him of Wood and St one ^ or Gold and 
 Silver, or painting on them. Hereby they luppofed 
 lie would be made prefent unto his Worjhippers -^ 
 that he would be lb reprefented unto them as that 
 they fliould be immediately ftirred up unuo the em- 
 braces of Faith and Love. And herein they found 
 fenfible Effe£ls unco their great Sacisfaftion : For 
 their Minds being dark, carnal, and prone to Super- 
 
 ftltion, 
 
the heft Prefervative agamft Popery > 289 
 
 Itition, as are the Minds of all Men hy Nature, they 
 would te nothing in. the Spiritual/ Rcpnfcntdtion of 
 him in the Go/pel, that had any Power on tbcm, or 
 did in any mealiire afiefl them. In thele Images, by 
 the means of Sight and Imagination, they found that 
 which did really work upon their ^flt^ticiN, and, as 
 they thought, did excite them to the love ot Chiilh 
 
 And this WIS the true Original of all the Imagery 
 in the Church of Rome^ as lomething of the iame 
 nature in general was of all the Image-worfhip in 
 the World. So the Ifraelites in the Wildernels, 
 when they made the Golden CaJj\ did it to have a 
 reprefentat'wn of a Deity near untq them, in fuch a 
 vilible manner as that their Souls m'glu be aiiettcd 
 with it ^ lo they exprefled themlelves Fxod. 22. i. 
 
 Wherefore, in rhis State, under a Ids of Spiritual 
 Light and Exferir/:ce^ Men of fupeiltiticus Minds, 
 found thcmlelves entangled. They knew it neceHary 
 that there fhould be/;/c7; a Reprcjentaticn made of 
 Chrift, as miglit render him a prefcnt OhjeH of 
 Faith and Love, wherewith they might be immedi- 
 ately atfecled. How this was done in the Gofpel they 
 could not underftand, nor obtain any Kxperience of 
 the Power and Efficacy of it unto this End. Yet the 
 Principle it felf mull be retained, as that without 
 which there could be no Religion •, wherefore to ex- 
 tricate themfelves out of this Difficulty, they break 
 through all God's Commands to the contrary, a id 
 betook themfelves to the making Images of ChriJ\ 
 and their Adoration. And from Imall beginnings, 
 according as Djrkneis and Superllirion increafed in 
 the Minds of M>n, there was a Prcgrcts in this Prac- 
 tice, until thele Images took the whole Work of ;v- 
 preCcnting Chrifi aid his Glory, oat of the hands, 
 as it were, of the Golpel, and appropriated it iinro 
 themfelves. 
 
 Vol. II. T For 
 
290 HoTV is the PraSicai Love of Truth 
 
 For I do not fpeak of them now fo much as they 
 are Images of Chrifl^ or Objefls of Adoration, as of 
 their being dead Imoges of the Go/pel -^ that is, fome- 
 what fet up in the room of the Golpel, and for the Ends 
 of it, as means of Teachingand Infiruftion. They (hall 
 do the Work which the Gofpel was defigned of God 
 to do : For as unto this End of the reprefentation of 
 Chrift, as the prefent Obje£t of the Faith and Love 
 of Man, with an efficacy to work upon their Affe£ti- 
 ons, there is in the Church of Rome a thouland 
 times more afcribed unto them, than unto the Golpel 
 itfelf 
 
 The whole Matter is ftated by the Apoltle, Rom. 
 JO. 6, 7, 8. The Right eoiifnefs which is oj Faith^ 
 fpeaketh on this voife^ Say not in thine hearty Whoflmll 
 djcend unto Heaven ^ {that is to bring Chriji down from 
 above ) or tvho fhall defcend into the deep ^ ( that is 
 to bring ChriJl up again from the dead-^) But what 
 faith it ^ 'the voord is nigh thee^ in thy mouthy and 
 in thy hearty that is the word of faith which we preach. 
 The Enquiry is, how we may be made partakers of 
 Chrift, and Righteoufnefs by him i* or how we may 
 have an Interelt in him, or have h\m prefent with us^ 
 This, faith the Apoftle, is done by the word of the 
 Gofpel which is preached, which is nigh unto us, 
 in our Mouths, and in our Hearts: No, fay thele 
 Men, we cannot underitand how it fhould be ib ^ we 
 do not find that it is fo, that Chrift is made nigh 
 unto us, prefent with us by this Word. Wherefore 
 we will afcend into Heaven to bring down Chrift 
 from above ^ for we will make Images of him in his 
 glorious flate in Heaven, and thereby he will he pre- 
 fent with us, or nigh unto us. And we will defcend 
 into the deep, to bring up Chrift again from the 
 dead ^ and we will do it, by making fiift Crucifixes^ 
 and then Images of his glorious RefurreQion^ bring- 
 ing 
 
the beji Prefcrvative agamjl Popery ? 291 
 
 ing him again unto us from the Dead. This fliall 
 be in the place and room ot that vcori of the GoJ- 
 pel which you pretend to be alone uktul and eftc£\u- 
 al unto thele Ends. 
 
 This therefore is evident, That the introduflion 
 of this Abomination in Principle and PradVice, de- 
 Uruftive unto the Souls of Men, took its rile 
 from the lofs of an Experience of the Reprefen- 
 tation of Chrilt in the Gofpel, and the transform- 
 ing Power in the Minds ot Men, which it is ac- 
 companied with, in them that Believe. I\Uke ui 
 Gods, lay the Ilraelites, to go bejore us ^ for as jor 
 this 7Jian Alo/es ( who reprelented God unto us ) tvc 
 know not what is become of him. What would you 
 have Men do ^ Would you have them live without all 
 ienfe of the Prelence of Chrilt with them, or being 
 nigh unto them ? Shall they have no Reprefentation 
 of him ? No, no, make us Gods that may to go before 
 us i let us have Images unto this End, for how elfe 
 it may be done, we cannot underftand. 
 
 And this is the Reafon of their Obftinacy in this 
 Praftice againft all means of Convi£lion : Vca, they 
 live hereon in a perpetual Contradiflion unto them- 
 felves : Their Temples are full of Graven Images, like 
 the Houle of AH c ah, Houfes of God -^ and yet in them 
 are the Scriptures f though in a Tongue unknown to 
 the People ) wherein that ^raQice is utterly con- 
 demned, that a Man would think them Diltra^led to 
 hear what their Book fays, and to lee what they do 
 in the fame Place. But nothing will reach unto their 
 Convi£lion, until the Veil of Blindnefs and Ignorance 
 he taken from their Minds -, until they have a Spiri- 
 tual Light enabling them to dilcern the Glory of 
 Chrilt as reprelented in the Golpel, and to let in an 
 Experience of the transforming Power and Efhcacy of 
 that Revelation in their own Souls, they will never 
 
 T 2 pare 
 
5 92 Bow is the TraBical Love of Truth 
 
 part with that Means for the fame End, which they 
 are fenfible of; to be uleful unto it, and which is 
 fuited unto their Inclination. Whatever be the Iflue, 
 though it colt them their Souls, they will not part 
 with what they find, as they fuppofe, fo iifeful \m\,o 
 their great End of making Chrift mgh unto thewy 
 for that wherein they can lee nothing of it, and of 
 whole Power they can have no Experience. 
 
 But the principal Defign of this Diicourle, is to 
 warn others of thele Abominations, and to direS un- 
 to their avoidance: For if they fliould be outwardly 
 preffed unto the praftice of this Idolatry, whatever 
 is of carnal AfFeQion, of blind Devotion, or Super- 
 ftition in them^ will quickly be won over unto a Con- 
 fpiracy againft their Conviftions. Nothing will then 
 fecure them, but an Experience of the Efficacy of 
 that Reprefentation which is made of Chrilt in the 
 Gofpel. It is therefore the Wildom and Duty of all 
 thole who defire a liability in the Profeflion of the 
 Truth, continually to endeavour after this Experience^ 
 and an increale in it. He v^rlio lives in the exercife of 
 Faith and Love in the Lord Jefus Chrift, as revealed in 
 the Gofpel, as evidently crucified, and evidently exalted 
 therein, and finds the iruit of his lb doing in his own 
 SouI,will be prelerved in the time of Trial. Without 
 this, Men will at lalt begin to think, that it is bet- 
 ter to have a fii/fe Chrift than none at all\, they will 
 fuppofe thaty^;;/^/W;;^'is to be found in an Imnge^ 
 when they can find nothing in the Golpel. 
 
 Sect. II.] It is a prevalent Notion of Truth, That 
 
 ,the Worjh'ip of God oirght h be beautiful and glorious : 
 The veiy- Light of Nature leeems to dire£l unto 
 .Conceptions hereof What is not {b, may be juflly re- 
 leBed.ns unbecoming the Divine Majelty: And there- 
 Tore the mox^.holy and heavenly any Religion pre- 
 tends 
 
the befl Prtftrvat'ive agahijl Popery ? 293 
 
 tends to be, the more glorious is the VVorih'p prc- 
 fcribed in it, or ought lo to be : Yej, the true VVor- 
 (hip of God is the height and excellency of all 
 Glory in this World ^ it is inferior unto nothing 
 but that which is in heaven^ which it is the be- 
 ginning of, the way unto, and the belt prepjration 
 tor. Accordingly, even that Worfhip is declared to 
 be glorious^ and that in an eminent manner, above 
 all, the Outward Worfhip of the Old Tejhunent in the 
 'Lihernade and Tovple^ whole Glory was great, and, 
 as to External Pomp, inimitable. To this Purpoie 
 the Apoitle difputes at large, 2Qor. ^ 6, 7, S, 9, ic. 
 This theiefore is agreed, that there ought to h^ Beauty 
 and Glory in Divine Worlhip, and that they are molt 
 eminently in that -which is dircded and required in 
 the Golpel. But withal, the Apollle declares, in the 
 lame Place, that this Glory is Spiritual^ and not Car- 
 nal-^ fo did our Lord Jefus Chrilt forctel that it 
 lliould be ^ and that unto that End, all dillintfwn of 
 Places, with all Outward Advantages and Ornaments 
 belonging unto them, fliould be taken away, John \. 
 20, 2r, 22, 25, 24. 
 
 It belongs therefore unto our prefent Defign, to 
 give a brief Account of its Glory^ and wherein it ex- 
 cels all other ways of Divine Worfhip that ever were 
 in the World •, even that under the Old. Te^nment^ 
 which wjs of Divine Inltitution, wherein all Things 
 were ordered for heauty and Glory. And it n) ly be 
 given in the Inftances that enfuc. 
 
 I. The exprefs Ohjccl of it is God, not as abfolute- 
 ly conlidcrcd, but as exiding in Three Per/on s^ of E/- 
 //;rr, Son^ and Holy Spirit, This is the principal 
 Glory of Chriflian Religion and its Worlhip. Under 
 the Old Tcfldment^ the Conceptions of the Church 
 'about the Exijlence of the Divme Nature in DifliH^f 
 f^r/ons^ were very dark and obfcure j lor the full 
 
 T J Rcvelatiou 
 
294 ^^'^ ^^ ^^^ VraElical Love of Truth 
 
 Revelation of it was not to be made, but in the 
 diflintl Agings of each Perfon in the Works of Re- 
 demption and Salvation of the Church ^ that is, in 
 xhQ Incarnation of the Son ^ znd Mijfwn of the Spirit 
 after he was glorified, John 7. 39. And in all the 
 ways 0^ Natural Worfh'ip, there was never the leaft 
 fhadow of any RefpeQ hereunto. But this is the 
 Foundation of all the Glory of Evangelical Worfhip. 
 The Objeft of it in the Faith of the Worfliipper, is 
 the Holy Trinity, and it confifts in an alcription of 
 Divine Glory unto each Perfon in the fame individual 
 Nature by the fame MX of the Mind: Where this is 
 not, there is no Glory in Religious Worfhip. 
 
 2. Its Glory confifts in that conftant RefpeQ which 
 it hath unto each Divine Verfon^ as unto their peculiar 
 Work and AQings for the Salvation of the Church; 
 16 it is defcribed, Ephef, 2, 18. Through him (that 
 is, the Son as Mediator) we have our accefs by one 
 Spirit unto the Father, This is the immediate Glory 
 of Evangelical Worfhip, comprehenfive of all the 
 Graces and Privileges of the Golpel. And to fuppoie 
 that the Glory of it doth confift in any thing but the 
 hight^ Graces^ and Privileges which it doth it lelf 
 exhibit, is a vain Imagination : It will not borrow 
 Glory from the Invention of Men •, we fhall therefore 
 a little confider it as it is here reprelented by the 
 Apoftle. 
 
 ^ .1. The Ultimate OhjeR of it, under this Confidera- 
 tion, is God as the Father ^ we have an accefs therein 
 unto the Father. And this Confideration in our Wor- 
 Ih^p of God, as a Father^ relating unto the whole 
 D'fpenlation of his Love and Grace by Chrift Jefus, 
 as he is God, and our God, his Father, and our Fa- 
 ther, is peculiar unto Gofpel-Worfhip, and contains 
 a fignal part of its Glory. We do not only worfhip 
 God as TiFxither'^ fb the very Heathens had a Notion 
 
 ^ ' that 
 
the beft Prejervjtive againft Popery > 295 
 
 that he was a lather of all Things •, but we wor* 
 fhip h'lm^ who is the Father, and as he is fb, both 
 in relation to the Eternal Generation of the Son, 
 and the Communication of Grace by him unto us, as 
 our Father \ fo no man hath feen God at any time ^ 
 the only bej^otten Son, tcho is in the bofom of the Fa- 
 ther, he hath declared him, John 1. 18. This Accels 
 in our VVorlhip unto the Ferfon of the Father, as in 
 Heaven, the holy Place above, as on a Throne of 
 Grace, is the Glory of" the Gofpel. See Mat, 6. 9. 
 Ueb,/^. 16. chap. 10. 19, 20, 21. 
 
 2. The Son is here confidcred as Mediator • through 
 him we have this acccfs unto the Father. This is 
 the Glory that was hidden from former Ages, but 
 brought to light and difplay'd by the Gofpel So 
 fpeaks our blelled Saviour himlelfunto his Difciples-, 
 n 'hatfoever ye flhill ask the Father in ?ny Kame, })€ 
 mil give it you : Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my 
 Kame : ask, and ye fhall receive, John 16. 29, 24. 
 To ask God expredy in the Name of the Son, as 
 Mediator, belongs unto the Glory of the Gofpel- 
 Worfliip. 
 
 The chief of them may be reduced to thefe three 
 Heads. 
 
 1. It is he who makes both the Perfbns of the 
 WoriTiippers, and their Duties accepted o^Q(A, See 
 heb. 2. 17, 18. chap. 4. 16. chap. 10. 19. 
 
 2. He is the Adminiltrator of all the Worfhip of 
 the Church in the holy Place above, as its great 
 H/gh-PneJi over the Houfe of God, heb. 8. 2. Rev. 
 8. 3. 
 
 r His Prefence mth 2nd among Gofpel- Worfliip- 
 pers in their WoiOiip, gives it Glory. This he de- 
 dares and promifcs. Mat, 18. 19, 20. If txoo of yois 
 Jhall a^ree on earth m touching any thing that theyfl)a!l 
 ask, It f})all be done for them of my Father ivhich is 
 
 T 4 in 
 
296 Hovp is the PraSlical Love of Truth 
 
 in heaven -, for where two or three are gathered, toge- 
 ther in my name^ there am I in the midfl of them. 
 AllSuccels of the Prayers of the Church, dependeth 
 on, and arifeth from the Prefence of Chrilt amongft 
 them: He is ^0 prefent for their Afliftance, and tor 
 their Confblation. This Prefence ot a Living Chriff, 
 and not a' Dead Crucifix^ gives Glory to Divine 
 Worfhip. He who fees not the Glory of this Wor- 
 fliip, from its relation unto Chrift, is a Stranger 
 unto the Gofpel, with all the Light, Graces, and 
 Privileges of it. 
 
 9. It is in one Spirit that we have aecefs unto God 
 in his Worfliip v ^nd in his Adminiltration doth the 
 Apolf e place the Glorv of it, in Oppofition unto all 
 the Glory of the Old Tejiament^ as doth our Lord 
 Jefus Chrilt alfo in the Place before referred unto j 
 tor, 
 
 I. The whole Ability for the Obfervance and Per- 
 formance of it according to the Mind of God, is 
 from him alone. His Communication of Grace and 
 Gifts unto the Church, is that alone which makes it 
 to give Glory to God in his Divine Service. If this 
 fhould ceafe, all acceptable Worlliip would ceafe in 
 the World. To think to obferve the Worfliip of the 
 Gofpel, without the Aid and Affiltance of the Spirit 
 of the Gofpel, is a lewd Imagination : But where he 
 is, there • is* L/lW/}^ and Glory, 2 Cor. ^, 17, 18. 
 
 ^\ fiy him the fanSified Minds of Believers are 
 made Temples ef God.^ and fb the principal Seal of 
 Kvangelical Worfnip, iC^r. 5. 16. chap. 6. 8. This 
 Temple being of God's own framing, and of his own 
 adorning by his Spirit, is a much more glorious Fa- 
 brick than any that the Hands of Men can ere£l. 
 
 5. By him is the Church led into internal Com- 
 munion and Converfe with God in Chrilt, in Light, 
 Love, and Delight, vvith holy Boldnefi j the Glory 
 
 whereof 
 
the bejl Prefervjtive aga'nij} Popery ? 297 
 
 whereof is exprelled by the Apoftle, Hcb, 10. ip, 
 21, 22. 
 
 In thefe things, I lay, doth the ime Glory of 
 Evangelicd Worjhif conlilt •, and if it doth not, it 
 hath no Glory in compjrifon of that which did 
 excel in the Old Legal VVoifhip. For the Wit of 
 Man was never yet able to let it oft' with half the 
 outward Beauty and Glory that was in the Worfhip 
 of the Temple. But herein it is, that it not only 
 leaves no Glory thereunto in comparifbn, but doth 
 unfpeakably excel whatever the Wit and Wealth of 
 Men can extend unto. 
 
 But there is a Spiritual Light required, that we may 
 difcem the Glory of this Worfhip, and have there- 
 by an Experience of its Power and Etficacy, in refe- 
 rence unto the Ends cf its Appointment. This the 
 Church ot Believers hath. They Ite it as it is a 
 bleffed Means of giving Glory unto God, and of re- 
 ceiving gracious Communications from him, which 
 are the Ends of all the Divine Inltitutions of Wor- 
 fhip; and they have therein fuch an Experience of 
 its Efficacy, as gives Kelt, and Peace, and Satisfafti- 
 on unto their Souls : For they Hnd, that as their 
 W^orfhip dircQs them unto a bleiled view, by Faith, 
 of God in his ineffable ExiJIeme, with the glori- 
 ous A£lings of edch Per/on in the difpenlation of 
 Grace, which fills their Hearts with Joy unfpeakable; 
 fo alio that all Graces are exerciled, increafed and 
 firengthned in the oblervance of it, with Love and 
 Delight. 
 
 But all Light into, all Perceptions of this Glory, 
 all Experience ofitsPov;er, was, amongft the molt,- 
 lolt in the World. I intend, in ail theie Inftances, 
 the time of the P^ipiil Apoltacy. Thofe who had 
 the condu6\ of Religion could difcern no Glory in 
 thefe Chings,nor obtain any Experience of their Povser : 
 
 be 
 
298 Hov(f is the PrdBical Love of Trjith 
 
 be the Worfliip what it will, they can fee no Glory in 
 it, nor did it give any fatisfadion to their Minds ; 
 for having no Light do'difcern its Glory, they could 
 have no Experience of its Power and Efficacy. What 
 thm (liall they do > The ]\otion muft be retained, 
 that Divine If orjhip is to be beautiful and glorious. 
 But in the Spiritual Worfhip of the Gofpel, they 
 could fee no:hing thereof; wherefore they thought 
 necedary to make a Glory for it, or to difmifs 
 it O'Jt of the World, and fet up fuch an Image 
 of ic as might appear beautiful unco their flefhiy 
 Minds, and give them SatisfaQion. To this End 
 they ^tr t'leh Inventions on work, to find out Cere- 
 monies, Vefl??7ents^ Ge/hires, Ornaments, Mufick, Al- 
 tars^ hnages Paintings^ with Preicriptions of great 
 boJily Veneration. This Pageantry they call the 
 Beauty, the Order, the Glory of Divine Worfhip. 
 This is that which they fee and feel, and which, as 
 they judge, doth difpofe their Minds unto Devo- 
 tion ; without it they know not how to pay any 
 Reverence unto God himfelf •, and when it is want- 
 in:;, whatever be the Life, the Power, the Spiritua- 
 lity of the Worfliip in the Worfhippers, whatever 
 be its Efficacy unto all the proper Ends of it, how- 
 ever it be ordered according to the Prefcription of 
 the Word, it is unto them empty, indecent, they can 
 fee neither Beauty nor Glory in ir. 
 
 This Light and Experience being lofi, the intro- 
 duction of bcfigarly Elements, and Carnal Ceremonies 
 in the Worfhip of the Church, with attempts to ren- 
 der it decorous ^and beautiful, by Superftitious Rites 
 \and Obfervances, wherewith it hath been defiled and 
 corrupted, as it was and is in the Church of Rome^ 
 was nothing but i\[q fet ting up of a deformed Image 
 in the room of it ♦, and this they are pleafed withaL 
 The Beauty and Glory with Carving and Painting, 
 
 aiid 
 
the bejl Prefervjtive a^ainjl Popery ? 299 
 
 and Fmbroider'd Veliurcs, and Mufical Incantations, 
 and Polturcs ot Veneration, do give unro Divine Ser- 
 vice, they can lee and tecl, and, in their own Ima- 
 gination, are fcnfibly excited unto Devotion by them. 
 
 But hereby, initcad of reprefenting the true Glory 
 of the Wordiip of the Gofpel, wherein it excels that 
 under the Old Teftamcnt, they have rendrcd it alto- 
 gether inglorious in ccmparilon of it •, for all the 
 Ceremonies and Ornaments which they have invent- 
 ed for that end, come unfpeakably Ihort for Beauty, 
 Order, and Glory, of what was appointed by God 
 himfelf in the Temple, fcarce equalling what was 
 among the Pagans. 
 
 It will be laid, that the things whereunto we aP 
 fign the Glory of this Worfliip, are fpiritual and 
 invifihle. Now this is not that which is enquired af- 
 ter ^ but that whole Beauty we may behold, and be 
 cfFe^cd with. And this may confilt in the things which 
 we decry ^ at leaft in fbme ot them : Tho' I muft lay, 
 if there be Glory in any of them, the more they are 
 multiplied, the better it muH needs be ^ but this is 
 that which we plead. Men being not able by the 
 Ug^t of Faith, to difcern the Glory of things Spi- 
 ritual and Invifihle, do make Imnges of them unto 
 themfelves, as Gods that may go before them, and 
 thele they are afleOed withal 5 but the Worfhip of 
 the Church is Spiritual, and the Glory of it is In* 
 vilible unto Fyes of Flefh. So both our Saviour 
 and the Apoltles do teltify in the Celebration of 
 it •, We coyne unto mount S'lon, and unto the city of 
 the living God, the Heavenly Jcrufale?v, and to an 
 innumerable cowpany of Angels, to the general ajjcmbly 
 and church oj the pr ft- torn, which are zvrirtrn m 
 Hfovrti, and to Go I the judge of all, and to the/pi- 
 rill nf juf} men made perf:&, and to Jefus the Mcdi- 
 ^tor of the ?\ew Covenant^ and to the blood of Jprink- 
 
 ling. 
 
goo How is the PraSical Love of Truth 
 
 Iwg, that fpeaketh better things than that of Abel, 
 Heb. 12. 22, 2?, 24. The Glory of this AUembly, 
 though certainly above that of Organs, and Fipes^ 
 and Crucijixes^ and Vejiments, yet doth not appear 
 unto the Senle or Imaginations of Men. 
 
 That which I defign here, is to obviate the Me^ 
 ritricious Allurements of the Roman Worjhip, and the 
 pretences of its efficacy to excite Devotion and Ve- 
 neration by its Beauty and Decency. The whole of 
 it is but a Deformed Image of that Glory which 
 they cannot behold. To obtain and preferve in our 
 Hearts an Experience of the Power and Efficacy of 
 that Wordiip of God which is in Spirit and Truths 
 28 unto all the real Ends of Divine Worfliip, is that 
 alone which will lecure us. Whilft we do retain 
 right Notions of the proper Obje£l of Gofpel-wor- 
 (hip, and of our immediate approach by it thereun- 
 to, of the way and manner of that approach thro' the 
 Mediation of Chrilt,and afliftance of the Spirit •, whilit 
 we keep up Fairh and Love unto their due Exercife in 
 it, wherein, on our part, the Life of it doth confift, 
 prelerving an Experience of the Spiritual Benefit and 
 i\dvantage which we receive thereby, we fliall not 
 eafily be inveagled to relinquifh them all, and to give 
 up our felves unto the Embraces of this /ife/efs Image. 
 
 Sect. III.] It is an z^;?/i;rr/^/ unimpeachable Per- 
 Iwafion amongft all Chriftians, that there is a near 
 intimate Communion with Chnfl, and participation of 
 him in the Supper of the Lord. He is no Chrillian 
 who is otherwife minded. Hence from the Begin- 
 ning, this was always efteemed the principal Myftery 
 in the Agenda of the Church, and that delervedly *, 
 for this Perfwafion is built on infallible Divine Te- 
 Itimonies. The Communication of Chrilt herein, and 
 our participation of him, are exprefled in fuch a 
 
the bejl Prejervjtive a^airi/f Fopery ? :^ci 
 
 manner as to demonftrate them to be peculiar -^ 
 fuch as are not to be obtained in any other way, or 
 Divine Ordinance whatLver ^ not in Fraying, not in 
 Preaching, not in any other exercife of Faith on the 
 Word or Promifes. There is in it an an eating and 
 drinking of the Body and Blood of Chrij}^ with a ipl- 
 ritual Incorporation thence enluing, which are pecu- 
 liar unto this Ordinance. But, 
 
 This elpecial and peculiar Communion with Chrift, 
 and participation of him, is Spiritual tfnd j\]yfticaF^ 
 by Faith, not carnal or fleflily. To imagine any 
 other participation of Chrilt, in- this Life, but by 
 Faith, is to overthrow the Gofpel. To fignify the 
 Real communication of himfelt, and benefits of his 
 Mediation unto them that believe, whereby they fliould 
 become the Food of their Souls, nourifliing them un- 
 to eternal Life, in the very beginning of his Miniiiry, 
 he himfelf exprelleth it by eating of his fleff)^ and 
 drinking of his bloody John 6. <??• Except ye eat the 
 flefh of the Son oj ?nan, and drink his blood, ye have 
 no life in you. But hereon many were offended, as 
 fuppofing that he had intended an oral carnal eating of 
 his FJefh, and drinking of his Blood, and fo would 
 have taught them to be Canibals. Wherefore, to in- 
 l{ru6t his Difciples aright in this Myltery, he gives 
 an Eternal Rule of the interpretation of fuch Exprel- 
 fions, ver. 67. It is the fpirit that quickneth^ the, 
 fiefJ) profit eth nothing ; the words that I /peak unto 
 you, thry are fpirit, and they are life. To look for 
 any other communication of Chrilt, or of his Flefh 
 and B!ord, but what is Spiritual, is to contradi£l 
 him in the Interpretation which he gives of his own 
 Words 
 
 Wherefore this fpecial Communion with Chr'fl, 
 and Participation of him, is by t'aith. If it wtrc nor^ 
 Unbelievers ought all to partake of Chrilt as well as 
 
 ihcli 
 
502 Ho\xf is the PraBicat Love of Truth 
 
 thofe that Believe, which is a Contradiftion : For to 
 Relieve in Chrift, and to be made partakers of him, 
 are one and the fame. We mull therefore find this 
 peculiar participating of Chrift in thQ fpecial ablings 
 cf fdith, with reiped unto the efpecial and peculiar 
 exhibition of Chriil unto us in this Ordinance. And 
 thele a£lings of Faith are diverfe and many, but may 
 be referred unto four Heads. 
 
 I. It aSls itfelf by Obedience unto the Authority 
 of Chrift in this Inftitution. This is the foundation 
 of all Communion with Chrift, or participation of 
 him in any Ordinance of Divine Worlhip whatever ^ 
 that is peculiarly of his own Sovereign Appointment, 
 and that in and with fuch Circumftances as unto 
 the Time, or Seafon, and Manner of it, as requires 
 Ipecial agings of Faith with refpe£l thereunto : For 
 the Inftitution of this Ordinance was in the clofe of 
 his Miniftry, or Vrophetical Office on the Earth, and 
 in the entrance of the Exercife of his Vriejlly Office, 
 in offering himfelf a Sacrifice unto God for the Sins of 
 the Church between them both, and to render them 
 both effeQual unto us, he interpofed an AQ of his 
 Kwgly Office in the Inftitution of this Ordinance. And 
 it was in the fame njght rvherein he was betrayed -^ 
 when his holy Heart was in the higheft exercife of 
 Zeal for the Glory of God, and Compaffion for the 
 Souls of Sinners : Faith hath herein an efpecial re- 
 gard unto all thele things ^ it doth not only a£l itlelf 
 hy a fubieftion of Soul and Confcience unto the Autho- 
 rity of Chrift in the Inftitution, but refpeds alfb the 
 exerting of his Authority in the clofe of his Prophe- 
 tical, and entrance of the exeriie of his Sacerdotal O^-- 
 fice on the Earth, with aU thofe other Circumfiance3 
 of it, which recommend it unto the Souls and Con- 
 fciences of Believers. 
 
 This 
 
the bejl Prefervjtive a^awjl i^opery ? 503 
 
 This is peculiar unto this Ordinance, and unto 
 this way ot the participation of Chrilh And herein 
 Faith, in its due exercile, gives the Soul an intimate 
 Converfe with Chrilt. 
 
 2. There is, in this Divine Ordinance, a peculiar 
 Reprefcntation of the hove ami Grace ofChnj) ja hit 
 Death and Sufferings, with the way and manner of' 
 our Reconciliation unto God thereby. The principal 
 Defign ot the Golpel, is to declare unto us the Love 
 and Grace of'Chrill, and our Reconciliation unto God 
 by his Blood : Howbeit herein there is fuch an emi- 
 nent Reprefentation ot them as cannot he made by 
 Words alone. It is a Spiritual hnage ot Chrilt pro- 
 poled unto us, intimately aftefling our whole Souls. 
 Thcfe thinps, namely, the inefiable Love and Grace 
 of Chrilt, tiie bitternefs of his Sufferings and Death 
 in our Head, the Sacrifice that he offered by his Blood 
 unto God, with the Efleft of it in Atonement and 
 Reconciliation, being herein contrafted into one entire 
 Propofal unto our Souls, Faith is exercifed thereon in 
 a peculiar manner, and \o as it is not in any Divine 
 Ordinance, or way of the Propolal of the fame things 
 unto us. 
 
 All thefe things are indeed diflinflly, and in parts, 
 fet before us in the Scripture for our Inflruftion and 
 Fdification. But as the Light which was firlt made 
 and diftufed unto the whole Creation, did fiffice to 
 enlighten it in a general way, yet was far more ulclul, 
 glorious, and confpicuous, when it was reduced and 
 contraOed into the Body of the Sun : So the Truths 
 concerning Chrilt, as they are diflufed through the 
 Scripture, are lufficient lor the llluminaticn jnd In- 
 firudion of the Church : But when by Divine Wif 
 dom and Inltitution, they are contraOcd into this Or- 
 dinance, their Talte and Ftficacy is more Fmincnt 
 and Communicative cnto the Eyes of our Under- 
 
 Itandings, 
 
304 Hovp is the PraBical Love of Truth 
 
 (landings, that is, our Faith, than as meerly propofed 
 hy parts and parcels in the Word. 
 
 Hereby Faith leads the Soul unto a peculiar Com- 
 munion with Chrift, which is thereon made Partaker 
 of him in an efpecial manner. 
 
 3. Faith herein refpefls the peculiar way of the 
 communication and exhibition oj Cbriji unto us^ by 
 Symbols^ or fenfible Outward Signs of Bread and Wine, 
 It finds the Divine Wifdom and Sovereignty of 
 Chrift in the choice of them, having no other Foun- 
 dation in Reafbn or the Light of Nature ^ and the 
 the Reprefentation that is made herein of him, with 
 the Benefits of his Death and Oblation, is fuited 
 unto Faith only, without any aid of Senle or Imagi- 
 nation •, tor although the Symbols are vifible, yet 
 their Relation unto the things fignified, is notdifcerni- 
 ble unto any Senfe or Reafbn. Had he chofen for this 
 End an Image or a Crucifix^ or any fuch Anions as did 
 hy a kind of natural and fenfible Refemblance, fhew 
 forth his Pafiion, and what he did and fuffered, there 
 had been no need of Faith in this matter. And 
 therefore, as we (hall fee, fuch things are found out 
 unto this End, by fuch as have lofl the ufe and ex- 
 ercife of Faith herein. Befides, it is faith alone that 
 apprehends the Sacramental Union that is between 
 the outward Signs and the things fignified by ver- 
 tue of Divine Inftitution : And hereby the one, that 
 is, the Body and Blood of Chriif, are really exhibi- 
 ted and communicated unto the Souls of Believers, 
 as the outward Signs are unto their bodily Senfes, the 
 Signs becoming xhtx^hy facramentally unto us, what 
 the things fignified are in themfelves, and are there- 
 fore called by their Names. Herein there is a pecu- 
 liar exercifeof Faith, and a p^culm participation of 
 Chrift, fuch as are in no other Ordinance whatever. 
 Yea, the Atlings of Faith, ,with refpe£l unto the/j- 
 
 cramental 
 
the befi Prefervative againjl Popery > 505 
 
 cramental Union and Relatjon between the Signs and 
 Things fignihed, by virtue of Divine Inltitutjon and 
 Promiie, is the principal Ule and Exercife ot it 
 herein. 
 
 4. There is a peculiar Exercife of Faith in the 
 reception ofChr'ifl^ as his Body and Blood are tendred 
 and exhibited unto us in the Outward Signs of them : 
 For tho^ they do not contain carnally the Flcfh and 
 Blood of" Chrilt in them, nor are turned into them, 
 yet they really exhibit Chrift unto them that believe, 
 in the participation of them ^ Faith is the Grace 
 that makes the Soul to receive Chrifl, and where- 
 by it doth actually receive him : To as many as 
 received him, even to as many that believe on his 
 name, John i. 12. And it receives him according as 
 he is proposed and exhibited unto us in the Decla- 
 ration and Promiie of the Gofpel, wherein he is 
 propofed \ it receives him by the gracious ajfent of 
 the Mind unto this Truth, the choice of him, cleaving 
 and trulting to him with the Will, Heart, and Afie- 
 £tion, for all the Ends of his Perfbn and Offices, as 
 the Mediator between God and Man \ and in the 
 Sacramental Mylterious Propofal of him, his Body 
 and Blood -, that is, in the Efficacy of his Death and 
 Sacrifice, in this Ordinance of Worfliip, Faith aQs 
 the whole Soul in the reception of him unto all the 
 efpecial Ends for which he is exhibited unto \x%, in 
 this way and manner. What thefe Ends are whicli 
 give Force and Efficacy unto the Aflings of Faith 
 herein, this is not a proper Place to declare. 
 
 I have mentioned thele things, becaufe it is the 
 great Plea of the Tapi\is at this day in behalf of 
 tlict Tranfubflantiation^ That if we rejeS their oral 
 or carnal mandu cat ion ofthellrfh ofChrif},and drinking 
 of his Blood, there cannot be affgned a way 0} the 
 participation of CJjriJl in the receiving of him in this 
 Vol. il. y $acr^ 
 
gc6 Horv is the Fra8ical Love of Truth 
 
 Sdcrafftent, diJIM fram that which is done in the 
 preaching of the Word : But hereby, as we (hall fee, 
 they only declare their ignorance of this heavenly 
 Myftery. 
 
 But of this blefled intimate Communion with 
 Chrift, and Participation of him in the Divine Infti- 
 tution of Wor(hip, Believers have Experience unto 
 their Satisfaftion and ineftable Joy. They find him 
 to be the fpiritual Food of their Soids^ by which 
 they are nouriflied unto eternal Life, by a fpiritual 
 incorporation with him. They difcern the Truth of 
 this Myftery, and have experience of its Power. 
 Howbeit, Men growing carnal, and being deftitute of 
 fpiritual Light, with the wifdom of Faith, utterly loft 
 all Experience of any Communion with Chrift, and 
 Participation of him in this Sacrament, on the Prin- 
 ciples of Gofpel-Truth ^ they could find nothing in 
 it, no Fower, no Efficacy, nothing that (liould anlwer 
 the great and glorious Things Ipoken of it: Nor was 
 it pofiible they iliould •, for indeed theje is nothing 
 in it but unto Faith ^ as the Light of the Sun is no- 
 thing to them that have no Eyes ^ a Dog and a Staff 
 are of more uie to a Blind Man, than the Sun ^ nor is 
 the moft melodious Mufick any thing to them that 
 are Deaf: yet notwithftanding this lols of fpiritual 
 Experience, they retained the Kotion of Truth, that 
 there mult be a peculiar participation of Chrift in 
 'this Sacrament, diftinO: from all other Ways and 
 Means of the fame Grace. 
 
 Here the AVirs of Men were hard put to it to find 
 out an 7;;?^^^ of this fpiritual Communion, whereof in 
 their Minds they could have no Experience \ yet they 
 fafnioned one by degrees, and after they had greatned 
 the Myftery in Words and Expreflions (whereof they 
 knew nothing in its Power) to anfwer unto what was 
 to be let up in the room of^it, until they brought forth 
 
 the 
 
the beft Prefervative agamjl E-^opery ? 307 
 
 the horrid AlonfJer of Tranfubfiantiation^ and the 
 Sjcnjicc of the Alajs •, tor hereby they provided, that 
 all thofe things which arc fpiritual in this Communion, 
 fliould be turned into, and a£\ed in things carnal : 
 Bread (hall he the Body ot C hrilt carnally, the Mouth 
 fhall be Faith, the Teeth Ihall be the Exercile, the 
 Belly fhall be the Heart, and the Prielt (hall otter 
 Chrilt unto God. A Viler Image was never invented ^ 
 and there is nothing ot" Faith required herein, it is 
 all but a fortifying of Imagination againll all Scnle 
 and Reafbn. 
 
 Becaule there is a fingular Myftery in the Sacra- 
 ;;?d'/z/^/ 1 '/^/t?;; that is between the external Signs and 
 the Things fignihcd, whence the one is called by the 
 Name of the other, as the Breai is called, the Body 
 ofChriji^ which Faith difcerns in the exhibition and 
 receiving of it, they have invented for a Reprelenta- 
 tion hereof, fiach a prodigious /;^?f/^/7?^//"/V'/2 oj tlw real 
 Converfion or Tranfubftantjation of the Subflance of 
 the Bread and Wine into the SuMtance of the Body 
 and Blood of Chrift, as overthrows all Faith, Reafon, 
 and Senl^ al(b. 
 
 And in the room of that holy Reverence of Chrilt 
 himfelf, in his Inltitution ot this Ordinance, in the 
 v;yflical exhibition of himltlf unto the Souls of Be- 
 lievers, in the demonlfration of his Love, Grace, and 
 Sufferings for them, they have let up a wretched 
 ■Tm^/ge of an Idolitrous Adoration and Worjjyip cf the 
 Hoji, as they call it, to the Ruine of the Souls of 
 Men. 
 
 And whereas the Lord Jefus Chrilt, by once offerings 
 fcrfededfor ever them that are Jantlijied^ appointing 
 this Ordinance for the Remembrance ot it, having lolt 
 that fpiritual Light whereby they might dilcern the 
 Efficacy of that one Offering {6 long lince accompl'^h- 
 ed, in the application of it, by this Ordinance, unto 
 
 IJ 2 the 
 
5 c8 How is the TraElical Love of Truth 
 
 • 
 
 the aflual Perfefling of the Church ^ they have 
 ere£led a new Image of it, in a pretended daily Re- 
 petition of the fame Sacrifice, wherein they profefs to 
 offer Chrift again for the Sins of the Living and the 
 Dead, unto the overthrow of the principal Founda- 
 tion of Faith and Religion. 
 
 All thefe Abominations arofe from the lofs of an 
 Experience of that fpiritual Communion with Chrift, 
 and the participation of him by Faith, which there 
 is in this Ordinance by Divine Inftitution. This caft 
 the Thoughts of Men on Invention of thele Images^ 
 to fuit the general Notion of Truth unto the Super- 
 ftition ot their carnal Minds. Nor is it ordinarily 
 poflible to retrieve them from thele Infatuations, unlels 
 God be plealed to communicate unto them xhdX fpi- 
 ritual Light whereby they may difcern the Glory of 
 this Heavenly Myftery, and have an Experience of 
 the exhibition of Chrift unto the Souls of Believers 
 therein ^ without thele, from innumerable Prejudices, 
 and inflamed AfFeSions towards their Idols, they 
 will not only abide in their Darknefs againft all 
 Means of ConviQion, but endeavour the ^temporal 
 and eternal Deftruftion of all that are btherwife 
 minded. 
 
 This h?iage, like that of Nehuchadneczar\ was once 
 let up in this Nation, with a Law, that whoever would 
 not howe down to it and worjhip it, (hould be caft into 
 the Fiery Furnace. God grant it to be lb no more : 
 But if it (hould, there is no prelervation againft 
 tlie Influence of Force and Fires, but a real Ex- 
 perience of an efficacious Communication of Chrift unto 
 our Souls in this holy Ordinance, adminiltred accord- 
 ing to his appointment. 
 
 This therefore is that we ought with all diligence 
 to endeavour -, and this not only as the only Way 
 and Means ot our Edification in this Ordinance, by 
 
 an 
 
the heft Prefervative againjl Popery ? 309 
 
 an extrciie in Grace, the Itrengthning of our Faith, 
 and prefent Conlblation, but as the cftcftual Means of 
 our Prelcrvation in the profcdion of the Truth, and 
 our Deliverance from the Snares of our Adverlaries. 
 For whereas it is undeniable, that this peculiar Infti- 
 tution diitinft from all other, doth intend and defign 
 a diftinft communication and exhibition of Chrift 5 
 if it be prelled on us, that thele muft be done by 
 Tranfiibftdntidtion and Oral Manduccitwn thereon, and 
 can be nootherwife •, nothing but ^n Experience of 
 the Power and Efficacy of the Myftical Communion 
 with Chrilt in this Ordinance, before defcribed, will 
 prefer ve us from being enfnared by their Pretences. 
 There is not therefore, on all Accounts of Grace and 
 Truth, any one thing of more concernment unto Be- 
 lievers, than the due exercife of Spiritual Light and 
 Fjirh, unto a fafis{a£lory Experience of a peculiar 
 participation of Chrift in this holy Inftitution. 
 
 The fame is fallen out amongft them with refer- 
 ence unto the Churcl\ and all the principal Concerns 
 of it ^ having loft or renounced the Things which 
 belong unto its primitive Conftirution, they have 
 erefted a deformed h?idge in their ftead, as I fliall 
 manifeft in fome Inftances. 
 
 Sect. IV. 1 It is an unqueflionable Principle of 
 Truth, that the Church of Chrift is in it felf a Body, 
 fuch a Body as hath an Head^ wherton it depends, 
 and without which it would be immediately dlt- 
 folved : A Body without an Head, is but a Carcafe, 
 or part of a Circafe ; and this Mead muft be always 
 prclcnt with it. An Head diftant from the Body, 
 lep-irated from it, not united unto it by fuch ways 
 animnns as are proper unto their Nature, is of no 
 ufe. See £/?/;. 4. 17,15. Co/. 2. i^. 
 
 U B But 
 
310 Houf is the PraBical Love of Truth 
 
 But there is a double Notion of an Head, as there is. 
 of a Body alio •, for they both of them are either A'^- 
 Tura/ or VolitkaL There is a ^Natural Body, and 
 there is a Tolitical Body ^ and in each fence it mult 
 have an Head of the fame Kind. A Natural Body 
 mult have an Head of Vital Influence, and a 'Political 
 Body mult have an Head oi Rule and Government. 
 The Church is called a Body, compared to it ^ is 
 a Body in both fences, or in both parrs of the com- 
 pariibn, and in both mufl have an Head. As it is a 
 Spiritually living Body, compared to the Natural, it 
 muft have an Head of Vital Influence, without which 
 it cannot iiibfift -, and as it is an Orderly Society for 
 the Common Ends of irs Inltitution, compared unto 
 a Volitical Body, it mult have an Head of Rule and 
 Government, without v/hich neither its Being nor its 
 \}^^ can be preferved. 
 
 But theie are only diflinU Conflderations of the 
 Church, which is every way one and the fame. It is 
 not two Bodies, for then it mult have trx^o Heads -^ but 
 it is one Body under two diltinQConfiderations, which 
 divide not its Eitlence, but declare its different Refpefls 
 unto its Head. 
 
 And in General, all who are called Chrifiians, are 
 thus far agreed ^ nothing is of the Ciiurch, nothing 
 belongs unto it, which is not dependant on, which 
 is not imted to the Head. That which holds the 
 Head, is the true Church \ that which doth not fb, 
 15 no Church at all. 
 
 Herein we agree with our Adverfaries, namely, that 
 all the Privileges of the Church, all the Right and 
 Title of Men thereunto, depend wholly on their due 
 RcLiticn to the Head oj it, according to the diltin£l 
 Conflderations of it : be that Head who, or whatn will, 
 that which is not united unto the Head, which depends 
 not on it, which is leparated from it, belongs not to 
 the Church. This 
 
the heft Prefervative dga'nijl Popery } 
 
 This Head ot the Church is Chrifi Jcfus alone ^ for 
 the Church is but onc^ although, on various confidera- 
 tions, it be likened unto nvo fort s rj Bodies. The Catho- 
 lick Church is coniiJered either as BLlieving, or as 
 Profciring ^ but the BciiLving Church is not one, and 
 tlie Frotcirmg another, 11 you luppole andher Ca- 
 tholick Church bclides this one, vvholo will may be 
 the Head of it, we are not coiKcrned therein ; I)ut 
 unto this Church Chnji is the only Head ^ He only 
 anlwers all the Properties and Ends of luch an Head 
 to the Church : This the Scripture doth fo politively 
 and frequently affirm, without the lealt intimation 
 either dircQly or by confequence of any other Head, 
 that it is wonderful how the Imagination of it ihould 
 bcfal the Minds of any, who thought it not mete at 
 the lame time to calf away their Bibles. 
 
 But whereas an Head is to be prelent with the 
 Body, or it cannot fubfiit, the Enquiry is, how the 
 l^ord Chrifi is fa prefent uith his Church ^ And the 
 Scripture hath left no pretence for any hehtation 
 herein ^ for he is fo by his Spirit and his JVord^ by 
 which he communicateth all the Powers and Virtues 
 rf an Head unto it continually. His Promifes of 
 this Way and Manner of his Prc/ence unto the 
 Ciiurch. are multiplied ^ and thereon doth the Being, 
 Life, Uib^ and Continuance of the Church depend : 
 Where Chrilt is noifrrfcnt by his Spirit andWord^ 
 >here is no Church ^ and thofe who pretend fo to 
 be are the Synagp^ues of Satan, and they are infepa- 
 lable and coniuncf in their Operation, as he is 
 the Head of Injiuence unto the Church, as alfo as 
 l.e is an Head of l^ule ; for in the former fence the 
 Spirit worketh by the Word, and in the latter the 
 VVord is made eflcclual by i\\^ Spirit. 
 
 But the Sen«.c and Apprchenlion hereof was for 
 a long time loU in the World, amonglt them who 
 
 U 4 called 
 
512 How is the PraBical Love of Truth 
 
 called themfelves the Church An Head^ they did 
 acknowledge, the Church muft always have, without 
 which it cannot fubfift ^ and they would confefs that 
 in Ibme fence he was an Head of Influence unto it; 
 they know not how to have an Image thereof^ tho' 
 by many other pernicious Doflrines, they overthrevy 
 the Efficacy and Benefit of it. But how He (hould be 
 the only head of Rule umo the Church, they could 
 not underftand ^ they faw not how He could aft the 
 VVifdom and Authority of fuch an Head, and with- 
 out which the Church mufi be headlels. They faid, 
 he was ahfent and invifible •, they muft have one that 
 they could y?<?, and have accels unto : he is in Heaven, 
 and they know not how to make Addrefs to him as 
 occafion did require ^ all things would go to difo7'der^ 
 notwithftanding fuch an Headfliip. The- Church is 
 vifible^ and it muft, they thought, have a vifible 
 Head. It was mete alio that this Head (hould have 
 fbme liich Grandeur and Pomp in the World, as 
 became the Head of fb Great and Glorious a Society 
 as the Church is. How to apply thcfe Things unto 
 Chrift, and his Prefence with the Church by his Word 
 and Spirit, they knew not. 
 
 Shall they then forego the Vrinciple, That the 
 Church is to have fiich an Head and Supreme Ruler ? 
 That mult not be done, but be lacredly retained 5 
 not only, becaufe to deny it in general, is to renounce 
 the Gofpel ^ but becaufe they had found out a way to 
 turn it unto their own Advantage •, they would there- 
 fore make an Image 0} Chrtft, as this Head of the 
 Church, to pollefs the Place, and a£t all the Powers 
 of fuch an Head ^ for the Church, they fay, is vifible, 
 and muft have a vifible Head : As tho' the Catholick 
 Church, as fuch, were any other way vifible, but as 
 the Head of ic is, that is, by Faith. That thera 
 muft be an Head and Cenrrs of Union, ivherein all 
 
 the 
 
the bejl Prefervative iigdinfl Popery ? 513 
 
 the Members of the Church' may agree and be united, 
 notwirhltjnding all their diltind Capjcities and Cir- 
 cun.lbnces ^ and how this ihould be Chrill himlelt^ 
 they know nor : That without wSupremc lldid prcfcnt 
 in the Church, to ccnipole all Differences, and de- 
 termine all Controverlies, even thole concerning him- 
 ielt, which they vainly pretend unto, they exprtfly af- 
 firm, that there was never a Society {0 fbolifhly order- 
 ed as that of the Church. And hereon they conclude 
 the Infufficiency ofChriitto htihisfolc Headoi'ihQ 
 Church, another they mult have tor thefe Ends. 
 
 And this was their Pope^ luch an Image as is one 
 of the worlt of Idols that ever were in ihe World: 
 Unto him they give all the Titles of Chr^It, which 
 relate unto the Church, and afcribe all the Powers of 
 Chrilt in and over it, as unro its Rule, to him alfo. 
 But here they tell into a M Hake ; tor when they 
 thought to give him the Poivrr of Chrifl, they gave 
 him the Power of the Drogon to ufe againlt Chriit, 
 and thole that are his : And when they thought to 
 make an Image cfChnfl, they made .m Ima^eoi ih^ 
 lirji Beal}^ let up by the Dragon, which had two 
 herns like a hamh^ but fpake as a Dragon ; whole 
 Charafter arid Employ is at large dclcribed, Rev, i^ 
 
 IM2, 13, 14, J^, 16, 17. 
 
 This is the Sum of what I fliall offer on this 
 Head : Thole who called themfdves the Oyrch, had 
 loft "^W Spiritual hight enabling them to difcern the 
 the Beauty and Glory of the Rule of Chrill over the 
 Church as its Head ^ and hereon their Minds became 
 deltitute of all Experience of the Power and Efficacy 
 of his Spirit and Word, continually to order the 
 A^'airs thereof, in the Ways, and through the ufe 
 of Means by himfelf appointed •, they knew not how 
 to ^cquiefce in thefe things, nor how the Church 
 could bo maintained by them : Wherefore in this 
 
 Cafe, 
 
g 14 Hovt^ is the Pra&ical Love of Truth 
 
 Cafe, they helped every one his Ne/£hbour ^ and every 
 one f did to his Brother^ Be of good comfort -, Jo the 
 Carpenter encouraged the Goldjmith] and he that 
 fmooteth mth the Hammer^ him that fmiteth the 
 Anvil They fet themfelves, in their leveral Ca- 
 pacities, to frame this Idol^ and let him up in the 
 place and Head of Chrilt, fo fixing him in the 
 Temp/e of God, that he might JJmv himfclf from 
 thence to be as God. 
 
 Neither will this Idol be ever calt out of the 
 Church, until the generality of Chriftians become 
 fpiritually lenfible of the Authority of Chrift, exert- 
 ing itfeif in the Rule of the Church, by his Spirit 
 and his Word, unto all the Ends of Unity, Order, 
 Peace, and Edification ^ until that be done, a i^ope^ 
 or fomething like him, will be thought neceflary un- 
 to thele Ends.^ 
 
 But never was there a more horrid deformed Image 
 made of fo beautiful and glorious an Head : All the 
 Craft of Satan, all the Wits of Men, cannot invent 
 any ching more unlike Chrifl, as the Head of the 
 Church, than this Pope is 5 a worfe Figure and Re- 
 prefentation of him cannot poflibiy be made. 
 
 This is he, of whom, nothing not great, nothing 
 common, nothing not exceeding the ordinary Hate of 
 Mankind, on the one hand or the other, is thought 
 or fpoken : Some lay he is the Head and Husband of 
 the Church, the Vicar of Chnft over the whole World, 
 God^s Vicegerent, a Vice God, Peter s SuccejJ'or, the 
 H? ad and Centre of Unity, unto the whole Catholick 
 Church, endued with a plenitude of Power, with 
 other afcriptions of the fame nature innumerable ^ 
 whereon it is neceflary unto every Soul, under pain 
 of Damnation, to be fubjcLl unto him. 
 
 Others aver that he is Annchrijf, the Man of Sin^ 
 the Son (f Perdition, the Bcajl that came out of the 
 
 Earth 
 
the bejl Preservative nganijl Popery ? 515 
 
 Earth with tvco horns like a Lamb, and a Voice like 
 tJie Drcfgon. the Jijljc Trophet, the /t/^/ Shepherd^ the 
 ftJ/7 SirViWt that bcatcih his Fellow- Stryjiits, the 
 Adulterer of a Mcritric'tous and falll Church •, and 
 there is no Mean betwixt thcle ^ he is undoubtedly 
 the One or the Othej\ The Lord Jefus Chrili^ who 
 hath dLtcrmineJ this Controverfy already in his 
 Word, will tic long give it its ultimate lHue in his 
 own glorious Perlbn, and by the brightnels ot his 
 coming. And this is an eminent Idol in the Chcwiber 
 cj Iwiigery in the Roman Church. But at prefent it 
 is evident wherein lies the prefervation of Believers 
 from being inveagled to bowe down to this hnuge^ 
 and to worfhip it. A due fenfe of the Ible Autho- 
 rity of Chrilt in and over his Churchy with an ex- 
 perience of the Power of his Word and Spirit unto 
 all the Ends of" its Rule and Order, will keep them 
 unto the Truth herein, and nothing elfe will fo do. 
 And if once they decline from this in any Inltances, 
 feem they never fo Imall, fo as to admit of any thing 
 in the Church, or its VVorfliip, which doth not de- 
 rive immediately fiom his Authority, they will 
 be difpoled do admit of another Guide and Head in 
 all other things alio. 
 
 Sect. V.] Again, It is a Notion of Truth, That 
 the Church oj ChrjJ} is beautijul and glorious. There 
 are many Prophecies and Prediftions concerning it, 
 that \o it (hould be ; and there are fundry delcrip- 
 tions given of it as fuch. Its Relation unto Chrilf, 
 and his Love unto it, and Valuation of it, do re- 
 quire that it (hould be io glorious ^ yea, his great 
 Defign towards it was to make it fo to be, Eph. ^. 
 ^-j, 26, 27. This therefore, all do agree in, who 
 profefs Chnftian Religion , but what that Glory is, 
 
 and 
 
5 16 Hovo is the FraSical Love of Truth 
 
 and wherein it doth confift, whence it is, and is 
 laid to be glorious^ is not agreed upon. 
 
 The Scripture indeed plainly declares this Glory 
 to be Spiritual and Internal. ^ that it confifts in its 
 Union unto Chrift^ his Prefence with it, and commu- 
 nication of his quickning Spirit unto it, the cloathing 
 of it with his Righteoufnefs, in its San£llfication and 
 Purification from the defilement of Sin, with its 
 fruitfulneis in Obedience unto the Praife of God. Add 
 hereunto the celebration of Divine Wor/hip in it, with 
 its Rule and Order, according to the Commandments 
 ofChrifl^ and we have the Subflance of this Glory. 
 
 And this Glory Believers do difcern ^o as to "be 
 fatisfied with its Excellency. They know that all 
 the Glories of the World are no way to be com- 
 pared to it, for it confifts in and ariles from luch 
 things as they do value and prefer infinitely above all 
 that this World can afford : They are a reflexion of 
 the Glory of God, or of Chriji himfelf^ upon the 
 Churchy yea, a Communication of it thereunto. This 
 they value in the whole, and in every Member of 
 it ^ neither the Nature, Ule, nor End of the Q?//;r& 
 will admit that its Glory fliould confift in things of 
 any other Nature. 
 
 But the generality of Mankind had loft that Spi- 
 ritual Light wherein alone this Glory might be di- 
 fcerned : They could lee no Form or Beauty in the 
 Spoiife of ChriJl^ as only adorned with his Graces. 
 To talk of a glorious ftate of Men, whilft they are 
 poor and deltitute, it may be cloathed with Rags, 
 and haled unro Prilbns or Stakes, as hath been the 
 Lot of the Church in moft Ages, was, in their Judg- 
 ment, a Th'ng abfurd and foolifh. Wherefore, fee- 
 ing it is certain, that the Church of Chrift is very 
 ghrious and iliuftr'ous in the fight of God, holy An- 
 gels, and goo J Men^ a way muft be found out to 
 
 make 
 
the bejl Prejervative a^ainjl Fopery ? 317 
 
 make it fo, and fo to appear in the World. Where- 
 fore (they agreed on a lying Imuge ot" this Glory, 
 namely, the Dignity, Vromotion, Healthy Dc7mnion^ 
 Tower and Splcndo?' of them tHat had got the Rule 
 of the Church. And although it be evident unto all, 
 that thele things belong unto the Glories of this 
 Worlds which the Glory ot" the Church is not only 
 dillinguifhed from, but oppofed unto, yet it muft 
 be looked on as that wherein it is glorious ^ and it 
 is fb, though it have not one faving Grace in it, as 
 they exprefly affirm. When thefe things are attain- 
 ed, then are all the Prediflions of its Glory accom- 
 plifhed, and the Defcription of it anfivered. 
 
 This corrupt Ima^e oi' x\\t true /pint ual Glory cf^ 
 the Church, arifing from an Ignorance of it, and 
 want of a real Experience of the worth and excel- 
 lency of things Internal, Spiritual, and Heavenly, hath 
 been attended with pernicious Confequents in the 
 World. Many have been infatuated by it, and en- 
 amoured of ir, unto their own Perdition : For, as a 
 teacher of Lies, it is fuited only to divert the Minds 
 of Men from a comprehenfion and valuation of that 
 real Glory^ wherein, if they have not an Intereft, 
 they mult Perifh for ever. 
 
 Look into Foreign Parts, as Italy and France, where 
 thele Men pretend their Church is in its greatejl 
 Glory^ what is it, but the Wealth and Pomp, and 
 Power of Men, tor the moft part openly ambitious, 
 lenfual, and worldly ^ Is this the Glory of the Church 
 of Chrid ^ Do thele things belong unto his Kingdom ^ 
 But by the letting up of this Image, by the ad- 
 vancement of this Notion, all the true Glory of the 
 Church hath becnlolt and defpiled. Yet thele things 
 being fuited unto the Dcfigns of the carnal minds of 
 Men, and latistaftory unto all their Lulls, having got 
 this Paint and Gilding on them, that they render the 
 
 Church 
 
giS How is the PraElical Love of Truth 
 
 Church of Chrift Glorious, have been the Means of 
 filling this World with Darknefs, Blood, dindi Confu- 
 fion. For this is that Glory ot the Church which is 
 contended for with Rage and Violence. And not a 
 few do yet dote on thele Images, who are not fharers 
 in the Advantage it brings unto its principal Wor- 
 fliippers; whofe Infatuation is to be bewailed. 
 
 The Means of our prefervation from the Adora- 
 tion of thefe Images alfo is obvious, from the Prin- 
 ciples we proceed upon. It will not be done, with- 
 out Light to dilcern the Glory of things Spiritual and. 
 Invifible, wherein alone the Church is glorious. And 
 in the Light of Faith they appear to be what indeed 
 they are in themfelves, of the fame Nature with the 
 Glory that is Above. The prelent Glory of the 
 Church, I fay, is its imitation unto the Glory of 
 Heaven, and in general of the fame Nature with it: 
 Here it is in its Dawnings and Entrances, there in 
 its Fulnefs and Perfeffion. To look for any thing 
 that fliould be cognate, or of near Alliance unto the 
 Glory of Heaven, or any near refemblance of it, in 
 the outward Glories of this World, is a fond Ima- 
 gination. And when the Mind is enabled to difcern 
 the true Beauty and Glory of fpiritual things, with 
 their Alliance unto that which is Above, it will be 
 lecured from feeking after the Glory of the Church 
 in things of this World, or putting any Value on 
 them unto that End. 
 
 That Self-denial alfo, which is indifpenfably pre- 
 fer ibed in the Gofpel unto all the Difciples o{ Chrift ^^ 
 is rcquifite hereunto •, for the Power and Pra£fice of 
 it is utterly inconfiltent with an Apprehenfion, that 
 fecular Power, Riches, and Domination do contribute 
 any thing unto the ChurcFs Glory. The Mind being 
 hereby crucified unto a value and' eltimation of thele 
 things, it can never apprehend them as any part of 
 
 that 
 
the bejl Prefer vativc agiiiTiJl Popery ? 519 
 
 that Rnifficnt of the Church wherein it is glorious. 
 But wlierc the Minds of Men, through their native 
 Darkneis, are dileiubled to dilcern the Glory of 
 Spiritual things, and through their carnal unmorti- 
 fied Afteftion, do cleave unto and have the highelt 
 elteem of Worldly Grdndcur, it is no wonder if 
 they luppole the beauty and glory of the Church to 
 conhlt in them. 
 
 Sect. VI.] I fhall add one Infiance more with 
 reference unto the State of the Churchy and that is in 
 its Rule and lyifc'ipime. Here alfo hath been as fatal 
 a Mifcarrijge as ever fell out in Chrijfi.in Religion: 
 Foe the Truth herein being lolt, as unto any fenie 
 and experience of its Fiticacy, or Power, a bloody 
 Image, deltru£live to the Lives and Souls of Men, 
 was let up in the ftead thereof And this alio (hall 
 be briefly declared. There are certain Principles of 
 Truth with refpcdf hereunto, that are acknowledged 
 by all ; as, 
 
 1. That the Lord Chnfl hath appointed a Rulezni, 
 Difcipljne in his Church for its Good and Freiervation 5 
 no Society can fubljll without the Power and Exer- 
 cife of Ibme Rule in iclelf •, For Rule is nothing but 
 the prefervation of Order, without which there is 
 nothing but Coniufion. The Church is the moll per- 
 fect Society on the Farth, as being united and com- 
 pared by the bell ^ and highelt Bonds which our Na- 
 ture is capable of, Eph. 4. 16. Col, 2. 19. It mult 
 therefore have a Rule and 'DifcipUne in iilelf, which 
 from the Wifdom and Authority of Him by whom 
 it was inlliiuted, mult be luppofed to be the molt 
 Perfea. 
 
 2. That this Pi/cipli/ie /r p nvcrful and cjfcilual unt3 
 all its proper Ends. It mult be 16 elleemed from the 
 Wifdom of Him by whom it is appointed ; and it is 
 
 io 
 
320 Hove is the PraBical Love of Truth 
 
 fo accordingly. To fuppofe that the Lord Chrift 
 fhould ordain a Rule and Difcipline in his Churchy 
 that in itfclfand by its jult Adminiftration, (liould 
 not attain its Ends, is to reflefl the greateft Difho- 
 nour iipon him. Yea, if any Church or Society of 
 protcfied Chriflians be fallen into that State and Con- 
 dition wherein the Difciprme appointed by Chrifl^ can- 
 not be elFtftual unto its proper Ends, Chrilt hath 
 for fa ken that Church or Society. Befides, the Holy 
 Ghoft affirms, that the Minilky of the Church in the 
 Adminiilration of it, is mighty^ through God, unto all 
 its Ends, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5-. 
 
 5. The Ends of this Difcipline, ate the Order, 
 Peace, Purify^ and Holmefs of the Church, with a 
 reprefentation of the Love, Care, and Watchful- 
 nejs of Chrif} over it, and a Tcftimojiy unto his fu- 
 ture Judgment An Imagination ot any other Ends 
 of it, hath been its Ruine. 
 
 And thus far all who profe(s themfelves Chrifli- 
 ans, are agreed, at kalt in Words. None dare deny 
 any of thefe Principles, no, not to fecure their abule 
 of them, which is the Interefl of many. 
 
 4. But unto them all we muft alfb add, and that 
 with the fame uncontroulafile Evidence of Truth, that 
 the Power and Efficacy of this Difcipline, which it 
 hath from the Inftitution of Chrift, is Spiritual only^ 
 and hath all its Effefls on the Souls and Confciences 
 of thole who profefs iubjeftion unto him, with re- 
 Ipeft unto the Ends before-mentioned. So the Apo- 
 lile exprefly delcribes it, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5. Yor the 
 weapons of our warjare are not carnal, hui mighty 
 through God, to the pulling down of ft rong holds, caft' 
 ing down imaginations, and eveiy high thing that ex^ 
 aketh itfelf againft the knovolege of God^ bringing in- 
 to captivity every thought unto the obedience ofChrifto 
 Thele are the Ends, as of preaching of the Golp^], 
 
the bejl Prefervative againjl Popery ? 321 
 
 fb oithe Difcipline of the Church ^ and theic are the 
 Ways and Means of its Eificacy : It is fpiritually 
 77ughty to Gud^ unto all thefe Ends, and others it hath 
 none. But we fhall immediately ice the total Ke- 
 \erle of this Order, in an hnngc lubltituted in the 
 room of it. 
 
 5. Of the Power and Efficacy of this Spiritual 
 Difcipline unto its proper End, the Primitive Chrr- 
 Jiiii/is, at lead, had Experience. For 300 V'ears the 
 Church had no other Way or Means for the prelcr- 
 vation of its Order, Peace, Purity and Holineis, but 
 the fpiritual Efficacy of this Dilcipline, on the Souls 
 and Confciences of profelled CJ^riftians. Neither did 
 it fail therein, nor were the Churches any longer pre- 
 lerved in Peace and Purity, than vvhilft they had 
 this Difcipline alone for their Preitrvation, without 
 the lealt contribution of afTiltance from fecular Pow- 
 er, or any thin^^ that'fhould operate on the outward 
 Concerns of Mankind. And there can be no other 
 Reafon given, why it fhould not be of the 'fame \J{q, 
 and Efficacy (till unto all Churches, but only the 
 lofs of all thole ////tv7?<// Graces^ which are ncccllary 
 to make any Gofpel Inltitution efteflual : Where- 
 fore, 
 
 All Senle and Experience hereof, of tlie Spiritual 
 Pozver and Efficacy of this Difciplme was utterly loir, 
 amongll the molt of them that are called Chrifiums. 
 Neither thole who had ailumed a pretence of the 
 adminillration of it, nor thole towards Vv'hom ic 
 was adminiltrcd, could fjnd any thing in it, that did 
 affetl the Confciences of Men^ with rcfpccl unto its 
 proper Ends. They found it a thing altogether ufe- 
 Icls in the Churd\ wherein none of any fore would 
 be concerned. 
 
 What fhall they now do > Whit courfc fliall they 
 t.ike r* Shall thcv renounce all thole Principhs <'f 
 Vol. II, ' X Truh 
 
322 Horv is the Pra&ical Love of Truth 
 
 Truth concerning it, which we have laid down, and 
 exclude it, both Name and Thing out of the Church ^ 
 This, probably, would have been the End or it, had 
 they not found out a way to wreft t\\Q pretence of it 
 unto their unfpeakable Advantage. Wherefore they 
 contrived and made an horrid Image of the holy 
 fpiritual Rule and Difcipline of the Gofpel : An h?idge 
 it was, confilting in outvoard force and Tyranny over 
 the Perfons, Liberties, and Lives of Men, exercifed 
 with Weapons, mighty through the Devil, to caft 
 Men into Prifon, and to deltroy them. Hereby that 
 which was appointed for the Peace and Edification 
 of the Church, being loft, an Engine was framed 
 under its Name and Pretence, unto its Ruine and 
 Deftruftion ^ andfo it continues unto this Day. 
 
 It had never entred into the Hearts of Men, to fet 
 up a Difcipline in the Church of Chrif}, by Law, 
 Courts, 'Fines, MulQs, Imprifonments, and Burn- 
 ings, but that they had utterly loft in themlelves, 
 and fuft'ered to be loft in others concerned, all Expe- 
 rience of the Power and Efficacy of the Diicipline of 
 Chritt towards the Souls and Confciences ot Men. 
 
 But herein they laid it afide, as an ufelels Tool, 
 that might do fome fervice in the Hands of the 
 Apoftles and the Primitive Churches, whilft there was 
 fpiritual Life and Senfe left amongft Chrijlians ^ but 
 as unto them and what they aimed at, it was of 
 no ufe at all. 
 
 The Deformity of this hiage in the feveral parts 
 oF it, its univerlal dijfw/intude unto that whole Name 
 it bears, and which it pretends to be, the leveral de- 
 degrees whereby it was forged, framed, and erefted, 
 with the Occafions and Advantages taken for its exalta- 
 tion, would take up much time to declare: For it 
 was fubtilly interwoven with other Abominations in 
 the whole Myfery of Iniquity^ until it became the 
 
 very 
 
the bejl Prefervative againjl Popery } 323 
 
 very Life or animating Priiiciplc of Antichrijliamfm, 
 For however Men may let light by the Rule and 
 Difcipline of Chrift in his 0)urcl\ and the Spiritual 
 Power or Efficacy towards the Souls and Conlciences 
 of Men ^ the rcjeftion of it, and the letting up of an 
 horrid Image of worldly Power, Domination, arid 
 Force, in the room of it, and under its Name, is that 
 which began, carried on, and yet maintains the fatal 
 Apoltacy in the Church of Ro?nc, 
 
 I (hall inltance only in one Particular. On the 
 change of this Rule of Chriji^ and together with it, 
 the fetting up of yTI auzzim,Qi 'inhnage^ or God oi' for- 
 ces in the Head of it :, they were compelled to change 
 all the Ends of that Difcipline, and to make an hn^ige 
 of them alfo : For this new Inltrument of outrvard 
 Force, was of no ule with refpeQ unto them •, for 
 they are, as was declared, the Spiritual Pcace^ Purity^ 
 Love, and Edification of the Church. Outward Force 
 is no way mete to attain any of thefe Ends. Where- 
 fore they mult make an Image of thefe alfo, or fub- 
 llitute fome dead Form in their room •, and this was 
 an univerfal lubjeftion unto the Pope, according to all 
 the Rules, Orders, and Canons, which they fliould in- 
 vent. Uniformity herein, and Canonical Obedience, is 
 all the End which they will allow unto their Church 
 Difcipline : And thefe things hang well together ; for 
 nothing but outward Force by Law and Penalties, is 
 fit to attain this End. So was th-jre an Image compo- 
 fed and ereftcd of the holy Difcipline of O^rif}, and 
 its blefled Ends, confiding of thefe two Parrs, out- 
 vcard Force, and feigned SuhjeLfion. For hardly can 
 an Inftancc be given in the World, of any Man who 
 ever hovocd down to this I/nage, or fubmitted unto any 
 Eccleftjftical Ccnjure, out of a confcientioiis Rcfpe^t 
 unto iti Force and- Fear rule all. 
 
 . X 'k Thij 
 
324 Hoxv is the PraBical Love of Truth 
 
 . This is that Difcipl'me, in whole' execution tha 
 Blood of an innumerable company oi' Holy Martyrs 
 hath been fhed -, that wherein all the vital Spirits of 
 the Papacy do aft themielves, and whereby it doth 
 fubfift : And although it be the hnage of Jcaloiify^ or 
 the hnage of the fir fi Beafl^ fet up by the Dragon : yet 
 it cannot be denied, but that it is very wifely accom- 
 piodated unto the prefent State of the generality of 
 them that are called Chriflians aniongft them. For 
 being both Blind and Carnal, and having thereby lol! 
 all Senfe and Experience of the Spiritual Tower of 
 the Rule o^Chrifl in their Confciences, they are be- 
 come an Herd not fit to be Governed or Ruled any 
 other way. Under the Bondage of it therefore they 
 muft abide, till the veil of EUndncJs be taken away, 
 and they are turned unto God by his Word and Spi- 
 rit • for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there, and 
 there alone, is Liberty. 
 
 Sect. VII. ] Unto the foregoing particular Inftan- 
 ces, with refpeft unto the Church, I fhall yet add one. 
 moiQ re/ieral, which is indeed comprehenfive of them 
 all, or the Root from, whence they fpring ^ a Root 
 bearing Gall and Wormwood. And this is concerning 
 tlie Catholick Church. 
 
 What belongs unto this Catholick Church, what is 
 comprifed in its Com.munion, the Apoitle declares, 
 Hek 12. 22, 2;, 2.1. It is the Recapitulation of all _ 
 things in Heaven. ami Eirth in Chrift Jcfus. Ephef. 
 f. TO. His Body, his Spoufe, or Bride, the LamFs 
 Wife, the glorious femple wherein God doth dwell hy 
 his Spirit. An holy myllical Society, purchafed and 
 puriiied by the Blood of Chrifl, and united unto him 
 by his Spirit, or the Inhabitation of the fime Spirit 
 in him, and thofe whereof it do.th confift. Hence 
 they with him, as the Body with its Head, are my- 
 
 ^ flically 
 
the heft Prcferv.itive j^a'ut/l Popery ? 525 
 
 iHcally called Chrlft, 1 Cor. 12. 12. And there are 
 two parts of it, the one whereof is already perfcthd 
 in Heaven, as unto their Spirits, and the other yet 
 continued in the way of Faith and Obedience in this 
 World. Both thcle conltitute one YamUy in heaven 
 iinA E.irth^ Fphel' ;. 15. in conjunLlion with the holy 
 Angels, one Myllical Body, one Catholick Church. 
 And although there is a great difFcrcnce in their pre- 
 fcnt State and Condition, between thcle two Branches 
 of the fame Family, yet are they both equally pur- 
 chaled by Chrift, and united unto him as their Head, 
 having both of them eftL£lually the fime Principle of 
 the Life of God in them. Of a third part of this 
 Churchy neither in Heaven nor in Earth, in a tempo- 
 rary State participant fbmewhat of Heaven, and fome- 
 whit of Hell, called Vurgatory^ the Scripture know- 
 eth nothing at all, neither is it confiltent with the 
 Analogy ^y Faith, or the Promifes of God, unto them 
 that do believe, as we fliall fee immediately. 
 
 This Church, even as unto that part of it which 
 is in this World, as it is adgrned with the Graces of 
 the Holy Spirit, is the moft beautiiul and glorious 
 Ffteft, next unto the forming and production of its 
 Head in the Incarnation oj the S?n of God, which Di- 
 vine Wifdom, Power, and Grace will extend them- 
 felves unto here below : But thefe things, the glory of 
 this State, is vifible only unto the eye of Faith •, yea, 
 it is perfeSly feen and known only to Chrilt himfclK 
 We fve it obfcurely in the light of Faith and Revela- 
 tioiT, and are fenfible of it according unto our partici- 
 pating of the Graces and Privileges wherein it doth 
 confift 
 
 But that fpiritual Light which is neccfTary to the 
 dilcerning of this Glory, was lolt amonglt thole of 
 whom we treat. They could fee no Reality nor 
 Peaury in thefe things, nor any thing that fliould be 
 
 X 2 ci' 
 
326 Hotv is the PraBical Love of Truth 
 
 of Advantage unto them. For upon the Principle 
 of the utter uncertainty of Mens fpiritual Eltate and 
 Condition in this World, it is evident that they could 
 have no latisfa£lory perfwafion of any Concernment 
 in it. 
 
 But they had poiTelTed themlelves of the Notion of 
 a Catholick Churchy which with myllerious Artifices 
 they have turned unto their own incredible ftcular 
 Advantage. This is that whereof they boalt, appro- 
 priating it unto themlelves, and making it a pretence 
 oi' deflroying others^ what lies in them, both Tempo- 
 rally and Eternally. Unto this End they have formed 
 the moft deformed and detefiable Image of it that ever 
 the World beheld : For the Catholick Church, which 
 they ovon, and which they boaft that they are inftead of 
 that of Chrilt, is a Company or Society of Men, un- 
 to whom, in order unto the Conttitution of that whole 
 Society, there is no one real Chriflian Grace requird^ 
 -nor JpjritualUnion unto Chriji the Head^hut only an out- 
 lide profeffion of thefe things, as they expredy con- 
 tend. A Society united unto the Pope ofR^;^^, as 
 its Head, by fubje£lion tinto him, and his Rule ac- 
 cording to the Laws and Canons whereby he will 
 grant them : This is the formal, Realbn and Caufe 
 coniiituting that Catholick Church which they are, 
 ivhich is compared in itfelf by horrid Bonds and Li- 
 gaincnts, for the ends of Ambition, worldly Domi- 
 iiation and Avarice. A Catholick Church openly wicked 
 in the generality of its Rulers, and them that are ruled ^ 
 nnd in its State cruel, oppreflive, and dyed with^tji^ 
 Blood of Saints and Martyrs innumerable. 
 
 This, I fay, is that Image of the Holy Catholick 
 Church, the Spoufe of Chrift, which they have fet 
 up. And it hath been as the Image oY Moloch, that 
 hath devoured and confumed the Children of the 
 Church, whole Cries, when their cruel Step-mother 
 
 • pitied 
 
the bejl Prejervatlve aga'wjl Fopcry ? 327 
 
 pitied them not ^ and when their pretended Ghoftly 
 Fathers cult them into the MamcSi came up unto the 
 Ears of the Lord (j llojls-^ and their Blood Itlil cries 
 for Vengeance on this idolatrous Generation. 
 
 \et is this pretence ot the Catholic k Church prefied 
 in the M^nds ot many, with fo many Sophijiica/ At- 
 tihces, through the flight r/ Men^ and cunning crdfti- 
 ncfs^ vchcreby they lie in wait to deceive-^ propofcd 
 with the Allurements of io many fecular Advantages, 
 and impoled ott-times on Chriltians with \o much 
 Force and Cruelty, that nothing can lecure us trom 
 the admiflion of it, unto the utter overthrow of Re- 
 ligion, but the Means before infilfed on. A fpiritual 
 Light is necellary hereunto, to diicern the internal 
 fpi ritual Beauty and Glory of the true Catholick 
 Church of Chrilt : where this is in its Power, all the 
 Paintings and Drefles of their deformed Image will 
 fall off from it, and its abominable Filth will be made 
 to appear. And this will be accompanied with an 
 eft'eftual Experience of the Glory and Excellency of 
 that Grace in the Souls of thofe that Believe, deri- 
 ved from Chrill, the fole Head of this Church, where- 
 by they are changed from glory to glory ^ as by the 
 fpirit of the Lord. The Power, Life, and Sweetnefs 
 hereof, will give fatisfaction unto their Souls, to the 
 contempt of the pretended Order or depcndance on 
 the Pope as an Head. By thefe means the true Ca- 
 tholick Church, which is the Body of Chriil, the ful- 
 nefs of him that file th all in all^ groixing up unto him 
 in all things voho is the head, defpifeth this Im.gr, and 
 Djgon will fall to the Ground when this Ark is 
 brought in, yea though it be in his own Temple. 
 
 Sect.VIIL] In the farther opening of this 
 Chamber of hugcry, we fliall yet, if it be polf.ble, 
 fee greater Afjominations. At lealt that which doth 
 
 X 4 next 
 
328 Hoxv is the PraSical Love of Truth 
 
 next en^ue, is fcarce interior unto any of thenm that 
 went before. 
 
 It is a Principle in Chriftian Religion, an acknowled- 
 ged Verity, Th^t it is the Duty oWhtDifciples ofChnft^ 
 efpecially as united in Churches, to propagate the faith 
 of the Go/pel, and to make the Doflrine of it known un- 
 all, as they have opportunity : Yea, this is one prin- 
 cipal End of the conitituticn of Churches, and Offi- 
 cers in them. Matt. 5. i^, 14, 15:, 16. i Tmi. 5. 15. 
 
 This our Lord Jeji^s ChriJI gave in fpecial Charge 
 unto his Apofllesat the Beginning, Alatt. 28. 19, 20. 
 Mar/c 16. 15^, 16. Hereby they were obliged unto the 
 Work of propagating the faith of the Gofpel, and 
 the knowledge of him therein in all Places, and were 
 juliilied in their fo doing. And this they did with 
 that efficacy and fuccefs, that in a fhort time, like the 
 /ight of the Sun, their found went into all the earthy 
 and their words unto the end of the^world^ Rom. 10. 
 18. And the Golpel w^as faid^to be preached unto 
 every creature which is under Heaven, Col. i. 25. 
 
 The way therefore whereby they propagated the 
 Faith, was by diligent laborious preaching of the Go- 
 fpel unto all Perfons in all Places, with Patience 
 and Magnanimity, in undergoing all forts of Suffer- 
 ings on the account of it, and a declaration of its 
 Power in all thole Vertues and Graces which are 
 uicful and exemplary unto Mankind. 
 
 It is true, their Office, and the difcharge of it, is 
 long fince ceafed ^ howbeit it, cannot be denied, but 
 th:ic the Work itfelt is incumbent, in a way of Duty, 
 on all Churches, yea on all Believers, as they have 
 providential Calls unto it, and Opportunities for it: 
 For i-t is the principal way whereby they may glo- 
 rify God, and benefit Men in their chicfclt Good, 
 which, wirhout doubt, they are obli2;ed unto. This 
 nation of Truth is retained in the Church of Potne^ 
 
 • 'and 
 
the bcjl Prefervative agabij} Popery ? 329 
 
 and the Work itielt" is appropriated by them unto 
 themlllves alone : Unto them^ and thcw only^ as they 
 iuppole, it belongs to take care of the propagation of 
 the faith of the Golpel, with the converiion of Infi- 
 dels and Ucrcticks. Whatever is done unto this pur- 
 pole by others, they condemn and abhor. 
 
 What do they think of the Primitive way of doing 
 it, by Perfonal Preaching, Sufferings, and Holinefs? 
 Will the ?ofe, his Cardinals, and BiJl?ops undertake 
 this Work or Way of the diicharge of it '' Chrift hath 
 appointed no other, the Apoltles and their Succeflbrs 
 knew no other, no other becomes the Goipel, nor 
 ever had Succcfs. No, they abhor and detelt this 
 way ot it. 
 
 What then is to be done > Shall the Truth be de- 
 nied ': Shall the Work be wholly and avowedly laid 
 afide ^ Neither will this pleafe them, becaule it is 
 not fuired unto their Honour :, wherefore they have 
 ere^ed a dijmal Image of it, unto the horrible Re- 
 proach of Chriltian Religion. 
 
 They have, indeed, provided a double Painting for 
 the Image which they have fet up. The hrit is the 
 conltant confult of lome Perlbns at Rotne^ which they 
 call congrcgat'w de propagande fide, a Counfel for the 
 Propagation of the Faith, under the efte£l of whole 
 Confultations ChrillenJom hath long grieved. And 
 the other is the fending of Ahjjwnaries^ as they call 
 them, or a Surcharge 0} Fryars, from their over-nu- 
 merous Vraternities, upon their Errands into remote 
 Nations. But the Real Image itfelf^ conlills oi' thefe 
 three Parts, 
 
 J. The Sword. 
 
 2. The Inqufition, 
 
 9. Vlots and Con/piracies. 
 
 By thefe it is tinit they deflgn to propagate the 
 Faith, and promote Cbrifiuin Rcljgon. And if Hell it 
 
 felf 
 
5 go How is the PraSical Love of Truth 
 
 ielf can invent a more deformed Image and Reprelen- 
 ration of the lacred Truth and Work, which it is a 
 counterfeit of, I am much mitoken. 
 
 Thus have they in the firft way, carried Chriftiati 
 Religion into the Indies, efpecially the Wejlern Farts of 
 the World fb called. Firft the Fope, out of the plenitude 
 of his Power, gives unto the Spaniard all thole Coun- 
 tries and the Inhabitants of them, that they may be 
 made Chriftians. But Chrifl dealt not ib with his 
 Apoftles, though he were Lord of all, when he fent 
 them to Teach and Baptize all Nations. He difpof- 
 lefTed none of them of their Tomporal Rights and 
 Enjoyments, nor gave to his Apoftles a foot breadth 
 of Inheritance among them. But upon this Grant, 
 the Spanijh CathoUcks propagated the Faith, and 
 brought in Chriflian Religion amongft them : And they 
 did it by killing and murthering many Millions of 
 innocent Perlbns, as fome of themfelves fay, more 
 than are alive in Europe in any Age. And this favage 
 Cruelty hath made the name of Chriflians deteftable 
 amongft all that remained of them, that had any ex- 
 ercife of Realbn ^ fome tew flavifh Brutes being 
 brought by force to fubmit unto this new kind of Ido- 
 latry. And this we muft think to be done^ in obedi- 
 ence unto that Command of Chrift ^ Go ye into all 
 the world, and preach the Go/pel unto every creature ; 
 he that bcUeveth and is baptized Jhall be Javed, and 
 he that believeth not Jlmll be damned. This is the 
 deformed Image which they have let up of Obedi- 
 ence to his holy Commands, whereunto they apply 
 that Voice to Veter with refpeft unco the eating of 
 all forts of Creatures, Arife^ Veter,, kill and cat. So 
 have they dealt Vv^ith thole poor Nations whom they 
 have devoured. 
 
 But 
 
the Icjl PrcjiTvative aganift Popery ? 531 
 
 But BIooJ, Murder, and unjult War ( as all War 
 is for the propagation ot Religion) with Perlccution, 
 began in Cj/^, who derived it trom tin: Devil, that 
 Murderer from the Beginning ^ tor he iwu of that 
 mckcd one^ and JIcik) bis Brother. Jefus Chrilt, the 
 Son of God, was mmijtji'to drffroy thefc voorks of the 
 Devi/, Heb. 2. And he doih it in the World by his 
 Word and Doflrine, judging and condemning them ^ 
 and he docs it in his Diiciples by his Spirit, extirpa- 
 ting them out of their Minds, Hearts, and Ways ; fb 
 as that there is not a morealiijred CharaSer of a deri- 
 vdtion from the Evil Sfint, than Force and Blood in 
 Religion for the propagating of it. 
 
 The next part of this Image : The next way uled 
 by them for the Propagation of the Faith, and the 
 Converiion of them they cAl Hcrcrich^ is the Inquiji- 
 tion. So much hath been declared and is known 
 thereof, that it is needlefs here to give a Portraiture 
 of it : It may fuffice that it hath been long hnce open- 
 ed, like Cacus^s Dcn^ and diicovered to be thegreateif 
 Arjenal of Cruelty, the mcft dreadful Shambles of 
 Blood and Slaughter that ever was in the World. 
 
 This is that Engine which hath fupplied the Scar- 
 let Whore with the Blood of Saints, and the Blood 
 of the Martyrs of Jcfus, until flie was diunk with ir. 
 And this is xh&feccnd Wiiy or Means whereby they 
 propagate the Faith of the Golpd, and endeavour, as 
 they fay, the Converfiun of the Souls of Men. This 
 is the lecond Part of that Image which thev have 
 fet up, inltead of the lioly Appointment of Jefus 
 Chrilt. 
 
 The tl.nrd Way they infift on unto this purpole : 
 The third ]\:rt of this hnacc con (ills in Plots and 
 Contrivances to murder Princes, to embroil Nations 
 in Blood, to Ifir up Sedition unto their Ruine, in- 
 veaglini^ and alluring all Ibrts of Vicious, Indigent, 
 
 Ambi- 
 
532 Hovp is the PraBieal Love of Truth 
 
 Ambitious Perfons into an Aflbciation with them, ib 
 to introduce the CatMi^k Religion m the Places 
 which they deiign to lubvert. This Engine for the 
 propagation of the Faith, hath been plied with va- 
 rious Succefles in many Nations of Europe^ and is 
 Hill at work unto the fame purpofe. And hereunto 
 belong all the Arts which they ufe for the infatua- 
 tion of the Minds of Princes and great Men, all the 
 Baits they lay for others of all forts, to work them 
 over unto a compliance with rheir Defign. 
 
 Of thefe Parts, I fay, is that drcadjul Image made 
 up and composed, which they fet up, embrace and 
 acjore, in the room of the Holy way for the propaga- 
 tion of the Gofpel appointed by Jefus Chrilt. In HU 
 way they can lee no Beauty, they can expefl no Suc- 
 cefi j they cannot believe that ever the World will 
 be converted by it, or be brought in fubjeQion unto 
 the Fope^ and therefore betake themfelves • unto their 
 own. Faith, Prayer, Holinefs, Preaching, Suffering, 
 all in expeftation of the promifed Prefence and Afli- 
 ftance of Chrift, are no ways for Efficacy, Succefs, 
 and Advantage, to be compared unto the Sword^ In- 
 qinfition, and under -hand Dejrgnings. 
 
 And this alfo is that which they call Zed jor the 
 Glory ofGod^ and the Honour of Chrift ^ another de- 
 for?ned Image which they have brought into Religion. 
 For whereas that Grace conhlts principally m poft- 
 poning Self\ and all Self-concerns, with an underva- 
 luation of them unto the Glory of God, and the fpe- 
 cial Duties whereby it may be promoted. This im- 
 pious Defign to dellroy Mankind by all ways of Sub- 
 tilry and Cruelty, unto their own Advantage, is fet 
 up in the room of it. 
 
 But the confideration oftheAW//;r and Spirit, of 
 the Ufe and End of the Gofpel, of the Defign of 
 Chrift in it and by it, is lullicient to preferve the 
 
 Souls 
 
the beji Prejervative a^a'nijl Fopery ? 335 
 
 Souls of Men not utterly infatuated, in an abhorrency 
 of this Image of its Propagation. It is that wherein 
 the God of this U^or/il, by the help of their Bfindnels 
 and Lulls, hath put a Cheat on Mankind, and pre- 
 vailed with them, under a pretence of doing Chrilt 
 Honour, to make the vileft Reprelentation of him to 
 the World that can be conceived. If he hath ap- 
 pointed this way for the propagating of the Golpel, 
 he cannot well be di ft ingui filed from JlLibomcr : But 
 there is nothing more contrary unto him, nothing 
 that his holy Soul doth more abhor. And had not Men 
 lolt all fpiritual Senfe of the Nature and Ends of 
 the Gofpel, they could never have given up them- 
 felves unto thcfe Abominations. For any to fup- 
 pofe that the Faith of the Gofpel is to be propa- 
 gated by- fuch Cruelty and Blood, by Art and Sub- 
 tilty, by Plots, Conlpiracies, and Contrivances, any 
 way but by the }ooliJJ)nefs of preachirig^ which, unto 
 that End, is the Vovccr and Wifdom of God^ is to de- 
 clare his own Ignorance of it, and inconccrnment in 
 it. And had not Men conceived and embraced ano- 
 ther Religion than what is taught therein, or abuled 
 a pretence thereof unto Ends and Advantages of their 
 own, this Imagination of the propagation of it had 
 never taken place in their Minds, it is lb duvnetr'i- 
 cally oppofite unto the whole Nature, and all the 
 Ends of it. 
 
 Sr.cT. IX. ] There is yet amongft them another 
 Image of a Gi'^r/VP/mv/j/d', no lels /w/vV/ than that 
 before-mentioned, and that with refpeft unto Religi- 
 ous Obedience. It is the great foundation of all Re- 
 li^um^ and in efpecial oK G^nfluni Religion^ That God 
 in all things is to be obeyed abfolutely and univer- 
 ially. Ot all our Obedience, there is no other Rea- 
 fon, but that it is liis Will, and is known unto us 
 
 la 
 
334 ^^^ ^^ ^^^ PraFiical Love of Tint b 
 
 To to be. This follows neceflarily from the infinite 
 Perfe£lions ot the Divine Nature. As the firft EC 
 lential Verity, he is to be believed in what he re- 
 veals, above and againft all contradiction from pre- 
 tended Reafbns, or any Imaginations v^hatever : And 
 as he is the only Ablblute Independent Beings Eden- 
 tial Goodnefs, and the Sovereign Lord of all things, 
 he is, without further Reafon, Motive, or Induce- 
 ment, to be ahfolutely obeyed in all his Commands. 
 An Inftance whereof we have in Abraham offering his 
 only Son without difpute or 'hefitation, in compliance 
 with a Divine Revelation and Command. 
 
 It will feem very difficult to frame an Image here- 
 of amongil Men, with whom there is not the leaf! 
 (hadow of thefe Divine Perfections, namely Effen- 
 rial Verity, and abfblure Sovereignty, in cofijunQion 
 with infinite Wildom and Goodnefs, which alone 
 renders fuch an Obedience Lawful, Ufeful, or fuit- 
 able unto the Principles of our rational Natures : But 
 thefe of whom we fj^eak, have not been wanting un- 
 to themfelves herein, efpecially the principal Craft- 
 men of this Image-Trade. The Order of the Jefuites 
 have made a bold Attempt for the framing of it. 
 Their T^^n? of blind Obedience (as they "call it) unto 
 their Superiors, whereto they refign the whole Con- 
 duft of their Souls, in all the Concernments of Reli- 
 gion, in all Duties toward God and Man, to their 
 Guidance and Difpolal, is a cin^Jed Image of this ab- 
 lblute Obedience unto the Commands of God, which 
 he requircth of us. Hence the Founder of their Or- 
 der was notafliamed, in his Epiftle adFratres Lu- 
 citanns^ to urge and prels this blind Obedience, fi-om 
 the Example of Abraham, yielding Obedience unto 
 God, without Debate or Confideration ^ as if the Su- 
 t^ericrs of the Order were Good, and not Evil and 
 Sinful Men. 
 
 Whiifl 
 
the bejl Prefervative agjivjl Popery ? 335 
 
 Whillt the Honour was refcrvcd unto God, whiUt 
 this was judged to be his Trcrqgativc alone, name- 
 ly, That his Commands are to be obeyed in all 
 things, without Rcaibnings and Examinations, as un- 
 to the Matter, Jultice and Eauity* of them, meerly 
 becaule they are his, which ablolutely and infallibly 
 conclude them Good, Holy and Jult, the righteous 
 Government of the World, and the Security of Men 
 in all their Rights, w^as fafely provided for -, for He 
 neither vcill nor can command any thing but what is 
 Holy, Jult, and Good. But fince the afcription of 
 fuch a Goi-like Authority unto Man, as to lecure 
 hl'ind Obedience unto all their Commands, innum.era- 
 ble Evils, in Murders, Seditions and Perjuries, have 
 openly enfued thereon. 
 
 But befides thofe particular Evils in Matter of 
 Faft, which have proceeded from this corrupt Foun- 
 tain, this Perfwafion at once takes away all grounds 
 of Peace and Security from Mankind •, for who knows 
 what a Crew or Sort of Men, called the Jefnites Su- 
 periors^ known only by their reltlefs Ambition, and 
 evil Praftices in the World, may command their Vuf- 
 fals^ who are Iworn to execute whatever they com- 
 mand, without any confideration whether it be right 
 or wrong, good or evil ? 
 
 Let Princes and other Great Men fl.itter thcm- 
 f elves tvbi/Jl they pie afe, that on one Conlideration or 
 other, they fliall be the Objetls only of their Kind- 
 nels, ifthefe Men, according to their ProfefJion, be 
 obliged in C^onfcicnce to execute whatever their Sii- 
 periors (hall command them, no lels than Ahrahdm 
 was to facrihce his Son, on the Command of God ; 
 they hold their Lives at the Mercy, and on the good 
 Nature of thele Superiors^ who are always fafc out 
 of the reach of Revenge. 
 
 r 
 
33 6 Hovp is the PraSical Love of Truth ^ 
 
 It is marvellous that Mankind doth not agree to 
 demolifli this curfed Image^ or the afcription ot a God- 
 like Vower unto Men, to require blind Obedience 
 to their Commands, efpecially confidering what Ef- 
 fefts it hath produced in the World. All Men know 
 by whole Device it was firft let up and ereSed 5 
 by whom, what Means, and unto what End it was 
 confirmed and confecrated ^ and at this day it is 
 maintained by a Society of Men of an uncertain Ex- 
 tra£l and Original, like that of the Janizaries m the 
 Turkifh Empire, their rile being generally out of 
 Obfcurity, among the rrieaneft and lowed of the 
 People. Such they are, who by the Rules of their 
 Education, are taught to renounce all RefpeQ unto 
 their Native Countries, and Alliances therein, but fo 
 as to make them only the Way and Matter for the 
 advancement of the Interell of this new Society. And 
 this fort of Men being nouriflied from their very firft 
 entrances into the Condufl of the Society, unto 
 hopes and expeflations of Wealth, Honour, Power^ 
 Interefl, in the difpofal of all publick Aftairs of 
 Mankind, and the Regulation of the Conjciences of 
 Men, it is no wonder, if with the utmoft of their 
 Arts and Induftry, they endeavour to let up and pre- 
 lerve this Image which they have ereQed, from whence 
 they expe3: all the Advantage which they do defign. 
 But hereof I may treat more fully when I come to 
 ipeak of the Image of Jealoufy itfelf. 
 
 Sect. X.] From thele Generals, I fliall proceed, 
 tinto more particular Inltances, and thofe, for the 
 mod part, in important Principles of Religion, where- 
 in Cbriflian Faith and Tra[iice are mott concerned. 
 And 1 fhall be^^in with that which isof fignal Advan- 
 tage unto the Framers of thele Images, as the other 
 alio are in their degree j for by this Craft they havs 
 
the bejl Prefervative againji Popery > 5:57 
 
 their Livelihood and Wealth, and molt pernicious to 
 the Souls of other Men. 
 
 It is a Principle of Truth, and that fuch as wherein 
 the whole Courle qf Chriflian Obedience is concern- 
 ed, That there is a Spiritual defilement in Sin: 
 This the Scripture every- where declares, reprelent- 
 ing the very Nature of it by fpiritual Unckannels, 
 And this Uncle annefs is its contrariety unto the Ho- 
 linefs of the Divine Nature, as reprefented unto u3 
 in the Law. This Defilement is in all Men equal- 
 ly by Nature ^ all are alike born in Sin, and the 
 pollution of it ^ Who can bring a clean thing cm 
 of an unclean ^ And it is in all perfonally in vari- 
 ous degrees ^ fome are more polluted with aJiual 
 Sins than others, but all are fb in their degree and 
 meafure. 
 
 This pollution of Sin muft be purged and taken 
 away betbre our entrance into Heaven ^ for no un- 
 clean thing Jhall enter into the kingdom of God, Sin 
 muft be dettroyed in its Nature^ Praftice, Power, and 
 Eftefls, or we are not faved from it. 
 
 This Purification of Sin is wrought in us initially 
 and gradually in this Life^ and accomplifhed in Death, 
 when thefpirits of jufl men are made perfect. 
 
 In a compliance with this work of God's Grace 
 towards them, whereby they purifie themjelves^ con- 
 fifts one principal part of the Obedicrxe of Belie- 
 vers in this World, and of the exercile of their 
 Faith. 
 
 The principal, internal, immediate efficient Caufe 
 of this purification of Sins, is the hlood of ChriJ} ^ 
 the Blood of Jcfus ChriJI the Son of God cleanfeth 
 us from all our fins^ i John i. 7. The Blood of 
 Jcfus purgeth our Confidences from dead works^ 
 Heb. 9. 14. He tcafi:cib us in his own Bloody Rev. 
 
 vo L. a V I. J. 
 
538 Horv is the Pra8ical Love of Truth 
 
 , , ' ■ I" ■ ■-— -« 
 
 I. 5. And there is an external helping Caufe there- 
 of, which is Trials and AfRiaions, made effeSual 
 .hy the Word, and accompliflied in Death. 
 
 But this way of pu7'ging Sins by . the Blood of 
 -Chrijl, is myflerious. There is no dilceming of its 
 Glory bat by fpiritual Light, no Experience of its 
 Power but by Faith. Hence it is defpifed and neg- 
 le£led by the moft that yet outwardly profels the 
 Do£lrine of the Gofpel Men generally think there 
 are a thoufand better ways for the purging of Sin than 
 this by the Blood of Chrift^ which they cannot un- 
 derftand. See Mich. 6. 6, 7. It is myjierious in the 
 application of it unto the Souls and Conlciences of 
 Believers by the Holy Ghoft ^ it is ib in the Spring 
 of its Efficacy, which is the Oblation of it, tor a 
 Propitiation, and in its relation unto the New Cove- 
 nant, which firfl: it eltablifheth, and then makes 
 eftedual unto this End. The Work of it is gradual 
 and unperceptible unto any thing but the Eyes of 
 Faith, and diligent fpiritual Experience. 
 
 Again, It is fo ordered by Divine Wifdom, as 
 ftriaiy to require, to bigin, excite, and encourage 
 the utmoft Diligence of Believers in a compliance of 
 its Efficacy unto the fame End. What Chrift did 
 for us, he did without us, without our Aid or Con- 
 currence. As God made us without our felves, fo 
 Chrilt redeemed us •, but what he doth in us, he 
 doth alfo by us 5 what he works in a way ofGrace^ 
 we work in a w^ay of Duly. And our Duty herein, 
 confifts as in the continual exercile of all gra- 
 cious Habits, renewing, changing, and transform- 
 ing the Soul into the Likenefs of Chrift, ( for he 
 which hopes to ft:e him, punfieth hiwfelf as he is 
 pur. ) io alio in univerfal, permanent, uninterrupted 
 Mortification unto the End ^ whereof we fliall fpeak 
 
 after- 
 
the bejl Prefcrvative agamjl Popery ? 539 
 
 afterwards. This alfo renders the Work more My 
 jierwus and Difficult. The improvement of AffliQi- 
 ons unto the lame End, is a principal part of the 
 Wifdom of Faith ^ without which they can be of no 
 fpiritual (Jie unto the Souls of Men. 
 
 This Notion ot the Dcjilefficnt of Sin ^ and that 
 of the l\ecej}ity of its Purification^ were retained in 
 the Church of Rome ^ for they could not be lolt, 
 without not only a rejedion of the Scripture, but 
 the ItiHing of natural conceptions about them, which 
 are indelibly fixed in the Conlciences of Men. 
 But Spiritual hight into the Glory of the thing 
 itlelfj or the myltical Vurification of Sin, with an 
 Experience of the Power and Efficacy ot the Blood. 
 of Cbrifi^ as applied unto the Confciences of Be- 
 lievers unto that End, by the Holy Ghoft, were 
 lolt amonglt them. In vain fhall we leek for any 
 thing of this Nature, either in their Do[lnnc or 
 their PraEtice, 
 
 Wherefore, having loft the Subftance of this 
 Truth, and all experience of its Power, to retain 
 the life of its Name, they have made fundry little 
 Images of it, creeping things^ whereunto they alcribe 
 the Power of purging Sin ; fuch as Holy V atcr^ 
 Pilgrimages^ Difciplincs^ Mafjes, and various Qornmu- 
 tations. But they quickly found by Experience, that 
 thcfe things would neither purify the Heart, nor 
 pacijy the Confciences ot Sinners, any more than 
 the Blood of Bulls and Goats could do it under the 
 Law ^ yea, any more than the Luflrations and Ex- 
 piations of Sin amonglt the Heutiien could eftefl 
 it. Whereto re they have at length formed a more 
 Itated and fpjcious Image of it, to lerve all he 
 Turns of convinced Sinners ^ and this is a Purga- 
 tory after this Life ^ that is, a fubtcrraneous place^ 
 
 Y 2 and 
 
540 How is the PraBical Love of Truth 
 
 tind various Means where, and whereby, the Souls 
 of Men are purged from all their Sins, and made 
 mete for Heaven, when the Lord Chrilt thinks 
 mete to fend for them, or the Tope judges it fi^ 
 to fend them to him. Hereunto, let them pretend 
 what they pleafe, the People under their ConduEl 
 do truft a thoufand times more for thQ purii?7g .of 
 their Sim, than unto the Blood of Chrilt : But it 
 is only a curfed Imdge of the Vertue of it, let up 
 to draw oft^ the Minds of poor Sinners from leek- 
 ing an Intereft in a participation of the Efficacy of 
 that Blood for that End, which is to be obtained 
 by Faith alone, RotJi. ?. 25;, 
 
 Only they have placed this hmge behind the 
 Curtain of Mortality, that the Cheat of it might 
 not be difcovered ^ none who find themfelves de- 
 ceived by it, can come back to complain, or warn 
 others to take care of themfelves ^^ and it was in an 
 efpecial manner fuited unto their Delui5on, who 
 lived in Pleafures, or in the purfuit of unjuft Gain, 
 without exercife of Affliflions in this World. From 
 thefe two forts of Perfbns, by this Engine, they 
 raifed a Revenue unto themfelves beyond that of 
 Kings or Princes •, for all the Endowments of 
 their Religious Houfes and Societies, were but 
 Commutations for the abatement of the Fire of this 
 Vurgatory, 
 
 But whereas in itfelf it was a rotten Fofl, that 
 could not fiand or fubfift, they were forced to 
 prop it with many other Imaginations •, for unto 
 this End, to fecure work for this Purgatory, they 
 loyned the diflin^ion of Sin, into 7nortal iind ve- 
 ^niol •, not as unto their End, with refpe£f unto 
 Faith and Repentance, not as unto the the degrees 
 of Sin, with r.clpea unto the Aggravations, but as 
 
 unto 
 
the hcjl Prejervjtive a^^ji/l Popery ? 341 
 
 unto the nature of them ^ fbme of them being fuch, 
 namely, thole that arc Venial^ as were capable of 
 purging expiation after this Life, though men die 
 without any repentance of them. And when this 
 was done, they have calt alnioit all the Sins that 
 can be named under this Order ^ and hereon this 
 Image is become an Engine to difappoint the whole 
 Doftrine of the Gofpel, and to precipitate lecure Sin- 
 ners into eternal Ruine. And to itrengthen this de- 
 ceiving Securiry, they have added another Inven- 
 tion of a certain Store-houfe of Ecclefiafiical Merits^ 
 the Keys whereof" are committed to the Fope^ to 
 make application of them as he fees good unto the 
 *eafe and relief of them that are in this Purgatory. 
 For whereas many of their Church and Commu- 
 nion have, as they fay, done more good Works 
 than were needful for their Salvation (which they 
 have received upon a due balance of commuta- 
 tive Jultice ) the Surplufage is committed to the 
 Vope^ to commute with it, for the punifliment of 
 their Sins who are fent into Purgatory to fufier 
 for them ^ than which, they could have found out 
 no Engine more powerful to evacuate the Efficacy of 
 the Blood of Chrift, both as offered and as fprink- 
 led, and therewith the Doclrine of the Gofpel con- 
 cerning Faith and Repentance. 
 
 Moreover, to give it farther Countenance (as one 
 Lye muff be tiiatched with another, or it will 
 quickly rain through) they have fancied a fepara- 
 tion to be made betwen Guilt and Pumflwicnt, fo 
 as that when the Guilt is fully remitted and par- 
 doned^ yet there may Puniihmcnt remain on the 
 account of Sin. For this is the Cafe of them in Pur- 
 gatory, their Sins are pardoned, fo as that the G alt 
 of them (liall not bind them over to eternal Damna- 
 
 Y 3 tioHj 
 
^ — 
 
 342 Horv is the PraBical Love of Truth 
 
 tion : though the wages of fin h death, yet they 
 mull be varioufly punijhed for the Sins that are 
 forgiven. But as this is contradiQory in itlelf^ it 
 being utterly impoffible there fliould be any Pa- 
 niflment^ properly fo called, but where there is 
 Guilt as the Caufe of it^ lb it is highly injurious 
 both to the Grace of God and Blood of Chrift, in 
 procuring and giving out liich a lame Pardon of 
 Sins, as fhould leave room for Punlfliment next to 
 that which is Eternal. 
 
 Thele are fome of the rotten Props, which they 
 have fixed on the Minds of Perlbns credulous and 
 fuperllitious, terrified with Guilt and Darknels, to 
 fupport this tottering deformed Image, let up in 
 the room of the Efficacy of the Blood of Chrift, to 
 purge the Souls and Conlciences ot Believers from 
 Sin. 
 
 But that whereby it is priticipally eftablifhed and 
 fet up, is the Darknefs, Ignorance, Guilt, Year, ter- 
 ror of Conjcjence, accompanied with a love of Sin, 
 that the mod among them are lubje£l and obnoxi- 
 ous unto ^ being difquieted, perplexed, and torment- 
 ed with thefe things, and utterly ignorant of the 
 true and only way of their removal and deliverance 
 from them, they . greedily embrace this fbrry pro- 
 viiion tor their prefent Eale and Relief, being ao^ 
 commodated unto the utmolt that Humane or Dia- 
 bolical Craft can extend unto, to abate their Fear, 
 eafe their Torments, and give lecurity unto their 
 fuperftitious Minds. And hereby it is become to be 
 the life and foul of their Religion, diffufing itlelf into 
 all the Parts and Concerns of it, more trufted unto 
 than either God or Chrift, or the Gofpel 
 
 Spiritual 
 
the hejl Prejervative tJ^^aivJl Popery } 345 
 
 Spiritual Light and Experience, with the Confe- 
 quents oi them in Fea(:e with God, will iafcguard 
 the Minds ot Believers irom bowing down to this 
 horrid Image, though the acknowledgments of its 
 Divinity Ihould be impofed on them with Craft 
 and Force, othcrwife it will not be done^ lor with- 
 out this, there will a ftrong inclination and-difpo- 
 fition arifing from a mixture of fuperltitious fear 
 and love of Sin, poflels the Minds of men to dole 
 with this pretended Relief and Satistaftion. The 
 foundation of our Prefervation herein lies in fpi- 
 ritual Light, or an ability of Mind, from luperna- 
 tural Illumination, to difcern the Beauty, Glory, and 
 Eificacy of the purging of our Sins by the Blood of 
 Chrilt, when the Glory of the Wifdom and Grace 
 of God, of the Love and Grace of Chrilt, of the 
 Power of the Holy Ghoft herein, is made manifeft 
 unto us, we (hall defpife all the Paintings of this In- 
 vention, T>agan will fall before the Ark : And all 
 thele things do glorioufly fhine forth and maniftft 
 themfelves unto Believers, in this mylterious way 
 of purging all our Sins by the Blood of Chriif 
 
 Herein will enfue an Experience of the Efficacy of 
 this heavenly Truth in our own Souls. There is 
 no Man whofe Heart and Ways are cleanfed by 
 the Blood of Chrift, through the effeOual appli- 
 cation of it by the Holy Spirit, in the Ordinance 
 of the Gofpel, but hath or may have a refrefli- 
 ing Experience of it in his own Sou! •, and by the 
 Power which is communicated therewith, he is ftir- 
 red up unto all that Fxerciie of Faith, and all 
 thofe Duties of Obedience, whereby the work of 
 purifying and clcanfwg the whole Perlon may be 
 carried en toward Perfeftion. See 2 Cor. 7. r. 
 I ^ef^, 5. 23. I John 3. 3. And he who is 
 
 con- 
 
 Y4' 
 
344 Hovp is the PraSical Love of Truth 
 
 conftantly engaged in that Work with fuccefs, will 
 fee the Folly and Vanity ^ of any other pretended 
 way for the purging of Sins here or hereafter. 
 
 The Confequent of thefe things, is Feace mth 
 Cod, for they are afliired Pledges of our Juftification 
 and Acceptance with him ^ and be'wg jujiijied by 
 Faith, voe have Fence with God ^ and where this is 
 attained by the Gofpel, the whole Fabrick of Fur- 
 gatory falls to the Ground, for it is built on theie 
 Foundations, That no afliirance of the Love of 
 God, or of a jullified State, can be attained in this 
 Uife : For if it may be fo, there can be no ufe of 
 Vurgatory. This then will afluredly keep the Souls 
 of Believers in a contempt of that which is no- 
 thing but a falle relief for Sinners^ under diiquiet- 
 ment of Mind, for want of Peace with God. 
 
 Sect. XL] Some other Inftances of the fame 
 Abomination I fhall yet mention, but with more 
 brevity, and fundry others mult at prefent be paf 
 led over without a difcovery. 
 
 It is granted among all Chriflians, that all our 
 ' Helps^ our "Reliefs our deliverance from Sin, Sata?7^ 
 and the World, are from Chrijl alone. This is in- 
 cluded in all his Relations unto the Church, in all 
 his Offices, and the difcharge of them, and is the 
 exprels DoQrine of the Gofpel. It is no lefs gene- 
 rally acknowledged, at lead the Scripture is no lefs 
 clear and pofitive in it, that we receive and de- 
 rive all our fupplies of Relief from Chrijl by faith \ 
 other ways of the participation of any thing from 
 him, the Scripture, knoweth not. Wherefore it is 
 our Duty, on all Occafions, to apply our felves unto 
 him by Vnith, for all Supplies, Reliefs, and 'Delive- 
 rances : But thefe Men can find no Life nor Powei: 
 
 here- 
 
the bejl Frejervatxve iig>iwft Popery ? 345 
 
 herein ^ at leaft it" they grant that fomewhat might 
 be done this way, yet they know not how to do 
 it, being ignorant of the life of Faith, and the due 
 exercife of it : They mull have a way more ready 
 and eafy, expofed to the Capacities and Abilities 
 of all lorts of Perfons Good and Bad, yea, that 
 will lerve the turn of the worlt of Men unto this 
 End. An hnage therefore muft be let up for Com- 
 mon Die, inltead ot this fpiritual application unto 
 Chrilt for Relief^ and this is the making of the 
 ft[n of the Oofs, Let a Man but make the fign of 
 the Crnfs on his forehead, his Brealt, or the like, 
 which he may as eafily do, as take up or caft a- 
 way a Straw, and there is no more required to 
 engage Chrilt unto his Afliltance at any time. And 
 the Vertues which they afcribe hereunto are innu- 
 merable ^ but this alio is an Idol, a teacher of Lyes, 
 invented and fet up for no other End but to fi- 
 tisty the carnal Minds of Men, with a preliim- 
 ptuous fuppofition, in the negleft of the Ipiritually- 
 laborious exercife of Faith, an Experience of the 
 Work of Faith in the derivation of all fupplies of 
 ipiritual Lite, Grace, and Strength, with Deliverance 
 and Supplies from Jefus Chrilt, will fecure Belie* 
 vers from giving heed unto this trifling Deceit. 
 
 Sect. XIL ] One thing more, amongft many 
 others ot the fame iort, may be mentioned ^ it is 
 a notion of Truth which derives from the light 
 of Nature, That thole who approach unto God in 
 divine \Vo?fi)ip, ff.wuLi be carejul that they he pure 
 and clean, without any offenfive Defilements, This 
 the Heathen themlelvcs give TelHmony unto, and 
 God confirmed it in the Inltitutions of the Law. 
 But what are theft Defilements and Pollutions 
 • " ' which 
 
54^ How is the FraBical Love of Truth 
 
 which make us unmete to approach unto the Pre- 
 fence of God, how and by what means we may 
 be purified aud cleanfed from them, the Gofpel a- 
 lone declares. And it doth, in oppofition unto all 
 other Ways and Means of it, plainly reveal, that 
 it is by the fprinkling of the Blood, of Chrifl zipon 
 our Confciences^ ^o to purge them from dead. Works ^ 
 that tve may ferve the living God, See Heb, 9. 
 14. chap. 10. 19, 20, 21. But this is a thing 
 myfterious ^ nothing but fpiritual Light and laving 
 Faith can dire£l us herein. Men deftitute or 
 them, could never attain an Experience of Purifi- 
 cation in the way. Wherefore they retained the 
 notion of Truth itlelf, but made an Image of 
 it for their Ufe, with a negle£l of the Thing itfelf. 
 And this was the moft ludricrous that could be 
 imagined, namely the fprinkling of themf elves and 
 others with that they call holy Water ^ when they 
 go into the Places of facred Worfhip, which yet 
 alfo they borrowed from the Vagans : So Ibpid 
 and fottifh are the Minds of Men, fb dark and ig- 
 norant of Heavenly Things, that they have fuftered 
 their Souls to be deceived and ruined by fiich vain 
 liiperftltious Trifles. 
 
 This Difcourle hath already proceeded unto a 
 greater length than was at firft intended, and would 
 be lb much more, fliould we look into all Parts 
 of this Chamber of Imagery^ and expofe to view 
 all the Abominations in it. I fliall therefore put a 
 clofe unto it, in one or two Inftances, wherein the 
 Church of Rome doth boaft itfelf as retaining the 
 Truth and Power of the Gofpel in a peculiar man- 
 ner •, whereas in very deed, they have ^ deltroyed 
 them, and fet up corrupt Images of their own in 
 their Head. 
 
 Sect. 
 
the bejl Prejervative agamft Popery > 347 
 
 Sect. XIII.] The firll of thefe is the T^^oUrlne 
 and Grace of Mortification : That this is not only 
 an important Fvangelical Duty, but alfo of indi- 
 fpenlable neccflity unto Salvation, all who have any 
 thing of Chriltiun Religion in thcmfelvcs, muft ac- 
 knowledge. 
 
 It is alfo clearly determined in the Scripture, 
 both . tvbat is the nature of it^ with its Caufes, 
 and in what Afts and Duties it doth conflft. 
 For it is frequently declared to be the crucifying of 
 the body of Sin with all the fujis thereof For 
 Mortification mult be the bringing of fbmething to 
 death • and this is Sin : and the dying of Sin^ con- 
 filts in the calling out of all vitious Habits and 
 Inclinations arifing from the Original depravation 
 of Nature ; it is the weakning and graduate extir^ 
 pation, or deltruftion of them, in their Roots, Prin- 
 ciples, and Operations, whereby the Soul is let 
 at liberty to aft univerfally, from the contrary Prin- 
 ciple of Spiritual Life and Grace. 
 
 The Means on the part of Chrift, whereby this 
 is wrought and eftedfed in Believers, is the com- 
 munication of his Spirit unto them, to make an ef- 
 ie£lual application of the virtue of his death, 
 unto the death of Sin ^ for it is by his Spirit that 
 we mortify the deeds of the Flefh, and the FleOi 
 itlelf; and that as we are implanted by him into 
 the likenefs of the death of Chrilt. By virtue 
 thereof, we are crucified, and made dead unto Sin. 
 In the declaration of which things the Scripture doth 
 abound. 
 
 The Means of it on the part of Believers, is the 
 exercile of Faith in Chrilt as crucihed ^ whereby 
 Ihey derive Virtue from him, tor the crucifying 
 
 of 
 
548 How is the PraSical Love of Truth 
 
 of the Body of Death : And this exercife of Faith 
 is always accompanied with diligence and perfe- 
 verence in all holy Duties of Frayer^ with Yafi'wg, 
 Godly Sorrow^ daily renewed Repentance, with a con- 
 tinual watch againlt all the Advantages of Sin. 
 
 Herein confilts principally that fpiritual Warfare 
 and Confli£t that Believers ate called unto, this is 
 all the killing voork which the Gofpel requires. 
 That of Killing other Men for Religion, is of a 
 later date, and another Original. And there is no- 
 thing in the way of their Obedience, wherein they 
 have more Experience of the Necefiity, Power, and 
 Efficacy of the Graces of the Gofpel 
 
 This Principle of Truth concerning the neceffity 
 of Mortification, is retained in the Church of Rome •, 
 yea, fhe pretends highly unto it, above any other 
 Chriftian Society. The Mortification of their 
 'Devotionifis^ is one of the principal Arguments 
 which they plead, to draw unwary Souls over un- 
 to their Superftition. Yet in the height of their 
 Pretences unto it, they have loft all Experience of 
 its Nature, with the Power and Efficacy of the Grace 
 of Chrift therein, and have therefore framed an 
 Image of it unto themlelves. For, 
 
 T. They place the eminency and height of it in a 
 Monaftical Life, and pretended Retirement from the 
 World. But this may be, hath been, in all, or the 
 inott, without the leaft real work of Motification 
 in their Souls : For there is nothing required in 
 the ftriaett Rules of thele Monaftick Votaries, but 
 may be complied wirhal, without the leaft efFeSu- 
 al Operation of the Holy Spirit in their Minds,^ 
 in the application of the virtue of the Death of 
 Chrift unto them. Befides, the whole courfe of 
 Life which they commend under this Name, is 
 
 neither 
 
the bejl Prejervative aga'nijl Popery > 549 
 
 neither appointed, in, nor approved by the Qofpel. 
 And fome of thofe who have been molt renowned 
 for their Severities therein, were Men of Blood, 
 promoting the cruel (laughter of multitudes of Chri- 
 hians upon the account of their proteflion of the 
 Gofpel ^ in whom there could be no one Evan- 
 gelical Grace ^ for 720 Murderer hath eternal Life 
 abiding in him. 
 
 2. The Ways and Means which they prcfcribe 
 and ufe for the attaining of it, are fuch as are 
 no way direfted unto by the Divine Wifdom of 
 Chrilt in the Scripture ^ fuch as multiplied 0?/?/^^^/;^ 
 to Prielts, irregular ridiculous fajhngs^ Fenances, 
 Self-Macerations of the Body, unlawful Vows, Self- 
 devifcd Rules of Difcipline, and Habits, with the 
 like Trinkets innumerable. Hence, whatever their 
 Defign be, they may fay of it in the iflue, what 
 Aaron laid of" his Idol, / cafl the Gold into the 
 lire, and there came out this Calf-, they have 
 brought forth only an Image of Mortification, di- 
 verting the Minds of Men from feeking after that 
 which is really and fpiritually io. And under this 
 Pretence, they have formed a State and Condition 
 oj Lije that hath filled the World with all man- 
 ner of Sins and Wickednefs -, and many of thole 
 who have attained unto Ibme of the highell dc^ 
 grees of this Mortification, on their Principles, and 
 by the Means defigned unto that Knd, have been 
 made ready thereby for all forts of Wickednels. 
 
 Wherefore the Mortification which they retain, 
 and whereof they boaft, is nothing but a wretched 
 Image of that which is truly ib, lubitituted in its 
 room, and embraced by fuch as hd never attained 
 any hlxpcrience of the Nature or Power of Goli:)el- 
 Grac.^ in the real Mortification of Sin. 
 
 StCT. 
 
350 Hovp is the PraSical Love of Truth 
 
 Sect. XIV.] The Tame is to be laid concerning Good 
 Works^ the fecond Evangelical Duty whereof they 
 boaft. The neceffity of thele Good Works unto 
 Salvation, according unto Mens Opportunities and 
 Abilities, is acknowledged by all. And the Glory 
 of our Profeffion in this World, conlilteth in our 
 abounding in them ^ but their Principle, their Na- 
 ture, their Motives, their Ule, their Ends, are all 
 declared and limited in the Scripture, whereby they 
 are diftinguifhed from what they may feem mate- 
 rially the lame, in thofe which may be wrought 
 by Unbelievers. 
 
 In brief, they are the Afls and Duties of true 
 Believers only ^ and they are in them Efte£ls of 
 Divine Grace, or the Operation of the Holy Ghoit ^ 
 for they are created in Chrifl Jefus unto good. Works^ 
 which God hath ordained^ that they fboiild walk in 
 them. But the principal Myftery of their Glory, 
 which the Scripture infifts upon, is, that although 
 they are necelTary, as a Means unto the Salvation of 
 Believers^ yet are they utterly excluded from any 
 Influence unto the Juflijication of Sinners •, fb there 
 was never any Work Evangelically Good, performed 
 hy any who were not before freely Jufiified. 
 
 Unto thele Good Works, thole with whom we 
 have to do, lay a vehement Claim, as though they 
 were the only Patrons of them, and Pleaders for 
 them : But they have alio excluded them out of 
 Chriftian Religion, and let up a deformed Image 
 of them, in defiance of God, of Chrift, and ^ the 
 Gofpel : For the Works they plead for, are liich, 
 as io far proceed from their own free Will, as to 
 render them Meritorious in the fight of God. They 
 have confined them partly unto A£ls of Superftiti- 
 
 ous 
 
the bejl Prefervative againjl Popery ? 551 
 
 ous Devotion, partly unto thole of Charity, and 
 principally unto thoJe that are not 10 ^ luch are the 
 Building of IWondJicrics, l\unncrics^ and luch pre- 
 tended Religious Houles, tor the Maintenance of 
 fwarms of Monks and Friars, filling the World 
 with Superdition and Debauchery. They make 
 them Meritorious, Satisfactory ^ yea, fome ot them, 
 which they call of Supererogation^ above all that 
 God requireth of us, and the Caufes of our Juiti- 
 fication before God. They alcribe unto them a 
 Condignity of the Heavenly Reward, making it of 
 Works^ and fo not of Grace, with many other de- 
 filing Imaginations ; but whatever is done from 
 theie Principles, and for thele Ends, is utterly fo- 
 reign unto thofe good Works which the Gofpel en- 
 joyneth, as a part of our New or Evangelical Obe- 
 dience. But having, as in other Cales, loit all Senle 
 and Experience of the Power and Erficacjr of the 
 Grace of Chrift, in working Believers unto this 
 Duty of Obedience unto the Glory of God, and 
 Benefit of Mankind, they have fet up the hnagc 
 of them, in defiance of Chrilt, his Grace, and his 
 Gofpel. 
 
 Thefe are fome of the Abominations which are 
 pourtraied on the Walls of the Chamber of hiugery 
 in the Church of Rome ^ and more will be added 
 in the confideration of the Image of Jcaloujy itfclf-^ 
 which, God willing, fhall enfue in another way. 
 
 Thefe are the Shadouos which they betake thcm- 
 felves unto, in the lols oi SpirituJ Uchr to di- 
 fcern the Truth and Glory of the Mydeiy of the 
 Gofpel, and the want ol an Experience of tlieir 
 Power and Etiicacy unto all the Fnds of the Life 
 of God in their own Minds and Souls. And altho' 
 
 they 
 
552 Hovp is the PraBical Love of Truth 
 
 they are all of them exprefly condemned in the 
 Letter of the Scripture, which is fufficient to 
 fecure the Minds of true Believers from the ad- 
 miflion of them^ yet their eftablifhment againft all 
 Pleas, Pretences, and Force, for a compliance with 
 them' depends on their experience of the Vovoer oj 
 every Gofpel-Truth unto its proper End^ in commu- 
 nicating unto us the Grace of God, and transform- 
 ing our Minds into the Image and Likenefs of Jejus 
 Chriji. 
 
 Seafonabic 
 
Seafonable Words 
 
 FOR 
 
 Engli/h Proteftants. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd on J ER. li. 5. Setting forth, 
 
 I. When a Land is filled with Sin. 
 
 II. What Evidences we havc^ that 
 England is not yet forfaken by God. 
 
 III. What is required of us^ that we 
 may not be given up to Dertrufiion. 
 
 The Watchman faiJ^ The Mormng cometh, and 
 alfo the Night : If ye mil enquire^ en- 
 quire ye: Return^ come. Ifa. 21. 12. 
 
 By John Owe N;, D. D. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for J s e p h M a R s h a l l at the 
 Bible in Kcvogate-Jirect, 1720. 
 
 Vol. IL ~Z 
 
35$ 
 
 Scafonable Words for EngliJJj 
 
 PROTESTANTS. 
 
 J E R. li. 5. 
 
 For Ifrael hath not been forfakcTi, tiot Judah 
 of his God^ of the Lord of Ho/lsy though 
 their Land vpas filled with Jin againjl the 
 Holy One of IfraeL 
 
 HIS Chapter and the foregoing, are an 
 eminent Prophecy and Predidion of 
 the De(tru6ticn o{ Babylon^ and of the 
 Land of the Q)aldcan's^ of the Metro- 
 political City of the Empire, and of the 
 Narion itfelf There is a double Oc- 
 cafion for the inferting of thefe Words. The firft is, 
 to declare the Grounds and Realons why God would 
 bring that DeltruQion upon Babylon^ and upon the 
 Land of the Chaldeans. The words of the dth Verlc 
 are. The flain Jl)all fall in the land of ths Chaldeans^ 
 and they that are thruft through in her j^reets. Why 
 fo> For, faith he, Ifrael Hath not been forfaken. 
 The realbn why God will dcflroy the Empire of 
 Babylon^ is, kcaulg he will remember Ifrael and 
 
 Z 2 whac 
 
356 Seafonable Words for 
 
 what they have done againft him. This lies in 
 ficre for another Babylon in God's appointed time. 
 The fecond Realbn js, that it may be for the Com- 
 fort, for the Supportment of Ifraei and Judab, un- 
 der that Diflrefs which was then befalling them up- 
 on the entrance of this Babylon in the Land of the 
 Chaldeans, Notwithflanding ally faith he, yet Ifraei 
 is not forfaken, nor Judah of bis God. 
 
 We are called this Day to join our Cries with the 
 Nation in the behalf of the Land of our Nativity, 
 And though it hath been, as molt of you koow, nay 
 conftant courte, on fuch folemn Days as thefe are, 
 to treat in particular about our own Sins, our own 
 Decays, our own Means of Recovery ^ yet, upon 
 this occafion, I (hall, as God (hall help me, from 
 thefe words, reprelent unto you, the State of the 
 Nation wherein we live, and the only Way and 
 Means of our deliverance from CJniverlal Deftruaion. 
 To declare our Intereft herein, fome things mult be 
 oblerved concerning this Baby/on, whofe Deftruc- 
 tlbn is lb folemnly prophefied of in this and the 
 foregoing Chapter : And I mult oblerve three things 
 concerning it. 
 
 Firft, That Babylon was the Original of Apojlacy 
 from the "Natural Worjlnp of God wito Idolatry in the 
 xohole World, There was great Iniquity betbre the 
 Flood, but no mention of any Idolatry. There was 
 a Natural Wor(hip of God throughout the World, 
 that was not corrupted with Idolatry : There is no 
 mention of it until rhe building of Babel ; there it 
 began. The Tower which they built, they turned 
 into a Temple of Belm^ whom they had made a God, 
 and laid his Image in the top of it. There was the 
 Original. You (hall fee immediately hov^ we are 
 concerned. There was the Original of Apoflacy from 
 Natural Woi(hip unto Idolatry. 
 
 Secondly, 
 
EnghjJ) Protejlants. 557 
 
 . Secondly, Their Idolatry : The Idolatry that there 
 began, conlilted in Image-worfhip, in the worfhip- 
 ping ot Graven Images, which was their Idolatry 
 that they let up with Refpeft unto Men departed, 
 whom they worfhipped by them. Four times in 
 this Prophecy doth God fay, he will take Vengeance 
 on their Graven Images. And from the 40th of 
 I/cii.ib to the end of the 46th, you have a defcrip- 
 tion of the Idolatry of Babylon, that it all confilted 
 in making Carved Idols, and Graven Images. The 
 relf of the World, efpecially of the Eaftern Nations, 
 fell into the worfhipping of the Sun, which they 
 called Biial, and Mcloch, and Kemojh, all Names of 
 the Sun-^ and the Worfliip of the Moon^ which they 
 called AJhtaroth^ and the ^ueen of Heaven •, but the 
 Idolatry 0^ Babylon was by Graven Images and Idols. 
 
 Thirdly, Obferve, Ihey were, ^o far as appears 
 upon Record, the firjl State in the IVorld that ever 
 pcrfecuted for Religion-^ that oppreded the true Wor- 
 fliippers of God as fuch, as being mad upon their 
 Idols, as the Prophet faith they were ^ they were 
 enHamed upon them. They were the firft that op- 
 prefled the Church becaule of its worfliipping of 
 God, and deflroyed that Worfhip among theiT7. 
 Hence the Church prays in this Chapter, The venge- 
 ance of the Lord, and of his Temple, be upon Babylon: 
 Not only the Vengeance of the Lord for dcftroying 
 of" his People, but the Vengeance of his Temple, for 
 deflroying of his Worfhip, be upon Babylon, fhall 
 Zion fay. Others have affl'i^ied me, faith he in the 
 fame Chapter ^ but this Nebuchadnezzar King of Ba- 
 bylon hath broken 7ny bones. They were the great 
 
 Oppjeflbrs of" the Church. 
 
 Upon thefe three Accounts, which is that I would 
 
 obferve, the Name of Babylon, and all that is fpoken 
 
 of it in the Old Teflament. is transferred to the Apolfate 
 
 Z 3 Church 
 
558 Seasonable Words for 
 
 Church of Rome in the New^ and all applied unto it 
 in the Book of the Revelation^ and that upon this 
 great Analogy, which I (hall now briefly (hew. 
 
 Why doth God call the Apofiate State of the 
 Church under the -New Teftament Babylon, Babylon 
 the Myfiery ? For thefe three Reafons : 
 
 Fir ft:, As Old Babylon was the Rife and Spring of 
 Apoftacy from Natural Worfhip in the World unto 
 Idolatry^ fo this New Babylon was the Rife and 
 Spring of Apoftacy from Evangelical Worfhip in the 
 World unto Idolatry. Mark the Analogy. Hence ihe 
 IS called the Mother of Harlots ^ that is, (he that 
 had brought forth all the Idolatrous Churches and 
 Worfhip that were in the World. Did Babylon be- 
 gin to Apoftatize into Idolatry from Natural Worfhip? 
 So Rome began to Apoftatize into Idolatry from Spi- 
 ritual Evangelical Worfhip. Therefore the Holy 
 Ghoft calls her Babylon. 
 
 Secondly^ The peculiar Idolatry of Babylon confifted 
 in Image-worfhip, the worfhipping of Men departed, 
 under images made to their likenefs. And the pecu- 
 liar Idolatry of jR^^;^^ confifts in Image-worfhip, their 
 worfiijpping Saints departed, which is a great part of 
 tAelr Idolatry : And therein they are Babylon alfb, 
 ' Thirdly and Laftly •, As Babylon was the Spring of 
 all Perfecution againfl, and Opppreflion of the Church 
 of God under the Old Teftament, fo Rome hath been 
 the Spring of all Perfecution and Oppreffion of the 
 Church of God fince the Apoftacy under the Nem 
 Tejl^ment, 
 
 On thefe Accounts hath the Holy Ghoft, in infinite 
 Widom, transferred over the Name and State, and 
 other things fpoken of Babylon, from the Old unto 
 the Kew. 
 
 I have mentioned this, that you may fee the Inte- 
 reft 0^ England in this Text of Scripture. So far as 
 
 the 
 
Evglijh Frotejlavts. 551? 
 
 the Truth of Religion is owned in this Nation, io 
 far as there is a Teltimony given againlt Idobtiy, we 
 are to God as Ifrtic! and Judnh, thoueh the Land be 
 filled with Sin. At the time of this Frophecy, Ifracl 
 and J^cidh were in danger of prelcnt Diltru^tion and 
 Delolarion irom the Old Babylon ; and if we do not 
 mock God in all we do, we are under Apprehenfions 
 that England^ and the Church of God in EfigLw.d^ is 
 under danger of the fame Deiblation and DeltruQion 
 from New Babylon^ upon the fame Account and Prin- 
 ciple. If we do not mock God^ this is that we pro- 
 fefs at this day. Wherefore the Parallel runs thus 
 f^r equal. Such as was Babylon of Old, fuch is that 
 at Prelent : Such as was the Danger of \J)\:el and 
 Judah from them at that day, fuch is the danger of 
 England from the New at this prefenr. This is fpo- 
 ken in General. 
 
 For the opening of the words, obferve thefe three 
 things : 
 
 1. That there is in them a Reduplication af the 
 Kdfucs or Titles of God, He is, in this Verfe, called 
 by the Name of the Lord of Hofts-^ and by the Name 
 of the Holy One cf Jfrael : Where there are fuch Re- 
 duplications of the Name of God, or any of his 
 Titles, the Holy Ghoft would have us take Notice 
 that ic is a Matter of great Importance whereof he 
 fpeaks. 
 
 2. Thefe is a Diftrib/aion and Application of thefc 
 Nawes of God unto dif\inli Occafwns f nit able to them, 
 
 ( I.) There is in it mentioned and intimation of 
 a Surprifil, with lome Proteflion or Deliverance. 
 Who fhall it be done by > The Lord of llofls, faith 
 he •, The Lord his God. And he doth not in vain 
 add immediately. The Lord of Ii>fs, that Title of 
 God : He who hath the Holt above, and the Hod 
 below at his Soveraign difpofal. God's Holt above, 
 
 Z 4 are 
 
360 Seafonahle Words for 
 
 are all the holy Angels, and all the Heavenly Bodies 
 in their Influences. The Stars in their Couries fought 
 againft Sifera, And he hath lately hung forth among 
 us a Flag or Enfign ot his Holt above, intimating that 
 he is arifing in his Indignation, as the Lord of Hofts, 
 smd hath hung forth an Enfign before his coming, 
 full of dread and Terror. And he is the Lord of 
 Hofls here below, of all Men, and of all Creatures, 
 difpofing of them as feems good unto him. The 
 Prophet adds this Name of God, becaule of the un- 
 Ipeakable greatnefs of the Thing he mentions, name- 
 ly, that Ifrae/ fhould not be jorfaken, nor Judah^ 
 while the Land was ^0 filled with Sin, and the whole 
 Intereft of Babylon fo coming upon them. 
 
 ( 2. ) The other Title of God, is, The Holy One of 
 JfraeL This is applied peculiarly unto their Sin. The 
 Land is filled with Sin againft the Holy One of 
 IfraeL It is the greateft, the higheft aggravation of 
 Sin, that it is againft the Holinefs of God, ixiho is a 
 God of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. So hath 
 the Wifdom of the Holy Ghoft applied thefe two 
 diftin£l Titles of God unto the two difiina Confide- 
 lations of the People •, Firft, Of their Proteflion, that 
 he is the Lord of Hofts : Secondly, As of their Sin, 
 that he is the Holy One o^lfrael 
 
 (3.) The third thing is this,Tto in this woful State 
 there is yet an intimation made of a Covenant -Intereft of 
 Judah in God, and- that God did yet own them as his in 
 Covenant : Ifrael hath not been forfaken^ nor Judah 
 of his God. Brethren, No Man, I think, hath lefs 
 of Faith than I ^ no Man doth more Defppnd : But 
 if I could fee thefe two things in concurrence. Bis 
 God, and The Lord ofHofs, that is, Soveraign Grace, 
 according to his Covenant, and Soveraign Povver, 
 according to his Providence, there is ground for any 
 Plan's Faith to bqild upon : His Gcd^ the Lord of 
 
 Hofts, 
 
Ev^hjJj ProteJ}ants. 361 
 
 HoJIs. Nothing but Soveraign Grace and Soveraign 
 Power can prclerve a People when their Land is full 
 ot Sin againlt the Holy One of" Ifrae/ -, and Deltruc- 
 tion Teems to encompals them Irom the Intertlt of 
 Bjhylon. 
 
 I Ihall fpeak yet a little more particularly: You 
 may confic'.r in the words, 
 
 1. That which is mentioned in the laft place, Tl)e 
 State of the People at this time ^ Their hand vcas fil- 
 led vcithjin agairifl the Holy One of Ifrael. 
 
 2. An intimation of approaching delerved Deflruc- 
 tion on that account • Though the hand. It is in that 
 Condition that it ought to look for nothing but De- 
 flruiSlion. 
 
 ?. A ftrange and wonderful Surprifal, notwith- 
 ftanding this, in Soveraign Grace and Power-, Ifrael 
 hath not been forfakcn^ nor Judah of his God, the 
 hord of Hofts. 
 
 What' I (hall fpeak to is this ; 
 
 That xchen a hand is filled with Sin againfl the 
 Lord, let Mens Hopes and ExpeHations be zvhat they 
 tvill, they arc in danger of utter DeffruSwn^ and can- 
 not be Jfavcd but by the aUings of Soveraign Grace 
 and Porver, 
 
 I fhall, for the handling hereof, at leaft I defign 
 to do thcle three Things. 
 
 1. Shew when a Land is filled with Sin againft 
 the Holy One oilfrael, 
 
 2. Gather up what Evidences we have, that Eng- 
 land \f, not yet utterly forfaken of God. 
 
 ?. Maniieft what is indifpenfably requiredof us, that 
 we may not be given up unto that utter Defolation 
 and Deflruftion that lieth at the Door. 
 
 I do believe, that I am not in my Thoughts far from 
 your Cafe ^ far from the Cafe of the Nation. I do 
 pot fcarch fpr things to fpeak to •, 1 fliall fpeak only 
 
 thole 
 
^6z Seajonable Words for 
 
 ■ ■ ■ — — — "~*'*~-^— — — — ~~— — ^— 
 
 thofe that are compliant with the common Reafon 
 and Underftanding of all fober Perfons. 
 
 There are three ways whereby a Land may be faid 
 to be filled with Sin. 
 
 I. When the Sins of a Land or Nation, are come 
 to the full, to the utmoft Meafure that God hath al- 
 lotted to them in his Patience. There is fuch an al- 
 lotment of Patience to every Nation under Heaven ; 
 and when it comes to its appointed Iffiie, no Means 
 under Heaven can defer or delay their DeflruSion one 
 Day. Thus faith God before the Flood, The land 
 is filled vpith fin^ the whole earth voith violenee ; a 
 flood Shall take them away. The Cry of Sodom and 
 Gomorrha came up to God ^ they had filled up their 
 Mealure; God fent Fire and Brimftone to deftroy 
 them. Jou fhall not yet go into Canaan : Why ? The 
 iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full There is a 
 Time appointed wherein the Liiquity of the Atnorites 
 fhall come up to its full Meafure, beyond which 
 their Deftruftion fliall not be delayed. This was not 
 now the Cafe oflfrael and Judah. It proved after- 
 ward to be their Cafe, as the Apoftle defcribes it, 
 iTheJf. 2. 15:, 16. Who both killed the Lord jfefus^ 
 /ind their own Prophets, and have perfecuted us \ and 
 they pleafe not God, and are contrary unto all men : 
 Forbidding us to preach to the Gentiles, that they might 
 he fdved, to fill up their fins alway : For the wrath 
 is come tipon them to th^ uttermoji. How come ? 
 They have filled their Meafure, reached to their Bounds ^ 
 Wrath is come upon them to the utterjnojl. I hope, I 
 pray that this is not, that this may not be the State 
 o{ England', that our Land is not fb filled with Sin, 
 as that God's Decree of Abfolute and Univerlol De- 
 folation fliould be gone forth againft us. 
 
 c. A Land may be fiid to be filled with Sin, wlien 
 it is come to that Degree and Meafure, as that God 
 
 will 
 
Eyjglifi^ Protejlants. 365 
 
 will not pals if by without fome fevere deiblating 
 Judgment. He will not utterly forlake it, he will 
 utterly deltroy it ^ but let dl Mankind do what they 
 will, he will not pals it by without lome levere de- 
 Iblating Judgn^ent. Such was their Caie even at this 
 time, ^ou rray let in 2 Qoron. 'x(y. 16. But the^ 
 mocked the A\rj]en^ers of God, and dejpifed his tvords^ 
 mid niifiijcd his 'Prophets, until the vcratJ) of the Lord 
 (irojc agiiin\\ his Feple, till there was no Re7nedy\ It 
 Wub impoflible that the Judgment ot God Ihould be 
 turned away from them. In this State God faith. 
 Tray not j or this Teoflc^ wy heart fhall not he towards 
 them.,\}m\ he had brought his Judgn]ents upon them. 
 Though Mojes and Samuel flood before me, I will not 
 hear them. Ay, but what it Reformation come in ? 
 7^\jy, nay, Hiith he, /; is determined aganfl them. Re- 
 fcrmaticn lliallnot lave them. See 2 Kings, chap. 2^. 
 ver. 27, 26. where there is an account given of the 
 greatelt Reformation that ever was wrought in Judah^ 
 by Jofiah, So it is laid, luike unto him there was no 
 king be j ore him, that turned to the 'Lord tciihnl his 
 heart, and with all his foul, and with all his mighty 
 recording to all the law of Mofes ; neither after him 
 arofe there any like him ^ having Reformed the whole 
 Nation. Then lure all will be wdl. See the next 
 words : 'Kotwithflanding, the Lord turned not from the 
 fercenefs of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was 
 kindled againfl Judah ; and the Lord /aid, I will re- 
 move Judah alfo out of ?iiy fight. There is a Time and 
 Seafon, when God, although he will not utterly de- 
 flroy and iorijke a Nation for ever, yet he will not 
 pafs them by -, let who will intercede, he will not 
 pals them by, until he hath brought a fevere de- 
 Itruftive Scourge upon them. Whether this be the 
 State o{' England at this day, or no, God only knows, 
 and of Mankind not one. VVhether we are come to 
 that State wherein there h »o Remedy, wherein no- 
 thing 
 
3^4 Seafonabk Words for 
 
 thing we do (hall prevent defolating Judgments, I 
 lay, God only knows, and of Men not one. 
 
 3. A Land is filled with Sin, when it is come to 
 fuch a Degree and Meafure, as that there is no Rule 
 of the Word, nor any Prognoflick from Providence, 
 nor any Conjeaure from the Itate of things, that can 
 give any determination what will be the Iflue. Judg- 
 ment is delerved, and there is nothing remains, but 
 to look upon the Balance, as it is held in the Hand 
 of Soveraignty 5 which way it will turn, God only 
 knows. The Decree is not yet gone forth. In this 
 your State God doth not fay. Fray not for this Feo- 
 fie : God doth not fay, Though you reform^ I will 
 not turn from the fiercenefs of my zvratk But God 
 faith, Who knows if God will return and leave a Blef- 
 ftng ? Who knows if God will be entreated and have 
 Mercy ? He leaves it upon the ablblute Piealure of 
 Sovereignty, to give us encouragement to wait upon 
 him. Becaule I take this, yea, and I take it in the 
 bell of my Hopes, to be that wherein we are con- 
 cerned •, pray take thefe two things along with you, 
 before I go to (hew it in particular. The firft is, That 
 in this State, if God gives time and (pace, there is 
 encouragement enough left to make our Applications 
 to him for the removal of impending Judgments. 
 Methinks fometimes 1 fee by Faith, the Lord high lift 
 up upon his Throne, and his Train filling the Temple 
 with his Glory, and holding the Balance of this Nar 
 tion in his Hand, and can turn it to Mercy or Judg- 
 ment, as feems good unto him. While it is lb, while 
 though the Woman be put into the Epha, yet the 
 Talent of Lead is not laid upon her, there is time for 
 Intercefiion, yet time for the interpofition of God. 
 And fecondly, I fay, and do you take it as you fee 
 good, but I will tell you my Perfwafion, that if there 
 be not a compliance wirh the Calls of God unto this 
 * Nation, 
 
Enghjl) P rote/cants. 36$ 
 
 Nation, upon this Sufpenfion and Arrelt ot Judgment 
 that we are under, we fhall as certainly Perifh as if 
 we were in either of the two former Conditions. If 
 the G)dldedns were all wounded Men ^ it" there was 
 no Hope, no Strength, no Relief in the Papal Cauie, 
 they fhall rife up and fmite as in the day wherein 
 Shalman fpoiled Bcfb-arbc/^ and the Mother was 
 dafhed in pieces upon her Children, Hof. 10. 14. un- 
 lets there be a compliance with the Calls of God in 
 the days wherein we live. 
 
 Let us then a little, as God will give (Irength, en- 
 quire when a Nation is lb filled with Sin againlt the 
 Holy One ot I/rdc/, as certainly to put the Balance 
 into the Hands of Soveraignty, and to take off all 
 Rules and Prognolticks (which with great Grief I 
 have heard lometimes inlilted uponj and reduce 
 us merely to the Hand of Soveraignty. When is it 
 that a Land is fo filled with Sin ? 
 
 I. A Land is ib filled with Sin, when all forts of 
 provoking Sins do abound in it ^ when there is no Ex- 
 ception to be put in to the IndiQment j when there 
 is no provoking Sin that can be thought on that is 
 not in the Nation. For if there be but one provoking 
 Sin abfolutely excluded, there is room lor Mercy to 
 dwell. Who now fhall plead for England^ Who 
 fhall put in an Exception for England to this In- 
 diftment? Oh poor England I among all thy Lover^, 
 thou haft not one to ple<id for thee this day. From 
 the height of Profanencfs and Atheifm, through the 
 filthinefs of Senfuality and Uncleannefs, down to the 
 lowelt Opprefliun and Cheating, the Land is filled 
 with all lorts of Sin. If there be any that can put in 
 an Exception, as to any provoking Sin that is not a- 
 mong us, let them (land forth and plead the Caufc 
 of this Nation. I proftfs my Mouth is (topped. 
 The Land is filled with Sin againlt the Hdy One ot' 
 
 Ifra^l. 
 
2 66 Seaf enable Words for 
 
 IJrael It is to no Purpofe to enumerate our Sins ^ the 
 Roll is too long to be read at this time •, and I am 
 forry it hath been cut and thrown into the Fire, when 
 it hath been fpoken of, contemned and defpifed, as 
 feremiah\ was by Jehoiakm. But fb it is. 
 
 2. A Land is fo filled with Sin againft the Holy 
 One oilfrael^ when all forts of Perfbns in a Land are 
 guilty of provoking Sins. Pray miftake me not ^ I 
 do not fay all Perfons of all forts, God forbid ^ if it 
 had been fo, we had long fince been like unto Sodom 
 and Gomorrha. If the Lord of hofis had not left us a 
 /mail remnant, voe fhauld have been as Sodom, and we 
 fhould have been like unto Gamorrha^ Ila. i. 9. But 
 whereas there are many forts of Perlbns, Rulers, and 
 them that are Ruled, High and Low, Rich and Poor, 
 in Court, in City, in Country ^ I fay, all Ibrts of 
 Perfons have been guilty of thefe provoking Sins : 
 We and our Princes, as haniel fpeaks, and our Rulers, 
 and the People, the Inhabitants of the Land of 
 all forts. Who fhall plead here for England? 
 Who (hall bring forth a fort of Perfbns? Nay, 
 it is not fb in the Throne , nay, it is not fo at Court ^ 
 nay, it is not fo among the Clergy ^ nay, it is not 
 ib in the City ^ nay, it is not fb in the Country •, it is 
 not fo with the Rich^ it is not fb with the Poor. 
 Let any one that can, bring in a Plea for this poor 
 Nation, that we may not conclude the Land is filled 
 With Sin againlt the Holy One oHfraeL 
 
 But you will fay. Here lies an Exception : There 
 are many Perfons, many Churches free from theie 
 flagitious and provoking Sins.' There is a fbrt of Per- 
 fons, Churches, and Profeflbrs who walk in the, fear 
 of God, and are free from all thefe Sins ; and there- 
 fore it doth not extend to all forts. 
 
 Brethren 1 you know my Mind full well in this 
 Matter : I have been for .thefe three laft Years, 
 
 . upon 
 
Ejt^lifi ? rot eft ants. ^6j 
 
 upon all Occafions, inculcating it upon you. I ac- 
 knowledge the Churches in this Nation are not guil- 
 ty of thole Sins whereby God is provoked againlt the 
 Nation to bring on National Judgments : But I do 
 lay, that Churches and Proftflbrs in this Nation are 
 guilty of thole Sins for which Chrilt will bring cor- 
 rc^^ing Judgments upon Churches and Profeliors •, fo 
 that we are all in the fame way and bottom, the* 
 not all upon the fame account. The Land is filled 
 txith fin. How are your Thoughts concerned in thefe 
 things, Brethren ? I conftfs to you, 1 Ipeak my Heart, 
 my Confcience, as in the Prelence of God, and as that 
 which you are concerned to confider. 
 
 I have given you two Evidences that this Land is 
 fb filled with Sin againft the Holy One of IfraeL 1 
 will give you two more. 
 
 t;. When the Sins of a Land have upon them the 
 greatelt Aggravations that National Sins are capable 
 of What are they ? They are plain. They are a- 
 gainft Warnings, and againft Mercies. All forts of 
 Sins in all forts of Perfons, againft all Ibrts of Warn- 
 ings, and againft all forts of Mercies. God hath 
 not left this Land without Warnings in Heaven 
 above, and in Earth beneath. Was there no 
 Warning given us in the xoafi'wg dcloLmng Thigue ^ 
 No Warning in the con fuming raging lire ? No 
 "Warning in the blnody War that tniued thereon? 
 No Warning in all iht prodigious Appearances in Hea- 
 ven above that we have had ? None in that which at 
 prefenr hangs over us as an Fnfen of God's fupernal 
 Hoft ^ I acknowledce there hath heen, I fear, a Weak- 
 nefs in one kind of Warning by the publick difpcnfa- 
 tion of the Word. But God hath nor kic himfdf 
 without Witnefs : He hath multiplied Warnings, and 
 they have been complied withal. Il.ive they. Brethren? 
 fUerc they at all afraid, faith Jeremiah, when the 
 
 Roll 
 
368 Seafonahle Words for 
 
 Roll was read? or, did they rent their cloaths^ Jen 
 36. 24. No, not at all. Have thefe Warnings of God 
 been complied withal ? Hath the Voice of God in 
 them been heard? Hath the Nation been afraid ? Have 
 they rent their Cloaths and returned to the Lord ? They 
 have not. We yet continue, God help us, in a ftate 
 of Sin againit Warnings. 
 
 And as for Mercies •, The Mercies of Peace and 
 Plenty, they have been the food of Luft, of Cove- 
 toufnefs and Senfuality, and have pampered us in Wan- 
 tonneis, to the rending and tearing one another. 
 
 4. When in the fecret workings of God's Provi- 
 dence, there is an inclination in a linful People unto 
 a compliance with them from whom their DeftruQi- 
 on is like to proceed, it is a fign that God is with- 
 drawm from them, and that the Land is fb filled with 
 Sin. When Ifrael was to be deftroyed by the Ajfy- 
 rim^ when Ifrael faw his ficknels, he lent to the King 
 0^ Affyria, applied hittifelf to the King of AJjyria^ by 
 whom he was to be deflroyed, liof. 5. 15. When 
 Judah faw his ficknefs, all his Inclinations and 
 Applications were unto the Babylonians and Chalde- 
 ans, by whom, he was to be deftroyed. The Prophet 
 Ezekiel hath a whole Chapter to tell you of the fond- 
 neft of that People upon the Babylonians before their 
 Deliruftion, EzeL 25. They were all like Princes 
 and mighty Men, and thou waft in love with them, 
 and committed Adultery with them ; that is, partook 
 and complied with their Idolatry. When it io, it is 
 evident that God is greatly withdrawn from fuch a 
 People, and that they are nigh unto their Delblation. 
 
 What fliall we plead for England in this Matter ? 
 Is it not known what wretched and vile Compliances 
 we have had with a Neighbour Nation, the French^ 
 following their Manners, imitating their Cuftoms, 
 promoting their Intereft, advancing their Reputation, 
 yN\\Qn every Man almoft among us, talked of nothing 
 
 but 
 
Englip Prcjleftavts. ^6c) 
 
 but that \vc fliould be ddhoycd by the French: An 
 eminent token ot the Hand of God upon us, and that 
 the Liii.l is ib filled with Sin againlt the Iloly One 
 of Ijruc/. Nay, go farther^ Whence is it, (tor ue 
 bear our felvcs herein not only upon the Truth of the 
 Thing itlelf", but alio upon the rrochwution inviting 
 us upon this Day) whence is it that we fejr the 
 Judgments ot God ? Whence do we tear Dclblation, 
 Contufion, Dt^Hruflion upon this Nation, to our Re- 
 ligion, to our Liberties, to our Lives i* Is it not trom 
 the Papal Interclt? There is it ibted by our Rulers, 
 and in the Thoughts of all iober Ferlbns. And, had 
 we been wiie, we might ha\'e \t<^n it many Years 
 ago. But what have we been doing tor ibme Ages ? 
 deferting our Principles, forfaking the Foundation we 
 Hood upon againlt the Papacy, torcgoing thole avow- 
 ed Principles of the firit Reformers, pleading tor Com- 
 pliance, pleading for a poflibility of Reconciliation, 
 avowing them to be a true Church. And in one 
 word, if the Power of the Protellant Religion had 
 not been preferved in the Body of the People, it h:id 
 by Ibme been long ago given up to the Papal Intercity 
 and this at a time working ef}e£tually among us when 
 we were in Dread, all that were wife and confide- 
 rative, that there would trom thence arife the Dclb- 
 lation and DcHru^ion of this Church. 
 
 I have given you thele Evidences, that this Land of 
 ours is (^filled with Sin againlt the Holy One of Jf- 
 racl. And if any can Anfwer it and Difprove it, no 
 Man flu! I more rejoyce in it than my Iclf' 
 
 I fhould, in the next place, flicw the Danger that 
 Land is in, when things lie in this equal Balance : 
 For I pray obierve, 1 have not given thele things to 
 prove the Land hath filled up itsMcafure of Iniquity, 
 and mult certainly be Dcliroyed : I have not given 
 them to prove abfblutcly that there is a Decreed 
 VpL. II. A a JuJg- 
 
570 Seafonable Words for 
 
 Judgment that cannot be diverted ^ that there is no 
 Remedy ♦, that notwithflanding Reformation, God will 
 fay, / wil/ not turn away the fiercenefs of mine anger : 
 But I have given them only to prove, that we are in 
 that State and Condition wherein there is no certain 
 Rule of the Word, no Indication of Providence, no 
 rational confideration of the Hate of Things, that can 
 give us any Security of ProteQion, or Deliverance ^ 
 but that we are abfolutely relblved upon Soveraign 
 Grace and Mercy ^ and without Relief from thence, 
 I fhall only fay, as to the Proof of the Propofition, 
 what the Prophet faith, Ifa. 34. 16. Seek ye out of 
 thi book oj the Lord, and read : not one oftheje things; 
 fhitn fail. 
 
 To omit all the Confiderations, and all the Proof 
 I intended, That Soveraign Grace and Mercy n/uji be 
 cur Relief if ever we be relieved ^ I proceed unto 
 the 
 
 Second thing , which is, to give in Evidences, That 
 Fngland is not yet utterly forfaken of the Lord his 
 God, the Lord of Hojfs, though the hand be thus fil- 
 led with Sin. So that there is ground of Encourage- 
 ment yet remaining to apply our felves to God. And 
 in truth, I will tell you the beft I can think of. 
 
 I . The large and wonderful Difcovery of the hor- 
 rible Vlot, of the horrible Popi/I? Flot, laid for the 
 Ruine, Deflru^ion, and Defolation of this Nation, is 
 an Evidence that England is not yet, I fay, utterly 
 forjaken of the Lord its God, It was not difcover'd 
 by our Rulers, from whom it was hid : It was not 
 difcover'd by the fevere Indagation and Watchfulnels 
 of Minifters of State from Foreign Intelligence, the 
 ufual way of difcovering fuch Plots: It was not dif^ 
 covered by Perlbns of Authority and Intereft, to 
 warrant the Difcovery. It was not fo in a time 
 \vhen the Nation wag awake, and looke4 about 
 
 thein, 
 
Englijh ProteJIants. 371 
 
 them, and were jealous of fuch things ^ but in the 
 deepelt Security. It hath admitted, it hath met 
 with all the Endeavours of Hell and Men for the co- 
 vering of it; yet, through the Conduft of the holy 
 Providence of God, it hath broke forth to that Dil- 
 covery, as that it is publickly proclaimed to all the 
 Nation. I lay with the Wile of Manoah ^ If God 
 would have defiroyed us^ he rcould not have /hewed us 
 this thing. If he had utterly forfaken us, he would 
 have kft us to have been Iwallowcd up, when we 
 fhould not have had leifure to have cried, Alas ! To 
 me, I fay, it is an Evidence, that England is not yet 
 utterly torfaken. 
 
 2. Ihat God hath Jiirred up fotne, at lea ft ^ of the 
 'Kobles and our Rulers^ to jolloxo on this Difcovery^ to 
 bring it forth to Light ^ and to furfue them to condign 
 Tumfhment^ who vocre the Contrivers^ Authors^ Abet- 
 tors^ and Carriers on of that Bloody T^efign, I will 
 not fpe^ik one word or fyllable to their Diflionour or 
 Dilrefpeft, who deferve both Honour and Refpe£t 
 from us : But this I will fay, that if I know them, 
 or any thing of them, this is not from themfclves •, 
 this is from the cloathing of the Spirit of God, and 
 anointing to this very Work, and is not from them- 
 ielves, nor their own Principles, nor iheir own Incli- 
 nations, but the Hand of God in ihem and upon them. 
 Add hereunto the ftrangc and wonderful quiet difpo- 
 fure of the Magiltracy of this City into the Hjnds of 
 Perfons prudent, diligent, and watchful, whom we 
 have reafon to pray for, and blefs God for. And it is 
 Itrengthned by the (iirring up of a Spirit in the Com- 
 mon People unto an unhcaid-of Heat and Farneltnefs, 
 in bearing Witncfs and Teltimony againd Popery, and 
 all their Abominations, in fuch a manner as hath not 
 fallen out in any Nation under Heaven ^and this a£led 
 ;ibove and beyond their Spirits and Principles. Thefe 
 ti^ 2 things 
 
372 Seafonable Words for 
 
 things to me are fbme Evidences that England is not 
 yet utterly fbrfaken of" the Lord its God, though the 
 Land be full of Sin. 
 
 3. I could inftance in the Embroilmenrs of Foreign 
 Nations Abroad. At this time they are all quiet •, but 
 who is there that doth not know that they all ftand, 
 as it were, upon the Tip-toe, looking who fliall firfl 
 begin to cut Throats and kill Men ? Even all the Na- 
 tions in Europe zr^ in this Polture at this Day. Tho' 
 they are quiet this Cold Weather, yet who fliall Be- 
 gin firfl, who fliall make the Attack, and who (hall 
 Defend, is the talk of all Ezcrope, whereby fbme of 
 them may have been hind red from a publick contri- 
 buting to the Ruine of this poor Nation. 
 
 ^. It is an Evidence that England \s not yet forfa- 
 ken, in that afecret efficacious Influence of Divine Pro- 
 vidence hath frefcrved the Body-Politick of the Ka-, 
 tion in its Being and Union, when all the Ligaments of 
 Law and 7nutual Trujf. hjve been broken. There 
 h: th been fuch a diiiblution of Mutual Trult, and aU 
 ordinary Ligaments of the Politick Union of a Natiorl^: 
 that if God had not powerfully grafped the Whole in 
 his Hand, we had long fince been in Cofifuiion, and, 
 every Man's Sword had been in the Side of his Btc^-' 
 ther and his Neighbour. But to this day we are pre-' 
 Itrved in Peace by a Itcret influential Power of Di- 
 vine Wifdom and Providence, whofe Footfleps I 
 would adore more and more -, which is fo much the 
 more excellent in that it is •not vifible, and by out- 
 ward Force, but rrierely upon the Minds of Men. It 
 is to me another Evidence thzt England is not yet for- 
 faken of itsGod, the Lord of Holh. 
 
 5:. My laft is this ; That after God bath byfo many ^ 
 Ways, andfo many Means, declared itnto us his Dif 
 pleafure againfl our Sin, having declared the Sentence 
 in his Word^ yet he hath vifibly granted an Arrcfl of 
 
Fnglijb Protejlants. 575 
 
 Judgment, The Sentence (hall not be put in execu- 
 tion (faith God) while 1 give this People a time, and 
 ipace, and lealon ot Repentance and Rcloimation. 
 Alas! It God had utterly torlakfcn us, he would have 
 taken us oft' in the midli otour Security \ Evil would 
 ha\ e rilen, and we fliould not have known the Morn- 
 ing of it^ DeIlru£tion would prefently have overta- 
 ken us. Rut now God hath given us various Calls, 
 various Warnings, and leaves us a fpace, as yet, to fee 
 what we will do, and what will become of us. I 
 will give them a Tryalj laith God. The Decree fhall 
 not yet go iorih ^ Judgment fiiall not yet come forth 
 to Execution : I will give them a fpace tor Repen- 
 tance. And this Confideration hath a double corrobo- 
 ration of this blelii^d Ipace and leafon God hath gi- 
 ven, us for to apply our lelves fb far to his Call, as to 
 remove his Judgments that are impending over us. 
 
 The fir It is. That he hath rejerved a Reffinant a- 
 mong us that do make ufe oj this fpace and Jeafon to 
 apply thc7?ijelves unto the Throne of Grace, and to 
 cry^ 7?nghtify for Mercy. God hath not taken his Holy- 
 Spirit from us. God hath not laid, by any open 
 Work, or lecret Intimation of Providence, Fray no 
 mpr^ for this Peop/e^ my heart fhall not be toward: 
 them: Jic hath not faid ^o. And therefore there are 
 yet arnqne^ us precious Souls, who do lift up Prayers 
 to God Night and Day, not only for themfelves and 
 Families, not only for the Church of God, but for • 
 this poor Land of our Nativity, that if it were the 
 Will 6f God, we may not fee it Ibaked in Bloody 
 that God would not come iorth to dcltrc>y it with a 
 Curfe^ that God would pity and fpjre, and have 
 mCrc^'upon it^ that he would not mal^e it zxiAcel- 
 dimal^i Field of Bloqd. There arc many Cries to- 
 God to this Purpolc. So that there are fome by 
 whom this fpace and fealon God hath given us, is 
 made ijfe of. Sc- 
 
374 Seafonable Words for 
 
 Secondly 5, It hath flrength ftom this, That there 
 is an Invitation and Encouragement given to the whole 
 'Nation to joyn together in their Cries to God this day 
 for the fame End and Purpofe. I confels to you, ( give 
 me leave to fpeak it ) I am afraid the Body of the 
 Nation, confidering their Conduft in this Ibrt of Du- 
 ty, will make no great work of it, towards the avert- 
 ing of Judgments in fuch a day as this is. And I am 
 afraid alio that the approaching Carnival or time of 
 Feafting, will quickly blot out all Impreflions that 
 ought to be in the Minds of Men, from fuch a Day 
 as this is. This is all I can lay, God is publickly 
 acknowledged ; and what Influence that may have iri-^ 
 to a further lufpenfion of Judgment till {he Nation be 
 better prepared to feek unto him, I knovv not. 
 
 Methinks thele are Evidences (to me they are) 
 that England is not yet utterly forfaken of the Lord 
 its God : The miraculous 'bifcovery of the Plot for our 
 'DefiruBion : The purfuit of it hyfo7ne of our Rulers 
 and the Body of the Nation : The Embroilment of Fo- 
 reign Nations in their own Concerns : The preferva- 
 iion of the Political Interejl and Body, when all the 
 Ligaments of Law, and Love, and Truji^ were diffol- 
 ved: The Space and Seafon that God gives us, that 
 we are not immediately hurried into Blood and Confu- 
 fion, attended with afpirit of Prayer in feme of God's 
 own People : And with a publick acknowledgment of 
 God in this day in the Nation. 
 
 1 (hould now proceed to my laft Thing, to fhew 
 you, that in this State wherein a Land is fo filled with 
 Sin, as ablblutely to put the determination of all 
 things into the hand of Sovereignty ^ and where yet 
 there remains Ibme Evidences that God hath not ut- 
 terly forfaken us : What is required of us, what Is 
 e5(pe£led from us, that may be a Means to turn away 
 the Wrath and Difpleafure of God from this poor 
 
 Land 
 
E iiglilh p --y^-^^^^» 575 
 
 Land an J Nation ? I (hould have fpok^n to three 
 things. 
 
 1. That vvhatfoever be the Language of God's Calls, 
 unlels there be a general Compliance with them, this 
 Land cannot be laved. 
 
 2. 1 fliould have fliew7n you, that all the Dili' 
 gence, and the Courage, and the Watchtulnefs of the 
 Rulers fhall not be able to preletve us from that 
 Deilru£\ion which we have deferved ^ unlefs fome* 
 thing elle be done e re long, their Hearts will faint, 
 and their Hands fail, and their Thoughts be divided: 
 For that alone will not do. 
 
 9. Prayer will not do it in this Cafe, though that 
 be neceflary and required -, it will not do it. 
 
 God doth not cry to us, merely that we fhould cry 
 to him. Why criejl thou ^ faid God to Jofhua^ there 
 is an accurjcd thing. VVhy dolt thou lie upon thy 
 Face .and cry, and pray, when Judgment is coming 
 upon you ? There is an accurfed thing got among you. 
 It is lo with us. 
 
 4. To fpeak very plain in a plain Cafe ^ The 
 State of this Nation is fuch, let our Expeftations 
 and our Hopes be what they will, and Prognofticks 
 be multiplied, God can multiply upon another hand. 
 The Cafe of this Nation is fuch, that without Re- 
 pentance evidenced, aud univerlal Reformation fin- 
 cerely endeavoured, England cannot be faved, will 
 not be f i\ed ^ God will fbrfake it ^ Defiruftion from 
 the Lord will overtake us. 
 
 I fhould have told you alfo, what I judge indifpen- 
 fably nccdlary, that any fuch Reformation may be ob- 
 tained in this Nation. As, 
 
 Firft, T/.v/; there be^ through the Providence cfGod^ 
 provided another manner cj Admmflrat'ion cf the Word, 
 throughout the l\aUon than at prefcnt there is, rchich 
 is th<; only Means cj Convi^Hon and Ccnverjion unto 
 
 Ccl 
 
37^ ^'^^7^-"^ IVords, &c. 
 
 G^i. Signs, and Wonders, and Judgments, they ter- 
 rify 5 it is the Word that muft reform and turn to 
 God. And if the State of things continue fo, that 
 Ibme who are able and wile for the Work, are forbid ^ 
 and others that engrofs all to themfelves, are either 
 unable or negligent in it; I have no great hopes of fee- 
 ing Reformation in this Land. 
 
 Secondly, Unlefs the generality of MagiJ^rraes be 
 better 'Principled jor^ and letter InflruUed in their 
 Office than as yet they feem to be, a Keforfnation mil 
 Tiot be carried on through this Nation. And, 
 
 Thirdly, which is the principal ^ That thofe who 
 have been Examples in Sinning^ and in drawing others 
 to Sin^ beco?ne Examples in Repent ing^ and Reform- 
 ings and turning to God, 
 
 Fourthly, and lalfly ^ That the whole Nation bejlir- 
 redupy and do not faint in thepurfuit of it, 
 
 I have fcarce been able to fpeak the Heads of thefe 
 things unto you. I wi(h 1 had Strength to Ipeak all 
 that is in my Thoughts and Heart upon this Matter, 
 unto this whole Nation •, for hereon, and not on any 
 thing elfe, depends the Deliverance and Safety of it. 
 
 
 A N 
 
A N 
 
 ANSWER 
 
 UNTO 
 
 Two Q^u E s T I o N s : 
 
 By the late Judicious 
 
 JOHN OWEN,B.T> 
 
 With Twelve 
 
 ARGUMENTS 
 
 Againft any 
 
 Conformity to Worjhip, 
 
 Not of 
 
 Divine Inftitution. 
 
 Zech. vii. 7. Should you mt hear thewordsy which 
 the L.o R D hjith irfd by the former Prophet < ^— 
 
 Rom. xiv. 22. — Happy is he tkit co;i^ln?mcth fjot 
 himfelf in that r/;/>;^, which he allowcth. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for Jofcph ALvflmll, at the Bible in 
 New^ntc-Streci. \~10. 
 
 Vol. IJ, "~ Bb 
 
r m ] 
 
 A N 
 
 ANSWER 
 
 UNTO 
 
 Two Questions: 
 
 By the Judicious J. O av e n, D. D. 
 
 Q^U E S T I O N. I. 
 
 H^jefher Perfons, rvha have cngag'd f^^ro Refor- 
 mation^ Mnd another way of Dtvme Worjbip^ ac- 
 cording totheH^ord of GOD, as thcj hcticzc; 
 may lawfully go iinto, and attend on, the UJe of 
 the Common-Praycr-Book in Divine Worfljip '< 
 
 A N S \V li R . 
 
 E fuppofe herein, .?// that hath 
 been pleaded ag:iii,ft t\:M kind of 
 Service, as to its ALarery Form, 
 ImpofitiofTy Vfe^ End and Coffeqiievts ; 
 vvliich are aU of them duli to b(^ 
 coiifider'd, before the Pra^ice en- 
 ^uir'd aficr can be allowed. But, 
 
 B b 2 The 
 
jSo An An^vper unto%vo Que^ttoyis: 
 
 II. The pre fern Queftion, is not about the Lawfiil- 
 r.efs or Unlawfalneis of Forms of Prayer in Gene- 
 ral ^ ?7or about the Lawfuhiefs of that ¥oi'm/ ck thofe 
 Forms, which are prefcrib'd in the C cmmon- Prayer - 
 Book;, as unto their maner 2L\Amtnner_o'L Com^o^u'tky 
 abfolutely conlider'd ^ nor yet ^^tjz^f the Expediency 
 ot the whole Syfieme of lVorjlnj> limited thereunto: 
 But it Refpecls all thefe things, and the like, with Re- 
 ference unto the Terfons deicrib'd in the Enquiry. 
 And as unto the Per fans intended in the Enquiry, we 
 Judpe this Praftice VriUrvful unto themj as contrary 
 untofu^dry Rules of the Scripture^ and wherein it is 
 Condemned. 
 
 I. It is contrary unto that general Rule, in thefe Ca- 
 fes given us by the Apoftle, (Gal. 2. i2.) If J Build 
 again the things that I Deftroyedy J make my Self a Tranf- 
 grcffvr. To Defray or diffolve any thing in the Wor- 
 ihipof God, is, to lay it afide^ and remove it out 
 of that Woriiiip, as that which we have no Divine 
 Obligation unto. So the Apoille deftrofd the legal Ce- 
 remonies whereof he there Speaks, and no otherwife. 
 To Build again^ is to admit into the Worfhip of G o d 
 as uieful unto the Edification of the Church. And 
 thefe are contrary ^ fo as that, if the trne be a Jjuty^ 
 the other in the fame Cafe, or with Refpe4t unto the 
 fame things, is a Sin. If it were a Duty to Deftroy^ 
 it is a Sin to Build *, and if it be a Duty to Bui Id j\t\y2is a 
 Sin to Deftroy. He that doth hoth^ makes himfelf 
 "Unavoidably a Tranfgrcjfor. 
 
 But, we have mthi-s Senfe, as unto o«r 5^/^;^^, De- 
 •llroy'd r/;^- Form of Worfhip^ that is ^ we have d- 
 mitted it,and left it out in the Service of the Church, 
 as thdty which we had no Divine Obligation unto, and 
 51S that, which was not unto Edification ^ If we now 
 build it again, as it is done in the Pradice enquired 
 
 at^er 
 
airer, we maJie our [elves Traiirgrellbis, either by Dc 
 ftrovii.ii; or Building. 
 
 And there is Strc/jf^th added unto r/j/VCoiifiderationjj 
 ■ r.ifc that we hw^QSufjird any thing On the Account 
 of tiie Forbearance of it; as tho f.ime Apoftle Speaks 
 in the y^wf Cale, H^vt ye fujfcrcd Co m.zny Things in 
 Vain ? If it he yet in Vain, (Gal. 3.4.) It is a great Fofly 
 to lofc our own SulFjrj^igs : Are ye 'fo Fflj^i? 
 
 (Vei-:^.) ^ '• -'-'':>. 
 
 II. It is contrary unto rW great Rule, Wjatfoeifir 
 is?iot of Fuith is S'n^(^Rom. 14. 23.) For that any 
 thing which a Man 'do!fh in the Worfliip of G^o;tV 
 may heof f.//r/j, it "is necefTary that hc^lc conv.'nc^ct 
 ovferjivaded that it is his Duty ib to do. (Mat. iS. ic^ 
 Ifn". i.*i2. Deut. 4. >.) 
 
 It is ?jo Rule in the Worfliip of G o p, that we 
 ihould do what we can, or that we have a Liberty to 
 do this or that, which we yet fnppofe, all Circum- 
 /lances confider^U tJiat we are not Divinely obliG;ed 
 to do. In all things in General^ and in Part'cuLir 
 Diitie*; or Inflances, we muft have an Ohligution on 
 our Corfciences, from the Authority of G o d, that 
 fo we ought to do, and thdt our liot doling of it, is a 
 neglcLl of a Duty, or it is not of Faith. The perfbr7. 
 mance of any thiiig in the Worllrp of G o d^ h-i'th 
 ill it, the Formal Nature of a Duty, given it, by its 
 Refpeft unto Divine Authority. For a Dutv t(i 
 G o p, that is not an KVc of Obedience with Relpe^t 
 unto His Authority, is a Contradi^llio::. 
 
 Wherefore, no Man can (that \<, Lawfully and with- 
 out Sill) go r<?, and attend o?7 this kind of Religious 
 Worfliip, hut he, who judgeth his fo doing to be .1 
 Duty^ that G o 1) requireth of him, and which it 
 would be his Sin to omit, every Time he goes unto 
 it, G o D will not accept of ^;y Service from us on 
 other Terms. Whether this be the Judgement of 
 
 B b 3 ^ thofc 
 
582 Jn Anj]ver unto Two Quejlions. 
 
 thofe who make the Enquiry as unto what they do> 
 they may do well to confider. 
 
 III. It is contr^/-yto the Rule delivered, (Mahi. 
 13,14) Te brought that which was Torrij and the Lame y 
 and the Sick \ thm ye brought an Offering, Should I accept 
 thlf of your Hand faith the Lord. But cur fed be the de^ 
 ceiver, that hath in his Flock a Male^ and Voweth and Sa- 
 crificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing : For I am a 
 great King faith the ho v^ D*of Hofts, We are obli- 
 ged by all Divine Laws, Natural, Moral and Pofitive, 
 to ferve God always with our belt. The Obligati- 
 ons hereunto are infeperable, from all juft Concepts 
 ons of the Divine Nature, and our Relation there^ 
 unto. No Man can think aright of G o d, and that 
 it is his Duty to ferve Him, but muft think it to be 
 fo with the Bc^ that he hath. To offer Him any 
 Thing when we have that which is ^m^r, or which 
 we Judge to be better ^ is an KVc of Prophanenefs and 
 not Obedience. In all Sacrifices, the Blood and the Fat 
 were to be offered unto God. Wherefore he that 
 attends unto this Service, doth avow to G o d that it 
 is the beB that he hath, and if it be not fo, he is a De- 
 ceiver. 
 
 If it be objeEled hereon, that by Vertue of this 
 Rule fo underftood, as that we are always obliged to 
 the Ufe of that which we Judge beFt in the Worihip 
 of God, we are bound to leave this or that Mini- 
 ftry or Church, if we Judge that the Adminiftrations 
 are better amongft others •, It is j4nfwered, that the 
 Rule reipe£ls not Degrees, where the whole Admini- 
 ftration is acording to the Mind of G o d, but diffe. 
 rent Kinds of Worikip, as Worfhiping by a limited 
 prefcribed Form, and Worihiping by the Ailiftance 
 of the Spirit of G o d, are. 
 
 IV. It is contrary unto that Rule, Let all Things be 
 done to edify mg. (i Cor. 14. 16,) Whatfoever dotl^ 
 
An Anfwer unto Two Quejli^ms, j8} 
 
 n^t promote Edification ^ is excluded out of the Wor- 
 ship of the Church by Wntue of this Rule. No^ 
 can it be a Duty in us to give G)untenance thereun- 
 to, or to make Ufe of it. It is laid, that Prayer is 
 the VVoriliip of G o d ^ Thele Forms of it are only 
 a Determination of the manner of it, or an outward 
 Means of that Worihip. Let it be fuppofed ; Al- 
 though it be certain that as prefcribed they areParts 
 of the Service They are therefore Means that are 
 an Help and Furtheraf/ce unto Ed fication in Prayer, 
 or they are an Hinderance of it :^ior they are of 779 
 Ufe or Signification one Way or the other. If it 
 be fiiid, that they are an M/p unto Edification, and 
 are found fo by Experience, in the Exclufion of any- 
 other Way of Worfliip •, then 1 ask, why they are 
 not cotiflantly ufed ? Why do we at nuy Time^ in miy 
 TUce refufe the Aid and Help of them, unto this 
 great End,of allThings that are done in the Church ? 
 But this can be pleaded o;;/y by thole, who contend 
 for the co7ij}ant Ufe of them in the Worfhip of 
 God, with whom at prefent we are not concern'd. 
 
 If it be acknowledged, that indeed they are ^uHin- 
 derAtice unto Edification, which is more promoted 
 without them, yet are they not in themlelves Un- 
 lawful \, I fay as before, that is not the prefent Que- 
 ftion. We enquire only, whether the Ufe of them 
 by thofe who Judge them Hitidcr.^nces unto Edificati- 
 on, be not Contraty to the Rule mentioned. Let iiW 
 Things he done unto Edifying, For the Things of tlie 
 third Sort that are of ?;o Ufe, yior Signification at all, 
 they can have no Place, nor be of ayiy Confideratioa 
 in the Worfhip of G o d. 
 
 V. It is tnconfifient with that Sincerity in Profe/Iion 
 
 that is required of us. Our publick Conjuuclion with 
 
 others, in Acls and Duties of Religious Worfhip, is 
 
 :ipurt of that ProfcfTion which we make *, And our 
 
 li b 4 whole 
 
3 84 ^''^ An\\xer unto l\vo Queflions, 
 
 whole ProfelJicn^ is nothing but t]ie Declaration of 
 the -SubjcEiion of our Souls unto the Authority of 
 Ch k ! s t, according unto the Gofpel. Wherefore, 
 in tm Conjunftion in Woriliip, we do profefs, that it 
 is Divinely requir'd of us, and that it is part of that 
 Obedience which we owe to J e s u s C h r 1 s t. 
 And if we do not fo Judge it, we are F-Jipocriticd in 
 what we d.Oy or the Profeflion that we make •, and to 
 deny, that our Praftice is our ProfeiTion in the Sight 
 Q? G o D and Men, is to iritroduce all manner of Li- 
 c^ntioufnefs into Religion. 
 
 ^^* VI. Such a Pra^ice is in very many Inftances, contra^ 
 '^xinto the great Rule of not giving Offence, For it is 
 unavoidable, but that many vvill be given and taken, 
 and forne cf them of pernicious Gonfequence unto 
 the Souls of Men. In particular, 
 ^''H'-^T-./ W6^ tr///k mtfjthe Wdrld hecaufe of thefe Of- 
 f'ences. For hence our Adverfaries, will take Occafi- 
 on, to juftlfy thtmfelves, in their mofl: Falfe andln- 
 jai'ious Charges iagairifl Dlffintersy unto the hardening 
 of them in their Ways. As ( i.) they accufe them 
 as FaEiloHs ^vA Sedltiom^ in. that they will not do 
 what they c??? do, and what by the prefent Pra£l:ice 
 they own to be the Mind of G o d, that they fiould 
 di\ (or elfe expreisiy play the Hipcrites) for the fake 
 of Peace, Order and Obedience unto Magiftrates. 
 (2) That thay ^xetendCcnfcic'rJce, wherein indeed it 
 is^ not concerned in their own Judgment, feeing on 
 outward Cohfidcrations^ which Confcience can Lave no 
 regard unto, they can do what is required. On thefe 
 Apprehenficn^, they will /"z^///}^ themfelvesin their 
 Security y ard ^^^r^^A? them (elves in their 5/wi, it may 
 be to' their 'Perdition. IVoe be unto them by whom 
 ^7sch Offences come ! 
 
 :Worrdiy,»^By this practice, we caft in our Suffrage 
 Oi: the par': of Pcrfccutors againft the prefent Sufferers 
 
J/i Af/fwcr Hfito'iwn Ouefli'ms. ^85 
 
 in the Nation. For we Juftify what is done againft 
 them, and condemn them in their Sulferings, asha- 
 vini^ no jufl Cauje or warranty for what they do-, 
 as we declare by our Practice of what they refused. 
 There is m Man who complys in this Matter, but it 
 is a part of his Profe/fion, that thofe who refufe fo to 
 do, and are expoied to SuffL^rings there'll, do mt 
 Suffer according to the Will of God, 7wr do their Suf- 
 ferings redound unto His Glory. And no Offence or 
 Scandal can be of an higher Nature ! " 
 
 Thirdly^ Diiferences and Dlvifions will on this pra- 
 ctice, unavoidably arife between OWf/7fj them (elves, 
 and Members of the fame Church, which will be at- 
 tended with innumerable Evil Confequents unto the 
 Difhonour of the Gofpel, and it may be to the lofs 
 of all Church-Communion. 
 
 Fourthly^ Many will be induc'd, on the Example of 
 others^ e(]pecially if they be Perfons of any Reputa- 
 tion in the Church, who -Jliall fb praftice, to foHoxv 
 them againfl their omi 1 -ight, having the great Weight 
 of the Prefervation of their Liberties^ and CW-r Ty- 
 ing on the fame Side. And, Experience will quick- 
 ly fhew, what will be the Event hereof, eirh.cr in T^- 
 tJ j4poflafy, or that Terror of Ornfcietice which they 
 will hnd no eafy Relief under, as it hath fallen out 
 with fome already. And, 
 
 Fifthly^ It is a Juflificat/mi of our Adverfiries in the 
 Cauie wherein we are mgag'd, (i.) in their C/;:/;t/7 
 State, (2.)h^ 2.readifjgi A^imjhy, ('3.) In their cajh'ng 
 us out of Commiwion on the prefent Terms. (4.) In 
 their Judgment concerning us in the point of Schifm, 
 as might eafily be manifefled. 
 
 Laftlyy There is in thii practice, a vifible Cottipliance 
 
 with the DefLin of the Prefer! prion of this Form of 
 
 Service, unto theSo/fUfe of the Church in the Duties 
 
 pf Divine Woriliip. Ai^d rZ/v, in tlie Nature of the 
 
 • _ thing 
 
386 An Anfiver untoTrvo Queftions. 
 
 II \ 1 — ■ ■ — 
 
 thing it felf, is an E^clufan of the Exercile of the 
 Gifts of the Holy Spirit in that Worfhip, 
 which is given and continued by C h r i s t, to 
 this very End, that the Church may be edified in Di- 
 vine Worfliip, and the due Performance of it. And 
 whether this Anfwers our Loyalty unto Christ in His 
 Kingly Office, ought to be well enquir'd into. 
 
 And we ftiall hereby, on a meer Aft of outward 
 force, joyn with Them in Church Communion, Who 
 have caft us out of their Communion, by the Impor 
 fition of Principles and Praftices in Divine Worfliip, 
 m IVay warranted by the Scripture, or Authority of 
 Christ: Who allow us no Church State among our 
 lelves : Nor will joyn in any oneAft of Church Com- 
 munion with Us ! Who perfecute us even unto Death, 
 and will not be fatisfi'd with any compliance, without 
 a Total Renuntiation of our Principles, and Praftice 
 in the Worihip of G o p, and giving away our whole 
 Caufe about the State of the Church, and other Di- 
 vine Institutions ! BefideSy at prefent we ihall feem to 
 be Influenc'd by a Reipeft unto their Excommuni- 
 cations, which as they are managed, and adminiftred 
 at prefent, are not only an high profanation of a Sar 
 cred Ordinance, but fuited to expofe Chrifiian Religi-- 
 on unto Scorn and Contempt. 
 
 Q,u E % IS 
 
An Anfnier unto Tn^o Qtiejfions, jSy 
 
 Qu E S T I O N 11. 
 
 A Second Enquiry isy Whether the Perfons before- 
 mention^ dy and defer iPdj ynay lawfully and in 
 a conJijUncj with, or without a Renunciation of 
 thiir former Principles and Praciice^ go tOy and 
 receive the 6acrament oj the L o r dV Suffer 
 in the Pariflj-Churches^ under their frcfent Con* 
 Jlnution^ and Adminijlration ? 
 
 Answer. 
 Jt appear J that they may not, or cannot /i? do* For, 
 
 HEIR fo doingy would he an Ecclefaflical 
 Ifjcorporario?! in the Churchy wherein they do 
 partake : For, a voluntary Conjunct ion ^m the 
 higheft kt\ of Communion, with atiy 
 Omrchy according to its Order and Inflitutions, war- 
 ranted by its own Authority, is an exprefs Jncorporatton 
 with it •, whereby a Man is conftituted a formal 
 Aiemher of it, unto all Ends and Purpofes of privi- 
 ledge. Right and Duty. The Clmrch St.ite is owned 
 hereby, its Authority fubmitted unto in its Right and 
 Exercife ^ nor is it otherwife interpreted of them 
 unto whom they fo joyn themfelves. But this is a vir- 
 tual, yea, an Exprels Rcnuntiation of their own prefent 
 Church State in any other Society, and Keceilitates 
 a Relinquiihment of their former Pra^lice. 
 
 It will be faidy that a Member of one Particular 
 Church,may partake of the Sacrament of the Lords 
 Supper in ^f7or^fr,without incorporating or becoming 
 a ftated Member of that Church wherein he doth io 
 partake. 
 
 It 
 
288 An Anfrver unto^iwo ^ejitons. 
 
 It is Anfweredy that he may do "io by Virtue of 
 that Communion, which is between the .Church 
 whereof he is a Member, and that Church wherein 
 he doth ^o partake. For he is admitted unto that 
 Participation^ by Virtue of that Communion, and 
 mt on his own Perfonal Account.; y'. it be otherwile, 
 where any one is received unto the Participation of 
 this Ordinance, there he is admitted unto entire 
 Memberiliip, and is engag'd unto all the Duties 
 thereunto belonging. 
 
 And thus is it in this Cafe, for thofe unto whom 
 they joyn themfelves herein, if but cccafionally^ do 
 (ift.) Own no Church State in this Nation, but their 
 own, (lly>) admit of none unto this Sacrament, by 
 Vertue of their Communion with any other Church, 
 or any Churches not of their own Conftitution. Nor, 
 (3/jJ Will Adminifter it unto any, fetllofe whom 
 they claim to be their own, as Living in their Par iilies, 
 in Oppoiition unto any other Church State whaitever. 
 
 Wherefore it is Imfojfihle^ that any Man fhould be. 
 a Member of one Church, and Communicate in this 
 Ordinance in another^ which condemns that whereof 
 he is, as Schifmatkal^ and receiveth him as one belong, 
 itig unto it Self onely^ hut he doth profe/Tedly re- 
 nounce the Communion of that Church, wherein he', 
 was •, and is by them that receive him, efteemed fb 
 to do ! And no Referves of a contrary Judgment, or 
 Refblution in his own Mind, will relieve i^;?)' Man in 
 Confcience or Reputation, againft the Teftimony of 
 his praftical Profeilion ! 
 
 II. They do hereby frofefs a Spiritual Incorporation with 
 thofe, or that Church wherein they do fo communicate ; 
 Namely, that they are o^/f Body and o;?^ Bread with 
 them ^ that they all drink into one Spirit, (Cof . 10. 1 7. 
 Chap. 12. 13.) How they can do this in thofe Places 
 where they judge the generality of theip to be pro- 
 c! fane 
 
y/// A/jj\vcr UfJto'l)Vo pucjlions, ^09 
 
 fane and Ignorant, without finning againft their own 
 Light, is not to be ui.derflood. 
 
 It is fuid^ thdt m FerfoiiS in this or any other 
 Ordinance of Divine W'orfhip, are polluted, or made 
 i^,uilty by the ^ins of others^ with whom they do 
 communicate. It is anfwercd^ tliat this is not at pr^ 
 feiit enquired iiao. That which fuch Perfons are 
 charged with, is their okv Sins u?icly^ in making apro- 
 feihou of Spiritual h.corporation, or becoming of 
 one Body, one Bread with them, and of Drinking into 
 the fame Spirit with them, when they do not Efleem 
 tliem fa to be, in the Exercife of Love without Dif 
 fimulation. The negle-H: alfo of other exprefs Du- 
 ties, which we owe unto thofe, whoftand in that U- 
 nion with us, will neceffarily follow h.ereoi], AVr 
 ther do fuch Perfons, as Co Communicate, intend to 
 take on themfclves an Obligation unto /'//thofe Du- 
 ties which are required, of them, towards thofe 
 with whom they profefs themfelves to be one Spiritu- 
 al Body, which is an d^fw frevarication againfi Scrip- 
 ture Rule. 
 
 III. Tl}ey would hereby^ not onely juflify the whole Service 
 of the Liturgy, hut the Ceremonies alfo enjoyncd to be ufed 
 111 the j4dj7iiniflrution of this Sacrament, For the Rule 
 of the Church wherewith they joyn, is that where- 
 by they are to be judg'd. j4ny abatement tliat may 
 be made of them in Practice, is on kth fides an un- 
 warrantable felf deceiving, incoiTiftent with ChrijJi'an 
 Ingenuity and Sincerity. But hereby they do not one- 
 ly corAcmn all othev i^eCerX Dijfcfitcrs^ h.t »t// thofe 
 ^Ifo of former Days and Ages, Miniflers and others, 
 wlio fuffered under Deprivation, Imprifoimient and 
 Banifliment, in their Teflimony"againfl them. 
 
 If they fhall /^, they do r;or approve what is pra- 
 [iWd by others, thoi/gh tliey joyn in thQ fame Worihip 
 and Duties of it with thera \ \ fay^ th\> is rnr:trary to 
 
 tlie 
 
5 90 An Anfwer unto Two Queflions. 
 
 the Language of their ProfefTion, unto Scripture 
 Rule, ('Rom. I4. ^^,) And is indefmfihU in the Sight 
 of G o D and good Men, and unworthy of that 
 plain, open, bold Sincerity, which the Golpel requi- 
 reth in the ProfefTors of it. 
 
 IV. Thefofture of Kneeling^ in the receiving of this Sa- 
 crament ^ is a peculiar AEb of Religious jidorationj which 
 hath no Divine Inftitution or warranty ; and is therefore 
 at beft, anAft of willWorJhip not be complied withall. 
 
 It is laid, that Kneeling is required not as aiiAft 
 of Worfhip or Religious Adoration, hut only as a 
 Pofhire Decent and Comely, becaufethe Sacrament 
 is delivered with a Prayer unto every one. But, 
 
 I. That delivery of it with a Trayer unto every one^ is 
 uninftituted, without primitive Example^ contrary to 
 the PraUice at the FirB Inftitution of the Ordinance, 
 unfuited unto the Nature of the Communion requir'd, 
 and a Dlfturbance of it. 
 
 II. He that Prays fiandsy and he that doth not 
 Pray Kneels : which muft be on another Confidera- 
 tion. For, 
 
 III. Praying is not the proper Exercife of Faith, 
 in the Inftant of Receiving of this Sacrament, as is 
 Evident from the Nature and Vfe of it. 
 
 IV. The known Original of this Rite^ doth render 
 it, not only juftly to be fufpeded, hut to be avoided. 
 
 On thefe Coniiderations, which might be enlarged, 
 and many others that might be added, it is evident, 
 that the Pr aft ice enquired into, with Refpeft unto 
 the Perfons at Firft intended, is Vnlawful *, and In* 
 eludes in it, a Renuntiation of ^// the Principles of 
 that Church Communion, wherein they are ingaged. 
 And whereas, fome few have judged it not to be fo, 
 they oughc to reftify their Mijiake in their future 
 walking ! 
 
[ ?9i J 
 
 Twelve Arguments, against 
 
 any Conformity of Members ^/Separate 
 • Churches^ to the National Church. 
 
 POSITION. 
 
 T is mt Lawful for VS,, to go to^ and 
 joyn in Publick Woifhip, by the ComrHou 
 Prayer y becaufe that Worfhip it felf, ac- 
 cording to the Rule of theGofpel, is 
 not Lawful. 
 
 *" Some things muft be ^rcmis'd to the Confirmation of 
 this Pofition. 
 
 As FirFly The whole Syflem of Liturgicttl Worfliip, 
 with all its infeparable Dependances, are intended. 
 For as fuchy it is eftablifh'd by Law, and not in any 
 part of it only : ^sfuch, It is required that we re- 
 ceive it, and attend unto it. It is jwt in our Power, 
 it is not left to our Judgment or Liberty, to clofe 
 tvithy or make Ufe of any part of it, as we fliall tliink 
 fit. 
 
 There are in the Mafs Book many Prayers and Prai- 
 les dire^ed to G o d only, by J f s u s C h r i s t, 
 yet, it is not Lawful for us thereon to go to Mafyy 
 
 under 
 
.J92 Tivelve AYguments^ Src. 
 
 under a pretence of Joyning only infich Lawful Pray- 
 ers Asy we muft not affeft-f- their Drink Oiferings 
 of Blood, foy we muft net take up their Names in- 
 to our Lips. Have no Gommunion with them. 
 
 2. It is to be Coniider'd as arm'^d with Laws : Hri?, 
 Such as declare and enjbyn it, as the only trueWoriliip 
 of the Church : Secondly^ Such as Prohibit, Condemn, 
 and punifh all other Ways of th6 Worfhip of G o d 
 in Church AlTemblies ;, By our Communion and Con- 
 junftion in it, we Juftify thofe Laws. 
 
 3. This Conjunftion by Comntunion^n the Worihip 
 o^the Ltturgie^ h^Symboly Pledge, andToken of an 
 Ecclefiaftical Incorporation with the Church of England 
 in its prefcnt Conftitution, It is fo in the Law of the 
 Land * It is fo in the Common underflanding of 
 all Men :^ and by thefe Rules, muft ourProfeilion and 
 Practice be judg'd, and not by any referves of our 
 oir^/, which neither God nor good Men will allow of. 
 
 4. Wherefore, he that joy neth in the Worihip of 
 the Common Vrayer^ doth by his Practice lilake Pro- 
 feliion that it is the trucSMor^v^ of G o d, accepted 
 hy Him, and approv'd of Him, and wholly agreeable 
 to His Mind, and to do it with other Referves, is 
 Hypocrify, and ir^z/c than the thing it felf without 
 them, ^ Huffy vs he who condemnethnot himfdfin 
 the things wich he alloweth, 
 
 5. Theie may be afalje Wor/liipof the true God 
 as well as a Woriliip of a falfe God;, "^ Sueh was the 
 Worfliip of J E H o VA H the L o R d, by the Calf 
 in the Wiidernels : Such was the Feaft unto the 
 L o R D, ordained by Jeroboam in ^ the eighth Month, 
 fifteenth Day of the Month, the which he devis'd of 
 liis ow?i Heart. 
 
 * Pfid. 16. 4. * Jn the Canon of the Cl9ur;k. t Rm. ^.23 *,Exodo 
 32, 56. * 1 Kiiizs. \2. 32, 33. 
 
 On 
 
Trvclve Arguments^ Src. ^9j 
 
 On the(e Suppo/itions the Propofition Jaid down, is 
 prov'd-by thefe following Argumaits. 
 
 First Argument, 
 
 Religious Worfhip rict Divinely inftituted and ap- 
 pointed, isfalfe Worillip, ;7or accepted with God; 
 but the Liturgical Worihip intended, is a Religious 
 Worfhip mt Divinely inftituted, mr appointed, Er- 
 gOy not accepted of God. 
 
 The Propofition is confirm'd by ajl the Divine Te- 
 flimonies, wherein all fuch Woriliip is ExprcJIy con- 
 demn'd*, "^ that efpecialy^ where the Lord Christ 
 reflraineth all Worihip to His alone Command. 
 
 It is anfwered to the Adinor Propofition, that the 
 Liturgical Worfhip is of Chris t's appointment, 
 as to the Suhfiantials of it, tho' not as to its Aicidcnt- 
 gds^ namely, Prayers and Praifes, mt unto its out- 
 ward Rites and Forms, which do not vitiate tiie 
 whole \ 
 
 But it is Replyedy 
 T. There is nothinc^ Accidental in the Woriliip of 
 God: Every thins; that beh^ngs to it, is part of it, 
 * fame things are of more Ufe, Weight, ar.d Impor- 
 •tance, than others \ but all things that duly belong 
 unto it, are part of it,or of its Subftance : Outward 
 Cirrumftanccs are Natural and Occafiorial^ no: Acci- 
 dental parts (^f Worihip. 
 
 2. Prayers and Praifes abfolutcly coi^.fider'd, are 
 vot an Inftitution of C H R i s t, tliey are a pirt of 
 Katural WoriliMp, common to all Mnnkiixi. His 
 Inftit-ition refpeaeth only the internal Form of them, 
 and the manner of their Perform mce : But this is 
 
 * Diut. 4. 2. cliap. 12. 31. Fr9v. -jo. <;. Jer. 7 ^|. ifa.'ak 
 79. 13. M/»r. 28. ;0. * M«/. 23.23. 
 
 Bii thai 
 
394 Twelve Arguments^ 8cc. 
 
 that which the Liturgy taketh on it {^\?^ namely^ to 
 fupply and determine the Matter^ to prefcribe the 
 Manner and to limit all the Concerns of them to 
 Modes and Forms of its own^ which is to take the 
 Work of C H R 1 s T out of His Hands ! 
 
 3. Outward Rites and Modes of Worfhip, Divine^ 
 ly inftituted, and determin'd, do become thereby 
 -necejfayy Parts of Divine Worihip, ^ Therefore fuch 
 as are humanely inftituted, appointed and determin'dj 
 are thereby made Parts of Worfhip, namely^ of that 
 which isfalfe^ for want of a Divine Inftitution. 
 
 4. Prayer and Praife are not things prefcrib'd and 
 enjoyn'd in and hy the Liturgle^ it is fo far from it, 
 that thereby all Prayers and Praifes in Church Allem- 
 blies, meerly as fuch, are prohibited;, but it is its own 
 Forms, Ways, and Modes, with their Determination 
 and Limitation alone^ that are inftituted, prefcrib'd, 
 and enjoyn'd by it •, but thefe things have no Divine 
 Inflitution, and therefore are y# far/^//^ Worlliip. 
 
 Sec ond Argument, 
 
 That which was in its fir!t Contrivance, and 
 hath been in its Continuance^ an Invention^ or Engine to 
 Defeat jOX YQuderVfelefs the Promife of C H R 1 s T un- 
 to his Church, of fending the Holy Spirit in 
 all Ages, to enable it unto a due Difcharge, and 
 Performance of all Divine Worfliip, in its AiTem-^ 
 biy's ; is 'Uw/^n?/)^/ to be complyed withall, nor can 
 be admitted in Religious Worihip, but fush is the 
 Liturgical Worfhip. ErgOy &c. . 
 
 That the Lord JesusChrist did make fuch 
 a Promife, that He doth make it good, that the very 
 being and coiitinuance of the Church (without which 
 
 it 
 
'X^>elve AYgunie>its^ Sec. J9<j 
 
 it is bat a ^cad Machine^ doth depend tliereon, I 
 fuppofe will ?/<7r be denyed. It hath been fulfLcIentlv 
 prov'd. Hereon the Church lived and afted for 
 fundry Ages, performing^ a\i Divine Worfhip in their 
 Alfemblies, by Vertue oVthe Gifts andGraces of the? 
 Ho L Y S p 1 R 1 T, and ro otherwife. 
 
 \V\)en thefe things were neglcfted, Tr/;f ;; theWay of 
 attaining them, and the Exercife of them, appeared 
 too difficult to Men of carnal Minds, this Way of 
 Worfhipjby a prefcrib'dL/f «r^>',was iufenfibly brought 
 in, to render the promife of C h r i s t, and tlie 
 wholeWork ofthe Holy Spirit intlieAdminiftratio.i 
 of Gifts, Ufelefs, and thereupon tm things did fol- 
 low ; 
 
 I/?. A Total negleft of all Gifts of the Holy 
 S p I R I T in the Adminiftration of Church VV'orfliip 
 and Ordinances. 
 
 2^/y. When a Plea for the Work of the H o l y 
 Si^iRiT began to be revived, it produced ^// that enmi- 
 ty, hatred, and contempt 0/ and AgAinU theS?iHiT 
 Of God Himfelf, and His xohoU Work in the Church 
 which the World is now filled withall. AH the Re- 
 proaches that are Daily caft upon the Sr hut of Pray- 
 er ; ^// that Contempt and Scorn, which ^// Duty, 
 of Religious Worfliip, performed bv His Aid and 
 A/Iiflance, are entertain'd withall, arife jrom hence 
 do7ie^ namely, from a juftification of this devis'd 
 Way of Worfhip, as the ow/y true Way and means 
 thereof 
 
 Take away thisy and the Wrath and Anger ot 
 Men againft the Sp i r 1 r of G o d, and His Work, 
 in the Woriliip of the CImich, will be abated ^ ye.l 
 the Nec^ffuy of them will be evidoit. This we can-* 
 not comply \wkhy.lcaft- we approve of tlie Original 
 Defign of it, and p^^tAc in the Sins \A\n:h prc'^ec-l 
 from ki 
 
 hh% T .. - . 
 
59^ Tn^^lve ArgmnentSj &c. 
 
 Third Argument, 
 
 T It A T in Religious Worihip, which derogates 
 from the Kingly CiKce of J e s u s C h k i s t, fo far 
 as k doth i^o^ is falfe VVorfhip. 
 
 Unto this Office of Christ, it infeperably 
 belonss^tbat He be the Sole Lawgiver of the Church, 
 in all the Worihip of G o d. The Rule of His Go- 
 vernment Herein, is, Teach A^en to ohferve and do what" 
 foever I Command. 
 
 But the Worihip treated about, confifteth wholly in 
 the Inftitutions, Commands, Prefcriptions, Orders, 
 iind Rules of Men, and on the Authority of Men ^- 
 lone^ do all their Impofitions on the Pra^lice of the 
 Church depend ^ what is this, but to renounce the 
 •Kingly Office of C h R i s t in the Church ? 
 
 Fourth Argument, 
 
 Tha-t- which giveth Teftim.ony againft the 
 faithfulnefs of C h R i s t in His Houfe,as a Son and 
 Lord of it, above that ot any Servant^ is not to be 
 comply'd withall, let all His Difciples Judge. 
 
 Unto this Faithfulnefs of C h r i s t, it doth be- 
 long, to appoint and command ^//things whatever in 
 the^Churcli, that belong to the woriliip of G.o d ^ 
 as is evident from KisComparifon with Mofes herein, 
 and His preference ahove him ; but the Inftitution and 
 Prefcription of all things in Religious Worihip, of 
 things never inftituted nor prefcrib'd by Christ 
 ill the Forms and Modes of them, arifeth from a 
 Supfofition of a deftcl^ in the Wifdom,Care and Faith- ^ 
 fuUnefs of C H R I s T, whence alone a Neceifity can 
 arife, of prefcribing that in Religious Worihip, 
 Tvhlch He hath not prefcrib'd. 
 
 Tha-j 
 
Twelve Argument s^ &c. 397 
 
 Fifth A r *"» u m k n t, 
 That which is a Means hum,t7iely invenred, 
 for the Attainir.g of an end in D/tw tVorihip, which 
 Christ hath ©rdaln'd a means for, unto the £.v- 
 clufion of the means fo appointed by C h r i s t, is 
 filfe Worfhip, and not to be complyed withall. 
 
 The €7jd intended, is the Edification of the Cliurch, 
 in the Adminiftration of ull its Holy OrdiK.ances. 
 7^;/>, tlie Scrz'ice-Bcoh is ordain'd ar.d appointed by 
 Men for, or it hath m end or ufe at all \ but tlie 
 Lord Christ hath appointed other means for 
 the attainina; the end, as is exprefsly declared, * FIc 
 hath given Gifts to Men for the Work of the Miniflry^ fur 
 the edifying of the Body : that is, in ^//Gofpel Admini- 
 Orations ^ but the Means ordained by Christ, 
 namely, the exerdfe of Spiritual Gifts in Gufpel 
 Adminiflrations, unto the Edification of the Church 
 is excluded^ yea, exprefslv prohibited m the Prelcrip- 
 tion of this Liturgical Worihip^The Pretence of Men^s 
 Liberty to ufe their Gifts in Praver before their 
 Sermons, and in Preaching is ridiculed, they are 
 excluded in all the folemn Worihip of the Church. 
 
 Sixth Argument, 
 
 That which hath been, and is Ohflr^iShive of the 
 Edification o^ the Church, if it be in Religious Wor- 
 fliip, it \sfalfe Worlhip :, for ta^ endo^ all true Wor- 
 iln'p is Edification \ but fu(,h hath been, and is this Li- 
 turgical Woriliip. 
 
 For t/. it putteth an utter Stop to the progrefs 
 of the Reforihation in this Nation, fixing Bounds to 
 itjthatit coulil'never pafs. 
 
 Bb 5 i% 
 
398 Vvehe Arguments^ &rc. 
 
 2^/y, It hath kept Multitudes in Ignorance, 
 
 ^dhy It hath countenanced and incourag'd many 
 m reviling and reproaching the Holy Spirit and 
 His Work. 
 
 ^thlyy It hath fet up anc^ warranted znungifted 
 Miniftry. 
 
 5r^/y, It hath made great Vefolations in the 
 Church. 
 
 \fty In the 5//f«r/V/^ of faithful and painful-Mi- 
 pifters. 
 
 2^/yj In the ruin of Familyes innumerable. 
 
 •3^/v, In the Deftrudion of Souls ! 
 
 It is not Lawful to be Participant in thefe things, 
 yea the Glory of our Profeilion, lyes, in our Tefti- 
 mony againft them ! 
 
 Seventh Argument, 
 That Pra£lice,whereby we condemn the Suffering 
 Saints of the prefent Age, rendering them falfe Wit- 
 neffes of G o d and the only blameable Caufe of their 
 0wn Sufferings, is not to be approved ^ but fuch is this 
 Practice, and where this is done on a Pretence of Li- 
 berty, without any Pleaof neceflary Duty on our part, 
 it is utterly unlawful, 
 
 Eighth AroumbnTj 
 
 That Pra£lice,whichis accompany'd withtt^/^^mi- 
 lle Scandal, ingag'd in only on pretence of Liberty, is 
 contrary to the Gofpel^ hut fuch is our Joining in the 
 prefent publick Worlhip. It were endlefsto reckon, 
 up all the Scandals which will enfue hereon. 
 
 That which refpefteth our Enemies -^mufk vot be o* 
 mitted •, Will they not think ? Will they not fay ? 
 That we have only Falfly andHypocritically pretend- 
 ed Conlcience for what we do, where we can on o^f- 
 7Par4 Ccnfidqr anions comply with that which is^ re- 
 
Tnehc Argumcrns^ 8rc, j^o 
 
 quired of us ? Wue to the Worlds becaufc of ^nch Of^a:- 
 ccSj buty woe to them a lib, by whom they are^izcri. 
 
 Ninth Argument, 
 That Worfliip, wliichis nnfuited to the fplritual re- 
 lifh of the new Creature, which is incofifijlcm with 
 the Conduct of the S p i r i t of G o d iji Prayer is 
 VnUwful : For the Nature, Ufe, and Bejieiit of 
 Prayer is overthrown hereby, in a great Meafure. 
 
 Now let any one confider, what are the promifed 
 Aids of the Holy 'Spirit, with Refpe^ uiito the 
 Prayers of tJie Church, whether as to the Matter 
 of them, or as to the j4blllty for their Performance 
 or as to the Alanncr of it, and he fhall fii:d, that 
 they are all rejefted and excluded by this Form of 
 VVorfhip :, Comprizing ("as i? pretended j the whole 
 MMtery limiting the whole Manner^ and giving all the 
 abilities for Priyer, that are needful or required 
 and this hath been prov'd at large ! 
 
 Tenth Argument, 
 
 That which overthrows, and dilfolves our Ch:/rch 
 'Covenafity as unto tlie principal Ends o^ it, is as u::to 
 V S Unlawful. 
 
 This end is the profefTed joynt fubjoclion of our 
 Souls and Confciences unto the Authority ofCHRisr 
 in the Obfervation of dll whatever He commands, 
 and jiothin^ elfe in the Worfliip of G o d ^ Bi4t by this 
 Practice, this end of the Church Corcmnt is dcllroyed, 
 and thereby the Church Coven^tnt it felf is Broken ^ 
 for we do and obferve that which C n r i s.t Jiath 
 ?7tff commanded, and \\i\\\\e fome ftandui-tothe Terms 
 of the Covenant which others relinquiih, it will hll 
 the Churdj with confufion and dilbrdcr. 
 
 1 H 4 T 
 
40 o T^vehe Jrgumer/tSj Src. 
 
 Eleventh Argument, 
 That which contains a virtual Renounciation of 
 cur Church State, and of the La\vfuh:iefs of our Mi- 
 niftry, and Ordinances therein, is not to be admitted, 
 or allowed. 
 
 ^ut this alfo is done hy the Praftlce enquired into, 
 for it is a profelTed Conjandion with them in 
 Church Communion and Worfhip, by whom our 
 Church State and Ordinances are condemned as NuIL 
 And this Judgment they make of what we do, affir- 
 ming" that we are grofs Diffemblers, if after fiich a 
 Conjun^ion with them, we return any more into our 
 ewn Affemblies. In this Condemnation Wje do out- 
 wardly aiid vifibly joyn ! 
 
 Twelfth Argument, 
 That which depriveth hs of the Principal Plea 
 for the Juftification of our Seperation from the Church 
 of England, in its prefent ftate, ought not Juftly to be 
 received or admitted ^ but this is cert^nly done by a 
 Suppofition of the Lawfulnefs of this Worihip, and 
 a prartice fuitable thereunto, as is known to aU who 
 are exercifed in this Cafe. Many other Heads of 
 of Arguments, mJght be Jidded to the Jame purpofe^ 
 if there were occafion. 
 
 SHE 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Second VOLUME. 
 
 TH E Advantage of theKingdom 0/ Christ, &:c. A 
 Sermon preached to the Parliamenty O^ob. 24. 
 1651. p. I. 
 
 71 je Labouring Sawt'^s Difmijfton to Rcfi : A Sermon 
 freacWd at the Futicrnl of the Lord Deputy Ireton, in 
 the Abbey-Churchy VVeftminfter, Feb. 6, 1651. 
 
 A Sermon preach'' d to the Parliament^ O^ob. 13. 1(552. 
 
 p. 81 
 
 God's Work in founding Zion : A Sermon preach"* d in the 
 Abbey 'Churchy Weftminflcr, at the Opening of the 
 Parliamenty Sept. 17. 1556. P- 129 
 
 God's Pre fence with a People^ 8cc. A Sermon]preach^d to 
 the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England, 
 Scotland, and Ireland, at Weftniinfter, O^tob. 30- 
 1555. 'P-I75 
 
 T?;f Glory and Intcrcjl of Nations p'''ofeffwg the Cofpel : A 
 Sermon preached at a private Fafl, to the Commons in 
 Parliament y 1658. P- 2. 1 J 
 
 How we may brifjg our Hearts to bear Reproof: A Sertnon 
 preached in 1 6 74. p. 24^ 
 
 TIjc Chambtrs of Imagery ; A Sermon preached :*;.* 1682. 
 
 P 2,77 
 Seafonable Words for Englifh Protejldiits: A Sermon 
 
 i?;;Jer. 5.15. p. 353 
 
 An Anfwer unto t\yo Ourfiions, P* 377 
 
 Twelve Argume?its again ft a^y Conformity toJVorJJjipy 
 
 not inflituted by C'diwsr, P- 3 9 * 
 
 FINIS. 
 
A Catalogue of Dr. Owen's 
 Works, Printed for and fold 
 by Jofeph Mar/hall at the 
 Bible in Newgate-fireet. 
 
 FOLIO. 
 
 1 Exercitations and Expofition on the Epiftle 
 
 to the Hebrews^ in 4 Vollumes. 
 
 2 The Doftrine of the Saints Perfeverance. 
 
 3 nNETMATOAOriA : Or a Difcourfe Con- 
 
 cerning the Holy Spirit. 
 
 4 The Cale of prefent Diflrefles on Nonconformi- 
 ' ty Examin'd. 
 
 5 The Realbns on which Proteftant Dljfenters defire 
 
 their Liberty. 
 
 (QUARTO. 
 
 1 A Difplay of Armlnianifme^ wherein the main 
 
 Errors of the Arminians are laid open. 
 
 2 The Duty of Paftor, and People diftinguifh'd. 
 
 3 A fhbrt Defenfative about Church Government: 
 
 with a Country EfTay for the Praftice of Church 
 Government, Toleration and Petitions about 
 thefe things. 
 
 4 Salus EleEhorum Sanguis Jefu] The Death of Death,' 
 
 in the Death of Chrift, a Treatife of Re- 
 demption and Reconciliation in the Blood 
 of Chrift. 
 
 5 Ofthe DeathofChrift, the Price He paid and 
 
 the PurchafeHe made Vindicated from- the 
 Exceptions and Objcftions of Mr. Baxter. 
 
 6 rtnr 
 
^ inndlcU Evarigellcd : Or the Miftery of the Gof" 
 pel Vincliciiced, and Socimamfme Examined, in 
 the Confutation of J. Biddies C\:techifmc. 
 
 7 A Review of tlie Annotations of //. GrotiuSy in 
 
 Reference ur.to the Dcdrir.e of the Deity 
 and batisfaftion ofChrift. 
 
 8 OioXtyii/uii\x ircLvri^ctiict five de natura ortu^ 
 progrcffu ij> jif4d;o verx Theologi^ libri Sex, 
 
 9 A Dilcourfe Conceriiing Liturgies and their Im- 
 pofitions. 
 
 lo A Peace Offering, in an Apology and humble 
 Plea, for Indulgence and Liberty of Confcience. 
 I T Indulgence and Tolleration Confidered. 
 
 1 2 Some fliort Reflexions on Vernon?^ Slanderous Li- 
 bell. 
 
 1 3 The Poftrine of Juftification Through the Im- 
 putation of the Righteoufnefs of Cliriil, Ex- 
 plained.^ Confirmed and Vindicated. 
 
 14 XPI2:TOAorL\ : Or a Declaration of the 
 Glorious Miftery of the Perfon ofChrift, 
 God and Man. 
 
 I $ The Church of Rome no fafe Guide 2d Edition. 
 4 5 Some ConfideratioiiS about Union among Prote- 
 
 ftants. • 
 
 1 7 A Brief Vindication of the Novconformifls from 
 
 the charge ©^ Schifme. 
 '^^^(^vofJLoc.r\iWn,u.dL^5\ Or the Grace and Duty of 
 
 being Spiritually Minded, declared and Praili- 
 
 cally Improved 2d. Edition. 
 IP An Enquiry into the Original, Nature JuftltutiOHj^ 
 
 Power, Order, and Communion of Evangelli- 
 
 cal Churches, with the true nature of a Gofpel 
 
 Church and its Government, i ft. Part. 
 
 20 The true Nature of a Gofpel-Church audits 
 Government id. Part, in Eleaven Particulers. 
 
 21 A Brief and Impartial Account of the Nature 
 
 of 
 
of the Proteftant Religion, its Prefent State iir 
 the World, its Strength and Weaknefs, with the 
 ' ways and Indications of the Ruin or Continu- 
 ance, of its publick National Profeilion 2d. Edition 
 22 Concerning prefent Excommunications, 
 
 OCTAVO. 
 
 1. The Life of the late Reverend and Learned 
 
 John Owen^ D. D. never before printed, with the 
 Infcription on his Tomb-Stone*, an Elegy in 
 'Englljhy and his Funeral Sermon by Mr. David 
 CUrkfon. To which are added, all his Sermons 
 that ever were Printed. Likewile an Anfwer to 
 two Queftions. With 'Twelve Arguments a- 
 gainft any Conformiity to Worihip, not of Di- 
 vine hiftitution. In two Volumes. 
 
 2. Animadverfions on a Treatife entitled Flat Lux, 
 
 3. A Vindication of the faid Animadverfions. 
 
 4. The Nature, Power, Deceit and Prevalency of 
 the Remainder of Indwelling Sin in Believers, 
 Hjird Edition. 
 
 5. Truth and Innocency vindicated, in Anfwer to 
 Parker^s Ecclefiaftical Polity. 
 
 6. Exercitations concerning the Name, Original, 
 
 Iviature, Ufe and Continuance of a Day of Sa- 
 cred Reft. Second Edition. ^ 1 
 
 7. A Vindication of fome PafTages, in a Difcourfe 
 concerning Communion with God, from the Ex- 
 ceptions of IV. SherlocL 
 
 8. The Nature of Jpofiacy^ from the Profeilion of 
 the Gofpel, and the Puniihment of Jpoftates. 
 Second Edition. 
 
 g. The Reafons of Faith • or. An Anfwer unto 
 that Enquiry wherefore we believe the Scriptures 
 to be the Word of God. Second Edition. 
 
 10. ^wicTi^ -nvvjiA^g^ifjjUj Or the Caufes, Ways 
 and Means of underftandijig the Mind of God, 
 
 as 
 
as revealed in his Word, with AfTarance therein. 
 
 StcoKii Edit ion, '-^ 
 
 1 1. A Dilcourfe of the Work of the Holy Spirit in 
 Prayer. Second Edition, 
 
 12. Meditations and Difcourfes on the Glory of 
 Chrift, liifl Part. Second Edition. 
 
 13. Meditations and Difcourfes on the Glory of 
 Chrift, fecond Part. Second Edition, 
 
 14. Of the Dominion of Sin and Grace. 
 
 15. A Difcourfeofthe Holy Spirit as a Comforter, 
 and as the Author of Spiritual Gifts. Second Edit ion, 
 
 16. Of Communion with God the Father, Son and 
 Holy Spirit. Second Edition. 
 
 T W. E L V E S. 
 
 .1 . A Brief Declaration and Viiidication of the Do- 
 £lrine of the Trinity, as alfo of the Perfon and 
 Satisf iction of Chrift, accommodated to the Ca- 
 pacity and Ufe of fuch as may be in danger to 
 be reduced. Seventh Edition. 
 
 2. Gofpel-G rounds and Evidences of the Faith of 
 
 God's Eleft, left in Manufcript for his Wife's 
 Meditation. Second Edit. 
 
 3. Humble Teftimony unto the Goodnefs and Seve- 
 rity of God, in His dealing with Sinful Churches 
 and Nations ^ or, The only way to deliver a Sin- 
 ful Nation from utter Ruin by impeiidcnt Judg- 
 ments. Tljird Edition. 
 
 4. A Brief Inftruclion in the Worfhip of God, and 
 Difcipline of the Cliurches of the New Tefla- 
 mei.t 9 by way of Queftion, and Anfwer. With 
 an Explication and Confirmation of tliole An- 
 fwers. Third Edition. 
 
 J. Two fliort Catechifms, wherein the Principles of 
 the Doctrine of Chrifl are unfolded and explain- 
 V'd^ proper for all Pcrfous to learn, composed by 
 
 him 
 
him for the ufe of all Churches in general, llnrd 
 Bdltion. 
 
 6* A Defence of Mr. Johfi Cotton, from the Imputa- 
 tion of Self Contradiftion, charged upon him by- 
 Mr. Daniel Cawdrey, Whereunto is prefix'd an 
 Anfwer to a late Treatife of the faid Mr. Cawdry^ 
 aboat the Nature of Schifm. 
 
 *y. Of Mortification ot Sin in Belie versi Fourth Edi- 
 tion. 
 
 8. Of Temptation, the Nature and Power 6f it -^ 
 the Danger of entring into it ^ the Means of pre- 
 venting that Danger. With a Refolution of fun- 
 dry Gales thereunto belonging. Second Edition. 
 
 p. Of the Divine Original Authority, Self-Eviden- 
 cing Light and Power of the Scriptures. Alfo a. 
 Vindication of the Purity and Integrity of the 
 Hebrew and Creel Texts, in fome Confiderations 
 on the Prolegomena \ an Appendix to the late 
 Bibliat Polyglotta, and fome Exercitations about 
 the Nature and Perfeclrlons of the Scriptures. 
 The Right of hUerpretation ^ Internal Light ^ 
 Revelation. 
 
 1 0. Diatriba de jufiitia Dlvina, 
 
 11. Ejlocol : A Clufter of the Fruit of Cajiadn brought 
 to the Borders for the Encouragement of the 
 Saints : Or, Rules of Direftion for the Walking 
 of the Saints in FellowHiip, according to the" 
 Order of the Gofpel. Sixth Edition. 
 
 12. A Guide to Church-Fellowiliip and Order, ac-^- 
 cording to the Gofpel Inftitution, Pourth Edtion. 
 
 13. Of Schifm, the true Nature of it difcover'd and 
 confider'd. 
 
 14. A Review of the true Nature of Schifm, 
 
 1 5. A Difcourfe of Infant Baptifm, 
 Id. A Little Book for Children, 
 
 17. Several faortDifcourfts at the Sacrament. 
 
Thefe other Authors are Vthwife 
 Printed and Sold by Jofcph 
 Marflial at the Bible in New- 
 gate-ftreet. 
 
 FOLIO- 
 
 1. f^JryVs Expofitlon on the whole Book of Job^ 
 V^ in two Volumes. 
 
 2. Mr. Poors Sy^wpfis Critlcorumy i\\ two Volumes, on 
 the new Teftament, with the Index. 
 
 %. Bunyan9> Works, containing 20 Books • you 
 may Hkewife be fupplied with moft of Mr. Bun^ 
 yans fmall Pieces. 
 
 4. Flavcirs Works in two Volumes. 
 
 CLU A R T O. 
 
 1. Alelificum ChyrurgiA '^ or, The Marrow of Chyru r- 
 gery,with Anatomy, and the Marrow of Phyfick ^ 
 fhewing the Caufes, Signs and Cures of moft Dif- 
 cafes. Fifth Edition, 
 
 2. The good Spirit of the Martyrs reviv'd ; being % 
 Colleftion of the moft Remarkable Palfages, and 
 Living Teftimonies of the Church of God, and 
 her faithful Martyrs , in all the Ages of the 
 World. Second Edition^ the firft being ftiiled in 
 Kino^James the fecond's Reign. 
 
 3. Tachenius's Chimiftry, tranilated into Englifli'^ to 
 
 which is annexed hhClavis to the Ancient Hyp- 
 pocratical Phyfick or Medicines, made by Expe- 
 rience in the yery Fountain of Nature andArt are 
 unlocked, and clearly explained by a compen- 
 dious Way of Operation. 
 
 4'. Dr. 
 
4. Dr. Chancfs Works.' 
 
 5. Bunyan of Eleftion and Reprobation; 
 
 6. Young Man's Guide, a Drawing-Book: . 
 
 7. A new Methodized Concordance. 
 
 8. Wall'?, more Work for t" - Dean. 
 
 9. Chrift exalted, in Dr. CrZ/o's Sermons. 
 10 Dr. Crifp'?> Works. 
 
 1 1 . Mr. Howldcrafth Funeral Sermon. 
 
 12. C/^r/^f's Sermon. 
 
 13. Mr. Davis's true Spring of Gofpei Sight anci 
 Senfe of Sin. 
 
 14. Faith by which we are Juftified. 
 
 15. Beverly s Difcourfe of the Myfterioufnefs of 
 Chriftianity; in Anfwer to a Treatife, Chrlfii- 
 anity not My fiery. 
 
 16* Hows's Sufficiency of the Spirit's Teaching. 
 
 17' The Great Gofpel-Grace, of Faith, being the 
 Subftance of feveral Sermons. 
 
 l8. The DiiTenting Laity pleading tlieir own Caufe, 
 againft the Clamours'and Calumnies of the High- 
 flying Clergy • juftifying their Separatiom from 
 the Church o^ England to be no finful Schifm ^ by 
 a Country [Roger in his Socks and Buskins. 
 
 OCTAVO. 
 
 1. Dr. Martin Luther^ and "John Cdvinh Opinion cqyi- 
 
 cerning the Trinity from the Original ^ with 
 feveral Texts of Scriptures, proving the Lord 
 Jefus Chrill: to be one and the fame God with the 
 Father. With a Preface by a Divine. 
 
 2. The Singing^M'-ifter's Guide, to his Scholars,with 
 the^ Pfalms according to the old and new Tran- 
 Jlations, the Old on one fide, and the new on 
 the other ^ by feveral Hands, viz.- Sternhold and 
 Hofkinsy Tate and Brady ^ BartorT^ Milhourn Tatricky 
 and Sandys J contriv'd for common Ufe, with 
 the Tunes in two Parts, by Daniel Warner^ of 
 Mwelm in OxfordJJnre^ Singing-Mafter^ 
 
Chap. 8. the Hcly Sacrament. 321 
 
 Service, who has paid lb dear for it, by dying 
 himfelf in our Stead? Bur if we were at Liberty, 
 and he IkuI no Power over us, is there any better 
 Way to difpo!'e of ourfclves, or could wc dcfiie 
 to be in otiier Hands rather than in his ? Can we 
 hope for more Wildom in any one to dirccl, or for 
 more Power to bring our Happincfs about, than in 
 him who knows and governs ail Things ? Durft we 
 truft more to the Faichfulncfs and Affedlion of any 
 Heart tlian of chat whicli died for us? Or can we think 
 ourfelves happier in any Hands than in his, who is 
 in all Things (ludious of our Advantage. For 
 our bleiTed Lord feeks no other Ends by us, buc 
 our own eternal Happincfs ; he impofes no Duties 
 on our Confciencicfs but what he has done himfelf 
 biifore us j nay, what had we the Underllanding 
 to difcern it, we fliould all have impos'd upon 
 ourfelves. So that in committing ourfelves to his 
 Condufl, we do not give, but feek a Benefit, 
 and difpofe of ourfelves in that Way, which is in- 
 comparably our hjghefl: Interell. We are abfo- 
 Jutely his own Right, and it is infinitely our own 
 Intereft to be wholly given up to him, and go- 
 verned according to his Liking ; and therefore every 
 confiderate Man will freely refign up his Heart to 
 Chrift, and never fufFer the World, or his own 
 Lulls, to pull it back again. 
 
 " Come then, my dear andrighrfil Lord, will 
 ** a poor Soul fiy, and take PofTcilion of me. 
 *' Thou haft bought me with thine own Blood, a 
 *' ftrange Price for fo defpicible a Purchalc! and 
 '' here I come, in ail Humility, to prclent thee 
 *' with what thou haft fo dearly got, and without 
 '' all Referve, to give up myfclf unto thee. I 
 " know, O Lord, that I am a deformed and pol- 
 ** luted Creature, moft unworthy to be otic red to 
 
 Y *' fw) 
 
cc 
 
 3^2 Devottom fitted for Part III. 
 
 " fo excellent a Majefty. But gladly would I be 
 *' chine, that thou may'ft make me better, and 
 " fo adorn me with thy Grace, that I may be 
 *' fitted for thyfelf ; and therefore I earneftly be- 
 *' feech thee to accept of me. I humbly beg to 
 *' be delivered from myfelf, for I am mine own 
 *' mod mortal Enemy. O ! that thou wouldft 
 " give thine holy Spirit Power over me, and not 
 *' let my own corrupt Will any longer govern 
 *' me, nor my falfe Heart anymore deceive me, 
 •' nor my unbridled Paflions any more to reign 
 in me, which, alas ! have tyrannized too long 
 already. O ! that thou wouldeft purge my 
 Underftanding from all foolifli Principles, and 
 *' from ail Darknefs and Ignorance of holy 
 *' Things j and cure my Will and Affeflions of 
 *' all their Stubbornnefs, and Oppofition to thy 
 " Laws ; O ! that thou wouldeft firft cake them 
 *' as thine own Propriety, and then fit them for 
 *' their Matter's Ufe, that I may never hereafter 
 ** live to myfelf, but unto thy Glory ! And wilt 
 *' thou throw back a Soul, O dear Lord, that 
 *' would hang Jcfelf upon thee ? Wilt thou dif- 
 '' dain an Heart which is defirous of thee, and 
 '' would fain be no longer its own, but thine, 
 *' that thou mighteft ufe it as it may beft ferve 
 *' and honour thee ? O bleffed Jefus ! do not re- 
 ** jedl it, for it is the Purchafe of thy own moft 
 » " precious Blood. Let not all that be thrown 
 *' away, which thou haft already done for it, for 
 *' Want of thy further Care and Condud thereof. 
 *' Accept me, good Lord, who here unfeignedly 
 " devote myfelf unto thee, that both my Soul 
 *' and Body, and all I have, may be employed 
 *' as thou feeft fie to order me, I am nothing, I 
 " have nothing, andldefire nothing but to be with 
 *' thee, to be filled with thy Grace, and to obey 
 
 *' thee 
 
Chap. 8. the Holy Sacraincnt. 323 
 
 •* thee perfe(^ly ; chat fo I may have nothing 
 •' of myfclf, but may do all I'hings thro' Chritl 
 ** dwelling in me." 
 
 And when we thus y^fign ourfehes up to our Sa- 
 viour's IJ^iiy we mud hcartil) repent of all our Siniy 
 faithfully promifing never more to field to them^ but 
 to ameml them all for the Time tq come. To repenc 
 farticularl^ of all our Sins, we mull firft dijcover 
 chem, by taking fome Catalogue of ChriJJian Du^ 
 ties^ and examining our own Hearts at every one, 
 whether we have con fenced to tranfgrefs them ; 
 and where we find we have done fo, there we 
 muft befnoan ourfehes^ and fully refolve^ that if 
 God will be pleafed to pardon what is paft^ we 
 will never field to do the like again. And whac 
 Man will not thus fledfaftly refolve to leave all 
 his Sins, who has the Patience to confider whac 
 will be the End of his Continuance in them? For 
 by that, we fhall infinitely offend our deareft Lord 
 and Saviour Jefus Chrijl^ who gave his own Life 
 for ours, and whom therefore we are bound to 
 pleafe above all Pcrfons -, we fhall certainly lofe all 
 the Joys of Heaven and eternal Hapfmcfs^ a Lofs 
 which the whole World pit together cannot re- 
 compcnce •, we (hall unavoidably be doomed to Hell 
 Fire and eternal Torments^ which is the utmoft 
 Height of Mifery that can pofTibly befal us. This 
 will infallibly be the ElTedl of our Ferjeverance^ 
 nnd A'.lo-zvance of ourfclves in any Sins which we 
 find ourlelves guilty of. And now Ice us aflc our 
 own Souls, Whether we love them fo well, that 
 we will endure all thisy rather than forego them ? 
 Shall I prize my Sin to that Degree, as for its 
 Sake to ad Dcfpitc ro my deareft Lord, who died 
 for me ? iVlull: it be dearer to me than his Love, 
 that 1 fhould diflionour and ofi'cnd him whcnfo- 
 y 2 ever 
 
324 Devotions fitted for Part III. 
 
 ever it bids me ? Is this the Return which I have 
 to make to my trueCV, deareft Friend, to fide with 
 his profefied Enemy ? Is this my Thankfulnefs for 
 all his Kindnefs, to flick to a lluft which aims at 
 nothing but my Deftru6lion, rather than to him 
 "who gave his own Life to fave mine ? Thou loveft 
 it dearly, O my Soul ; but canft thou value it at 
 fuch a Rate, as to part with everlailing Life for 
 it? Hadft thou rather have it, than enjoy the 
 Face of God, and be for ever happy ? Art thou 
 content for the fliort and unfatisfying Pleafures 
 which it affords, to lofe all the Joys and Glories 
 of a blefled Eternity ? Wilt thou die fooner than 
 be divorced from it ? and accompany it even into 
 the Flames of Hell, and the Midft of eternal 
 Torment? God forbid, will every Man fay, 
 whofe Heart is thus particularly pofed thereupon, 
 that ever I fhould be fo defperately mad, and un- 
 accountably wicked. I cannot defpite fo dear a 
 Lord, nor throw away the eternal Joys of the Hea- 
 venly State^ nor endure the mo§f exqiiifite Smart of 
 * Helly and the infupportaUe Load of everlafing Tor- 
 ment. No Man can bear it, and I Hand amazed 
 to think of it. And therefore fince this will be 
 the Effe(5l of my wic]^ed Ways, and of my al- 
 lowed Continuance therein, I am refolved, from 
 this Moment, to renouiice them, and by the 
 Help of God, will never return to them any more. 
 Thus let the Drunkard think with himfelf on 
 his Citps^ the Swearer on his Oaths and Perjury^ 
 the unju^ Man on his imlawfid Gain^ the Conten- 
 tious on his Quarrels, the unclean Perfon on his For- 
 nication and forbidden Pleafures, the revengeful Man 
 on his fplteful Carriage, the Slanderer and evil 
 Speaker on his reproaclful V/ords, Back-hitings, and 
 Defamations, and every other Sinjier on his parti^ 
 iidar Sins. And when they ferioufly confider that 
 
 this 
 
Chap. 8. the Holy Sacrament, 32^ 
 
 this Saviour muff he loH, this Happinefs of Ileave^^ 
 forfeited, and this eternal /Inguifh and Rxtremil-j cf 
 Pain endured, if they allow themfelvesllill togoon, 
 andperfiftin them j they will m^diVii]^ refolve to for- 
 fake thcTHy and never yield to be guilty of them again. 
 
 ST/;/; ma'j he ufed as a penetential Confcfnon of cur 
 Sins after Self-Examination, 
 
 ** /^^ BlefTcd Lamb of God, who haft redeem- 
 
 *' V^^ ed me with thy Blood, will every contrite 
 
 *' Heart then cry. out^ I am utterly afhamed to 
 
 *' look thee in the Face, confidering all the cruel 
 
 *^ Ufage which I have brought 
 
 " upon thee. * I fcarce know * p'^' ^'"^'"'^^ 
 
 «' how to think of Feaftingon Zc:^!:^ 
 
 " thy molt precious Blood, now l,e/ore a Sacrament, 
 
 " I am moft earneflly invited 
 *^ to it, fince mine own Sins have fhed it. I am, 
 *' alas! a moft polluted Creature, who have daily 
 " offended both in Thought, Word and Deed, 
 *' againft thy divine Majefty. 
 ** My t Pride and Contempt f Hoe mention 
 •' of God, and my fenfual particular Sins, 
 *' Lufts, and covetous Defires, 
 " and uncharitable Practices, have cried aloud to 
 *' thee for Vengeance on me ; and that Cry 
 ** would not be filenced, unlefs thou, my dearelt 
 «« Saviour, would'ft die inftead of me. Of all 
 •' thcfe Offences I am guilty, and the Horror of 
 •♦ that Guilt would fright me from thee, were it 
 ** not that thou freely callcft me to accept of 
 *' Mercy. I come, Lord, in Obedience to thy 
 *• Word, and with an humble and a penitent 
 ** Heart, 1 earneftly intreat thee to have Pity on 
 ** me. I am fenfible of thcfe, and of rhe otiier 
 *' Errors of my Life; and utterly aHiamed that 
 Y 3 '' ever 
 
3^6 DevQtwii fitteifor.^ Part III, 
 
 *' ever I committed them. I am weary of thtm, 
 
 " and fully purpofed, by thy Grace, to become 
 
 *' a new Man, or elfe I durft not afk to be for- 
 
 *' given. My Heart fhall never more join with 
 
 *' them, nor will I ever hereafter yield to live in 
 
 *' fuch ungrateful and wicked Ways again. They 
 
 *' nailed thy tender Hands and Feet 1 O bleffed 
 
 *' Jefiii to the accurfed Tree, and thruft the 
 
 *' Spear into thy Side ; and can I then endure to 
 
 *' fee, or any longer fide with them? They made 
 
 *' God, who is the Author of all I have and hope 
 
 " to enjoy, to become my utter Enemy ; and 
 
 " (hall I then be (till a Friend to them ? They 
 
 *' would bring me to eternal Deftruclion both of 
 
 *' Body and Soul ; and whilfl: I confider this, is it 
 
 *' pofTible that 1 fhould have any more to do with 
 
 ^' them? No, blefled Lord, I hate them, and 
 
 '' am utterly refolved, from this Time forth, for 
 
 *' ever to abandon them. They have been the 
 
 *' Shame of my Life, and are now the Sorrow of 
 
 *' my Heart, as, alas! when thou endured fuch 
 
 *' Anguifh for them on the Crofs, once they 
 
 *' were of thine. I loath nny.felf by Reafon of 
 
 ** them, and will never confent any more to live 
 
 " in them \ and with an humble and contrite 
 
 " Heart, I moft humbly befeech my heavenly 
 
 *' Father, that thro' the Merits of thy Blood I 
 
 •' may be forgiven. And v/ilt not thou, O God, 
 
 ** who fenteft to leek after me whilft I was an 
 
 *' open Rebel, now meet me graciouQy, as thou 
 
 '' didft the prodigal Son, when I return again to 
 
 *' my Duty ? Wilt not thou, my fweeteft Sa- 
 
 ^' viour, who diedft for nie whilft I was thine un^ 
 
 *' relenting Foe, now intercede for me, when I 
 
 ^? come to ferve thee? O fpeak Peace unto my 
 
 *' poor Heart, and let me know and feel that 
 
 '' thou forgivcftmel Send thy holy Spirit to 
 
 ^' take 
 
Chap. 8. the Holy Sacrament. ^zy 
 
 *' take PoflefTion of it, co keep it true unto thy- 
 
 " felf, that it may never more ftart back from 
 
 *' thee. Thou hail promifed thy Grace to thofe 
 
 *' that afk it, and endeavour in F.xpe(51ation . 
 
 *' thereof. O! I defire it, and will do what I 
 
 *' can in Hopes to be thereby alTifled in the 
 
 *' Amendment of my Mifdoings •, and therefore 
 
 *' I humbly hope that this Promife (hall be nvide 
 
 " good unto thy Servant. Whatfoever thoudoefl 
 
 *' in other Things, deny me not this Grace, O ! 
 
 *' heavenly Father, for Jefus's Sake, who is infi- 
 
 ,*' nitely dear to thee, and who died for me. Amcn^'* 
 
 Thus may we difchtirge the Duties of this FeaH-, 
 and excite and aoluate in our own Minds that Faith 
 and ^bankfidrjefs^ and Chanty, and Rrfjgnaiivr^ 
 and Repentance^ which are to render us fit and 
 "juortb-j of the fame. If any are deftitute of other 
 Helps, they may make ufe of thtfe Meditations 
 and Prayers to affedl their own Hearts, and to 
 fhew forth thefe Virtues of worthy Receivers. 
 They will not always find Room for all thc^fe De- 
 votions, whilft the Sacrament is adminidring -, but 
 they may go thro' with all of them before they 
 come, for then they may alloc what Space of 
 Time they pleafe for them, and make ufc of fuch 
 of them L!S the Time allows when they are Re- 
 ceiving. And for a more a(5lual adorning of their 
 Souls with them at that Time, whilfl: the Miiuihr 
 himfelf, or others before them arc Receiving, ilicy 
 may exprcfsthem all in one continued Dcvo!ioi\ by iifc-r 
 ing up their Hearts to God in the Words following. 
 
 •' /^BlefTed Jefu ! who gavcft thyfelf to die 
 *' V-^ ^Of '"ny Sake -, how near have I lain to 
 " thy kind Heart, when the precious Blood which 
 " dreamed thence was not fo dear to it ? I am ut- 
 ** terly adumed of myfclf, that ever 1 fliould put 
 Y 4 '^ theo 
 
32^8 Devotions fitted for Part 111. 
 
 *' thee to part with fuch a Price, and to endure 
 *' fuch exceeding Smart and Tortures to befriend 
 *' me. I blufh to think of it, and abhor my 
 " Sins, which brought thee to fuffer all this for 
 *' my Deliverance from them. But fmce my 
 *' Need required, and thy boundlcfs Love would 
 ^'- make thee undergo what thou didil, in the ut- 
 " mod Thankfulnefs of an humble Heart, I 
 " gladly accept the ineftimable Benefit. For 
 ^' which I love thee moft affedionately, and will 
 *' ferve thee moll faithfully, and praife thee with 
 ^' joyful Lips, evermore extolling thy boundlefs 
 *' Goodnefs and glorious Excellencies, and en- 
 ♦' deavouring that all others may do fo too. 
 
 '' Thou haft bought me with thy own moft 
 ^' precious Blood, O ! merciful Lord \ and here, 
 *' with an unfeigned Heart, I give up my Soul 
 *' and Body, my worldly Goods, and all that I 
 ^' have, to be employed in thy Service, and dif- 
 " pofed of as thy Providence fliall order me. 
 *' Take PofTefiion of me by thy Spirit, that my 
 *' Body may always be the Temple of the Holy 
 '' Ghoft ; and that m.y Soul and all its Faculties 
 " may be entirely devoted to thy Behoof and In- 
 ^' tereft ; and that all my worldly Goods may be 
 " acquired fo innocently, and enjoyed fo thank- 
 *' fully, and fpent fo temperately, and laid out 
 '' fo charitably as becomes thy faithful Steward. I 
 " will not henceforward call any Things my own, 
 " when once my Lord has Need of them •, but I 
 *' freely refign all up unto thee, fince thou haft 
 " paid fo dear for me. 
 
 " I have grievoufly offended thee, O Father ! 
 " by many Sins, particularly 
 
 * Here na^:e fuch cc ^ *, ^r. I am petfedlly 
 
 hins as you knoixj your- ,, ^ iri jr 
 
 fehe/moj} gwhy of. " aHiamed of them, and forry 
 '' at my Heart now that ever 
 
 '^ I 
 
Chap. S. ihe Holy Sacrament. 329 
 
 *' I committed them, and would never do fo, 
 " were they to be done again, and I faithfully 
 *' promife thee, that for the Time to come, ic 
 *' lh.UI be my finccre Define and Care never more 
 *' willingly to yield to them ; and I humbly beg, 
 *' that for drill's Sake, in whom thou offereft 
 " Pardon to every truly penitent Heart, thoa 
 " wouldeft forgive them. 
 
 '' Thou, O Chrift ! haft purchafed the holy 
 " Spirit, to help and ftrengthen all thofe who are 
 *' ready to labour in an holy Life, and to join 
 " their own beft Endeavours to his divine Aflift- 
 *' ances', and doft: moft gracioufly offer him to 
 " all fuch indudrious Souls in this Holy Sacra- 
 ** ment. Lord, I do fincerely defire to amend 
 " all thefe Sins, which I have here with Sorrow 
 *' and Shame acknowledged before thee. I am 
 " fully bi^nt upon the Amendment thereof, and 
 " by thy Help will endeavour what I can to- 
 *' wards it, and do humbly depend upon thy 
 " Grace and Aid to carry me thro' therewith. Oh 1 
 " be it unto thy Servant according to thy Word. 
 
 " I am at Peace, O Lord, with all Perfons, 
 " and forgive all thofe who have otiended againft 
 " me, even as I expedt Forgivcnefs of my own 
 " Offences at thy Hands -, and am fully refolved, 
 " by thy Grace, to be kind to all the World, 
 *' but efpecially to all the Members of thy myfli- 
 *' cal Body, for thy Sake, that by thefe Returns of 
 " Charity I may in fome Sort anfwer that infinite 
 " Love and Kindnefs which I receive from thee. 
 
 " Thy Blood, O blefled Jefus! has procured ; 
 " and thou, holy Father, for Chi ift's Sake, haft 
 " promiled Pardon of Sins to all thofe who truly 
 " repent of them ; and the Affiftance of thy 
 " Holy Spirit, to every one who is fincerely 
 ** ready to ufc his Help and Endeavour therc- 
 
 '' with, 
 
53^ Devotions fitted for Part lit 
 
 " with, and eternal Life to all fucli as are en- 
 •* tirely obedient to thy holy Laws. And to 
 ** {hew that thou art ftill of the fame Mind, and 
 «' wilt make all this good, thou gracioufly calleft 
 •* and earncftly invited us to receive Aflurances 
 *' thereof in this Holy Sacrament, Lord, I 
 *^ heartily repent me of all my Sins, for Chrifl:*s 
 *' Sake do thou pardon me. I am fully refolved 
 " to fhew Care, and to labour in the Amend- 
 •' ment of all mine Offences, let thy Grace and 
 ♦* holy Spirit come in to aflift and enable me^ 
 •^ I am ftedfaftly purpofed to keep thy Holy 
 *' Commandments, do thou O ! then gracioufly 
 ** accept me for the Sake of my crucified Sa- 
 *' viour, whofe Death I now mod thankfully 
 *' commemorate, and who is here offered unto 
 l^ thee as our Atonement, on his Table." 
 
 Or Jhorfer^ Thus-, 
 
 ^^ /^Bleflfed Jefus, who diedft for my Sake, 
 •* \^ and daily dill renewed thy Kindnefs, by 
 *' fhewing thyfelf well pleafed with what thou 
 *' had done, and calling me to meet thee in this 
 ** joyful Commemoration of it : I come at thy 
 '' Command, to fhew myfeif humbly and thank- 
 *' fully mindful of fo infinite a Benefit. Blcffed, 
 *' yea for ever bleffed be thy Love, which made 
 *' thee think upon me when I lay in Mifery *, nay, 
 " forget thyfelf, and throw away thine own Life 
 *' to fave mine. I humbly adore thy marvellous 
 *' Goodnefs, which fhall ever be the Joy and 
 •' Praife, the Wonder and Adonilhment of Men 
 *' and Angels. And, O ! that I may always 
 " love thee better than I do my Life, that fo I 
 *' may not flinch even to die for thee, as thou 
 
 " haft 
 
Chap. 8. the Holy Sacrament. 33 i 
 
 haft done for me, if ever thou flialtcall me to ic 
 for thy Glory ! I fee, in this Bread that is 
 broken, and in this Wine which is poured out, 
 what cruel Pains my Sins brought to my deareft 
 Lord, * and how they ftand 
 guilty of his Body and Blood. ^JJl][' ''^'"^ ^^'- 
 I come with Shame and a 
 troubled Heart to confefs it ; I utterly abhor 
 them for what they have done, and declare, 
 fince they have proved thy cruel Enemies, that 
 they fhall evermore be mine, and that I will 
 never, from this Day, admit of a Reconcilia- 
 tion with them. I am here to afTure thee, O 
 dear Saviour, that I will not live unto myfelf 
 or them, but unto thee, and freely devote all 
 I have to thy Ufe, fince thou haft bought and 
 paid fo dear for me. I love all Men, and will 
 embrace them as my Brethren, becaufe they 
 are thine *, and I do freely forgive all the 
 World, even as I defire to be forgiven. O 
 holy Jefus, according to thy boundlefs Mercy, 
 accept of thefe fmall Returns of thy poor Ser- 
 vant, which the' very mean, alas ! are yet the 
 beft I have to offer thee •, and fupply me, I 
 humbly intreat thee, with a more abundant 
 Meafure of thy Grace, that I may be able to 
 pay back fomcthing which is more worthy of 
 thee. Let this Iloly Sacrament, O Chrift ! be 
 the Comfort and Refrefhment of my Heart, 
 conveying thy Pardon and Peace to it, and the 
 enriching and eftablifliing of my Spirit wich all 
 the Benefits of thy Blood. Mike it a great In- 
 creafe of prefent Grace to me, and a certain 
 Pledge of Immortality, to aflure me that \ 
 fhall ever live with thee, and be near to that 
 ^' kind Heart which died for me. Be it even (o 
 ^' for thine own Sake, blclTcd Jelu ! Amen" 
 
 In 
 
332 Devotions ftted Jor Part tlh 
 
 In thefe, or fuch like Words, may we adl over 
 all thofe Virtues which are to render us worthy 
 Communicants, before the Holy Myflcries are 
 brought to us. And at the Receipt ot them, we 
 may lift up our Hearts to God in thefe, or the 
 like Expreffions. 
 
 After the Receiving of the Breads we may fay 
 to our deareft Lord, with an afFedionate Heart: 
 
 " T Receive this, O my Lord! in Remem- 
 *' X brance of thy bloody Death and Paflion, 
 *' and thank thee mod intirely for laying down 
 *' thine own Life for me. O ! how do I rejoice 
 *' in thy marvellous Love, and in this Remem- 
 *' brance of it ! I will always live to thee, O 
 *' fweeteft Saviour, and do here utterly renounce 
 '^ every Sin whereby I have mod ungratefully 
 " pierced thy bleeding Heart, and am Friends 
 " with all the World for thy Sake; and I will ex- 
 " tol thy matchlefs Bounty whilil I have a Tongue 
 *' to fpeak, giving all Honour, Glory, and Praife 
 '^ to thee, the Lamb of God, who waft flain, and 
 *' now fitteft upon the Throne for evermore." 
 
 And in like Manner after the Receiving of the Cup: 
 
 ^* nr^ H E Remembrance of thy Blood-fhed- 
 " JL ^^"S' ^ fweeteft Saviour! is dear to 
 *' mc ; I can nev^er forget it, fince it was fpilt for 
 *' my Sake, and I owe my very Life to ir. In 
 " all the Aiif(frion of an infinitely obliged Heart, 
 " I humbly thank thee for what thou haft done 
 " and fuffer'd for us, and gladly confent to thofe 
 " Terms of Life and- Mercy which were pur- 
 *' chaftd for us thereby ; and, by thy Grace, I 
 '' will never wilfully yield henceforward to do 
 '' any Thing that h unworthy of fo great and in- 
 *' eftimable a Bencfic ; O bicITed Jcfu ! I adore 
 
 '' thy 
 
Chap. 8. the Holy Sacrament , 333 
 
 " thy Love, and will ever love thee above all 
 
 *' Things, and love and embrace all my Brethren 
 
 " with open Arms for thy Sake, yea, and love 
 
 '' my Enemies too, fince thou requireft I fiiould 
 
 *' do fo. And my Heart's Defire is, after this 
 
 " Sort, to fulfil thy Will in allThings, and moll 
 
 " devoutly to adore thy glorious Goodnefs, and to 
 
 *' fhew forth thy boundlefs Praifc to my Life's End. 
 
 *' O ! keep mc unalterable in this Mind, tna^ 
 
 " a drjout Soul then go 0//, and never lufter my 
 
 *' own corrupt Lurts to turn me from it. I have 
 
 '^ now, O holy Saviour ! taken thee into my 
 
 " Heart. O let thy Prefence banifli them away, 
 
 '* that they may never pretend to it again, fince 
 
 «' now it is holy to the Lord, nor ever appear to 
 
 *' pollute that Place wherein fo divine a Gueft is 
 
 " lodged. Now thou art plcafed to enter under 
 
 '^ my Roof, have me always in thy Keeping, for 
 
 *' I am fafe in no other Hands. Preferve the 
 
 *' Place which thou haft taken Poflellion of, and 
 
 *' let not thy Enemies and mine any more invadeir. 
 
 *' Pour into my Heart all the Benefits of thy cruci- 
 
 " fied Body and Blood, fince now, by thy wonder- 
 
 " ful Grace, I am made Partaker of them. Thy 
 
 *' Blood was fhed for the RcmiiTion of Sins: O 
 
 *' let me know and feel that mine are all for- 
 
 *' given ! It obtained the Afiiftance pf thy holy 
 
 " Spirit and Grace •, O! let me ever enjoy that 
 
 " as I ftand in Need of it. It was the Price 
 
 *' which thou paid'ft down for eternal Life. O ! 
 
 *' let that finally be my Lot, fince thou hall paid 
 
 *' fo dear for it. Bid rrve hope aliiircdly, O 
 
 '' bleflcd Jefu ! that all this fliall be made good 
 
 *' unto thy Ser\'ant, becaufe now thou haft given 
 
 '^ thyfelf to me, and fed mc with thine own 
 
 " Body, whereby mayelt thou ever dwell in me, 
 
 *' and I in thee. Amcn^ 
 
 And 
 
33+ Devotiom fitted for Part IIL 
 
 And when this is done, whilft others are Re- 
 ceiving, we may employ ourfelves in fome of the 
 foregoing Devotions \ or, when we have enough of 
 ihem, join heartily in the Prayer which is made 
 at the Delivery of the Bread and Wine to others ; 
 or ftrike in affedionately with the Pfalm of Praife^ 
 which, for the Eafe and Exercife of all, but of 
 thofe particularly who have already received, is 
 wont at that Time to be fung in many Places. 
 
 After this Sort then may we lift up our Hearts 
 to God, and difcharge all thofe Duties which are 
 required in every worthy Communicant. When 
 we have no other Helps, we may acceptably ex- 
 prefs them all in a devout Concurrence with the 
 Churches Prayrs ; fince in them, as I have fhewn. 
 Part I. Chap. 3. there is an adual Exercife of all 
 thefe Duties. But when we can do more, either 
 by the Help of Booh^ or of our own Invention ; 
 we may adt them over ftill more fully in thefe^ or 
 fuch like Forms of Devotion. 
 
 And when all this is done, and this folemn 
 Feaft is concluded, we muft not think the Work 
 of worthy Receiving i§ at an End. For one Thing 
 ftill remains, which muft employ us always after- 
 wards, and that is a careful Performance of all 
 thofe Promifes which we made to God in this holy 
 Ordinance. 
 
 In the Blefled Sacrament, as has been fhewn, 
 we feek not only a Pardon for what is ;paft^ but 
 alfo vow and promife Amendment for the future. 
 And thefe Promifes muft be made good after- 
 wards, and it muft be our Care whilft we live to 
 fulfil them. 
 
 Ttiis we are highly concerned to do^ and it will 
 greatly increafe our Guilt and Condemnation if 
 we fall ftiort of it. For if we return to our for- 
 mer Sins again, after we have thus folemnly 
 
 vowed 
 
Chap. 8. the Holy Sacrametii, 335^ 
 
 vowed to forfake them, wc are falfe to our Word, 
 and treacherous where we fcem to be moft fin- 
 cere, and feek more efpecially to be trufted. We 
 break our Faith with God, and go about to delude 
 his Expedlation, had he been capable to be impofed 
 upon, and believed as we would have had him ; 
 which is as great an Abufe as we can well puc 
 upon him. And this doubles the Sin which we 
 commit, and fcts God farther off from being in- 
 treated i for now we have not only the Offence it* 
 fclf to anfwer for, but alio this Perjidioufnefs and 
 Breach tf VowSy which adds a new one to it, and 
 makes it greater. So that after every Sacrament, 
 if we ftill continue impenitent, our Guilt is ag- 
 gravated, and our Souls more endanger'd, and 
 we are greater Sinners than we were before 
 
 Thus highly are we concerned to perform the 
 Promifes which we made at the Tabic of our 
 Lord. 
 
 And this we Hiall be ver^j like to doy if we think 
 often of them every Day^ for fome Time efpecially 
 after we are gone from it. Indeed, if we forget 
 all we did, and all the Vows which we made there 
 to Almighty God ; we arc like to be the fame 
 Men dill, and muft not expefl that it fhould 
 amend us. For the Sacrament, as I have fhewn, 
 doth not better us without our own Care, but by 
 helping and ingaging us to good Endeavours after 
 it is over. It works not as a ?:aturaly but as a 
 moral Means, and improves none but fuch as re- 
 member what they did thereat, and labour after 
 their own Improvements. So that if we think 
 all our Work was done at Church, and fall into 
 a cartlcfs and fecure State of Mind when wc get 
 home again ; we fhall be held dill in the fame 
 Sins, and the Matter is not like to be much 
 mended with us by fuch Receiving. But if 
 
 after- 
 
336 He^cotloni fitted for Part III; 
 
 afterwards we frequently remember what we 
 promifed there ; if we fee our own Vows every 
 Day before our Eyes, and call to Mind our own 
 Ingagements ; that Remembrance will give them 
 Force and make them have their Effect upon us. 
 For the Thought of our having protnifed and fo- 
 lemnly undertook for any Duties," is the readied 
 Way to have them all performed. 
 
 To reap that Benefit then which God defigned, 
 and which we expedt by it ; we muft dwell much 
 in our own Thoughts upon what pafled there, 
 after the Feaft is ended. We muft maintain 
 that Acquaintance with our blefled Lord which 
 then we began, and look upon it not as a tran- 
 funt Aut^ but as an Entrance on a lafting State, 
 which ever after we are to continue in. We 
 muft bethink ourfelves daily, that when laft 
 we were with our Saviour, we cut out Work , 
 for our whole Lives, and in that Hour made 
 many Promifes, which thro' all the Remainder 
 of our Days are moft religioufly to be performed 
 by us. This Courfe will render it an Ordinance 
 full of Grace and heavenly Benefits, which 
 will fet us on mightily in our virtuous Attain- 
 ments. And v/hen we reap this Profit by it, it 
 will cure all our Inditferency and Averiion to 
 it, and make us run to it the next Time with 
 Edge of Appetite, as v*^e would to a moft de- 
 licious and enlivening Entertainment. We (liali 
 no more account it a fruitlefs Work, when 
 once we have tafted thefe fweet and wholefome 
 Effeds of it •, but dcfire to fhare in it oftener, as 
 it can be had, and blefs the Time that ever wc 
 came thercro. 
 
 HEADS 
 
HEADS 
 
 O F 
 
 SELF-EXAM I NAT ION 
 
 FOR 
 
 The Ufe of thofe who would find out what 
 Sins they have to repent of, either before 
 a Sacra^nenty or at any other Times. 
 
 The Particulars of Duty towards God and Men, 
 as they are briefly fummed up in the Church- 
 Catechifm. 
 
 MY Duty towards God is, to believe in him^ 
 i. e. to believe the holy Scriptures, 
 which are his Word, taking ail the 
 Laws of Humility, Charity, ^c. there recited, 
 for his Laws; and the Promifes of Pardon and 
 Happinefs to the Penitent, C^c. and the Threat- 
 nings of eternal Death to all impenitent Sinners, 
 i^c. for his Promifes and Threatnings, which he 
 will fee fulfilled upon us : To far hwi^ as every 
 Man doth, who dare not do any evil Thing which 
 he fees is offenfive to him : To love him 'lijith all 
 mj Hearty &c. as thofe Pcrfons do, who for his 
 Sake do every Thing which he bids them : To 
 isjorjhip hi/n^ to give him Thanks^ to put m-j whole 
 Truft in him^ i. e. both in his Providence, for 
 outward Supplies, as I need them ; in his Mercy, 
 for Pardon of Sins, when I repent of them -, and 
 in his Spirit, for Grace and inward Aid, when I 
 endeavour together with him : To call upon him^ 
 
 Z to 
 
338 Heads of Sel/'Examwation. 
 
 to honour his holy Najne and his Word, and to ferve 
 him truly all the Days of my Life. 
 
 My Duty towards my JSIeighbour is, to love him 
 as 7nyfelf^ or to do to all Men as I would have ihevi 
 do to ?ne: To love^ honour^ and^ when Need is, 
 fuccour my Father and Mother: To honour and 
 ^bey the Kingy and all that are put in Authority 
 ^ Under him: To fuhnit myfelf to all my fpiritual 
 Paftors, and all my Governors : To {hew Reverence 
 to all my Betters : To l>ear no Malice or Hatred in 
 iny Heart: To hurt nofiodyhy Word or Deed: 
 To he true and jusl in all 7ny Dealings : To keep 
 7ny Hands from picking and flealing^ and my 'tongue 
 from Evil-fpeaking^ Lying and Slandering : To keep 
 tny Body in 'Temperance^ Sobernefs^ and Chafiity : 
 Not to covet other Mens Goods: To be diligent in 
 my own Callings and do 7ny Duty in that Relation, 
 State^ or Way of Life unto which it has pleafed God 
 to call me, 
 
 A particular Enumeration of Sins, whether againlf 
 God, our Neighbour, or Ourlelves ; taken out 
 of the Meafures of Chriftian Obedience, which 
 are all there explai?ied in the fecond Book, 
 
 SINS againft ourfelves^ are Pride^ i, e, too 
 high a Conceit of ourfelves, and Contempt 
 of others ; Arrogance^ i. e. alTuming too much to 
 ourfelves, in fetting off our own Praife-, Pain- 
 glory^ i, e, intemperate Affedlation of the Praife 
 of others j Ambition, i. e, a rcdlefs Purfuit of 
 Honour and great Places i Haughtincfs^ in con- 
 temptous, fcornful Carriage •, Imperioufnefs^ i. e. 
 a lordly Way of Behaviour, in commanding Men 
 no Way fubjedl to us •, Woridlinefs^ i. e. an over- 
 eager Care of worldly Things ; Gluttony, Volup- 
 tucufnefs, Drunkennefs^ Revelling^ Incontinence, Laf- 
 civioufnef, filthy or cbfcene T^fling>, Undearnefs^ 
 
 I Sodomsy 
 
Heads of Self''E:<aminaflon. 339 
 
 Soihmyy Ejf'irninMt'nefsy Adu',t;ryy Fornication y In- 
 (effy Rapt^y CovctoupjefSy i, e. Unfatisfiednefs with 
 our own, and an impatient Define of nnorc, or of 
 what belongs to others -, Refitjiug the CrofSy i. r, 
 dcferting a Duty to avoid ic ; Idle'nefsy SenfualitXy 
 ;. c. an indullrious Care to gratify our bodily 
 Scnfes •, Carnalii^y z. e. Subjetftton to our flefhly 
 Lufls and Appetites. 
 
 Sins rigainft Gody are, Atheifvis dcnsi/ig Provi- 
 dencCy Blafi>hem)y Superjlitiony Idolatry y fVitcbcraft^ 
 Foolijhne/s or grofs Ignorance of our Duty, Unbe- 
 lief y hating Gody ll^ant of Zealy d'ljlritftwg biWy not 
 praying to hiviy Vntbankfulnefsy Di [content in our 
 -prefent Condition or rcpimng at his Orderingy Fear- 
 lefnefs or venturing on any Thing, tho' we know ic 
 will offend him \ Common S'-Ji^earin^y Perjuryy Pro- 
 phanemfsy Diihbcdicnce. 
 
 Sins againft our Brethren at largey where are 
 Sins of 
 
 Injiijlicey as, Aturder^ Fa/fe-z:;itnefsy Slander^ 
 i. e. def:iming them with falfe Things, Lyingy Un- 
 faithfulnefsy or Breach of Promife i nefty Op- 
 prefflony i. e. wronging one who cannot cope with 
 us in Contention ; Ex tort ion y or deprrifnig in Bar^ 
 gainingy Circu7?ivcntion^ or going beyond our Bre- 
 thren. 
 
 Uncharitable fiefs y as Wickedr.efsy i. e, a Delight 
 in doing Mifchicf, and making others Work : 
 Defpiftng and bating them lu/it are gcod^ V'^'i^^g 
 Scandal to weak Bretbreny i.e. laying in their \\'ay an 
 Occafion of Sin; Envyy rejoicing in Evily Uncharita" 
 hlcnefs in /Urns \ differing falfe Stains to flick upon themy 
 when ic is in our Power to vindicate them -, AV;/- 
 fpeakingy or divulging any 111 we hear or know by 
 them ; CenforiouJnefSy i. e. a Pronenefs to blame or 
 condemn them ; Back-bitingy IFhifperingy Railingy 
 Upbraiding them with our Kindnefrr<:, Reproaching 
 them with their own Faults, Mocking them for 
 Z i^ their 
 
3^40 Heads of Self-Examiuation. 
 
 their Infirmities, Dijjicuky of Accefs^ Affronting 
 them, Uncourteoufnefs^ Uncondefcention^ Unhofpita- 
 llenefs towards Strangers, Surlinefs^ Malignity, or 
 putting the word Senfe on what is faid or done by 
 others ; Unquiet nefs, Unthankfulnefs, Anger, Vari- 
 ance, Bit t erne fs. Clamour, Hatred and Malice, Im- 
 flacahlenefs or Difficulty in being appeafed after 
 any Offences ; Revenge, or returning 111 for 111 ; 
 Ciirfing Enemies, Haftinefs and Rigour in exacting 
 Punilhments. 
 
 Difccrd', as, Unpeaceahlenefs, Emulation or pro- 
 voking one another ; Pragmatic alne/s or being 
 Biify-Bodies *, Tale-bearings not Satisfying for Inju- 
 ries, Contentioufnefs, Divifton and Fa5iion, Herefy^ 
 Schifm, Tumult, 
 
 Sins againft our Brethren in particular Relations. 
 Sins againft fovereign Princes \ as, Dijhonour^ 
 Irreverence, Speaking Evil of Dignities, refufing 
 Tribute and Taxes^ Traitor oufnefs, negletling to pray 
 for Kings, Difobedience to them, Rejiftance and i^^- 
 bellion. 
 
 Sins againft Bijhops and Miniflers ; as, Difho- 
 nour of them, efpecially for their Works Sake; 
 Irreverence, not providing for them ; Sacrilege, or 
 taking away, either by Force or Fraud, thofe 
 juft Dues which are given to God for their Sup- 
 port ; ISlot praying for them, Difobedience, 
 
 Sins of married Perfons \ as, Unconcernednefs in 
 each others Condition, not bearing each other's Infir- 
 mities, provoking each other, Eftrangednefs, publi/b* 
 ing each others Faults, not praying for each other^ 
 Jealoufy. Of the Hufhand againft the Wife -, as, 
 not maintaining her with convenient Supplies, not 
 protcoimg her from outward Annoyances, hnperi- 
 oufnefs, or a harfh arid magifterial Exercife of 
 Commands*, Uncompliance with her reafonable De- 
 fires, and Uncondefcention to her pitiable Weak- 
 neffcs. Of the Wife againft the Hufhand -y. as, 
 
 Dif 
 
Heads of Self'Exa?7nndfion, 34/ 
 
 Dijhomur in inward Eltecm and Opinions, Ine^ 
 *vtrcHce in outward Carriage, Unobjervance in not 
 forecafting to do what may plcafe him, Difobedi- 
 ence to his juft Commands, cajling ojf his loke, or 
 Unfubjedion. 
 
 Sins of Parents and Children \ as, IVant of na* 
 tiiral Affe^ion^ not prayng for each other ^ Impre^ 
 cation. Of the Parents againfl the Children ; as, 
 7iot p'ovidifig for the/n, irreligious and evil Educa- 
 tion^ provoking them to Anger by imperious Harfh- 
 nefs or needlefs Severity in Governing. Of the ' 
 Children againfl: the Parents-, as, Difljonour in 
 their Minds, Irreverence in their Behaviour, being 
 ajhamed of them, mocking them, fpeaking Evil of 
 them, Jiealing from them, B'.fahedicnce to their 
 lawful Commands, Contumacy y or cajling off Sub" 
 je^lion to them. 
 
 Sins of Brothers and Sifters ; as, IVant of natu- 
 ral Affeclion^ not providing for our Brethren^ not 
 praying for them, praying againsl I hem. 
 
 Sins of Maftcrs againft their Servants ; as, not 
 maintaining them, 7iot catechifmg or inftrucfing them, 
 unequal Government or hijuftice fiiewn in requiring 
 unlawful, PFantonnefs in requiring fuperfluous, and 
 Rigour in requiring unmerciful Things of them ; 
 iTninoderate Threatning, Impcrioufnefs, or contemp- 
 tuous haughty Treating of them ; defrauding, or 
 keeping back the IVages of the Hireling. Of Ser- 
 vants againft their Makers, as Difljonour, Jrreve- 
 rcnce, publifJjing or aggravating their Majler's Faults^ 
 not clearing, when they can, his injured Reputation^ 
 Unfaithful nefs in what he intrufts with them, fhcwn 
 cither by their IFaflefulnrJs, i. e. ipending ic for 
 their Pleafure, or Purloining, i. e. diverting it to 
 their own Profit and fecrct Enrichment *, Difobe- 
 dience, Non-cbfervance, anfivering again, Slothfulnefs^ 
 Eye-fervice, Refjftance^ not prayng for him^ pray- 
 ing againfi him, 
 
 Z 3 To 
 
342 A Prayer before the Sacrament, 
 
 To all which, add two other Sins, which are 
 peculiarly fo among Chriftians, viz, the Negle^ of 
 Baptif7ti^ and ahfenting from the hordes Supper, 
 
 When we are defirous to difcover all our Sins, 
 that we may truly repent of them, we may ex- 
 amine our own Hearts in all thefe Particulars, try- 
 ing ourfelves either by the former Catalogue when 
 vvp have lefs, or by this latter^ when we have 
 more Time, according to our own Dilcretion. 
 We may aflc ourfelves at every one. Whether we 
 pver w.ittingl'^ yielded tp it ? and if we have. Whe- 
 ther fince that Time we have amended it r And 
 noting all thofe whereof we (land guilty before 
 God, affed our own Hearts with a forrowful Senfc 
 of wh^t ^e have done, from fuch Confiderations 
 as are before laid down *, and then renew our 
 Vows, and make God our humble ConfefTion and 
 Engagements that we will never have more to do 
 with theni. For which End, they who are not 
 otherways fupplied, rnay make ufe of the Devo-r 
 iion^ p. 325, which may ferve as a fenitentid 
 Pra'^er and Confejjion. 
 
 A Prayer before the Sacrament, 
 
 O Father of Mercies^ ivho hall once given thy 
 Son to die for me, and art now ready, in the 
 lioly Sacrament, to offer him to me again, I humbly 
 adore^ hut am utterly at a Lofs zvhni I '•juould duly 
 prize fo invaluable a Mercy, PFfjat am /, poor 
 wretched Creature, thai I Jhould fit down to eat 
 with my bleffed Lord, when the glorious Jngels do 
 Lit a Dijlance adore and pay him Homage ? Why 
 fhould I he called to feed upon his facred Body and 
 Blood, when my Sins had a Hand in all the Mi fey ies 
 which he fuffdred, fo that I deferve to be ranked 
 among his Murderers, who were guilty of that hornd 
 FaLly which nothing, but the Blood they fixed, co:Ud 
 
A Prayer before the Sacrament. 34J 
 
 ever expiate ? But fincc it is thy glorious ExcdUncy^ 
 O blejfcd Jcfu I to love thofi thai bate thee^ and to 
 fave their Lives ivho harbaroufly took away thi>ie^ 
 and accordingly to call to this heavenly Fea^t fo un- 
 worthy a ff^retch as I am ; / am ready to come at 
 thy Command^ but would fain come woytbily^ and 
 leave all my Sins behind 7nCy feei?jg it is no Feaff for 
 them. ! I loath them^ and would never yield to 
 com?n:t them^ were they to do again \ and humbly /;/- 
 treat my Heavenly Father, tljat fjr thy Sake he 
 would freely forgive me what is pasl, and rid me of 
 thjm for the Time to come. Slay them, good Lord^ 
 for they have /lain thee, and will flay me too, in 
 Time, if they are fuffered to reign in mc. Meet me 
 in this heavenly Banquet, with a full Far don of all 
 mine Offences, and with a perfeoJ Cure of all mine 
 Infrmities and fpiritual Dijlempers, that I may be 
 cleanfed by thy Blood, and quickened by thy Spirit, 
 and ajpired of that eternal Life, which, for thy Sakcy 
 God has promifed to all his eleul ones. 
 
 All this thou art ready to do for vie, holy Jefu ! 
 if I come worthily. And therefore my huvible Re- 
 que si is. That thou wouldil affisl me acceptably to 
 perform the Duties of this heavenly Fcaff, that fo I 
 may enjoy all the Blcfjings of it, and fed it a Coin- 
 munion of thy very Body and Blood. / would gladly 
 remember thy dying Love with the mofl devout AJfec^ 
 tions, and with an Heart that is full of Thanks, and 
 intirely devoted to thy Service, and is quite weary oj 
 my Sins, and mofi deftrous of thy Grace, and is tho- 
 roughly prepared to feal a lajlirg Covenant of Re^ 
 pentance and Reconciliation with thee, and with all 
 my Neighbours ? All this I defire to do, and to do it 
 fervently : But alas ! I cannot do it as I ought, un- 
 lefs thou, O bUjfed Saviour ! wilt gracioufly come and 
 help me. My Apprehenfions of this amazing Love 
 are very low, O ! do thou exalt thr'm. A/y Heart 
 i jlill infenfible of what thou ha'i done and fuffef*d 
 Z 4 for 
 
344 A Prayer after the Sacrament. 
 
 far me^ and my Affeciious are dull and h^avy. Of 
 do tbou quicken and inflame them. Make me love 
 thee as much as it is pojfible for my Heart to love any^ 
 and to dfftre thy Grace as highly as I need it *, and to 
 he fet againf^ every Sin as irreconcilably as there is 
 jubj Catife for the fame^ both fcr thy Sake and for 
 mine own -, and to love all my Brethren as 1 am be^ 
 loved ^ that I may be fit to receive the abundant Com-' 
 municaiicns of thy Grace in the approaching Sacra- 
 ment ? I earneftly ajk^ and humbly hope for all thisy 
 O good God ! only becaufe I infinitely need it \ and 
 hecaufe thy Grace is infinite^ which will not fuffer 
 thee to fee the JSJeceJfities of thy poor Servant unfup- 
 plied ; and becaufe^ unworthy as I am^ I am ftill 
 the Fur chafe of thy So7j's moff precious Blood. O ! 
 then do not defpife me for thine own Mercies^ and 
 for thy dear Son^s Sake: In whofe holy Name and 
 Words 1 farther pray as he hath taught me. 
 Our Father which art in Heaven^ &c. 
 
 A Pr A Y E R and T H ANKSGiviNG after 
 the SACRAMENT. 
 
 17'hank I'kee most intirely^ O my God I for calling 
 7ne this Day to thy Own Table^ to fhew me how 
 thine only Son freely died in my Steady and to affure 
 me that now^ fcr his Sake, thou art fully reconciled, 
 a:id wilt live in me by thy Grace now at prefent, and 
 raife me up to be eternally happy with ibyfeljf at laft ; 
 of all which thou haft given me the fureft Pledges in 
 his 7nofi precious Body arJ Blood, What can 1 ren- 
 der unto thee, holy Father^ or to thee, iny dear ft Sa- 
 viour^ for fo incomprehenfible a Benefit ? I admire 
 thy marvellous Love, and magnfy it above ail 
 ^hinis. Thy Praife fhall ever be in my Mouth, and 
 I will tell out thy wondrous Works with Gladnefs. 
 And may all Hearts adore, and every Tongue co}^efs^ 
 thai ihoii^ holy JefuSy art the Saviour of the JVorld^ 
 
 and 
 
A Prayer after the Sacrament. 345 
 
 and the Son of the Father, zi'bom Heaven and Earth 
 muft honour^ and call bUJJed for evermore^ 
 
 Pardon^ O good God! the Unaffe5lednefs of my 
 dull Hearty in the Receipt of fo ineflimable a Trea- 
 fure. And Jill me luiib Deftres fome IVay fuitahle 
 to my Needsy and to the Ricbnefs of thy Mercies^ 
 that whenfoever this Cup of Blejfmgs fljall again 
 (Toerfiow, my Heart may run over with Joy and 
 S'hankfulnefs alfo. Let me never forget the Love 
 which I have received^ and the Peace which I have 
 fealed, and the Promifes of new Life^ which I have 
 made this Day ; but as thy Grace has helped me to 
 tbcm^ fo keep me in a lively Senfe of them, and viable 
 me always to fulfil the fame to iny Lifers End. Now 
 thou hail given me the Blood of Expiation, to Jhew 
 me that we are Friends ; C / never let me be guilty 
 cf any Thing to break the Peace, which is Jiow fo fo* 
 lemnly ratified betwixt us. Now I have vowed Obe- 
 dience to thy holy Laws, to be bumble, chaff, tem- 
 perate, jusf, charitable, patient, 
 devout *, and entirely refigned to ,^ * ^^'"^ mention 
 thy holy mil andPlccfure; 0! l::::^;^^^, 
 let me not ftart back again from Table. 
 thefe holy Promifes for ever ! Now 
 I have received my ble fifed Lord, never fuffer me to 
 do any Thing unworthy of him -, now I am Partaker 
 of his Body and Blocd, let his holy Spirit go along 
 with them, and then 1 fhall be what I ought to be 
 when I am in bis Keeping. My Sins^ which J have 
 renounced, will return again, except be chafe tbem 
 away ; and my falfe Heart, which now feems fix*d 
 for God, will revolt, unlefs be eflablijb it, O ! Jweetefl 
 Savicur, let thy Body be my Food, thy Strength my 
 Guard, thy Spirit my Life, and the Senfe of thy 
 Favour my greateff Joy and Comfiort. Go en ^aci- 
 oufiy to accomplifh what thou bajl now begun tn me^ 
 and let me ever be fecure and happy in thy Cuflody, 
 Be it even fo^ for tbine own Sake^ blejfcd jefu I 
 
 And 
 
346 A Prayer after the Sacrament. 
 
 And then, when there is Time for it, or after- 
 wards, where there is not, may they go on, and fay ; 
 
 Give thy Grace^ O holy Jefu ! to all the fForUy 
 and let all who were redeemed by thy Bloody acknow- 
 ledge thee to be the Lord^ and become thy Worjhippers 
 and faithful Servants. Make all Chriftians confcieU" 
 thus Pra^ifers of that Holinefs which they profefs. 
 And above all, infpire them with uniting Principles 
 and charitable Hearts, that by their loving one an- 
 other, as thou hajl loved us, all the World may know 
 that they are thy Difciples, Let all Governors rule 
 with Wifdom and Juftice, and all Subje5fs obey with 
 Love and Chearfulnefs, Let the Priefts of the Lord 
 he exeinplary in their Lives, and difcreet and diligent 
 in their Labours, having a moft compajftonate Love 
 for Souls ', and let the People be humble and towardly, 
 ■mojl defirous to hearken to, and fully bent to follow 
 wife Injlru5iions. Be an Help at Hand to all that 
 need and are afflioied. S-end Supplies to all that are 
 in Want, and affiji them contentedly to depend upon 
 ibee. Ratfe Friends to the Widow and Fatherlefs, 
 the Prifoners and Captives, and to all that groan 
 binder Opprejfors, who are thrown upon thy Mercy, 
 Give Repentance, Patience, and Reftgnation to aU 
 who are fick, and Eafe when thou feeft it convenient 
 for the?n. Be a Comforter to all troubled Confciencies, 
 helping them to an acceptable Holinefs, and enlighten- 
 ing their Minds about all caufelejs Scruples, that they 
 may not fear where no Fear is. Succour all that are 
 tempted, with fuch a Meafure of thy Grace, as may 
 in able them to ft and in all their 'Trials. Think par- 
 ticularly on all 7ny Friends, who are efpecially en- 
 ■deared to me by their Kindneffcs or Acquaintance-, on 
 all my Relations in the Flefh ; on all who pray par- 
 ticularly for ?ne, or deftre my Prayers. Teach us all 
 to defire what thou approveft, and then grant us 
 whdtfoever is de fired. Prevent us in all our Acllons, 
 and guard us againft all Bangers^ and relieve us in 
 
 all 
 
A Morning Prayer for a Family. 347 
 
 all Streigbis, and grant that "jue may akvay make 
 thee our Stay and Confide lee^ and take all ^hingi 
 'ixjell which thou ordereft for us. Shorten all our 
 Sorrows^ and prevent all our SinSy and fit us all 
 for tkat eternal Kingdc?n which thou hafl prepared 
 for us^ for jfefus^s Sake^ in whofe holy Name and 
 IVords I further pray unto ther. 
 
 Our Father which art in Ht^aven, ^~V- 
 
 Being fenfible how plain Minds, who are ready 
 ro do it lb far as they are inabled, are often-times 
 at a Lofs for their dally Devotions •, and not know- 
 ing but this Treatife may flill into fome fucU 
 Hands *, I have added tivo Prayers, which fuch 
 Perfons may fay Alorning and Evening in tlicir 
 Families. 
 
 A Morning Prayer for a Family, 
 
 OCody who art the Giver of all good Gifts^ and 
 the Father of Mercies^ we thine unworthy 
 Servants intirely defire to praife thy Name for all 
 the ExpreJJions of thy Bounty towards us, Bleffed be 
 tby Lcve^ that gave thy Son to die for our Sins, to 
 put us in a fVay of being happy, if we would obey 
 thee ; and after all our wilful liefufals of thy Grace, 
 /fill bail Patience with us^ and hajl added this one 
 J^ay more to all we have mifpeut already, to fee if 
 we will fini/h the ll^ork whiah thou hafi fet us to do, 
 and fit ourfclves for eternal Glory. Pardon, good 
 Lord, all cur former Sins, and all our Ahujcs of tby 
 Forbearance, for which now we are forryf at cur 
 Hearts *, a}id give us Grace to lead more holy Lives, 
 and to he more careful in improveing all future Op- 
 portunities. Make thyfelf prefent to our MuiuS, and 
 i:'t thy Love and Fear rule in our Souls in all thofe 
 Places and Cornranies where our Occnfions jhall lead 
 f/; this Day, Keep us cbajlc in all our Thoughts, 
 
 tern- 
 
348 A Morning Prayer for a Family, 
 
 temperate in all our EnjoymentSy and bumble in alf 
 our Opinions ofourfelves^ charitable in all our Speeches 
 of others^ meek and peaceable under all Provocations, 
 Jincere and faithful in all our Profejfions^ and fo jujl 
 and upright in all our Dealings^ that no Necejftty may 
 force^ nor Opportunity in any Kind allure us to defraud 
 or go beyond our Neighbours, When thou beftoweft 
 Good on others^ let us not envy,, hut rejoice in it ; and 
 when thou addefi any to ourfelves^ lei us own thy 
 Mercy and humbly thank thee for it. Afford us con^ 
 venient Supplies in all our reafonable Neceffities^ and 
 prote5i us againjl the Approach of all Dangers, Make 
 ns diligent in all our Buftnefs, and give fuch Succefs 
 to our honeft Endeavours as thou feeft moft expedient 
 for us ; and teach us contentedly to fuhnit^ and not to 
 repine at any Thing that happens to us by the Allots 
 ment of thy wife Providence, In all our Paffage 
 thro* this World, and our manifold Concerns therein, 
 fuffer not our Hearts to be too much fet upon it % but 
 always fix our Eyes upon the hleffed Hope, that as 
 we- go along we may ?nake all the Things of this 
 World to minifter to it, and be careful above all 
 Things to fit our Souls for that pure and perfect 
 Blifs which thou haft prepared for all who love and 
 fear thee, in the Glories of thy Kingdom, 
 
 Extend thy Grace, we farther hefeech thee, to all 
 Men, in all Places ; efpecially to the Governors and 
 Subjecfs, to all both high and low, rich and poor, 
 who pray for it, or need it in thefe Kingdoms, Blefs 
 all our Relations, who are near us in the Fleflo, and 
 all our Friends and Benefactors, who are endeared to 
 us by their Kindneffes, Forgive all our Enemies, give 
 them Hearts to fear thee, and to be kind to us ; and 
 fupply all us^ and all others with whatfoever thou feeft 
 proper for us^ for Jefus Chrift's Sake •, in whofe 
 hleffed Name and Words we ftill recommend ourfelves 
 unto thee^ f(iytng. 
 
 Our Father which art in Heaven, ^c. 
 
 An 
 
An Evening Prayer for a Family: 
 
 OMoft gracious Gody who daily muUifUeft upon 
 us thy Mercies^ 7iotwithftandi)jg we every Day 
 rcHcw our Provocations *, accept^ we befccch thee^ ^f 
 our mojl humble and hearty Thanks for thy unfpeak" 
 able Kindnefs towards us, Blejfed be thy Gocdnefsy 
 which has this Day fuppUcd us with Food and 
 Necejfaries ; and haft preferved us in Healthy the 
 chief eft of all outward Enjoyments ; and haft prof- 
 per'd the JVork of our Hands, and lent us our Friends 
 to be ft ill a Support and Comfort to us. Adored be 
 thy Love and Patience, which baft allowed us 9ne 
 Day more to amend our IVays, and ajfift us by the 
 Suggeftions of thy Spirit, and thy gracious Providences^ 
 to make up that Refignation, Humility, Contented- 
 nef, Chaftity, Sobriety, Meeknefs, Chanty^ and other 
 Virtues which are yet wanting in our own Souls, JVe 
 defire to Jhew ourfelv^s duly fenfible of theje endear- 
 ing Benefits, by learning to depend upon thy Provi- 
 dence, which has been fo watchful over us ; and to 
 be contented with thy Orderings, which are fo wifely 
 fitted to our own Advantage \ and applying all Oppor- 
 tunities to the Encreafc cf that Rigbteoufnefs and holy 
 hiving which thou requireft at our Hands, IVe fain 
 would do it, and are here fincerely refolved to en- 
 deavour it ; and thou haft promifed to aid all tbofe 
 who labour in fo good a IVork, Be it then, O Lord^ 
 unto thy Servants according to thy fFbrd, and enable 
 7ij by thy Grace and holy Spirit fo to do, 
 
 IVe are fenfible, O God, how highly we have of- 
 fended thee, althd* we ft and thus indebted for all we 
 have, or hope to enjoy, to thy^ free Grace and Bounty. 
 How many IVays have we diftjonoured our Profefficn, 
 and revolted from the Fows which wc made in Bap- 
 1 i* ^ tifm^ 
 
350 An Evening Prayer for a Family, 
 
 tifm^ hy Pride^ and Envy^ and Anger^ and Bifcon-^ 
 tent^ and Evil-f peaking^ and ferving divers Lufts^ 
 which then we utterly renounced^ and promifed never to 
 live in again ? We are heartily grieved and ajhamed 
 for thefe^ and all other our Mif- doings^ and are fidly 
 rcfolved^ by thy Grace ^ hereafter to amend them, 
 IVe unfeignedly repent of them^ and for Chriji^s 
 Sake^ humbly beg to be forgiven^ and that thy Grace 
 and holy Spirit may rid us of them for the Time to 
 come. Our full Purpofe is to endeavour after a 
 thorough Amendment of our PFays^ and thy Promifc 
 is to help us therein •, O let thine Arm be our Almighty 
 Aid, and then we Jhall return to them no more. 
 
 Keep us under the Defence and Care of thy good 
 Providence this Night ; make our Sleep fafe^ and 
 refrejhing to us. Fit us for our great Change, that 
 it may not ftirprize us unawares, but that havi?7g led 
 holy Lives, we may be happy in our Deaths, and 
 have Comfort and well grounded Hope in thee. 
 
 Give ail Men Grace to repent of all their Sins^ 
 and to become thy faithful Servants, Let all Chri^ 
 Jiians live up to the Laws of that Religion which 
 they profef ; efpecially blefs thefe Kingdo?nT wherein 
 we live : Let our Governors rule with Jufiice, and 
 our People obey with Chearfulnefs : Make the Rich 
 and Profperous to fhew thcmfelves temperate in ufing, 
 and charitable in difiributing of their Subflance ; and 
 the Poor and AffiiBed to be patient and contented 
 under their Burthens : And caufe us all to love as 
 Brethren, a7id to be pitiful and tender-hearted towards 
 all Men, Prcferve our Friends in their Souls and 
 Bodies : Forgive our Enemies, and make them kindly 
 affeEled towards tfs : And do whatfoever thou feejl 
 fitting for us all, for the Sake of thy Son, our Advo- 
 cate, and only Saviour J ejus Chrifiy who haft taught 
 us in his own IVords thus to pray. 
 
 Our Father which art in Heaven, Cffr, 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 T 
 
 HE Introductiom Page i 
 
 PART I. CHAP. I. 
 
 The Meaning of Feajl'mg in the Sacratnent 4 
 
 II. Of the Worthiness of Communicating 2^ 
 
 III. A farther Account of this IVorthinefs 59 
 IV ^cr//jv Receiving not extraordinary difficult ; 
 
 and of Unwortbinej] to ComTnimkate 68 
 
 PART II. CHAP. 1. 
 
 Of the Duty of Communicating S4 
 
 II. Of the Benefits thereof 112 
 
 PART III. CHAP. I. 
 
 Two Hindrances Uom Communicating 132 
 
 II. Of Three other Hindrances from Re^ 
 (riving 1 49 
 
 III. h Sixth Hindrancr; of \S xvX o'i Charl!) 187 
 
 IV. Of Swful Law-Suits 212 
 
 V. Q^ Three other Hindrances 254 
 
 VI. Of Three other Hindranct-, 2OD 
 
 VII. Of 
 
The CONTENT S: 
 
 VII. Of Some other Hindrances 304 
 
 VIII. Devotions fitted for the Holy 
 Sacrament. 312 
 
 Heads of Self-Ex Amination, to find out what 
 
 Sins are to he relented of before a Sacrament, 
 
 ^c. * ^37 
 
 A -particular Enumeration of "SrNS,. whether 
 
 againfi Gody our,Nejghhoiiry or our Selves, C^c, 538 
 
 A Prater before the Sacrament 342 
 
 A Prayer and Thanksgiving after the 
 
 Sacrament. 344 
 
 A Morning Prayer for a Family 347 
 
 An Evening Prayer for a Family. 349 
 
 FINIS, 
 
V 
 
^ 
 

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