The Christian Governor in the Commonwealth and Private Families, Exposition 1 · Part 26
From the Citie of the Lord, &c.
BY the Citie of the Lord, in these last words of the Psalme, the Prophet meaneth Ierusalem, which is called the Citie of the great King, Matth. 5.35. for as the Lord out of all the world chose the Land of Canaan to bee his portion: so out of all Canaan he chose Ierusalem to be his place, where he vvould put his Tabernacle, and set his Temple, Deut. 12.5. and 1 King. 8.29. Metaphorically, hee meaneth by the City of the Lord, the Church of God: and so the reformation of the Church shalbe his first and chiefest care.
The Doctrine is; in all reformation…, the Churches should hauehave the first place. The Commaundement which Christ giueth, Mat. 6.33. First seeke the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, belongeth to all, teaching them vvith their first care and best meanes, to promote the glorie of GOD in his Church. This Dauid practised himselfe, 2 Sam. 6. 14.15. & 7.1.2. and commaunded to his Sonne, 1 Chron. 28.9.10. By this Salomon ascended into a most glorious seate (as is noted by the Lyons at his feete on eyther side) and sate downe aboue all the Kings of the earth; whose glorie (so sitting) vvas such that he seemed to be a new Adam, reentred into the Paradise of God; or rather as the Sonne of God, vvhose glorie, in a sort, vvas shadowed in his. And the Lord greatly prospered Hezekiah, because, with his morning care he opened the doore of the Temple of the Lord, which his Father A…az had shut vp, 2 Chron. 31.21. Moe examples and precepts to this effect might be alledged; but these may suffice that hauehave beene spoken of
The Reasons.
First, Religion and Godlinesse, (which are the Iachin and Boaz, the two strong and durable Pillars of Gods Church, 1 King. 7.21.) are the two, and principall two necessarie proppes of a sanctified state, without which it falleth.
Secondly, if a man that hath the charge of the Kings house, in the Kings absence, will carefully looke vntounto all the roomes of the same, but specially to those (that they be cleane and in good order) into vvhichwhich the King, in person, vvill come: shall not they, vvho hauehave the keeping of Gods house, (which is his beautifull Temple,) though they must not neglect the out-roomes of the Common-wealth, yet (specially) looke to the presence, and those holy Chambers in the vvhichwhich Christ will keepe his Passe-ouer with his Disciples, that they be trimmed? Mark. 14.15.
Thirdly, the Church, as the first moueable, must be first stirred and vvell ordered, or the wheeles of the Commonwealth will (all of them) either stand still, or goe in no order. Therefore were they reproued by Haggai the Prophet, vvho builded their owne houses, and dwelt in setled houses, but neglected or did not regard Gods house. Agg. 1.2.4.
Vses.
An admonition to all Rulers and Gouernours,Vse. in all their purposes, specially in their Parliament and State-consultations, to set the motions of policie vnderunder the waightie billes of the Church, till Gods tabernacle hauehave all his pinnes and vvhole furniture. And here that which Azariah the Prophet said to Asa the King, and to all Iudah and Beniamin; may truly and fitly be spoken… to all Kings, as to Asa, and to all their Nobilitie, as to the royall seede of Iudah, and to all the people, as to Beniamin: the Lord is with you while you be with him, and if you seeke him, He will be found of you; but if you forsake him, hee will forsake you. 2 Chron. 15.2. The first fruits are Gods: He that denieth these, denieth Gods right, and refuseth to giuegive him his royalties.
But there are in the holy Citie, that is, in the Church wicked persons (as the…e vvill euer be) that must be cut off. Doct. 2.Where the point taught is: the Church visible is a mixt assembly, vvherein are good and bad, true beleeuers and hypocrites. Some are sound members, and some not members, but certaine superfluous and troublesome humours in the veines of the Church, liuing in it as Goates among Sheepe, and being in it as tares among Corne, Matth. 13.27. Ierusalem in the dayes of Christ, was called the holy Citie: yet in it were blinde leaders of the blinde, a corrupt Priest-hood, and ministrie of sacriledge. Matth. 15.14. This is that great sheete, knit at the foure corners, and let downe to the earth, wherein are all manner of beasts and fowle, cleane and vncleane. Act. 10.11.12: and this is that drawnet of soules, that gathereth of all kindes, good and bad soules. Matth. 13.47.48.
The Reasons.
There must be heresies in the Church, and Schismes in Doctrine. But there can be no heresies, but there must be heretikes to teach them, euen in the Church; nor Schismes, but where are Schismatikes to make them, euen from the Church. 1 Corinth. 11.19. Further, the faith of the good must be tried: 1 Pet. 1.7. And how can that be if there be no bad to trie them?
Secondly, Christ gaue himselfe for his Church, that he might sanctifie and cleanse it. Eph. 5.25.26. And wherefore sanctifie it, but because it was vncleane, and yet a Church? When hee presents it to his Father, it shall be without spot, but till hee take it from the drosse of mortalitie to present it, it shall hauehave spottes, yea it selfe shall be spotted, and liue with spotted men.
Vse.
The vse reproueth those who thinke there can be no sound Church,Vse. vvhere are any corrupt members, and vvho, for the euill vvhichwhich are in the Church, forsake the good that are in it. Hebr. 10.25.38.39. There was a Iudas in Christs companie, and at Christs table, yet did Christ suffer him, neither shewed him to the other Apostles, that they might seperate from him. Which he did (no doubt) to shew that among Professours there will be alway faultie Professours. The Magistrate should reforme them, but Christians may not separate for them; neither depart from the company of the Church, because of that euill companie that is in the Church. Indeede, vvee should not make them our companion… : and we ought alwaies to separate from their sinnes. But shall I runne from my Fathers house, because a bad seruant is in it? No doubt, but there were good men who abode in that Church where the watch-men vvere blinde, and where they were (all) dumbe Dogges, who should with wholesome barking, hauehave driuen away the Wolfe, or giuen warn…g of his comming: or vvhere were they? Esa. 56.10. If a brother walke inordinately, vvee should with-draw our selues from him, not from the Church because of him, 12 Thessalonians. 3.6. 1 Corinthians. 5.11. So I conclude, that to separate from a Church is vnlawfull, where many things vnlawfull, and not so refined from the drosse of flesh, are practised in that Church.
ROM. 16.27.
To God, onelyonly wise, be praise, through Iesus Christ for euer. Amen.
IOS. 24.15.
I, and my house will serue the Lord.
ACT. 10.1.
Cornelius, with all his houshold, feared God.
FINIS.
GODS Gentle Remembrance, this last Sommer. Anno 1613.
OR AN EXPOSITION on part of the Parable of the lost Sonne.
BY ROBERT HORN.
PSAL. 111. vers. 4.
Hee hath made his wonderfull workes to be had in remembrance: the Lord is mercifull, and full of compassion.
LONDON: Printed by T. S. for Francis Burton, and are to be solde at the signe of the greene Dragon, in Paules Church-yard. 1614.