Mount Zion, Part 3
SEcondly, the Kingdom ſhall not be left to another people, For from the top of the Rocks I ſee him, and from the Hills I behold him; lo, the people ſhall dwell alone, and ſhall not be reckoned among the nations, Numb. 23.9.
The true Church is the Kingdom, that ſhall not be left to another people.
The Father will not leave them.
The Son will not leave them.
The Holy Spirit will not leave them.
The good Angels will not leave them.
Firſt, God the Father will not leave them. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth, to ſhew himſelf ſtrong in the behalf of them, whoſe heart is perfect towards him, 2 Chron. 16.9.
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and ſeeketh to ſlay him, the Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is Judged, Pſalm 37.32.33. He ſhall feed his ſtock like a ſhepherd, he ſhall gather the lambs with his Arm, and carry them in his Boſom, and ſhall gently lead thoſe that are with young, Iſa. 40.11. Can a woman forget her ſucking Child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the Son of her Womb? Yea they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, Iſa. 49.15. Let your converſation be without covetouſneſs, and be content with ſuch things as ye have, for he hath ſaid, I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee, Heb. 13.5. God will not leave his people, they are his habitation where he dwells; will a man leave his habitation, and wander up and down from place to place? Every Saint is Gods habitation. For thus ſaith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whoſe name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy places; with him alſo that is of a contrite and humble Spirit, to revive the Spirit of the humble, and to revive the Heart of the contrite ones, Iſa. 57.15. In whom you alſo are builded together, for an habitation of God, through the Spirit, Eph. 2.22. Will a man forſake and leave his own Children to the wide World, to poverty, and miſery, and great calamities? All true believers are Gods Sons and Daughters. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and I will be a Father unto you, and ye ſhall be my Sons and Daughters, ſaith the Lord Almighty, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. Will men leave their Treaſures and Jewels to Robbers and Thieves? O! what care do they take of theſe, to keep them ſafe and ſecure? For Treaſure men will ſtretch their Conſciences, and pawn their very Souls to the Devil, and run the adventure of their everlaſting damnation. To gain Treaſure men will go into forrein Countreys, and rake the bottom of the Sea, to ſeek for Silver, and to ſearch for hidden Treaſures. God s Children are his Treaſures, and his Jewels. And ye ſhall be a peculiar Treaſure unto me above all people, Exod. 19.5. For the Lord hath choſen Jacob for himſelf, and Iſrael for his peculiar Treaſure, Pſa. 135.4. And they ſhall be mine, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts; in that day when I make up my Jewels, Mal. 3.17. This is ſuch a Treaſure, as God will never leave to another People. There are three things of God always upon his People.
1. The Eyes of the Lord: The Eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his Ears are open unto their cry, Pſal. 34 15. His Eyes run to and fro through the whole Earth, and they are never off from his own People; he beholds them with delight, and rejoyceth over them: his Eyes are on them for good, watching over them day and night.
2. The Name of the Lord: And I looked, and lo, a Lamb ſtood on the Mount Sion, and with him an Hundred forty and four thouſand, having his Fathers name written in their foreheads, Rev. 14.1. Him that overcometh, will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he ſhall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the City, which is New Jeruſalem, which cometh down out of Heaven from my God: and I will write upon him a new name, Rev. 3.12. The Name of God is upon his People, and this ſhews to whom they do belong, and whoſe they are.
3. The comlineſs and glory of the Lord: And thy renown went forth among the Heathen for thy beauty, for it was perfect, through my comlineſs which I had put upon thee, ſaith the Lord, Ezek. 16.14. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her Aſſemblies, a cloud, and ſmoke by day, and the ſhining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory ſhall be a defence, Iſa. 4.5. If ye be reproached for the Name of Chriſt, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory, and of God, reſteth upon you, 1 Pet. 4.14. Theſe are the things that are upon the righteous. And there are three things that God hath given to his People.
1. Himſelf: But this ſhall be the Covenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael, after thoſe days, ſaith the Lord, I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they ſhall be my People, Jer. 31.33. They ſhall call on my Name, and I will hear them: I will ſay, It is my People; and they ſhall ſay, The Lord is my God, Zech. 13.9, For what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? for ye are the Temple of the living God, as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my People, 2 Cor. 6.16.
2. A Kingdom: Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleaſure to give you the Kingdom, Luke 12.32. And I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me, Luke 22.29. Bleſſed are the poor in ſpirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 5.3.
3. Grace and Glory: For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he with hold from them that walk uprightly, Pſal. 84.11. And he ſaid unto me, My grace is ſufficient for thee, 2 Cor. 12.9. Whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the World, or Life, or Death, or things preſent, or things to come, all is yours, 1 Cor. 3.22. O Chriſtian! how canſt thou ſay, thou haſt nothing, or that thou haſt but little? Here is thy Inventory, ſee here what thy heavenly Father hath given thee, count it, and caſt it up. Thou haſt all things; God hath given thee himſelf, and a Kingdom; grace and glory, things preſent, and things to come; the world, life and death are all thine; how great is thy happineſs! O! wait but a little, and thou wilt be in the poſſeſſion of all.
There be three things, that God will never take from his people, whiles they are in this life
1. His love and loving kindneſs. I have loved thee with an everlaſting love, therefore with loving kindneſs have I drawn thee, Jer. 31.3. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me ſhall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and manifeſt my ſelf to him, John 14.21. Having loved his own which were in the World, he loved them unto the end, John 13.1. This the righteous are crown'd with in this life, He crowneth them with loving kindneſs, and tender mercies, Pſalm 103.4.
2. His Spirit. And I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the ſpirit of truth, John 14.16, 17. but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſs, goodneſs, ſaith, meekneſs, temperance, Gal. 5.22, 23.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God; and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you, 1 Cor. 3.16. God will not leave his Children comfortleſs, he will not leave them orphans; the Spirit of God dwells in them, and abides with them, and reſteth upon them, and leads them into all truth; it convinceth ſinners, and it comforteth Saints, For the Spirit it ſelf maketh interceſſion for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
3. His Preſence, which is the glory of his People, and the glory in the midſt of them, God is in the midſt of her: ſhe ſhall not be moved; God ſhall help her, and …hat right early, Pſalm 46.5. Take counſel …ogether, and it ſhall come to nought; ſpeak …he word: and it ſhall not ſtand; for God is with us, Iſa. 8.10. Jeſus anſwered and …aid unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and …e will come unto him, and make our abode with him, John 14.23. The preſence of God is the Saints Heaven on Earth: They do ſometimes in a duty enjoy ſo much of God's preſence, that it fills their eyes with tears, and their hearts with joy, they …eel that they cannot expreſs, and en…oy that which cannot be fully uttered, and taſt that which they cannot declare to others. I did know a young man in the City of Exon, about thirty five years ago, who lay under many temptations, and fears, becauſe he wanted God's comforting preſence; but in a certain night, when all the people in the family were in their beds, and, as he thought, faſt aſleep, except himſelf, he roſe up from his bed, and went up into the Garret, and there wreſtl'd with God by prayer, with fervency, and many tears; but was then ſo terrified by temptations and fears, that he thought the Devil wa… preſent with him in the room, ſometime… before him, and ſometimes behind him which did ſo diſtract and interrupt him that he was forc'd often to break off fo… a little time, and this he continued to do for three nights together; but on the third night, as he was pouring out hi… Soul before the Lord in prayer, his voic… was taken from him, that he could no… utter a word, but his underſtanding remained with him, for about the ſpace o… a quarter of an hour, and in that time he thought himſelf to be in Heaven, or the Joys of Heaven to be in him; he then taſted, and enjoyed ſo much of God that it was not poſſible for a man to utter nor to declare to others; but when his ſpeech returned to him, that he could ſpeak, he then found that this extraordinary preſence of God withdrew it ſel… from him; then he bleſt, and prais'd the God of Heaven, that had ſeal'd his Love to him, and given him the earneſt of his Spirit, and victory over the Devil. God knows, that what I have here written, is true; and I appeal to Saints experience, whether they have not found this at the Throne of Grace, when they have been lying at God's feet, they have been then …aken up into his boſom. Oh taſt and ſee …hat the Lord is good: bleſſed is the man that …ruſteth in him, Pſal. 34.8. There is a Ri…er, the ſtreams whereof ſhall make glad the City of God: the holy place of the Taber…acles of the moſt High, Pſal. 46.4. This is not a little Spring, but a River; not a few drops, but ſtreams, that makes glad …he hearts of God's People. Come and …ear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare that he hath done for my Soul, Pſal. 66.16. By this you may ſee, God the Father will not leave his Children.
2. The Son will not leave them: And Jeſus came, and ſpake unto them, ſaying, All …ower is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all Na…ions, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt; …eaching them to obſerve all things whatſoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the World. Amen, Matth. 28.18, 19, 20. Will the Head leave the Body? Will the Vine leave the Branches? Will the Shepherd leave the Flock? Will the Fountain leave the Stream? Will the Bridegroom leave the Bride? Will the Purchaſer leave the Purchaſe?
Firſt then, the Church is his body; the body cannot live without the head; this is a living body, and the head gives life to every member of this body.
A life of Grace.
A life of Comfort.
A life of Glory.
Becauſe I live, ye ſhall live alſo, John 14.19. as the living Father hath ſent me, and I live by the Father; ſo he that eateth me, even he ſhall live by me, John 6.57. Now if we be dead with Chriſt, we believe we ſhall alſo live with him, Rom. 6.8. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lords, Rom. 14.8. When Chriſt who is our life ſhall appear, then ſhall ye alſo appear with him in glory, Col. 3.4. For this my Son was dead, and is alive again, he was loſt, and is found; and they began to be merry, Luke 15.24. And you hath he quickned, who were dead in treſpaſſes and ſins. Epheſ. 2.1. Every Member of the true Church is a living Member; and this life they all receive from Chriſt Jeſus the Head; and this glorious Head cannot leave his own Body the Church: Let no man ſay he is a Member of Chriſt's Church, unleſs he be born again; Except a man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God, John 3.3. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again, 1 Pet. 1.3. Every Member of Chriſt hath in him a vigorous Faith, a lively Hope, a ſaving Knowledge, a meaſure of the Spirit, and a ſufficiency of Grace.
2. Chriſts Church is a fruitful Church, I am the Vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the ſame bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing, John 15.5. you ſee here Chriſt Jeſus is the Vine, and Believers are the Branches, the bleſſed Jeſus will never leave theſe branches, for without him they can do nothing, but in him they are more than Conquerors, and do bring forth the fruits of Righteouſneſs, love, and Charity: love towards God, and charity towards men, they do bring forth out of that treaſure of grace that is in them, good lives and converſations, living righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world; all the Children of God, that are in this world, they are but as ſo many branches of this Vine, they are but as ſo many limbs of this Tree; they are but ſo many little partys and bodys, that make up this body of Chriſt, the Church of God; that ſhall not be left to another people.
3. They are his flock. I am the good ſhepherd of the ſheep, and know my ſheep, and am known of mine, John 10.14. Our Lord Jeſus is that good ſhepherd and paſtor, that feeds all the members of his body, he will not leave them, nor fly from them; that is the part of an hireling, the hireling fleeth, becauſe he is an hireling, and careth not for the ſheep, v. 13. when he was on Earth, he did not leave them, but watcht over them, and preacht peace to them, and nouriſhed and cheriſhed them, and fed them with that truth, which he had received from the Father, and often prayed for them; and when he left the Earth and went to Heaven, there he ever liveth to make interceſſion for them. But this man; becauſe he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable Prieſt-hood, wherefore he is able to ſave them to the uttermoſt, that come unto God by him, ſeeing he ever liveth to make interceſſion for them, Heb. 7.24, 25. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and Men, the Man Chriſt Jeſus, 1 Tim. 2.5. My little Children, theſe things write I unto you, that ye ſin not, and if any man ſin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous, 1 John 2.1. Every believer feeds on Chriſt Jeſus by Faith, he ſups with them, and they with him, and when they leave this life, then they live and reign with Chriſt in the Heavenly glory.
4. The Church of God hath a fountain; and this fountain is the Lord, the fountain of life; and from this fountain come the ſtreams, that make glad the City of God; this fountain is always flowing, and over-flowing, with love and kindneſs, mercy, and grace, righteouſneſs and truth; They ſhall be abundantly ſatisfied with the fatneſs of thy houſe; and thou ſhalt make them drink of the River of thy pleaſures; for with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light we ſhall ſee light, Pſalm 36.8, 9. But whoſoever drinketh of the Water that I ſhall give him, ſhall never thirſt; but the water that I ſhall give him, ſhall be in him, a well of Water, ſpringing up into everlaſting life, John 4.14. He that beleiveth on me, as the ſcripture hath ſaid, out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water, John 7.38. Theſe rivers of living water will never be dried up, becauſe it is water of life, and it flows from a fountain of life, that doth always refreſh, ſtrengthen, and comfort the people of God. For they drank of that ſpiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Chriſt, 1 Cor. 10.4.
5. The Church of Chriſt is a Bride, the Lambs wife: And Jeſus ſaid unto them, Can the Children of the Bride-chamber mourn, as long as the Bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the Bridegroom ſhall be taken from them, and then ſhall they faſt, Matth. 9.15. He that hath the Bride, is the Bridegroom; but the friend of the Bridegroom, which ſtandeth and heareth him, rejoyceth greatly, becauſe of the Bridegroom's voice: this my Joy therefore is fulfilled, John 3.29. And the Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come; and let him that heareth ſay come; and let him that is athirſt, come; and whoſoever will, let him take of the waters of life freely, Rev. 22.17. And there came unto me one of the ſeven Angels, which had the ſeven Vials full of the ſeven laſt Plagues, and talked with me, ſaying, Come hither, I will ſhew thee the Bride, the Lamb's wife, Rev. 21.9. This glorious Bride is the Church, and this Church is the Kingdom, that ſhall not be left to another people.
6. The Church of Chriſt is a purchaſed Poſſeſſion: In whom alſo after that ye believ'd, ye were ſeal'd with that holy Spirit of Promiſe, which is the earneſt of our Inheritance, until the redemption of the purchaſed Poſſeſſion, unto the praiſe of his glory, Eph. 1.13, 14. Remember thy Congregation which thou haſt purchaſed of old; the Rod of thine inheritance which thou haſt redeemed, this Mount Sion wherein thou haſt dwelt, Pſal. 74.2. Take heed therefore unto your ſelves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghoſt hath made you Overſeers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own blood, Acts 20.28. Will men caſt away that which they have dearly bought? Ye are bought with a price; therefore glorifie God in your body, and in your ſpirit, …hich are Gods, 1 Cor. 6 20. You are not your own, you were bought by Chriſt Jeſus; And the price he gave for you, was not Gold & Silver, which men take out of the Earth; For as much as ye know ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as Gold and ſilver, from your vain converſation received by the tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Chriſt, as of a lamb without blemiſh and without ſpot, 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. Will men leave that which they have purchas'd to their worſt and greateſt Enemies? Hath not Chriſt Jeſus purchaſed his Church with his own blood. For thou waſt ſlain, and haſt redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, Rev. 5.9.
Now if this be ſo who can believe, who can think, that the Church of God ſhall be left to another People.
Thirdly, The holy Spirit will not leave them; the ſpirit of truth, that dwelleth with you and ſhall be in you; I will not leave you comfortleſs, John 14.17, 18. know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghoſt which is in you, which ye h…ve of God, and ye are not your own, 1 Cor. 6.19. Howbeit, when the ſpirit of truth is come, he ſhall guide you into all truth; for he ſhall not ſpeak, of himſelf; but whatſoever he ſhall hear, that ſhall he ſpeak, and he ſhall ſhew you things to come, John 16.13. This holy Spirit of God is given, & it is given to them that ask it. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your Children, how much more ſhall your heavenly father give the holy ſpirit to them that ask him, Luk. 11.13. Every true believer hath this ſpirit of Chriſt in him; But if the ſpirit of him that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead dwell in you, he that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken your mortal bodies, by his ſpirit that dwelleth in you, Rom. 8.11. This Spirit of God is to be found no where but in the Church of God, and in every member of that body; Now if any man have not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his, v. 9. As a tree is known by the fruit it bears, ſo is the ſpirit known to be in a man, by the fruits he brings forth; The fruit of the Spirit, is love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſs, goodneſs, faith, meekneſs, temperance; againſt ſuch there is no law, Gal 5.22, 23.
Firſt then, the Spirit of God convinceth
Secondly, it quickeneth.
Thirdly, it leadeth.
Fourthly, it ſtrengtheneth.
Fifthly, it comforteth.
Sixthly, it maketh interceſſion.
Seventhly, it witneſſeth.
Eighthly, it ſealeth.
Ninthly, it revealeth.
Tenthly, it reſteth on you.
That good work, that is begun in any man or woman, and carried on from firſt to laſt, is attributed to the Spirit of God. The father he ordains, calleth and chuſeth and hath bleſſed us with all ſpiritual bleſſings, in heavenly places, in Chriſt, Eph. 1.3.
The Son he hath redeemed us, and delivered us, from wrath, from ſin, and from the world, and from the curſe of the law, Luke 1.68.
The Spirit he applies all that to us, that God hath given, and Chriſt purchas'd, and from hence it ariſeth, that there is ſo much contention, and diſagreement amongſt men, this is that, which brings a Sword, that brings a War, and makes diviſions, and one man to hate and perſecute another, namely, from the ſeed that is in them, and from the Spirit that is in them. For he that is born after the fleſh, perſecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even ſo it is now, Gal. 4.29. For the fleſh luſteth againſt the ſpirit, and the ſpirit againſt the fleſh, and theſe are contrary one to the other, Gal. 5.17. It is ſo contrary, that you may find this in the neareſt relations, as husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and ſiſters, if any of them be in the Spirit of God, and enlightened, and renewed in their minds, and the others be not, but are in the ſpirit of the evil one, in the ſpirit of the world, under darkneſs, and blindneſs; there can be then no agreement, but diſcord and diviſion, and they are contrary one to the other, as to ſpiritual things: For the world knows not the Spirit of God, neither can it receive it. Take two men, that were great ſtrangers one to the other; the one living in the Eaſt Indies, and the other in the Weſt; and after ſome time, they both return home to this land; and by a ſpecial providencae they here meet together, and after a little diſcourſe one with the other, they ſo well agree, being knit together in love▪ that they could even live and the together, becauſe they were of one ſpirit, the Spirit of God being in them both, and that unites them, and makes them to be one in hope, and faith, in love and affection. The members of Chriſts body are many, but one ſpirit in them all, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one ſpirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptiſm, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all, Eph. 4.3 4, 5, 6. This bleſſed Spirit did never leave the Church of God, nor never will, ſo long as God hath a Church here on Earth; this Spirit of God leads every true believer into all truth, and from ſtrength to ſtrength, and from glory to glory, from one degree of grace to another, till they are taken up into the heavenly glory, and to be with Chriſt Jeſus, and with the Spirits of Juſt men made perfect.
Fourthly, The bleſſed Angels will not leave them.
1. The Angels did proclaim the birth of our Saviour. And ſuddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Hoſt, praiſing God, and ſaying, Glory to God in the higheſt, and on Earth peace, good will towards men, Luke 2.13, 14.
2. They do rejoyce at the converſion of ſinners; I ſay unto you, that likewiſe Joy ſhall be in Heaven over one ſinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine Juſt perſons which need no repentance, Luke 15.7.
3 The Angels of the Lord encamp round about them that fear him, and deliver them, Pſal. 34.7. For we are made a ſpectacle unto the world, and to Angels, and to men, 1 Cor. 4.9. For this cauſe ought the Woman to have power on her Head, becauſe of the Angels, 1 Cor. 11.10.
4. They are all miniſtring Spirits; Spirits ſent forth to miniſter for them who ſhall be Heirs of Salvation, Heb. 1.14.
5. Lazarus died, and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams boſom, Luke 16.22.
The myſtery of Angels we ſhall better underſtand in the next world, than we do in this; but this is certain, the Church of God receives great benefits by them, as I have prov'd before. They are Spirits that are inviſible; They enter into our Houſes, as the light doth; They take up no room, nor juſtle any body aſide; They ſee and behold us, though we ſee not them, and do us good though we know it not, and oftentimes keep evil from us, though we do not underſtand it. Heaven is their countrey, yet they are often upon the Earth, and do know the ſtate and condition of the Church better than we do; Then the Angel of the Lord anſwered, and ſaid, O Lord of Hoſts, how long wilt thou not have me…cy on Jeruſalem, and on the Cities of Judah, againſt which thou haſt had indignation theſe threeſcore and ten years? and the Lord anſwered the Angel that talked with me, with good words, and comfortable words, Zech. 12 13. By this you may ſee, God the Father will not leave his Children; Chriſt Jeſus the Son of God, will not leave the Members of his Body; the Spirit of God will not leave its temple, that he dwells in; the Angels of God will not leave the charge that is committed to them: The Kingdom ſhall not be left to an…her …eople.
Firſt, It ſhall not be left to another People, as the Can…anites were left to the Sword of Joſhua, and to the Sword of the Hebrews, that he might deſtroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might deſtroy them, as the Lord commanded M…ſes.
So Joſhua took the wh…le Land, according to all that the Lord had ſaid unto Moſes, and Joſhua gave it for an Inheritance unto Iſrael, according to their diviſions, by their Tribes, and the land did reſt from war, Joſhua 11.20, 23. the Church of God ſhall never be left to another People, as the Amalekites were left to the Spears, and Swords of Saul, and his Army. Now go, and ſmite Amalek; and utterly deſtroy all that they have, and ſpare them not, but ſlay both Man and Woman, Infant and Suckling, Ox and Sheep, Camel and Aſs, 1 Sam. 15.4. The Enemies may fall upon ſome ſmall parties, here and there, and rout, and deſtroy ſome of them, as they have done all along, but they will never be able to rout, and deſtroy the main body of the Church. This they could never do, with all their power, force, and multitudes, that they have brought together againſt the Church of God; This they could never do, and this they ſhall never be able to do, as I have ſhewed before, the Enemies have done their utmoſt oftentimes, to cut off and deſtroy the Church of God, by wicked ways, by cruel laws, and by bloody hands. For lo! thine Enemies make a tumult, and they that hate thee, have lift up the head; they have taken crafty counſel againſt thy People, …nd conſulted againſt thy hidden ones. They have ſaid, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Iſrael may be no more in remembrance; for they have conſulted together with one conſent: they are confederate againſt thee, Pſal. 83.2, 3, 4, 5. This they have done often, and this they will do, by tumults, by crafty counſel, and by a confederacy. Why do the Heathen rage, and the People imagine a vain thing? the Kings of the Earth ſet themſelves, and the rulers take counſel together, againſt the Lord, and againſt his anointed, ſaying, Let us break their bands aſunder, and caſt away their cords from us. He that ſitteth in the Heavens ſhall laugh, the Lord ſhall have them in deriſion; then ſhall he ſpeak unto th…m in his wrath, and vex them in his ſore diſpleaſure. Yet have I ſet my King upon my holy hill of Sion, Pſal. 2.1, to 6. When men have done all they can, and done their worſt; yet God will ſet his Son upon his holy hill, of Sion, and all the Enemies that are in the world will not be able to hinder it; men ſpeak great words, and it comes to nothing, God ſpeaks, and his word ſtands, the Church of God is like a rock by the Sea ſide; the Waves beat violently againſt the rock, but they break not the rock, but themſelves. The Enemies of Gods Church have made many aſſaults, and like the Waves of the Sea, have beat violently againſt it, and upon it; but they break not the Church, but themſelves to pieces.
The Church of God is like the Sea, what it loſeth in one place, it gains in another: When the Enemies are deſtroying God's faithfull Servants in one place, then the God of Heaven is increaſing, and gathering of the… in another place, by calling, and conve…ting of hundreds and thouſands, turning them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan to himſelf; convincing their conſciences, enlightning their minds, opening their underſtandings, purifying their hearts by Faith, and bleſſing them with ſpiritual bleſſings, cauſing them to ſtand up to be faithful Witneſſes, and to bear faithful Teſtimonies in their day, as others had done before them, for God, and his Truth. By this it appears very plain, that the Kingdom ſhall not be left to another People.
Secondly; It ſhall not be left to another People: The people ſhall dwell alone, and ſhall not be reckoned among the Nations. This people ſhall not mingle themſelves with other people, Numb. 23.9. They ſhall not cleave one to another; the World is one thing, but the Church of God is another thing; the World is a common Field, but the Church is a well watered Garden, Iſa. 51.3. The Garden of the Lord, Iſa. 58.11. The World is as a Wilderneſs, a barren Deſart, but the Church is a Vineyard, which the Lord hath planted, Pſal. 80.15. The World is a deſtroying Mountain, Jer. 51.25. but the Church is God's Holy Hill, Pſal. 2.6. The World is a Kingdom of darkneſs, Eph. 5.11. but the Church is the Kingdom of his dear Son, Col. 1.13. The World is as a Field of Blood, but the Church is a righteous Nation. The World is a Den of Thieves, but the Church is God's Family, and houſh…ld, Epheſ. 2.19. The World lies in wickedneſs, 1 John 5.19. but the Church is glorious, without ſpot or wrinkle, Epheſ. 5.27. The World is as a heap of rubbiſh, but the Church is God's peculiar Treaſure, Pſal. 135.4. The World is a lump of vanity, but the Church is the City of God, Pſal. 87.3. The World is as a common Harlot, but the Church is the Spouſe of Chriſt, Cant. 5.1. The World is the habitation of Devils, Rev. 18.2. The Devil is the God of this World, the Prince of the power of the Air, the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of diſobedience, Eph. 2.2. But the Church is the habitation of God, a choſe… Generation, a royal Prieſthood, an holy N…tion, a pe…uliar People, 1 Pet. 2.9. By this you may ſee what the World is, and what the Church of God is; how vaſtly they differ the one from the other, and how unlike they are the one to the other; and have been ever ſeparated the one from the other: Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowſhip hath righteouſneſs with unrighteouſneſs; and what communion hath light with darkneſs; And what concord hath Chriſt with belial; or what part hath he that believeth, with an Infidel; and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? For ye are the Temple of the living God; as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my People; wherefore come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate, ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye ſhall be my Sons and Daughters, ſaith the Lord Almighty, 2 Cor. 6.14, to 18. The Kingdom ſhall not be left to another People, but this People ſhall dwell alone, and ſhall not be reckoned among the Nations.
Thirdly, It ſhall not be left to another People, to follow their examples. Thou ſhalt not follow a multitude to do evil, Exod. 23.2. you muſt not follow bad men for company, nor good men for applauſe. When the Children of Iſrael were to enter into the land of Canaan, they were not then to enquire after their Gods; Take heed to thy ſelf, that thou be not ſnared by following them, after that they be deſtroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their Gods, ſaying, How did theſe nations ſerve their Gods? Even ſo will I do likewiſe, Deut. 12.30. And ye ſhall deſtroy all their …ictures, and deſtroy all their molten Images, and quite pluck down all their high places, Numb. 33.52. Thou ſhalt not bow down to their Gods, nor ſerve them, nor do after their works, but thou ſhalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their Images, Exod. 23.24. But ye ſhall deſtroy their altars, break their Images, and cut down their Groves, Exod. 34.13. But thus ye ſhall deal with them; ye ſhall deſtroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire, Deut. 7.5. Let the reader then, well conſider theſe Scriptures, and dwell a little on them, God will not be worſhip'd by imitation, that is to worſhip ye know not what, God is the author, and object of true worſhip, the Jews were not to enquire after other G ds and the Lord commanded them to deſtroy all their Pictures, and to pull down their Images; and burn them with fire; they were not to keep them in their Houſes, nor to worſhip them in any place.
How vain, and ſilly a thing is it, for people to worſhip Idols, and Images, the works of mens hands; they may make them eyes, but they cannot make them ſee; they may make them ears, but they cannot make them hear; they may make them feet, but they cannot make them walk; they have been often ſnares, but never helpers, they have brought Judgments upon People, but never turned away any. Men have provoked the Lord, with their inventions, and never pleaſed him with their Idols; this prov'd a ſnare to Iſrael of old, and brought upon them Gods heavy Judgments. The Lord God is very Jealous of his worſhip, and will not have his glory given to graven Images. The Lord hath had a People in all ages, and in all times, that hath worſhiped him according to his own will and commands. For all people will walk every one in the name of his God, and we will walk in the name of our God for ever and ever, Mic. 4.5. The true worſhippers ſhall wo…ſhip the Father in Spirit and in truth, for the Father ſeeketh ſuch to worſhip him, John 4.23. For we are the circumciſion, wh…ch worſhip …od in the Spirit, and rejoyce in Chriſt Jeſus, and have no confidence in the fleſh, Phil. 3.3. Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his Judgment is come, and worſhip him that made Heaven, and Earth, and the Sea, and the fountains of Waters, Rev. 14.7. Little Children, keep your ſelves from Idols, 1 John 5.21. Thus I have ſhewed you, that the Kingdom ſhall not be left to another people, (the Church of God.)
Thirdly, It ſhall break in pieces, and conſume all theſe Kingdoms.
This deſtruction is not of mens lives, but of mens luſts; this deſtruction is not of mens bodies, but of that ſin that reigns in their mortal bodies; this deſtruction is not of mens Rights and Properties, but of that vanity, and enmity, that is in their hands, and in their minds. For if ye live …fter the fleſh, ye ſhall die, but if ye through the ſpirit do mortifie the deeds of the body, ye …hall live, Rom. 8.13. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon Earth, fornication, uncleanneſs, inordinate affection evil concupiſcence, and covetouſneſs, which is Idolatry, Col. 3.5.