The Kingdom of God Opened, Text (4 of 4)
If neceſſity be laid upon Miniſters with a woe unto them, whatever they ſuffer, that preach not the Goſpel, and eight woes to them who are Hypocrites, that ſay, but do not, Matth. 23. What neceſſity is there alſo that Chriſtians do take heed whom they hear, what they hear, that they hear, and how they hear, that they may not be hearers only, but doers of the work, that they may be bleſſed in their deed. The Apoſtle exhorts, comforts, and chargeth every one (as a Father doth his children) that they would walk worthy of God, who hath called them unto his Kingdom and Glory, which is no more than that their Converſation be only as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt, putting off concerning the former Converſation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful luſts, that their Converſation be without covetouſneſs, and ſo of all other worldly and fleſhly luſts. The luſt of the fleſh, and the luſt of the eye, and the pride of life, with all ungodlineſs, is to be denied; we are not only to abſtain, but to flee from fleſhly luſts which war againſt the Soul, not faſhioning our ſelves according to our former luſts, when we were dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins, w…lking according to the courſe of this world, according to the Prince of the power of the Air, the ſpirit that now worketh in the children of diſobedience, among whom we all had our Converſation in times paſt, in the luſt of our fleſh, fulfilling the deſires of the fleſh, and of the mind, walking after the fleſh; for they that are after the fleſh are carnally minded, do mind the things of the fleſh; ſo then they that are in the fleſh, and live after the fleſh, cannot pleaſe God, cannot walk worthy of God unto all-pleaſing; no man can ſerve two Maſters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or elſe he will hold to the one, and deſpiſe the other. We cannot ſerve God and Mammon, their Commands are ſo contrary the one to the other, and therefore to walk worthy of God, is not to make proviſion for the fleſh, to fulfill the luſts thereof, it is to wa k honeſtly, or decently, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenneſs, not in chambering and wantonneſs, not in ſtrife and envying, not in the luſts of concupiſcence, not in the vanity of our mind, in fleſhly wiſdom, not to walk in the counſel of the ungodly, nor ſtand in the way of ſinners, nor ſit in the ſeat of ſcorners, or to walk in any way that is not good, but to abhor and eſchew that which is evil, that they may walk with God; to walk with God in the name of the Lord our God, is to walk worthy of God; to walk before him as alwayes in his ſight with a perfect and upright heart, not allowing in our ſelves, or indulging the leaſt ſin, but abſtaini…g from all appearance of evil, as that which is only diſpleaſing to God, and becauſe it is ſo, …nd hating it upon that account, that we may walk in Chriſt Jeſus, as we have received him to be the Lord our righteouſneſs, truſting only therein for juſtification and ſalvation, and for our onelyonly perfect pattern; for he that ſaith he abideth in him, ought him ſelf alſo ſo to walk, even as he walked, who alwayes did thoſe things that pleaſed his heavenly Father, herein leaving us an Example, that we ſhould follow his ſteps who did no ſin, neither was guile found in his mouth, he was ſo holy, harmleſs, undefiled, ſeparate from ſinners; as the Father gave him Commandment, even ſo did he. In the Volume of the Book of God, it is written of me, ſaith Chriſt, I delight to do thy Will, O my God, yea thy Law is within my heart. How willingly and patiently did he ſuffer for, & from ſinners: O my Father, if it be poſſible, let this Cup paſs from me; nevertheleſs not as I will, but as thou wilt. Chriſt came from Heaven on purpoſe to ſuffer in our ſtead, and for our ſakes, according to the Will of God; he was wounded for our Tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our Iniquities, the Lord laid on him the Iniquities of us all; he was oppreſſed and afflicted, yet opened not his mouth, he was cut off out of the Land of the Living. It pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him, to put him to Grief, to make his Soul an offering for ſin; that he might pour out his Soul unto death, he humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Croſs. Chriſt alſo ſuffered for us, who his own ſelf bare our ſins in his own body, leaving us an example that we ſhould follow his ſteps; for it is the Will of God that we ſuffer for well-doing, for if we ſuffer with him, we ſhall alſo be glorified together. Chriſt his active and paſſive obedience for us, and our active and paſſive obedience for him, and for his Glory, is our way to Glory. How patiently did our Lord Jeſus ſuffer from, then when he ſuffered for ſinners; when he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he ſuffered, he threatned not, but committed himſelf and his Cauſe to him that judgeth righteouſly. If when we do well and ſuffer for it, and for Conſcience toward God endure Grief, ſuffering wrongfully, take it patiently, this is thank-worthy, this is acceptable with God: Ought not Chriſt to have ſuffered theſe things, and to enter into his Glory? If we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reign with him; for we are called according to purpoſe, through the foreknowledge of God, and predeſtinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son in ſufferings, and that we alſo as he, muſt through much Tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God; foraſmuch then as Chriſt hath ſuffered for us in the fleſh, let us arm our ſelves likewiſe with the ſame mind, by putting off the old man, and putting on the new man; he that hath ſuffered in the fleſh, hath ceaſed from ſin, that he no longer ſhould live the reſt of his time in the fleſh, to the Luſts of Men, but to the Will of God; let us be followers of that which is good, who is he then that will harm us? but and if we ſuffer for Righteouſneſs ſake, let us not be afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. Let them, as Chriſt Jeſus did, that ſuffer according to the Will of God, commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator, which is to walk worthy of God, who hath called us unto his Kingdom and Glory, and if we be faithful herein unto death, will not be long ere he call us into his Kingdom of Glory, where we ſhall receive the Crown of Life, but then we muſt walk in the Spirit, and the Spirit will walk in us, which he promiſeth to do, if we keep our ſelves from Idols, come out from among them, and be ſeparated, and touch not the unclean thing; if we live in the Spirit, let us alſo walk in the Spirit, we cannot walk worthy of God, his Kingdom, of Grace and Glory, without walking in the Spirit. It is the Spirit, and walking in the Spirit, th…t makes us worthy or meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light; it is only through the Spirit we do mortifie the deeds of the body, that we may live a life of Grace and Peace, and Joy; we are carnally minded by nature, and the carnal mind is enmity againſt God, not ſubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be, which is death: nor can we be ſpiritually minded, which is Life and Peace, if ſo be that the Spirit of God dwell not in us; for as the body without the Spirit is dead, ſo the Soul without the Spirit of Chriſt is dead alſo; and they who are naturally or ſpiritually dead, cannot walk, we muſt be quickned and ſanctified by the Spirit, before we can live or walk in the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit, is to be ſpiritually minded, or of the mind of the Spirit; for as many as are led by the Spirit, or they that are after the Spirit, do mind the things of the Spirit; now the things of the Spirit are either ſpiritual or eternal, Grace or Glory; or what relates to it, which the minds of ſpiritual perſons are taken up with▪ ſuch are all holy duties commanded by the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit, which is in all Goodneſs and Righteouſneſs, and Truth, Love, Joy, Peace, Long-ſuffering, Gentleneſs, Goodneſs, Faith, Meekneſs, Temperance, &c. which conſtitute the divine nature in us, whereby we lead the divine life, which is our walking with God in the Spirit, or glorifying God in our Body and in our Spirit, which are Gods, walk we then in the Spirit, and we ſhall not fulfill the luſt of the fleſh, the luſt of the eyes, nor walk in pride. To walk worthy of God, his Kingdom and Glory, is to walk in wiſdom toward our ſelves; if thou be wiſe, thou ſhalt be wiſe for thy ſelf, and towards them that are without, and to walk circumſpectly, not as fools, but as wiſe, redeeming our time as we have opportunity to do good unto all men, eſpecially labouring to be ſo wiſe, as to win Souls; for they that be wiſe Teachers, turn many to righteouſneſs, and ſhall ſhine as the brightneſs of the firmament, and as the ſtars for ever and ever, the wiſe ſhall inherit Glory. To walk in Wiſdom, is to underſtand what the Will of the Lord is, and to do thereafter; for a good underſtanding have all they that do his Commandments; it is to underſtand the way wherein we ought to walk, and to walk therein. The Wiſdom of the prudent is to underſtand his way, which is Gods way; this was Davids prayer, Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain …ath, cauſe me to know the way wherein I ſhould walk, lead me in the way everlaſting: and Gods promiſe, I will inſtruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou ſhalt go, I will guide thee with mine eye, and his performance, he led his people forth by the right way, that they might go to a City of habitation. Thou ſhalt guide me with thy counſel, and afterward receive me to glory, ſaith David: his practical reſolution, I have choſen the way of Truth; I will run the way of thy Commandments, when thou ſhalt enlarge my heart. It is to behave our ſelves wiſely in a perfect way, and to walk within our houſe with a perfect heart. To underſtand alſo the Work of God, his Work of Creation, Redemption, Providence and Grace, and to do with all our might, maugre all oppoſition whatſoever our hand findeth to do, whatſoever Gods Providence layeth before us, to go through with it, conſidering there is no Work, nor Device, nor Knowledge, nor Wiſdom in the Grave, whither we are all going: That we may be alwayes ſo doing, we had need to pray mightily to God, ſo to teach us to number our dayes, that we may apply our hearts unto Wiſdom. The Works of the Lord are great, ſought out of all them that have pleaſure therein, they are honourable and glorious, he hath made his wonderful Works to be remembred, known, taken notice of, admired and praiſed; God hath alſo ordained or prepared, that we ſhould walk in good Works, then walk we in Wiſdom indeed, when we are prepared and ready unto, and zealous to maintain every good Work. To walk worthy of God, is to walk in Faith, we walk by Faith, not by ſight, Faith is our ſight, the evidence of things not ſeen, without which it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. To walk in Faith, is to live by the Faith of the Son of God, the life which we now live in the fleſh. It is a continual coming to God, in the Name of Jeſus Chriſt, till we come to God, a believing that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him. It is alſo a daily receiving the Lord Jeſus; and of his fulneſs receiving and Grace for Grace, that we ſhould ſhew forth the praiſes or virtues of him who hath called us unto his Kingdom and Glory. To walk worthy of God, is to walk in love, as Chriſt hath alſo loved us; to love God and one another, as Chriſt hath ſet us an example, and given us a Commandment: This is his Commandment, that we ſhould believe on the Name of his Son, and love one another, as he gave us Commandment. Our walking in Faith, is that we might walk in Love, Faith worketh by Love, Faith unfeigned worketh Love without diſſimulation. Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and truth; not a talkative love, but an active, vigorous, faithful, fruitful love, is acceptable both to God and man; even the love that is kind, and thinketh not evil, is not eaſily provoked, like unto Chriſts Love, which he ſhewed evidently in his active and paſſive obedience, doing good to all men, not being weary in well-doing, eſpecially unto them who are of the houſhold of Faith, loving all Saints as Saints, imitating Chriſt as in his active, ſo in his paſſive obedience, ſuffering with them and for them, with all long-ſuffering and patience, being their Brethren and Companions in Tribulation, and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jeſus Chriſt, for the Word of God, and for the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt. Hereby perceive we the Love of God, becauſe he laid down his Life for us, and we ought to lay down our Lives for the Brethren; we love not the Brethren, if we love our Lives better than them. This is Love, that we walk after the Commandment of Chriſt; they that walk worthy of God, walk in the Wayes of his Commandments, with and before the Lord humbly, obeying from the heart that form of Doctrine which he delivered them, that they may ſerve him thereby in newneſs of Spirit, and in newneſs of Life; they who would enter into Life, muſt thus keep the Commandments; for bleſſed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the Gates of the City.
Is there then a Kingdom of Grace and Glory? Is it purpoſed, prepared, purchaſed, promiſed and reſerved in Heaven for us? Have we a real intereſt in, and a true Title to this Kingdom? O let the high praiſes of God then be in our hearts, in our lips, and in our lives, who hath called us unto this Kingdom and Glory! Let David's reſolution and practice be ours, I will ſing unto the Lord as long as I live, I will ſing praiſes unto my God while I have any Being, every day will I bleſs thee, and I will praiſe thy Name for ever and ever. Bleſs the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me, bleſs his holy Name; his Heart, and Tongue, and Life were fixed and prepared for this bleſſed Work, called therefore the ſweet ſinger of Iſrael. My heart is fixed and prepared, O God my heart is fixed, I will ſing and give praiſe; I will greatly praiſe the Lord with my mouth; he prayes that he may praiſe: O Lord open thou my lips, and my mouth ſhall ſhew forth thy praiſe; his whole Life and Converſation nothing elſe but a continual Hymn to God. How fearful was he to ſin; O-let me not wander from thy Commandments, refraining his feet from every evil Way, that he might keep the Word of God, hating every falſe Way, rejoycing in the Way of his Teſtimonies, as much as in all Riches; inclining his heart to perform his Statutes alway, even unto the end. Was it David's Duty, Delight, and Work to be ſtill praiſing God, and is it not ours? Have we not, or may we not have as great reaſon and occaſion to bleſs God as he? every one that will may have God and Chriſt, and Grace and Glory, to praiſe and bleſs God for as his portion and happineſs for ever. If every one of us with David could ſay, Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee. He may alſo ſay when his fleſh and his heart faileth him, God is the ſtrength of his heart, and his portion for ever, which is matter great enough to praiſe the Name of God for with a Song, and magnifie him with Thankſgiving. It is the ſilent Work of all the Works of God to praiſe him paſſively, and the higheſt duty of Saints to bleſs him actively: All thy Works ſhall praiſe thee, O Lord, and thy Saints ſhall bleſs thee. David calls upon the whole Creation to pay this homage of praiſe to God as their duty and Gods due: Praiſe ye the Lord from the Heavens, praiſe him all Angels, all Men, Kings of the earth, and all People, Princes, and all Judges of the earth, both young Men and Maidens, old Men and Children, Sun, Moon and Stars, Earth, Sea, let them praiſe the Name of the Lord, for his Name alone is excellent, his Glory is above the Earth and Heaven, his glorious Name is exalted above all bleſſing and praiſe. O the Treaſures of Excellencies that are in God, in every one of his unſearchable Names, his Word, and his wonderful Works, his Works of Creation, Redemption, Providence, &c. which are external; of Election, Predeſtination, Juſtification, Adoption, Regeneration, Sanctification, Conſolation, which are internal, and the everlaſting Kingdom of Glory, matter for eternal praiſes. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praiſed, and his greatneſs is unſearchable, ſo are all his other Attributes. God is eſpecially to be praiſed in his Sanctuary; every one there, is to ſpeak the praiſes of the glorious honour of his Majeſty, and the glorious Majeſty of his Kingdom. Glorious things are ſpoken of God in his Kingdom of Grace, and more glorious things, here unutterable, are ſpoken in the Kingdom of Glory. Behold now is the accepted time to prepare and tune our hearts, tongues and lives in the Kingdom of Grace, for this Duty and Work of praiſe in the Kingdom of Glory; what is it to glorifie God, but to praiſe him, whoſo offereth praiſe, and ordereth his Converſation aright, glorifieth him. It is meerly for want of the knowledge of God and Jeſus Chriſt, and him Crucified, and our unacquaintedneſs with the glorious excellencies of this Kingdom of God, which is a Kingdom of Grace and Glory, and our intereſt in it, that we ſpeak no more of the glory of this Kingdom, and glorifie God no more by ſpeaking to our ſelves in Pſalms and Hymns, and ſpiritual Songs, making melody in our hearts unto the Lord, giving Thanks alwayes for all things unto God and the Father, in the Name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Were all in theſe Kingdoms Eye-Witneſſes of the Majeſty of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and Ear-Witneſſes, as Peter, and others were, of his receiving from God the Father honor and glory, when there came ſuch a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleaſed; I ſay, Were theſe things ever before our eyes, and ever ſounding in our ears, there would certainly be more ſeeking and praying, and praiſing God for this Kingdom of God, which contains all the glory we can poſſibly want, or wiſh, than now there is: Have we not a more ſure Word of Propheſie, whereunto we ſhould all of us do well, that we take heed, as unto a light that ſhineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ſtar ariſe in our hearts. Do we not ſay that the whole Word of God is true? Is there any that profeſſedly deny a future ſtate of glory? Why do we not all bleſs God for it, till we bleſs God in it? Let every one then that hath underſtanding, ſing praiſes to God, ſing praiſes, ſing praiſes to our King, ſing praiſes, for God is the King of all the earth, and the King of glory, ſing we praiſes with underſtanding. Our Tongue in Scripture is called our glory; therewith bleſs we God, even the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath bleſſed us with all ſpiritual bleſſings in heavenly places, or things in Chriſt, which is the beſt uſe we can put it to. If we be ſtrangers to this heavenly duty of ſinging praiſes to God in our hearts and houſes with our glory, it is much to be feared, that as our chief end is not the glory of God, by our not glorifying God, ſo our laſt end will not be glory with God; without controverſie it is the duty that is moſt pleaſing to God, as it is moſt commanded by him, and practiſed inſtantly by the perfecteſt Saints. The holier any man is the more in prayer, and the moſt in praiſe; evening and morning, and at noon David prayes unto God, ſeven times aday doth he praiſe him. Hypocrites can pray, Saints only do bleſs and praiſe the Lord. The good and old way of ſpeaking to God our ſelves, and one another in Pſalms and ſpiritual Songs, is much given over in theſe Kingdoms. The good Lord give us Repentance, that this ſin be not laid to our charge. We have loſt very much of the ſpecial preſence and providence of God, by our neglect herein; our Prayers are not heard and anſwer'd for want of our ſolemn Praiſes. We obtain mercy by our Prayers, and keep them by our Praiſes. It were well if one in ten with a loud voice glorified God for thoſe daily mercies they receive from God. There are not found that return to give glory to God, after mercies received from God, ſave ſome few ſtrangers. What are our hearts and lips, and lives good for elſe, but to warble out in ſpiritual Songs the praiſes of him who hath called us out of marvellous darkneſs, into his marvellous light. The glad tydings of a Kingdom of grace and glory, ſhould open our hearts to pray to God to open our lips, that our mouths may ſhew forth his praiſes; which that all may do, let the Word of Chriſt dwell in us richly, in all Wiſdom, teaching and admoniſhing one another in Pſalms and Hymns, and ſpiritual Songs, ſinging with grace in our hearts to the Lord; and whatſoever we do in Word or Deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, giving Thanks to God and the Father by him, and above all for himſelf, and the Kingdom of God and his Righteouſneſs. For Counſel and Conſolation, and I conclude:
Our honourable Magiſtrates and reverend Miniſters who are taught of God, that are Counſellors themſelves of Peace, and ſeek the Peace and Proſperity of Church and State, I neither need nor dare give them one Word of Advice in this matter; only taking the liberty and boldneſs, by way of Petition, moſt humbly to deſire them who have obtained ſo great mercy to be the heirs of grace and glory, that they would, according to the Power and Prudence, Wiſdom and Goodneſs which God hath graciouſly and liberally given them, improve it to the very utmoſt, that if it were poſſible our moſt gracious and excellent Majeſties Three Kingdoms may become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chriſt; not by Profeſſion only, but in very Deed and in Truth: For the Kingdom of God is not in Word, but in Power, ſince God our Saviour would have all men to be ſaved, and to come to the knowledge of the Truth; and becauſe he can ſwear by no greater, doth ſwear by himſelf, As I live, ſaith the Lord God, I have no pleaſure in the death of the Wicked, but that the Wicked turn from his Way, and live; Turn ye, turn ye from your evil Wayes, for why will ye dye? and now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Why ſhould not firſt of all Supplications Prayers, Interceſſions, and giving of Thanks be made for all men, for Kings, and for all that are in Authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlineſs and honeſty, which is good and acceptable in the ſight of God our Saviour, and I alſo heartily believe wi l be well-pleaſing to our moſt Gracious King, and all in Authority, having laid ſo l…rge and ſure a foundation of Peace to build as large a Kingdom of godlineſs and honeſty upon. It is in your power to compel every capable Subject in theſe Kingdoms, to ſeek firſt the Kingdom of God, and his Righteouſneſs, and to thruſt Labourers into this Harveſt; for the Harveſt is great, and the Labourers are few, for the turning of every one unto Righteouſneſs; the unlimited Love of God, who hath ſo loved Mankind, the general Redemption of the whole World b… the precious blood of Jeſus Chriſt, the promiſe of the univerſal Spirit of Chriſt, the freeneſs and fulneſs of the Covenant of Grace, which if the Lord pleaſe I ſhall have occaſion fully to handle in my Book of Scri…tural Oracles; and the expreſs Command of Chriſt, Go ye into all the World, and preach the Goſpel to every Creature, the promiſe of his preſence and aſſiſtance, his own practice, and the practice of the primitive Preachers, in publiſhing through the World the glad Tydings of the Goſpel of the Kingdom of God, are motives and encouragements great enough to put Magiſtrates and Miniſters upon endeavouring an univerſal Converſion, Reformation and Salvation among all their People. O could our King and Governors be inſtrumental to bring theſe Kingdoms, ſo to ſeek till they find a Kingdom of grace and glory, what an exceeding eternal weight of glory would the King of glory crown them withall for their labour of Love at the laſt and great day: Hearken to a King ſpeaking from the King of Kings; Be wiſe now therefore O ye Kings, be inſtructed ye Judges of the earth, ſerve the Lord herein with fear, and rejoyce with trembling. Let the Kings of the earth ſet themſelves, and the Rulers take counſel together for the Lord, and for his Anointed, ſaying, Let us break the bands of Wickedneſs, and caſt away the cords of our Iniquities from us. Let us exalt the King of Kings upon his holy hill of Zion, that the Heathen may be his inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth may be his poſſeſſion, and all Nations whom he hath made may come and worſhip before thee, O Lord, and glorifie thy Name. Let our moſt excellent King Solomon be firſt herein, who is a King of Peace, that came into his Kingdom in Peace, rules in Peace, will dye in Peace, and enter into that Peace which paſſeth all underſtanding: If he follow Peace with all men, and Holineſs, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord. His eſtabliſhing a great Peace amongſt us, conſtrains me to believe he will be a means of raiſing a holy War through his Kingdoms and Dominions againſt Sin, Satan, and the World, for the glory of God, and the everlaſting good of many a poor yet precious Soul, ſo that all our contentions and mutual devourings ſhall end in a holy, amicable contending earneſtly for the Faith of the Goſpel, that we may ſtand faſt in one Spirit, with one mind, and one mouth, glorifying God even the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, receiving one another as Chriſt alſo received us to the glory of God; than which, what can be more pleaſing to God, honourable to our ſelves, creditable to Religion, profitable and comfortable to His Majeſties Three Kingdoms? If there be joy in the preſence of the Angels of God over one Sinner that repenteth, what joy will there be in Heaven over all the Sinners in theſe Kingdoms that repent? The Lord our God in the midſt of us will be mighty to ſave us, he will rejoyce over us with joy, he will reſt in his love, he will joy over us with ſinging, if as Brethren, being called unto liberty, we uſe not our liberty for an occaſion to the fleſh, but by love ſerve one another; for all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou ſhalt love thy Neighbour as thy ſelf; but if we bite and devour one another, let us take heed that we be not conſumed one of another. And it ſhall come to paſs, that as the Lord rejoyced over us to do us good, ſo the Lord will rejoyce over us to deſtroy us, and bring us to nought; which will aſſuredly come to paſs, if we bleſs our ſelves in our hearts, ſaying, We ſhall have peace, though we walk in the imagination or ſtubbornneſs of our hearts, to add Iniquity to Iniquity, the Lord will not ſpare, but his anger and jealouſie ſhall ſmoke againſt us, and all the Curſes written in his Book ſhall lie upon us, and he will blot out our names from under Heaven: Curſed alſo is every one that doth the Work of the Lord negligently or deceitfully. But I am perſuaded better Things of you, and Things which accompany Salvation, and that we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the ſaving of our Souls. Let us take heed, leſt there be in any of us an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God, but exhort one another daily while it is called to day, leſt any of us be hardned through the deceitfulneſs of ſin, looking alſo diligently, leſt any man fail of the grace of God, leſt any root of bitterneſs ſpringing up trouble us, and thereby many be defiled; for we are made partakers of Chriſt, if we hold the beginning of our confidence ſtedfaſt unto the end, and alſo of his Kingdom of glory, for the ſecuring whereof theſe plain Directions are abſolutely neceſſary to be put in practice.
I. That all Sins be avoided and hated, eſpecially Unbelief, Pride, Covetouſneſs, Carnality, Lying and Hypocriſie.
II. That all the Duties of Holineſs be rightly, zealouſly and conſtantly performed both publick and private.
III. That all the Graces of the Holy Spirit be had and exerciſed.
They who would ſet themſelves in earneſt to ſeek the Kingdom of God, muſt heartily ſet themſelves againſt all ſins; ſtand in awe and ſin not, while you are ſeeking, if you would find this Kingdom. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; but then it follows, Let the Wicked forſake his Way, and the Unrighteous, who is a man of Iniquity, his Thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, who will have mercy upon him; but then he muſt have nothing to do with Sin, who will have any thing to do with God and his kingdom, otherwiſe God will have nothing to do with him; the wages of Sin is not Heaven, but hell; every final impenitent, unbelieving Sinner, is to be ſhut out of Heaven, and ſhut up in Hell to all eternity. Sinners, you muſt quit your ſtate, and courſe, and way of ſin, before you can enter the ſtate of Grace, or walk in the way of Life; Grace and Glory are inſeparable, ſo are Sin and Hell. O have nothing to do with any the leaſt, yea, the very appearance of evil, as near as you can, except to hate, abhor, leave and loath it, and your ſelves for it, as ever you hope to ſpeed in this moſt important duty, of ſeeking firſt the Kingdom of God, and his Righteouſneſs; more eſpecially, let Unbelief, Pride, Carnality, Covetouſneſs, Lying and Hypocriſie be abandoned and abhorred, as the root and ſource, and ſpawn of all other abominations. Theſe are the Maſter evils that hinder men from being and doing good: We muſt be negatively, before we can be poſitively holy; Waſh ye, make …e clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; firſt ceaſe to do evil, then learn to do well, &c. If we would ceaſe from evil, we muſt take heed of the evil of Unbelief in the heart, which is a ſin that giveth every Truth of God the Lye. Every one that believeth not, goes about to make God a Lyar. The very Word of the Scripture is, He that believeth not God, hath made him a lyar, becauſe he believeth not the Record that God gave of his Son; as Faith is a coming to God by Jeſus Chriſt, ſo Unbelief is a departing from the living God. O take heed of it, as alſo of the ſin of Pride, which is a lifting and ſetting up our Wiſdom and Will, againſt the Wiſdom, Will, Word, Way and Work of God, preferring our own Honor before Gods Glory. Pri…e was the firſt and worſt ſin that could be committed virtually, and interpretatively it is all iniquity; as all ſinners were in one, and came from one, ſo all ſins are ſummed up in this one, namely Pride, which is the Parent of all other abominations. The onelyonly ſin that is ſo ſinful. This was the ſin that made good Angels Devils, and our firſt Parents and us evil, like unto them, yea, only evil, and that continually; by it we have loſt God, our ſelves, our knowledge of him, all our righteouſneſs and true holineſs, and all the happineſs of Heaven; it is ſo deſperate a ſin, that it will not ſuffer any one to ſeek after God, his Grace and Glory. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not ſeek after God, he will be happy without God. In ſeeking firſt the Kingdom of God, and his Righteouſneſs, O ſeek firſt to be delivered from the pride of heart and life: otherwiſe you may ask and not have, ſeek and not find, knock and it ſhall not be opened unto you. Covetouſneſs, which is Adultery and Idolatry, a loving and deſiring after the World, and the things of the World ſo inordinately and overcarefully, as both to neglect, and make light of the things of God which are above. The Covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth, his prayer and practice is, Lord, Who will ſhew us any good? his Labour is only for his mouth, and therefore his laying up much Goods for many years, is to take his eaſe, eat, drink, and be merry; he is one that layeth up Treaſure for himſelf, not caring to be rich towards God. O take heed, and beware of Covetouſneſs; for a Mans Life conſiſteth not in the abundance of the Things which he poſſeſſeth: And let our Converſation be without Covetouſneſs, content with ſuch Things as we have, ſeeking firſt the Kingdom of God, and his Righteouſneſs, and all theſe Things ſhall be added unto us; for the Lord hath ſaid, I will never leave you, nor forſake you: Covetouſneſs is but for Carnality; it caters for the fleſh, making proviſion for it, ſatisfying it in the Luſt thereof. The carnal mind is enmity againſt God, not ſubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. The Luſt of the Fleſh, and the Luſt of the Eyes are great Eye-ſores to Religion, and great Impediments to our ſeeking firſt the Kingdom of God, and his Righteouſneſs. If we would be ſpiritually minded in ſeeking thoſe Things that are above, we muſt not be carnally minded, in ſeeking great Things for our ſelves here below. We can never fight the good Fight of Faith, or take the Kingdom of Heaven by violence, without abſtaining and flying from fleſhly Luſts, which War againſt the Soul. Fleſhly perſons, who live after the Fleſh, in the Luſt of Uncleanneſs, can never be valiant Volunteers to fight under the Banner of Chriſt, for the conquering of Sin, Satan and the World, which muſt firſt be done, before the Kingdom of Heaven be taken. The Fleſh doth luſt againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit againſt the Fleſh, and theſe are ſo contrary the one to the other, that we cannot do the Things we ſhould, while we walk in the Fleſh. Let us not therefore walk according to the Fleſh, or War after the Fleſh, for the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal. Let not us be carnal, but ſpiritual, putting on the whole Armor of God, which will be mighty through God to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, and mortifying the deeds of the Body, namely fleſhly Luſts, which War againſt the Soul, that in all Things we may be more than Conquerors, through him who loves us, even our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom the World is crucified unto us, and we unto the World, as alſo the Fleſh; for they that are Chriſts, have crucified the Fleſh, with the Affections, Paſſions, and Luſts, by whom alſo we reſiſt and overcome the Devil; for he was made Partaker of Fleſh and Blood, that through death he might deſtroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil. For this purpoſe the Son of God was manifeſted, that he might deſtroy the Works of the Devil, the Works of the Fleſh, which are manifeſt to be Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanneſs, Laſciviouſneſs, Idolatry, Pride, Covetouſneſs, Hatred, Variance, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Hereſies, Envyings, Murders, Drunkenneſs, Revellings. Now they which follow ſuch Things, can neither ſeek or ever hope to inherit the Kingdom of God.
Lying is another ſin which in a ſpecial manner is to be hated and avoided by us, if indeed we will ſet our ſelves heartily to ſeek the Kingdom of God; which is the uttering of an untruth with an intent and purpoſe to deceive, a ſin that transforms men into Devils: They who are given to Lying, are of their Father the Devil, who abode not in the Truth, becauſe there is no Truth in him; when he ſpeaketh a Lye, he ſpeaketh of his own: for he is a Lyar, and the Father of it. A lying Tongue is one of the ſeven Things the Lord hates, and is an abomination to him: Lying Lips are an abomination to the Lord, and therefore a righteous man hateth Lying; but they that deal truly, are Gods delight, and God is their delight; they that delight in the Lord, he will give them the deſire of their hearts, for the prayers of the upright are his delight: But they who delight in Lyes, who bleſs with their mouth, but curſe inwardly, without Repentance, are to be curſed eternally. The fearful and unbelieving, and all Lyars, ſhall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimſtone, which is the ſecond death Let none who ſeek this Kingdom of God be like the Devil, a Lyar, but like God, who cannot lye. Let us fear to lye to the Holy Ghoſt, or to lye of, or to lye to one another by the example of Ananias and Saphira, who were ſtruck dead with a Lye in their mouth: Wherefore with David, Let us hate and abhor Lying, and putting away Lying, ſpeak every man Truth with his Neighbour; for he only that ſpeaketh the Truth in his heart, is of the Generation of them that firſt ſeek the Kingdom of God, and his righteouſneſs; that ſeek and ſhall ſee the face of the God of Jacob. Take we heed alſo, and beware of the Leaven of Hypocriſie profeſſing what we mean not to practiſe, pleaſing our ſelves with a form of knowledge and godlineſs, denying the power of it. Hypocrites, they ſay, but do not; they pray, but practiſe not; believe, but live not as they believe; they are Covenant makers, but not Covenant keepers; drawing near the Lord with their Mouths, and honouring him with their Lips, but removing their Heart far from him; with fl ttering Lips, and with a double Heart, do they ſpeak to God and man; there can be no faithfulneſs in their Mouth, for their inward part is very Wickedneſs: the Prayers and other Duties of ſuch wicked men, are an abomination to the Lord. Whatſoever is done in the great buſineſs of Salvation, is to be done heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. If any man ſpeak, he is to ſpeak as the Oracles of God, not as pleaſing men, but God, which tryeth the Hearts, that God in all Things may be glorified through Jeſus Chriſt; able with the Holy Apoſtle to call God to Witneſs, that ne…ther at any time uſeth he flattering Words, for a Cloak of Pride, or Covetouſneſs, nor of men ſeeketh he Glory, but whether he eats, or drinks, or whatſoever elſe he doth, the Glory of God is ſure to be at the end of it, his own Salvation, the pleaſing of all men in all Things, not ſeeking his own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be ſaved; which no worldly, fleſhly Hypocrites can ſay, who receive honour one of another, and ſeek not the honour that cometh from God onelyonly; ſo deſirous are they of Vain-glory: For they that are ſuch, ſerve not our Lord Jeſus, but their own Belly; and by good Words, and fair Speeches, deceive the hearts of the ſimple, but themſelves moſt and worſt of all, while in oppoſition to the Glory of God, which ſhould be their higheſt and chiefeſt end, and their onelyonly aim, the honouring, pleaſing and enriching themſelves, by unlawful wayes and means, is their end and buſineſs Theſe double-minded, double-tongued, and double-dealing Hypocrites are far from the Kingdom of God; lay aſide firſt Hypocriſie, and deſire Truth in your inward parts; then firſt ſeek the Kingdom of God, and his righteouſneſs, with deſirous expectation to find it. Be ſure none of theſe forementioned Evils be your peculiar boſome beloved ſins, ſearch out your own ſin, keep your ſelf from your iniquity, if you would have good ſucceſs in ſeeking firſt the Kingdom of God.
II. Let us put off, and put away far from us theſe, and all other ſins, in the fear of God, or all our ſeeking the Kingdom of God will be but labour in vain. Sinners, God calls Heaven and Earth to record againſt you this day, that he ſets before you Life and Good, Death and Evil, Bleſſing and Curſing, and deſires you to chooſe Life, even eternal Life: O chooſe not Sin and Death before it. Let my counſel be acceptable unto you, break off your ſins by righteouſneſs, and the iniquity of your covetouſneſs, by ſhewing mercy to the Poor, leſt God be wroth, ſmite you, and hide himſelf from you; but rather ſeek good, and not evil, that ye may live; be not faithleſs, but believe God upon his Word, Seek ye me, ſaith God, and ye ſhall live. Their heart ſhall live that ſeek God, his Kingdom and Righteouſneſs, in the uſe of all his holy means, which I need but almoſt to name, they are ſo often inſiſted upon, but too ſeldom, duely practiſed, as namely:
1. Hearing the Word preached in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon inſtantly, as Miniſters are to preach it with ſolemn Preparation; Intention, Retention, and a loving Affection in the hearing of it, turning every Truth and Duty you hear into practice without delay; for not the hearers of the Law, but the doers are juſtified and bleſſed in their doing.
2. Frequent Faſting, frequent Praying and Watching thereunto with all perſeverance, and ſupplication for all men, that they may be ſaved, and come to the knowledge of the Truth, which is our ſtriving to enter in at the ſtrait Gate; Strait is the Gate, and narrow is the Way which leadeth unto Life, and few there be that find it, even of them who ſeek to enter in, and are not able, becauſe not willing to be at the pains and patience which is neceſſary to the finding the narrow Way, and walking in it, till they be meet and worthy to enter in at the ſtrait Gate; there is no pulling down of ſtrong Holds, caſting down Imaginations or Reaſonings, and every high thing that exalteth it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God, or bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chriſt, and the Laws of his Kingdom, but by this good old way of Faſting, Praying, and watching to purpoſe; every man that ſtriveth for the maſtery, eſpecially of ſpiritual enemies, is to be temperate in all things; ſome do it to obtain a corruptible Crown, we an incorruptible: If we would ſo run as to obtain, ſo fight as to overcome, we muſt keep under our body, and bring it into ſubjection, that our Old Man being crucified, the body of ſin may be deſtroyed, that henceforth we ſhould not ſerve ſin, leſt that by any means, when we have done all ſave this which is the main, we our ſelves ſhould be everlaſting Caſt-awayes; better the body of the fleſh, and the body of ſin be deſtroyed in the ſevereſt way of duty, than the ſoul be for ever loſt in a way of ſin, how pleaſing ſoever to the fleſh: Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and caſt them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into Life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands, or two feet, to be caſt into everlaſting fire; by Faſting, Praying, and watching, Heaven ſuffereth violence, and onelyonly the violent take it by force. Holy Faſting, eſpecially alone and by our ſelves, Prayer without ceaſing, keeping our Hearts, Lips and Lives with all diligence, by circumſpect watchfulneſs from ſin, and all occaſion and temptations thereunto, are Gods gracious means appointed us for the obtaining of Grace and Glory.
3. Reading, ſearching, and meditating of the Holy Scriptures day and night, that the Word of Chriſt may dwell richly in us in all Wiſdom, with fervent and faithful Prayer before and after the duty, for the Spirit of Truth to ſanctifie us through the Truth; duties much neglected both in Families, and in our private communion with the Lord, and I fear by too many of us ſlightly, indifferently, and indiligently done. Were the Word of God read, ſearched and meditated daily by us as it ought to be, it would make us wiſer for our ſelves in all reſpects than we are; it is able to make even Children that exerciſe themſelves therein, wiſe unto ſalvation. It is very great pity, and a very great ſin it is, that every one that cannot, doth not learn to read, and every one that can doth not walk in Wiſdom, redeeming his time to ſearch theſe Sacred Records day and night, in which he thinks he hath eternal life. I make no doubt, but our moſt Gracious Sovereign the King, and Governors will, out of their Chriſtian Wiſdom, Care, Zeal and Charity, which in many things they have manifeſted, take order alſo, that all who are capable, both young and old in theſe Kingdoms, may be diligently taught to read the Holy Scriptures, that they periſh not for want of knowledge, that ſo the good Word of God may be daily read publickly in all Faimilies with Prayer and Praiſe, to the Praiſe and Glory of God, the Increaſe and Advancement of the Kingdom of Chriſt, and their own immortal Honour: Which I daily pray may come to paſs, and am in a longing expectation of, as knowing, there is Wiſdom, Wealth and Willingneſs, Power and Prudence, every way Ability and Opportunity in you, our Governors and Counſellors, for the accompliſhing and effecting ſo great and good, and neceſſary and pious a Work; beſides the many Thouſands that wait for your Call, Command, Counſel, Countenance and Encouragement to aſſiſt herein; which labour of Love to ſo many periſhing Souls, will never be forgotten by the Lord; and the adminiſtration of this Service, will not only ſupply the want of Saints, but will be abundant alſo by many Thankſgivings unto God. Now the Lord make all Publick Perſons in Church and State Publick ſpirited herein, that the fruit of Righteouſneſs may be ſown in Peace, by them that make Peace to the Glory of God, and the Publick Good. Were the Law and Goſpel, which is not to depart out of our mouth, read and meditated therein day and night by us all, high and low, rich and poor, &c. that we might obſerve to do according to all that is written therein; this would make our way proſperous, then we ſhould do wiſely, and have good ſucceſs, eſpecially in ſeeking the Kingdom of Grace and Glory, which is our beſt Wiſdom to do, every one for himſelf, and each for other, till we find it, and attain it. Whoſoever delights in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth meditate day and night, ſhall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of Water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his ſeaſon, his leaf alſo ſhall not wither, and whatſoever he doth ſhall proſper; the univerſal faithful practice of theſe duties would, through the bleſſing of God, do Wonders among us.
4. Examining our ſelves frequently and ſeriouſly by the Law and Goſpel, what effect they have had upon us as to the change of our ſtate from ſin to grace, from death to life; and whether our hearts and lives are ſo ſound in Gods Statutes, that we have reſpect to all his Commandments, that we may never be aſhamed. Without this conſtant practice we cannot know our ſelves: Know ye not your own ſelves, ſaith the Apoſtle, how that Jeſus Chriſt is in you, except ye be Reprobates. How ſhall we know our ſelves to be elect or reprobate, why examine your ſelves, prove your own ſelves. If we wholly neglect, or negligently perform this duty, we may then certainly conclude our ſelves to be Reprobates. What are all the marks and ſigns for tryal of our everlaſting ſtate laid down in Scripture for, but that we might know our ſelves by them, whether we belong to God, or the Devil; and whether we are going to Heaven, or Hell. Without this careful, conſtant examination, trying and proving, a man may think himſelf to be ſomething, when he is nothing, and ſo deceive himſelf, and others: Not every one that ſaith Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into Heaven. Many will ſay to Chriſt on that great day of examination, Lord, Lord, have not we propheſied in thy Name, and in thy Name have caſt out Devils? And in thy Name done many wonderful Works? To whom he will profeſs, I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity. Let every man therefore examine himſelf, and prove his own Work, and then ſhall he have rejoycing in himſelf alone, and not in another; then ſhall he not dare to ſpeak of any of thoſe things which Chriſt hath not wrought in him to the Law, and to the Teſtimony, if he ſpeak not according to this Word, it is becauſe there is no light in him. If every one that doth evil, and he that doth truth, would come to the light, it would make manifeſt whether their deeds were wrought in God or no: All things that are reproved or diſcovered, are made manifeſt by this light, for whatſoever doth make manifeſt is light; were this duty well managed, more would go to Heaven, and fewer to Hell.
5. Conferring, talking, communing and reaſoning together in love concerning the things of the Kingdom of God, would be a happy means to help one another in ſeeking to find it: Too often our words in Preaching, praying and praiſing to them that hear us, ſeem but idle Tales, and are not believed, till this Chriſtian duty of Communication be frequently exerciſed. Here we have liberty to ſpeak to one anothers capacities and neceſſities, we could not hear one another reaſoning of Righteouſneſs, Temperance, Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell to come, but our hearts would burn within us, for Chriſt himſelf would be one amongſt us, as with his Diſciples at Emmaus, talking with us, and opening to us the Scriptures; ſo that our coming and communing together, would certainly be for the better, and not for the worſe; for this end, to revive the duty of Chriſtian Conference, I do fully purpoſe, by the Grace of God, as I have begun to bring the Holy Scriptures under ſuch Heads, that the Word of Chriſt may dwell richly in all wiſdom in young and old, that will exerciſe themſelves herein with delight and meditation day and night; for the accompliſhing whereof, the Prayers of all fearing God are again humbly and earneſtly deſired and expected.
6. Teaching Children early to read and know the Holy Scripture, Training them up, or Catechiſing them in the firſt Principles of the Oracles of God, and all others who have the like need that are but Children in knowledge, is another excellent means to increaſe the Kingdom of Chriſt. How many unprofitable, dull Hearers are there in theſe Kingdoms, which, for their time ought to be Teachers, have need that one teach them again which be the firſt principles of the Oracles of God; that, to their ſhame be it ſpoken, have not the knowledge of God, nay, that ſay to God and their Teachers whoſe lips ſhould keep knowledge, and they ſhould ſeek the Law at their mouth; for they are the meſſengers of the Lord of Hoſts, depart from us, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes. Theſe have double neceſſity of counſel, care, and compaſſionate compulſion both from Civil and Eccleſiaſtical Authority, to learn, to know their duty, danger and neceſſity, if God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth, that they may recover themſelves out of the ſnare of the Devil, who are taken alive as captive by him at his will. The Harveſt truly is plenteous, but the Labourers are few; pray we therefore the Lord of the Harveſt, that he would ſend forth Labourers into his Harveſt, ſuch as will preach not themſelves, but Chriſt Jeſus the Lord, and themſelves the ſervants of all for Jeſus ſ…ke; ſervants that will not ſtrive, but be gentle unto al… men, apt to teach, patient, in meekneſs inſtructing thoſe that oppoſe themſelves till their eyes be opened, and turned from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveneſs of ſins, and inheritance among them which are ſanctified by faith that is in Chriſt. The work of Converſion and Reformation will never happily go on, till the counſel of that moſt Reverend, Learned and Godly Biſhop Ʋſher, be univerſ…lly, diligently, zealouſly, and conſta…tly pu… in practice both in Churches and Families, which being appoſite to my purpoſe, I have here Tranſcribed.
Your Majeſties care can never be ſufficiently commended in taking order that the chief Heads of the Catechiſm ſhould in the ordinary Miniſtery be diligently prop…unded and expl…ined unto the People throughout the Land, which I wiſh were as duly executed everywhere, as it was piouſly by you intended. Great Scholars poſſibly may think that it ſtandeth not ſo well with their credit, to ſtoop thus low, and to ſpend ſo much of their time in teaching theſe Rudiments, and firſt Principles of the Doctrine of Chriſt; but they ſhould conſider, that the laying of the foundation skilfully, as it is a matter of the greateſt importance in the whole Building, ſo it is the very Maſter-piece of the whole Building: 1 Cor. 3 10. According to the Grace of God which is given unto me, as a wiſe Maſter Builder I have laid the foundation, ſaith the great Apoſtle. And let the Learnedſt of us all try it whenever we pleaſe, we ſhall find that to lay this Ground work rightly, (that is, to apply our ſelves to the c…pacities of the common Auditory, and to make an …g…or…nt man underſtand theſe myſteries in ſome good meaſure) will put us to the tryal of our skill, and trouble us a great deal more, than if we were to diſcuſs a Controverſie, or handle a ſubtle point of Learning in the Schools; yet Chriſt did give as well his Apoſtles, and Prophets, and Evangeliſts, as his ordinary Paſtors and Teachers, to bring us all, both Learned and Unlearned, unto the unity of this faith and knowledge; and the neglecting of this, is the fruſtrating of the whole work of the Miniſtery; for let us preach never ſo many Sermons to the People, our labour is but loſt as long as the foundation is u…laid, and the firſt principles untaught, upon which all other Doctrine muſt be builded. Thus far the worthy Biſhop, in his Sermon before King James at Wanſted.
7. Often remembring and real renewing our Covenant with God, whenever the Holy Sacraments are adminiſtred. Baptiſm is but to be adminiſtred once, but we are ſolemnly and frequently to remember, and make uſe of our Baptiſmal Covenant upon all occaſions, eſpecially in avoiding all occaſions and temptations, and motions to ſin within or without, in time of tribulation and deſertion, and at the point of death; we are buried with Chriſt in Baptiſm, wherein alſo we are riſen with him through the faith of the operation of God, that ſo many of us as are b…ptized into Jeſus Chriſt, are baptized into his death, therefore are we buried with him by Baptiſm into death; that like as Chriſt was raiſed up from the dead by the Glory of the Father, even ſo we alſo ſhould walk in newneſs of life. By Baptiſm we are planted together in the likeneſs of his Death, and alſo in the likeneſs of his Reſurrection, that our old man might be crucified with him, that the body of ſin might be deſtroyed, that henceforth we ſhould not ſerve ſin. Covenant making, and Covenant keeping, is the ſum of our Religion. We are ſworn in our Baptiſm to believe all the Articles of our Chriſtian Creed, and to live by faith, to walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameleſs, to pray according to the Lords Prayer without ceaſing for Grace, that denying ungodlineſs, and worldly luſts, we may live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent World, that ſo with comfort we may look for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; and as we have ſworn, ſo we are to perform it, even in keeping all the righteous Judgments of the Lord; ſo alſo the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper, which if there be opportunity, ſhould often be received by us, wherein we ſhew forth the death of Chriſt till he come, is another excellent means appointed by God, both to convey and aſſure to us the Kingdom of God, as alſo to ſtrengthen and confirm us in the Grace we have received, that we draw not back to perdition, but going from faith to faith, from one degree of Grace unto another, we may receive the end of our faith, the ſalvation of our Souls. Let us ſhew the Lords death till he come, by often eating this Bread, and drinking this Cup; but let us examine our ſelves, leſt eating and drinking unworthily, we be found guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord, and ſo eat and drink damnation to our ſelves.
III. All the Graces of the Holy Spirit muſt be had and exerciſed, we muſt go to the God of all Grace for every Grace, he will give Grace and Glory, firſt Grace, then Glory. It is through Grace we have good hope, the Grace of Regeneration according to his mercy; he ſaveth us by the waſhing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoſt, which he ſheds on us abundantly, through Jeſus Chriſt our Saviour, that being juſtified by his Grace, we ſhould be made Heirs according to the hope of eternal life; there is no hope of eternal life without Grace. It cannot be expected I ſhould diſcourſe of all the Graces, theſe may ſuffice.
1. The firſt Grace we are to labour for, is Humility, by which we come to know our vileneſs and unworthineſs, that we are no better than wretched and miſerable, and poor, and blind, and naked, and have need of every thing, and yet deſerve nothing; that we are not ſufficient of our ſelves to think any thing as of our ſelves, but our ſufficiency is of God. The way to be rich in Grace, is to be poor in Spirit, God will give Grace to the humble; the more humble, the more holy; Saint Paul the chiefeſt of ſinners, leſs than the leaſt of all Saints in his own account: yet not a whit behind the very chiefeſt of the Apoſtles in Grace and Gifts, labouring more abundantly than they all; yet not I, ſaith he, but the Grace of God which was with me. Be cloathed with humility, walk humbly with God, humble your ſelves under the mighty hand of God, and he will exalt you in due time, God will ſave the humble perſon.
2. Acquaint your ſelves with God, know the God of your Fathers; This is life eternal, to know thee the onelyonly true God and Jeſus Chriſt, whom thou haſt ſent; the principal part of the image of God, is the knowledge of him. If you would have his mercy and his favor, you muſt have underſtanding; for to a people of no underſtanding, he that made them will not ſave them, and he that formed them will ſhew them no favor; they who like not to retain God in their knowledge, are not like to go to Heaven; that the Soul be without knowledge it is not good, the Soul cannot be good without knowledge, it is the image of God which makes the Soul good. The new man, which after God is created in righteouſneſs, and true holineſs, is renewed in knowledge; we eſcape the pollutions of the World through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Grace alſo and Peace are multiplied unto us, through the knowledge of God and of Jeſus our Lord; yea, all things that pertain unto life and godlineſs are given unto us, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue: Therefore if you determine to go to Heaven, determine not to know any thing ſo much as Jeſus Chriſt and him Crucified. Wiſdom is the principal thing; therefore get Wiſdom, and with all thy getting, get Underſtanding, get Wiſdom, get Underſtanding; …orget it not, embrace her, and ſhe ſhall bring thee to Honour and Heaven. She is a Tree of Life, to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is every one that retaineth her.
3. Repent and believe the Goſpel; I put them together for brevity ſake, as I find them; Repentance towards God, and Faith in our Lord Jeſus, are our very entrance into the Kingdom of God. True Repentance, which elſewhere I have deſcribed at large, lets the Kingdom of Sin and Satan out of the heart, that Faith unfeigned may receive Chriſt and his Kingdom into it. Repentance is a turning from Sin and Satan, and the World, and Faith is a coming to God by Chriſt, a chooſing and cloſing with him as our Lord and Saviour, a receiving of his Fulneſs, and Grace for Grace; that we may glorifie God, and be glorified with him in our Bodies, Souls and Spirits, which are Gods. Seek firſt the Kingdom of God in a way of repenting and believing, and you are ſure to find it.
4. The fear of God, eſpecially for his Goodneſs, is another Grace to be deſired and laboured after towards the attainment of the Kingdom of God. Reverential filial fear of God, is the firſt beginning of true Wiſdom, which is the principal thing to be looked after. The fear of the Lord is the inſtruction of Wiſdom; What man is he that feareth the Lord? him ſhall he teach in the way that he ſhall chooſe. None are wiſe but fearers of God. Behold the fear of the Lord that is Wiſdom, and to depart from Evil is Underſtanding. The fear of the Lord, is to hate Evil, and the evil way, yea, every falſe way, which every prudent man is careful to do, that he may walk in the way of Life, which is above to the wiſe, that he may depart from Hell beneath; I know no greater or better wiſdom, than departing from Sin and Hell, for fear of God; to walk in wayes of holineſs out of love to God, for the obtaining a Kingdom of Glory; whoſoever would receive a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let him have Grace, whereby he may ſerve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear, paſſing the time of his ſojourning here in fear, working out his own ſalvation with fear and trembling.
Above all, put on Charity, no Grace brings us more into favor with God, and all good men, yea, even the worſt of men ſometimes than Charity. A man that is truly charitable both to Body and Soul, is a man almoſt by himſelf, and that hath that Charity which ſuffereth long, and is kind that envieth not, that behaveth not it ſelf unſeemly, ſeeketh not her own, is not eaſily provoked, thinketh not evil, with all the other properties, is in a more excellent way to the Kingdom of Glory, than any other; and therefore my advice is, that every one would ſtrive to excel in this moſt excellent Gift, Duty and Grace of Charity; that he would follow after Charity, till he be found in Charity; an example in Charity, fervent in Charity, in that Charity that covereth a multitude of ſins; that the Charity of every one of us all towards each other abounding, all our things may be done in Charity, that ſo we may be in Charity one with another, which is the end of the Commandments, and the bond of our perfection. O the unſpeakable excellencies of Faith and Hope, and other Graces, but the greateſt of them all is Charity; Charity makes a man ſo good, that when one will ſcarcely dye for a righteous, or juſt man, peradventure for a good or charitable man ſome would even dare to dye, if not, he dare dye for himſelf, or for the Brethren, which he ought to do, when lawfully called thereunto. None in ſo ſure and ſafe a way to the Kingdom of Glory, as a man of Charity. Put on therefore (as the Elect of God) bowels of mercies, kindneſs, humbleneſs of mind, meekneſs, long-ſuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, as Chriſt forgave you, but above all theſe things put on Charity, which is the bond of perf…ction, and beſides being partakers of the Divine Nature; and giving all diligence to add to faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godlineſs, and to godlineſs brotherly kindneſs, and to brotherly kindneſs add Charity; for ſo an entrance ſhall be miniſtred unto you abundantly into the everlaſting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
5. To Charity, add alſo Chaſtity; which is a virtue not only neceſſary and preparatory, but eſſential to the Kingdom of God: for there ſhall in no wiſe enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatſoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lye. Having therefore promiſes for this end, let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of the fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſs in the fear of God, that we, who according to promiſe look for new He…vens, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs, may be d…l…gent to be found of him in peace without ſpot and bl…meleſs, that we may then be preſented as a chaſte Virgin to Chriſt.
6. Get Self-denial; Live in the daily practice of it, if you would not have God deny you himſelf, his Kingdom, Grace and Glory; if any man will come after Chriſt, let him deny himſelf, and take up his Croſs and follow him: He muſt go the ſame way that Chriſt went, that means to come to Heaven; he hath led us the way, for he is our way, he himſelf went every ſtep to Heaven in a way of Self-denial, his wiſdom, will, way and work, was wholly ſubjected to the wiſdom, will and pleaſure of his heavenly Father: I ſeek not, ſaith he, mine own Will, but the Will of the Father which hath ſent me, and I do alwayes thoſe things that pleaſe him; every one of us is to pleaſe his Neighbour for his good to edification, and the reaſon is, for even Chriſt pleaſed not himſelf, leaving us an example, that we ſhould follow his ſteps. Our own wiſdom, will and way, ſtanding either in competition with, or oppoſition unto the wiſdom of God, which ſeems fooliſhneſs to us, is to be denied; the world by wiſdom knows neither God, nor his Son Jeſus Chriſt. The hidden wiſdom which God ordained before the World unto our Glory, is ſuch a myſtery, that none of the Princes of this World knew, and therefore they crucified the Lord of Glory. Nor can any natural man receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are fooliſhneſs unto him, neither can he know them, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned: Let no man therefore deceive himſelf, if any man ſeem to be wiſe in this World, let him deny himſelf, become a Fool, that he may be wiſe to deny his own Will, as well as his own Wiſdom; that he may be willing in the day of Gods power, to be what God would have him to be, and to ſay, not my Will, but thine be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, which is the higheſt Wiſdom. Self-love muſt alſo be denied: Naturally men, though they will not own it, are Lovers of their own ſelves, which makes them covetous, and proud, to be Lovers of Pleaſure, more than Lovers of God. The love of God for himſelf, and love to our Neighbours, without diſſimulation, is the cure of Self-love, which is falſe love, and therefore true hatred. Self-love is Self-hatred. The Times are perilous, when men are Lovers of their own ſelves, covetous, proud, Lovers of Pleaſures, more than Lovers of God, having a form of Godlineſs, but denying the power thereof. Hold faſt the form of ſound words with a ſound mind by the Spirit of Faith, and of Power, and of Love; that inſtead of denying the power of Godlineſs, you may exerciſe your ſelves unto all Godlineſs, in denying Ungodlineſs, and worldly Luſts: that you may live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent evil World. Learn in what ſtate ſoever you are in, therewith to be content. Learn both how to be abaſed, and know how to abound. Be content to be poor in this World, which is the true meaning of being poor in Spirit, that you may be rich in Faith, and Heirs of a Kingdom; the comfort and content of a mans life conſiſteth not in the abundance of the things which he poſſeſſeth. The Kingdom of God is not meat and dri…k, but righteouſneſs and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt. Let your Converſation be without covetouſneſs, and be content with ſuch things as you have, that your Converſation may be in Heaven. Heavenly-mindedneſs is your duty, let it be your delight, to ſeek thoſe thing… which are above, where Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of God, in whoſe preſence is fulneſs of joy, and at whoſe right hand there are pleaſures for evermore for all thoſ…, and onelyonly thoſe, that have and exerciſe the Graces of the Spirit in truth and uprightneſs. Labour therefore in the laſt place for the Grace of Sincerity, which is not ſo much a Grace, as that which makes Grace to be …race. If I may ſ…y ſo, what is Faith but Fancy, if it be not unfeigned? Or Love, but Luſt, except it be without diſſimulation? What is Obedience good for, if it be not univerſal and conſtant? Our hearts and lives are not ſound, if we have not reſpect unto all Gods Commandments to perform them alwayes unto the end. Suppoſe our Gracious Majeſty the King command nothing but what is holy, juſt and good for His own Honour and Intereſt, and the good of His Subjects, will he judge thoſe perſons ſincere to him, that lives in open diſobedience to any of his righteous Laws? God and man would, and ſhould be ſerved in ſincerity and truth. God is to be worſhipped in Spirit and in Truth, he is rich in mercy, but to whom? to them that call upon him in Truth. The good and the right way is, only fear the Lord, and ſerve him in Truth with all your heart. God is for the heart, and the whole heart; man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart; the heart, and the ſincerity of it, is all in all with God; Grace and Mercy is with all them that love our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity with incorruption. Sincerity is the Salt th…t keeps our Love and other Graces from corrupting and periſhing; it is the root of the matter which makes the h…art good and honeſt in bringing forth the fruit of right…uſneſs with patience unto perfection: Whereas the ſeed ſown in the heart, where there is no root, …i…hers away; the Word of the Truth of the Goſpel bringeth forth fruit in them that hear it, who kn…w the Grace of God in Truth: Do not my words, ſaith God, do good to him that walketh upright? God is good to thoſe that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts, which David intimates in his Prayer. None are good indeed, but the upright and ſincere, their hearts are good, their lives are good, they are like Saul and Jonathan, lovely and pleaſant in their lives, and their death is precious in the ſight of the Lord. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is Peace. He ſhall enter into Peace, that walketh before God in Truth, and with a perfect heart, doing that which is good in his ſight; uprightneſs, integrity, and ſincerity in heart, ſpeech and behaviour, is very pleaſing to God. Behold thou delighteſt in, or deſireſt Truth in the inward parts, They onelyonly are the Sons of God, who are blameleſs, harmleſs, or ſincere, ſpeaking the Truth in love, as being ſincere, which is all one; ſpeaking the Truth from the heart, is a character of a Citizen of Zion, and the property and duty of the true Miniſters of the Goſpel, who are not as many, which deal deceitfully with, or corrupt the Word of God, but as of ſincerity, but as of God, in the ſight of God ſpeak they in Chriſt his Doctrine, ſhewing uncorruptneſs, ſincerity, ſound ſpeech, that cannot be condemned; ordering alſo their Converſations in the World, by the grace of God in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, that they may approve things that are excellent, that they may be ſincere and without offence toward God and toward man, till the day of Chriſt. They who are allowed of God to be put in truſt with the Goſpel, are even ſo to ſpeak and live, not as pleaſing men, but God, which tryeth their hearts; not at any time uſing flattering words, for a cloak of covetouſneſs, whom St. Paul would have the Brethren to mark: And I moſt humbly beſeech His moſt peaceable Majeſty, for His own, and His Kingdoms ſake and ſafety, He would alſo mark them who cauſe Diviſions and Offences upon what pretences ſoever, either in the State, or Church, or Families, contrary to the Doctrine of Chriſt, for they that are ſuch, ſerve not our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but their own belly; and by good words and fair ſpeeches, deceive the hearts of the ſimple, walking in craftineſs, doing the work of the Lord deceitfully: But ſuch as would firſt ſeek the Kingdom of God with comfort, muſt labour to be Iſraelites indeed, in whom is no guile, that they may grow in grace, in every grace, going from grace to grace, from ſtrength to ſtrength; for the pure in heart, and he that hath clean hands, and is ſincere, perfect and undefiled in the way, ſhall be ſtronger and ſtronger, till he be ſtrong in the grace that is in Chriſt Jeſus, being ſtrengthned with might by his Spirit in the inner man, to exerciſe himſelf in all holy converſation and godlineſs, in every condition, in every relation; for the truth and ſtrength of grace lies much in relative religiouſneſs. None are really holy, that are not relatively holy; they who are not good, loyal and ſincere loving Subjects to His moſt Excellent Majeſty the King, are far from the true power of godlineſs, and ſo in all other Relations, which I leave to a fitter opportunity to handle. What more plain in all the Word of God, than that every Soul is to be ſubject unto the higher Powers? How apt are men to forget it! Put them in mind therefore, ſaith St. Paul, to be ſubject to Principalities and Powers, to obey Magiſtrates: What follows—To be ready to every good Work: Why? for Rulers are not a Terror to good Works, but to the evil. He is a Miniſter of God to every one for good, both to the good and to the evil, to make evil men good, and good men better. The Supreme Power, which is the Ordinance of God, is not to be reſiſted, upon pain of damnation; but all Dues, Duties, Tribute, Cuſtom, Fear, Honour, the rather to be rendered with all chearfulneſs, and humble thankfulneſs: for Magiſtrates are Gods Miniſters, attending continually on this very thing; wherefore let every one of us, as it is our bounden duty, ſhew the truth and power of our godlineſs herein, for we muſt needs be Subjects, not only for Wrath, but alſo for Conſcience ſake, to our Superiours in the Lord: And that they may rule for God, and for good, let Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions, and giving of Thanks be made by us all for the KING, and for all that are in Authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godlineſs and honeſty; for this is good and acceptable in the ſight of God our Saviour, who will have all men firſt to ſeek the Kingdom of God, and his Righteouſneſs, and come unto the knowledge▪ and the acknowledging of the Truth, which is after godlineſs, that they may be ſaved: for which end the Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godlineſs, through the knowledge of God and Jeſus our Lord, that hath called us to glory and virtue, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promiſes, that by theſe we might be partakers of the divine nature, and the divine life.
The laſt direction for getting and growing in grace, is to get well acquainted with every promiſe of grace, and every promiſe unto grace, to m…ke a believing lively application of them to your ſelves. Turn theſe Promiſes into Prayers, and God will turn them into Performances. He hath purpoſely made them known unto you, that he might make them over to you; for all the Promiſes of God in Chriſt Jeſus are Yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God, and your ſalvation, if having theſe Promiſes, we cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of the fl…ſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſs in the fear of God The promiſes of God are the breaſts of Conſolation from whence new born Babes deſire or ſuck ſincere milk, that they may grow thereby in grace unto a perfect man, unto the meaſure of the ſtature or age of the fulneſs of Chriſt, till they become ſuch as have no need of milk; for every one that uſeth milk, is unsk lful, hath no experience in the word of righteouſneſs, for he is a Babe, but of ſtrong meat which belongeth to them that are of full age, of perfect, even thoſe who by reaſon of uſe, habit, or perfection, have their ſenſes exerciſed to diſcern both good and evil.
For Conſolation to all the Sons, and Saints, and Servants of the Lord, that hearken unto the counſel, command and proclamation of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, that firſt ſeek the Kingdom of God and his righteouſneſs, as you have heard, that have this Kingdom and righteouſneſs in you: Look unto Jeſus, lift up your heads and hearts, for your redemption draweth nigh, when the time of refreſhing ſhall come from the preſence of the Lord. Let us comfort one another with theſe words, God and Chriſt, and Grace and Glory are ours, we are ſealed 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, all things are ours, for we are Chriſts; Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, things preſent, things to come, all are ours in poſſeſſion and reverſion. This All ſhould comfort us, it is worth being a Son, a Saint, a Servant of God, to be as rich as Heaven and Earth, yea richer, in having God for our portion. Let not the Conſolations of God ſeem ſmall to us; the promiſes of the life that now is, and of that which is to come, are all ours, here are the unſearchable riches of Chriſt, treaſured up for the heirs of promiſe, wherein God willing more abundantly to ſhew unto them the immutability of his counſel, confirmed them by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it were impoſſible for God to lye, we might have a ſtrong Conſolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope ſet before us, which is Chriſt in us, the hope of glory: for we look for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, to be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels, when he ſhall come to be glorified in his Saints, and they in him. Its worth going through the Kingdom of grace all the way, which many poor Chriſtians are fain to do in a way of perſecution and tribulation, to the Kingdom of glory, where they ſhall ever be with the Lord, whoſe preſence will make amends for all. There God and Chriſt will be all, and in all, here Chriſt dwelleth in our hearts by faith, hope, and love; but when Chriſt, who is our life, ſhall appear, we ſhall alſo appear with him in glory; then ſhall we be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and heighth, and know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge; now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be; but we know that when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is; then ſhall we be filled with all the fulneſs of God, that will do for us exceeding abundantly above all that now we ask or think, unto him be glory in the Church by Chriſt Jeſus throughout all ages world without end.
Now our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and God even our Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlaſting Conſolation, and good hope through grace, comfort our hearts, and eſtabliſh us in every good Work, to keep us from falling, till we be preſented faultleſs before the preſence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the onelyonly wiſe God our Saviour be Glory and Majeſty, Dominion and Power, both now and ever. AMEN.
FINIS.
End of the text · Tobias Ellis, The Kingdom of God Opened (1678)