Christs Alarm to Drowsy Saints, Sermon 6
Revel. 3. 1.
Theſe things, ſaith hee, that hath the ſeven Spirits of God, and the ſeven Starres.
I Have begun to handle this Epiſtle, wherin I noted foure things:
Firſt, the inſcription, declaring to whom this Epiſtle is ſent, To the Angel of the Church in Sardis, write: that is, to the Miniſter of the Church, and to the Church it ſelf.
Secondly, The Subſcription, declaring from whom it is ſent: Theſe things, ſaith he that, &c.
Thirdly, The Subſtance, or ſubject matter of the Epiſtle: I know thy works, &c. Uſque ad, ver. 4.
Fourthly, The Concluſion, He that over-commeth, &c. ver. 5, 6.
I have already Analyſed all this whole Epiſtle, and Paraphraſed upon every part of it, and ſhewed you the meaning of it, and the ſcope of it; and have made ſome entrance upon it; namely, to reprove their deadneſſe and coldneſſe in Religion, and to quicken them up unto life, leſt the judgement of God fall upon them. I have diſpatcht the Inſcription: And to the Angel of the Church in Sardis, write: and ſo I paſſe on to the ſecond: Namely, the Subſcription, Theſe things ſaith, &c.
Theſe words, as ye heard, contain a deſcription of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, from whom this Epiſtle is ſent. The Deſcription is not a whole and an entire deſcription of him, but only accommodated to the buſineſſe in hand. And therefore it deſcribes him onelyonly from two admirable Royalties that are in him. The firſt is this, That he hath the ſeven Spirits of God, that is, he hath the Holy and quickning Spirit, to give him to whomſoever he pleaſe, q. d. if ye would be quickned, hearken unto me, come unto me, I have all the graces of the Spirit to quicken you withall.
Secondly, That he hath the ſeven Starres, that is, as I told you, he hath all the Miniſters of the Church in his hand, and at his diſpoſe, Theſe things, ſaith he that hath the ſeven Spirits of God, and the ſeven Starres, That is, Chriſt hath all the Starres, all the Miniſters of the Church, they are all in his hand. I told you, he is ſaid to have them in five reſpects: 1. They have their Miſſion from him. 2. They have their Commiſſion from him. 3. They have their Abilities from him. 4. They have the ſucceſſe of their labours from him. 5. They have their protection from him, he opens their mouths as long as he liſts, and ſhuts them, when hee ſeeth fit ſo to doe.
I have ſpoken of the firſt; The Miniſters of Chriſt have their Miſſion from Chriſt, he hath the ſending of them, As my Father hath ſent me, ſo ſend I you, Joh. 20. 21. it is Chriſt that ſends Miniſters to the Church, as he told Jeruſalem, Behold! I ſend unto you Prophets, and Wiſemen, and Scribes, Matth. 23. 34. He called the twelve, and began to ſend them forth by two and two, Mark. 6. 7. So he called the ſeventy and ſent them alſo, Luk. 10. 1. ſo, it is Chriſt that ſends all true Miniſters, to this day. True, the Church does Ordain them, I▪ but if they be not ſent by him too, they are intruders. Now when he ſends them, they are his Miniſters, though the Church put them into Orders. As it is with a true Conſtable, though the Pariſh chooſe him, yet he is the Kings Officer, and does things in the Kings name. So it is with every true Miniſter, Chriſt hath the ſending of him. He is the Miniſter of Chriſt, as the Apoſtle ſayes, Let a man ſo account of us, as of the Miniſters of Chriſt. 1 Cor. 4. 1. And therefore look what▪ we do in our Office, we doe it in his name. As Peter ſaid, In the name of Jeſus Chriſt, riſe up and walk. So we ſay unto Gods Elect, riſe up and walk, in the name of Jeſus Chriſt repent of all thy wicked wayes and beleeve, and though the world will not ſtirre at our ſpeech, yet they that are elected of God doe ſtirre, they are none but the reprobate that lye ſtill in their ſins. Sometime or other we get home all the Elect, they hear us, they obey us, they ſubmit to our Doctrine, in the name of Jeſus Chriſt.
The Uſe of this is; firſt, for comfort of the poore MiniſtersUſe 1. of Chriſt, may be we meet with many wolves in the delivery of his errands. We meet with ſowre faces, and wry lookes, ſuſpenſions, oppoſitions, and ſuch like wolviſh dealings, for doing of our meſſage; what need we care for all theſe, as long as Chriſt ſends us. Certainly, if he ſend us, he will be with us, as God ſaid to Moſes, I ſend thee, certainly I will be with thee, Exod. 3. 12. he will be with us for the good of his choſen, in all the courſe of our Miniſtery, be it ſhort, or be it long. We ſhall be uſefull unto them, though the reprobate world will not obey any of our words. Chriſt will be with us in the Pulpit, in the priſon, in a dog-hole, if the wicked put us in it, as Chriſt ſaid, Goe and teach all Nations, and loe I am with you to the end of the world, Matth. 28. 19, 20. This is our comfort, Chriſt will be with us, and this is the Elects comfort, they ſhall be ſure to finde him with us in our Miniſtery: if we be in the Pulpit, there they ſhall hear us teaching of them; if in the priſon, there they ſhall have us ſealing of the truth to them.
Secondly, if Chriſt hath the ſending of us, wee muſt beUſe 2. ſure to doe his meſſage, that we performe the work he ſends us to doe. Every meſſenger ſhould doe thus. I ſeek not mine own will, ſaith Chriſt, but the will of the Father which hath ſent mee▪ Joh. 5. 30. if a Merchant ſhould ſend a ſervant beyond the Seas, to be a Factor for him, if that ſervant ſhould goe and trade for himſelf, to get money for himſelf, and an eſtate for himſelfe, and neglect his Maſters buſineſſe, he may look for a cold welcome home: So when Chriſt ſends us to bee Factors for him, to ſee what Soules wee can gain unto him, if we ſhould now ſeek our ſelves, how to be rich, how to be ſome-body in the world, how to get preferment, and ſo leave his buſineſſe undone; wee may look for a cold welcome home. Certainly, if Chriſt ſends us, we ſhould minde his work, we ſhould glorifie Chriſt, labour to reveale Chriſt, to win Soules to Chriſt▪ This is our buſineſſe to doe.
Thirdly, If Chriſt hath the ſending of us, wee muſt giveUſe 3. him account when wee have done. When Chriſt had ſent his Diſciples to preach, they returned again, and gave him account of what they had done, Luk. 10. 17. Lord even the Devils are ſubject unto us. Lord I have done thus and thus, I have declared all thy whole counsell, I have kept nothing back: I have done thy meſſage, and ſuch and ſuch have heard mee, but ſuch and ſuch will not hear me. A meſſenger is bound to give an account unto him that ſends him: nay, the devill himſelf returned to give an account: when the Lord ſent him to tempt Job, hee came again, and told what hee had done, Job▪ 2. 1. So wee ſhould come again, and tell God what wee have done. When the children of Dan ſent ſpies to ſearch the land, they came and related what they had done, ſo ſhould we doe. Lord, behold, here am I, and here are the people that I have begotten by thy Word, and here are the rebells that I could never get to reforme their wicked wayes. Wee ſee how they that had received the Talents, how they came and gave in their accompt, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. O what a caſe ſhall wee be in, if wee cannot give up a good account at the laſt day, of what wee have done in our places and callings!
Fourthly, If Chriſt ſend us unto you. O, Beloved, whatUſe 4. a great mercy is this … that Chriſt ſhould ſend unto ſuch as you bee? If Chriſt had ſent unto you, when yee had ſought him and turned unto him, it had been very much, but that hee ſhould diſpatch meſſengers unto you, when yee had not ſo much as a thought of him; nay, when yee ſinned againſt him, This was a mercy indeed! It was a great kindneſſe, that Joſeph would ſend unto his Father, and his Brethren, and bid them leave all, and come into the Land of Aegypt: O, ſaith he, regard not your ſtuffe, for the beſt of the Land of Egypt ſhall bee yours, yee know his brethren were unkinde unto him. Beloved, Joſeph was never ſo unkindly dealt with by his Brethren, as Chriſt hath been by us, and yet that he ſhould ſend to ſuch wretches as wee are: O leave all, and come unto me, regard not your ſtuffe, regard not your profits, never trouble your ſelves with this thing and that thing, for all the beſt of heaven ſhall be yours; O what an infinit kindneſſe is this! when he will ſend ſuch treaſures of his to us, by his Miniſters. As Joſeph filled his brethrens ſacks with corne, which they carryed to their fathers houſe, in Canaan, to preſerve them alive till they came into Egypt; So the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, hath put his ſpirituall treaſures, as it were, into a ſack, and given them his Miniſters to diſpence to their brethren, to nouriſh them, and preſerve them, untill they come home to him: hee fills his Miniſters ſacks every week for us, they come with ſack-fulls of heavenly and divine truths every week to us, with ſack-fulls of food to feed our ſoules unto eternall life, and when that is ſpent, he ſends us every Sabbath more; and therefore how ſhould wee eſteem a true Miniſter that comes to us from Jeſus Chriſt! Hee is one of a thouſand, as Elihu ſpeaks, if there bee a meſſenger with him, an interpreter, one of a thouſand, to declare unto man his righteouſneſſe, then hee is gracious unto him, Joh 33. 23, 24. that is, then is God gracious to us indeed. When God ſends us a meſſenger from him, ſuch a one is one of a thouſand, ſuch a one declares to us our righteouſneſſe. Yee know wee cannot ſtand before God without righteouſneſſe. Now ſuch a one declares to us righteouſneſſe. He brings us the righteouſneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt. So that we ſhould be thankfull to Chriſt that he ſends us any of his true Miniſters. O my Brethren, we that are the Miniſters of God, wee come with heavenly and glorious things, every day from our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: Though wee have them but in earthen veſſels, yet they are things, that the whole world is but droſſe and dung to; and therefore think how yee ſhould come to Church; think how yee ſhould bee affected with our meſſage, think with what affections ye ſhould heare our Sermons: Now I come to heare a meſſage from Chriſt, a Letter from Chriſt, a Direction from Chriſt, a reproofe from Chriſt, counſells from Chriſt, for the framing of my life, now I ſhall be told, what I may doe to inherit glory. O, ſayes the Apoſtle, He hath given to us the Miniſtery of reconciliation with God: to wit, that God was in Chriſt reconciling the world unto himſelf, not imputing their treſpaſſesunto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then wee are Embaſſadours for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech you by us, we pray you in Chriſt his ſtead bee reconciled unto God, 2 Cor. 5. 18, 19. 20. q. d. Ah yee poore creatures, God and you are out, yee are enemies of God, by your evill works, the wrath of God hangeth over you, wrath for all your ſinnes; wrath for all your drunkenneſſe; your covetouſneſſe; worldlineſſe; wrath for all your carnall courſes; your ſlighting of heaven and heavenly things, the wrath of God abideth on you. Now the Lord of Heaven and Earth hath ſent us as Heralds of Peace, we come as Embaſſadors from the Lord of all glory, we have the word of reconciliation, the word which we preach, will make God and you friends again, if yee will beleeve it, and imbrace it. We pray you in Chriſt his ſtead to conſider of it, bee reconciled unto God, heare our meſſage, doe not ſlight what wee ſay to you, we ſpeak to you from Chriſt, This is the onelyonly Word that can make God and you friends.
O how will this judge the world, that the Miniſtery of the Word, is no more regarded nor heeded! When God ſends his Miniſters unto people, and becauſe forſooth, their fleſh and blood does not like it; they look little after it▪ Wheras this containes eternall life, and if ye reject this, ye reject eternall life. I beſeech you judge what I ſay: Doe you meet with a reproofe that croſſes your corrupt Iuſts? I pray you reaſon the caſe thus with your own Soules, I am reproved for my looſeneſſe, and my vain wayes, my faſhioning of my ſelf according to this world, my fawning, my flattering, my gaming, my ſcandalous courſes, my ſinning againſt light, I have had good education, I have lived under good meanes, but I am very graceleſſe, if I put off theſe reproofes, I put off the word of reconciliation: This is the word that comes to reconcile me to God, if I have faith to apply it, but if I put it from me, and doe not regard it, I refuſe all reconciliation with God. So, when the Word ſhewes you your duty, how to beleeve, how to live, how to walk, in all holineſſe and true righteouſneſſe. Conſider, if yee put it from you, yee put away from you the onelyonly word of reconciliation. Theſe are the truths that are ſent unto me, to reconcile me unto God: O, if I will have none of them, I caſt off the Son of God, and everlaſting life. Still when the Prophets would ſpeak unto the people, this was their preface, The Lord ſent mee: ſo ſayes Iſaiah, the Lord ſent mee, Eſa. 48. 16. ſo ſayes Jeremiah, the Lord ſent mee. When they refuſed to hear what he ſaid: O, ſayes hee! Truely the Lord ſent mee, of a truth the Lord hath ſent me unto you, to ſpeak all theſe words unto you. Jer. 26. 15. One would think it wore enough to ſtrike terrour into the hearts of men, to put off any Sermon, any rebuke, any exhortation of Chriſts Miniſters, when they know the Lord ſends them. Of a truth the Lord hath ſent mee to ſpeak all theſe words unto you. May bee, the Miniſter is as poore a creature in himſelf, as one of you; O, but remember who ſends him, as Chriſt ſayes, hee that heareth you, heareth mee, and hee that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth mee, and hee that deſpiſeth mee, deſpiſeth him that ſent me, Luk. 10. 16. So much ſhall ſuffice to have been ſpoken of the firſt way, whereby Chriſt is ſaid to have the ſeven Starres, that is, the Miniſters of the Church, namely, he hath the ſending of them.
Secondly, Hee hath them, that is, hee hath the giving of them their Commiſſion, as they have their Miſſion from him, ſo they have their Commiſſion from him too. They are not onelyonly meſſengers but Embaſſadors. This Commiſſion hath two things; firſt, the heads of their Embaſſage, that Chriſt ſends them to treat of. Secondly, the authority of their Embaſſage, that Chriſt inveſts them with.
For the firſt, the heads of their commiſſion, Chriſt hath the appointing of them, what they ſhall treat of, and they are five. Firſt, they ſhall preach the Word. Goe and preach the Goſpel to every creature, Mark. 16. 15. Secondly, to remit the ſin of all them that doe embrace the Goſpel, Joh. 20. 23. that is, to pronounce all the promiſes of the Covenant of Grace, and in particular, forgiveneſſe of ſins to all true penitent and beleeving Soules. Thirdly, to adminiſter the Sacraments of the New Teſtament, to all the ſaid perſons, to whom the promiſes of eternall life doe belong, for the aſſuring of their hearts, concerning all the things of the Kingdome of God to them in particular, Matth. 28. 19. Fourthly, To build up the Church of God, for the perfecting of the Saints, and the edifying of the body of Chriſt, untill they all come, &c. Epheſ. 4. 12. Fifthly, to ſhut the Kingdome of Heaven upon all that have an evill heart of unbelief, to goe on in their ſins, and not to ſtoop to the Scepter of Jeſus Chriſt, Mark. 16. 16. and in divers other places. Theſe are the heads of their commiſſion, that Chriſt will have them treat of in their Embaſſage unto men.
Secondly, now for the Authority that hee inveſts them with, it is not any carnall or earthly authority, to jet, and to vaunt, or to domineere, as though they were Lords, and Gods heritage, 1 Pet. 5. 3. no, ſayes Chriſt, it ſhall not be ſo with you. But hee that is greateſt among you, hee ſhall bee as the least, Luk. 22. 26. and therefore I doe not here ſpeak of any earthly authority: No, the Authority that Chriſts Miniſters have, and they have it from him, is a ſpirituall Authority: uamely, not onelyonly to preach, and to declare forgiveneſſe of ſin, and to adminiſter the ſeales of the covenant, and to build up the Saints, and to denounce wrath and damnation to all that continue in their unregenerate eſtate through impenitence & unbelief, but to do all theſe things with a heavenly Power and Authority, to have an Office under Chriſt for the doing of them, ſo as to be the very mouth of Chriſt, and that which they doe according to their commiſſion from him, to ſtand firme and good, for ever and ever. I will give power to my two witneſſes. Rev. 11. 3. The Lord hath given me power and authority ſayes the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 10. 8. You will ſay this is great power indeed, all the Kings & Potentates of the earth have not ſo great power as this, this is a power of life and death, not naturall, nor temporary, but Spirituall and eternall, this is a power not oven mens Bodies but over their ſoules, not in ſmall matters▪ but either for ſalvation ordamnation. This is a great Commiſſion, how come they by ſuch a great one as this is? O ſayes Chriſt, I am able to inveſt them with as much as this comes to. For all power is given unto me in Heaven and Earth. Matth. 28. 18. q. d. I am able to furniſh you with all authority and power, goe you in my name, and preach you in my name, in my name bid people repent and beleeve, in my name open heaven to all that doe obey, and ſhut it upon all that doe diſobey, and I will make it good.
The uſe of this is. Firſt, have the Miniſters of Chriſt ſuchUſe 1. a Commiſſion from Chriſt? then they are the greateſt Embaſſadors, that ever were, or can be. Embaſſadors of earthly Kings, have a great Commiſſion, they repreſent the Kings perſon from whom they come, Alas, what are they to theſe? they come about petty things, about civill peace, or warre and yet they are Lord Embaſſadors, they are Lords by their places, they are much reſpected among men. O then what great Embaſſadors are the Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, that repreſent the King of Kings perſon, that repreſent the perſon of the Lord of Lords, that came to Treat of peace betweene God and Man, or of open Hoſtility between the Creator and the Creature? as Paul ſayes now then wee are Embaſſadours for Chriſt, As though God did beſeech you by us, wee pray you in Chriſts ſtead be reconciled unto God, 2 Cor. 15. 20. that is, we have a very great commiſſion, we repreſent the perſon of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, we come to treat with you about eternity, according as you heare us, or heare us not, ſo it will be with you unto all eternity. O conſider what we have to do, you are enemies unto God from the womb, as long as your ſins doe remain, ye are enemies ſtill, we come to ſet you at one again. Yee know the condition, yee know what the heads of our commiſſion bee, if yee will not hearken unto them, and ſubmit, yee are damned for ever; if ye doe, bleſſed and happy are yee for evermore, was there ever ſuch a great Embaſſage as this? as the Apoſtle ſayes, To make known the myſtery of the Goſpel, for which, I am an Embaſſadour in bonds, Epheſ. 6. 19, 20. q. d. though the wicked and blinde world, look upon me as a Schiſmatique, and a malefactour, and caſt me into the priſon, and here I am in bonds, they ſee no ſuch thing in me, as an Embaſſadour of the great God, yet the truth is, though I bee in bonds, they ſhall know it one day to their coſt, who I was, and what a commiſſion I had, and what it is to ſlight it, and put it off. I am an Embaſſadour of the myſtery of the Goſpel, though I be in bonds.
Secondly, Have ſome Miniſters, ſuch a commiſſion fromUſe 2. Chriſt? then let them learn how to behave themſelves in their function. My Brethren, Chriſt hath committed unto us the cuſtody of his own power, and authority, and therefore we are to exerciſe it in his name, our commiſſion is to charge the great men of the world, Charge them that are rich in this world, that they bee not high-minded, 1 Tim. 6. 17. True, we are your ſervants for Jeſus his ſake, and wee are to be humbled, and to wait upon men of loweſt degree, and to condefcend unto men of meaneſt capacity, and there is a time when wee ſhould for loves-ſake intreat, but the truth is too, wee have power to charge and command, Theſe things command and teach, 1 Tim. 4. 11. Theſe things ſpeak and exhort, and rebuke withall authority. Tit. 2. 15. We muſt not betray the power and majeſticall ſimplicity of the Goſpell of Jeſus Chriſt. We have Chriſts owne power and authority in our miniſtery, and therefore wee are to command you in his ſtead: as ever you will anſwer Chriſt, before his Tribunall at laſt day, neglect not thoſe things, which we preach to you from him. Now we command you, Brethren, in the name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that yee withdraw your ſelves from every brother that walkes diſorderly, and not after the Tradition which hee received of us. 2. Theſ. 3. 6. True, we are inferiors to Kings, and Princes, and Magiſtrates, and the Nobility and Gentry of the land: There be thouſands and thouſands that are our Betters, in all civill reſpects; but our Embaſſage is above all.
The Lords own Power and Authority goes through the miniſtery, as a Trunk. As, the King may ſend a Command to the greateſt▪ Nobleman of the Kingdome by the hand of a meane man▪ and he is to hearken to it: though the meſſenger in himſelfe be his underling, yet his meſſage is above him, and he looſes his head if he deſpiſe it. So, beloved, we are over you in the Lord, that is in regard of our meſſage. Though we be your inferiors, and ſome of you be our betters, and wee are to ſtand with Cap in hand to you; yet ye looſe your ſoules; if ye will not heare us, and obey our Embaſſage. We muſt not bow to your humors, nor make the Spirit of Chriſt in the Goſpell to bend and comply with human luſts. If Princes and Potentates were by, we muſt not ſpare their ſins. Nathan deales roundly with King David. Thou art the man. Jehu, with King Jehoſaphat, wrath is upon thee from the Lord, becauſe thou haſt helpt the ungodly. We muſt let all the world know that Chriſt whom wee preach, is above them all, wee muſt not proſtitute Chriſts Scepter, no not at a Monarchs foot. If we be men-pleaſers, we are not the ſervants of Chriſt. We muſt not ſuffer Chriſts word to be bound, whoſoeuer is our hearer, whether high or low. We defie popiſh Divinity that exalt their Antichriſtan Clergy, above the civill Magiſtrate. Belarmines Martin is but a foyſted ſtory. But yet in this ſenſe we are above all the Kingdomes of men, as God ſayes, Behold I have put my words in thy mouth, and loe I have ſet thee this day over Nations and Kingdomes, to plant and to root up, to build and to throw downe. Jer. 1. 9. 10. Let no man thinke we are ſaucy, though we reprove the greateſt of you all, as long as we doe it in Chriſt, and from Chriſt, we are the mouth of the Judge of quick and dead, and he will make our words good; The meaneſt Sergeant in the Kings name dares arreſt the greateſt Duke. So, my Brethren, we come in the Kings name, in Chriſt his name, and therefore we muſt not be afraid of your faces, As Paul told Philemon, I have great authority in Chriſt to command thee, that which is convenient. Philem. 8. We have great authority to command every one of you, to doe your Duties towards God, and man. We have Chriſt for our Author, and therefore he will be a wall of Braſſe to us. We are his Embaſſadors, and therefore our Meſſage is with great power.
Thirdly, Have we this Commiſſion from Jeſus Chriſt?Uſe 3. then this may ſerve to condemne all ſuch as doe not obey our Miniſtery. Though wee have all this authority, the very power of Chriſt himſelf in our mouthes, that equally binds King and Begger; Yet who obeys our commands? who ſtirres? who repents? who ſubmits himſelf unto our commiſſion? we have called for humiliation, but no man will humble himſelf▪ We have cryed for reformation, and amendment of life, but no man relents; wee have read our commiſſion every week unto people, we ſhew them our Letters Patents from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and they are counted as idle tales by the moſt. O what an indignity is this unto our Lord Jeſus Chriſt! we are his Embaſſadors, and your ſtanding out againſt us, is not againſt us, but againſt him, and he will repay it. O, ſayes the Apoſtle, if any man obey not our word, By this Epiſtle, note that man, 2 Theſſ. 3. 14. q. d. note him with a brand of infamy, note him as a Rebell againſt Jeſus Chriſt, look upon him as a wretched miſerable creature, take heed of him, avoid him, withdraw your ſelf from him, point at him, yonder goes a wretch, that will not obey the voyce of his teacher, excommunicate him from your company, have as little to doe with him as you can. Be ye ſhie of ſuch a man, certainly there is great wrath hangeth over him. So, Beloved, if any obey not our word, note ſuch perſons, note ſuch pariſhes, note all ſuch families, the wrath of heaven hangeth over them, their ſtubbornneſſe, and hardneſſe of heart is not againſt us, but againſt the Lord. Theſe are notorious Townes, notorious people, that have Chriſts Embaſſadors among them, and yet will not be obedient, and yet how is our Embaſſage made nothing of! if Kings onelyonly, and Princes, and Lords, and great men ſhould make nothing of it, we ſhould not ſo much wonder, becauſe they are greater men, then thoſe that God ſends his Embaſſage by, and yet if they were wiſe, and knew what they did, they durſt not doe as they do, but every baſe fellow ſtops his eare, and hardens his heart, againſt the God of Heaven and earth, and will not obey our word: nay, men can hear their ſins ripped up, and the Anathema's of Chriſt ſpread before their faces, and not bluſh. They can heare that thoſe very ſinnes they live in, doe ſeparate from God, do adjudge them to hell, and ſhew them to be under the blacknes of darkneſſe, and the ſentence of damnation, they can ſee it ſhowne them out of the word, which they cannot deny for their hearts, though they would never ſo faine, and yet they will not repent nor returne that they may have mercy. Not one drunkard will leave, nor one Mocker leave, nor one Covetous perſon, nor one graceleſſe wretch leave, they will have their owne wayes, doe the Miniſters of God what they can. We can get none to be awakened, none quickened, none ſtirred, none ſtartled to any purpoſe. Setting aſide here one and there one that truely obeys the voyce of Gods ſervants, the whole countrey lying in ignorance of God, in the privation of his Spirit, unreconciledneſſe with heaven, voydneſſe of faith, emptineſſe of grace and life, the nakedneſſe of an outward profeſſion, having no true quickening within, nay the moſt in groſſe wickedneſſe, drunkeneſſe, company-keeping, unrulineſſe, diſorder, uncleaneneſſe, laſciviouſneſſe, covetouſneſſe, mocking at the pure in heart, malicious alienation of ſpirit againſt the holy wayes of God. Nay ſince we have ſpoken to them in the name of the Lord, yet none will hearken to any effect that their ſoules may live.
Fourthly, therefore, I pray you let me adde one uſe more;Uſe 4. doe but conſider, how the Lord taketh this at our hands, that his Miniſters are thus vilipended. They are in more danger of their liberty for reproving, then the wicked for committing of their ſins. Are his Miniſters, his Embaſſadors? then he will never endure that his Embaſſadors ſhall bee abuſed. When the King of the Ammonites had abuſed Davids Embaſſadors, that he ſent him in love. 2 Sam. 10. Ye know what it coſt, it coſt above 40. thouſand mens lives. The Romans ſlue the Illyrians and the Tarentines, for miſ-uſing of their Embaſſadors, and as Cicero ſayes, our Anceſtors ſayes he, for this very thing deſtroyed all Corinth. For alas how could Princes deale with one another, if Embaſſadours ſhould not goe ſafe, and be hearkened unto? Therefore Embaſſadors muſt be regarded. When Scipio Africanus tooke a ſhip full of Carthaginians, though he meant to rifle all they had, yet when they ſaid they were Embaſſadors, he would not meddle with them. True, they were not, they did but counterfeit, that ſo they might eſcape. But yet you may ſee how inviolable Embaſſadors were, the leaſt indignity offered to them, was puniſht as if it had beene offered to the perſon of that Prince, that they did ſuſtaine. Well then, how doe we thinke will the Lord take it at peoples hands, that his Embaſſadors are abuſed, and diſobeyed, that people will not diligently come to them, and acknowledge their errands, and yeeld obedience to him, no Nation under heaven hath had more Embaſſadors from Heaven then we have had, and though ſome have hearkened to them, yet for the moſt part they meete with Ammonitiſh dealings they are disfigured, and mocked, and laded with indignities, denyed to deliver their meſſage, every paltry raſcals complaint admitted againſt them, none walke in ſo much danger as they, none more ſhot at, then they; ſcarce any will heare them and ſubmit to their Embaſſage, and thoſe few that doe, are counted the only factious people, and peſtilent fellows in the land, O, what wrath is there againſt us for theſe things▪ For this very cauſe, the Lord plagued all Judah even becauſe they would not liſten to Gods Embaſſadors that he ſent to them earely and late, as the Prophet ſpeakes. Jer. 29. 17, 18, 19. Thus ſayth the Lord of Hoaſts. Behold I will ſend upon thee the ſword, the famine and the Peſtilence, and will make them like vile Figges, that cannot be eaten they are ſo evill, and I will perſecute them with the ſword, with the famine and with the Peſtilence, and I will deliver them to be removed to all the Kingdomes of the earth, to be a curſe, and an aſtoniſhment and an hiſsing and a reproach, among all Nations whither I have driven them. Mark now; what is the reaſon, why God would doe thus? Becauſe they have not hearkened to my Word, ſaith the Lord, which I ſent unto them by my ſervants the Prophets, riſing up early and ſending them, but yee would not heare ſayth the Lord. This was the reaſon, why God would plague them ſo grievouſly, becauſe they would not liſten to his Embaſſadors that he ſent them for their good. The like we reade of the ten Tribes: the Lord powred his vengeance on them too for this very reaſon, becauſe they would not heare his Embaſſadors, therefore the Lord caſt them out of his ſight, and flung them away from being his people and hee would never be their God more, the place is 2 King. 17. 13, 14, 15. The Lord teſtified againſt Iſrael & Judah, by all the Prophets & Seers, ſaying, Turne ye from your evill wayes and keepe my Commandments and my Statutes, according to all the Law which I commanded your fathers notwithſtanding they would not heare, but hardned their necks, like to the neck of their Fathers, and did not beleeve in the Lord their God, and they rejected his Statutes and his Covenant, that he made with their Fathers. Mark, this was the cauſe why the Lord was ſo angry with them, and removed them out of his ſight. Becauſe they would not doe as his Embaſſadors did command them in his name. Now as God hath let out his fury upon them for not attending to his Embaſſadors, ſo he hath done, and daily doth and will yet more doe upon us. For though for temporall Judgements, God be patient and forbearing, beyond all admiration, we feele yet no Sword, no Famine, no Peſtilence, we may be aſtoniſht to ſee how long ſuffering he his, O if we had the grace to conſider of it, nevertheleſſe the Lord is effuſing out upon us the very dregges of his Cup, he fats us up for his eternall ire, he hath done converting of our hearers, he hath done bleſſing of our Sermons, he hath made us Loammies, and Toruhamahs, & turned us into a generation of his wrath. You whoſe eyes God hath opened, whoſe hearts God hath inclined unto him, whoſe Conſciences God hath purged and Sanctified and made you Saints. Bleſſe him and praiſe his holy name, and make more of his infinit grace and goodneſſe. For it is to be feared God will now adde no more to your mumber, he delivers people now to a reprobate ſence, he reſolves to be revenged on our land in fire and Brimſtone, for the contempt of his glorious Goſpell, that hath beene preached ſo long a time. He lets men fill up the meaſure of their ſins, that thoſe that are filthy may be filthy ſtill, thoſe that are drunkards may be drunkards ſtill, thoſe that are led with their luſts, ſhall be ſo ſtill, to the intent that he may bring upon the world, all the fierceneſſe of his ſpirituall and everlaſting wrath, and that he may revenge the quarrell of his Covenant, and the labors of ſo many Embaſſadors, whom he hath ſent unto you, and ye would not heare. O that this might move ſome of your ſoules, that ſo ye might prevent this dreadfull judgement and be plucked out like Brandes out of the Burning.
Fifthly, Another Uſe is, are Gods Miniſters, his Embaſſadors?Uſe 5. then they muſt Preach no mercy at all, unto ſuch as wilfully ſtand out againſt Jeſus Chriſt. When Antony was a Rebell, O ſayes Tully, it is not fit to ſend him Embaſſadors of Peace, to treat with him of Peace; as Theſeus ſaid once: Goe, ſayes hee, and tell Creon, Theſeus offers thee a gracious offer; Yet I am pleaſed to bee friends, if thou wilt ſubmit. This is my firſt meſſage: But if this offer prevaile not, look for me to be up in Armes. So, Beloved, Gods offers of peace have been made already, again, and again, and they have been rejected. Now his Embaſſadors muſt cry. Armes, Blood, and fire, and pillars of ſmoak. At the firſt God dealt with us, as Tullus with his Enemies, Quae verbis componere potuit, armis non decrevit: as long as hee could reconcile them with his word, they ſhould not have his blows: So the Lord hath dealt with us, at the firſt he perſwaded us with the promiſes of his Word, now ſeeing no more can be gotten in that way, hee will have his Miniſters lay the axe at the rootes, to hew down, and to deſtroy, and to ſlay people with the ſword of his lips. Doe not wonder, when we preach hell and damnation to all rebellious ſoules▪ You will ſay, here is nothing but judgement, Preachers ſend us all to the devill, they preach, as if they would drive us to deſpaire: they ſhould put in, except wee repent.
I Anſwer, it is enough now to underſtand it; when the Goſpel hath been a long time in a place, Gods Embaſſadors muſt hold out the black flagge: when Tamberlane had hung out his White flagge, and that would not doe, and his Red flagge, and that would not doe neither; then he hung out his Black flagge. Now look for no mercy. So, Chriſts Embaſſadours ſhould doe. When Paul knew that the Goſpel was contemned in Corinth, the white and red flagge had ceaſed to doe good; You ſee how hee hung out his black one. Know yee not that the unrighteous ſhall not inherit the Kingdome of God. Bee not deceived, No idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor railers, nor covetous, ſhall ever inherit the Kingdome of God, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. He does not put in, now except yee repent; no, no, now look for no mercy. So the Apoſtle John. The fearfull, and unbeleevers, and whoremongers, and lyers ſhall be caſt into the Lake that burnes with fire and brimſtone, Rev. 21. 8. hee does not put in, except ye repent: if we ſhould bee ever putting in, except yee repent, and concluding with mercy upon condition of repentance, what would hard-hearted people ſay? O wee had a terrible Sermon to day, but the Preacher gave us comfort in the cloſure, he had a ſweet bit at the laſt, and thus they heale all again. Nay, when people grow once to be ſtubborn, then Prophets have been ſo farre from putting in except yee repent, or any other tearm of mercy, that they uſed to meet with the peoples preſumption of repentance. So Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, and others, they threaten deſtruction to the wicked, and they adde this above all, though they cry for mercy, nay, though they faſt, and could get Noah, and Samuel, and Job and Daniel to pray for them, yet they ſhall have no mercy: q. d. ye think to avoid theſe judgements, by repenting another day; no, no, when yee cry for mercy, yee ſhall not have it. When a Nation, or a Pariſh, or any people grow perverſe, and have rejected the ſweet tenders of mercy, Gods Embaſſadors are to look upon ſuch wretches as rebels; no indenting with them more, no tearms of peace more, as the Law ſayes, with Pirates, and Traytors, and Rebels, the Law of Armes is not to bee obſerved, as Baldus ſpeaks, they have broken the league, as Florus ſpeaks: when Spartacus the Rebell, deſired an Embaſſage of peace, hee would faine have Craſſus contract a league with him, Craſſus ſcorned the motion; when Talfarinas that egregious Robber and Traytour, ſent an Embaſſador with treaty of Peace to Tiberius the Emperour, Tiberius took it with indignation, that hee ſhould bee ſo ſawey with him. No Embaſſage of peace is to be made with rebellious wretches; wee need not put in, except yee repent, when we are to deal with ſuch; No, no, when ye grow once to deſpiſe reproof, ſee you to that. True, if yee doe repent, who knows what God will doe? Though Craſſus would not parlee with Spartacus about peace, yet when hee did repent indeed, hee received him to mercy. So will God doe with you. But in the mean time, know that the God of Heaven is at defiance with you, and all the curſes in his Book, are directed againſt the face of you. Yee have played the deaf Adder, againſt the gracious tenders of mercy from day to day, and therefore ſee your damned condition. The Embaſſadors of Chriſt have not one tittle of mercy of you, if we could ſee you melt, and cry out, and down on your knees, and your hearts turn, and your ſpirits ſink down before God, then wee might ſay ſomething unto you; therefore, Brethren, if the Miniſters of the Goſpel doe daily preach more and more judgement, doe not think much, they ought ſo to doe.
Sixtly, and Laſtly, one Uſe to you that feare God, andUſe 6. beleeve his Embaſſadors, and are beſought by them. Let me ſay to you, as the Prophet Iſaiah ſaid, Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voyce of his ſervants, that walketh in darkneſſe, and hath no light, let him truſt in the name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God, Eſa. 50. 10. that is, bee of good comfort, though all the world, and all the devills in hell bee againſt you, yet bee of good cheare; what, although yee meet with never ſo many temptations, and feares, ſuch a fogge of them, that ye can ſee no light, yet it ſhall aſſuredly goe well with you. Though others have not come in at the preaching of the Word, ye have. Howbeit others will not reform, will not ſee the Lords hand lifted up, they will not acknowledge their ſins and ſinfull doings, and damned caſe, yet ye have. Yee have ſeen it, and felt it, and run to the throne of Grace, and have ſought the Lord, according as Gods Embaſſadors have directed you out of his Word, yee have feared God, and obeyed the voyce of his ſervants, though others make a mock of ſuch as will be ruled by Preaers; tuſh, they ſhall not curb mee, ſayes one, and they ſhall not controll mee, ſayes another. What, does hee think to lead mee in a ſtring? Yet yee doe fear God, and yee dare not ſtand out againſt the preaching of his ſervants, yee deſire that yee may ever practiſe their Word, and lead your lives according to it, what ever others doe. Bee of good chear, ſayes the Prophet, The Lord is your God, and doe yee ſtay your ſelves on him. the Doctrine that God hath ſent unto you by the Miniſtery of his ſervants, is the only Doctrine of Salvation, and therein yee ſhall finde eternall life.