Subjection to Christ in All His Ordinances 2, Text (1 of 3)

Subjection to Christ in All His Ordinances 2 · Text (1 of 3)

p. 1A WHOLESOME CAVEAT For a time of LIBERTY.

2 CHRON. 12. 8.

Neverthelesse they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the Countrey.

THe greatest part of this Chapter is spent in setting down that famous War which Shishak King of Egypt made against Rehoboam King of Iudah.

The cause of this War in regard of Shishak is not set down; probable conjectures there be: Ieroboam probably might be treacherous, who having a party in Egypt, lest Rehoboam should grow too great, together with some other pretended wrongs, might awaken this Bear from his den; but in regard of God, you may see the Reason set down, Vers. 2. Because they had transgressed against the Lord.

The time of this War is set down in the 1. Vers. When he had established the Kingdome by wholesome Lawes, erecting Gods worship, and countenancing godly men, 2 Chro. 11. 16, 17. which continued three years, and p. 2strengthened himself by fortified places, and munition fit for war, as in the foregoing Chapter appears. Now when he had most peace and quiet, he and all Israel suddenly forsake the Lord, which was the fourth year; and in the fifth year comes Shishak, and with a mighty hoast wastes all before him untill he come to the chief City.

Now in Vers. the 5. and 6. is set down the repentance of the people with their Princes especially. Shemajah, who no doubt had spoke against their idolatrous courses before, takes his season when they were low and tamed, and tels them the true cause of their misery, Vers. 5. Many sins there were in the Land, as Idolatty, and Whoredoines, &c. yet the venom was, They had forsaken the Lord: Let the sin be what it will be, yet let it be such a one as men forsake the Lord by it, that's the provocation; hereupon they humble themselves, some effectually, some hypocritically, yet all outwardly, and say the Lord is righteous; they extenuate not their sin, they lay not the blame on man, no not on Shishak, but see the Lord, justifie his proceedings, the Lord is righteous, we unrighteous, although it were more heavy then it is.

Now in the 7. Vers. and in the words read is set down the mitigation of Gods plague, and the moderation of his chastisement, I will not pour out all my wrath, yet I think it not fit to shew perfect deliverance, I'le make them servants, to let them know, &c.

There are two parts in the words read.

1. The punishment or chastisement on Iudah for forsaking the Lord, and backsliding from him, which is hondage and privation of the liberty they had, they must be shishaks servants.

2. The Lords end, it was very gracious, That they may know my service, &c.

For explication.

1. What is meant by service?

Answ. There are two things in service. 1. Government. 2. Subjection: cheerfull obedience to that governemt. Both the Hebrew word, as also the nature of the thing it self hath these two.

God sets up his Government over a people, his people do or should subject cheefully to this government; By my service is therefore meant my government, and your subjection wrought by me to this governmemt.

p. 32. They shall know.

1. Not by the knowledge of the brain, for that they know now, but knowledge of experience, as it's said in Ezek. 6. ult. When I shall have made the Land desolate in all their habitations, they shall know that I am the Lord. Now what shall they know of it?

Answ. the difference betwe…n them, the sorrow of the one, the sweet of the other; the misery of the one, and blessednesse of the other; the bondage of the one, and the liberty of the other.

There might be many things observed from the words, but I note only the generall.

Obser.Doctr. 1. That when any people of God forsake the Lord, and cast off his government …ver them, they provoke the Lord to put them under the bondage of another government. They that abuse Gods liberty must be under bondage; the Lord hath a Kingdome in this world most glorious; hence when men will not be under it, if they will not be ruled by him, they must be ruled by the whip; and if Christs laws cannot bind, Christs chains must. Ier. 5. 19. And it shall come to passe when ye shall say, Where…ore doth the Lord all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours. Psal, 107. 10, 11. Such as sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death, being …ound in affliction and iron, because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsell of the most high. Ezek. 20. 24, 25. Because they had not executed my Iudgements, but had despised my Statutes, and polluted my Sabbaths, &c. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgements, whereby they should not live, &c. Zach. 11. 15, 16. And the Lord said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish Shepherd. Vers. 16. For lo I will raise up a shepherd in the land which shall not visit those that be cut off, nor seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still, &c.

When people break convenant with God, and loath him, then saith the Lord, I'Ie not feed and then he sets over them Idol shepherds.

This is certain, when the soul will not subject it self to God, he goes about to subject God to him, nay to his lusts, Isa. 43. 24. Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins. For one of them must stoop, and a man would have the Lord be mercifull, patient, and pittifull to him, when he is in p. 4league with his lusts, now this the Lord will not do: And hence, if he does not destroy him, he with-draws himself from serving of the creature, and hence other evils take hold of it, and bring it under. When Adam stood, and was for God, all creatures served him, and the riches of Gods goodnesse preserved him, the Lord communicated the sweet of his government or service to him: but when turned away from the right wayes of God: Now if the Lord should serve him by governing of him in goodnesse, he should serve a lust, and bow to the creature, nay to a lust, which is a viler thing, then for one creature to fall down and worship another. Therefore now hence it comes to passe, because the Lord will not be a servant to any mans lust, there must be some other government that must seize upon them. Hence set all the Saints in the Churches with their faces subjected to the Lord, his good wil and righteous wayes, and then his goodness shall flow down upon them in a through Christ, for otherwise we have nothing to do with good, but when we are set right for God. Hos. 2. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever, yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousnesse, in judgement, in loving kindnesse and mercy, &c. The Lord will then command all creatures to be serviceable to his Church and people; Vers. 21, 22. But on the contrary misery must needs seiz upon the soul that doth cast off the government of the Lord Jesus: Thus much for the generall explication of the point.

Now in particular. 1. What is this government or service of God?

2. What is the bondage he captivates his unto?

3. Why doth the Lord do thus?

Quest. 1.Quest. 1. What is this government or service of God which being shaken off the Lord gives them over to bondage?

Ans. Answ.There is a double government of the Lord over his people.

1. Internall or inward, of which our Saviour speaks, Luk. 17. 21. The kingdome of God (saith Christ) comes not by observation and outward pomp; For behold the kingdome of God is within you: And this is nothing else in generall, but when the Lord doth by his Spirit in the word of his grace cause the whole soul willingly to submit and subject it self to the whole will of God p. 5so far as it's made known to it; this is the inward kingdom of God and government of Christ in the soul. Ro. 8▪ 14. So many as are led by the Spirit are the sons of God. Ps. 110. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion, &c. 2. Cor. 10. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall, but mighty through God the pulling down of strong holds. Vers. 5. Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. There are mighty boisterous distemp…rs, but the Lord when he comes in his Kingdome, to sit upon the royall throne of the hearts of his people, now they flie: and this is the inward Kingdom of Christ, like a poor Subject pardoned and received to favour, he is before the face of the Prince continually attending on him. Revel. 7. 14, 15. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Vers. 15. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his Temple, &c. Now this is meant in part by Gods service in these dayes; do you think the Lord cared for thousands of Rams? no, but to walk humbly, Mica. 6. Did he care for Temple aud Ordinances? no, but Isa. 1. 19. If he be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. Neh. 9. 20. In those dayes hee gave them his good Spirit to instruct them.

2. Externall or outward, the end and instigation of which was to set up and help forward the inward; for externall Ordinances are nothing in themselves, mean things, but as they are appointed and sanctified for this end, they are most glorious: and therefore Christ threatens the Jewes, Matth. 21. 43. That the Kingdome should be taken from them; what was that? Surely not inward, for that they had not, but the outward and externall means called Gods kingdom; all these helps and means shall be taken from you, and all laid ruinous. Now this externall kingdom of Christ is double.

1. The externall kingdome or government of God by his Church, in the administration an… execution, and subjection to the blessed Ordinances of God, wherein the power and Kingdome of Christ is seen, and thus, Dan. 2. 44, 45. Dan. 7. 27. It shall be given to the Saints of the most high, &c. Not to prophane herds of beasts, or cages of unclean birds, but to the Saints p. 6of the most high, Whose kingdome is an everlasting kingdome, and all the Princes of the world shall subject themselves to this kingdom of Christ.

This outward Kingdom Christ administreth amongst his people in this world: And this was part of the Lords government over his people herein, though various from our form now.

2. Of the Common-wealth, which may have divers forms, and had in the time of Israel; but it receiving its law from God, and governing for God, hence it was the government of God, and subjection hereunto was subjection and service to God himself: And hence when the people cast off Samuel, 1 Sam 8. 7. They have not rejected thee but me, Rev. 11. 15. The kingdomes of the world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. For although the Common-wealth of Israel was made up of the Church, and hence Iosephus cals it a Theocracy, where the Lord governed; and yet the same thing had divers foreign, formes and respects, and hence there was a diverse government then, and hence made diverse, 2 Chron. 19. 5, 8. Iehosaphat sets Iudges in the land throughout all the fenced Cities. Such is the wildnesse, boldness, & carelesness of mens hearts, that they do not only need lawes, but watchmen over them to see they be kept: and hence the Lord appointed some chief, some Judges in every City, and also some in every Village, as by proportion may be gathered, Exod. 18. every ten men had one over them.

Now this was the blessed wisdome of God to put all into sweet subordination one unto another for himself.

1. Every one professing his name is made for God, for Christ, as Lord of Lords, unto whom every knee must bow, and inwardly subject.

2. Hence the Lord (it being not good to leave man to himself) erects a Kingdome of the Church with his own power, and authority, and government in it for that end.

3. This being poor shiftlesse against inward and outward revenge, hence the Lords sets up Kingdoms of the world, which either rule for this end of these ends or not, if they do not, they are to answer it, and shall one days to Christ, whom God hath made head over all things to the Church. Eph. 1. 22. If they do, then their government, judgement and kingdome is the Lords in a speciall manner: p. 7and hence break the yoak of subjection to any one of these, you cast off Christ, the Lords government and service; and being so linked together, in truth if you break one you break all, and this will provoke the Lord to make you kisse the clink, and to put your necks under iron bondage that refuse subjection to him.

Quest. 2.Quest. 2. What is that bondage or other government to which the Lord gives over his people when they have cast off his government, this will provoke the Lord if the Lord be cast off, and the casting off the government of Christ will bring the most famous Kingdoms, Churches and Families into bondage; you will say what is this bondage? when is it that the Lord takes his season for the execution of it?

A. 1.Answ. 1. The Lord takes his own times to do it, these were a 12. monethmonth before the Lord sent Shishak: Here he was more quick. Nebuchadnezza… comes at last, and many years 'tis before the Lord doth it.

2.Answ. 2. The Lord is various in working, as he is wonderfull and hath divers wayes or means of bondage, he hath more prisons and chaines than one.

First, sometimes the Lord opens the door of a Kingdom or State, for the inrode of some forraign, or it may be barbarous Enemy, breaking in sometime by power, comming in sometime by craft, and then ruling like Lions, which the Lord makes to vex and prick the people of God; thus here their lives were spared, but liberties lost. Thus Iudg. 2. 13, 14. They forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And in vers. 14. The anger of the Lord waxed hot against Israel, and he dilivered them into the hands of spoylers that spoyled them. Ver. 15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evill. And this the Lord doth many …imes suddenly, that one would never think that ever the Lord should be so sudden; the Lord can be as quick to punish, as man to sin, and that unexpectedly. Eccl, 9. 12. Man knows … his time but are taken like fish in an evill net suddenly, Lam. 4. 12. The kingdomes of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not have beleeved, Judg. 5. 8. They set up new gods, and war was in the gate.

…. Sometimes the Lord turns the edge of that lawfull authority God hath set over them against themselves, to be a heavy scourge from God upon them: Thus it was with Israel in Egypt, Exod. 1. 8, 9. there arose a King p. 8which knew not Ioseph, and it's said then they were oppressed. Thus Ieroboam whom the ten Tribes chose, Hos. 5. 11. he oppressed the people he will be in novating, and this becomes their oppression: Thus the people under the reign of degenerate Solomon (though their complaint might be in part unjust.) Such is the venome of sin an unsubduednesse to the Kingdom God, that the Lord turns light into darknesse, and makes an aking head matter of sorrow to all the state and body of people. Eccles. 10. 16. Wo to thee, O Land, when thy King is a child. And one man shall do a world of hurt, one Shebna or Amaziah, and this the Lord doth in justice many times for casting off his government.

3. Sometimes the Lord gives a people up into the hands of one another to be mutuall oppressors of each other, that a man neighbour shall be his oppressor. Zach. 11. 9 I will pitty no more the inhabitaents of the, land, I will deliver them every one into his neighbours hands. I will feed you no more, that which dyeth let it dye, & that which is cut off let it be cut off, and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another. Sometimes the Lord is pleased to send marvellous straits into a place, that men are forced to imbondage themselves sometimes by words as bitter as death, as sharp as arrows; the Lord is pleased for the forsaking of his righteous wayes to make a mans self rip his own bowels, the father against the childe, the master shall be a scourage to the servant, and the servant shall be a scourge to his master, weary him of his lffe, the government of the Lord in a mans heart or family being cast off, Mic. 7. 4, 5. Trust not in a friend: No greater bondage in the world then for men professing the Lord, to be desperately set one against another.

4. By taking from a people all that righteous power of government the Lord hath set over them, when a people despising the Lord and inward government first (for there all begins) and so not prizing what they have, nor praying for them, nor subjecting to them, the Lord hereupon sends some sicknesse, or some other evill, that they are either suddenly taken away, or gradually, and when they are gone, all sink, or else such crosse carriages, that as Moses said, so say they, I cannot bear this people. Thus Iudges 21. 25. Men did what was right in their own eyes when there was no King in Israel. No State so miserable as an Anarchie, when every one is a slave, because p. 9every one will be a Master. Thus, Isa. 3. 1, 2. 6. Be a ruler to us. No, I'le not undertake to rule. So, 2 Chro. 15. 3. 5. when without a teaching Priest, then no peace at all, men will not be under government of them, you shall not have them, they shall rest in peace, and you shall then know the want of them.

5. By giving them over to Satans, and their own hearts lusts, that seeing they will not serve the Lord, they shall serve their lusts and their sins, that now the Lord he hath left off chastising of men, and conscience shall check no more, prosper, saith the Lord, & go on in thy sin, Psal. 81. 12. So I gave them up to their own hearts lusts, and they walked after their own counsels. Rev. 22. 11. Let him that is filthy be filthy still.

When the Lord shall give a man over to Satan, not only to window him, to let out the chaffe, and so to make the grain the purer, or to buffet them as he did Paul, but to insnare them, and hold them, that he shall not only tempt, but his temptations shall take, and not onelyonly take, but holds, 2 Tim. 2. ult. Who are taken captive by him at his will; taken alive as a snare doth, that now a man is beyond the reach of all means, only peradventure God may give repentance, Isa. 1. 5. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye wi… revolt yet more and more. The Lord leaves smiting, and sayes, Go on and prosper in thy sinne: and which is the worst of all, Satan shall so blinde him and harden him, fill him with pride, passion, lying, hatred of Gods people, cavilling against the Lords wayes of grace, slighting of his betters despising of wholesome counsell from his dearest friends, that he knows not that gray hairs are upon him. And after this when God hath cast out, in may be the Church doth also, a most fearfull bondage that the Lord gives such a foul over unto.

There are two reasons of this point, which I collect only from the story in this Chapter.

Reason▪ 1. Inregard of the righteous Judgement of God. It's just and equall that he that will not be ruled by this blessed Lord Jesus, he should be ruled by his lusts; he that will …ot be in subjection to a mercifull Christ, he should be in bondage to unmercifull men: this an humbled heart will acknowledge, as these do here, Vers. 6. they acknowledged the Lord to be righteous: Man being fallen it had been righteous with p. 10God to have left all men as the Angels that fell in chains of darknesse for ever▪ But among his Church and people the Lord sends the Gospel to proclaim liberty, and with it sends Christ with his Spirit, to come to the prison-doores of poor sinners, to give repentance as well as remission of sins, and now if they will not come out of their bondage, accept of the Lords liberty, 'tis exceeding righteous to deal with them as we do with prisone…s condemned to die; if the Prince comes to the prison-doores, and sayes, I am come to give thee thy life, nay and here is pardon; nay favour, and to pull off thy chaines also, now if he saies no, I had rather be in prison; every one will say it is just; and as it was in the year of Jubile he that would not go free was to be a bondman for ever. 'Tis very righteous to give men their own choyce, 'tis no wrong to let them have their own will: if indeed the laws of Christ were Draco's lawes, hard and heavy, there were something to object, but they are most sweet, and for which of all other blessings men have cause to blesse him, Psal. 147. ult.

Reason 2.Reas. 2: In regard of the mercy or mercifull wisdom of the Lord towards his Church and people, especially his peculiar ones, that hereby they keep the closer to the Lord, set a higher price upon the rules and government of the Lord, love his kingdome the more, and the liberties thereof, and use them better when they have them again, so here, that they may know my service, &c.

11. How sweet it is, Experience we say is the Mistress of fools; such is the foolishness of mens hearts that men are many times never truly taught a truth till they are taught it by sense, Prov. 5. 11. and thou mourn at last when thy flesh is consumed; tell a man of all the glory of the Saints, they never understand it till they feel it, tell men of the woe of their wayes; they will not believe it till they see it, Psal. 32. 9. Be not as the horse or mule that hath no understanding, whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle. Hosea 10. 11. Ephraim is like an Heifer that is taught. Like untamed Horses that will cast their rider, unlesse they be held under and backt, and then they are gentle, so 'tis here; and truly 'tis long before a man can learn the sweet of Christs government: hence Israel must be long in Egyptian bondage, and many long miseries, so that if there be either justice or mercy in the Lord he will do this, and this point shall be true.

p. 11Vse. 1.Vse 1. Hence then see that the greatest liberty and sweetest liberty is to be under the government of Christ Jesus, although men do not think so: hence the Lord tells them here they shall know my service, they might have replyed we do know it. No, till they be in bonds they know it not, nor cannot learn it. So 'tis now; and hence let men observe whiles they live loosly, and are guided by their own wisdome, for their own ends, according to their own will, at peradventures, at rovers, as they please, they do think this liberty very sweet; and 'tis better than to be curb'd in: But let the Lord strike an arrow in the heart of these wilde bucks, that have broke park and pale, send affliction, and an Iron yoke of sorrow upon them, or distresse of conscience, if there be any sense and feeling left, they will bemoan themselves, and say, I did think my liberty sweet, but now I see 'tis bitter in a sinfull way: and the Lords way was most sweet, by their own confession. Hence Psal. 2. 3. Let us break their bands, &c. But Oh now hence learn this truth, and digest it throughly, that the greatest liberty lies here: do not in thy judgement think Christian liberty lies, in being freed from the law as a rule of obedience in respect of the matter of it to be done, nor in thy practice; but know, though thou didst meet with a thousand Sorrows with it and griefs, yet 'tis sweet. Christs yoke, (Mat. 11. 30.) is easie, and his burthen light. What? When not a hole to hide his head in, when a reproach of men, a worm and no man, when he bore the Fathers wrath? Yes, when he was meek under it, (not mine but thy will be done) it was then most sweet, 1 Kings 9. 21, 22. To be a servant to Solomon is no bondage, Psalm, 119. 32. I will run, when thou shalt inlarge my heart.

Vse 2.Vse 2. Hence see the reason why the Lord hath deprived his Churches of their liberty, and his government over them at sundry times, and hath put them under Iron yokes, and bonds, and sore pressures, the reason is shewn, they have either openly or more secretly cast off the government of the Lord, here hath been the very wound the aile of all Churches famous and glorious, Psal. 81. 14. Oh that they had hearkened, I should then soon have subdued their enemies. The cause is not so hard to find to a discerning spirit who is privy in any measure to the counsels of God, 1 King. 9. 8, 9. Solomon hath a promise that the Lords eyes and heart shall be to his people which are under p. 12him: but if once they slip the Coller, then wo; and why? Because they forsook the Lord that brought them out of Egypt, they had liberty, but they cast it off.

What do you think was the moving cause of all those bloody persecutions, when the blood of dogs was more precious then of Christian Churches? were not they godly? yes, I do not doubt of it: but as it was here, though humbled they must be in bondage, because they had cast off the government of the Lord Jesus. And hence in the Apostles time evill times were come, sad apostasies from the truth, and because it was long before they were low enough. And hence, Revel. 6. till the … was opened; no crying, as it was with Israel in bondage, no prayer to purpose, and because the Lord saw they would abuse all liberties if they had them. And hence in Constantines time, when peace came in, contention came with it, and so abused all, that their peace was their poyson. And hence in the primitive Churches, they began to cast off the government of the Lord Jesus, murmurings there were, hence came persecution; but they were a precious people, and made blessed use of it. And the Lord couples their chief persecution with their rest. And 'tis said, Acts 9. 31. Then had the Churches rest, &c.

And what do you think of the reason of the long reign of Antichrist, exalting himself above God and all that's called God, bringing the Church under the heaviest bondage for body and soul that ever the earth saw? Men did not love the truth, either speculative to guide their minds, or practicall to rule their wills; and hence left to this day.

What is the cause of Bleeding Germanies wo? Oh poor Germany! Whence the Gospell first brake out in its full strength, that now 'tis a field of blood, that men in woods like satyres are afraid of men, and men in Cities glad to eat the intrailes of Beasts, and sometimes the flesh of their own babes to preserve their lives. What was there no evill, but the common condition of the Church to be under the crosse? ask them, they cannot tell what ailes them, but curse the Emperour and Swedes, &c. p. 13Oh think of it with sorrow in secret for them that know it not themselves, they have secretly, I say, secretly cast off the government of a mercifull Christ, and hence are under the hand of unmercifull men.

What is the cause in our native Countrey, notwithstanding all prayers and tears no diliverance? truly men do not know it but the Lord sees it, they know not how to use their liberty.

And for our selves, what shall I say, I cannot but blesse God and wonder to see how 'tis with many, and rejoyce to see many precious holy ones, to whom one day in Gods Court is sweeter than a thousand elsewhere: but I must professe and cannot but mourn for others, men that were eminent under bondage, but never worse then here; as if the Lord should say, Look here by your eminent ones; look, and fear, and mourn you Ministers of my house; here be the people you had thought had been converted, and that of all others such a one would never a fallen so; one an opinion takes him, another a lot, another loose company, another his lust, another gowes proud, another fierce, another murmuring: what should I name all? Oh that my words might be healing, &c.

Vse 3.Vse 3. Hence see what will become of us that are now under the government of the Lord; if ever we cast it off, either inward, or outward, or both. We are not dearer to him then his people Israel here, nay Iudah. When old Israel the great and numerous tribes of Israel had set up calves, little Iudah and Benjamin received the Priests, and yet they fell and were in bondage. I know we are not yet in bondage; yet it is not more unseasonable to speak now then for the Lord to Solomon, 1 King 9. 1

Quest. But there being much unsubduedness in the hearts of the best, how shall one know when there be such sins for which the Lord will cast from under his government?

Answer 1.Quest. When men do not loath their own hearts for the unprofitablenesse, but loath Gods ordinances secretly, and grow weary of them as of their burdens, p. 14because of the unprofitablenesse of them. When a people find not that speciall good by them which recompenseth all losses, and so prize them, but lay blame on them, because unfruitfull to them, Malachie 3. 13. He speaks to a people got out of Captivity, Your words have been stout against me, no say they, 'Tis in vain to serve the Lord, what profit is there in this? you must conceive they had many losses, were very poor, as vers. 11. a temptation which a proud heart cannot indure above any, here is now no profit in mourning, fasting &c. and Gods own people began to think so: and hence, Vers. 16. Then they spake often one to another, there was good effect of his Sermon: now what follows? Chapter 4. 1. Hence the wicked shall come and cut off Branch and Root in Antiochus time, there is a burning day a comming, that shall burn down house, root and branch! and hence, Matthew …1. 43. The kingdome shall be given to them that bring forth fruit. You will say, we do; No thy own mouth shall condemn thee, you do not, you find no good by all the ordinances of God, and hence come those Questions: what warrant for such an ordinance? the bottome is, they never felt good of it, and hence grow weary of it: well if it be your burthen, the Lord will ease you of it.

22. When you see men (professing the fear of God) mutually naturally contentious, and continuing so: I say, contentious with Saints which they say they love, & w^ch they are by covenant bound to love, either from some conceived wrong, and hence cannot forgive as Christ doth them; or from a prejudicate groundlesse opinion, they care not for me, nor I for them; or from a spirit of scornfull Censoriousnesse, what are such and such? or because distasted, because of some reproof in their sin; or by some opinion, or by some worldly conveniency, or laying out lots, or restraint of some liberty, &c. or because of some sin: Now can sit and censure; and I say, when this is mutual; for a godly man may be contended with, but he prayes and mourns and pitties, unlesse it be at some time; but when it shall continually abide so fierce and implacable Eccles. 7. 9. Anger resteth in the bosome of fools; when a man shall be glad of an occasion of difference, that so he may depart and have something to quiet conscience for breach of Covenant, that there can be no healing, but Bellies of pigs are more dear then bowels of Saints, and when quiet, upon the least occasion apt to p…ck holes p. 15and quarrel. Now it's time for the Lord to give over to another government. Zach. 11. 14, 15. When Brotherhood is broken, then an Idol-shepheard is set up. Exodus 2. Moses was sent to deliver Israel, but he finds two Hebrews oppressed striving, and must not be checkt neither, well then fare-well deliverance if you be of that spirit; you shall love one another better if ever the Lord doth that for you. It hath been the wisdome of some Princes, when their subjects have been at Civill wars, to call them forth to a common enemy, and there they can agree. Oh brethren, there is no sin like this, and yet none so slighted. You shall know what it is either by being yoked under enemies or sins. The first of these breaking bonds of union to Christ, the other with his members.

Vse 4.Vse 4. Hence see the reason why many men are delivered up to the bondage of their own lusts, the most sad bondage and power of Satan, who have seemed to be delivered from it; truly they have cast off the government of the Lord. Men wonder why in this Countrey men are more vile then ever they were, men that gave great hopes; the reason is this, they have seemed to be under Christs government, but secretly cast it off: And hence filthy and vile lusts are their Apparitors and Pursevants, &c.

Objection▪ Objection.The Saints feel a bondage, how shall one know the difference?

Answer. Answ. 1.The first and greatest inthralment is, when Satan and sin so rule as that they know them not, this is lamentable, that like those, Iohn 8. 33. when Christ told them, if they continued in the truth it should make them free, they would not believe that ever they were in bondage: so here a man thinks himself free when he is a slave, thus Psalm. 81. 13. God gave them up to their own hearts lusts, and they were led by their own Councels. The Saints may be much carried away by the power of Satans temptations, but never so far as to think their bondage is their freedome, and to have reasons and arguments prevailing against the good wayes of Gods grace, and to have reasons to maintain their sinfull courses, and that is in such as have wit, and parts, and knowledge, which through the righteous judgement of God are le…t so far to abuse it, as to make use of it to maintain their sin-full lusts.

2.Answ. 2 When men if they see their bondage yet have no heart to come out of it, in using all means for that end. p. 16When the will is in captivity, no captivity like it, no gally-slave like it: A childe of God hath a bondage and is led into captivity, but Oh miserable man he cries; but these, Prov. 17. 10. have a price in their hand, but no heart to make use of it, Ezra. 1. 5. So many whose hearts the Lordo stirred, they gat up to go to Ierusalem: But the Lord never stirs the hearts of these poor creatures: they know and fear, yet have no heart to get out of that condition, nay rather willingly are so. They sell themselves to their lusts, and sins, and Satan: here is (saith Satan) this gain, neglect prayer for it, tell a lye for it, break Covenant for it, lose thy peace for it: here is this honour and credit, look big on it: here is this estate, carry thy countenance high, and thus apparrel thy self with these trappings, walk thus with thy boots French-like: here is this pleasure and mirth, keep thou this company, loose thy heart, neglect thy God, give thy self over to it: here is this ease, deferre thy repentance, be cold in prayer, neglect thy family; and a man sels himself to his lust, pleasures and honours; thou art thus provok't, and therefore now thou must fret, and murmur, and rage, and hold thy own, and so ease thy heart, thus men set themselves to sale willingly.

3.Answ. 3. When men have some heart to come out of it, but the Lord leaves men to an indifferency, and consequently to apostasie, as it was with Agrippa almost perswaded, and like the Israelites that refused to go into the good land, Numbers 14. And hereupon the Lord was wroth, and said they should not, but they repented and would fain have had some pitty shewed in regard of their misery, but their enemies felt upon them and destroyed them: all the plea of the Arminians is for this, which is nothing else but mens misery. Luke 14. those that were invited made their excuses and said, I must needs go and see it: But found no necessity to come to Christ. Now the Saints the Lord never leaves them to a spirit of indifferency, but keeps them in a spirit of necessity. I must come out of this miserable condition, saith the poor soul, they say not, flesh is weak, but I must have help. Psalm. 110. because 'tis the day of the Lords power, they must not rest contented without help; and if the Lord delayes them and hears not, they will follow the Lord so much the harder.

4. If they have any resolution to come out, and think it must not be thus, and purpose never to live thus again▪ p. 17yet notwithstanding all their purposes and resolutions, they fall again, and never get any reall conquest, their un…anied hearts and wills are never a whit more subdued. Isaiah 63. 7, 8. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie. So he was their Saviour, but they soon rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: their wills were never subdued. But now the Saints either the Lord preserves them from such falls and Apostasies: Or if they do depart from the Lord by reason of the prevailing power of any temptation, they ever get reall conquest by their fall, their sinfull corruption thereby gets its deadly wound. Rom. 11. 10. Their backs are not alwaies bowed down, but the Lord raiseth their bowed-down spirits, Psalm 145. 14. and upholdeth their spirits for them when they think they shall one day fall by the hand of such Saul-like sins and distempers. A carnall heart may carry a fair profession, and be in subjection to Christ for a time, but his back stands alwaies bowed down under his profession, is is his berthen, and hence at last he casts it off as a man doth his wearisome burden▪ but on the contrary, a child of God being indeed weary of his sin, and carrying that up and down with him as his burden, with his soul bowed down in the sense of his own vilenesse, by this means, through the help of Christ, at last he comes to get reall conquest over his sin, and cast it off.

5. When the Lord in this case lets them alone without 5inward or outward troubles, this is a fearfull signe. Hosea 4. 17. Ephraim is joyned to his Idols, let him alone, the Lord will take no more pains with them, he is wearied out with striving. Isaiah 1. 5. Why should ye be stricken? ye will revolt yet more and more; when the Lord sees men the worse for his mercifull corrections, he deals like parents that have striven long with their children, and can do no good on them, they then resolve to let them take their own course, and will own them no longer to be of their family: the Lord never deals thus long with his; but if their sinne will not waste by words, the Lord will then try what chaines will do, and now they shall finde good, now they shall remember their backslidings and apostasies from God, and their impeni…ency in sin, in secret sins, especially in the dayes of their peace and prosperity; now the Lord will make sinne as bitter as ever it was sweet. Oh consider this p. 18you that are prosperous, and because the Lord is good to you, therefore you think the Lord likes well of your wayes. No greater plague then for the Lord to give a man peace in his sinne, or if the Lord begins to afflict thee in thy name, on estate begin to be blasted, and thou canst see Gods hand on thee, and knowest it, and yet thou remainest unhumbled, this is a signe thou art under the bondage of thy sin.

Vse 5.Vse 5. For examination, whether we do, or when a people do cast off the government of the Lord and destroy his kingdome? it's needfull to know the sin, that we may prevent the misery; and 'tis certain, let New-England be watchfull, and make sure here, to advance the Prince of peace, and to keep the right and government in his hand, and you shall have the blessing of God and his Ordinances, peace and mercy in your times, and continued to your children; for his kingdome is an everlasting kingdome, and of the encrease of his kingdome there is no end. and on the contrary, if New-England cast off the government from over them▪ and refuse his service, the Lord will then take the kingdome from you, and you shall then know the want of what now ye enjoy. Now because Christs government or

Kingdome is

1. Inward.

2. Outward

in Church.

in State.

I shall let you know 1. when the inward kingdome of Christ is set up, and when 'tis razed down, which I shall do by giving you a briefe view of the nature of it, and wherein it confists, and so you may the better Judge of your own hearts in this particular. As Satan hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of those that are without, so the Lord Jesus hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of all his Saints. Col. 1. 13. Blessed be god (saith the Apostle) which hath translated us from darknesse to light, and from the power of Satan into the kingdome of his dear sonne, which is very spirituall, little seen, a man may be under all outward government, and yet naught here; and therefore attend: this inward kingdome therefore consists in four things, or when the whole soul submits it self to God in these four particulars.

11. When the whole soul gives entertainment unto the Lord himself to come into it: for if a people shall say they are under such a government, and yet will not admit p. 19the Prince himself to come amongst them, but keep him out of the kingdome, they cast of his government and his kingdome.

2. When the whole soul closeth with the whole will 2of the Lord; for if a people shall receive a …nce amongst them, but he shall make … wholsome Laws to governe them but will be led by their own wills and lusts, they pull down his kingdome.

3. When the whole soul thus closeth with the will of 3Christ by vertue of the power and Spirit of Christ: for if a people submit to the will of their Prince, but 'tis not by vertue of his authority over them, command of them, and helps he hath given them for that end, but it is by reason of some forreign power, that underhand encourageth them to yield, this is poor subjection.

4. When the soul thus submits to Christ's will for the 4Lords ends, denying its own wisedome or will, and is led by the Lord to his end: for if a people shall submit to their Prince, but 'tis to set up other princes, he is cast off from his throne. When a man shall serve God, and be under his government because it is profitable or honourable, it suits his own end, this is poor service in the Lords account.

1. I say then, the soul is under the inward kingdome 1or goverment of Christ, when the whole soul gives entertainment to the Lord of Lords, the Lord himself with all his traine, in and by the Gospell of grace, the royall sword and Scepter of Christs kingdome; for when Christ himself is thus received, the kingdome of God is come to that soul, and entred into that heart; and hence Mark 1. 14, 15. the Gospel is called the Gospel of the kingdome, and when Iohn and Christ preached beleive and repent, for the kingdome of God is at hand. Under which word is comprehended much, but principally Christ Jesus ready to enter the souls of his people; and hence Iohn preached Christ. Now 'tis said, those that were effectually wrought upon, Matt. 11. 12 that the kingdome of heaven did suffer violence, and the violent take it by force; so that the kingdome of God is come into the hearts of all the elect of God, when the soul uses a holy violence, and the Lord do's draw the heart to an entertainment of the Lord himself; Many difficulties there be between them and Christ, and yet they break through all.

This is the condition of all men by nature, they are p. 20strangers to Christ, and live without God and Christ in the world, and Christ from them, and so Satan takes possession, and rules them, and so men are under the kingdome of darknesse, so that the devill himself possesses every naturall man, as the Apostle speaks, he worketh in the children of disobedience, to run on so, and remain so. Now the Gospel of the kingdom…, and the meanes to advance Christ in his kingdome, makes a free offer of Christ hims…lf; indeed it offers pardon, grace, mercy, life, glory, but all these are in Christ himself, and we possesse them by possessing and receiving of Christ himself; as a poor woman hath all the wealth of the man by entertaining of the man. So that the Gospell firstly and primarily offers Christ himself, and faith doth pitch on Christ himself, and doth open those everlasting doores, that the King of glory may come in, John 1. 12. 'tis said, So many as received him, he gave power to be the sons of God, 1 John 5. 12. He that hath the Son, hath Life; so that now let a man refuse or reject the Lord himself as he is thus offered in the Gospel, he does refuse the kingdome of the Lord, and does refuse to be under the power of the Lord. True, it may be said the kingdom of God hath been nigh to him, when Christ is offered in the Gospell, and God sayes as it were nothing shall please me so mu…h as this, if thou dost receive me. Luke 10. Go and preach to these and these Cities, and if they will not receive you, shake off the dust of your fe…t, and let them know the Kingdome of God hath been nigh to them; then Christ comes into the soul when the whole soul takes the Lord for himself, Christ, and all that Christ hath, Christ in a pardon, and Christ in a promise: at that very day the Lord gave the heart to receive him, then is the kingdome of God come in that heart, and with him all, life, peace, joy, and glory, God, Spirit, and all.

Now the whole soul receives him, when 1. The mind sees him in the glory of his grace▪ that though it had low, mean thoughts of Christ before, for which it mourns; yet the rising of this glorious Sun upon him, he esteems all things losse for him that he may win Christ, and be found in Christ, I in him, and He in me, in Vocation: and not having my own righteousnesse, in justification: And to feel the life of Christ and death also, in sanctification: And to attain to the resurrection of the dead, in glorification: and now nothing is dear to the soul but Christ.—2. When the will, after the soul hath had some hopes the Lord may look towards p. 21it in his grace, and having had many heart-breaking tears before the Lord, the Lord is now pleased by the glad tidings of the Gospell to give the will power not only to receive and entertain the Lord, but gladly to receive him. The soul wonders that ever the Lord should bow down to him, and offer mercy to him; and when as together with this, by the sweet …avour of his Grace that he doth let into the heart, the soul doth receive the Lord with most dear imbracings into his soul, that now there is none like to the Lord. Cant. 1. 3. Thy name is like an … poured out, where the very feet of the messengers of glad tidings are beautifull: But the Lord himself is the only crown and Joy of the soul, when the least look of love to a castaway is more sweet than kingdomes, ay and much more, that's love it self. Isaiah 52 9. B…ak forth into joy, sing together ye waste pla…s of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people. When kings shall stop their mouths as vile in themselves, and not able to set forth that glory they never heard of before, and the soul for Joy sells away all to buy this pearl, that it sayes with David, How do I love thy Law! Now beloved when the soul does thus receive the Lord, the kingdome of God is come to that soul; and theref…re try and examin, is it thus with you? or hath the Lord begun to deal thus with thee, to give himself, the glory of Angels, the wonderment of heaven, the mighty God of heaven, to come to thy heart? thou art then under the government of the kingdome of God. But now on the contrary, if thou canst be content to receive the ordinances of Christ, or the consolations of Christ, or some of the commands of Christ, and that is all, and the Lord never gave thee a heart to close with Christ himself, it's a strange thing to thee, that which is the main thing, the Diamond in the Ring of the Gospel; thou art yet far enough off from the kingdome of God; I dare not say, not think for all the world, that ever the kingdome of God came to thy heart. Again, if you have received Christ, but not with thy whole soul: that now the offer, promises, blood, life, grace, glory in the Gospell, are grown common things to thee; that the Lord never sent thee home wondering at the glory of Gods grace to a poor wretch, never yet said'st, Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord… …he Lord never yet lay next thy heart, or if thou hast had some liking, and some love and affections in pangs; yet the Lord is not only p. 22precious, and exceeding dear in thy heart, thy heart breaks not for grief that thou hast so much slighted him, so little born him of thy heart; It is a sign that the Lord hath begun to reveal himself to thy soul, when he gives thee a heart to mourn for thy standing our against him, but this never came to thy soul.

Certainly, here is the wound of many men: The Gospell of God never hath its proper effect, till the Lord help thee to give thy whole heart thus to a Saviour, to a God, to the Prince of peace; and till this is done, the Gospel is ineffectuall, it doth nothing. It was a sweet prayer of him, Make thy Son dear, very dear, exceeding dear, only dear and precious, or not at all; If thou hadst a thousand hearts, it was too little for Christ to love him, and do'st grudge him one? when thou hast imparted thy heart, and esteem to thy lusts and creature, do'st thou love the Lord with part of thy heart? but a vile lust, a poor creature must have a share, and the remnant will serve Christ, is he not the onelyonly pearl of thy heart, to give him daily communion, know this thou art a stranger to. Hear ye despisers, and wonder, and perish, God will work a work in your dayes. What is that? the infinit God cannot express as it were the wrath that shall come against such a soul, nor I cannot expresse the wrath that shall come upon such a despiser of the Lord Jesus. Give him all thy heart or none: if thou hast the Lord, thou hast his whole heart▪ if he had a thousand lives, he would have laid them all down for thee. He poured out his bloud for every one of his, but for the present thou art out of the Kingdom of God to this day.

22. When the whole soul closeth with the whole will of Christ, having thus received him, for if a Prince be come, and people will not be ruled by him, nor any laws that he makes, though never so good, but what they list, the Kingdome is cast off; For, beloved, there is a marvellous common deceit in mens hearts, they would not for all the world but have Christ; ay, but the will of Christ is neglected, that is a clog, and the burden of the Lord of Hosts; Christ is sweet and his will is …, Christ is precious, and his will is vile. Why do you make him a King, and ye will make lawes for Christ, and you will rule Christ, and his will shall not stand? here is no King; Such kind of idle Libertines were in the Apostles time, 1 Ioh. 1. 6. If we say we have fellowship p. 23with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and there is no truth in us: But now when the whole soul does submit to the whole will of the Lord, now his Kingdome is come indeed, when his will is thus sweet, Dan. 7. 27. His Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome, and all nations shall serve him: and his servants ye are whom ye obey, whether Christ, the devill, or your own hearts.

Now the whole wil of Christ is 1. Directing. 2. Correctin.

Now when the soul submits to both, then Christ rules in his Kingdome; sometime you meet with Christs directing will; now this is mens frame, naturally they will not see it, they will not come to the light, Iohn 3. …0. they are led by their own counsell, and will not regard the light and counsell of God in his word; they will quarrell with the light when it is crosse to their ends, gain, honour and the like; men have high thoughts against the Lord Jesus, 2 Cor. 10. 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thought that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God. And again, if men do see it, yet like the devill that has much light, they do not love it, nor out of love (not unlesse it be out of fear) subject to it▪ like Balaam that had no love to Gods command, but onelyonly was acted by fear and constraint; now when the soul continues thus, it casts off Christs Kingdom; but if the whole soul first comes to the light, though it sees little, sets the whole will of Christ before it, Psal. 18. 22. saith David; I have kept the wayes of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God: and though it hath had many quarrellings against the truth of God, yet now it hath not, nor dares not, but sayes, Lord, teach me; the Lord gives them hearts to lye down at the feet of any man that shall shew them any thing that is amisse in them, and they say with David, Lord, search me, and try me: I have many crooked wayes, and therefore, good Lord, find them out, and therefore come to the Lord for that end; and though there be something in them that is desperately contrary to the good wil of God, yet there is an inward man that does delight in the law of God, and when the Lord is pleased to give them an heart to submit to the will of God; Oh the soul doth wonder at the Lord, that the Lord should shew him any thing, and help him against temptations; and though there be a great deal of wearinesse in the wayes of God, yet there is a spirit within him, that it is indeed heaven it self to him to be in the ordinances of God; now ye stoop p. 24to the directing will of Christ, when this is thy way, though thou goest oft out of it, yet comest in it again, as sin is a wicked mans way, although he goeth a thousand times out of it.

Now for the other, the correcting will of Christ; The L. hath strong trials: Now here subjection to Christ is required as well as to the directing will of Christ; then the soul submits to this will when the mind objects not, charges not God with folly, as Eli, 1 Sam. 3. 18. It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good; And likewise the will, though it hath had many sad bouts, yet this is his frame in the Conclusion, that the wil of Christ is better than every thing else, the wil of Christ is alone sweet to him. Isa. 38. saith Hezekiah, Good is the wil of the Lord, & so Lam. 3. It's good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth, and to turn his cheeks to him that smites him; Nay when there is spiritual evils on the soul, as was on Christ himself, spiritual desertions, nothing but bitterness & sorrow; yet the soul saith, as Christ did, Not my will, but thine be done, Father save me from this hour, yet Father glorifie thy self, and so the soul does humbly submit it self to the Lord; though the Lord should never pitty it, yet it will lye down at the feet of the Lord, now is Gods Kingdome come.

But if the soul wil have Christ, and yet cast off the wil of Christ, 1. Either in his judgement, that the law of God as given by Christ, should be no rule to a Christian; suppose you were in England, and were there prest to bow before an Altar, or Image; what shall lead you, if that Gods will and law must not be your rule? The Lord will one day make you know his blessed will, in that blessed law of his, that ye shall never find peace to the end of the world, except the Lord do help ye thus to walk. Again, when men cannot endure the wil of Christ, cannot ē dure exho…tations, what doth the man mean to exhort us thus? I tell thee, there goeth forth power with the exhorta…ions of Christ. I say, take heed of casting off the will of Christ here; and so when men in their practice shall quarrel against any of Gods truths, and are loath to see it, or if they do, yet not love dearly every truth of God, but it's a burden to them; especially if it crosse their own ends and gain, they will not see it to be a truth, lest they should be convinced, and turn ro the rule of it; if the will and ordinances of Christ be a burden to a man, and a man is not weary of his wearinesse, but weary of them all the p. 25while: Art thou under the government of Christ? If a man forsaken of God, led by his own counsels, be under the Kingdom of Christ, then thou art; so long as there is credit for the truth, so long it is entertained; but now suppose it be costly, rhat it should bring beggery & affliction with it, is it now sweet to you? doth this support thy heart? I am in Gods way, canst lye dowu and subscribe to the equity of Christs proceedings with thee, though he should never shew favour to thee; if it be not thus, I dare not say thou art under the Kingdome of Christ. And so for the correcting wil of Christ, many sad afflictions the Lord tries thee withall, the Lord tries men marvellously; when thou art under the hand of the Lord, those very things that should make men cry to heaven, and wean thee from the world, those very things do harden thee, and make thee grudge & repine. The L. be merciful to thee, if this be thy frame, the Kingdom of Christ never came into that heart; you are begging for mercy; & the Lord sayes, you mercy? you have abused it; no saith the Lord, Go to your lust that have despised the day of grace, & so now you cast off the Lord, because the Lord will not give you mercy when you would have it. Will you now quarrel with the Lord? no, down proud heart; pray still, and mourn still, and turn to the Lord; and say, Lord do with me what thou wilt, I am clay in thine hand, thou may'st make me a vessell of dishonour, I deserve not the least bit of bread; such a one as is above the Lord and his will, is not under the Lord, therefore submit thy self to the good will of Christ.

3. When the soul doth thus submit to the wil of Christ, by vertue of the power and Spirit of Christ, i.e. when the soul doth not submit by vertue of its own power, strength or ability, for this is forreign power; But as it doth seek to submit to the will of Christ, so it would have Christ himself act it and rule it, and so inable it to submit there unto; Now is the Kingdome of God come neer to that heart. And herein Christs Kingdom is different from Princes, they give laws that men may keep them by their …wn might; hence they command no impossible things; but the will of Christ is so crosse to a carnal hear…, that 'tis impossible man of himself should submit to it: But the Lord doth it for this end, that the soul should then come to Christ in its need, that he would do all the good pleasure of his will, and now the Lord himself reigns, p. 26and that gloriously, Ro. 8. 1, 2. For the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death, Acts 5, 31. A Prince an Saviour, for to give repentance and remission of sins. It is part of his Princely power for to give remission of sins; both in turning from sin, and to God, and all the wayes of God, and now you exalt him when he is thus set up: 1 Cor. 4. 20. The Kingdome of God is not in word, but in power. The power of Christ Jesus is come into thy soul, and the soul is under the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus, when it doth lye under the mighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Thess. 1, 11, 12. We pray always for you, that the Lord would work and fulfill the good pleasure of his will, and the work of faith in power, that Christ may be glorified. Yea, then is Christ glorified, when God omnipotent reigns over sin and unbelief; & when the Lord doth this, not only the Kingdome of God is now come, but the Kingdome of Christ in glory is come; there is many a poor soul thinks Christ rules him not, because he cannot do this nor that, because he finds his heart unable, & unwilling for to submit to the will of Christ; I find no strength at all, saith the soul, and I go to Christ and find not strength conveyed, and now he thinks he is not under the Kingdom of Christ. I answer, that is not the question; but hath the Lord made thee willing in the day of his power? when the soul doth lye under the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, when the soul doth lye like wax before the Lord Jesus; when the soul saith, Lord there was never any change of my nature; the good Lord change it, and if there be any change, the good Lord increase and stir up the graces of thy Spirit in my soul, and do thou lead me and guide me. Brethren, the Kingdome of Christ is come to this soul: Iohn 5. 40. You will not come to me for life; He doth not say, you do not quicken your selves, or ye cannot come to me, but will not; here is their wound, they will not come to Christ for life, Rom. 6. 19. As yee have yeelded your members serva…s to sin and Satan, so now yeeld up your selves servants to righteousnesse and to holinesse, Psal. 119. 5, 6. Thou hast commanded that we should keep thy precepts continually. Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy precepts continually! Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy statutes! When a Christian is grapling with his own heart, ye will never be able to overcome the unsubduednesse thereof; but when ye bring them to the p. 27Lord Jesus Christ, that he would take a course with them. 1. Now ye please Christ. 2. Ye take a sure course to have the will of God done, he being in office for that end; for Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour to Israel: When the soul doth look up to the Lord Jesus, and lye under the power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus. 3. You now make the yoke of Christ sweet, and his name glorious; nothing glorifies Christ so much as this, when Jesus doth work in a Christian, now the kingdome of Christ is come to the soul, and that in power.

But now when men will not submit thus far to Christ: 1. They can do nothing, but will not come to him, on whom God hath laid salvation; you say, you cannot understand, nor edifie by the Sermons ye hear, and you cannot part with your lusts. Ay, but now this is thy condemnation, thou wilt not go to a Saviour that he may teach thee and help thee, when men will not have the Lord Jesus to reign over them: or 2. If men do come▪ they will not come to him where he may be found; but say, I can do nothing; Christ must do all, and so neglect the means wherein he will be found: or 3. Will submit and come in means to him, but not then at the speciall time when He is to be sought, and may be found, viz. in time of temptation. But then forget and forsake him, and cry not Hosanna: Lord, now save, now help me against this lust: When temptation comes, when passion and pride come, do you now go to Jesus Christ? When the world begins to draw thy heart away; dost thou say thus, Lord I have prayed this day against this sin, and Lord I have no strength against it, now Lord help me? but here is the misery of the soul, it doth not go to Christ, and by this means live in complaints all their life-time. 4. If lastly any thing be to be done, they will do it themselves; as Paul, Gal. 1. 12. Not but that a Christian should put forth himself, a Christian is not a dead-hearted Christian at all times, but the grace of God which comes from Christ, doth act the soul in a continuall dependance on Christ; and where Christ acts not, there Satan doth. Now I say the Kingdome of God is come, when the soul doth thus submit to the stream of the bles…ed Spirit of the Lord, that the Lord may guide it. Oh beloved, here is the skill, that poseth the Angels how to tell you; so to yield your selves to Christ, as that Christ may come, so to abide in the stock, that all your fruit may be from him: p. 28So to lye under the Lord, as that the stream of the Spirit of life may fall on thee; so to be implanted in the Lord, as to fetch life from him, and bring forth fruit to him. But try this course, submit to the will of the Lord Jesus, be nothing in thy own eyes; and if the Lord do give thee any thing, blesse the Lord for it; if any strength against thy sin, be vile in thy own eyes, and try and see if ye find not the Kingdome of God, the glory of Heaven come into thy soul. Oh the light, life, prayers you might have, the heavenly conference ye will have together, that it would do a mans heart good to be with such a Christian; that those that are with you might say, Verily God is in this man; verily there is joy in heaven when the Saints keep in this frame.

4. When the soul yields thus to the will of Christ for Christs ends; for such is the subtill wretchednesse of mens hearts, that men would have Christ glorifie himself, that he may glorifie and honour them; like Simon Magus, that would give any money for Apostolicall gifts, that he might be some body that way also: Now if a man shall submit, go to Christ for gifts and parts, that's to set up another King, to advance a mans self; and so also sin and the devill, and Christ must be made a servant for this end; He is now no King: like a Rebell that is not content, that thousands of the Kings Subjects should serve him, but he will have the Prince serve him a so: Every man will say, this doth utterly overthrow the Kingdom of such a Prince. When a man shall secretly fight against the Lord, and be for himself; and for the devil and sin within; When a man shall make all the creatures serve him, the souldiers of his army; meat, drink, and outward comforts, this is a marvellous thing; Ay, but when a man shall make Jesus Christ, & God himself, and profession of Christ, make these to serve him, to raise up his name, this the Lord takes very ill.

Only this I would adde; when the soul doth look at Christ with a single eye, that Christ is sweet and precious, and lyes under the blessed Spirit of Christ for that end; and now looks up to Christ, that he may submit to him with a single eye, that the name of Christ may be glorified by life, and death: true it is, self will be in every duty, and so is contrary to the Lord in all, and not for the Lord. Yet though it be thus, there is another thing in the soul that is wholly for God and p. 29Christ: and hence seeks that he may do his work; his heart loves him, and so seeks him; and he begs it with many tears. Oh that my children might serve and love this God; nay, that all the world might see, and blesse, and admire this God, and the Lord inlargeth his heart herein, Psal. 72. 19. and truly now the Kingdom of God is come to thy soul, Rom. 5. 17. As sin and Satan do reign by death: So Iesus Christ doth reign by life to eternall life. Matth. 25. 14. He is the true Subject that improves his Talents for the King: Christ will subdue all his to himself, Psal. 66. 3. Through the greatnesse of thy power, shall thine enemies submit themselves to thee. Rom. 14. 17. For the Kingdome of God is not in meat and drink; but in righteousnesse, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost. When a man shall be picking fault with things, & this and that offends him; get ye gone, the Kingdom of God consists not in that. But when the soul do's go to the Lord, and maintain his peace with God, and love to the people of God, and joy in the holy Ghost, here is the Kingdome of God. He that serves Christ in these things, the Kingdome of God is come into his soul.

He that thus submits to the Lord Christ, he must first be a man weary of his own counsels, and must loath himself: When the Lord hath wearied a man of his own wayes; he sayes, What am I, that the Lord should shew me any mercy? And when the Lord calls him to any service; Lord, What am I, that I should now pray to thee? Bless the Lord, when the Lord doth keep thy heart in this frame; but now when men will honour Christ, and yet Saul-like have Christ honour them: Many poor creatures they think it a credit to be in Church-fellowship, and they wil seek to know Christ, that they may attain Church fellowship, and have honour, but know it, till the Lord do pull down thy base ends, and make thee loath thy self, and so to submit to his blessed will; truly till then, the Kingdome of God is not come to thy soul: Think of these things, for if the Kingdome of God be in our hearts, then look for good dayes; Brethren, let New-England be confident of it: but if this be gone from the soules and hearts of men and women in their severall families and places; though they may have the outward Kingdome of Christ, yet the inward Kingdome being not set up; I say no more but what he said, Go to Palestina and Bohemia. Certainly, if they had not cast off the Lords government, p. 30they had never seen those lamentable dayes; they had outward Ordinances; Oh, but here was the thing; the inward Kingdome of the Lord Jesus Christ, and subjection to the will of the Lord Jesus, and to be for the Lord Jesus▪ this the Lord saw, was not in them, therefore the Lord hath left them to be lamentable spectacles. Therefore dear brethren. I do beseech you, pray and beg for this Kingdome: Thou sayest, I fall short of this: Know this Kingdome of God is at first like a grain of Mustard-seed, some little lying under the will of Christ; if it be in truth, blessed be God …or it; The Kingdome of God is come, and the soul doth weep and mourn after the Lord, that the Lord would bring every thought into subjection.