A Discourse of Christs Second Coming, Sermon

A Discourse of Christs Second Coming · Sermon

p. 1THE Purging of Chriſt's Kingdom.

Mat. xiii. 41.

The Son of Man ſhall ſend forth his Angels, and they ſhall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them that work iniquity.

IN the words we have 1ſt. A Subject ſpoken of, and that is, The Son of man. 2dly. We have what is related and affirmed concerning this Subject, viz. That he ſhall ſend forth his Angels. 3dly For what end? Anſw. To gather out of his Kingdom; to Purge and Cleanſe it. Some have no Right to be in Chriſt's Kingdom; they are a Diſhonour and a Reproach to it; they lye to Jeſus Chriſt, they cheat and deceive their own Souls. 4. Who they are that ſhall be gather'd out of Chriſt's Kingdom? rooted out of his Fields? driven out of his Houſe? Anſw. All Things, or all thoſe that do offend, and them that work iniquity. They are foreign, meer Stumblingblocks: They offend, grieve and trouble thoſe that are in Chriſt's Kingdom; they prejudice thoſe that are without; poſſeſs their Minds with hard and bad thoughts of Chriſt's Kingdom, and ſo hinder them from entering into it, from p. 2embracing the Chriſtian Religion, and from ſubjecting themſelves to Chriſt's Yoke … Government: And all they that work … quity, and ſo ſerve Chriſt's Enemies, … undoe and deſtroy their own Souls.

The wo… may be handled as a Doctrin… Propoſition.

I. Doct. The Son of Man ſhall ſend fo… his Angels, and they ſhall gather out of his K… dom all things that offend, and them that w… iniquity.

1. I ſhall conſider the Subject ſpoken … the Son of Man. Who is meant by the … of Man? Anſw. Jeſus Chriſt: He that … called the Son of God, Joh. 9.35. Doſt th… believe on the Son of God? Yea, he is ſtyle the only begotten Son, Joh. 3.16. & Joh. 1.…. God hath many Adopted Sons: Many S… are led to Glory by the Captain of Salvati… Heb. 2.17. But God hath but one begott… Son: He is therefore, by way of Emph… and Excellency, call'd his own Son: Rom. 5.…. God ſpared not his own Son, but gave him … to the Death. This Son of God, in the T… is named the Son of Man: He that was … Son of God from Eternity, became the … of Man in time: He that was the Bright… of his Father's Glory, was veiled and clou… with a Humane Nature: This was as co… Sackcloth, and as a Dark-Lanthorn ab… the Son of Righteouſneſs: He that made … things, was made Fleſh, 1 Joh. 1.2.4. p. 3…e that was the Creator, debaſed himſelf and ſtooped to become a Creature. Which was more than if the Ocean had been leſſen'd …o a Drop, or the Sun had joined a petty or …im Lamp to it ſelf; or the greateſt Emperor …n the World had been made a Worm, to be ruſh'd and bruiſed, to redeem Worms from Deſtruction. He that was the Head of An…els, lay under the Feet of Sinners.

This Title, The Son of Man, deſerves fur…her to be conſidered. For, 1ſt. It ſeems … look back on the Old Teſtament, and to be borrow'd from Dan. 7.13. I ſaw in the night …iſ…ns, and behold one like the Son of Man …ame with the clouds of heaven, and was brought … before the ancient of days. This is a Pro…hecy of Chriſt's glorious Exaltation and …ſcenſion into Heaven: The Father then …noured him, and ſaid, Sit thou on my right…nd, till I make thy foes thy foot-ſtool, Pſ. 110.1. The New Teſtament explains the Old Teſtament, and the old Teſtament confirms the …ew. Daniel propheſied of the Coming of … Son of Man, and the New Teſtament …lares Chriſt to be that Son of Man that …s foretold to come into the Worldly. Chriſt is ſtyled the Son of Man, with …pect to what he was to doe, in Purging Church, and Judging the World. The raſe here points at the great Exaltation of …iſt, and the Glory put on Him. The of Man ſhould ſend forth his Angels, and p. 4they ſhall gather out of his kingdom all … offend, and work iniquity. This is a g… and glorious Work, to purge and … his Kingdom, to put away Droſs, to … up Weeds, to baniſh the Workers of In… out of his Kingdom, to confine them to … proper place, and caſt them into the … nace, and ſhut them up in the Priſon. … evidences that Chriſt hath a higher … than a Humane Nature; and that … doing of this great Work, he will p… nour and Glory on the Humane Na… which he was humbled and abaſed. … hath appointed a Day to Judge the … by the Man that he hath … Act. 17.31. and hath given Chriſt … rity to execute Judgment, becauſe … Son of Man, Joh. 5.27. (that is) … the Son of God did ſtoop, did … empty and abaſe himſelf to be the … Man, and to ſuffer and die in this … therefore God will put Honour on … mane Nature, and exalt it, to try the cenſure the Actions of Men, and … them to their Eternal Place. He … ſentenc'd at the Tribunal of M… arraign the whole World before … ment-Seat. The Son of Man is … nently dignify'd, when he ſhall … his Angels, and by them ſhall purge… and cleanſe his Vineyard.

p. 52. I ſhall now apply my ſelf to open what is affirm'd of the Son of Man. It is ſaid, He ſhall ſend forth his Angels. 1ſt. Obſerve, The Angels are called Chriſt's Angels. 2dly. The Work they are employed in, viz. To gather out of his Kingdom thoſe that have neither Right or Fitneſs to con…inue there. 3dly. The Fitneſs of the Angels to that Work.

1. This is Honourable to Chriſt, that the Angels are call'd the Angels of the Son of Man. Here we may obſerve, That our Humane Nature is ſo exalted in Chriſt, that it is Lord over the Angels, doth commiſſionate, ſend forth and employ them on his Errands, and in his Service: 1 Tim. 3.16. It is ſaid to be part of the Myſtery of Godlineſs that God manifeſted in the Fleſh, was ſeen of Angels. They ſaw him firſt debaſed, and made lower than themſelves; Heb. 2.7. Thou …aſt made him a little lower than the Angels: That He might be capable of Sufferings, and feel the Edge of God's Sword, and drink the Wine of his Wrath. This was matter of Wonder, That the Lord of Angels ſhould in the form of a Servant be ſubjected to the …age and fury of Men. And then the Angels ſaw him exalted, and lifted up by God very much above them; and this did greatly aſtoniſh them, That he entred into Heaven, Angels, Principalities and Powers being made ſubject to him, 1 Pet. 3. ult. When he p. 6was but a Babe in the Manger, then the Angels of God were called to pay their Homage, and perform their Adoration to him, Heb. …. When he brought the Firſt Begotten into … World, he ſaith, Let all the Angels of Gaworſhip him. And if they adored him lying in the Cradle, much more may we thir… they will worſhip him ſitting on the Thro… Mat. 25.3. When the Son of Man ſhall co… in his glory, and all the holy Angels w… him, then ſhall he ſit on the Throne of… Glory. When the Son of Man ſhall thu… on the Throne of his Glory, the Angels … be ready to give their Attendance, to ren… their Obedience, in gathering elect Me… bers to their Head, in preſenting Crimin… to his Bar, and in executing his Sentence … them in theſe following Scriptures, Mat. 24.…. Luk. 19.27. Mat. 13.42. The Angels the gather the Elect to their Kingdom, b… Offenders before their Judge, and caſt … Tares into a Furnace of unquencheable Fi…

2 I ſhall a little dwell on the Work aſen… to the Angels, in the Text: They ſhall g… Men out of Chriſt's Kingdom. 1. This is ve… obſervable, That thoſe whom Men-Ang… do gather into the Church, into the Vi… Kingdom of Chriſt, thoſe Spirit-Ange… ſhall gather out of it. The Officers … Paſtors are called the Angels of the Church. The Seven Stars are ſaid to be the Angels: the Seven Churches, Rev. 1.20. So we read … p. 7the Angel of the Church of Epheſus, Smyrna, and Pergamos, in the 2d. of the Revelations. And what is the work of theſe Men-Angels? They gather Souls into the Church, and they bring in many Hypocrites among the Sincere, Mat. 22.10. Chriſt's Servants go forth into the High-ways, and gather together unto the Feaſt as many as they find, both Bad and Good: ſo the Net gathers and encloſes Fiſh of all kinds, both good & bad, Mat. 13.47. The Good Fiſh are the Upright, and the Bad Fiſh are thoſe that are Unſound, and meerly Nominal and Titular Chriſtians. But there ſhall be a Separation, when the Net is drawn to the ſhore; then Spirit-Angels ſhall gather theſe bad Men out of the Church, which Men-Angels did gather into it. Men may be impoſed on, and be deceived, but Angels will not be cheated and deluded. What doth it advantage Hypocrites, to blind the Eyes of Paſtors? They cannot caſt a Miſt before, or put a Veil on the Eyes of Angels: Thoſe that are paſſable Pieces, and current Coin among the Saints, will yee be diſcovered to be reprobate Silver, and counterfeit Coin, by the Angels: They will know thoſe that Miniſters cannot diſcern.

2. Good Angels will gather out of Chriſt's Kingdom, thoſe that Bad Angels do gather into it: Mat. 13.25. While men ſlept, an enemy came and ſowed tares among the wheat, p. 8and went his way. Who is this Enemy? Chriſt, in Mat. 13.39. tells us, it is the Devil. What are the Tares? Chriſt erpounds this of the Children of the wicked one, Mat. 13.38. The Field of Chriſt is the Univerſal Viſible Church, ſpread through the World, Mat. 13.38. The ſame that is call'd the Kingdom of Chriſt in the Text, i… the World in Mat. 13.38. It is not to be underſtood of the World at large, but the Cultivated, the Manured, the Tilled part of the World; and that is the Univerſal Viſible Church ſpread through many Nations of the World. So that it is plain from this Scripture, that Satan brings and ſows many of his Children in the Church: But is it … ſtrange, improbable, and almoſt incredible that Satan ſhould bring Men into the Church. Is not this a dangerous Place for his Subjects to be in? May he not loſe them Anſw. Satan doth bring many into the Church with a deep Deſign, and for politi… Ends. 1. Satan counts this for his Ho… and Glory, to have Subjects, Servants and Children of his even in the Church, a well as without; That he has Vaſſals for … ſervice, among the Veſſels of Honour the are for God's uſe. As this exalts Chriſt, … he rules among his Enemies, Pſal. 110.2 Rule thou in the midſt of thine enemies; ſo th… advances Satan, that he alſo rules among … Enemies, that he can retain his Prey, kee… p. 9his Captive, preſerve his Subjects faſt, and cloſe to him among his Enemies, even where God and Chriſt rule, and Saints do yield obedience; That he can maintain an intereſt for himſelf, where the Light ſhines, Grace beams, the Laws of Chriſt are proclaimed, and the danger of rebelling againſt them is openly declared; That yet his Soldiers will not leave his tents, nor his Subjects caſt of his yoke, nor renounce their obedience to him. 2. Satan is content and willing that many of his Children ſhould creep into and be joined to the Church, that they may be more ſecure; that now they may ſlatter themſelves that they are ſafe from danger, and may bleſs themſelves in the hope of a Place in God's Kingdom, and a Portion among his Sons and Daughters. How many do betake themſelves to the Church, as a City of Refuge, as a Sanctuary to preſerve themſelves from Deſtruction, though they go on in their wickedneſs? God, by Jeremiah, complains, Jer. 7.12. That the proſane Jews did uſe the Temple as if it were a Den of Robbers: as Robbers do ſpoil Travellers, and then retreat to their Dens, as places of ſafety and ſecurity; ſo they did ſteal, murther, commit Adultery, ſwear falſely, and then come and ſtand in the Temple, offer ſome Sacrifices, and then conclude a Compenſation was made to God for all the wrong they had done him; that now they were deliver'd p. 10liver'd from the guilt they had contracted, and ſecured from the puniſhment they had deſerved. So Auguſtine, in his 22d. lib. de Civitate (as I remember) ſpeaks of many Chriſtians in his time, That though they did lead lend and looſe lives, yet they thought they ſhould be ſaved at laſt, becauſe they believed the true and right Doctrine. And how many in theſe days do caſt their cold and formal Prayers, their blind and heartleſs Devotions into the ſcale, to ballance and weigh down all their groſs and notorious Wickedneſs. Thus is a falſe Notion of the Church and Kingdom of Chriſt, a great Means, and a myſtical Inſtrument to uphold Satan's Throne, and keep the Crown on his Head. The Name of Chriſtianity encourages many to perſiſt in the practice of Iniquity, without fear of Miſery & Deſtruction. 3. Satan brings Men into the Church, that they may doe him more ſervice in the Church, than they could doe out of it. The Tares did draw away the Sap and Strength of the Earth from the good Corn, did entangle and harle about the Wheat, pull it down, keep it low, hinder its growth and flouriſhing: ſo Satan's Children in the Church, they aſpire to, and reach after the higheſt places, they graſp the Honours and Proſits that were deſign'd for better Men, they keep the ſincere People of God low, they pull them down, and lay ſuch under them, they will hardly allow them a place p. 11and ſubſiſtence in the Church, they traduce and reproach them as Puritans, Praeciſians, Fanaticks, that make the Way to Heaven narrower, and the Yoke of Chriſt heavier, and the Commands of Chriſt ſtricter than indeed they are: They think they call Men to hard ſervices, and bind heavy burdens on them, when Chriſt gives larger allowances, and Men may go to Heaven without ſuch ſtrictneſs, without ſo much adoe, without keeping ſo ſtrict a rein on the fleſh, without continual curbing of their luſts, and denying their natural appetites and inclinations; and when theſe Men have advantages on their ſide, and carnal Rulers that will comply with them, they are ready to perſecute; they are forward to execute Penal Laws, and perſecute thoſe of the ſame Nation, City, Neighbourhood, to the utmoſt, that they may ruine and undoe them; as in Abraham's Family, Iſhmael perſecuted Iſaac: Gal. 4.29.30. It is now they that are born after the fleſh, perſecute thoſe that are born after the ſpirit. Calvin would ſay, That a Man need go no farther than Geneva to be perſecuted. I have heard that ſome profane Ones in that City, would, in contempt and hatred of Calvin, call their Dogs Calvin. This holy Man choſe rather to leave Geneva, and to go into voluntary exile to Strasburg in Germany, than to admit looſe and profane Men to the Table of the Lord. The Tares do much miſchief to the p. 12good Corn, and much ſervice to Satan, by being in the ſame Field, the ſame Church with the ſincere and upright Servants of Chriſt.

But thoſe that Satan hath thus, and for theſe Ends introduced into the Church, vailing their Enmity againſt Chriſt, and his People, under the name of Chriſtianity; theſe the Good Angels will ſeparate and gather out of the Church, that they may ſuffer for mocking of Chriſt, for hating and hindering his People.

3dly. Let us conſider how meet and fit Good Angels are for this Work to which they are deſigned, and in which they are employed.

1. They excell in Judgment, Wiſdom and Underſtanding. To be Wiſe as an Angel of God, was grown to a Proverb in Iſrael, 2 Sam. 14.20. My lord the king is wiſe as as angel of God. As the Angel that deſtroy'd the Egyptians Firſt-born, could obſerve and diſtinguiſh between the Iſraelites Houſes that had Blood ſprinkled at the Door of them, and the Egyptians Houſes that had no Blood ſprinkled on them, though it were in the midſt of the Night: So the Angels of God do know and will underſtand, who are ſprinkled with the Blood of Chriſt, and ſo muſt ſtay in Chriſt's Kingdom; and who are not, and ſo muſt be gathered out of Chriſt's Kingdom, and deſtroyed: They p. 13will diſcover thoſe that have eſcaped the Obſervation of Paſtors, and have deluded them with their fair Pretences: They will be able to waſh off the Paints, and pull away the Veils of Hypocrites, and ſo will pull them out of the Kingdom of Chriſt: They know that they were not ſent forth to miniſter to the Wicked, but to the Saints, Heb. 1.14. that Hypocrites were no part of their charge; that they did not attend on them, and therefore can diſtinguiſh and mark them out, to be gathered out of the Kingdom of Chriſt.

2. The Angels do excell in Strength: Bleſs the Lord, ye his Angels, that excell in ſtrength. As Nebuchadnezzar employ'd the moſt mighty Men in his Army, Dan. 3.20. to bind Shadrach, Meſhach and Abed-nego, and to caſt them into the Fiery Furnace; ſo the Angels are the mightieſt Soldiers in God's Hoſt, the moſt valiant of his Army, and theſe he charges to reap the Tares, to bind them in bundles, and to caſt them into an Eternal Furnace, Mat. 13.30, 39, 42. The Angels are ſtrong and mighty Reapers. Can the Tares ſtand before the Hook, or withſtand the Sickle of theſe mighty Reapers? Can the Tares hinder themſelves from being bound up in bundles, and caſt into a Furnace of unquenchable Fire? Though wicked Men are many, a huge multitude, and great in power, and high in authority here in this world, yet their numbers, ſtrength or force p. 14cannot ſecure or protect them from theſe mighty Reapers.

But who are thoſe that ſhall be gathered out of the Kingdom of Chriſt? This is for Chriſt's Glory: If the whole Church is the Kingdom of Chriſt, it is his Dominion; and this is farther for his Honour, that he will purge this Kingdom of his, that the Beauty, Purity, and Holineſs of it may appear. As Jeſus Chriſt is fairer than the Children of Men, Pſal. 45.2. So the Church is to appear as the faireſt among Women, 1 Cant. 8. The Church is ſtyled the Mountain of Holineſs, Jer. 31.23. and vaſtly differs from the Kingdoms of the World, that are called Mountains of Prey, Pſal. 76.4. That Society that is ſet forth as the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 25.1. and is indeed the Suburbs of Heaven, ſhould not be clogged with fooliſh Virgins, and be defiled with the Workers of Iniquity. Wicked Men and Hypocrites are called Droſs, Pſal. 119.119. Reprobate Silver, Jer. 6.30. Braſs, Tin, Iron, and Lead, Ezek. 22.18. And what doth ſuch baſe Metal do among the Veſſels of Gold and Silver? 2 Tim. 2.20. Should not Chriſt's Floor be cleanſed from Chaff? Mat. 3.12. Should not bad Fiſh be pluck'd out of the Net, and caſt away? Mat. 13.47, 48. What ſhould thoſe do in God's Houſe that are not Sons of God, John 8.35. but are Children of Satan, John 8.44. and Servants of Sin? John 8.34. What ſhould they do among p. 15the Gueſts at the Feaſt, that have neither Appetites, nor Wedding-Garments, Mat. 22.10, 11. Can carnal Creatures partake of ſpiritual Bleſſings? Men are born Fleſh, John. 3.6. and ſpiritual Bleſſings are to be enjoyed in Heavenly Places, Epheſ. 1.3. Can Earthly Men and Women inherit a Heavenly Country, Hebr. 11.16. they whoſe Thoughts and Hearts dwell on Earth, Luk. 21.35. they that pant after the Duſt of the Earth, Amos 2.7. they that mind Earthly Things only, Phil. 3.19. that ſeek nothing higher, than what they ſhall eat, what they ſhall drink, wherewithal they ſhall be cloathed? Mat. 6.31, 32. Can theſe live in the pure and ſine Air of ſpiritual Comforts, Delights, and Enjoyments? Can dead Creatures converſe with the living God? Can thoſe that wear fordid and filthy Garments preſent themſelves with acceptance before a God that is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity? Hab. 1.13. An Hypocrite ſhall not come before him, Job. 13.16. The Fooliſh ſhall not ſtand in his ſight: Evil ſhall not dwell with him. God hates all the Workers of Iniquity, Pſal. 5.4, 5. What ſhould profane Ones do in the Mountain of Holineſs? Jer. 31.23. What ſhould the Unrighteous do in the Habitation of Juſtice? What ſhould corrupt and ſtinking Creatures do in the Mountain of Myrrh, and in the Hill of Frankincenſe? Cant. 4.6. Such gangreen'd Members muſt be cut off from p. 16the Body: Such Spots muſt be waſhed away out of the Face of the Church.

But more particularly, I ſhall addreſs my ſelf to conſider the Words in the Text: The Angels ſhall gather out of Chriſt's Kingdom…d things that offend, and them that work iniquity 1. The Angels ſhall gather out foreign that is, all the Scandals, all the Stumbling blocks, all that offend others, and obſh… their entring into the Kingdom of Ch… It is ſad to be in the Church only as Sunbling-blocks to diſgrace the Faith, to reproa… the Doctrine of Chriſt, to ſtop or cool othe… in the way everlaſting, to turn them out o… the Paths of Holineſs, and to hurry the… headlong to deſtruction. How do the … Examples of ſome influence, and learn others! one Man's wicked Life and Do… infects another's: If ſome Neighbours a… Drunkards, are Swearers, are Whoremaſt… are Lyars, are Sabbath-breakers, negl… Prayer in their Families, do not inſtra… their Children, or reſtrain their Serva… from Wickedneſſes; if they are Mock…s Religion, Scoffers at Godlineſs, and H… of Good Men that will not run with … to the ſame exceſs of Riot, 1 Pet. 4.4… Theſe evil Precedents do eaſily and qui… prevail on others. It was grown to a … verb in Iſrael, Ezek. 16.44. As is the … ſo is her Daughter: So I may ſay, As is … Father, ſo are his Children; as is the … ſter, p. 17ſo are his Servants; as is the Neighbour, ſo are his Companions, and thoſe that converſe with him. Ezek. 20.18, 21. God ſaid to the Children, Walk ye not in the ſtatutes of your Fathers, neither obſerve their Judgments: Yet they walked not in God's Statutes, nor obſerv'd his Judgments, but perſiſted in a conformity to the evil Practices of their Parents, that were ſo powerful, that they had the force of Statutes, Judgments, and binding Laws. How hard, how rare is it to caſt off, or deſiſt from a vain Converſation, delivered by Tradition from Forefathers and Neighbours, 1 Pet. 1.18. How pernicious, fatal, and deſtructive, are ſuch Scandals! For 1. Such do teach others the way of Sin and Wickedneſs: Jer. 2.33. Therefore haſt thou alſo taught the wicked ones thy ways. When Chriſtians ought to teach Tranſgreſſors, Pſal. 51.13. by their Doctrines and Examples, God's ways for their Converſion, and Salvation, they teach wicked Ones their own corrupt ways for their deſtruction. 2. Such do juſtifie the Wicked of the World in all their lewd Practices: Ezek. 16.51. Thou haſt juſtified thy ſiſters in all thine abomination, which thou hast done: 46, 48. Samaria was her Siſter, and Sodom, and theſe Siſters, Jeruſalem had juſtified by her Abominations O that thoſe that pretend to be Chriſt's Subjects, ſhould juſtifie his open and profeſs'd Enemies, and approve the Heathen World in all their p. 18Drunkenneſs, Lyings, Injuſtice, and Adulteries! 3. Such do comfort Sinners in their ungodly Practices: Ezek. 16.54. That this mayeſt bear thine own ſhame, and mayeſt be confounded in all that thou haſt done, in that thou art a comfort to them. If ſo be thoſe that are not of the Church, but Strangers and Enemies to it, do ſee Chriſtians roul in Filthineſs, and drink in Iniquity like Water, How will they be encouraged to, and comforted in their ſinful Practiſes? Such will conclude there is no danger in their ways, or judgment towards their Perſons, but that they may ſin without fear of puniſhment, or dread of vengeance.

4. How great a Scandal is it, when thoſe that profeſs themſelves the People of God, and pretend to be of the Church, ſhall out goe, and outſtrip Heathens in their Wickedneſs! Jer. 5.28. They overpaſs the deeds of the wicked; that is, of the wicked Heathen! Ezek. 5.6. She hath changed my judgments … wickedneſs more than the nations, and my ſtatute more than the Countries that are round about … Ezek. 16.48. God confirms this truth with a… Oath, As I live, ſaith the Lord God, Sodo… thy ſiſter hath not done, ſhe nor her daughter, as thou haſt done: Ezek. 16.51. Neither … Samaria committed half of thy ſins. How horrible a Scandal is this, when the Heath… are aſhamed of, and reflect on the Sins of thoſe that call themſelves of the Church p. 19Ezek. 16.27. The daughters of the Philiſtines are aſhamed of thy lewd way. I have heard from one that lived at Smyrna, That the Turks will laugh, and make Tricks at the Grecian Chriſtians there, when they are drunk. Theſe blind Mahometans do diſlike and are aſhamed of Drunkenneſs.

5. Such Scandals, or ſcandalous Perſons, cauſe the Name of God to be profaned and blaſphemed among the Heathen: Ezek. 36.20. When they entred in to the Heathen whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they ſaid to them, Theſe are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land; that they committed ſuch Wickedneſſes, and were for this caſt out of their Land. This cauſed the Heathen to think baſely of God, that he was like them, and did approve of their Wickedneſſes, or that he was weak, and could not preſerve his pretended People in their own Land; but the Heathen prevailed againſt them, and led them captive: Rom. 2.23, 24. Thou that makeſt thy boaſt of the law, through breaking the law diſhonoureſt thou God? For the name of God is blaſphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. Salvian tells us how much the Vandals reflected on Chriſt's beholding the wicked Life of Chriſtians; Si Chriſtus Sancta docuiſſet, Chriſtiani Sanctè vixiſſent: That Father ſaith, The Chriſtians were Drunkards, Whoremaſters, Unjuſt; when the Vandals were p. 20Temperate, Chaſt, and more Juſt in their Dealings. It is ordinary, if you queſtion a Turk in his Dealings, Whether what he ſaith of the price or value of Goods be true, to break out into a Reproach of Chriſtianity thus, Doſt thou think I am a Chriſtian, and that I will lye and couzen in my dealings? How much were the Indians in the Weſt-Indies prejudiced againſt Chriſtianity, by the barbarous and cruel dealings of the Spaniards with them? An Indian asked a Spaniard, Whither the Spaniards did go after Death? and the Spaniard anſwering that they went to Heaven: the poor Indian Heathen replied, He would not go to Heaven, to meet ſuch a cruel and bloody People there; but would rather … to Hell, where his Anceſtors and Fath… were. Yea, theſe poor Heathen Idolater juſtified themſelves, and ſaid, Their Gods were better than the Spaniard's God: Fee the Indians worſhipped Gods of Gold and Silver; when the Spaniards worſhipped tw… Sticks acroſs; that is, they adored a woode… Croſs.

6. Theſe Scandals do foment Atheiſm, e… creaſe and ſpread it in the World: 1. … their teaching pernicious, and Heretical Doctrines, contrary to the Truth of Chriſt, … ſo divide Chriſtians, crumble them into little Parties, and Factions, cauſe them ſo to claſh and interfere one with another, to oppoſe, decry, contradict, judge, and cenſ… p. 21each other. Grotius takes in this as part of the ſence of the Words, That there are Scandals in Doctrine, in Locum.as well as in Manners. The Apoſtle Paul ſpeaks of foreign, Rom. 16.17. Scandals other than the Doctrines he and others had preach'd: Mat. 18.7. Chriſt faith, It muſt needs be that foreign Offences come: Which Paul expreſſes thus, 1 Cor. 11.19. For there muſt be alſo Hereſies among you. Gretius doth paralel theſe two Texts, and thinks they intend the ſame thing. Certainly variety of Opinions, rotten and corrupt Doctrines, do much contribute and conduce to Atheiſm. How many reſolve only to ſtick to Morality, and juſt Dealing with Men, accounting that all Religion is but a Fable, or Fiction, becauſe Men have ſuch contrary Notions, ſuch contradictory Sentiments about it. 2. Scandals in Action: A lewd and wicked Life doth exceedingly advance Atheiſm. I have heard of a Woman that fell off from all Religion, and turned a profeſs'd Atheiſt; and when the Miniſter of her Pariſh went to diſcourſe with her, and rebuke and reprove her for her Atheiſm, ſhe ſmartly replied, That he was the cauſe of it; when ſhe heard what he preached in the Pulpit, and obſerv'd how contrary he practiſed out of it, what a looſe and wicked Life he led, ſhe was tempted to conclude that all Religion was but a Cheat, a meer politick Contrivance; p. 22for if he himſelf believed what he ſpake in the Pulpit to be true, he would never lead ſuch a ſcandalous and bad Life out of it, he would reſtrain himſelf from vice, and order his Converſation aright. How many would incline to Atheiſm, and think the Chriſtian Doctrine but a Fable, if it brought forth no better Fruits in the Lives of others, than theſe? And that Heave… were but a Fiction, if none were more fitted and prepared for it than theſe carnal and profane Chriſtians are? How righteous and requiſite is it then, that Perſons that ſo offend others, diſhonour God, and reproach Chriſtianity, ſhould be gathered out of the Kingdom of Chriſt.

2dly. Thoſe that work iniquity ſhall be pluck'd out, and for ever ſeparated from the Kingdom of Chriſt. Firſt there are ſome that pretend to be Members of the Church that do work iniquity. 2. I ſhall ſhew what a heinous Evil, what a crying Provocation it is to work iniquity in the Church; that is, the viſible Kingdom of God and Chriſt.

1. There are ſome that are got into the Viſible Church, and are call'd God's People, that yet work Iniquity. 1. They early begin this Employment, Zeph. 3.7. They riſe up early, and corrupted all their doings. How croſs and contrary are Men to God? He did riſe up early, and ſend his Prophets to inſtruct them in their Duty, to diſſuade them p. 23from Sin, and to exhort them to Righteouſneſs; the Prophets came early in the Morning to teach the Jews in the Temple; yet all was in vain; no Damms would ſtop, no Banks would bound in the Torrent of their Sins: The Imaginations of Man's Heart are evil from his Youth, or Childhood, Jer. 3.25. We and our fathers have ſinned againſt the Lord our God, from our youth unto this day: Jer. 22.21. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that that thou obeyedſt not my voice. 2. They do this work diligently, Mich. 7.3. They do evil with both hands earneſtly, Jer. 9.5. They weary themſelves to commit Iniquity: They drink in iniquity like water, Job 15.16. Like as a thirſty Man drinks in Water, and can hardly ſatisfie himſelf, they draw iniquity to them with cords of vanity, that is, with ſinful, corrupt, unbelieving Reaſons and Suggeſtions: thoſe indeed are falſe and very weak, and therefore may well be called Cords of Vanity; yet on wicked Men they have the force of a ſtrong Cart-rope, Iſa. 5.18, 19. They think God will not draw near to them in Judgment, or ſhew his work of Vengeance and Severity on them. 3. They only follow this work and no other: A corrupt Tree can bring forth no other but corrupt Fruit, Mat. 7.17, 18. An unclean Fountain, night and day vents no other but polluted Streams, Jer. 6.17. Satan's Mint is ſtill going in the Soul. An evil Man p. 24brings forth evil things out of the evil treaſure of his heart, Mat. 12.35. God accuſes the Jews by Jeremiah, That that they had done nothing of all that God commanded them; That the Children of Judah had only done evil before the Lord; That the Children of Iſrael had only provoked him to anger, Jer. 32.23, 30. 4. They perſiſt, continue and go on in this work: Ezek. 23.43. I ſaid unto her that was old in adulteries, W… they now commit adulteries with her, and ſhe with them? Yet in ver. 44. it is ſaid, She continued in her whoredom, and did not give off. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his ſpots? then may they that are accustomed to do evil, learn to do well, Jer. 13.2. The Hearts of Sinners are bent to backſlide, Hoſ. 11.7. They have loved Strangers, and after them they will go, Jer. 2.25. They are of their Father the Devil, and his luſts they will do, Joh. 8.44. This they are ſixed in, this they are reſolved on; and tho… it be the Duty of Men to receive the Law from God's Mouth, Job 22.22. yet they declare they will doe whatſoever proceeds out of their own mouth, Jer. 44.17. and ſo they oppoſe their own mouth to the mouth of God. 5. They rejoyce to doe Evil, Jer. 11.17. When thou doſt evil, then thou rejoycest. Sinners chuſe their own ways, and their Soul delights in their Abominations, Iſa. 66.3. They count it pleaſure to riot in p. 25the day-time, 2 Pet. 2.13. Thus deceived Sinners imagin and conceit a Heaven in that which indeed fits them for Hell, and prepareth them for everlaſting Torments. The day is coming, when they that ſhall review all their ſenſual Delights, and draw their greateſt bitterneſs out of that which hath been moſt ſweet to them; Oh, how terrible will it be, to draw a Real Hell of Miſery out of their Imaginary and Momentary Heaven of Felicity! Their preſent Pleaſures will be a ſeed of Pain, and of eternal Torments.

2dly. I ſhall ſhew you what a hainous and provoking thing it is, to work Iniquity in the Kingdom of Chriſt. For, 1. They that are of the Church, they do profeſs and avow the Lord to be their God, Hoſ. 8.2. Iſrael ſhall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. Yet in ver. 3. it is ſaid, Iſrael hath cast off the thing that is good. And Aholah (ſaith God) played the harlot when ſhe was mine, Ezek. 23.5. How treacherous are they that ſay, God is their Father? Joh. 8.41. We have one Father, even God; yet they partake of Satan's corrupt Nature, bear his Image, and do his Luſts: John 8.44. Ye are of your Father the devil, and the luſts of your Father ye will do. How abominable is this, to wear God's Livery, and yet do Satan's drudgery? How doth God complain, and call Heaven and Earth to witneſs againſt Iſrael! I have nouriſhed and brought up Children, yet they have p. 26rebelled againſt me, Iſaiah 1.2. The Heaven and the Earth, and all the Creatures, ſerve Man, yet he denies Obedience to his Maker. Thoſe that are in the Church are under more Ties and Obligations than others: Amos 3.2. You only have I known of all the families of the earth: When it is ſaid of the Gentiles, That they were a People that Chriſt did not know, Iſa. 55.5. Yet Chriſt came to his own, and his own received him …, John 1.11. Who ſhould welcome him, … open their Hearts, and receive him, if not his own? Yet Chriſt's own rejected him Not only they ſhut the Door againſt hi…, but alſo poured out their Fury on him, and cut him off from the Land of the Livi…. God complains, Pſal. 81.11. But my pe… would not hearken to my voice: Iſrael would b… none of me. And indeed, would be none o… his. 2. Thoſe that are in Chriſt's Kingd… they are near to God, and in his ſpecial P… ſence; and it is therefore more heinous … ſuch to work Iniquity: 1. They are near … God, Jer. 13.2. God bids Jeremiah to …e him a Linnen Girdle, and put it on his Lo… and God expounds the meaning of this Sig… ver. 11. For as the girdle cleaveth to the … a man; ſo have I cauſed to cleave unto me … whole houſe of Iſrael, that they might be … me for a people, and for a name, and for a pra…e, and for a glory: but they would not hear. God ſpeaks here of Iſrael as his viſible Church: p. 27And by the Covenant that was between God and them, they were as a Girdle put on bound to him, and were to cleave to him, both for God's Honour and Glory. As a Girdle is an Ornament to a Man; ſo thoſe that are truly God's People are his Glory, Iſa. 46.13. I will place ſalvation in Zion, for Iſrael my Glory: 2 Cor. 8.23. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of the Meſſengers of the Churches, that they were the Glory of Chriſt; ſuch Church-Members ought to be. Yet thoſe that work Iniquity in the Kingdom of Chriſt, are a Diſhonour, a Diſgrace, a Reproach to Chriſt. 2. A Girdle is put on and worn about the Loins of a Man; and this is an Honour to the Girdle it ſelf, that it is ſo near to a Man, and is worn as an Ornament by him: So God is the Glory of Men, Iſa. 60.13. Thy God ſhall be thy Glory. For Men to be brought under a Covenant with God, and by this means to be joined to God, this is the Glory of Men, Pſal. 50.5. Gather my Saints together, that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice. To be God's Confederates is the Honour of Men; but thoſe that work …niquity in Chriſt's Kingdom, do turn this Glory into Shame. This is their Infamy, To break the Marriage-Covenant, Hoſ. 4.12. to go a whoring from under their God; to doat on Creatures, and proſtitute themſelves to Idols: Such ſhall bear the Reproach (ſaith God, Micah 6.16.) of my People: They ſhall be expoſed p. 28to everlaſting Infamy, for mocking of God, and lying to him, Pſal. 50.16, 17. What beſt thou to do to take my covenant into thy mouth? Seeing thou hateſt inſtruction, and caſteth my words behind thee. Though they were call… Saints, by reaſon of their profeſſion and coligation to be ſuch; yet, Pſal. 50.16. they are called wicked, by reaſon of their hating Inſtruction, and caſting God's Words beh…d their Backs. 2. Thoſe that are in Chriſts Kingdom, they are in God's ſpecial Preſence For God dwelleth in Zion, Joel 3.21. The Name of Spiritual Jeruſalem is Jebo… Shammah, The Lord is there, Ezek. 48.3… And this is a great Affront, to provoke God to his Face, to ſin under his Eye, and in … ſpecial Preſence, Iſa. 65.3. A People that … voketh me to anger continually to my face. Go… Temple and Habitation was among the and thereby their Guilt was exceeding heightned and aggravated; they did d… God, and Affront him to his Face: wh… as the Gentiles might be ſaid, comparati… ly, to ſin behind God's Back, becauſe … ſpecial Preſence was not among them. … Judah was his ſanctuary, and Iſrael his D… nion, Pſal. 114.2. And how much d… this increaſe Guilt to be Rebellious, … work iniquity in God's Sanctuary, and in … peculiar Dominion: Zeph. 3.5. The juſt … is in the midſt thereof.

p. 293dly, It is a heinous Evil to work iniquity where the Rule of Righteouſneſs is profeſs'd, preſſed and taught. I have written to them the great things of my Law, but they counted them ſtrange things, Hoſ. 8.12. The juſt Lord brings Judgments; that is, his wiſe and holy Laws to light every Morning, and ſets his Laws before Men, Dan. 9.10. And they ought to chooſe them, and ſet them before themſelves, Pſal 119.30. I have choſen the way of truth, and thy judgments have I ſet before me: Yet thoſe that work iniquity turn to God their Backs, and not the Face, Jer. 32.38. And caſt God's Words behind their Backs, Pſal. 50.17. Hide their Eyes from it, and are willingly ignorant of it. O what a Shame and Reproach is this to Men, that Beaſts and Birds are better govern'd by Senſe and Inſtinct, Iſa. 1.3. Jer. 8.7. than Men are by Reaſon, and a written Law of God! How do Men pervert and abuſe their Reaſon and more than Brutiſie themſelves! When as God taught them more than the Beaſts of the Earth, and made them wiſer than the Fowls of Heaven, Job. 15.11.

4thly, It greatly burthens and provokes God, for Men to work iniquity in a Land of Uprightneſs, and where others do work Righteouſneſs: Iſa. 26.10. The Wicked in the land of uprightneſs will deal unjuſtly: The Land of Canaan, where the People of God dwelt, is called the Land of Uprightneſs, p. 30and the People of Iſrael are called Jeſherus, Deut. 33.26. There is none like to the God of Jeſherun. This Name is derived from … Jaſhar, which ſignifies to be right; becauſe this was the People that were taught, and profeſs'd Uprightneſs, and Righteouſneſs. Thoſe that are truly the People of God, are ſaid to have wrought his Judgment, Zeph. 2.3. Now this augments Guilt, when Perſons ſhall work iniquity in a Land of Uprightneſs, where Righteouſneſs is profeſs'd and practiſed by many. Theſe, by their Example, ſhew, that the Yoke of Chriſt is not intolerable, and that Godlineſs is not impoſſible or impracticable: Theſe, by their Strictneſs, Holineſs, and Zeal, do condemn the looſeneſs, profaneneſs, and coldneſs of the work… of iniquity: The circumſpect and exact Li… they lead, ſhould ſtir up and awaken other that behold them, to a ſerious, exact, and powerful Religion. The very Examples of Saints do teach, and ſhould mightily affect others.

5thly, It is hainous to work iniquity, when Men are taught, That Jeſus Chriſt ga…e himſelf to redeem Men from all iniquity, Titus 2.14. and from a vain converſati…y 1 Pet. 1.18. Theſe Men claſh with, and co… tradict the great End and Deſign of Chriſts Death: They fruſtrate the Sufferings of Chriſt, and reſolve ſtill to be the Servants of Sin, the Portion and Poſſeſſion of Satan, as p. 31if Chriſt's Blood were no valuable Price to purchaſe them, or to oblige them to ceaſe to be their own, and to engage them to be the Lord's Servants and People, as if Chriſt's Blood ſhould purchaſe all for them, but buy nothing of them, nor from them.

6thly, It is very provoking to work iniquity where the Lord uſeth many means to purge Men from Iniquity, Ezek. 24.13. Becauſe I have purged thee, and thou waſt not purged, thou ſhalt not be purged any more from thy ſilthineſs, till I have cauſed my fury to reſt upon thee. Inſtructions in Righteouſneſs, Reproofs for Sins, Afflictions without, and the Strivings of God's Spirit within, when it counſels Duty, warns of Danger that attends the practice of Iniquity, are all means to purge Men from their Filthineſs. But when God ſhews Men what is Good, and dehorts them from Evil; when he puts them into the Furnace, and kindles the refining Fire, and yet the Droſs of Wickedneſs cleaves cloſe to them, and is not removed from them. This renders the workers of iniquity more obnoxious to Wrath, and revenging Juſtice. When Men will not ſtop and ceaſe from Sinning, then the Fury of God will reſt upon them, and they be expoſed to Torments without end.

7thly, It mightily provokes God, when Men bear corrupt Fruit, and work iniquity in his own Vineyard. God ſets a great Price p. 32and Value on every ſpot and inch of his Vineyard-Ground. Shall that then be clogged and peſtered, not only with empty Vines, Hoſ. 10.1. but with ſtrange and degenerate Vines, Jer. 2.21. ſuch Vines as bear Grapes of Gall, and bitter Cluſters, that yield Wine; that is, the Poiſon of Dragons, and the crude Venom of Aſps? Are theſe Grapes fit for the Lord of the Vineyard to eat of? Is this meet Wine for his to drink? Would it not be intolerably bad for a Child to preſent ſuch Wine to as Earthly Father to poiſon him? And is it not infinitely worſe for Men to render ſuch Wine to their Heavenly Father? Is there any thing he doth more abhor than theſe Cluſters, or more deteſt than this Wine. W… God bear always ſuch corrupt and pernici… Trees in his Vineyard.

The Uſe of this Doctrine is Fourfold:

1. For Terrour.

2. For Examination.

3. For Exhortation.

4. For Caution.

1. Uſe is, For Terrour to looſe, ſcand… lous, and profane Chriſtians; they ſhall not ſtill continue in the Kingdom of Chriſt: The time draws near when Chriſt will ſend forth his Angels, and gather them out of his Kingdom. The Harveſt is at hand, when p. 33theſe Tares ſhall be cut out of God's Field The Net will quickly be drawn to the Shoar; and if bad Fiſh be caſt away, God will not value or regard them to all Eternity, but caſt them off, and reject them for ever. Conſider, and weigh all theſe following Particulars, that ſpeak much Terror to the workers of iniquity.

1. You ſhall be known: Prov. 10.9. He that perverteth his ways ſhall be known. Though he veil, diſguiſe, endeavour to conceal himſelf, yet the day will reveal every Man's State and Work, 1 Cor. 3.13. Though Hypocrites are as Graves that appear not, Luk. 11.44. their Rottenneſs and Wickedneſs appears not to Men, yet God knows their Hearts, Luke 16.15. He inſpects their Souls, and diſcovers all the Filth and Wickedneſs that is there. How terrible is Light to Malefactors? How bitter and unwelcome is it to Adulterers, and Thieves? They deſire, and affect Darkneſs, that they may be conceal'd, and a Veil caſt over their Wickedneſs: Job. 24.17. The morning is to them as the ſhadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrours of the ſhadow of death. Doth God, the Judge, know Men? And will he bring to light all the hidden Things of Darkneſs, and make manifeſt the very Counſels of the Heart, all the ſecret Principles, carnal Motives, corrupt Ends that have byaſs'd and fway'd Sinners in their Actions? And ſhall not this Light of Divine Knowledge, this Day of Divine p. 34Judgment, ſtrike Horrour into the Hearts of ſecure Sinners! Their inſide is ſo bad, that it is a terrible Threatning, that God ſaith, They ſhall be known. They have been called by the Worthy, Lovely, Honourable, Glorious Name of Chriſt; they have been ſtyled Chriſtians: but they have profaned, ſtained, reproached this Excellent Name; therefore they ſhall be diveſted, and ſtripp'd of it; all their Veils, Cloaks, Pretences ſhall be pluck'd off; they ſhall be known what they are, and be called by their own Name. The Wife of Jeroboam did diſguiſe her ſelf, and feigned her ſelf to be another Perſon; yet ſhe did not deceive the Lord: He knew her, and informed his blind Prophet Abijah of her, 1 Kings 14.2, 5, 6. God was acquainted with her Deſign; ſo that when ſhe came to the Prophet's Door, he preſently calls her by her Name, Come in thou Wife of Jeroboam, W…y feigneſt thou thy ſelf to be another? So God will know Sinners in all their Diſguiſes, and under all their Veils: He will call them by their proper Names; he will ſtyle them no more Chriſtians; but ſay, You Infidels, you proſ… and ungodly Swearers, Drunkards, Wh…r… maſters, Lyars, Oppreſſors, and unjuſt Perſons, appear in my preſence, give your Account at my Bar, and Tribunal: You Backſliders in Heart, you rebellious Creatures, hear your Doom and Sentence: You Lying Children, you perfidious Apoſtates, receive your Portion from me. God p. 35will call you Droſs, and Reprobate Silver. This ſhall be your Infamy and Reproach, that all the Creatures are God's Servants, Pſalm 119.90, 91. But you have been Rebels and Enemies. God's Word hath run very ſwiftly on Earth, Pſal. 147.15, 18. All do yield to it and comply with it; but you workers of iniquity have ſtopp'd it, reſiſted it, oppoſed it, and rebelled againſt it. You have been mirey Places and Marſhes, where the Waters of the Sanctuary have been ſtaid and ſtood, Ezek. 47.11. Though Men call themſelves of the Holy City, Iſa. 48.2. yet God will call them Revolters, Corrupters, Braſs, Iron, Reprobate Silver, Rebellious and Lying Children, Jer. 6.28.30.

2. This will be their great Shame to be known, when it ſhall appear, that all their Religion hath been but embalming a Carcaſe, painting the Cheeks of a dead Man, and building a beautiful Tomb of Profeſſion over a corrupt and rotten Heart, Matth. 23.27. O how ignominious will this be, when it ſhall be manifeſted, that in your beſt Performances you have but compaſſed God with Lyes, Hoſ. 11.12. Ephraim compaſſeth me about with Lyes: With a lying Profeſſion, lying Services, lying Prayers, lying Praiſes, lying Obedience. Thoſe whoſe Hearts are not ſound in God's Statutes, ſhall be aſhamed, Pſal. 119.80. They ſhall be aſhamed of all the Profeſſion they have made; of all the p. 36Works they have performed; of all the Hopes they have entertained; of all the Relations they have pretended: Even in the Great Day they ſhall ariſe to Shame and everlaſting Contempt, Dan. 12.2. How will Confuſion cover them, when theſe Graves ſhall be opened? when all Veils ſhall be pulled off, and all the artificial Paint ſhall melt and vaniſh away? when the Filth, Nakedneſs, Deformity of their Souls ſhall appear? When Satan's Image ſhall be diſcerned in them, and his Law ſhall be read in them, in vain have they endeavoured to blind the Eyes of Omniſciency. They could not caſt a Miſt before him, or put a Fallacy and Cheat on him: Hoſ. 5.3. I know Ephraim, and Iſrael is not hid from me Jer. 13.27. I have ſeen thy adulteries, … neighings, and the lewdneſs of thy whoredem. Sinners only blind their own Eyes, that the… may not know what they are, and ſee whther they are going, but that Satan may lea… them the more tamely, quietly, and peaceably unto Deſtruction.

3. O what an amazing Diſappoint… will the workers of iniquity meet with, wh… they ſhall be gathered out of the Kingd… of Chriſt! They will look for Light, and God will turn it into groſs Darkneſs, and i… to the Shadow of Death: Jer. 13.16. What dreadful Fruſtration will this be inſtead of a Inheritance, among the Saints in Light, … p. 37have a Portion with the Wicked in the Regions of Darkneſs, and under the horrours of an eternal Night! How tormenting will this be, to look for Favour and to meet with Fury! to expect Salvation, and then their Eyes ſee their Deſtruction; and inſtead of drinking new Wine of Joy, to drink the Wine of the Wrath of the Almighty, Job. 21.20. It was terrible to Iſrael, for God, as a Token of his Diſpleaſure, to ſend Thunder and Rain in Wheat-Harveſt, 1 Sam. 7.17. And will it not ſtrike more horrour into the workers of iniquity, when they think to reap a Harveſt of Happineſs, for God to thunder Wrath and Vengeance on them; and to rain Fire and Brimſtone, and an horrible Tempeſt on them; and to allot this to them, as the Portion of their Cup? Pſal. 11.6. Were not the Syrians amazed and terrified, when their Eyes were opened, and they ſaw themſelves in the midſt of Samaria, in the Hands, and under the Power of their Enemies? 2 Kings 16.20. But will it not more aſtoniſh Sinners, to have their Eyes opened at laſt, and to ſee themſelves in the midſt of Devils and damned Souls, under the Power of Satan, and under the Wrath of God? Sinners do drouze and Sleep now, but they will, too late, lift up their Eyes, as Dives did, in Hell, Luke 16.23. when it will be too late to decline the fatal Blow, to prevent Miſery, and fly from Deſtruction. O how p. 38will this cut Sinners to the Heart! for Jeſus Chriſt to profeſs that which is directly contrary to their Profeſſion, Matth. 7.23. Then will I profeſs unto them, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity. They profeſs, Iſa. 58.2. to work Righteouſneſs, and to yield Obedience: And this they counted their Glory. But Chriſt will profeſs to them, Ye are workers of iniquity: And this will be to their Ignominy and Reproach Chriſt's Profeſſion concerning Men, is more to be credited than what they profeſs concerning themſelves. Thoſe ſpoken of here, ſeem to be workers of iniquity in a more ſpiritual, ſecret, and myſterious way: They acted from old and carnal Principles; they ſerved in the oldneſs of the Letter, not in the newneſs of the Spirit; they did ſome things materially Good, but with regret and relectancy, not with pleaſure and delight, Rom. 7.6. They were acted by baſe Principles and ſelfiſh Ends; and ſo ſerved themſelves and their Luſts, rather than the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. They failed in the manner of theſe working, and ſo are called workers of i… quity. The Phariſees thought they well obſerved the Laws of God, Luk. 15.29. L… theſe many Years do I ſerve thee, neither tr… greſſed I at any time thy Commandments. Yet how contrary to this Boaſting is the Charge and Accuſation of the Prophet Jeremi…h, Jer. 32.23. They have done nothing of all p. 39thou commandedſt them to do. Iſrael doth cry unto the Lord, My God, we know thee, Hoſ. 8.2. Yet here Chriſt profeſſes the contrary, I never kn…w you, Luke 13.27. Chriſt expreſſeth himſelf thus, Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity. That Phraſe, all ye workers of iniquity, is emphatical: Chriſt will paſs the ſame Doom on workers of iniquity in the Church, as he doth on thoſe that are out of the Church: He is no Reſpecter of Perſons; he hates Iniquity whereever he finds it. Such as turn aſide into crooked Paths in the Church, ſhall be led forth with the workers of iniquity: They ſhall be joined to them, ranked with them, Pſal. 125.5. ſhall be accounted of the ſame Body, ſhall receive the ſame Sentence, and feel the ſame, or rather worſer Puniſhments. O how will this vex and perplex, proud Hypocrites! that have thought themſelves, for many Years, to be Members of God's Family; and that they have had much acquaintance and long converſe with Chriſt, to hear him to reject them as utter Strangers to him, and that he never knew them? O, what a wounding and killing Word will this be to them? Surely Strangers ſhall not dwell with God, or inherit with his Children; they that have ſerved Sin in God's Houſe, John 8.34, 35. will be diſcovered and caſt out. God that ſaith, Ye are not my people, and I will not be your God, Hoſ. 1.9. doth alſo threaten, Hoſ. 9.3. They p. 40ſhall not dwell in the Lord's land. The Lord's Land is for the Lord's People: If thoſe that were not the Lord's People ſhould not dwell in the Lord's Land, that was but an Earthly Canaan, much leſs ſhall they dwell in the Lord's Land, that is a Heavenly Country and Canaan.

4thly, They that be gathered out of Chriſt's Kingdom ſhall be deprived of the beſt Good, of True Happineſs; they ſhalt not taſt of Chriſt's Supper, they ſhall not ſit in his Throne; they ſhall not feaſt at his Table, in his Kingdom, or partake of his Glory. To have no part with Chriſt, John 13.8. is threatned as the worſt and greateſt Evil; And not to taſt of his Supper, Luk. 14.24. On the other hand, To ſee Chriſt's Glory. John 17.24. to ſit with him in his Throne, Revel. 3.24. to ſit with him at his Table, and to eat and drink with him in his Kingdom, Luk. 22.30. is promiſed as the chiefeſt and beſt Good. But ye workers of iniquity, O what will ye do in the Solemn and Great Day, and in the day of the Feaſt of the Lord! Hoſ. 9.5. Your preſent Pleaſures and Delights will ceaſe, your Banquet will end and be removed, Amos 5.7. you will Famiſh. And when others ſeaſt, you will be ſlain with Thirſt, Hoſ. 2.3. When others ſhall drink of the River of God's Pleaſures, Pſal. 36.8. yea drink abundantly at the Fountain of Life. You will roar and howl, when others ſhall p. 41ſing and rejoyce. Job complains, Job 9.25. That his Days did ſlee away, they ſaw no Good: But workers of iniquity will more dreadfully and dolefully complain, That Millions of Years do paſs over them, yet in them all they ſee no Good.

5thly, Thoſe that are gathered out of Chriſt's Kingdom, are without hope of ever returning to it, or being let in, and received into it for ever, Luk. 13.25. When once the Maſter of the Houſe is riſen up, and hath ſhut the Door, he will never riſe up again to open it; then it will be too late to knock, or plead for Admiſſion; the Bridegroom hath done Wooing; the great Shepherd will call no more; the gracious Phyſician will practiſe no more; the Ladder which joins Heaven and Earth together will be drawn up, and all Treaties of Peace will be at an end: As when God did ſhut the Door of the Ark, Gen. 7.16. Noah was included, and his Family, and all the reſt of the World were excluded, though they did cry never ſo bitterly, groan never ſo deeply, plead never ſo earneſtly, yet, they could not be admitted, they could not be received; the time of God's Patience was at an end, and the Day of his Wrath and Vengeance was come. So Chriſt will not be entreated, will not relent; as Sinners hardned their Hearts in time, ſo Chriſt will harden his Heart to Eternity; as they had no love for Chriſt, ſo p. 42he hath no Bowels to yearn towards them, no Boſom to receive them: Their Condition was once hopeful, but now it is deſperate, Iſa. 5.2. The Hands of Chriſt were once ſtretched out, Prov. 1.24. to allure and receive them; but now the Arms of Chriſt will be ſtretched out to puniſh them: They did their own and Satan's Will in time, and they muſt now ſuffer God's Will to Eternity: They were once invited, and importun'd earneſtly to come into his Kingdom; but then they ſhall be violently thruſt out of it, and everlaſtingly debarr'd from it. There is a vaſt difference between theſe two Expreſſions, Luke 14.23. Compel them to come us and that in Luke 13.28. And you your ſelves thruſt out. They that have wearied the Patience, and ſlighted the Grace of God, ſhall be eternally cut off from ſeeing of him, and converſing with him. Mercy will iſſue in Severity, and Patience will end undeterminate in Fury.

6. Thoſe that are gathered out of Chriſt's Kingdom, ſhall behold the Happineſs, Feaſt, and Glory of the Saints of God, and gnaſh their Teeth for envy and rage, ſeeing what others enjoy, and they themſelves are deprived of, Luke 13.28. There ſhall be weeping, and gnaſhing of teeth, when ye ſhall ſee Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, and you your ſelves thruſt out. This ſhall heighten the Saints Felicity, p. 43to ſee the Miſery and Torments of the Damned. Iſaiah 66.24. They ſhall go forth, and look upon the carcaſes of the men that have tranſgreſſed againſt me: for their worm ſhall not die, neither ſhall their Fire be quenched: thus Eſau, and other Reprobates ſhall eternally ſerve Jac…b, and the other Elect, the miſery of the Damned, ſhall cauſe them more to admire the Mercy extended to them: their weepings and howlings ſhall heighten Saints Songs, Praiſes and Thankſgivings, Pſal. 58.10. The righteous ſhall rejoyce when he ſeeth the vengeance: ſo on the other hand, this ſhall encreaſe and heighten the Miſery of the Workers of Iniquity, that they ſhall ſee the Feaſt, the Honour, the Glory of the Saints, that they are deprived of, 2 Kings, 7.1, 2. Eliſha propheſieth of a ſudden plenty the very next day in Samaria, where they had been under a long and grievous Famine: A Lord in Samaria would not believe it, the Prophet tells him, that yet he ſhould ſee it, but ſhould not eat thereof: So Sinners now will not believe what Reſt, what Honour, what a Feaſt Saints ſhall enjoy, when they ſit down with Abraham, Iaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of God, Matth. 8.11. but yet they ſhall one day ſee it, but ſhall not ſhare in it, nor partake of it. O how will their Hearts fret and rage, to ſee thoſe that they have ſo much deſpiſed, hated, and abhorred, to ſit in the Throne, when they ſhall be made Footſtools; to enjoy p. 44the greateſt Plenty, when they ſhall lye under eternal Penury, and want of all Good.

7. This may affright and terriſie the Workers of Iniquity, that they, as vile and worthleſs Creatures ſhall be caſt away, Matth. 13.48. the bad Fiſh ſhall be caſt away as thoſe that God hath no eſteem of, Love to, o… Delight in; they have caſt away the Law of the Lord, Iſa. 5.24. and now they themſelves ſhall be caſt away; they would not put away the Luſts of their Hearts, the Evil of their Doings, and now therefore they muſt be put away as Droſs, Pſal. 119.119. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the Ea… as Droſs: But this is not all; the Tares ſhall be caſt into a Furnace of unquenchable Fire, Matth. 13.12. It is honourable to be Trees for Fruit, but it is diſgracefull and reproachful to be Trees for Fuel; Hay ſerves for Food to Cattel, but Tares do ſerve only to heat the Oven, and to burn in the Furnace. O how dreadful is this for to be caſt into a Furnace heated by the Anger and Fury of God? Can we imagine how terrible that Fire is, which is kindled by incenſed Juſtice, and blown up by the Breath of an angry God? a Fire that will indeed devour all that is pleaſant, and coniume all that is ſweet and gratefull in Life, yet leave ſtill a Being to feel Miſery, and endure Eternal Torments. We ſhould be amazed to ſee a Wiſp of Straw, p. 45a Bundle of Tares to hold out one day, and not be conſumed; but this is a great Miracle of the Power of God, to uphold and preſerve Sinners to be an eternal Mark for God to ſhoot at, an eternal Footſtool for him to tread on: Eternal Veſſels for him to drop his Wrath, and pour out his Fury into: The Evil of Sin, doth not conſume, is not expiated by all the Torments of the workers of iniquity; and ſo their Miſery cannot abate, their Puniſhments cannot leſſen, nor the Fire go out: they ſuffer from God and hate him; they endure Blows and Wounds from him, and blaſpheme him for them: they Rebelled againſt God, they ſuffered Sin and Satan to Rule in them, and now full ſore againſt their Wills, God will Reign over them with an out-ſtretched Arm, and Fury poured out, Ezek. 20.33. they would not come under Chriſt's Paſtoral Rod, Ezek 20.37. but they muſt be forced to fall under Chriſt's Iron Rod, Pſal. 2.9. their Sin did grieve God, and God's Sentence, and the Execution of it will eternally ſting, and vex them. Oh, it is dreadful for Sinners to be preſerved in being, for their hurt; to have an immortal Exiſtence, that they may feel an immortal Puniſhment, Miſery and Torment! If Chriſt that was a green Tree, Luke 23.31. that was full of the vital Sap of Holineſs and Righteouſneſs, and did continually abound in ſpiritual Fruit, had yet ſuch a Fire of p. 46Wrath burning againſt him, and kindled on him, when as Evil Fruits were only hanged on him by imputation, but did never grow in, or on him, what muſt dry Trees expect that are deſtitute of the Life of God, and did never bear Fruit to Chriſt, what an everlaſting Furnace, what an Eternal Fire will be their Portion? Chriſt could paſs the Cup from him by his drinking of it, Mat. 26.42. but workers of iniquity ſhall drink of the Cup of God's Fury, yet it ſhall never paſs from them, but ſtay at their Lips, and be ſuck'd and ſoak into their Souls.

2. Uſe. I would now put you on the Search, Trial, and Examination of your ſelves: Are you truly Members of, and ſincere Subjects in this Kingdom of God? Are you ſuch as ſhall ſtay in the Kingdom of God, or ſuch as ſhall be gathered out of it? There is a great deal of difference between treading in God's Courts, Iſaiah 1.12. and growing in God's Houſe, or being planted and flouriſhing in God's Courts, Pſal. 92.13. thoſe that only tread in God's Courts, may not ſtay in his Houſe, John 8.35. but may be driven out of it. Hoſ. 9.15. I will drive them out of my houſe; I will love them no more: but thoſe that are planted by God, and are green Olive-Trees in the Houſe of God, they ſhall never wither, or be rooted up, Pſal. 52.8. they truſt in the mercy of God for p. 47ever and ever, and mercy will follow them all their days, Pſal. 23.6. and mercy will be built up for ever, Pſal. 89.2. It is worth the while to enquire what we are, and whoſe we are, that we may not flatter and deceive our own Souls. In a Family there are Sons and Servants John 4.35. in a Great Houſe there are Veſſels of Gold and Silver, and Veſſels of Wood and Earth: in great Cities, as in Rome of old, they did diſtinguiſh the Inhabitants into two ſorts, the Advenae, or Strangers; the Cives, or Citizens that were born and bred there. O conſider, Are you Titular or Real? Are you Tranſient or Abiding Subjects in Chriſt's Kingdom? Are ye reſcued and delivered from the adverſe Prince, and contrary Kingdom? Men are born under the Law of Sin, Rom. 8.2. and under the power of Satan, Acts 26.18. the God of this World is their Father, John 8.44. the Prince of this World is their King. Oh therefore ask this ſerious Queſtion, Is the Prince of the World caſt out of your Hearts? John 12.31. now ſhall the Prince of the World be caſt out: And are you pluckt out of his Paw, reſcued out of his. Kingdom,? Col. 1.13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkneſs, foreign: the Father hath by a ſtrong hand, by a mighty arm pluckt, and ſnatched his Redeemed from the Power of Darkneſs: Ignorance and Sin are Darkneſſes, and Satan is the Power and p. 48Prince of Darkneſs; he rules Men by their Ignorance and Luſts; and therefore he is ſtiled the ruler of the darkneſs of this world, Epheſ. 6.12. Ignorance and Sin have a ſtrange Power over Souls, as if they were rightful and lawful Powers, and Satan's Kingdom is grounded and built on them: Sinners know not what they do, whither they go, whom they ſerve; and hence it is they do ſo readily and willingly yield themſelves to obey the Commands of theſe Enemies, that hoodwink them, and hurry them on to Deſtruction: Are your Eyes opened? Are Satan's Snares and Sin's Bonds broken? Are you turned from darkneſs to light; from the power of Satan to God, Acts 26.18. are you made free from the law of ſin and death? Rom. 8.2. darkneſs did chain the Egyptians in their Places, that they did not remove, or go about, Exod. 10.22, 23. but when the Light returned, then they were ſet at Liberty to walk about, and work: ſo have you known the Truth of Chriſt, and been made free by it, John 8.32. Is the Veil of Ignorance drawn off from your Minds? And are the Chains of Luſt fallen off from your Wills? A Veil is a Reſtraint and Bondage on the Eye. Thoſe that do not ſee the Evil of Sin, will not fly from it; they that behold not the Excellency of the Kingdom of God will not preſs into it.

p. 492ly, Are you tranſlated into the Kingdom of Chriſt? Col. 1.14. We are born in Satan's Kingdom as our Country and Natural Soil; but by Grace we are led forth as a Colony into the Kingdom of Chriſt, which is, to a natural Man, a ſtrange Land, and a new Soil. But how are Men tranſlated into the Kingdom of Chriſt? ſurely it is by effectual Calling, and Regeneration. We are called as rational Creatures, and we are regenerated, as corrupt and impotent Creatures. God is ſaid to call us to his Kindom and Glory, 1 Theſ. 2.12. Except a Man be born again, he cannot ſee, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, John 3.3.5. He cannot ſee, or underſtand that there is ſuch a Kingdom, or be willing to enter into it, or be fitted to enjoy the Benefits and Bleſſings of it: As Children muſt be born to be the Subjects of Earthly Kings; ſo Men muſt be re-born to be the Subjects of the Heavenly King. This is for the Honour and Glory of Chriſt's Kingdom, that none can paſs into it, but by Regeneration: Thoſe that are the genuine, and true Citizens of Zion, and Members of the Church, are ſaid to be born there, Pſ. 87.4, 6. Thoſe that God writes up as Citizens of Zion, are ſuch as are born there. God's Regiſter, and the Church's Roll, or Catalogue, do many times much differ. The Church owns thoſe for her Children, that God doth not acknowledge for his Sons and Daughters: The Church takes in thoſe that p. 50God will turn out: God will repute none his Jewels, call none his own, but they that are born again of his Word and Spirit, Mal. 3.17. 1 Pet. 1.23. John 3.6. And indeed, How can Men poſſibly be Subjects in God's Kingdom, except they have ſpiritual Minds, converted Wills, heavenly Affections? A vain Mind, a carnal Heart will only flatter and lye to Chriſt, Matth. 3.2. Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand: Men cannot be Subjects in, or Heirs of the Kingdom of God, without Faith and Repentance. The good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom, Matth. 13.35. Thoſe that receive the Word, are begotten by the Word of Truth, John 1.18. that have it rooted in their Souls, ſpreading and prevailing in their Hearts, theſe are good Seed: Jeſus Chriſt doth not only ſow Doctrinal Truths, but living Chriſtians: He begets Sons and Daughters to God; by the Word they are changed by, and born of the Word, and ſo are called Seed. That Word is ſtyled the Good Word, Heb. 6.5. and they that are born of it, are therefore called Good Seed. Divine Chryſoſtom, a Grecian Orator, in one of his Orations, derides the Folly of the Grecians, that did call that one Man's Statue, which was carved to reſemble, and ſet up to the Honour of another. There was no new carving of, or alteration in the Statue, but only the Title of it was changed. And p. 51do Men ſo eaſily paſs out of the Kingdom of Satan, into the Kingdom of Chriſt, only by the changing of a Name? No, there muſt be another kind of Alteration: There muſt not only be a new Name, but a new Heart, a new Nature, Ezek. 36.26. 2 Pet. 1.4. O deſcend into your Hearts! What Experience have you of the Work of the Spirit, in dethroning Satan, and inthroning Chriſt in your Hearts; deſtroying the Kingdom of Sin, and exalting the Kingdom of God. Conſult your own Souls about this: Can you be totally ignorant of it, if ſuch a change hath been made in you? Doth not every one take notice of publick Revolutions in Government, if one Prince dye, or be depoſed, and another ſucceed, and be ſet up in his Place? And hath there been ſo great a ſpiritual Revolution in thy Soul, hath Satan been caſt out, and hath Chriſt entred to dwell and rule in thy Heart, and haſt thou no knowledge of it? Haſt thou no experience of a new light ſet up in thy Mind? a new Byaſs put upon thy Will? new Motions raiſed in thy Affections towards ſpiritual and ſupernatural Objects?

3dly, Are the Laws of this Holy King, and of this Heavenly Kingdom writ in thy Heart? according to that promiſe of the new Covenant, Jer. 31.33. I will write my laws in their hearts, and put them into their inner parts. This is the Glory of Chriſt, that he p. 52writes his Laws in the Table of the Mind and Will, 2 Cor. 3.3. His Subjects not only know, but love and ask his Laws. Their Obedience to them is not forced or feigned; but they obey from the Heart. Rom. 6.17. They delight in the Law of God according to the inward Man, Rom. 7.22. God's Subjects are thus deſcribed, That the Law of God is in their Hearts. It is not an urging Letter without, but a vital Principle within: Pſal. 37.31. The law of his God is in his heart: and Iſa. 51.7. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteouſneſs, the People in whoſe heart is my law. Chriſt plants ſuch Diſpoſitions, ſuch Inclinations as are ſuitable and agreeable to the Law of God, and may be ſtyled a counter p…t of it, and do anſwer to it: Pſal. 119.112. I have enclined my heart to perform thy Statutes always, even to the end. This is a writing that doth exact and ennoble the Table, th… is, the Subject of it: And this is an high Act of Grace, when God doth not only write his Laws to us, but in us. Do you approve, allow, delight in the Laws of God▪ Do your Souls break for the Longings yee have to, and after them? that they might be more revealed to you, and impreſſed on you. Pſal. 119.20.

4thly, Are you led by the Spirit of the King? Rom. 8.9, 14. If any man hath not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, are the Se… p. 53of God. This is a wonderful and a great Myſtery, that the Spirit of the King is in his Subjects, and they all make but one myſtical Body; and the Spirit is as the Soul that animates this Body. Were ever King and Subjects ſo nearly linked, united, related to each other? Chriſt is not only a politick Head that gives Laws, but as a natural Head that giveth Life. The Spirit that influenced Chriſt, acts them; the Spirit that reſides in Chriſt, dwells alſo in them. The People of Chriſt muſt needs therefore be a free and willing People. Do not the Members of the natural Body, without Regret or Reluctancy, obey the Dictates of the Head? How powerful, yet how eaſie and ſweet is the Government of the Head over the Members? Chriſt's Spirit doth not only teach and direct, but powerfully bend and encline the Will to walk, yea to run in the way of God's Commandments, Pſal. 119.32. Saints do not deſire the way to Heaven to be made broader, but their Hearts to be made larger; to have their light and love encreaſed. The Spirit is ſtyled, A Spirit of Revelation, Epheſ. 1.17. A Spirit of Life, Rom 8.2. A Free Spirit, Pſal. 51.12. A Spirit that makes us free and forward in our Obedience. We are not only reſtrained from Sin by an outward Prohibition, but we hate it; our Nature is averſe from it, and abhors it. We are not meerly conſtrain'd by an imperious and urgent p. 54Command, enforced with terrible Threatnings, but ſweetly and powerfully enclined by an inward Diſpoſition and vital Principle. Do you love your Heavenly Maſter, and would not go free from him, but be more ſubjected to him? when others do break the Yoke of God, and do burſt his Bonds, Pſal. 2.3. Jer. 5.5. Do you put your Necks into Chriſt's Yoke? Matth. 11.29. and bend your ſelves with his Laws, as pleaſant, light, and ornamental Chains? Iſa. 45.14. They ſhall come after thee in Chains. Kings and Nobles are willingly bound with theſe Chains, Pſal. 149.8. As the deſire of Iſrael was to Saul, and to have him to rule over the…, 1 Sam. 9.20. ſo the Nations did run to Chriſt, Iſa. 55.5. and deſire him to rule over them, Iſa. 11.10. The Gentiles are ſaid to ſeek to him: And alſo the converted Jews Hoſ. 3.5. ſhould ſeek to him, as a King, that he might give Law to them, and rule over them. Chriſt's Kingdom is not forced and obtruded on his People, but voluntarily choſen, and freely ſubmitted to.

5thly, Examin how are your Hearts and Lives ordered: 1. How are your Minds, Wills, Affections ordered, Iſa. 9.7. Jeſus ſits on a ſpiritual Throne to order it: The Soul is Chriſt's Throne, and till he ſits and rules in it, all is diſorderly. The Thoughts are …ain, the Will rebellious, the Aſſections vile and inordinate, as at firſt the Water overwhelmed p. 55and covered all, Gen. 1.2. till God ſaid, Let the waters be gathered into one place, Gen. 1.9. and then dry land appeared; and a Place was prepared for Mens Habitation… So while there is nothing but a ſpiritual Chaos, Self-love, as a Sea, covers all, ſwallows up all true Love to God, and Man: But when God, by his Grace, doth gather the Affections into their proper Chanels, and unto their right Objects: When God bounds, banks, and limits them, then dry Land, in a ſpiritual ſence, appears for God's Habitation in the Soul; then room and place is made for him. Are your Hearts directed into the Love of God? 2 Theſ. 8.5. And are you taught of God to love your Brethren? 1 Theſ. 4.9. Then Self love is ordered, and is confined within its due and proper Bounds.

2. Are your Converſations ordered aright? Do you ſet God's Laws before you, Pſalm 119.30. as the Rule of your Hearts, Words, Actions? Is it your true and greateſt deſign to pleaſe God, 1 Theſ. 4.1. and to be accepted with him? 2 Cor. 5.9. When Chriſt comes into the Soul, he Judges, Iſa. 2.4. he Reproves, Iſa. 11.3. Jeſus Chriſt cenſures what is contrary and diſpleaſing to God: He rebukes Mens Luſts; he puts a new Byaſs on the Will, and enclines the Soul to a new way and walk, Jer. 3.17. They ſhall call Jeruſalem (that is, the Church; that …, Spiritual Jeruſalem) the Throne of the Lord, and all p. 56the nations ſhall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jeruſalem: they ſhall walk no more after the Imaginations of their evil hearts. But they that walk in the light of the Lord, Iſa. 2.5. and in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of his holy Spirit, Acts 9.31. If thou doſt ſtill walk in thy own Counſels, and in the Luſts of thine own Heart, Pſal. 51.12. and in the common way of the World, Iſa. 8.11. and, as other Gentiles do, in the Vanity of thy Mind, Epheſ. 4.17. beſure thou haſt had no Experience of the Kingdom of Chriſt come into, and ſet up in thy Heart: If thy Heart be caſt into a new Mould, Rom. 6.7. and brought under a new Lord and Law, thy Soul muſt needs ſtee… new courſe. As Heaven and Hell do vaſtly differ, ſo do the narrow and broad way exceedingly differ, that lead to a bleſſed, and miſerable Eternity: You reproach and diſgrace the Kingdom of Chriſt, if your Hearts are not leavened with Faith and Love, and if your Converſations are not ordered better than others. Chriſt's Sheep come and go at the Direction and Command of the great Shepherd; but others, out of Chriſts Kingdom, are as wild Beaſts that run to and fro, move here and there at their own Pleaſure; they are turned up and down by the dictates of a vain Mind, and wicked Will: but yet if you are Chriſt's true Subjects, you will not be brought under the power of p. 57tempting Objects without, or reigning Luſts within, 1 Cor. 6.12.

3. Uſe, Shall the workers of iniquity be gathered out of Chriſt's Kingdom, then I would Exhort you ſincerely to ſubject your ſelves to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as your King. Let not your Lips ſlatter, and your Tongue lye to Jeſus Chriſt; but indeed take Chriſt's Yoke, come under his paſtoral Rod, enter into his Fold, and into the Bond of the Covenant, Matth. 11.29. Ezek. 20.37. John 10.9.

1. Conſider, Jeſus Chriſt is not ſond of, or ſets a value on, neither is he pleaſed and delighted with empty Names and Titles: Matth. 7.21. It is not every one that ſaith Lord, Lord, that ſhall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Chriſt will not own, approve, admit ſuch in the Great Day; a form of Godlineſs will yield but a vain Image of Happineſs. Would an earthly King be ſatisfied, if Rebels did call him their Lord, and would receive his Picture into their City, but did ſhut out his Perſon? And will the King of Glory be appeaſed and quieted with a Picture of Piety, or with a cold and dead form of Religion? We are bid not only to give the Hand to the Lord, 2 Chron. 30.8. (ſo it is in the Original, and ſo in the Margin, with alluſion to thoſe that did make Bargains, and to conclude them, did ſtrike p. 58or give their Hands to each other) but we are alſo required to give our Hearts to the Lord, Prov. 23.26. The Life of the natural Man is but a vain ſhew of Life, Pſal. 39.6. Surely every man walketh in a vain ſhew: And will it advantage us to add a vain ſhew of Religion to a vain Shew of Life? Can Men make up a Summ to enrich them, by multiplying Cyphers? And Hypocrite is ſtyled a vain Man, James 2.20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead. And the formal Prayers of Hypocrites are called Vanity, Job. 35.12, 13. Men cry, but none giveth anſwer. But why are Prayers this fruitleſs and ineffectual? the next Words toll us the Cauſe: Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. Both natural and inſtituted Worſhip is to be a Winepreſs, Matth. 21.33. and ſo to ſqueeze and draw out the Juice and Quinteſſence of Grace that is in the Soul, elſe Chriſt will not regard Lip-labour, and bodily Service. The Heart is Chriſt's Houſe and Throne; the Mind and Will are the Tables he writes his Laws in, 2 Cor. 3.3. He requires the beſt Room, the Gueſt Chamber: It is an Affront, and an Indignity to Chriſt, to be thruſt into the Stable again, or to be entertained only in an out Room. Will a Maſter reward a Servant, that only wears his Livery, but doth not his Work.

p. 592dly, Jeſus will look into the Souls, and ſee through all outſide Shews and Appearances, Iſaiah 11.3. Jeſus judgeth not according to the ſight of his eyes, nor reproveth according to the hearing of his ears. Jeſus Chriſt doth not ſtop, or ſtay on the ſurface and outſide of things, neither doth he receive Intelligence and Information from others that may be miſtaken themſelves, and ſo might deceive and abuſe him, but he hath a Window into the Breaſts and Boſoms of Sinners, he ſearcheth the Hearts, he trieth the Reins, he weigheth the Spirits of Men, he detects inward Poverty, Emptineſs and Filth, Matt. 12.44. he finds it out, if the Houſe be empty of Grace, and deſtitute of the Spirit, at beſt but ſwept from groſſer Sins and Crimes, and garniſhed with Morality, and a Form of Godlineſs; but rather it was ſwept and garniſhed, and fitted for the return of the unclean Spirit into it, Matt. 12.45. Chriſt diſcerned the Houſe of the Soul to be ſwept from all ſpiritual Good, and garniſhed in Satan's Eye with ungodlineſs and unrighteouſneſs. Chriſt will diſcover thoſe that make a fair Show of Religion; that have a Name to live, that yet they are really dead, Rev. 3.1. he looks through the beautiful Sepulchre and Tomb, and ſeeth the Filth and Rettenneſs of a carnal and dead Heart underneath. The Jews did account p. 60that Men were defiled by touching or walking over a Grave; and therefore when a Grave was ſunk, and did not appear, Luke 11.44. they uſed to go forth in the Day before their Feſtivals, and caſt Lime, or Chalk on them, and ſo by whiting the ground, to give notice of a Grave, that Perſons might not come near it, and be polluted by it. A Learned Man doth think that Jeſus Chriſt alludes to this Cuſtom, when he calls the Hypocritical Scribes and Phariſees graves that did not appear; but he by his Reprooſs and Diſcoveries of them, did white them, that ſo Perſons might know them, beware, and take heed of them. There is not the cloſeſt Hypocrite in the World, but Chriſt can find him out, and white him, Iſaiah 11.3. Chriſt is of quick understanding, or of quick ſcent and ſmell, (as it is in the Hebrew) in, and about the Fear of the Lord, he doth wind he doth ſcent Hypocriſie, though it be veiled and cloaked over with a beautiful Shew of Religion and Righteouſneſs. If you are Hypocrites, and think to blind Chriſt's Eyes with a ſpecious Form of Godlineſs without the Power of it, you are guilty of a kinded Blaſphemy. If you think that Chriſt may be couzened with your Caſed Pieces, and doth not know your counterfeit and braſs Money, Rev. 2.9. I know the blaſphemy of them that ſay they are Jews and are not, … p. 61are the Synagogue of Satan. It is no leſs than Blaſphemy for thee ſo to think to put a Fallacy and Cheat on Chriſt, who knoweth all the hidden things, and will bring to light all the deep Counſels of it, 1 Cor. 4.5. he will lay open all the ſecret Luſts, all the corrupt and baſe Ends that inſluenced and ſwayed Men under a Profeſſion of Religion and the practice of ſome outward Duties.

3dly, Men may call Chriſt Lord, and yet repeat, and act over all the Indignities that were offered to Chriſt by the unbelieving Jews, that were his Enemies; they Crowned Chriſt, but it was with Thorns; they put a Scepter into his hand, but it was a Reed; they ſaluted him, and ſaid, Hail, King of the Jews; but all this was but in mockery and deriſion, for they ſmote Chriſt on the head, Matt. 27.29, 30. and are not many nominal and outſide Chriſtians guilty of the ſame things in a Myſtery, their hearing ſome Sermons now and then, with a wandring and roving Mind, with a drouſie Ear; their repeating ſome Forms of Prayer in a cold and heartleſs manner, without Underſtanding, or Faith, without inward Groans, ſpiritual Wreſtlings and Importunities; their owning ſome Doctrinal Points of Religion, and practiſing ſome juſt things as to the Matter of them, is the Reed they put into Chriſt's Hand; ſome outward Acknowledgments they make of his Lordſhip and Dominion p. 62over them, but in the mean time they Crown Chriſt with Thorns, by their Oaths, Curſes and Lies; they ſmite Chriſt by their Drunkenneſs, their Uncleanneſs, their ſcorning at Godlineſs, their Reproaching them that will not profane the Lord's. Day as they do, and will not neglect God's Worſhip in their Families as they do, and will not run with them to the ſame Exceſs of Riot, drink in Iniquity, and roll in Filth and Uncleanneſs as they do; they take no care to engage their Hearts to Chriſt, to keep them with all diligence, to watch over their Tongues, to order their Converſations aright, and ſpend their Time well. As the Jews were incenſed againſt Chriſt, Iſaiaha…. 24. they pretended he did forbid to pay Tribute to Caeſar, and would juſtle him out of his Throne: when as the true Cauſe of their Controverſie with, and Enmity againſt Chriſt was, that he would thruſt Satan out of his Throne, and did forbid Sinners to pay Tribute to their Luſts: So Men now are enraged againſt Chriſt for the ſame Reaſon, becauſe his Holy Will croſſes their cornat wills, his Commands claſh with their Luſ…, and he reſtrains them from the Pleaſures of Sin that are ſo ſweet to them, and calls theat to Purity and Strictneſs in Religion, which is ſo bitter and unpleaſing to them. Will Chriſt accept of Honour in Words, when it is joyned with Reproach in Deeds? Wiſt p. 63verbal Friendſhip be regarded, when accompanied with real Enmity? Will Chriſt repute thoſe his Subjects, that ſerve his Enemies, and gratifie Satan and their own Luſts? Shall pretended Obedience bring Men unto Heaven, and real Diſobedience not throw them to Hell? Shall a Lye ingratiate Men with God, and true Impiety not render them odious to God?

4thly, Conſider Jeſus Chriſt will ſet up his Kingdom in the World, and at laſt Rule over you, whether you will or no: As none can hinder the riſing of the Sun, or obſtruct the blowing of the Wind; ſo all the oppoſition, and rage of the World ſhall not hinder the riſing of the Son of Righteouſneſs Mal. 4.2. and of the Glory of the Lord, Iſa. 60.1. nor obſtruct the blowing of the Wind of the Spirit, Acts 2.2. This mighty ruſhing Wind filled the World with the Doctrine of Chriſt, as that Wind at Pentecoſt filled the Houſe where the Apoſtles of Chriſt were ſitting. Though Kings, and the great Men of the World, did join their Counſels, and unite their Strength and Force to keep down Chriſt's Kingdom, and to ſuppreſs the beginnings of it, yet he that ſate in the Heavens did laugh at all their Policy and Power, and had all their Attempts and Endeavours in deriſion, and did prevail, notwithſtanding all their Malice, to ſet his King on his Holy Hill of Zion, Pſal. 2.4, 5, 6. And Chriſt did p. 64reign over his Enemies full fore againſt their Wills. They deſigned and endeavoured to break Chriſt's Bands in ſunder; but Chriſt did break them with his Rod of Iron, and daſh them to pieces as a Potter's Veſſel, Pſalm 2.9. The Jews perſecuted Chriſt's Apoſtles and Servants, and ſent many of them to Heaven on this Meſſage and Errand, to tell Chriſt how the Jews are bent againſt his Kingdom, and would not have Chriſt to reign over them, Luke 19.14. yet Jeſus Chriſt did gather, ſubdue, and convert many of their Nation to be his Subjects; and as for the Body of the People that continued in their Unbelief and Diſobedience, this Glorious King ſent forth his Armies, that is, the Romans, and deſtroyed them, and bunt up their City, Mat. 22.7. And at the laſt Day, he will ſeverely ſentence and puniſh the Rebellious: Luke 19.27. As for theſe mine enemies that would not have me to rule over them, bring them before me, and let them be ſlain in my preſence. Though they do not allow Chriſt a Throne in their Souls, yet Chriſt will erect his Tribunal, and ſit … Judgment on all that oppoſe and ſtand o… againſt him. Where Grace doth not reign, Juſtice will reign: If Chriſt doth not coedemn and execute Sin in us, he will condem… and execute us: Either Satan's Works and Luſts muſt be cruſhed and deſtroyed in us, or we muſt be cut off, and periſh for ever. p. 65Thoſe that Chriſt doth not prune, he will fell; thoſe that he is not a refining Fire to, he will be a conſuming Fire; if the Old Man be not pierced and wounded by Chriſt's Arrows, the Souls of Men muſt be Chriſt's Mark, and feel the edge and point of his glittering Sword. If Chriſt doth not rule to ſave Men, he will rule to deſtroy them. The Civil Law mentions ſome Malefactors that are called **Vid. Paciamin: 1 Lib. inſtitut. Tit. 12. Sect. 6.Servi Poenae, ſuch as were condemn'd to row at the Oar, or to dig in the Mines; becauſe they did not obey the Law, and live honeſtly, they were ſubjected to hard Service, and did live miſerably: So thoſe that are not Subjects to Chriſt, as a King, ſhall be Servants of Puniſhment; they ſhall ſerve the Glory of God's Power and Juſtice, in their eternal Miſery and Sufferings.

5thly, Conſider the Nature and Advantages of the Kingdom of Chriſt. There are ſweet Fruits of the Kingdom of Grace, and there are enriching Benefits of the Kingdom of Glory. It was propheſied of Chriſt, as a King, That Men ſhould be bleſſed in him, and Nations ſhould call him Bleſſed. What a Glory is this to Jeſus Chriſt, that Men are bleſſed, and ſhall bleſs themſelves in this King, that ever they were conquered by the Sword of his Word, that ever they were brought under the Scepter of his Grace: They ſhall p. 66rejoyce that ever they were bound with the Cords of his Doctrine, and Laws, and ſubjected to the Yoke of his Government. They call their King Bleſſed, that is raiſed above the reach and rage of all his Enemies, and is now victorious and triumphant over them; that reigns ſo righteouſly, ſo peaceably, ſo proſperouſly; that dethrones Sin and Satan, and inthrones God in the Souls of Men; that preſerves his People from ſinking into an extremity of Miſery, and exalts them to poſſeſs an eternal Felicity. They call him Bleſſed, that hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him, and that hath the Key of Hell and Death, Matth. 28.18. Rev. 1.18. that hath ſuch an unbounded Empirt, and ſo large, and ſuch an extenſive Kingdom; hath power over all Fleſh, that he might give eternal Life to as many as the Father hath given him, John 17.2. and is made Head over all things to the Church, Epheſ. 1.22. that nothing may hinder the Salvation, or obſtruct the Happineſs, but all things may promote the Good and Welfare of the Church.

1ſt. Conſider who Jeſus Chriſt is: He … God's Righteous Servant, Iſa. 53.11. and he Well-beloved Son, Matth. 3.17. Is it not better to be in the Kingdom of God's Righteous Servant, than to be under the power of a wicked, hardned, obſtinate Rebel? Is it not more deſireable to be tranſlated into the p. 67Kingdom of God's dear Son, Col. 1.13. than to be at the beck and command of God's bitter Enemy, and implacable Adverſary? Chriſt, the Son of God by nature, grants the Privilege of Adoption to all his Subjects, John 1.12. This is ſuch a Mercy, as no Son of an earthly King vouchſafes to his Subjects.

2dly, Jeſus Chriſt reigns to do Right to God, and to eſtabliſh his Throne in the Souls of Men. He was deſigned to raiſe up thoſe that fell off from God, and ſunk into Ruine, Iſa. 49.6. Chriſt is God's Servant to raiſe up the Tribes of Jacob, and to bring back thoſe that were gone aſtray from God, Iſa. 49.5. and to reſtore ſuch as were alienated from God, Iſa. 49.6. Chriſt retrieves, recovers God's Right; he eſtabliſhes his own Throne by Juſtice and Judgment, Iſaiah 9.7. and he is ſaid to execute Juſtice and Judgment in the Earth, Jer. 23.5. Chriſt executes Juſtice, in reſtoring and giving back to God that which is his own: and he executes Judgment in deſtroying Satan's Works and Luſts, 1 John 3.8. in mortiſying the vile Affections of Sinners. This was one great Benefit of the Jubilee, that the Servant returned to his Family, Levit. 25.10. He that was alienated from his Father, and ſerved Strangers, now returned to do his Duty, and rendered Obedience to his Parents: Even ſo Jeſus Chriſt reſtores Men to God's Family, and p. 68grants unto them, as a great Favour and Privilege, that they may ſerve him without ſlaviſh Fear of Deſtruction, in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs all the Days of their Lives, Luke 1.74, 75. Yea Chriſt reſtores the Creatures unto God: The Subjects of Chriſt uſe them purely; they did not feed and fuel their Luſts with them, but receive them with thankſgiving, as their Father's Goods, and Gifts, and uſe them to ſtrengthen and ſupport them in the Lord's Work and Service. It is a great perverting, abuſing, inſlaving the Creatures, when they victual Satan's Garriſons, and feed his Soldiers: But then the Creatures are reſcued from Bondage, when they nouriſh God's Prieſts, and feed his Worſhippers.

3dly, Thoſe that are in Chriſt's Kingdom are nearly related to him, and to each other.

1. They are nearly related to Chriſt: They are his Seed and Children, Iſa. 53.10. He ſhall ſee his ſeed. — Behold, I and the Children, whom God hath given me, Iſa. 8.18. Jeſus, as a ſecond Adam, as an everlaſting Father, begets them, Iſa. 9.6. He is made Sanctification to them, 1 Cor. 1.30. They receive of his fulneſs, Grace for Grace, J…s 1.16. They are Chriſt's Brethren, Pſal. 22.22. I will declare thy name unto my brethren He is not aſhamed to call them Brethren, Hebr. 2.11. They are the Lamb's Wife, Rev. 19.7. p. 69They are the Members of Chriſt, Epheſ. 5.30. We are members of his body, of his fleſh, and of his bone. As Eve was taken out of Adam, as to her human Nature, ſo we are taken out of Chriſt, as to our new and divine Nature. Water and Blood came out of Chriſt's Side, John 19.34. The Blood of Chriſt is the meritorious Cauſe of our new State of Juſtification, and the Water ſignified the Spirit that gives a new Nature in Sanctification. And how Honourable is it for Subjects to be ſo nearly related to the King of Glory? And how ſweet, eaſie, and gentle, is Chriſt's Government over his Children, over his Brethren, over his Spouſe and Members? Surely Chriſt will not carry a hard, a heavy, a rigorous Hand over thoſe that are ſo near and dear to him: He ſhall ſpare the poor and needy, Pſal. 72.13. And, as a Shepherd, ſhall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his boſom, and gently lead thoſe that are with young, Iſa. 40.11. Was there ever ſuch an Honour put on a Flock, as that they ſhould be Members, and Brethren, and Children of the Shepherd.

2. Chriſt's Subjects are nearly related to each other; and this is a moſt ſweet Truth, as well as a great Myſtery: They are not only Fellow-Servants in the ſame Houſe, and Fellow-Citizens in the ſame City of God; but they are Brethren in the ſame Family, and Members of the ſame Body, and animated, p. 70or influenced, and acted by the ſame Spirit, and therefore have the greateſt Obligations laid on them to love each other, to ſeek one another's Good, and promote one anothers Welfare. Shall Brethren claſh with one another, or Members fight againſt each other? He that for Chriſt's ſake is hated of his Father, Mother, Brethren, Siſters, he doth, by virtue of his Intereſt and Union with Chriſt, recover a hundred fold more Kindred and Relations: Elder Chriſtians are as his Fathers and Mothers, younger Chriſtians are his Brothers and Siſters, Mark 10.29, 30. yea as his Children to ſerve and cheriſh him. O what a bleſſed Kingdom is this! when the Subjects are ſo endeared to each other, that they have not only ſold their Lands to relieve their ſpiritual Brethren, Acts 2.4, 5. Acts 4.34. but have alſo jeoparded, and hazarded their Lives, to preſerve the Lives of their Holy Kindred, Rom. 16.3, 4. Aquilla and Priſcilla laid down their Necks, expoſed themſelves to the greateſt Dangers, to preſerve the Life of Paul: Rahab ventured her own Life, to preſerve the Spies that were the People of God, Joſhua 2.15.

4thly, If we conſider the great Benefits that we receive from Chriſt's Kingdom.

1. He heals, waſhes, refines, anoints, his Subjects. A Governour is called a Healer, Iſa. 3.6, 7. Jeſus Chriſt, as a King, is a Healer, a Phyſician to his whole Kingdom, p. 71and to all his Subjects, Matth. 9.12. Our Souls are diſeaſed, weak, feeble, ruined; and woe be to us if this Ruine be not under Chriſt's Hand! Never was there ſuch a Phyſician that dy'd to provide a Remedy to recover and reſtore his Patients: By his Stripes we are healed, yea by his Death we live, If a King, that is but a political Head, be the Breath of his Subjects Noſtrils, Lam. 4.20. much more is Chriſt the Breath of our Noſtrils; as he is a natural Head that gives Life, and continual influences of Grace.

2. Jeſus Chriſt waſhes, John 13.8. Except I waſh thee, thou haſt no part with me; that is, in the eternal Inheritance in the Kingdom of Glory. None waſhes ſo powerfully as Chriſt; he can waſh away a Backſliding, Revolting, Rebellious, Whoriſh Heart; he can waſh away our Spiritual Leproſie, and Plague-Sores; he can waſh our Aethiopian Skin, and our Leopard Spots, Jer. 13.23.

3. Jeſus Chriſt Refines, Mal. 3.23 and there is no ſuch Refiner as Chriſt, no ſuch refining ſire as Chriſt's is. A Refiner, or his Fire, cannot change Iron, Braſs, Tin, or Lead, into Gold and Silver; but Chriſt, by ſeparating our Droſs from us, renders us precious, and makes us Veſſels of Gold and Silver, 2 Tim. 2.20.

4. Jeſus Chriſt anoints his Subjects, Ezek. 16.9. And I anointed thee with Oil. This is an Alluſion to the ſweet-ſmelling Oils, that Perſons were purfiied with, Eſther 2.12. The p. 72Graces of Chriſt's Spirit are fragrant, and cauſe us to ſmell ſweet in the Noſtrils of God and Man. Saints are called Chriſtians, becauſe they partake of Chriſt's Ointment, 1 John 2.20, 27. You have an unction from the Holy One, that is, from Chriſt: As the Mediator is anointed himſelf, ſo he is ſtyled Chriſt, and as we are anointed by this Anointer, ſo we are called Chriſtians: And this is peculiar to Chriſt's Subjects, that they are all anointed, and partake even of the unction of their King. If we have not the unction of the Spirit of Chriſt, he will not own us to be Subjects in his Kingdom; or to be Members of his Body: Rom. 8.9. If a… man have not the ſpirit of Chriſt, he is none of his. Chriſt's Unction doth puriſie us from Sin, conſecrate us to God, teach us the ſublime Truths, and wonderful Myſteries of the Kingdom of God, 1 John 2.20.27. The Prophets were anointed, 1 Kings 19.16. and they, by the unction of the Holy Ghoſt, were Seers, 1 Sam. 9.9. They did ſee ſarther, and know more than others. From hence I conceive the Phraſe is borrowed, That the anointing teacheth us; and Chriſt, by anointing us, fits and exalts us to be ſpiritual Kings, Rev. 1.5, 6. He hath made in Kings. Saints do command and rule their own Spiri's govern their Thoughts, order and bound their Affections, curb, reſtrain, p. 73and keep under their Paſſions; and, as of old, Wreſtlers were anointed, **Fabius Agoniſticon.that the Hand of the Adverſary might ſlip off from them, and take no faſt ſure hold of them, to throw them; ſo Chriſt by anointing us with his Spirit, Satan is defeated, he is diſappointed, he cannot faſten on us, and have Advantages againſt us; firſt to throw our Minds to the Earth, and then to caſt our Souls to Hell.

2dly, In Chriſt's Kingdom, we have Reſt, Matth. 8.11. Many ſhall come from the eaſt and weſt, and ſit down with Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of God. Souls travel up and down, traverſe the Earth to and fro, diſquiet themſelves in vain, and weary themſelves to no purpoſe; they never come to ſit down till they preſs and get into the Kingdom of God, and here is a moſt honourable reſt to ſit in the Throne with Chriſt, Rev. 3.21.

3dly. In Chriſt's Kingdom is a Feaſt; but in Satan's Kigndom Souls famiſh, ſtarve and periſh with thirſt, Luke 22.29, 30. that you eat and drink at my table, in my Kingdom. God makes a Feaſt in his Holy Mountain, Iſa. 25.6. Saints have the firſt Courſe in this World, and ſo it is a Dinner, Matth. 22.4. they ſhall enjoy the ſecond and third Courſes in Heaven; and ſo it is the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb, Rev. 19.9. Did ever any Shepherd feed his Flock with his own fleſh and blood? p. 74Is there any that is a Paſtor, and a Paſture too? yet ſo is it here, John 6.53, 54, 55, 56, 57. we here eat the fleſh, and drink the bloud of the Son of Man in this Life; and in Heaven to all Eternity we ſhall feed on the delicious Fruits of Chriſt, the Tree of Life, Rev. 2.7.

4thly, In Chriſt's Kingdom is Liberty, John 8.36. If the Son doth make you free, th… you ſhall be free indeed. Chriſt reigns to deſtroy the reigning Power of Sin and Satan, to caſt the Prince of this World out of his Throne and Kingdom, John 12.31. N… ſhall the Prince of this World be caſt out. Chriſt reigns to tumble down the God of this World from his Heaven, Luke 10.18. Iſ… Satan falling as Lightning from Heaven Chriſt breaks this oppreſſour to pieces, Pſal. 72.4▪ he burſts the Yoke of Sin, ſnaps in ſunder the Snares of Satan, and delivers from the bondage of Corruption.

5thly, In Chriſt's Kingdom is ſafety. This great Shepherd keeps his Sheep, and watch… over his Flock in this Night of Time, in this Wilderneſs of the World, John 17.1… While I was with them in the World, I kept the… in thy Name, and none of them is loſt. Saines are ſaid to be preſerved in Chriſt Jeſus Jude 1. Chriſt guards his Flock, and is a wall of fire round about them, Zech. 2.5. no Lion ſhall be there, nor any ravences Beaſt ſhall go up thereon, it ſhall not be p. 75found there: but the Redeemed ſhall walk there. Satan, that roaring Lion, ſhall not prey on Chriſt's Lambs, or Sheep; they ſhall be as ſafe, as if there were no Beaſts of Prey about them; they ſhall lye down ſafely in the wilderneſs, and ſleep ſecurely in the woods, Ezek. 34.25. Satan ſhall not be there to hurt them, becauſe their Shepherd is ſtill with them to ſave them, Pſal. 23.4. Thou art with me in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; I will fear no evil, thy rod and thy ſtaff they comfort me continually. As David, when a Shepherd, did fight with a Lion and Bear, and ſlew them, to reſcue a poor Lamb of his Flock, 1 Sam. 17.34, 35, 36. ſo Chriſt did once in his own Perſon encounter with, and deſtroy Satan, Heb. 2.15. and he doth by his Spirit and Grace in his Members, daily ſight with him, and foil him, 1 John 2.14. ye are ſtrong and have overcome the wicked one. Chriſt ſtands, feeds and keeps his Flock in the ſtrength of the Lord, Micah 5.4. and ſo this one Shepherd is ſtronger than all the Beaſts of Prey, whether they be wicked Men, or evil Spirits: as he is omniſcient he underſtands all the difficulties and dangers of his Sheep; and as he is omnipotent, he can reſcue, ſave, and preſerve them. Tho' this great Shepherd hath a numerous Flock ſcattered through the World, yet he knows all his Sheep, and doth hear all their Cries and Prayers, Pſal. 72.12, 14. He ſhall deliver p. 76the needy when he crieth: the poor alſo, and hi… that hath no helper. He ſhall redeem their S… from deceit and violence, and precious ſhall they blood be in his ſight. Spiritual Enemies … attempt againſt the People of God, by P… licy or Power; yet Chriſt fruſtrates the… Adverſaries in both: he redeems the Souls … his People both from Fraud and Violence no earthly King can know every Subject… or hear the Cries and Petitions of all that are oppreſſed.

5thly, Jeſus Chriſt ſtrengthens and en… bles his True Subjects to obey him, as Chr… dwells in their Hearts by Faith, Epheſ. 3.17. ſo he ſtrengthens his People, Phil. 4.13. … can do all things through Chriſt that ſtreng… me. I will put my Spirit into them, and … them to walk in my ſtatutes, Ezek. 36.2… Chriſt gives Influences, Aids, and Aſſiſtan… for every Act of Obedience, becauſe he is … a Natural Head that communicates Sp… to his Subjects, as Members, and as a Ro… that derives Sap to all his Branches. T… Subjects of Earthly Kings have no ſuch nee… of them, or dependance on them, … ſtrength to yield them Obedience. But i… was propheſied of Chriſt, Pſal. 72.6. … ſhall come down like rain on the mowen gr… as ſhowers that water the Earth. This Scripture teaches us how great a Dependance Chriſt's Subjects have on him, and how precious a Benefit they receive by him; the p. 77…owen Graſs cannot ſpring and grow with…t Rain from Heaven: ſo Chriſt's Subjects cannot ſpring up in Holineſs, or bring forth any Fruits of Righteouſneſs, except they have a Rain of Influences, a Shower of gracious Communication from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Every Subject of Chriſt is a dry ground, Iſa. 42.3. and needs watering from that River, yea from that Fountain of Grace that is above in Chriſt. We cannot take one ſtep in the way towards a Bleſſed Eternity, but leaning on Chriſt, Cant. 8.5. the Church cometh up out of the wilderneſs, and travels towards the Heavenly Canaan, leaning on her beloved. Ezek. 45.17. the King there ſpoken of, was to provide and prepare all Sacrifices, as Burnt-Offerings, Sin-Offerings, and Thank-Offerings, for the People his Subjects. By this King I underſtand Chriſt, as he did give himſelf for us, a Lamb for a burnt-offering, John 1.29. as a ſin-offering, 2 Cor. 5.21. ſo he furniſhes us with Thank-Offerings, he kindles Love in our Hearts by his own Beams, he circumciſes our Hearts, Col. 2.11. cuts off the filthy foreskin of ſinful, inordinate Self-love, that did hinder and intercept our Love to God, and it is by vertue of our Marriage-Union with him, that we bring forth Fruits to God, Rom. 7.4. all the fruits of righteouſneſs are by Jeſus Chriſt to the praiſe and glory of God, Phil. 1.11.

p. 786thly, Jeſus Chriſt receives the Souls of … Subjects at laſt; as he committed his ow… Soul at death, to the hands of the Father Luke 23.46. ſo now he hath merited and … tained this Honour to be the Receiver a… Guardian of departing Souls, Acts 7.5… Stephen called upon God, ſaying, Lord Je… receive my Spirit: he called upon God, t… it was through Chriſt the Mediator; God would not receive, but reject, and ab… our Spirits, were they not joined to, … accepted in, and had acceſs to him thro… Chriſt: Oh how deſirable a King is Je… Chriſt, that will be a Friend to us, when … forſake us, or can do nothing for our So…s Oh what a Truſt doth Jeſus Chriſt undert…e, to keep departed Souls till the laſt day, and then reſtore them to glorious Bodies. O… departing Souls muſt fall into the hands … an angry Sin-revenging God, were the… not ſuch a gracious King in whoſe Hand we might depoſite and truſt them.

7thly, Jeſus Chriſt is ſuch a King that … conquer and deſtroy Death, 1 Cor. 15.… he threatens it, Hoſ. 13.14. O death I will … thy plague: O grave I will be thy destruction here is a promiſe in the Verſe to the Sain…s I will ranſom them from the power of the gr… I will redeem them from death: and this promiſe is joined with a threatning againſt Dear… and the Grave. How wonderful, ho… great and mighty a King is Jeſus Chriſt, that p. 79threatens ſo powerful and victorious a King as Death is! How long hath Death reigned, and how large an Empire hath it had in the World! it is ſaid Rom. 5.14. Death reigned from Adam to Moſes; yea, we may extend the duration of its Kingdom further; it hath reigned from the Fall of the firſt Adam to this day; and how many conquered Subjects hath it had? 1 Cor. 15.22. in Adam all died. Death is ſuch a King as ſhakes its Black Rod over, and brandiſhes it's ſharp and glittering Sword againſt the whole World; it hath threatned, arreſted, and cut off the Greateſt Kings and Conquerors; it hath been very Terrible to them that by Oppreſſion, Violence, and Cruelty, cauſed their Terrour in the Land of the Living, Ezek. 32.23. none of the Kings of the World can prevent the Fatal ſtroke of Death on themſelves, much leſs can they divert it from their Subjects: but Chriſt is ſuch a King as combates with Death, and overcomes it; he taſted Death indeed himſelf once, Heb. 2.9. but it was to aboliſh it, 2 Cor. 1.10. he became a Subject to it for a time, that he might ſwallow it up for ever, and be a Lord over the dead to raiſe them up, Rom. 14.9. and reſcue them from this Enemy. And how ſtrong, yet how ſweet are theſe Words of Chriſt, I will be the plague of death; I will be a Diſcaſe, yea, a mortal Diſeaſe to kill Death it ſelf: and, Grave, I will be thy deſtruction. Chriſt p. 80fulfills his threatning, when he ſeeks out the Duſt of his People, and forms it up into a Body: this defeats and diſanuls the Victory of the Grave, that it may be ſaid, O Grave▪ where is thy victory? though thou didſt corrupt, putreſie, and diſſolve our Bodies, th… thou didſt devour our Fleſh and crumble it into Duſt, and take away the very ſhape of a Body, yet we have new Bodies formed and organized again, and when theſe Bodies ſhall receive their Souls, and be quickened by them, then it may be ſaid, O death, where is thy ſting? 1 Cor. 15.55. What ha… thou gotten by ſtinging and killing our Bodies? behold, they are alive again! The…e is a Day when the Lord will make up… Jewels, Malachy 3.17. And then God's Jewels are made up, when immortal Souls ſhall be joined to, and ſet in the Rings of Glorious Bodies. Chriſt is ſuch a King as will conform all his Subjects to himſelf, both is Soul and Body: When he regenerates the Soul, then it bears the Image of the ſecond Adam; when he raiſes the Body, this is …s proper Regeneration to be begotten, and born from the dead, as Chriſt was, Col. 1.1…. Revel. 1.5. When old Adam's Tenour is out, and quite aboliſhed; when Chriſt, b… his Spirit, quickens the Body, Rom. 8.11. then it bears the Image of the Heavenly Adam, and is held of him, 1 Cor. 15.49. Saints are the Children of God, as they are p. 81the Children of the Reſurrection, Luke 20.…6. This is a new Ground, and Reaſon, why they ſhould be called the Children of God, the Seed of Chriſt. When Saints awake out of the Duſt, they ſhall be ſatisfied with God's likeneſs, Pſal. 17.15. When they are begotten again into a lively Hope, 1 Pet. 1.3, 4. they bear God's Image in their Souls; but when they ſhall be raiſed, or be begotten from the dead, then they ſhall alſo bear Chriſt's Image in their Bodies, and ſo ſhall be ſatisfied with the Image of Chriſt as an Everlaſting Father. O what a precious Merby! What an incomparable Priviledge is this! that Jeſus Chriſt will not forget or reject our Duſt for ever, but ſeek it out, and form it up as an Habitation for our Souls, and an everlaſting Temple for his Spirit to dwell in.

8thly, Jeſus Chriſt is ſuch a King, as will gather and draw up all his ſincere Subjects to him, to be with him for ever, 1 Theſ. 4.17. As he receives their Souls in a dying Hour, Pſal. 49.15. Acts. 7.59. ſo he will come again to revive their Bodies, and then he will receive their whole Man to himſelf, John. 14.3. What wonderful Grace and Kindneſs is this, that where the Maſter is, there the Servant ſhall alſo be, John 12.20. That the Sheep ſhall for ever dwell with the great Shepherd, and all the Subjects of this Glorious King ſhall abide with him, and ſee p. 82his Glory, ſo as to ſhare in it, and partake of it, John 17.24. 2 Theſ. 2.14. Chriſt, the King, is the Harbinger and Forerunner of his Subjects, Hebr. 6.20. He is gone into another World to chooſe an Eternal Inheritance for his Brethren, Pſal. 47.4. He ſhall chooſe our Inheritance for us: And Chriſt, by interceeding with his Father, that his People may be with him, doth prepare a Place for them, John 17.24. John 14.2, 3. Chriſt's Interceſſion is ſo powerful, that it cannot be deny'd.

I would now give you ſome Counſels and Directions, that you may ſtay and contin…e in this Kingdom, and not be gathered … of it, and deprived of the Bleſſedneſs and Glory of it.

1ſt. O come forth and ſee King Solom…, Cant. 3.11. This King Solomon is King Jeſus; he hath made him a rich and glori… Chariot to ride forth in, and to viſit Kingdoms, Nations, and People. The Goſpel as preached in the World is the Spiritu… Chariot, that Chriſt ſits in, and the wh… Horſe he rides on, Rev. 6.2. The Church in her Miniſters may be, and is compar… to the Horſes in Pharaoh's Chariot, Cant ….9. The Church, by her Miniſters, do's dr… Jeſus Chriſt about the World. O conſider this, the Goſpel is not fixed to one Nation; the Chariot of Chriſt is moving, and may p. 83quickly paſs by us and be gone from us. It is a great Mercy, that Chriſt's Chariots come to us, that he appears among us. O ſlight not the Opportunity; neglect not the Day of Grace: Come ſorth from your Ignorance and Night of Darkneſs; come forth from your ſlight, low, and contemptible Thoughts of Chriſt: O fix the Eye of your Minds on him, look with a ſteady Eye on Chriſt, John 6.40. foreign, We ſhould contemplate the Son, our Minds ſhould dwell on him; we ſhould not content our ſelves with ſeldom and tranſient Glances on Chriſt, but our Thoughts ſhould be converſant about Chriſt. Do we not need Chriſt? Is he not abſolutely neceſſary for us? Muſt we not wander, if Chriſt doth not guide us, and fall if he doth not ſupport us; and be a Prey to Satan, if he doth not guard and protect us? Muſt we not famiſh, if he doth not feed us; and periſh, if he doth not fold us? And be Friendleſs and Harbourleſs at laſt, if he doth not receive us? How will you look Death, or the Judge in the Face, if you do not firſt ſee Chriſt, and his Salvation? O view, and look well on Chriſt. Is there any thing in him to be diſliked, to be excepted againſt? Is he not altogether lovely, Cant. 5.16. Whatever is deſireable, all meets in Jeſus Chriſt, and there is nothing in him but what is lovely; what may kindle Love, draw Hearts, captivate Souls. If you p. 84diſlike any thing in Chriſt, if you harbour any Prejudice, cheriſh any Objection againſt him, it is becauſe Satan hath blinded your Minds, and caſt a Veil over your Hearts, 2 Cor. 4.4, 5.

2dly, O run to Jeſus Chriſt: Iſa. 55.5. Th… ſhalt call a nation thou knoweſt not, and people that knew not thee, ſhall run unto thee, becauſe of the Lord thy God; becauſe of the holy one of Iſrael that hath glorified thee. O will you not run to him who is the Seat of Beauty, the Fountain of Honour, the Treaſury of all ſpiritual Riches, the Subject and Centre of Life? Will you not run to the Captain, the Author, the Wells of Salvation? Hebr. 2.10. Hebr. 5.9. Iſa. 12.3. O will you not fly from Sin, Satan, and Eternal Death, by running to Chriſt? Is there any ſhadow from ſcorching Heat, but Chriſt's? Cant. 2.2. Any Wing to cover you from Birds of Prey, but his? Pſal. 36.7. Any Fold to protect you from Beaſts of Prey, b… Chriſt's Fold? John 10.9. He that enters by me (that is into the Fold) ſhall be ſaved. … Sinners can give no Reaſon why they wil… Dye, Ezek. 18.31. ſurely they can give … Reaſon, why they ſhould not run to Jeſ… Chriſt. That Text, Iſa. 55.5. affords cogent Arguments, mighty Reaſons why we ſhould run to him.

1. God is his God: If ever we would have any comfortable Knowledge of God, p. 85any honourable Relation to God, any ſweet Communion with God, we muſt run to Jeſus Chriſt. God is only to be found, and enjoyed in Chriſt. Will you cut your ſelves off? Will you eſtrange your ſelves for ever from God? Will he not be a ſatisfying and an everlaſting Portion, when all other Comforts fail, all other Friends forſake, all our Lamps are put out?

2. God the Father hath glorified him: He hath exalted him. And ſhall we depreſs, debaſe him, and keep him ſtill in a ſtate of Humiliation? Hath the Father given him a Throne in Heaven; and ſhall we deny him one in our Hearts? Are Angels, Principalities, and Powers made ſubject to him, 1 Pet. 3.32. and ſhall we lift up our ſelves againſt him? Do the nobleſt Creatures worſhip at his Footſtool, and execute his Commands; and ſhall we reject his Yoke, affront his Authority, and trample his Laws under our Feet? Is Chriſt glorified; and will you deſpiſe and ſlight him? Is not a glorified Redeemer worthy of our Love, Praiſe, and Obedience? Shall vile and dunghil Objects draw away our Affections, and a glorified Saviour be denied our Hearts? Would we not commend our Spirits to him at laſt, and ſhall we not give our Hearts to him now, Prov. 23.26. Shall our laſt Act be our firſt Gift to Jeſus Chriſt? Wilt thou commend thy Soul to Chriſt only, when p. 86thou canſt keep it no longer in the Body? Is it not dreadful for a Glorified Chriſt with his Omnipotent Arm to fall on thee for Deſtruction? Is it not deſirable that a Glorified Chriſt by his Almighty Power ſhould draw thee up to him for Salvation?

3. Kiſs the Son, Pſal. 2. laſt. this is a ſpiritual Act of Homage, 1 Sam. 10.1. Samuel did anoint and kiſs Saul, thereby recognizing his Authority, and obliging himſelf to Obedience and Subjection to him, as his Sovereign: The Promiſe is the Mouth of Chriſt, and Faith is the Mouth of the Soul, and when the Mouth of Faith is applied to the Mouth of Chriſt in the Promiſe, then we give Chriſt a ſpiritual Kiſs; when Chriſt ſpeaks, and offers himſelf, we ſhould come in with our Amen of Faith, 2 Cor. 1.20. to the word of him who is the Amen, and the faithful witneſs, Rev. 3.14. our Obedience and Subjection to Chriſt ſhould not be ſeigned, or forced, but begin in a faithful and loving Kiſs to him that is Love it ſelf, Cant. 3.5. when Chriſt applies his Words and Promiſes of Grace to us, then he kiſſes us with the kiſſes of his Mouth, Cant. 1.2. when we apply our Mouth of Faith to Chriſt's Word of Grace, when we ſincerely declare our Aſſent and Conſent to it, then we kiſs Chriſt.

4. We muſt preſs into the Kingdom of Chriſt, as it were force a Paſſage into it, and take it by violence, Luke 16.16. Matth. 11.12. p. 87we muſt have a Room, a Place in Chriſt's Kingdom, he muſt reign over us, or elſe Sin, Death, and the Devil, will reign over us: We muſt enter into Chriſt's Palace, or be ſhut up in his Priſon: we muſt preſs into Chriſt's Kingdom, that we may avoid a future eternal Storm of Vengeance. Thoſe that are hungry and famiſhing, will force into a place where there is Plenty of Bread. Poor neceſſitious Soldiers will ſtorm, will break into a rich City with the hazard of their Lives, and ſhall we not be urgent to get into Chriſt's Kingdom, where there is a Royal Feaſt, a ſweet Reſt, unſearchable and eternal Riches? if you are not Chriſt's, you will be Satan's. Do you not fear to ſee God's frowning face, to feel his puniſhing hand, to drop into the bottomleſs Pit, to be caſt into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimſtone for ever. Be not cold or indifferent whether you get into Chriſts's Kingdom or no. Do not content your ſelves with looſe hopes, ungrounded and preſumptuous Confidences, lukewarm and lazy Endeavours. It is ſaid, the Gentiles ſhould fall down to the Church, and make Supplication to her, that is to prevail with her, to be admitted and received by her into the Kingdom of Chriſt, it is further foretold, Zech. 8. laſt, That ten men of all Languages of the Nations ſhould take hold of the skirt of him that is a p. 88Jew, and ſo is a True Believer and a ſpiritual Worſhipper, and ſay, we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. They would not be put by, they would not be ſhaken or caſt off, they reſolved they would join themſelves to the Church of God, and not be excluded, kept, or thruſt out. It is ſaid, the Gentiles ſhould flow as waters to God's Holy Mountain, Iſ. 2.23. and ſhould fly as clouds, and as doves to their windows, Iſa 60.8. this expreſſes ſerious, earneſt, and ſpiritual Violence.

5. That you may be thus Earneſt, you muſt deſire Chriſt to caſt chains of Light, and Love about you; to ſubdue, conquer, and overcome you, Iſa. 45.14. it is promiſed that the Gentiles ſhould come over, a… come after the Church in Chains. Chriſt muſt faſten thoſe Chains on, and about the Souls of Sinners, and draw them that they may run after him, Cant. 1.4. though Chriſt's Name be as a fragrant Ointment, Cant. 1.3. as a strong perfume, though there be a drawing Beauty, Excellency, Treaſure, Love, in Chriſt, yet all theſe will not prevail without an Almighty and drawing Arm, ſuch is out averſeneſs and perverſeneſs. It is propheſied of Chriſt, That he ſhould ſubdue the Peoples and the Nations under the Feet of the Church, Pſal. 47.3. ſo that they ſhall bow at the Feet of the Church, and worſhip God at her Feet as her Diſciples and Children, Revel. 3.9. And we cannot be ſubdued to p. 89Chriſt, if our Iniquities are not ſubdued, Micah 7.19. Chriſt cannot rule over us, if Sin do reign in us; the Law of Chriſt, and the Law of Sin are contrary and inconſiſtent.

6. We muſt openly own and avow Chriſt, and moſt ſtrongly engage our ſelves to him. 1. We muſt openly own, confeſs, and avow Chriſt. It is propheſied of Egypt, That there ſhould be an Altar to the Lord in the midſt of the Land, and alſo a Pillar at the Border, to declare to all, That Egypt was converted to, and become a Worſhipper of the Lord, Iſa. 19.19. Thoſe that ſtood with the Lamb on Mount Zion, had their Father's Name written in their Forehead, Rev. 14.1. Cyprian ſaith, That when Chriſtians were apprehended, they did not deny, but confeſs'd themſelves Chriſtians, always to the danger, and ſometimes to the loſs of their Lives. 2. We muſt moſt ſolemnly and ſtrongly engage our ſelves to the Lord. It is ſaid, That the Egyptians ſhould ſwear to the Lord, Iſa. 19.18. and ſo as it were take an Oath of ſpiritual Allegiance to Chriſt, Pſal. 119.106. I have ſworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Another remarkable Expreſſion we find, Iſa. 44.5. One ſhall ſay, I am the Lord's, another ſhall ſubſcribe with his hand to the Lord. Converts ſhould as it were draw Indentures, and give it under Hand and Seal, That they would p. 90be the Lord's Servants; That they would not ſtart, recoil, or go back from him, Jer. 50.4, 5. Let us join our ſelves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that ſhall not be forgotten. As a bought, a redeemed People, they are devoted, and conſecrated as Firſt-fruits to God and the Lamb, never to be alienated, or put to a common uſe any more, Revel. 14.4.

7. We muſt daily grow in Grace, and be adding new Cubits to our ſpiritual Stature, 2 Pet. 1.5. The new Creature muſt, as a Tree, ſpread and ſtrike its Roots deeper into our Souls, Hoſ. 14.5. The Water that Chriſt gives us, muſt, as a Well, ſpring up higher and higher in our Souls, John 4.14. Worldly Men are ſtill coveting more Earthly Treaſure, to add Houſe to Houſe, and to join Field to Field, that they might be plac… alone in the Earth, Iſa. 5.8. And is the… not more reaſon, that we ſhould add Grace to Grace, one degree of Grace to another that Chriſt and the new Creature might be placed alone in our Souls, without Riv…'ss Competitors, or Enemies. By growth i… Grace, we paſs and get farther into Chriſt's Kingdom, we have an abundant Entrance into it, we preſs even into the very Heart and Centre of Chriſt's Kingdom, and do not ſtay in the Out skirts and Borders of it. God hath promiſed to Chriſt the encreaſe and enlargement of his Kingdom, Iſa. 9.7. with Zech. 9.10. And … p. 91we reſtrain and ſtraiten the Kingdom of Chriſt? As this Stone grows and fills the Earth without, Dan. 2.35. ſo it ſhould increaſe, and ſill the Soul within. It was propheſied of Chriſt, That he ſhould reign and proſper, Jer. 23.5. That he ſhould ride forth conquering and to conquer, Revel. 6.2. Let theſe Prophecies be fulfilled in thee; do not ſtint, ſtop, or bound Chriſt's Kingdom in thy Soul.

8. We muſt be diligent, active, induſtrious Servants: Trade with Chriſt's Talents, improve his Stock, increaſe his Pounds. Our Lord that is gone into a far Country, yet hath diſpoſed his Goods, hath beſtowed Gifts on his Servants, and enjoined every one his Work, Mark 13.34. with Luke 19.13, 15. Chriſt would have no idle, no lazy, no droneiſh Servant in his Houſe. All theſe Talents and Gifts are beſtowed, that we might act for Chriſt, enlighten, and draw in others to Chriſt, promote and advance his Kingdom, and encreaſe the number of his Subjects. Our Candle of Knowledge ſhould tind and light many other Candles: Our Fire of Love and Zeal, ſhould warm and inflame many others. While the Church gave a Character of Chriſt's Worth, a Deſcription of his Beauty, Cant. 5.9, 10, 11, 12, 13. the Daughters of Jeruſalem apprehended and conceived that he was ſome extraordinary Perſon; one tranſcendantly Excellent, that ſhe had ſuch fervent Love to p. 92him, and did ſo earneſtly enquire after him. And this ſo wrought on them, that their Hearts did burn with deſires after Chriſt, and they would ſeek him with the Church, Cant. 6.1. We ſhould ſay as the godly Jews, Cant. 8.8. We have a little ſiſter that hath no breaſts, What ſhall we do (that is to promote a Marriage between Chriſt and her) in the day ſhe ſhall be ſpoken for, and be wooed to be eſpouſed to Chriſt? The Church promiſes ſhe would cauſe Chriſt's Name to be remembred in all Generations; that is, by the preaching of the Word, and thereby bringing forth a Holy Seed to continue, and perpetuate Chriſt's Name in the World, Pſal. 72.17. His name ſhall be continued for ever: foreign Jinnon (that is his Name) ſhall have Sons. Thou art concerned in, and bound by this Promiſe: Every true Member of the Church is obliged by it, to do what he can to propogate Chriſt's Intereſt, to promote his Kingdom, and continue his Name in the World.

9. We muſt be willing to ſuffer for the Kingdom of God, 2 Theſ. 1.5. The Apoſtle John joins the Kingdom and Patience of Jeſus Chriſt, Revel. 1.9. but Paul joins the Kingdom and Glory of God, 1 Theſ. 2.11. Firſt we muſt paſs through the Kingdom and Patience of Chriſt, before we paſs into the Kingdom and Glory of God. We cannot enter into, and continue in the p. 93Kingdom of Chriſt, but the World will hate and perſecute us: John 8.14. I have given them thy word, and they have received it, and the world hath hated them. Saints ſuffered ſo freely, ſo willingly, ſo joyfully for the Kingdom of Chriſt, that the World was amazed. Cyprian tells us, That Chriſtians, when their Enemies offered to apprehend them, they did not reſiſt; when they asked them of their Religion, they did not tell a Lye, or deny their Faith; they took joyfully the ſpoiling of Goods, Heb. 10.34. rejoyced that they were counted worthy to be beaten for Chriſt, Acts 5.41. If they were to be offer'd up to confirm the Faith of others, and to evidence their own Faith, they did rejoyce, Phil. 2.17. They endured exquiſite Torments with ſuch undaunted Courage, and ſuch unrelenting Spirits, that Natural Men would rather have denied things clear by mathematical Demonſtrations, than have expoſed themſelves to ſuch Tortures. As **In his Preface to his Diſputations on Thomas Aquinas.Medina truly affirms.

10. You muſt lead Holy Lives your Light muſt ſhine before Men, Matth. 5.16. you muſt hold forth the Excellency, Power, and Efficacy of the Word in your Actions, Phil. 2.6. when Paul had aſſerted his Faith, that he did believe a Reſurrection of the juſt, and p. 94the unjuſt, he preſently declares the Fruit of this Truth, Acts 24.15, 16. In this I exerciſe my ſelf, to keep a Conſcience void of offence both toward God and man: he did act and practiſe according to this Truth, it had a prevailing Influence on his Heart, a commanding Anthority over his Actions; you muſt much converſe with God here, Pſal. 139.17. when I am awake, I am ever with thee: and how fitly do thoſe Two Expreſſions agree; Devid was ever with the Lord on Earth, and Paul ſaith, Chriſtians ſhould be ever with the Lord in Heaven, 1 Theſ. 4.17. there muſt be a walking with God on Earth, Gen. 8.24. Enoch walked with God, and God took him, and why did God take him, and for what End? was it not to walk with him in Heaven, Rev. 3.4. thoſe that had not defiled their Garments ſhould walk with Chriſt in white, we muſt ſhine as lights in this world, Phil. 2.15. that hereafter we may ſhine a the ſun, in the king dom of our Father, Matth. 13.43. Jeſus Chriſt muſt be glorified in us now, John 17.10. I am glorified in them, that we may be aſſured he will be glorified and admired in us hereafter, 2 Theſ. 1.10. when he will be revealed from Heaven, he will be glorified in his Saints, and be admired in them the believe. Chriſtians muſt not be like the Heathen Philoſophers. Athenagoras in his foreign, or Apology for the Chriſtians, charges the… that they ſought and aimed at foreign, p. 95an Art of Words, but not a Demonſtration of Works; but he ſaith, that Chriſtian Handicrafts-men and Old Women that could not diſcourſe for their Religion, did yet demonſtrate its Excellency in their Works. When they were beaten, they would not ſtrike again; when they were wronged in their Eſtates, they would not go to Law; they would pray for them that perſecuted them, and love thoſe that hated them.

11. Conſider how great Guilt you will contract, and what hateful and abominable Creatures you will be, if you reject the Word of the Kingdom, and enter not into it. Chriſt bid his Diſciples to ſhake off the Duſt of their Feet againſt ſuch, Luke 10.9, 10, 11. for a Teſtimony againſt them. They that refuſe the Goſpel of the Kingdom, and turn away from the King of Glory, are ſuch unclean Creatures, that Chriſt's Miniſters were not to defile themſelves, or their Feet, by carrying away any of their Duſt; but to ſhake it off, and leave it as a witneſs there, that Chriſt's Ambaſſadors had been there, had preached to them, and been rejected by them. This very Duſt ſhould remain with them to teſtifie, and give in Evidence againſt them in the great Day, that they would not open their Ears to Chriſt, ſpeaking in his Miniſters, but obſtinately hardened their Hearts, both againſt the Maſter and the Servants, p. 96againſt the Lord and his Subjects. Taſ… heed therefore, that you reject not him that ſpeaks from Heaven: Be jealous over your own Souls, that you receive not the Doctrine of Grace, the Word of the Kingdom in vain, 2 Cor. 6.2. as the Highway, the ſtony, and thorny Ground did. Let Chriſt's Word root in your Hearts, ſhine and reign in your Lives: Do not think to blind your Eyes, ſtupifie your Conſciences, and cheat your own Souls with an outſide Religion. Great was the Sin of Ananias and Saphira, that pretended to devote the whole Price, that they ſold their Land for, to the Service of Chriſt and his Church, yet kept back part of it; and ſo lied to God, and tempted the Holy G…o…, Acts 5.3, 9. O do not dare to tread in their Steps: Will you tempt Chriſt and his Spirit, whether they are omniſcient? Or try whe ther you cannot put a Fallacy or Cheat o… them? Will you make a coſtly and dangerous Experiment, whether they cannot find out your baſe Metal, your counterfeit Coin, your hypocritical Services: Though you pretend to know God, Hoſ. 8.2. yet without ſincerity, Chriſt will not approve and know you, Matth. 7.23. Let not Chriſt's Word be received only into your Memories, but let Chriſt himſelf be entertained in your Hearts, to order your Affections, and direct your Converſations. If you do not ope… to Chriſt your Hearts below, he will not … pen to you his Heaven above.

p. 974. Uſe, For Caution: Take heed you do not raſhly judge, and haſtily paſs a Cenſure on the Kingdom of Chriſt, and on the Church of God. Turks, Jews, and Heathens, that ſee the looſe and wicked Lives of ſome Chriſtians, do preſently condemn all Chriſtians, as if there were no ſincere Piety, powerful Religion, or Beauty of Holineſs among them; and thereby take an advantage to reproach Chriſt himſelf, and to reflect on his Goſpel, as if it did allow, and he did approve ſuch things: When as Chriſt loveth Righteouſneſs, and hates Iniquity, Pſal. 45.67. He forbids all Sin, he diſlikes and abhors all Iniquity, Matth 22.10, 11. Friend, how cameſt thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment. Chriſt hath ſpoken plainly enough, Except a man be born again, unleſs Men repent and be converted, John 3.3, 5. Matth. 18.3. they cannot enter into the kingdom of God: That without Holineſs Men ſhall not ſee God, Hebr. 12.14. Theſe Inſtructions and warnings of Chriſt are plain, yet many preſume, and thruſt into the Church of God, and give the Lye to Jeſus Chriſt, as if they ſhould live in Glory, though they be dead in Sin; and ſee God, though they are …oid, and utterly deſtitute of Holineſs. But …ere will ſhortly be an end of all their Pre…ptions and ungrounded Confidences, of … their deceitful and treacherous Hopes; p. 98and thoſe that ſtumble at the ſeandalous Perſons that are in the Church, let them wait but a little, and theſe Spots ſhall be waſhed off from the Face; theſe Wens, theſe gangreen'd Limbs ſhall be cut off from the Body of the Church; this Droſs ſhall be p… away for ever. Jeſus Chriſt hath a ſhaip Sickle to cut thoſe Tares, Rev. 14.14. An Ax to hew down thoſe barren Trees. a Fan to purge his Floor, a Furnace … unquenchable Fire to burn up the Chaff Matth. 3.12. The Goats and the Sheep go in the ſame Paſture in the Day-time, b… when the Evening comes, there is a Separation; the Goats go to their Penn, and …e Sheep to their Fold: So Jeſus Chriſt, when he comes to judge the World, ſhall ſeparate the Goats and Sheep, Matth. 25.31, 32 Though they are now in the ſame viſible Church, yet Jeſus Chriſt ſhall part them, and ſet the Sheep on his Right-hand, and the Go… on his Left. Chriſt will diſown Hypocrites and exclude them out of his Glory: He wil… own the Sincere, and call them to inherit … Kingdom, Matth. 25.34. Do not raſhly judge thoſe to be related to Chriſt, that will be rejected by him. They that Feign, that Flatter, that Lye to Joſus Chriſt, will be detected and abhorred by him; his Eyes wil be as a flaming Fire to diſcover them, and his Wrath will be as a conſuming Fire to bum them up. But then the true Church of p. 99Chriſt ſhall be as a Bride adorned for her Husband, Revel. 21.2. She ſhall ſhine with beautiful Holineſs, and glorious Righteouſneſs, and be without ſpot and wrinkle, Epheſ. 5.25, 26, 27. mete to be preſented and fit to be married to Chriſt, and to be an Object of his Love for Chriſt to rejoice in, and delight himſelf with to Eternity. Then ſhall there be no more a pricking Briar, a wounding or piercing Thorn, no ſtinking Weeds, no empty Vines, no barren Fig-Trees in the Garden of God. Nothing ſhall any longer deſorm, or defile the Church. The People of the Church ſhall be all righteous, the Branch of God's planting, the Work of his Hands, that he may be glorified, Iſa. 60.21. The Image of God ſhall be fully drawn on them, the Law of God ſhall be perfectly tranſcribed into them, no Fooeſteps of Sin ſhall remain on them, no droſs of Corruption ſhall cleave to them; they ſhall be tranſformed by the perfect renewing of their Minds: Then they will appear as Trees of Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 61.3. and bear all pleaſant Fruits, and the chief of Spices, Cant. 4.13, 14. And thoſe that have flouriſh'd in God's Nurſery below for a time, they ſhall at laſt be tranſplanted into, and ſo grow in the Heavenly Paradiſe for ever.

FINIS.

Advertiſement.

Theſe BOOKS are Publiſhed the Author of this Book.

1. THE Great Duty of Chriſti… to go forth without the Ca… to Jeſus: Set forth in ſeveral Serm… on Hebr. 13.13.

2. Supplication to the Sovere… Judge: The Duty of the beſt M… Set forth in ſeveral Sermons … Job. 9.15.

3. A Diſcourſe in ſeveral Serm… on the 1 Peter 3.19. By which alſo went and preached unto the Spirits Priſon.

End of the text · Samuel Tomlyns, A Discourse of Christs Second Coming (1695)