Remains, Sermon 1
A SERMON PREACHED BY Mr. THO. WADSWORTH. Taken in Short-hand.
REV. XII. 1.
And there appeared a great wonder in Heaven, a Woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars.
IN theſe words you have a deſcription of the Church of Jeſus Chriſt on earth; the Church of Chriſt is of all Societies of the world the moſt glorious; it is a Society founded by the Counſel of the great God; a Society that is purchaſed and bought by the blood of the Son of God; 'tis a Society called out of this wicked world to worſhip God in ſpirit and in truth; 'tis a Society that is to God himſelf as the apple of his eye; 'tis a Society that ſhall keep the Angels of Heaven company to all eternity in the Heavens, to glorifie the Maker and the Redeemer of the world. This is the Church; a Church in a Kingdom is the glory of the Kingdom; and God in the Church is the glory of the Church. When God leaveth a Church or Kingdom, you may name it this name, the glory is departed; the glory is departed from a Town or Kingdom, when the Church of Chriſt is departed.
If it be ſo, it will be worth our while to inquire which is this Church of Chriſt; for there are many pretenſions laid to the Church, many would call themſelves the Church; the Jews they would be the Church of God; the Turks would be a Church of God, for they profeſs to worſhip the God of Heaven; the Papiſts they would be a Church of God; and in England there are many parties laying their claims to the Church of God. No wonder, my brethren! that every one is ſo deſirous to bear that title of being the Church of God; 'tis the moſt glorious title of the world, as I have ſhewn you, 'tis the glory of the world.
But to help you to find out this Church in the midſt of all theſe claims that are laid to it, I have choſen this verſe, wherein the Holy Ghoſt giveth a deſcription of it, for by theſe characters you will be able to find it out, for this verſe is nothing elſe but a characterizing of the nature of the Church of God.
And there appeared a great wonder in Heaven, a Woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars.
The Church is deſcribed two ways:
Firſt, In General.
Secondly, More Particularly.
Firſt in general, There appeared a great wonder in Heaven; that is, in this Viſion of John he did ſeem to ſee a very ſtrange and unuſual ſight; we call things wonders that are ſtrange things; it is no wonder to ſee the Sun ſhining, becauſe it is common; and the Stars to give light, becauſe common; but when we ſee a Blazing-ſtar, we call it a wonder; ſo the meaning is, I ſaw a great wonder, ſaith John; and what of that? I ſaw a Woman, I ſaw a Woman in the Heavens. It is common to ſee the Sun and Moon and Stars there, but to ſee a Woman is a wonder; and ſo the Church is a wonder; to ſee a fire keep alive in the midſt of the Sea; to ſee a people keeping themſelves holy in the midſt of a wicked and perverſe generation; to ſee a people live to the glory of God in a wicked and debaucht Kingdom, is a wonder! for in ſpite of all the wrath and rage of the Devil they are reſolved to love God, and follow the Lamb where ever he leads them, this is a wonder; and in many reſpects the Church may be ſaid to be a wonder, a wonder to Angels, a wonder to Devils, and a wonder to the wicked world.
A wonder to Angels, we read they deſire to peep into the myſtery of Redemption, of Chriſts coming into the world to die for a company of ſinful creatures that deſerve no better a condition than the dungeon of Hell; but for you Angels to ſee God taking poor ſinners from the dungeon of ſin and wrath, and raiſing them upon Thrones by giving them repentance and faith in Jeſus Chriſt, and adopting them Sons and Daughters, and taking them to be his friends; this the Angels wonder at.
And why may I not gueſs, a wonder to the Devils? for them to ſee the Son of God come, and themſelves to be paſt by, to be forſaken, eternally reſerved in chains, and to ſee ſuch creatures as we are to be brought into a ſtate of fellowſhip and communion with God, may make them ſtand and wonder. And truly how can it chuſe but be a wonder to our ſelves: if David in ſeeing the Heaven, Sun, Moon, and Stars, could cry out, Lord, what is man that thou art mindful of him? How can we chuſe but wonder when we look upon our ſelves, being guilty of all manner of ſins either in heart or life, to ſee God take us and waſh us like ſwine out of the mire, and cleanſe us, and make us live like his children, and call us his own, and write his name upon us, and ſeal us up for an eternal ſtate in the Heavens?
And ſo the wicked world do wonder that we do not follow them in the ſame exceſs of riot, drunkenneſs, and ſinging, and ranting in the Taverns and Alehouſes, they wonder at it.
Well, I ſaw this wonder in Heaven, that is in a moſt exalted ſtate, and ſo my Brethren, it is in its own ſelf, in its nature, it is highly exalted in the heavens of Gods favour and affections; and when the time ſhall come that God will perfect his Church, ſhe ſhall ſhine in glory as in a moſt exalted ſtate and condition, and it is this ſhe expecteth, and for this ſhe ſaith, Come, Lord Jeſus; and for this he ſaith, I come quickly.
But more particularly to the nature of this wonder, What is it?
1. It is deſcribed by a Woman. 2. The Attire. And 3. the place of her ſtanding.
Firſt, A Woman, and her attire, and that is firſt of her head, a Crown of twelve Stars.
2. The attire of her body, clothed with the Sun.
And then 3dly, Here is her ſtanding, She ſtandeth upon the Moon, trampleth that under her feet; and this is a deſcription of you, ſo many of you as are true members of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; what great things are here ſpoken, are ſpoken of every believer here.
Firſt, a Woman: why is the Church compared to a Woman? that the Church is compared to a Woman in Scripture, that is plain; the Book of Canticles, which is Solomons Song, is a Song of the Church repreſented as a Spouſe to Jeſus Chriſt: the Prophets frequently compar'd the Church to a Woman in the Old Teſtament, and God is her Husband; the Apoſtles compared it to a Woman. I have endeavoured as a Virgin to preſent you to God without ſpot. And the Church is called the Lambs Wife.
But for what reaſon does the Holy Ghoſt compare the Church to a Woman?
For theſe four Reaſons.
1. For her Beauty.
2. For her Affection.
3. For her Fruitfulneſs.
4. For her Weakneſs.
For theſe four ſhe may well be compared to a Woman.
1. For her Beauty. I ſpeak not of that outward, that skin-deep beauty which a little time will bring to wrinkles; but I ſpeak of an inward beauty, a ſoul beauty; the Church of Chriſt is beautiful, that is ſoul-beautiful; the Graces of the Saints upon the ſoul of the Saints is the red and white; nothing enamours Chriſt ſo much as your faith in his Promiſes, love to his Glory, patience in afflictions, obedience to his Commandments. Thou art fair, my beloved, ſaith Chriſt to his Spouſe. The Church is compar'd to a Woman for her beauty, and therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, I have endeavoured to preſent you as a Virgin: how? not a deformed one, but a Virgin without wrinkle, without ſpot; when the Church is ſanctified by the Spirit of Chriſt, and nothing in your hearts but love, fear, and holineſs, then you have this beauty that is without ſpot or wrinkle; ſin does ſully the ſoul, but grace taketh away ſpots and wrinkles. Likewiſe,
2. The Church is compared to a Woman for her affection; their affections ordinarily are more ſtrong. 'Tis ſaid of Jonathan, his love did exceed the love of women. The Holy Ghoſt compareth the Church to a Woman, to ſignifie that all the members of Chriſt have a very ardent love and affection to Chriſt. No love ſo ſtrong as the love of a Saint to Chriſt; and therefore 'tis ſaid, That many waters cannot quench it. There are few will be beggered for the ſake of another, or baniſhed or hanged upon a Gallows for the ſake of another, burnt at a ſtake for anothers ſake; and yet the love of a Saint maketh nothing of all this; it rejoiceth to ſee its goods ſpoil'd for Chriſt, to think it ſelf worthy to be whipt for Chriſt, to go up a ladder, and to be thrown down with a rope about its neck for Chriſt. Water cannot quench a Saints love, neither can fire hinder a Saint from Chriſt; neither things preſent, or things to come can ſepaparate from Chriſt. You would all be of this Church, pray look that you have affections ſuitable for Chriſt. You may have a time to try your affections; if you want affections, you are none of this Woman.
3. The Church is compared to a Woman for her fruitfulneſs; the Church of Chriſt is a fruitful Church; that is, the ſociety of the Lord Jeſus do bring forth daily children to God, and as like the Father as they can look. The Church does meet together to preach the Goſpel, and to pray and praiſe God together, and God does ſo bleſs them with the Ordinances, that they do convert ſinners unto God, they bring ſouls that were aliens in their mind, they bring them to acquaintance with God. The Church is always travelling and bringing forth, and God does bleſs her to bring Sons and Daughters to himſelf; and when they are born they are like Chriſt, patient as Chriſt was patient, meek as he was meek, humble as he was humble, and heavenly as he was heavenly. Whoever pretend to be a Son or Daughter of this Woman, and do not bear the Image of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, they are baſtards. Barrenneſs under the Law 'twas counted a very great curſe. So take this note to find out the Church of Chriſt upon earth, and in England, look upon the ſeveral ſocieties profeſſing the name of Chriſt, ſee which look the moſt like him; have they affections to Chriſt? is there a beauty in their lives? are they barren? do they convert ſinners to them? Some cry with a loud voice, The Temple of the Lord are we; but I pray ſee if they are fruitful. Are they travelling and bringing forth? and have they Sons and Daughters brought forth daily to them? or little converſion among them, they are not fruitful, they have not Sons and Daughters born to Jeſus Chriſt? and by that you may know where to find Chriſts Church.
Laſtly, The Church is compared to a Woman, becauſe of her weakneſs; the Woman is the weaker ſex, ſhe is not made for fighting, but in caſe of danger for flying; for this is the nature of the Church; it is not of a domineering boiſterous ſpirit, but a womanly ſpirit, modeſt, humble and meek. Where you ſee a people pretend to be this Woman, pouring out malice and wrath, a domineering people, are they like this Woman that flyeth in time of danger, but not from Chriſt? verſ. 3. And there appeared another great wonder in Heaven, behold a great red Dragon, and that's the Devil; and the Dragon ſtood before the woman to devour her child as ſoon as it was born. But what was the end? did ſhe fight? no, there were Angels ſtood to contend for her, ſhe took up no arms, thought not upon fighting; but preſently the Angel reſcued her, verſ. 7. And there was war in Heaven, Michael and his Angels fought againſt the Dragon: and the Dragon and his Angels fought, and prevailed not. That is, the hoſt of Angels did contend with the Devil and his Angels, and would not permit him to deſtroy her, and ſhe fled into the Wilderneſs, verſ. 6. And ſhe fled into the wilderneſs, where ſhe hath a place prepared of God, that they ſhould feed her there a thouſand two hundred and threeſcore days. She fled into a Wilderneſs, but in a ſecure ſtate; ſhe was ſecur'd in her Wilderneſs, and God lookt after her; and we are in this thouſand two hundred threeſcore days.
She is a weak Church, but ſtrong in Chriſt; and if ſo, my brethren, though you be weak, and meek as a ſheep, and compared to a Woman the weaker ſex, yet notwithſtanding fear not; for I cannot ſtand to ſpeak of all the things in this Chapter. Great wings were given her to fly with; the whole earth ſtept out to help her, and ſwallowed up the flood which the Dragon caſt out of his mouth: and the Angels helped her.
Well now, let us come to the attire; I have ſhewn you the reaſons why ſhe is compared to a Woman, and we will begin at her head, and ſo come down to her foot: On her head a Crown of twelve S…ar…, and her body was clothed with the Sun, and under her foot the Moon.
What was this Crown of twelve Stars? if you do but mark the H. Ghoſt through this book of the Revelations, you will find him take a great deal of pleaſure in this number twelve; and he does always uſe it, when he ſpeaketh of the true Church; the new Jeruſalem it had twelve Gates; and the Tree of life in the midſt of this new Jeruſalem, this Tree of Life bore twelve ſorts of fruits, this you have in the laſt Chapter. And in the midſt of the ſtreets of it, and of either ſide of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the Nations. Why twelve Gates for the City, and twelve fruits upon the tree, and twelve Stars upon the Crown of this Church? what is the meaning of this? I will tell you what it is: You know Jeſus Chriſt when he went about to gather this Church out of the world, he did chuſe twelve men that were his Apoſtles, and theſe twelve men he did acquaint with the whole myſtery of the Goſpel; all the things that he would have them teach the world, he gave them in commandment, and they were to be under him, the Fathers to beget this Church. And Chriſt calleth them lights, Ye are the lights of the world, becauſe they were to deliver forth this Doctrine of the Goſpel, this light from Heaven, theſe truths that lead men like tapers through this dark Dungeon to the palace of God; they were to be the lights to them. Now theſe twelve Stars are the twelve Apoſtles. And ſhe had a Crown of twelve Stars; that is, ſhe was a Woman that profeſſed faith in the Doctrine of the twelve Apostles; ſhe owned thoſe truths that the Apoſtles preached, and would receive no truths as matters of her faith but what the Apoſtles did teach; and by this ſhe was to be known in the ſeveral Generations of the World, ſo that by this character of a Woman with a Crown of twelve Stars, the Holy Ghoſt hath given you a note by which you may find out this Church, thoſe ſocieties that believe what they taught, and worſhip God according to what worſhip they delivered, that is the woman with a crown of twelve Stars; but if you ſee any ſociety of Chriſtians, and you …ind more Stars thanS twelve, a ſtar of vain Philoſophy, or humane tradition, or a ſtar of rudiments of the world, look upon them as none of the ſtars that Chriſt hath put in the Womans crown; therefore when Chriſt commiſſioned the Apoſtles to preach the Goſpel, he gave not liberty to Paul or Peter, or any of the twelve to lay any Commandment upon his Church but what they had from his mouth in the laſt of Matthew; and indeed they are as it were the laſt words he ſpake to them: verſ. 19, 20. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt. Well, what ſhall we teach? teaching them to obſerve all things whatſoever I have commanded you. No more; no more let them believe than what I have; delivered to you; let them uſe ſuch Ordinances in Worſhip as I have appointed you, and no more; they were not to exceed there commiſſion, it was as dangerous for them to do it, as any Ambaſſador to exceed the commiſſion of his Prince; and therefore the Apoſtles when they were brought before the Rulers and Governours, and they charged them to teach no more in the name of this Jeſus, ſay, We cannot but ſpeak the things which we have ſeen and heard; how can we chuſe but teach the things which we have ſeen Chriſt do? and reveal the miracles that we ſee wrought? and how can we chuſe but preach the Doctrine that we received from his mouth? They did not ſay, how can we chuſe but do that which we have ſeen invented by others; no, if they had taught any thing elſe, Chriſt would not have born them out; and therefore in the Election of a new Apoſtle in Judas his ſtead, they made choice of one to bear witneſs of what Chriſt had ſaid and done; and all the Churches of Chriſt from that time, they are to keep cloſe to thoſe Doctrines, the Doctrines of the twelve Apoſtles; and by this they ſhall be known to be the Woman if they ſtill keep the Crown that hath but twelve Stars. And now you may know what to think of the Church of Rome, and of the Turks, and what to think of the Jews. Some have not the twelve Stars, others have; as the Pope hath them, but he hath added; others have the ſtars of humane tradition of the rudiments of the world. I give you but the general note; for I will only give you rules in finding out the Church, and when you have found it, keep cloſe to her; if you would find the Church, ask what Doctrine ſhe holds, and whether there be any thing added, not one ſtar added, but keep cloſe to the Crown that hath juſt twelve ſtars in it.
Now let us come downward: And ſhe was clothed with the Sun: and you ſee the Holy Ghoſt hath picked out the moſt glorious thing in all the Heavens to reſemble the beauty, and lovelineſs, and majeſty of the Church; there was not any thing in the world to reſemble the luſter, and majeſty, and beauty of this Church; and therefore he goes up to Heaven, and putteth a Crown of Stars upon her head, and clotheth her with Sun beams; and ſhe was clothed with the Sun; what muſt this Sun be? why in the Heavens, you know, the Sun is the greateſt of lights, and its influences are moſt marvellous, and there is but one Sun. Why, what is there in the Kingdom of God that the Sun is moſt likely to ſhadow forth? I anſwer, it muſt be the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and he is compared to the Sun in Scripture, as in Mal. 4.2. But unto you that fear my name ſhall the Sun of righteouſneſs ariſe with healing in his wings; that is, Chriſt Jeſus ſhall ariſe with healing in his wings, the wings of the Sunbeams. Chriſt is here compared to the Sun; well, but how may this Sun be ſaid to be a clothing? is there any ground for it? why yes, the Apoſtle Paul does uſe an expreſſion wherein he holdeth Chriſt as the Churches clothing; and ſo put the compariſon that one compareth Chriſt to the Sun, and the other where you find Chriſt compared to the clothing of the Church, and then you have this truth, to wit, the Church is clothed with the Sun, i.e. with Jeſus Chriſt. Nom. 13.14. But put ye on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Here you ſee plainly the Apoſtle does compare Chriſt to a garment, and does exhort the Church to clothe themſelves with Chriſt; and though Chriſt does not call himſelf a garment, yet he does invite the Church to him, that he may clothe her, Rev. 3.18. I counſel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou maiſt be rich, and white raiment that thou maiſt be clothed, and that the ſhame of thy nakedneſs do not appear: and anoint thine eyes with eye-ſalve that thou maiſt ſee.
Well, pray, ſay you, how may the Church be ſaid to be clothed with Chriſt?
In two reſpects.
1. In as much as they are clothed with the righteouſneſs of Juſtification, and this in and by Jeſus Chriſt.
2. As they are clothed with the divine nature, with the nature of Chriſt, or with the righteouſneſs of Sanctification; they that have theſe two righteouſneſſes upon them, they are clothed with Chriſt, they are clothed with the Sun.
1. When you have the righteouſneſs of Juſtification, for ſo this Woman had; the Church is a juſtified woman, a pardoned woman, and ſo are all the members of this Church; all her iniquities are all blotted out; all hand-writings of Ordinances are all cancelled, all nailed to the Croſs of Chriſt, all wrapped up and buried, and ſhall never riſe up in judgment againſt them; this is a clothing by which her nakedneſs is clothed; why, Oh thou poor creature, that lyeſt open to the wrath of God, to the ſtorms of his diſpleaſure; thou haſt no pardon till Chriſt pardoneth thee; the Woman is clothed with the Sun, that is with the righteouſneſs of Juſtification that Jeſus Chriſt hath purchaſed for her. If you ſee a Church boaſting of a righteouſneſs of their own, a Phariſaical righteouſneſs, a Legal Righteouſneſs, a righteouſneſs of their own, this is not the woman, for ſhe hath not the clothing; there is a people that ſay they are the Church, but look unto them and you ſhall ſee nothing of the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt upon them, they are not clothed with the Sun, neither have they the Crown of twelve ſtars; they do not build their faith upon the Doctrine of the Apoſtles, neither do they cover their nakedneſs with the Righteouſneſs of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; wherefore be not deceived. There are many parties crying, we are the people; look to them, ſee if they keep cloſe to the Doctrine of the Apoſtles, have the Crown of twelve ſtars; and again, ſee whether they have the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, his dying for ſinners; do they look upon all their acceptance that they hope to have with the Father, as from the Son? There is a generation that have ſome tokens of mortification upon them, but alas every one that looketh like the Woman is not the Woman; you muſt have all the attire upon her, if you will conclude her to be the Woman; never dare to join your ſelves to a people that are not clothed with the Righteouſneſs of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt that died for poor ſinners, and made their peace upon the Croſs, having expiated their ſin thereby. This Righteouſneſs of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will grow more ſplendent, and more firm, the longer you wear it.
2. There is a righteouſneſs of holineſs, of ſanctification; it is not enough that this Church is clothed with the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, but this Church is clothed with the nature of Chriſt, Chriſt is upon her, and Chriſt is within her; ſhe is all full of Chriſt, all over clothed with Chriſt, clothed with his nature; and therefore you find the Lord Jeſus Chriſt calls you to an imitation of him, Learn of me for I am meek. This woman is no haſty woman, no wrathful, no revengeful woman; when ſhe is provoked, ſhe will not rail again, ſhe will pray for them that curſe her. And if you ſee a ſociety of people that live not in meekneſs, and holineſs, and do not follow the patterns of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that is not the ſociety which is the true Church; neither if you ſee a people boaſt of Chriſt dying for them, and yet wallow like ſwine in the mire, and defile them with the filth of ſin and luſt, that is not the woman, that is not the Church. And now you may, if you would ſee the Church, look upon the converſations of the Churches in England, look upon their lives, ſee how they live; if you ſee them a drunken, a curſing, a ſwearing Church, a blaſpheming Church, this is none of the Lambs wife, for the woman is clothed with the Sun, with the new nature of Chriſt, with the holy nature of Chriſt, hath put on Chriſt, and makes no proviſion for the fleſh, to fulfil the luſts thereof.
And thus you ſee the other part of her clothing, and ſhe is clothed with the Sun.
The laſt, and that is, The Moon under her feet; What is here meant by the Moon? We muſt here reſpect the Moon that ruleth by night. You ſee the clothing of the Church is ſet out by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he is called the Sun; now whatever is oppoſite to the Sun, to Jeſus Chriſt, that muſt be here ſignified by the Moon; whatever is in this world, or in Churches, found oppoſite to Jeſus Chriſt, why that is the Moon that the Church trampleth under foot, and will have nothing to do with; for as the Sun is the Prince of Light, and ruleth the day, ſo the Moon is the Queen of the Night; and by this Moon is repreſented all the works of darkneſs, of the Kingdom of darkneſs, which are oppoſite to the Kingdom of light.
Now this Church that weareth a Crown of twelve ſtars upon her head, and is clothed with the Sun, it is always day with her, they walk not in darkneſs, they are not the children of the night.
Well then, what are theſe things of the Kingdom of darkneſs? why,
1. There are the heads of the Kingdom of darkneſs, and thoſe are the Devils; the Moon ſignifieth the night, and the night ſignifieth the Kingdom of darkneſs; the Devils are the Moon that are under the Churches feet: Oh! in what ſtate does the Church ſit clothed with the Sun, and all the powers of Hell under her feet! ſaith Chriſt, Go preach, and I give you power over all Devils; and they came back again, and ſaid, Lord, we have healed diſeaſes, and the very Devils are ſubject to us. That is, the Devils lye trampled under foot of the Church. Satan ſhall be laid at your feet ſhortly; and what an honour is it? You think it much to conquer men, why here is a poor woman that conquers the powers of darkneſs; not in your own ſtrength, but in the ſtrength of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to whom you are married, whoſe righteouſneſs you wear.
2. All the inſtruments of the Devil are under you; who are they? they are all thoſe that take part with the Devil in the world; how ſhall we find them out? why, you may find them out thus: They are always night-walkers; Moon walkers hate the light; they are wicked and ungodly men, that live after their luſts, who pleaſe the fleſh, and are enemies to God, and to his people; theſe are the inſtruments of the Devil, theſe are they that are meant by the Moon, and the Woman ſetteth her foot upon them. And this does ſignifie, that all wicked men that are mocking and deriding her, and clap their hands when they ſee her fly, and ſay, Thus we would have it; ſhall fall under her feet in the iſſue. Know you fooliſh ſinners, the time is coming when you ſhall lie at her foot, and ſhe ſhall trample upon you; and that is another thing, the Devils, are the Principalities and powers of night, and wicked men are the Angels of theſe Princes, whom Chriſt made ſpoil of openly.
But again, all principles, hereſies, falſe doctrines, contrary to the nature of God, the Trinity, the union of the two natures, God and man; the Doctrine of Justification by faith only; all thoſe Principles that are raiſed by the Devil in the world that are contrary to the Doctrine of Chriſt, are principles of the night, and the woman ſhe treadeth down all falſe Doctrines.
Again, all falſe apprehenſions, institutions and appointments concerning the worſhip of God, are all the effects of ignorance, born of the night; all ſuperſtition that is introduced into the world, and into the Church, thoſe who own ſuch, are not ſhe, that is the woman, that hath the Crown of twelve stars, clothed with the righteouſneſs of the Lord; and hath no doctrine, no worſhip but what ſhe received from Chriſt; ſhe tramples all falſe doctrines, and ſuperſtitions, and hereſies, ſhe tramples them all down under her feet.
Laſtly, All wicked works, all pride, all vain glory, all envy, malice, hatred, revenge, whatever is of the fleſh, this is all included under this notion or figure, to wit, the Moon; for as ſhe rules by night, ſhe does ſignifie nothing but a ſtate of ignorance, and of darkneſs, which is the Kingdom of the Devil.
Application.
And now my Brethren, take all theſe Characters together, and ſeek for ſuch a Church, and beg of God that you may find her; and though ſhe go into a wilderneſs, go with her, for ſhe is the Lambs wife: you read in the following part of the Chapter ſhe muſt go into the wilderneſs, but there is a place provided for her; though the Dragon ſendeth forth all his threatnings, yet ſhe ſhall be ſafe. Would you find the Church? look for a ſociety that is beautiful, as a woman that hath ſtrong affections for Chriſt; a ſociety that is fruitful, that bringeth forth Children to God; where you ſee Children born unto God, that is a ſign there is the woman; but where you ſee a people, …, drunkards, or whoremongers, or ſwearers, or blaſphemers, they are not of this woman, for ſhe never bringeth forth but to the likeneſs of God, they grow up in Chriſt, into a likeneſs to him. And again, look for a Church that is meek and humble; where you ſee a boiſterous Church, a cruel, a bloody and revengeful Church, that is not the Church, that is liker a man, and not like a woman. Put on patience, if you would look like the Church of Chriſt.
And again, ſee what doctrine they hold; do they keep cloſe to this Bible? if not, reject them, tell them they are not of Gods people; why, I do not ſee upon your heads the Crown of twelve ſtars.
Again, ſee what garment ſhe weareth? does ſhe wear a garment made of Chriſts ſufferings? look and hope for a juſtification that way, by the ſuffering of Chriſt; 'tis not the woman that is found in her own righteouſneſs, but in Chriſts righteouſneſs.
Again, if you find them crying up the righteouſneſs of Chriſts Juſtification, and have not the righteouſneſs of Sanctification, they are none of the woman; that is the Church, where there is claim to the righteouſneſs of Juſtification, and a care taken for the righteouſneſs of ſanctification; theſe are to accompany each other.
Again, would you know the Church? look, ſee if ſhe hath the Devil ſubject to her, and all falſe Principles, and falſe Doctrine, and falſe worſhip; does ſhe trample them under her feet? for this woman hath all ſuperſtition and falſe doctrine, and temptations of the Devil under her foot, and all that is of the night, ſhe hath all under foot.
Having now ſhewn you what this Church is, I hope as to the further application I have been ſo clear in the Doctrine, that you may eaſily apply it, for I have in effect applied it as I have gone along. But ſome may be ready to queſtion with themſelves what to do, and ſay with the Spouſe, where doſt thou feed thy flock? one crys, Come to us, we are the people; and another, We are the people; and a third, We are the people; but I wont now tell you which is, but pray God to open your eyes to ſee and look upon the ſocieties, and ſee which is likeſt the woman, having the Doctrine of Chriſt, and his Apoſtles, living in righteouſneſs, and trampling under feet all the temptations of the Devil. I will leave you to find it out.
Exhortation.
But ſecondly, I charge you when you have found it, be a member of it: be a member of it, ſay you? if I am, I muſt be in pain; the Devil follows me, and poureth out a flood after me, ſhe runs away, and runs into a wilderneſs, The woman fled into the wilderneſs, verſ. 6. Shall I join with her? yea, join with her notwithſtanding; though ſhe be in a wilderneſs, ſhe keeps her Crown, and ſhe reigneth like a Queen, all the Devils are under her foot in a wilderneſs eſtate; join with her; alas! this is the Lambs wife, ſhe is married to Chriſt, and to be heir of all things, and to live eternally with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, where ſhe ſhall never be perſecuted more.
But one thing more; Be not afraid to join with her; though ſhe runs into a wilderneſs, yet ſhe lives there, ſhe hath a place prepared of God; verſ. 6. The earth helped the woman, and opened its mouth and ſwallowed up the flood, v. 6. and the woman was ſaved, it was gone of a ſudden; water enough, threatnings enough to drown it, but all was gone in a moment.
Advice.
Again, one word to you that are of the people of God; you ſee your calling, my brethren; are you a Church of Chriſt? Oh how ought you to live! you are crown'd, do not ſtoop too low; it becomes not a Prince to ſtoop for every pin, you are a crown'd people; take heed of an earthly mind, take heed of poring on the world, and griping at the world, and caring not what you do, ſo you can but ſcrape this world: it is below you; you are born to higher things; are you of this Church? Oh take heed leſt any of the Town ſee you without your garment, let them ſee you clothed with holineſs and righteouſneſs, let not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt be blaſphemed becauſe of you; your converſation may be made a bleſſing to the ſinful, to convert them, and bring them over from ſin to Chriſt, to be fellow-heirs with you; be always clothed with the Sun of Righteouſneſs. Take heed of pride and paſſion, that is not like Chriſt. Take heed of fear and being cowardly, that is not like Chriſt. When you are called out to ſuffer for Chriſt, he hath enough to bear up your hearts, he will keep you company. Live as thoſe that are clothed with the Sun, and hate ſin and wickedneſs, and all works of darkneſs, for they are all of the night, all rioting, all wantonneſs, all evil diſcourſes; trample the Moon of vanity and ſin under your feet, and then God will make you glorious, even in the eyes of your enemies, when Chriſt ſhall own you before his Father, and Angels, in the great day, judging the world, yea and Devils too; only walk you as the woman that hath this crown, this garment, and this Moon under her feet.