The Leper and the Lepers House Cleansed, Part 8
PART VIII.
Thus having diſpatcht the first part of our Diſcourſe about the Subject contained in this 14 Chap. of Levit. which is the Leprous Perſon, wherein you have ſeen the manner of his Cleanſing, with the Particulars which reſults from it; concluding each particular Part, with ſuitable Application. Secondly, We next proceed to the Leprous Houſe, about which you have theſe things obſerveable,
FIrst, The Malady. 2dly, The Remedy. 3dly, If that failed, then, Laſtly, You have the total Ruine and Deſtruction of the leprous Houſe laid before you: But,
First, As to the Malady, you may obſerve theſe things:
First, The Diſeaſe it ſelf. 2dly. The Signs of the Diſeaſe. 3dly, What the Inhabitant was to do upon the breaking forth of the Diſeaſe: And, 4thly, The Reaſons of his ſo doing: And, Laſtly, The Application upon the Point: But,
First, Here you have the Diſeaſe of the Houſe ſpoken of in the firſt place, and that is a Leproſie, which was a contagious Pollution, an unclean Infection, dangerous to the Inhabitants dwelling in it, Levit. 14. 34. And when ye be come into the Land of Canaan, which I give to you for a Poſſeſſion, and I put the Plague of Leproſie in a Houſe, of the Land of your Poſſeſſion.
Secondly, You have the SIgns of the Houſe-leproſie, deſcribed by theſe Notes: as, When it appeared in deep Spots, reddiſh or greeniſh in the Walls of the Houſe; and if they were lower than the Wall, (that is, if the Spots were fretted deeper than the Wall,) then was it to be counted a real Leproſie, as Ver. 37 ſheweth; which litteral or material Houſe, with this Pollution cleaving to it, may fairly figure out thoſe ſpiritual Houſes or Goſpel-churches, which our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath ever had in this World; which while they are in this Life, they are likewiſe ſubject to their ſpiritual Leproſies, Defilement and Pollution, by reaſon of Sin; and, that this may the better appear, it will be neceſſary to conſider the Reſemblance which the Scripture gives betwixt a material Houſe, and a well-conſtituted Goſpel-Church of Jeſus Chriſt: As,
First, In a material Houſe there are the Foundation-ſtones, ſo there is the ſame belonging to the Churches of Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2. 6.
Secondly, To a material Houſe there belongs the chief Cornerſtone, which upholds all the reſt of the Building, ſo there is in the Churches of Chriſt, Epheſ. 2. 20.
Thirdly, In a material Houſe there are rows of Stones laid up upon the Foundation-ſtones, ſo it is in the Churches of Chriſt, Epheſ. 2. 20.
Fourthly, In a material Houſe, all the Timber-work which hath been fitted and framed for the Building, is all laid up, and coupled together, ſo it is with the Churches of Chriſt, Epheſ. 2. 21.
Fifthly, They agree alſo for Deſign and Purpoſe, becauſe the Deſign of Building a material Houſe, is for a Habitation to live in, ſo are the Churches of Chriſt appointed for the like purpoſe, even to the Habitations for Chriſt to dwell in, Epheſ. 2. 22. with 2 Cor. 6. 16. Thus, as the Scripture gives you the Reſemblance betwixt a temporal Houſe, and the Churches of Chriſt, ſo alſo doth it give the ſame Denomination to Chriſt's Churches, calling them Houſes and Habitations, Heb. 3. 3, 4, 5. Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as alſo Moſes was faithful in all his Houſe; but this Man was counted worthy of more Honour than Moſes, inaſmuch as he who hath builded the Houſe hath more Honour than the Houſe. So Ver. 6. But Christ as a Son over his own Houſe, whoſe Houſe are we, if we hold fast our Confidence, and the rejoycing of the Hope firm unto the end. Thus you ſee how the Scripture makes a temporal Houſe and the Churches of Chriſt to agree, both for Name and Subſtance.
From all which we ſhall note theſe two Obſervations:
1ſt Doct. That the ſpiritual Houſes or Churches of Jeſus Christ, are ſubject to great Defilement and Pollution while in this Life.
2d Doct That the Defilement and Pollution, which the Churches of Christ are ſubject unto in this Life, is many times very open and viſible.
1ſt Doct. That the ſpiritual Houſes and Churches of Jeſus Christ are ſubject to great Defilement and Pollution while in this Life.
In the proſecution of this firſt Obſervation, I ſhall, First, prove the Point. Secondly, Give the Reaſons of it. And, Thirdly, Apply the ſame by wa… of Uſe.
First, For the Proof of it, you will find that this was the Caſe of Chriſt's old Teſtament-church, Iſa. 1. 4, 5, 6. Ah! ſinful Nation, a People laden with Iniquity, a Seed of evil Doers, Children that are Corrupters; they have forſaken the Lord, they have provoked the holy One of Iſrael to Anger, they are gone away backward. Wh… ſhould ye be ſtriken any more? Ye will revolt more and more; the whole Head is ſick, and the whole Heart is faint: From the Sole of the Foot, even unto the Head, there is no Soundneſs in it, but Wounds, and Bruiſes, and putrifying Sores; they have not been cloſed, neither bound up, nor modified with Ointment. The like we read hath hapned to Chriſt's Goſpel-churches, we read of an inceſtuous Defilement, and ſacramental Pollution which broke out in the Church of Corinth, 1 Cor. 5. 1. with 1 Cor. 11. 20, 21, 22. We read of the Defilement of Fornication, which broke forth in the Church of Pergamos, yea, and the Pollution of Idolatry too, Rev. 2. 14. We read of the Pollution of falſe Doctrine, which broke forth in the Church of Thyatira, Rev. 2. 20. And alſo we read of the Defilement of carnal Security, which hapned to the Church of Sardis, Rev. 3. 1. and of the Pollution of a luke-warm Spirit, which cleaved to the Church of the Laodiceans, Rev. 3. 16. Laſtly, Do not we likewiſe read how the Gallatian Church was corrupted and defiled in the Doctrine of it, confounding the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt by Faith, with their own perſonal Obedience, Gal. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. with Chap. 4. 21. Thus you ſee the Point proved by clear Scripture-evidence; and ſo we come to the Reaſons of it:
The firſt Reaſon may be taken from the Miniſters of the Churches; and, Secondly, From the Churches themſelves.
But, firſt of all, The Pollution and Defilement of the Churches of Chriſt, many times do ariſe from the ſleepy Drowſineſs of the Miniſters and Guides of the ſame. We read that a Miniſter's ſleepy Seaſon is the Devil's ſeeding Seaſon; whiles the Miniſter ſnores in his Sleep, then is the Devil's Seaſon to ſow his Seed, Matt. 13. 25. But while Men ſlept, his Enemy came and ſowed Tares among the Wheat, and went his way.
This was the Unhappineſs of the Church of God in the Prophet's Days, to be given over to the Conduct of an ignorant lazy ſleepy Miniſtry, Iſa. 56. 10. His Watchmen are Blind, they are all Ignorant, they are all dumb Dogs, they cannot bark, ſleeping, lying down, loving to Slumber; yea, they are greedy Dogs, which can never have enough, and they are Shepherds that cannot underſtand, they all look to their own way, every one for his Gain from his quarter. Hence it is, that, though we read of ſo much Corruption breaking forth upon the Seven Churches of Aſia, yet the Ground and Cauſe of it (in ſome Meaſure) was charged upon the Miniſters of thoſe Churches, which were called the Angels of the ſame; when Miniſters are given up to an idle lazy Life, to be remiſs in nothing more than in and about their Duty to God and the Souls of their People, no wonder if their Hearers do decline and wither, as to the Spirit, Life, and Power of Godlineſs under their Hands. Miniſters are called Phyſicians, and you know when a Phyſician grows careleſs and negligent in his Office towards his Patient, no wonder if the Body of ſuch a Patient abounds with corrupting Humours, and the Malignity of their old Diſtempers returns back upon them again: He that reads the Converſation of Iſrael's Paſtors, Iſa. 56. 10, 11, 12. need not wonder at Iſrael's Corruption, which is expreſt in Iſa. 1. 4, 5, 6.
Secondly, A ſecond Ground of the Churches Corruption, ariſeth from the earthly-mindedneſs of their Miniſters; when Miniſters, through Covetouſneſs, ſhall make Merchandize of the Souls of their Hearers, and ſet their everlaſting Happineſs to ſale, to fill their Treaſures with worldly Gain, I mean, when they ſhall mind more their own worldly Wealth, than their Peoples ſpiritual Health; this opens a Door to let in bad Diſeaſes upon their People, it is a very rare thing to find a Miniſter greedy of the Churches Wealth in worldly things, and the People to grow ſpiritually Wealthy under ſuch a Miniſter.
Thirdly, A third Ground ariſeth from the Debauchery and bad Lives of Miniſters, this excludes the Preſence of God, and his Bleſſing from their Labours, and leaves a Curſe in the room of it; ſuch a Miniſter may Preach until he hath preach'd out his Heart, before he ſhall do any good upon his People, Jer. 23. 14, 32. I have ſeen alſo in the Prophets of Jeruſalem an horrible thing, they commit Adultery, and walk in Lies, they ſtrengthen alſo the Hands of Evil-doers, that none doth return from his Wickedneſs, they are all unto me as Sodom and the Inhabitants of Gomorrah. Ver. 32. They cauſe my People to err by their Lies and by their Lightneſs, yet I ſent them not, nor commanded them, therefore they ſhall not profit this People at all, ſaith the Lord.
Fourthly, A fourth Ground ariſeth from the Superſtitiouſneſs of a Miniſter; when the blind Zeal of a Miniſter ſhall incline him to a greater eagerneſs to promote the Superſtition of the Church, than faithfully to promote the pure Inſtitutions of Chriſt, woe to that People which lives under the Charge of ſuch a Man, Matt. 15. 8, 9. Ye Hypocrites, well did Eſaias Propheſie of you, ſaying, This People draweth nigh unto me with their Mouth, and honour me with their Lips, but their Heart is far from me; but in vain they do Worſhip me, teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men.
Secondly, The Reaſons are alſo drawn from the Churches themſelves, that there is ſo much Corruption amongſt them.
First of all, It ariſeth from their Negligence in not exerciſing of their Faith in the hearing of the Word, Heb. 4. 2. For unto us the Goſpel was preached as well as unto them, but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it.
Secondly, It ariſeth from a Peoples not receiving the Truth in the Love of it; when a People ſhall rather hear the Word to pleaſe their Fancy, than to feed their Faith, when they ſhall hear more to get Head-notions, than warm Affections, or to grow in Gifts rather than to grow in Grace, let ſuch beware of that fearful Judgment ſpoken of in 2 Theſſ. 2. 10, 11, 12. Becauſe they received not the Love of the Truth that they might be ſaved; and for this cauſe, God ſhall ſend them ſtrong Deluſions, that they ſhould believe a Lie, that they all might be damned who believe not the Truth, but had pleaſure in Ʋnrighteouſneſs.
Mark, There was a receiving of the Truth, but not to a right end, many there are, and but too too many, which are ſick of this Diſeaſe, (viz.) To hear much and read much, to increaſe their Parts, but not their Piety, to be admired of Men rather than to be approved of God; but when Men from a Spirit of Vainglory attend the Miniſtry of the Word, but not aiming at the Glory of God, wonder not if ſuch Mens Knowledge prove at laſt like the Wilderneſs-manna to the Iſraelites, when …athered and unlawfully kept, Exod. 16. 20. It bred Worms, and ſtank: So woful have been the Effects of an unſanctifying hearing of the Word upon ſome Men.
Thirdly, It ariſeth from the Peoples Unfruitfulneſs under the Word which they hear; this was Iſrael's Sin, which greatly increaſed their Corruption, even the ſame Means which was ſent to ſoften them, turned to their hardning, through their unfruitfulneſs under it, Iſa. 5. 1, 2. My Beloved had a Vineyard in a very fruitful Hill, and he looked for Grapes, and it brought forth wild Grapes: But what was the Iſſue of this? Read Iſa. 6. 9, 10. Go and tell this People, hear ye indeed, but underſtand not, and ſee ye indeed, but perceive not; make the Heart of this People fat, and their Ears heavy; ſhut their Eyes lest they ſhould ſee with their Eyes, and hear with their Ears, and underſtand with their Hearts, and convert and be healed. Thus having given you the Grounds and Reaſons whence it is, that the ſpiritual Houſes of Chriſt are ſo ſubject to their Defilement and Corruption in this Life, we next come to the Application of the Point:
1ſt Ʋſe, This ſerves then, in the firſt place, to inform us of the Duty both of the Miniſters and Hearers.
Firſt, Of the Miniſters, who, under Chriſt, are the Owners of his ſpiritual Houſes or Churches: Would you know what his Duty was that was the Owner of the Levitical Houſe, when the Plague of Leproſie broke forth in it? Read Lev. 14. 35. He was to go to the Prieſt, and tell the Prieſt, that it ſeemed to him, that there is as it were a Plague in the Houſe; ſo in like manner ought every Paſtor or Miniſter to do, even by Prayer, Faſting and true Humiliation, to acquaint Jeſus Chriſt the great High-Prieſt, with the leprous Diſtemper, which is broken forth in his Churches: This is the Advice which the Spirit of God gave the Old Teſtament-churches, as a means to cure them of their Pollution and Defilement, Joel 2. 16, 17, 18. Gather the People, ſanctifie the Congregation, aſſemble the Elders, gather the Children and thoſe that ſuck the Breast; let the Bridegroom go forth of his Chamber, and the Bride out of her Cloſet; let the Prieſts and Miniſters of the Lord, weep between the Porch and the Altar, and let them ſay, Spare thy People, O Lord, and give not thy Heritage to reproach; then will the Lord be jealous for his Land, and pity his People. The ſame Counſel was given to the New Teſtament. churches, in order to their healing, when the Plague of Leproſie (at any time) broke out upon them, Rev. 2. 4, 5. Nevertheleſs, I have ſome what against thee, becauſe thou hast left thy first Love; remember from whence thou art fallen and repent. But, alas, how far are the Guides and Miniſters of moſt Chriſt's Churches from acquainting our great High Prieſt, by Faſting, Prayer, and Humiliation, with the great Pollution which hath lately broken forth in many of their Congregations? Where can we find one Miniſter amongſt them, that goeth to Chriſt and ſays, It ſeems to me that there is as is were a Plague begun in my Congregation; yea, ſo far are ſome from making an open Diſcovery of it, that they labour to hide and cover it what they can; like Perſons whoſe Houſes are inſected with the Plague, endeavour to hide it from the Searchers, to avoid the Affliction of being ſhut up: How common is it to hear how ſome Men will palliate and leſſen the Corruption of their Churches, by making great Corruptions to appear to be little, and thoſe that are of the leſſer ſort, to be nothing at all; but this is not the way to a Cure, no more than the hiding and keeping ſecret an Ulcer in the Bowels is the way to ſave a Man's Life, Prov. 28. 13. He that confeſſeth and forſaketh his Sin ſhall find Mercy, but he that hideth his Iniquity ſhall not pro…per.
Secondly, We ma… learn hence, what the Duty of the Hearers and Members of Churches is, as well as what we heard is the Duty of Miniſters and Paſtors.
Firſt of all, Their Duty is this, (viz.) To be earneſt with God by Prayer, that he would continue his ſpecial Preſence of Grace with their Miniſters, and give them a double Portion of his Spirit, that the U…m and Thum…n might never depart from their Heads and Hearts ſo long … live with you … Your Miniſters are your …eedſmen, and if they, through their Unfaithfulneſs or U…ſkilfulneſs, ſhould …ow Hemlock inſtead of Wheat, what a ſad diſappointment would this be to your Souls? Your Miniſters are your Watchmen, and if they ſhould fall under the Power of a ſleepy Lethargy, how ſpeedily will the Devil ſow his Tares amongſt you? Your Miniſters are your Angels, and if they through a Spirit of Debauchery turn Devils, how ſoon may your Churches be turned from ſo many Be…hels, into ſo many Bethavens? Your Miniſters have large Opportunities to do you a great deal of Good, or a great deal of hurt, they may be great Bleſſings, or great Curſes to you, and you may expect them to be to you, as you make them, either with or without your Prayers, Col. 4. 3, 4. Withal, praying for us, that God would open unto us a door of Ʋtterance, to ſpeak the Myſtery of Christ, that I might make it manifest as I ought to ſpeak.
And ſo we come to the ſecond Obſervation:
2d Doct. That the Defilements and Pollutions, which the Churches of Christ are ſubject unto, while in this Life, are many times very open and viſible.
In the proſecution of this Note, I ſhall, firſt, prove it. 2dly, Give you the Reaſons of it. And, 3ily, apply it.
But, First, for the Proof of it, if you look back to the Old Teſtament-church, how open and viſible were the Pollutions and Deſilements of it, Ezek. 24. 7. For her Bloud is in the midst of her, ſhe ſet it upon the top of a Rock, ſhe poured it out upon the Ground to cover it with the Dust. Hoſ. 4. 13. They Sacrifice upon the tops of the Mountains, and burn Incenſe upon the Hills. Zeph. 1. 5. And them that Worſhip the Host of Heaven upon the Houſe tops. Now what could be more open and viſible, than to commit their Iniquity upon high Hills, high Mountains, and Houſe-tops? So the Church of Rome, who was once ſtiled the Beloved of God, and called to be Saints, Rom. 1. 7. yet at laſt how open and publick was the Pollution of that Church, Rev. 17. 5. And upon her Forehead was written, Myſtery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abomination of the Earth.
And ſo we come to the Reaſons of the Point:
Reaſons.] The firſt is drawn from Satan. The ſecond from God; and, The third from the Churches themſelves.
The firſt Reaſon is drawn from the Devil, who out of a perfect Enmity to God, and Hatred to his Honour and Glory, labours to drive on the Corruption, by the corrupt Inclinations of the People of God, to the higheſt pitch what he can: He knows that the Honour of God never ſuffers ſo much by the Sin of a profane World, as it doth by the Sin of one of God's Churches in the World; and this is that which makes God ſo ſevere with his People, in puniſhing of them when they offend him with their Tranſgreſſions, Am…s 3. 2. You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth, therefore will I puniſh you for your Iniquities.
Secondly, The Devil doth it in Policy, that he might thereby ſo much the more ſtabliſh the Hearts of his own Children in their Wickedneſs; beſides he knoweth that it will abundantly ſtumble weak Chriſtians in their way to Sion, hoping thereby to bring them back again into their old Snare….
The ſecond Reaſon is taken from God himſelf, who in a way of Judgment to a People, that ſhall take a liberty to Sin in any one degree, and refuſing to be reclaimed, then God gives them up to a greater freedom to Sin, Hoſ. 8. 11. Becauſe Ep…raim hath made many Altars to Sin, therefore Altars ſhall be unto Ephraim to ſin. So that what Choice M…n will make for themſelves ſinfully, God (ſometimes) will make the ſame Choice for them judicially.
The third Reaſon is drawn from the Churches themſelves, with reſpect to the unmo…tifiedneſs of their Luits; …ome there are which have ſuch great ſwelling Luſts, that if God ſhould ſuffer them to break out, they would make open as well as woful Work upon the beſt of Men: You may read how vi…lently the Corruption of David run forth, when a little let ſlip by the Lord, and how viſibly and open it ſhewed it ſelf to the World. So Peter, What could be more viſible and open, than to Curſe and Swear that he knew not his Maſter? So good Aaron, How open was his Sin in making the golden Calf?
And ſo we come to the Application:
1ſt Ʋſe, Is this ſo, that many times the Defilement and Pollution of the Churches of Chriſt are ſo open and viſible, while in this Life? Let it ſerve then to ſtir up the Churches and People of God, to labour after a ſpotleſs holy Converſation, that they may regain the Honour which God hath ſo often loſt, through the careleſs walking of the reſt of God's profeſſing People: You hear how induſtrious the Devil is to endeavour the polluting the ſpiritual Houſes of Chriſt, whileſt they are in this World, which ariſeth from his Malice and Hatred to his Creator, and that he may harden his Children in their Sins, and damp the Reſolutions of weak Chriſtians in Godlineſs: Oh! how ſhould this ſtir up the Hearts and Hands of all (that have any Love to Chriſt) to be preſſing on ſo much the more in the Practice of true Godlineſs, redeeming the Time becauſe the Days are evil, that the World may ſee that Chriſt hath (yet) a few Names in Sardis, that do walk with him in white, and have not defiled their Garments as the moſt have done! Have other Churches their Spots upon them? How ſhould you get your Garments waſhed in the Bloud of the Lamb? Are other Churches publickly Scandalous, Earthly-minded, walking with a proud and haughty Spirit? Oh! how ſhould you labour to regain the loſt Honour of Chriſt again, in labouring after a more heavenly frame of Spirit, in being meek, holy, and humble in the ſight of all Men? Oh! that you would conſider this, that Jeſus Chriſt was never more wounded in the Houſe of his Friends, than at this Day: Oh! if you have any Love for Chriſt, labour to heal theſe Wounds again, by adorning the Doctrine of God and your Saviour, with your holy Converſations: Oh! forget not what a large Portion he hath given you in his Bloud, and what a good Inheritance he hath purchaſed for you by his Bloud; let him have the Fruit of it which is a holy Converſation, John 15. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much Fruit.
2d Ʋſe, Have the Houſes of Chriſt been hitherto ſubject to their Defilements and Pollutions; Learn hence then by Faith and Prayer to haſten on thoſe happy Times, which the Word of Propheſie faith, are yet to come upon the Churches of Chriſt in this Life, when theſe ſpiritual Habitations of his, ſhall no more be troubled with theſe leprous Defilements and Pollutions in this World. There is one Propheſie which I ſhall mention for all the reſt, Pſal. 102. 13. with 16 Ver. Thou ſhalt ariſe, and have mercy upon Zion, for the time to favour her, yea the ſet-time is come: When the Lord ſhall build up Zion, he will appear in his Glory. I grant that this Propheſie (partly) had its fulfilling in the Jews Redemption, out of their ſeventy Years Captivity by Cyrus, and in the building of the ſecond Temple by Nehemiah: but this was not the utmoſt extent of the Propheſie, which clearly points to the latter times of the Goſpel-churches; even when as in Ver. 22 of this Pſal. The People are gathered together, and the Kingdoms to ſerve the Lord. Which time John the Divine, placeth after the great Rent that ſhall be made in Antichrist's Kingdom, Rev. 11. 13. and then he tells you in Ver. 15. that the Kingdoms of this World, are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Chriſt, and he ſhall Reign for ever and ever; ſo that then, and not till then, may we expect the full Accompliſhment of this Propheſie, in this 102 Pſal. Ver. 13, with 16. Certainly, this muſt needs be a glorious Work, and a very glorious Day, when the Lord ſhall ariſe to build Zion himſelf, but although it be ſaid, that God will build Zion himſelf, we are not to underſtand it in oppoſition to the uſe of outward Means or humane Inſtruments which God hath formerly uſed in this Work; no, but comparatively, ſuch will the marvelous Preſence of his Glory be, which he will then attend thoſe withal, which he will employ in this Work of building his Zion, as if God had never had a Hand in the Work before; which will make the Work exceeding excellent and glorious in four Reſpects; beyond whatever the Churches were adorned with before.
First, For Beauty and Glory, in the Eyes of the World, Iſa. 54. 11, 12. Oh thou afflicted, and toſſed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy Stones with fair Colours, and lay thy Foundations with Saphires. I will make thy Windows of Agates, and thy Gates …f Carbuncles, and all thy Borders of pleaſant Stones.
Secondly, This Work of building Zion will be marvelous, for Light and Knowledge in Myſteries of Faith, about our Redemption and Juſtification by Jeſus Chriſt, together with thoſe leſſer Points about which the Churches heretofore have been ſo apt to diſagree: Iſa. 60. 19. The Sun ſhall be no more thy Light by Day, neither for Brightneſs ſhall the Moon give Light unto thee, but the Lord ſhall be unto thee an everlaſting Light So Iſa. 29. 18. And in that Day ſhall the Deaf hear the Words of the Book, and the Blind ſhall ſee out of Obſcurity, and out of Darkneſs.
Thirdly, This Work will be as marvelous for Peace and Quietneſs to the Churches, who have enjoyed very little of this in the Ages of the World heretofore; indeed, for a ſpurt or a ſhort ſpace of time, we have found that the Churches of Chriſt have had ſ…me ſilence in their heavenly Places for the ſpace of half an Hour, Rev. 8. 1. ſome ſhort breathing, ſome little freedom from Perſecution, but their Clouds have ſoon returned upon them again after the Rain: Oh! but when the Lord ſhall ariſe to build Zion himſelf, then Violence ſhall no more be heard in their Land, nor Waſting and Deſtruction within their Borders, but they ſhall call their Walls Salvation, and the Gates Praiſe, Iſa. 60. 18.
Fourthly, When the Lord ſhall ariſe to build Zion the Work will be firmly and laſtingly done; tho' the former Builders were gracious and godly Men, yet how quickly have their Work tumbled down again? David and Solomon, which builded the Temple and City of Zion at firſt, and though they were holy and wiſe Men, yet their Building ſtood not long after them: And the like we read of, Nehemiah, Ezra, and Zerubbabel, Men of great Wiſdom and Integrity, who were Builders of the City and Temple of Zion a ſecond time; but, alas! how ſoon did the Romans demoliſh their Work again? But when God ſhall ariſe to build Zion himſelf, the Work ſhall ſurely ſtand for ever, as that no Sanballet or Tobiah ſhall be able to obſtruct it, nor no Nebuchadnezzar, or Roman Titus ſhall ever be able to pull down this Work to the World's end. Iſa. 4. 5. And the Lord will create upon every Dwelling-place of Mount Zion, and upon her Aſſemblies, a Cloud and a Smoak by Day, and the Shining of a flaming Fire by Night, for upon all the Glory ſhall be a Defence. Oh, that we could get ſuch a ſight of this glorious Work by Faith, as might put us upon the haſtning of it into the World by Prayer!
Last Ʋſe, In the mean time, until this glorious Work comes into the World, let what hath been ſaid about i…, ſerve to make us (who may never live to ſee this glorious Day) but muſt yet remain amongſt the Churches of Chriſt ſo ſubject (yet) to their Defilements and Pollutions, let the Thoughts of it, make Heaven the more deſirable to us. Oh! think often upon the Purity of that new Jeruſalem which is above, and comfort your ſelves in the Meditations of the Spotleſneſs of thoſe heavenly Societies unto which you are a going: Houſes that never had the leaſt of a Leproſie found in them, nor the leaſt ſpot of any Defilement or Pollution obſtain them; where you may be ſure to find all clean and pure, clean from Sin and Corruption, or the leaſt inclination thereunto, where Hypocriſie and Hereſie never was, nor ever enters, where Strife and Contention ſhall never ſhew its Face, nor a Backbiter ever appear within the limits of that holy City, which have ſo troubled and perplexed the Churches of Chriſt in this Life: Oh! let the Thoughts of theſe things comfort your Hearts, that it is your Father's good Pleaſure to give you a Kingdom.