Sermon 29 November 1643, Sermon
A SERMON Preached at the Late Faſt, before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS.
ZECHARIAH, CHAP. 2. VER. 18, 19, 20, 21. And CHAP. 2. VER. 1.
18. Then lift I up mine eyes, and ſaw, and behold foure borns.
19. And I ſaid unto the Angel that talked with me, What be theſe? And he anſwered me, Theſe are the horns which have ſcattered Iudah, Iſrael, and Ieruſalem.
20. And the Lord ſhewed me foure carpenters.
21. Then ſaid I, What come theſe to doe? and he ſpake, ſaying, Theſe are the horns which have ſcattered Iudah, ſo that no man did lift up his head: but theſe are come to fray them, to caſt out the hornes of the Gentiles, which lift up their horne over the land of Iudah to ſcatter it.
1. I lift up mine eyes againe, and looked, and behold, a man with a meaſuring line in his hand.
ALthough according to our Engliſh Tranſlation theſe words are parts of ſeverall Chapters, yet in many Hebrew Copies the ſecond Chapter begins where my Text doth, and they have ſuch connexion that I may not part them.
Three things there are which this Age of ours hath brought forth: Malignant enemies: Speciall inſtruments of their ruine: And great endeavours for Reformation. Accordingly here are three Viſions; A Viſion of foure hornes, ver. 18, 19. A Viſion of foure carpenters, ver. 20, 21. A Viſion of a man with a meaſuring line in his hand, Chap. 2. ver. 1. Every Viſion hath its
Narration,
and
Explication.
The Narration of the firſt Viſion at the 18. verſe, I ſaw, and behold foure hornes. The Explication in the 19. Theſe are the hornes which have ſcattered Iudah, Iſrael, and Ieruſalem. So that
1. You have the deſcription of the Churches enemies, under the viſion of foure hornes; who are here deſcribed, 1. From their number or multitude, they are foure hornes, according to the foure parts of the world; Quatuor cornua ſunt quatuor mundi partes. 2. From their power & ſtrength; the horn is a word that in Scripture phraſe doth note ſtrength; He hath raiſed up a horne of ſalvation for us, Luke 1. 69. that is, ſtrong and powerfull ſalvation. 3. From their miſchievous and malignant practice, They ſcattered Iudah, Iſrael, and Ieruſalem.
2. In the ſecond Viſion you have the deſcription of thoſe ſpeciall inſtruments that are raiſed up for their deſtruction, under the ſimilitude of foure carpenters, or four ſmiths; who are here deſcribed, 1. From their number, foure: And 2. From their work, which is to ſcatter the hornes, and to caſt out the Gentiles.
3. Then commeth in the third Viſion, the endeavours for Reformation, under the ſimilitude of a man with a meaſ…ring line in his hand; which is deſcribed two wayes: 1. From the inſtrument thereof, a man, or as in the Hebrew, an excellentforeign man, explained to be Zerubbabel their Governour, Chap. 4. 10. 2. From the exactneſſe thereof, he d…th work by line, I ſaw a man with a meaſuring line in his hand.
Give me l…ave to open the words, and draw out ſome ſhort Obſervations upon them before I come to the maine truths.
VERSE 18. Then lift I up mine eyes, and ſaw.] That is, I ſtirred and rowſed up my ſelf with all intenſenes to receive this viſion. Heavenly relations are not to be obtained in a drowſy and ſleepy way.
And behold foure hornes, that is, enemies from all parts of the world, and eſpecially thoſe foure Monarchies who have all in their courſe and turne been vexatious to the people of God. It is no new thing for the Saints and Churches to be puſhed, gored, ſcattered by cruell and beaſtly enemies. Yea the Churches may be ſo afflicted with enemies, that a man ſhall not know whither to fly for ſafety; for in every part of the world there ſhall be ſome oppoſers; I ſaw foure hornes, miſery, and calamity, and perſecution ariſing out of every part.
VERSE 19. And I ſaid to the Angel that talked with me, &c. This Angel by Interpreters is ſaid to be Chriſt himſelf, the Angel of the Covenant, who is the beſt Interpreter of Heavenly viſions and of hard Scriptures; When we underſtand them not, we ſhould ſearch, make enquiry and go to Chriſt, ſaying as Zechariah here, What are theſe, Lord?
And he anſwered me, theſe are the hornes which have ſcattered Iudah, Iſrael and Ieruſalem.] The enemies of the Churches are not ſaid here to have wounded, or killed Iudah, Iſrael, or Ieruſalem, but ventilarunt, they have toſſed them upforeign as it were into the aire, they have ſcattered, ſaith the Engliſh. It is the proper work of the enemies of the Churches to ſcatter Gods people. The Diſciples of Chriſt are commanded to be without hornes, Be wiſe as Serpents, and innocent as Doves, the word in the Greek is without hornes as Doves;foreign. but here the enemies are ſaid to ſccatter Iudah, Iſrael and Ieruſalem, that is their work and property.
VER. 20. And the Lord ſhewed me foure Carpenters.] The word is foreign, that is, ſuch Agents and Inſtruments as doforeign fabricavit. work with art, counſell and deliberation. Though the enemies of the Churches be unreaſonable and cruell as horned beaſts, yet the inſtruments that God rayſeth up to ſuppreſſe them are full of humanity, wiſdome and counſell; and they are foure too, a proportionable ſtrength.
VER. 21. Then ſaid I, What come theſe to do? And he ſpake ſaying, Theſe are come to fray them away, and to caſt out the hornes of the Gentiles. Look how they dealt by Gods people, ſo God will deale by them; they ſcattered Iſrael, and the God of Iſrael will raiſe up inſtruments that ſhall ſcatter them; they caſt out Gods people, and they ſhall be caſt out. Scattering enemies ſhal be ſcattered themſelves at laſt.
CHAP. 2. VER. 1. I lift up mine eyes again.] Here is another viſion brought to the ſame purpoſe, in generall, to uphold and comfort the diſtreſſed ſ…rvants of God. When the the condition of the Saints is low and their fear…s great, there is need of repeating comforts; Then viſions, promiſes and conſolations muſt be oft repeated, I lift up mine eyes again.
And I looked, and behold a man with a meaſuring line in his hand; That is, for to build exactly. The ſecond verſe tells us it was for to meaſure Jeruſalem, which cannot barely be underſtood litt…rally, for ver. 16. of Chap. 1. It is ſaid, I am returned to Ieruſalem with mercies, ſaith the Lord, my houſe ſhall be built in it, and a line ſhall be ſtretched forth upon Ieruſalem, &c. which promiſe in its latitude was never yet fulfilled litterally, but it is to be underſtood of the New Jeruſalem eſpecially, mentioned in Revel. 21. Where we find a man alſo at this meaſuring work. So that we may yet ſay, though the afflictions of the Churches be very great, and their deſolations many, yet if a man will lift up his eyes and ſtirre up himſelf, he may and ſhall behold a man with a meaſuring line in his hand. And thus you ſee that there is …ardly a word of theſe three viſions, but affordeth ſome ſpeciall inſtruction. But becauſe I have not time for all, I ſhall eſpecially cloſe with thoſe three Doctrines, that are eſpecially held forth in theſe three viſions. Thus.
1. In that here are four hornes that appeare, firſt, you may Doct. 1 obſerve this, That when God intendeth good and ſalvation to his Churches, he doth firſt ſuff…r many potent, malicious enemies to riſe againſt them.
2. In that theſe foure Carpenters do appeare immediatly after theſe foure hornes, as it were in the ſame viſion, you may obſerve, That though God do ſuffer the enemies of his Churches and people to be exceeding ſtrong, many and moſt miſchievous, yet he will raiſe up an anſwerable ſtrength againſt them; Foure Carpenters againſt foure hornes, which ſhall fray them away, and deale by them as they have done by others.
3. In that the man with a meaſuring line doth immediatly follow upon theſe, you may obſerve, that when God ſhall pleaſe to raiſe up ſpeciall inſtruments to ſuppreſſe the Churches enemies, then and then eſpecially Reformation is to be much endeavoured, which is to be done with exactnes, even by Line.
I begin with the former viſion of the foure hornes, and the Doct. 1 firſt Doctrine, namely, that when God intendeth any great good and ſalvation to his people, he doth firſt ſuffer malignant, potent, and many …nemies to riſe againſt them. Was it not ſo with Iſrael wh…n God intended to bring them out of Egypt? Then their Taskemaſters aroſe and doubled their work, and were more inimicitious to them then formerly. Was it not thus with the Jewes when God brought them out of Babylon to build the Temple? oppoſition they met withall in their remove, in their journey, and all along in their Temple-work. Was it not thus with the Iſraelit…s when they went to execute juſtice upon that malignant Tribe of Benjamin for the great ſin of Gibeah? If you look into the 20. of Iudges, you ſhall find that before Benjamin was puniſhed they got two great victories upon Iſrael; Iſrael (if you count the numbers of their ſouldiers) w…re twelve to one; Iſrael had the beſt cauſe, and their work was good, they went forth to do juſt…ce on that delinquent Tribe; yet if you conſult the ſtory, the Tribe of Benjamin firſt ſlew of them down to the ground forty thouſand m…n. This is Gods way ſtill; He ſeldome or never deſtroyeth his enemies but out of Zeale; The Zeale of the Lord of Hoſts hath done this, ſaith the Prophet: Now Zeale is nothing elſe but angered love; and three things there are in the world that God doth love eſpecially, His people, His truth, and His worſhip; When the enemies prevaile they ſpoile his people, they defile his worſhip, they ſcorne his truth, ſo his love is angred, his Zeale is ſtirred, and then his enemies are confounded.
But what reaſon is there why God ſhould ſuffer his precious Queſt. ſervants and people to be thus handled, oppreſſed, gored, ſcattered by cruell enemies?
Good reaſon for it. Totidem inimici, totidem paedagogi: Anſw. ſo many enemies, ſo many ſchool-maſters. Make plain my way before me (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) becauſe of mine enemies; but in the Hebrew it is, becauſe of mine obſervers; our enemiesforeign Inimicus q…aſi obſer…ator dictus, quod ſemper obſer…et et contempletur quibus malefacial. Buxtor…. are our obſervers, and their obſervation is our preſervation. As a mans beſt friend ſometimes doth him more hurt then his worſt enemy, ſo his worſt enemie doth him more good then his beſt friend. Now ſuppoſe (ſaith Salmeron) that a man were in great want and need of money, and his friend ſhould throw him a bag of gold, though in his catching of it he might hurt his hands or head, yet when he hathMagna Dei miſe…cordia in flag ello temporall: ut ſi quis c…umenam g…avem & au…o onuſtam ex …dito loco in caput cu…uſdam p…o d…ito aliq …o in carce…om detenti proj…eret & dolorem aliquem ei infe…et, & …um… rem capi…s exc…taret, & un…m vel alteram g…ttulam ſang… … cl…ct, ille quidem …ei ignarus moleſte ſerret in principio, & vicem ſuam magn…p… dole…et quod afflicto afflictio adde…etur; verum ſi paulo poſt animo …am tranquill… a l…xu… …culos ſuos convertet, & c…umenam multo auro refectam deprehendat, quo poſſit debita ſua perſolvere, & q…od ſupe eſt ad vitam …t anquilie placideque traducendam ſuffi…e, p…oſecto de ill ato tantillo vul…ere n…lla eſſet amplius querimonia vel memo …a, imo ſe…ta congratulat…o: Ad eundem mod…m de Chriſti flagellis conſiderandam. Salmer. de miracul. in J…an. 3. * Honor eſt teſtimonium de alicujus excellentia. Aqu. taken out the gold, he loves his friend never the leſſe. There is no perſecution but brings a bag of gold to Gods people; though it may ſomewhat hurt them in falling upon them, yet when they have picked out the gold thereof, they will love God the more.
L…t me inſtance.
1. Hereby they are occaſioned to honour God, which is the end of their life and the comfort of their ſoule: for what is honour, but as *H…nor eſt teſtimonium de alicujus excellentia. Aqu.Aquinas ſpeaks, a teſtimony of anothers excellency? the more I teſtifie of any excellency in any truth or way of Gods, the more I honour him; and in times of perſecution the Saints of God doe thus teſtifie of him.
2. Hereby the children of God are weaned from the world, and made to hie them home to their fathers houſe.
3. Hereby they are made more uſefull in their places, and beneficiall unto their enemies; for therefore our enemies doe us ſo much hurt, becauſe we doe them no more good.
4. Hereby they carry the truths of God and Chriſt into other parts; the enemy intendeth to ſcatter their perſons, but God intendeth to ſcatter his truths.
5. Hereby the children of God receive a fuller and clearer teſtimony of their own graces. When the world frowns moſt, God ſmiles moſt upon them. When the enemie gives the loudeſt teſtimonie of their hypocriſie, God from heaven doth give the higheſt teſtimony of their ſincerity to their boſomes.
6. Hereby the enemies themſelves are more convinced. Some men ſnore ſo loud in their ſleep, that they awake themſelves with their owne ſnortings; and ſome mens ſinnes are ſo loud and unreaſonable, that they convince themſelves and others by their owne unreaſonable dealing with the people of God. Maſter Fox tels of one in Queene Maries time, that had ſo baſely and maliciouſly uſed that ſ…rvant of God Iames Abbes, that when that good man Iames Abbes was dead, the remembrance of this Martyrs patience and his owne unreaſonableneſſe, made the Perſecutor cry out and ſay, Iames Abbes is ſaved, and I am damned, and ſo he went wringing his hands to his grave, crying, Iames Abbes is ſaved and I am damned, Iames Abbes is ſaved and I am damned. It is recorded alſo of one Calocerius, that when he ſaw the malignancy of the enemies, and patience of the Martyrs, he cryed out and ſaid, Of a truth great is the God of the Chriſtians. And whatVere magnus Deus Chriſtian…rum. can a Chriſtian deſire more? Is not Gods truth better then my houſe?
7. Hereby alſo the Saints are kept from and cured of diviſions among themſelves. Cyprian meditating of the ſeverall cauſes that brought thoſe ſad and heavy perſecutions in the primitive times, reckoneth up this for one, their owne diviſions, wherefore God was fame to let out the dog upon the ſheepe, that the ſheepe might run together. Our puniſhments oftentimes weare the names of our ſins in their foreheads: And if ever, then now; God doth puniſh our diviſions with diviſions; But it is to cure our diviſions. He points to our ſin by our puniſhment, that in our puniſhment wee may becured of ſin.
8. Hereby alſo the ſervants of God may ſee and know by experience, that it is better to ſerve God then men. When… we worſhip God after and for the precepts of men, we doe rather worſhip men then God, and ſerve them then him; And when his ſervants do ſo, th…n God ſuffers men to riſe up againſt them, that they may learne in a ſmarting way, as wel as they have done in a ſinning way, what it is to ſerve men. This cauſe you have expreſſed, 2 Chron. 12. 7, 8. And when the Lord ſaw that they humbled themſelves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, ſaying, They have humbled themſelves, therefore I will not deſtroy them, but I will grant them ſome deliverance, and my wrath ſhall not be poured out by the hand of Shiſhak; Nevertheleſſe they ſhall be his ſervants, that they may know my ſervice and the ſervice of the Kingdomes of the Countries.
9. Hereby againe the ſervants of God learne the right uſe of the rod, both in Church and State: Sometime it ſo falleth out that Juſtice is not executed in a Kingdome, and Diſcipline not exerciſed in a Church; Well then ſaith God, ſeeing that you will not take the rod into your hand, I will take it into mine owne, but it ſhall be in ſuch a manner as ſhall make all your hearts to ake. In the ſecond and third Chapters of the Revelation, you know there are ſeven Epiſtles written to the ſeven Churches, and there is none of all the Churches but are threatned with one affliction, calamity or another, ſave onelyonly that of Philadelphia; and if you marke it, you ſhall finde that onelyonly that Church had the keyes rightly uſed and handled. And you ſhall finde this alſo in all Gods dealings both with States and Churches: Let a State or Kingdome be never ſo wicked, yet if Juſtice be executed there is hope thereof; Let a Church be never ſo defiled, yet if Diſcipline be exerciſed, there is hope of that: But if a Kingdome where there is no Juſtice, or a Church where there is no Diſcipline, nor in tendentia to it, then the Lord himſelfe ariſeth and ſaith; W…ll, becauſe you will not take this rod into your hand, I will, and I will raiſe up enemies againſt you that ſhall doe the ſame to you, that you ſhould have done to them. Good reaſon therefore, yea infinitely good reaſon, that God ſhould ſometimes ſuffer his owne people to bee puſhed, gored, ſcattered, by cruell and bloody enemies that are moſt unreaſonable.
Wherefore then let no man be ſtumbled or offendedApplication. at Gods preſent proceedings in the world, or in this Kingdome, though very myſterious. Our Saviour ſayes, Theſe things I tell ye before, that when they come to paſſe, ye may not be offended; and whatſoever is now come to paſſe among us, Chriſt hath told us of it before; yea this Scripture. Yet, good Lord, how many are there that are offended! Oh, ſayes one, we looked for reformation, and we meet with confuſion; for light, and we meete with darkenes; we looked that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould at this time have reſtored his Kingdom to the Churches; for friends, and we meete with enemies; Can God love us, and ſuffer ſuch enemies to riſe againſt us? Were there ever any enemies that were like to ours? ſo potent, ſo cruell, ſo many, ſo blaſphemous, ſo helliſh, &c.
But who art thou, oh man, that ſpeakeſt thus long without book under the command of unbeliefe, and darkneſt knowledge? Shouldſt thou not rather write ſo and ſuch over thy ſins, then over thine afflictions? You ſay, had ever any of Gods people ſuch enemies as we? ſo cruell, ſo many, ſo vile, &c? You ſhould rather ſay, Come, O my ſoul, did ever any commit ſuch ſins as I do? ſo frequently, ſo knowingly, ſo deliberately, ſo incorrigibly, ſo ſcandalouſly? Why do you not rather write the So upon your ſins, then upon your ſorrowes? Thus did Euſebius Neiremburgius, aggravating his own ſins, oh ſaith he, never any ſinned ſo as I have done, the Devil ſinned indeed, but Chriſt never died for him as he hath done for me; Iudas ſinned indeed, but he was never pardoned as I have beene; Achan ſinned indeed and troubled the kingdom, but enemies you know there are by whom you are moſt moleſted,
The
Fleſh
Devil
World
Firſt, the Fleſh brings forth three great evils. 1. Ignorance in the underſtanding; In oppoſition to that Jeſus Chriſt is called our Prophet. 2. Rebellion in the will; In oppoſition to that Jeſus Chriſt is called our King. 3. Guiltines that ariſeth from ignorance and rebellion; In oppoſition to that Jeſus Chriſt is called our Prieſt.
The Devil our ſecond enemy is armed with all weapons of hoſtility againſt us; therefore there are ſeverall names given to him. He is ſaid 1. to be the ſtrong man, foreign, when the ſtrong man keepeth the houſe, &c. In oppoſition to that Jeſus Chriſt is called foreign ſtronger then he. 2. TheLuke 11. 21. Devill is called the Accuſer of the brethren; In oppoſition to that Jeſus Chriſt is called our Advocate. 3. The Devil is called Apollyon, deſtroyer; In oppoſion to that Jeſus Chriſt is called our Saviour. 4. The Devil is called the old Serpent; In oppoſition to that Jeſus Chriſt is called the brazen Serpent. 5. The Devil is called a roaring Lion; in oppoſitionIſte leo ob ſeritatem, Chriſtus ob fortitudinem Chriſtus l…o ad vincendum, diabolus ad nocondum. Aug. to that Jeſus Chriſt is called a Lion of the Tribe of Iudah. 6. The Devil is called the god of this world, the prince of the ayre; In oppoſition to that Jeſus Chriſt is called the Prince of Peace, the mighty God. Thus what ever termes or titles of ſtrength and power there is in Satan, there is ſomewhat in Jeſus Chriſt that anſwereth, yea that over-anſwereth all.
And for our third enemy, the world, you cannot have a more full deſcription of its power then as it is preſented to you Revel. 13. 1. I ſaw a Beaſt ariſing out of the Sea having ſeven heads and ten hornes. Our Text ſpeakes but of foure hornes, and here are ten; yet if you look into the 5. Revel. you ſhall find an anſwerable ſtrength in Chriſt, who is deſcribed to be a Lambe having ſeven hornes, ſeven rather then ten being the number of perfection in Scripture. But if you think that ſeven is not enough to equalize the ten, you find alſo in Habak. 3. ver. 4. that the Lord our God is ſaid to have hornes in his hand, becauſe all the works of his hand are done in ſtrength and power. So that what ever your enemies are, there is ſtrength enough in Jeſus Chriſt to ſubdue their ſtrength.
And why is Chriſt thus furniſhed, but for his Church and people? He is the Lord Keeper of all our comforts, the LordChriſtus com… theſa… …. Luth. Treaſurer of all our graces, and the great Magazine of all our Ammunition. He was anointed that he might anoint; he was ſanctifyed that he might ſanctifie; he received of the Father that he might give unto you, unto you I ſay and unto all the Churches. He is the Head of His Church, and therefore as Luther obſerveth well, though every member is ſenſibleSen…s ſub… o… & … eſt in capite quam in reliqui… membris corpor…: hoc experientia …idemus, nam laeſo digitu…o aut ali… minima corporis parte laeſa, ſtatim caput in vultu prodit ſ…ſe hoc ſentire; naſus enim contrabitu…, oculi torvum vident: ſi… Chriſtus caput noſtrum afflictiones noſt…as ſuas facit & ut in capite omnes ſenſus, &c. Luth. of wrong and hurt done to another member, yet the head is much more ſenſible then all the members, for the head is the ſe…te and habitation of all the ſenſes; the hand may touch, but it cannot ſee; the foot may feel, but it cannot heare or taſt; the head ſees, and f…ls, and heares, and taſts, and ſmels; ſo ſayes he, it is with Chriſt our Head, in whom all the ſenſes dwell, and therefore infinitely more ſenſible of the Churches miſery then any other member in all the world; and ſenſible he cannot be unleſſe in due time he be helpfull unto them. Upon this very ground you ſhall find that God promiſeth to raiſe up ſeven ſhepheards and eight principall men for the help of his people, Micah 5. 5. When the Aſſyrian ſhall come into our land, and when he ſhall tread in our palaces, then ſhall we raiſe againſt him ſeven ſhepheards and eight principall men; As if he ſhould ſay, though you have been heretofore without Guides, and Captaines, and Commanders, and Princes, yet when the enemy is come into your land, I will raiſe up inſtruments enow to ſuppreſſe them; and look what theſe Aſſyrians have done unto you, that ſhall my inſtruments and work-men do unto them; do they come into your Countrey and tread down your palaces? ſo ſhall mine inſtruments go into their Country and tread down their palaces, ver. 6. And would you know the ground of all this? It is my love in Chriſt; for, Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thouſands of Iudah, yet out of thee ſhall he come forth unto me, that is to be ruler in Iſrael, whoſe goings forth have been from of old▪ from everlaſting. And ver. 4. He ſhall ſtand and feed in the ſtrength of the Lord, in the Majeſty of the Name of the Lord his God, and they ſhall abide; And this man ſhall be the peace when the Aſſyrian ſhall come into our land. ver. 5. So that whoſoever doth but ſeriouſly conſider the ſtrength and anointment of Jeſus Chriſt, muſt needs conclude this Doctrine with me. Though God ſuffer the enemies of his Church and people to be many and great, yet in due time he will raiſe up a proportionable ſtrength againſt them to ſuppreſſe them, and to deale by them as they have done by others.
The application of this Doctrine lookes two wayes,
To the
Saints in generall
Carpenters in ſpeciall
To the Saints by way of conſolation and incouragement.
To the Carpenters, to Gods workemen, by way of direction and exhortation.
Firſt, here is conſolation and incouragement unto all theApplication 1 Saints and people of God. Wonder not that in a day of humiliation, I ſpeake of conſolation. Beloved, you are neverSanctus dolet, & de dolo…e gaudet. Aug. more fit to mourne for ſin, then when you can rejoyce in God. One grace makes way for another. It is the warme beames of Gods love and care muſt thaw our hearts. Two things that we are this day to do. To wraſtle with God; To fight with our enemies. You cannot in your wraſtling take better hold of God then by the skirt of a promiſe: you cannot fight better againſt your enemies then by faith. The Devil, with whom eſpecially we fight in theſe wars, will not be killed with ſwords and knives; This is our victory whereby we overcome the world, even our faith. It is written in the life of Mr. Tindall, that when he was in the Netherlands, there was a Conjurer that could command diſhes of meat from ſeverall mens tables, ſo that he would invite his friend to a diſh of meat from ſuch or ſuch a Princes table; divers going to ſee his exploite, Mr. Tindall went with the reſt, if it might be, to hinder it; and when he came there, he ſet himſelf in a way of beleeving to hinder this Conjurers proceedings, which he did accordingly, for when that wretched man ſhould have done his exploit, his hands were held by Mr. Tindalls faith, and he cryed out and ſaid, I cannot do it, there ſits the man that hinders me, or to that purpoſe. What will not faith do, if good? What will it not hinder, if evil? I will not ſay that in theſe ſad dayes of ours we have to deale with Conjurers, but ſurely with ſuch perſons as through their violence and thefts are able not onelyonly to command mens diſhes off their tables, but all their goods out of their houſes: Oh that we had but faith enough, we mightFides ſe demittit ad domeſtica ſoone beleeve them out of all their plundrings.
Wherefore that I may raiſe up your faith a little, and keep you from diſcouragements, I lay before you this promiſe; Zechariah his viſion is your promiſe; yea it is ſomewhat more, for as we ſay of Sacraments, ſo I ſay of theſe two laſt viſions, they are promiſes unto the eye, unto ſenſe. When Ioſhua was to bring the children of Iſrael into Canaan, and ſo to meet with many enemies, before he went out, God, & Moſes, and the people beſtowed their ſeverall exhortations on him; and if you conſult the place, you ſhall find that all of them, God, Moſes, and people wiſh him to be of good courage, and not to feare; Why ſo? Abulenſis anſwereth, Rationabiliter enim timere potuit Ioſhua; Ioſhua might rationally feare, for he ſaw how that his maſter Moſes was occaſioned by theRationabiliter ergo timere poterat Joſua, quod cum ipſe …agilio… eſſ…t ſacillime peccare pote…at, ita ut deus ipſum et populum in hoſtilem tradert poteſtatem. Toſtat. in Joſu. 1. cap. Iſraelites to ſin againſt God, and to be angry, in ſo much as he was kept out of Canaan: Whereupon Ioſhua might well think thus with himſelfe, Oh Lord, if Moſes who was the meekeſt man on earth was moved to anger, the holyeſt man, a man that ſaw God face to face, yet could not do this work, but through his failing was denyed entrance into Canaan; how ſhall I be able to lead this people up againſt all theſe enemies? Well therefore might he feare (ſaith Abulenſis) leſt God ſhould give both him and his people into the hands of his enemies. Well, but how then doth God remove theſe feares, and relieve his heart? OnelyOnly thus, he ſtrengthneth him with a promiſe, Feare not, (ſayes God) neither be diſmayed for I am with thee, and I will never leave thee nor forſa…e thee. So now, are there any of you oppr…ſſ…d with divers ſeares becauſe of theſe hornes that are riſen up in ſeveral parts of the world, of this Kingdome? The Lord hath ſaid that according to the number of the hornes, the carpenters ſhall be. Are there enemies in every part? There ſhall be carpenters in every part. Will you ſay, Oh but our en…mies are exceeding many, and very cru…ll? So were theſe mentioned in the Text, who (as Sanctius obſerveth the words ſignifie) were to doe miſchief in quantum potuerunt & in quantum voluerunt, and as your Engliſh hath it, ſo that no man did lift up his head. Will you ſay, Oh but I doe not yet ſee theſe carpenters at worke? But is it not becauſe you do not ſtir up your ſ…lves? I lift up mine eyes and ſaw, ſaith Z…chariah. Will you ſay, Oh but when I do ſtir up my ſelfe to behold things as they are, I cannot ſee foure for foure, a proportionable ſtrength on the Churches ſide raiſed up againſt the enemies? Well, but yet you may ſee ſome ſtrength in every place, where ever there is any oppoſition made by enemies, ſome there are in the ſame place that God hath raiſed up to reſiſt them. And the Text is not, that God will raiſe up ſtrong gigantean carpenters, but carpenters, foure carpenters, ſome or other that ſhall doe the work of God, though they be never ſo weak. In that Mic. 5. where the promiſe is to raiſe up ſeven ſhepherds, and eight principall men, he ſaith, ver. 7. The remnant of Iacob ſhall be as the dew that waiteth not for the ſons of men. Mark that word, that waiteth not for the ſons of men. When Siſera and all his hoſt were diſcomfited, what were the carpenters? were not Deborah and Iael with her hammer amongſt them? and ſaith the Text, So let all thine enemies periſh; it is not onelyonly a prayer, but a prophecie.
It is recorded in the life and death of Melancthon, that when Charles the 5. and the Pope of Rome threatned the Proteſtants with fire and ſword, Luther, Melancthon, and others got together to ſeek a way for themſelves, their little ones, and their ſubſtance; and on a certaine day after long deliberation, Philip tired out with labour, roſe up (exceeding ſad and very ſorrowfull) to go ſpeake with ſome that knockt and enquired after him at the gate; in his returne to his company he heard in a roome as he paſſed by, the noyſe of children, as it were pronouncing their Catechize; whereupon he put aſide the dore where they were, and he ſaw the Miniſters wives of the place, praying and prayſing God with their children; upon this Melancthon returned to his company exceeding cheerfull and very joyfull; Luther eſpying his gladſome countenance, ſaid thus to him, Philip how commeth it to paſſe that you returne ſo joyfull that went out even now ſo ſorrowfull? He anſwered, Let us be of good comfort, for I have ſeen them that will fight for us and defend us. Luther asked, what thoſe ſtout and brave Captaines were? Oh (ſayes Melancthon) they are the chaſt wives and vertuous children of holy men. It ſeemes that holy man Melancthon thought ſuch Carpenters were a great matter in his time. Beloved, you have many ſuch Carpenters as theſe at work for you: But beſides theſe look into any part of the kingdom, and you ſhal find that where ever any horne is raiſed up, there is a Carpenter at work alſo, ſome or other that God hath unexpectedly raiſed up to make reſiſtance. Wherefore then lift up your heads oh all ye people of the Lord, and be not diſcouraged; what Zechariah ſaw you ſhall find, Gods promiſe is your ſecurity, He will raiſe up four Carpenters to the foure Hornes.
Secondly, This Doctrine ſpeakes direction to the Carpenters,Application 2. it tells them what they ought to do, and what is their work. The work of the foure Carpenters you ſee is not onelyonly to fray theſe hornes away, but to caſt out the Gentiles. Who ever therefore you are whom God hath raiſed up for this imployment, behold your ſervice, up and be doing, and do it fully; Curſed is he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently: and with holdeth his hand from ſhedding of blood, they are knit together in one verſe, Ierem. 48. 10.
But we are now upon the work of Reformation, building Object. the Temple, and if a man be a man of blood, he is not fit for that ſervice.
Miſtake me not, it is not in mine intention to call for blood. Anſw. Oh that in this day of our humiliation and addreſſ…s to God, we could ſo touch the hemme of Chriſts garment, thtt Englands bloody iſſue might be ſtanched I Be as mild as you can, ſo you be like unto Chriſt, who was both a Lamb and a Lion; a Lamb in his owne cauſe, a Lion in Gods. Meekneſſe and Juſtice may well ſtand together: Moſes was the meekeſt man upon earth you know, yet when Iſrael had defiled themſelv…s with Idols in the matter of the golden calfe, he ſtood in the gate of the camp…. Sam. cap. 2. …, ut … eis ne… ſibi …, & tamen d…nquentes ſi… pe…ſecutas eſt, q…os …, ut eos etiam Domino parcente proſtern… et. Gr…gor. and ſaid, Exod. 32. 27. Thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſrael, put every man his ſword by his ſide, and goe in and out from gate to gate through the camp, and ſlay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. He doth not ſay, Slay every man his enemy, or every man his countreyman, but every man his brother, and his companion, and his neighbour. And ver. 28. it is ſaid. The children of Levi did according to the word of Moſes; and there fell of the people that day about three thouſand men; yet the Levites had their hand in Temple-work more then any other Tribe, and Moſes had the honour to build the Tabernacle. You reade alſo in Zech. 13. of a great and glorious Reformation, ſo high, ſo great, and ſo convincing, that the very Prieſts who were wont to goe in rough garments to deceive the people, ſhould throw away their Prieſt-coats, and ſay, ver. 5. I am no Prophet, I am an husbandman, for man taught me to keep cattel from my youth. As if they ſhould ſay ſeverally, Though I am able to reade a Chapter, yet I am not fit to be a Miniſter, I have no learning, but in truth am more fit to goe to the plough: Well, but now mark I pray how this great change and Reformation is uſhered in and brought about, not without ſome kind of holy violence, for it is ſaid, ver. 2. It ſhall come to paſſe in that day, ſaith the Lord of hoſts, that I will cut off the names of the Idols out of the land, and they ſhall be no more remembred; and alſo I will cauſe the Prophets and the uncleane ſpirits to paſſe out of the land: And ver. 3. It ſ…all come to paſſe that wh…n any ſhall yet propheſie, then his father and his mother that begat him ſhall thruſt him through when he propheſyeth. And ver. 6. when any ſhould ask him, What are thoſe wounds in thy hands? Then he ſhall anſwer, Thoſe wherewith I was wounded in the houſe of my friends. Another notable Scripture you have for this purpoſe in Pſal. 24. when the queſtion is made at the third verſe, Who ſhall aſcend into the hill of the Lord, and who ſhall ſtand in his holy place? That is, who is fit to be a member of a true Church? Anſwer is made to this at the 4. 5. and 6. verſes, He that hath cleane hands, and a pure heart, &c. Wherefore then ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Lift up your heads O ye gates, that is, Magiſtrates that ſit in the gates; and be ye lift up ye everlaſting doores, that is, of the Churches, for the doores of the Churches are everlaſting doores, againſt which the gates of hell ſhall not prevaile: and then the King of glory ſhall come in: that is, God will come in and dwell amongſt you in his great glory, and your very congregations ſhall be filled with glory. But, Who is the King of glory? The Lord ſtrong and mighty, ſaith the Pſalmiſt, the Lord mighty in battell, the Lord of Hoſts, he is the King of glory; that is, thus will hee bring his glory into the Churches by ſhewing himſelfe to be the Lord ſtrong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battell. Wherefore then lift up your heads O ye gates, and execute you juſtice and judgement, and be you lift up ye everlaſting doors of the Churches, and be you reformed, and the King of glory ſhall come in with his glory into your congregations. But if you ask me who this King of glory is? I muſt tell you he is the Lord of hoſts, and ſo he will be known unto you when he bringeth his glory amongſt you, even the Lord ſtrong and mighty in battell. Wherefore I ſay lift up your heads O you carpenters and ſervants of the Lord, drawn forth to that employment: you ſee your work, the Text hath cut it out, I beſeech you in the Lord CHRIST, doe it, and doe it throughly. OnelyOnly let me lay in one Caution, which is this:
When you have frayed away the hornes, and caſt out the Gentiles, take heed that the ſpirit of the hornes doe not live in the carpenters. When the Children of Iſrael drove the Canaanites out of their land, they did as well inherit their ſins as their lands, th…ſi…s they came to puniſh they did commit, the ſpirit of th… Canaa…ites did dwell in the Iſraelites. So it was with Iehu when he had beat down the houſe of Ahab: So with Am…ziah, who when he had deſtroyed the Edomites, he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and ſet the … up to be his gods, 2 Chron. 25. 14, 15. This is too common in times of Reformation. You all know what a bleſſed inſtrument of Reformation Maſter Calvin was in his time, yet when he came to thatAt ego, inquit Calvinus, Chryſ…ll…mum ſequntus, occid… me potiu… patia, qua… hae… ma…us De… contempto…bus …udicat… ſancta Domini pe…gat. matter of denying the Lords Supper to Bartlerius and other Servetians who wereA prandio vero Cal… lo…um illum … Actorum Apoſt: ſo…te tractans in quo Paulus Eccleſiae Epheſi…ae, teſtatu… ſe e…m non eſſe qui adverſus magiſt…atum pugra…e ſc…ret a… docer…t, …tum que mult… … co…ortatus ut in ea quam audi…ſſet doct…ina pe…ſevera…t, tandem … poſtremam concionem Gen…e hab…turus, & qu… mad…od…, …qui…, ſe res habent, …cat mihi quoque …atres apud … haec Apoſtols …e…ba …ſur…a…e, Commendo vo… D…o & ſo mo… g…atiae ejus. M…l. Adam. de vita Calvini. moſt unworthy, thoſe that otherwiſe were called Proteſtants, roſe up in oppoſition to him, inſomuch that he was ready, if not altogether forced to leave Geneva for a time. And was it not thus in that unhappy difference at Francford? In Queen Maries time you know thatHiſt. d… Franc. many left this their own countrey, and did fly to Germany; when they came there, did not many of them that fled for Religion prove puſhing, goring hornes unto their brethren? yea ſome of them were ſo bitter to others, that they complained of and impeached that reverend man Maſter Knox of High Treaſon againſt Imperiall Dignity, in ſo much that he was baniſhed from the City, and driven from his congregation. Oh what a ſad thing is this that the ſpirit of Papiſts ſhould live in Proteſtants! that the ſpirit of the horns ſhould live in the carpenters! that the ſpirit of Prelats ſhould live in thoſe that are riſen up to fray them away and caſt them out! I ſay no more, but when we have done all, caſt out the Gentiles, and frayed away the hornes, if then we ſhall turne to puſh, and gore, and caſt out our brethren, and one another, God will finde it out, and will not put it up at Englands hands. Wherefore (my beloved) in the feare of God let us all remember this Caution, Oh take heed that the ſpirit of the horne doe not dwell in the carpenters; And ſo I come to the third Viſion, A man with a meaſuring line in his hand, and the third Doctrine, which is this,
When God ſhall raiſe up his Carpenters againſt his Churches Doct. 3 enemies, then, and then eſpecially Reformation is to be laid unto the line. You ſee how theſe three viſions are knit together, one following immediately upon another, ſhewing not the coherence of the words onelyonly, but of the matter: The Doctrine therefore falleth aſunder into two Propoſitions.
1. Stones of reformation are to be laid with moſt exactnes.1. Prop. 2.
2. When God raiſeth up his Carpenters againſt his Churches enemies, then, and then eſpecially this exact reformation is to be much endeavoured.
1. Stones of reformation are to be laid with moſt exactnes.Propoſ. 1. Reaſ. 1. 1. Temple work is a great work and of great conſequence. When the matter that a man is to work upon is precious, the eye curious and exact that he is to work unto, and the work it ſelf of infinite conſequence, there exactnes is much required, eſpecially when a miſcarriage can hardly be mended but with much difficulty. Now ſo it is in the work of reformation, the matter to be wrought upon are the ſoules of men and women, the moſt precious matter in the world; the eye that we are to work unto is Gods, is Chriſts, who walketh between the golden Candleſtickes; And the buſines it ſelf is of infinite conſequence, yours and mine and thouſands eternities lying at the ſtake; And if there be a miſcarriage, it will be a hard thing to bring the whole Nation unto the work again. You ſee that when a man walketh upon the rope, he carryeth a pole in his hand to ſway him, and he lookes diligently to his feet, Quia non licet his peccare, becauſe if he do fayle he cannot mend his miſcarriage; And I ſay that in this work of reformation if there be the leaſt ſlip; it will be a hard thing to r…cover it, when once a nation is ſetled in that miſcarriage. Surely therefore the work is to be done with the moſt exactnes.
2. It is onelyonly exactnes that doth cauſe conviction in thoſe Reaſ. 2 that do behold. There is no Nationall Reformation but the eyes of Nations are upon it. Give me leave to tell you what I have read in a letter written from a learned Profeſſour of Divinity in an Vniverſity beyond the ſ…as, who writes thus to England: Upon your reformation (ſaith he) if happily performed,A … ex…m…ari. D. V… et. doth depend the reformation of all the Churches in Chriſtendom as upon a Rule and Exemplar. So that I ſay there is no reformation on foot in any Nation but the eyes of other Nations are upon it; If it be done exactly, the beholding Nations will alſo come in, and ſay, We will take hold of your skirt, and your God ſhall be our God. When Judah ſhineth, and Gods glory reſteth upon them, then Nations come in and joyne themſelves unto them; Eſa. 60. 1, 2, 3. It is onelyonly beauty that doth take the eye; when there is no beauty, there is no allurement; foreign, beautifull, comes from foreign, which ſignifies to call, becauſe beauty cals forth the eye a…d holds it in its beams; Now 4. things muſt concur to beauty. 1. There muſt be all the parts. 2. All in their proportion. 3. All in their due place. 4. All laid over with a ſweet and lively colour. So it is in the beauty of Gods houſe; There muſt be all the ordinances, all in their place, all in due proportion▪ and laid over with the power of godlines. When theſe meet in any Church, there is beauty; but meet they cannot, unleſſe there be exactnes in reforming. Surely therefore ſtones of reformation are to be laid with moſt exactnes.
But what reaſon is there of the ſecond Propoſition, which Queſt. is, that then this exact reformation is eſpecially to be endeavoured, Propoſ. 2 when God ſhall raiſe up his Carpenters againſt the Churches enemies? for when the Carpenters do ariſe, the ti…s are troublous.
True, they are indeed. But God chooſeth troublous times Anſw. to build in both his houſe and walls of the City. TheEccleſia tunc ſemper fu…t optima quando agebat inte peſſi…os. Luth. Churches have alwayes loſt moſt in times of peace, and gained moſt in times of trouble. Whileſt the 10. Perſecutions conti…ued, the integrity of the Church…s was beſt preſerved. The Pſalmiſt ſaith, Send out thy light and thy truth, O Lord, Pſal. 43. 4.and let them leade me unto thine Altar. There is no going unto Gods Altar with worſhip, without the leading hand of truth, and there is no building Gods houſe for an Altar without light. When God made the world, he firſt made light on the firſt day, as an example unto us in all our workes to work by light. Now light and truth do break forth much in troublous times.
1. Troublous times are praying times, and praying times Reaſ. 1 are knowing times. Prov. 2. 3, 4, 5. If thou cryeſt after knowledge, and lifteſt up thy voyce for underſtanding, if thou ſeekeſt her as ſilver and ſearcheſt for her as for hid treaſures, then ſhalt thou underſtand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God.
2. In troublous times mens hearts are moſt low and Reaſ. 2 h…mbled, and ſo more apt and ready to receive and to be led into any truth. You read in Eſa. 11. that God promiſeth that in the latter times the whole earth ſhall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord; and in the verſes a little before, it is ſaid of the Lion and the young Lion that a child ſhall lead them; theſe two go well together, but the ſtout Lion-like ſpirit will never be led by the hand of a ſucking child till it be brought down and low by troublous time.
3. In troublous times God is pleaſed to communicate Reaſ. 3 himſelf more freely to his people. God is not unto his in affliction as at other times: he is moſt ſweet when the world is moſt bitter. It is with a Nation, Church… & people in their reformation, as with a perſon in his firſt converſion; becauſe of thoſe many temptations that a converting perſon is to conflict withall, God doth more abundantly reveal and communicate himſelf unto him at his firſt converſion; ſo with a reforming people, becauſe of thoſe many oppoſitions that they ſhall meet withall in that work, God doth then more then ordinarily communicate himſelf unto them. Thus troublous times do bring forth light and truth. God loveth to have a ſacrifice from the hands of the children of Abraham out of the thickets and bryars. Oppoſition commendeth reformation, in troublous times there is much oppoſition, and therefore in thoſe times reformation is very beautifull. The Doctrine is clear then, the application eaſie. Thus.
Hence we may all ſee and know what is the work of theApp… times, even to meaſure the Temple. Now for a long while we have had experience of the firſt Viſion, and we have felt the hornes; the riſing of the carpenters we have ſeen alſo: And who may not ſay, I have lift up mine eyes, and behold, a man with a meaſuring line in his hand? Bleſſed be God that we have lived to ſee this day, to ſee a man ſtand with a meaſuring line in his hand in England. And who ever you are that heare me this day, you are either ſuch as have this meaſuring line in your hands, or elſe ſuch as are to be meaſured.
If you have the meaſuring line in your hands, then remember this Doctrine, the firſt Propoſition, Stones of Reformation are to be laid with moſt exactneſſe. Herein if you be exact, you ſhall be like unto Jeſus Chriſt, who (as Salmeron obſerveth) when he came to purge the Temple, did not onelyonly admoniſh, chide, reprove the money-changers, or whip them away, but did overthrow their very Tables, Ne impium opus facile repeterent, Leſt they ſhould recover their tradeSac…dot… in Templ… … dentes ſu… … gellorum d…g…. S…l…ner▪ in Joan. 3. againe. In other things you are very exact, men are exact in their trades, exact in their accounts, exact in their reckonings, exact in their diet, exact in their ſleep, exact in their haire both of head and face; In ſmall things you are exact, and will you not be exact in this greateſt? You know what other Reformed Churches have done, the Reformation of all other Churches are round about you, you have their writings before you, their books, their practices, their examples, and this for many yeeres; can you think that God hath ſet us now for an hundred yeeres upon their ſhoulders, to ſee no farther into Reformation then they have done? If two men be to do the ſame work, the one firſt and the other after; he that doth it firſt though he doth it never ſo well, yet will excuſe himſelf and ſay, I never ſaw he work done before me, I was faine to invent my very tooles and inſtruments; and you will excuſe him though there be ſome fayling in him: But when the ſecond man commeth to the ſame work that hath a former example, and all his tooles to help him, you expect more exactnes from him. You know my meaning, I need not apply this; Oh that our God would make England the praiſe of the whole earth! Nothing will do it but our exactnes in reformation. Certainly this reformation that is now on foot, hath (as I may ſpeake with reverence) coſt our God very dear, the liberties, the eſtates, the lives and bloods of many of his deare children, of whom the world was not worthy. Do you think God will lay out all this for an imperfect, unexact, poor and low reformation? Let me preſent you with the propheſy of Biſhop Hooper, who when he was in priſon called his Printer to him, and ſaid, You ſhal outlive theſe Marian times, and ſee the alteration of the preſent religion, when the Goſpel ſhall be freely preached, wherefore remember me to my brethren as well in exile as others, and bid them be circumſpect in diſplacing of Popiſh Prieſts, and put good Miniſters in Churches, or elſe their end will be worſe then ours. He ſaid, be circumſpect; I ſay, be exact; And though I do not wiſh that every morning there might be a boy crying at your doors as once at Philips, Mortalises, thou art mortall, thou art mortall; for that the Drum doth ſufficiently every morning; yet I could wiſh that this ſentence might be ſounding in your hearts every morning and night, that it might lie down with you and riſe with you, ſtones of reformation are to be laid with moſt exactnes.
But how ſhall that be? Queſt.
Thus. 1. Be ſure of this that you take the right line into Anſw. your hands. Gods word it is our line, able to reach unto all particular affaires of the Churches.
Miſtake me not, I pray. A Church is conſidered two wayes; As a meeting of people, men and women; O… as a Church meeting, a meeting of Saints, apparent Beleevers, coe…us ſidelium. I doe not ſay that the Word is to be the onelyonly line and rule to the Church in the firſt reſpect, ſo reaſon may be a rule to men as men; but in the ſecond reſpect it is, the Word is able to reach unto all things belonging unto a Church as a Church. Our Commiſſion is not larger now then the Apoſtles Commiſſion was, and their Commiſſion ran thus, Goe teach and baptize, &c. teaching men to obſerve what ever I command you, Mat. 28. If not commanded by Chriſt, then not to be preached by them nor by us. Jeſus Chriſt was and is as fully Chriſt in his Propheticall as Prieſtly office, and his Prieſtly ſatisfaction reached unto all our ſinnes, though they were never ſo ſmall, therefore his Propheticall direction reacheth to all our duties,… though they be never ſo little. That which commeth not from heaven, can never bring you into heaven. If you ſay, There are ſome things indifferent; It is true, but Chriſts command is to keep them ſo then, and not to alter them. If you ſay that Circumſtances are left unto the Church; Either you meane all Circumſtances, or ſome; If you meane onelyonly ſome, then you conclude nothing, for a particular Propoſition cannot make a generall Concluſion; If you meane that all Circumſtances are left unto the Church, then you doe at once and at one ſtroke cut off three Commandements from the Decalogue; the firſt Commandement, Thou ſhalt have no other Gods but me, commandeth the ſubſtance of worſhip, the ſecond the means, the third the manner, the fourth the time; and meanes, manner,… and time are circumſtances. Herein Luther ſpeaks well, Whatſoever a man beleeveth, or learneth, or teacheth beſides the Word, it is ſinne; and againe ſaith he, The ChurchNon enim noſtro …udicio inſ…nda eſt Rel…g…, ſed e … Dei. Om… a pervertunt…, cum Religio non verbo Dei, ſed hominum a bit… …i…itur. Jew…l, Conci… ad Clerum de verbo Dei. is the daughter of Scripture, brought up at the fe…t of the Word. O the perfection of that line! it is a compleat line, a glorious line, a bleſſed line. Take this line therefore firſt into your hands.
2. When you have gotten this line into your hand, view your ground well, and ſtones well that you are to draw this line over. Three ſorts there are that are eſpecially to be lined by it: The Magiſtrates, the Miniſters, the Congregations. Theſe three the Pope and Prelats, notwithſtanding their ſlattering with Princes, have eſpecially laboured to degrade and to deprive of that power which was given unto them by Jeſus Chriſt. 1. The Magiſtrates, and therefore the man of ſin is ſo deſcribed by the Apoſtle, that he ſhall exalt1 Theſſal. 2. 4. himſelfe above all that is called God. 2. The Miniſters and Elders of the Church, and therefore you ſhall obſerve that from the 7. Chapter of the Revelation to the 14. there is no more mention made of Elders (unleſſe it be in relation unto that ſame time:) In the 4. Chapter the condition of the Church is ſtated, and then the Elders are mentioned; ſo againe in the 5. and 7. but in the after Chapters to the 14. you have the ſtory of Antichriſt, his riſe, his reigne and ruine; and till the fall of Antichriſt (which is begun in the 14. and perfected in the 18.) we reade no more of the Elders; but in the beginning of the 19. after Babylon is falne, then come forth the Elders againe, praiſing God, and with great joy. So in our Service-book, the Collect runs thus, Send down upon our Biſhops and Curats, &c. as if Miniſters and Elders were onelyonly Biſhops Curats, and had no power but under them. 3. The Congregations alſo have been much oppreſſed by them, therefore *Non i…a que inſiciamu… …eterem ritum ac mor…m Epiſ… pos …ligend…, quo pl…be praeſent…, im… & …ſius ſuffragiis aliquand… … ligebantur…nam in Africa illum moremobſervatum eſſe conſ…at ex electione Eradii ſucceſſoris S. Auguſt. in Graecia …tate S. Ch…yſoll. ex libro eſus 3. de ſacerdote: qua quidem eligendi Epiſcopi ratio uſ que ad Gregorium I. ut conſtat ex ejus epiſtolis, im… & ad Caroli Magni, & Ludovici R. …. Imperatorum uſ que tempor a perduravit. Azor. inſtit. Morab. p. 2. l. 3. c. 28.Azorius the Jeſuite profeſſeth ingenuouſly that untill Gregory the firſt, and Charles the Great, the Congregations had the power of chuſing their owne Miniſters; ſince Antichriſts power the Congregations have loſt their power.
Now bel…ved in the Lord, there is none of all theſe three but have ſome power about Church-affaires; the Magiſtrate he hath his power, and therefore he is called a nurſing Father; the Miniſter and Elder, he hath his power, therefore he is commanded foreign, whic… ſignifi…th both to feed and rul…; The Con…r…gation hath its power, and therefore well ſaith that bleſſed and learned man D. Whitaker, who is now in H…aven: If you conſider… the government of the Church in regard of its Head Chriſt, ſo it is Monarchicall; if in regard of the Elders, ſo it is Ariſtocraticall; if in regard of the people who have a power to chooſe their own Officers; it is Democraticall: Whether this power of theirs be a matter of priviledge or of juriſdiction, I diſpute not now; but a power they have: a power the People, a power the Miniſter and Elder, a power the Magiſtrate; and if your line can be ſo drawn, as that every one of theſe three may have that native power which Jeſus Chriſt hath left them by legacie, then have you drawn your line aright: view therefore your ground well.
3. Which that you may doe, in the third place take heed of ſelfe-ingagements and ſelf…-reſpects in this worke of Reformation. Veritas ſt…t in aperto Campo, the truth ſtands in the open …ield, it ſ…es no houſe, it ſees no friend, no home; And if your eye be upon your engagements, your hand will draw the Line awry. Chryſoſtome obſerveth, that when our Saviour propoundeth the Parable of the husbandmen untoMat. 21. 41. the Scribes and Phariſees, ſaying, What ſhall bee done to theſe Hu…bandmen? The Jews anſwered, He ſhall miſerably deſtroy Luke 20. 16.thoſe Husbandmen; yet in another Goſpel when our Saviour ſaith, he ſhall miſerably deſtroy them, the Jews anſwered, God forbid: In one Goſpel their anſwer is related to be, He ſhall miſerably deſtroy them; in the other Goſpel their anſwer is related on the contrary, God forbid. How can theſe agree? Yes, ſayes Chryſoſtome, for firſt they ſay, he will miſerably deſtroy theſe husbandmen; but when they perceived that Chriſt aymed at them, then they ſaid, God forbid. So miſleading are all ſelf…-reſpects and ingagements in receiving the truth; Reforming perſons therefore muſt be ſelfe-denying perſons.
1. They muſt deny their owne wits, underſtandings, reaſonings, though they be never ſo plauſible; Da mihi baptizatam rationem, Give me baptized reaſon, ſaith one, mortified reaſon. Naturall reaſon may be a drawer of water unto the Temple, but no Officer in the Temple.
2. They muſt deny their owne wils and affections, though they be never ſo ſtrong. The Saints in Heaven are the leaſt proprietaries to their owne wils, and yet moſt happy. OurQ…i voluntati propria non divinae obedit, ſibi parit ruinam. Mendoza. Saviour ſayes, I am not come to doe my owne will, but the will of him that ſent me; and this muſt be the reſolution and practiſe of all thoſe that are ſent by God upon any ſervice.
3. They muſt deny their owne labours though they be never ſo great: So did Paul, who though hee laboured more abundantly then all, yet ſayes, I am the leaſt of all the Apoſtles. I have read or heard a ſtory of one being in the boat where the Kings …rowne was, and the Crowne falling occaſionally into the water, he leaped after it, and having recovered it, to ſave himſelfe and it, he put the Crowne upon his owne head, that ſo he might ſwimme the better unto the boat or land; but though …e was thanked for his venture, yet he was ſharply reproved for his boldneſſe, for putting the Crowne upon his owne head. The caſe is ours, is yours, the Crowne of the Lord Jeſus hath as it were fallen into the water, and beene ready to ſinke; it is your duty and practiſe to venture for to ſave it, but you muſt not th…n ſet the Crowne upon the head of your owne labours, but upon Chriſt himſelfe. The foure and twenty Elders threw down their Crownes at the feet of Chriſt, Revel. 4.
4. They muſt deny their own enjoyments, comforts and contentments, though they be never ſo ſweet. So Nehemiah Nullu… …a…ntem exci…abit niſi …n …one ſ…. Auguſt.denied his Court favours, his Governours table, and ſometimes to ſhift his own cloathes: he that will lift up one that is fallen muſt ſtoop himſelf.
5. They muſt deny their own relations though they be never ſo neare. Salmeron obſerveth that our Saviour Chriſt did ſtill call his Mother Woman, Woman what have I to do with thee? not Mother, but woman; Why ſo, ſaies he, but toIn ca…ſa … … …ſan… non eſſe …. Salmeron. ſhew that in matter of Religion we are to know no relations. Thus muſt all reforming perſons be ſelf-denying perſons. And thus right worthy Zerubbabels, if you do firſt take the right line into your hands, then view your ground well, giving unto every one thoſe immunities that Chriſt hath left him, and deny your ſelves in working, your own reaſons, wiſdomes and underſtandings, your own affections, your own labours, your own outward contentments and all relations, I make no queſtion but our ſtones of reformation ſhall be laid with much exactnes and the Lords bleſſing; And the Lord grant it may be ſo.
As for theſe that are to be meaſured, let them be willing to be meaſured, to be reformed, exactly reformed, willing to be fully meaſured. Wonder not that I call upon you to be willing; I ſhall tell you what I read concerning Beza, who comming unto a diſputation before the Court of France, and being very mighty in his arguments againſt the adverſary, a Cardinall ſtood up and ſaid unto ſome Peers, I would to God that either Beza were dumbe, or that we were all deafe; ſo unwilling were they to receive the truth, and to be reformed by it. And if people did not in their hearts wiſh as much now, why ſhould they ſay in every place, Would to God we had never medled with this work of reformation, here is ado about reformation and exact reformation, ſee what it is come to, would to God that we had ſtaied in our old condition! Oh my beloved, do you not remember Chriſts complaint? I came unto my own and my own received me not. Shall Jeſus Chriſt take up the like complaint and ſay, I came unto my own in England and they received me not; I offered, I tendered my own government unto them, and they would none of it? Oh England, England, how long have I ſtood knocking at thy door, and as it were put my finger in at the hole of the door by my providentiall workes! Wilt not thou yet open unto me? How often would I have gathered thee under my wings as a hen gathereth her chickens, and thou wouldeſt not? Wherefore now thy houſe is left unto thee deſolate. Oh that people therefore would be willing! Yea, go to God and ſay, Behold Lord we are all here before thee, doe with us what is good in thine eyes, onelyonly meaſure us, meaſure my family, meaſure my children, meaſure my ſervants, meaſure my ſelf, onelyonly let the line of reformation paſſe over me and mine; I am willing Lord, help my unwillingnes.
Then ſecondly, if ever God ſhall pleaſe to bring you unto the haven of your deſires, reformation in exactnes, Chriſt in his own governement into your congregations, be ſure that you lay faſt hold of him, that he may never leave you or go from you any more. When the Spouſe in the Canticles had loſt Chriſt, ſhe goes bemoaning, lamenting, crying and enquiring after him; when ſhe had found him, ſhe brings him into the chamber of her Mother, and ſayes, I charge you O ye daughters of Ieruſalem, I charge ye by the Roes and by the Hinds that ye awake not my beloved untill he pleaſe. So do you, if ever you light on Jeſus Chriſt again, a ſetled Goſpel, carry him, oh carry him into the Chamber of your Mother as it were, and ſay unto all your freinds, neighbours and congregations, I charge ye oh ye daughters of England, yea by the Roes and Hinds of the fields, I charge ye oh ye daughters of England, that ye awake not my beloved untill he pleaſe. This do hereafter, and for the preſent ingage your ſelves thereunto.
3. In the meane while that you may do and have all this, now pray, pray alone and pray in company, pray in publique, pray in private. The man with a meaſuring line in his hand, ſaies pray, your Carpenters that are abroad in the field ſay pray; the examples of all reformed Churches ſay pray; your Parliament ſay pray; your Aſſembly ſay pray; your lives, your liberties, your Goſpel, your all, ſayes pray: Oh you that have any credit in Heaven pray now, you that never prayed before, pray now; It is but one houre and the work is done; Can ye not watch with Jeſus Chriſt one houre? watch and pray: And that I ſay unto one I ſay unto all, and unto my own ſoul, Let us all watch and pray leſt we enter into temptation.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Bridge, Sermon 29 November 1643 (1643)