Church Reformation, Sermon 3
THE THIRD SERMON, May 3. 1643▪
MATTH. 3. 12.
And he will throughly purge his Floore.]
THe ſubject of the Text (as you have already heard) is Church-Reformation; a great and a glorious worke, the great deſigne (as vve hope) of Jeſus Chriſt upon this and other of his Churches at this day. Apprehending it ſo to be, be we excited every of us, to put to our hands, in our ſeverall places to doe what we may for the promoting and furthering of that deſigne in the Church of God amongſt us. This Exhortation I propounded the laſt day, and give me now leave to proſecute it.
Vſe.Doe what we may every of us for the furthering of this great Deſigne. But what ſhall we do?
For anſwer hereunto, I then chalked out the way, wherein I intend now to walke; which was, firſt to ſhew you, What that Reformation is, which we are to ſeek. Queſt. What Reformation to be …eſired in this Church.Secondly, What we ſhall doe to compaſſe that Reformation. Begin with the firſt of theſe.
Qu What is that Reformation which amongſt us is ſo deſired, and ſo deſireable? A queſtion of great and preſent concernement, other wiſe I ſhould not ſo much as have medled with it. Reformation, it is the common Theame of the times: No one thing more frequently, more freely ſpoken of every where; but my feares are, not ſo clearely, ſo diſtinctly underſtood by many, it may be by ſome of them who ſeeme to be moſt zealous in the cauſe, either for or againſt it. To rectifie, not to quenth or quell the zeale of the one, to kindle and blow it up in the other; I ſhall adventure to deſcend into, or rather upon, theſe troubled waters; hovering over them, (as the Spirit is ſaid to have done over thoſe firſt waters. Movebat ſuper faci…m;) Mooving upon the face of the Gen. 1. 2. Mat. 14. 25.deepe; or walking upon the ſurface of them, (as our Saviour once did upon the Sea;) not diving into them; paſſing over the point as lightly, as tenderly, as overly, as generally as with convenience I may; Yet ſo as I may give ſome ſatisfaction to thoſe which doe, or ſhall deſire it.
Anſw. The Churches Imperfection wherein it conſiſteth.For reſolution we muſt looke a little back, caſting an eye, (ſo far as with humble modeſty we may)▪ upon the Churches deformation; enquiring what chaffe there is yet left in this floore, what Errours, what Imperfections, what corruptions there are, or may be ſuppoſed to be left in this Church, unpurged out, unreformed. Ezek. 8▪ 12. It muſt be either in Faith or Order. Col. …. 5. Faith and Order the two main Pillars of a Church. Duo ponit Apoſtolus quibus conſtat Eccle…i… perfectio. Beza▪ ad …ocu….Chaffe there is, Errours, Imperfections there are (as what Church without?) Let that be granted, yealded. But wherein lye thoſe Errours, thoſe Imperfections?
To find them out we ſhall not need to goe far about; there are but two Roo…s, two Chambers (as I may ſay) wherein we are to make ſearch for them. They muſt be either in matters of Faith or Order. To theſe two heads the Apoſtle reduceth the whole buſineſſe of a Church, Col. 2. 5. Beholding your Order, and the stedfaſtneſſe of your Faith.] There are but theſe two maine things to be eyed in a Church, the perfection of a Conſtituted 1 King 7▪ 21.Church conſiſting in them, Faith and Order, the two great ſupporters of a Church, like thoſe two Pillars in the Porch of Solomons Temple, Jachin and Boaz; Eſtabliſhment and Strength, as the words ſignifie.
Faith the righthand Pillar.Faith, Doctrine, or the Doctrine of Faith, the righthand pillar, the maine and principall thing in a Church; So much the Apoſtle there inſinuates, in that he calleth it foreign, Firmamentum fidei, (as the vulgar Latin renders it) The Firmament, the Groundworke, and Foundation of Faith. Such is the Doctrine of Faith to the Church, Totius adificij foreign, i. e. Ibid.Fulcimentum, (as Beza gloſſeth upon it) The maine Baſis or Buttreſſe of this Building, the maine Pillar of the Church.
Faith and the Church, they are mutuall Pillars, each a Pillar to other; the Church a Pillar to Faith, and Faith a Pillar to the Church; but in a different reſpect. The 1 Tim. 3. 15.Church is a Pillar to Faith (The Pillar of Truth) modo forenſi, a Pillar houlding it forth, as Pillars doe the publick Edicts or Proclamations which are hanged upon them, or fixed to them. Faith a Pillar to the Church, Modo Architectonico, a Pillar holding it up, as a Pillar doth a Houſe which reſteth upon it. Faith the righthand pillar.
Order the lefthand Pillar. Naz:Next to that is Order. Order the Beauty of a Church, Ʋbi Ordo dominatur ibi pulchritudo splendeſcit (ſaith the Father.) Where Order raignes, Beuty ſhines. A thing much to be joyed in where it is. foreign, ſaith Col. 2. 5.Paul to thoſe Coloſſians. Rejoycing and beholding your Order of the Eſſence of a Church. Ex quibus velu…i generalibus partibus conſtat Eccleſia, Beza▪ Ibid.Order, Much to be deſired where it is not, or where it is not in ſome degree of perfection. The Beauty of a Church, Nay more, of the Eſſence of a Church, Faith and Order (ſaith Beza) they are the generall parts of which a Church conſiſts: Each eſſentiall to a conſtituted Church, requiſite not onelyonly to the well-being, but the being of it; without which it cannot be a Church, a conſtituted Church. A Church it cannot be without Faith, which maketh it an Eſſentiall Church, A constituted Church it cannot be without Order (ſome Order) which maketh it an Integrall and Organicall Ames: Medul: lib. 1 cap. 33.Church, (as our Learned Countrey-man diſtinquiſheth.) This it is that makes the difference betwixt Eccleſia, and Agora, (as Illiricus well obſerves) betwixt a Church and a Market. The one is Conventus Ordinatus, an Orderly Convenſion or Aſſembly. The other, Confuſa Congregatio, a Confuſed and Pr…iſcuous Gathering. Even as it is betwixt an Armie and a Route, that which differenceth the one from the other is Order. An Armie is an Orderly Body, made up of Commanders, Officers, Common-Souldiers, divided into ſeverall Regiments, Squadrons and Companies, Martialled in Rankes and Files, obſerving a Militario Order. Such is the Cant. 6. 10.Church, an Armie [Terrible as an Armie,] it is ſaid of the Church Ʋniverſall; and it may be ſaid of every particular Church, it is (or ought to be) an Armie, Acies ordinat…, an Armie; as for Strength, ſo for Order, without which it cannot be a Church.
Some Perfection of Order of great concernement to a Church.Of ſuch concernement is Order to the Church, and that, ſome Perfection of Order. Without the one it cannot be a Conſtituted Church, and without the other it cannot be a Setled, an Eſtabliſhed Church. He ſhall ſit upon the Throne of David, and upon his Kingdome to order, and to ſtabliſh it,] it is ſpoken of Chriſt and his Church, Iſa. 9. 7.Iſa. 9. To Order and to ſtabliſh. No Eſtabliſhing of a Church without Order; No ſuch way to Eſtabliſh it as by Order; Which, the more exact and perfect it is, the more Beautifull, the more Stable the Church is; and therefore not to be ſleighted, as it is by many. Next to the Faith of the Church, no one thing of ſo great concernement as …rder. If Faith be the right-hand Pillar, Church-Order der wherein it conſiſts▪ viz. in 3. things.Order is the left.
Q. But wherein conſiſts this Order which we erye up to be ſo requiſite, at leaſt to the well being of a Church.
D…ven…t … Calvin ſuper Col. 2. 5.A. Here give me leave to follow the ſteps of a Reverend and Learned Worthy of this Church, or rather Calvins before him, whom therein he followes. Church-Order conſiſts principally in theſe three things. 1. In the Ʋnitie and Agreement of the Members of a Church. 2. In the Orderly walking of thoſe Members. 3. In a right Diſcipline duly exerciſed. All theſe three did the Apoſtle, not without ſingular complacencie and joy, take notice of in the Church of Coloſſe. He there ſaw a ſweet Harmonie and agreement betwixt the members; he ſaw their perſonall walkings, and Church-buſineſſes all carried in a Regular and Orderly way. Three things much to be deſired in every Church.
1. Ʋnitie and Agreement, and that both in Judgement Ʋnitie in Iulgment and Affection. Phil. 2. 2.and Affection; That the Members of a Church might be all foreign, (to uſe Pauls words) Like-minded, One-Hearted, Having the ſame Love, being of one accord, of one minde, (as Paul ſaith to his Philippians,) minding and ſpeaking one and the ver. 20.ſame thing. Mutually imbracing, and Naturally caring for the ſtate one of another: Thus knit together in that double Bond of Faith and Love. Here is the firſt Branch of Church-Order, Ʋnitie and Agreement.
A ſecond is in the Carriage and D…meanour, the life Regulatitie in life and convenſation. Tit. 2 12. 2 Theſ. 3. 6.and converſation of the Members of a Church, which ought to be Orderly. Orderly both towards▪ God, Themſelves, Others. A living Righteouſneſſe, Soberly, Godly, (as the Apoſtle hath it.) Godly to God-ward: Soberly to Themſelves-ward: Righteouſly to the Worldward: which who ſo doe not, they are ſaid to walke foreign, without Order, Diſorderly. [Withdraw your ſelves from every Brother that walketh Diſorderly.] Here is the ſecond Branch of this Order. Order in the Perſonall walkings of Chriſtians, ſuch as joyne themſelves to a Church.
3. A third is that which we call Diſcipline, Church-Diſcipline, Diſcipline.taking the word in the latitude of it, the largeſt ſenſe, as it comprehends under it the Right-Ordering of all the affaires and buſineſſes of the Church; whether of Officers, for their Election, Ordination, &c. or Ordinances, as viz. Word, Sacraments, Prayers, Cenſures, all which ought to be done (as the Apoſtle hath it) foreign, Orderly, according to Order. So were the Services under the Law done. The Service of the 2 Chron. …9. 35. 1 Cor. 14 …lt.Houſe of the Lord was ſet in Order, 2 Chron. 29. So ought all Services under the Goſpell to be done. Let all things be done decently and in Order.] Put theſe together, and you have the full comprehenſion of this ſecond Generall ſo requiſite in every Church-Order.
Now, (to winde up what I have raveled, and to returne from whence I have made this neceſſary digreſſion.) In which of theſe two Chambers ſhall we find the Errours and Imperfections in this Church of onrs, needing, and calling for Reformation? Shall we find them in matters of Faith, in points of Doctrine, or in Order?
The Church of England defective not in points of Faith.Not in the former. So much I ſuppoſe is, or will be freely confeſſed and acknowledged at all ingenuous and impartiall hands. As for the great things of the Gospell, matters of Faith or Doctrine, the firſt Reformers of our Church had ſo happy a hand therein, that there is to be Zerubbabels Incouragemēt, by T. G.found little, if any hay or ſtubble therein; It is the free, publick, and true acknowledgement o… one, no backfriend to Church-Reformation, in his Sermon before the Honourable Houſe of Commons, upon that Subject. Not in Faith, not in Doctrine; Bleſſed be God for that▪ Wherein then? why in Order. There it muſt be or no where. And here I dare not ſay, but that ſome things But, Order, viz.may be found amiſſe, ſome Errours, ſome Defects, ſome Corruptions, and thoſe poſſible to be found in every corner of this Chamber, In every of thoſe three Branches which I particularized even now. In ſome of them they are more palpable, (not more palpable then deplorable.) In the two former I think none but will acknowledge foule errours, foule deformities.
1. As firſt in point of Chriſtian Ʋnitie and Agreement. In Ʋnity. Ioh. 17. 21.Herein what diſorder in the Church of God amongſt us? The Church which ſhould be one, one in the Members of it, (I pray that they may be all one,) ſaith our Saviour, ſpeaking of all that are given to him to beleeve on him, to make profeſſion of his Name) One, in Head and Heart; Judgement and Affection, united to Chriſt, and amongſt themſelves by thoſe ſacred bonds of Faith and Love,) how is it divided, rent, torne? Chriſtians, Members of the ſame myſticall body, how ſevered, and hat both in Judgement and Affection? The evidence is too cleare againſt us.
2. And no leſſe cleare in the ſecond particular. In Regularity.the Perſonall walkings of Chriſtians, what Irregularitie? amongſt thoſe which joyne themſelves to the Church, or Churches of God amongſt us, how many that walke foreign Diſorderly? neither Righteouſly, nor Soberly, nor Godly: perſons every wayes Scandalous, in their practiſe, running counter to their profeſſions, ſhaming the Goſpell of Chriſt, and the Church of God, as ungracious Children doe their Mother; as worthy to be ſevered and ſeperated from all Church ſociety and communion, as ever was Leaper or uncleane perſon to be caſt, or kept out of the Campe or Temple? A blot it muſt be acknowledged, and a blot very readily hit, that we ſhould have ſuch and ſo many of theſe Blots 2 Pet 2. 13. Iude 1….and Spots, foreign (as S. Peter and Jude calleth them,) in our moſt ſacred Feaſts, whether for want of Power to keepe, or caſt them out, or for want of the due exerciſe of that power, I diſpute it not. That it is ſo de Facto, it muſt not, it cannot be denied. So as in this point it ſeemeth, that the Temple of God amongſt us is yet imperfect, having too great an outward Court of an Ignorant and Prophane multitude layed unto it. In both theſe, (as I ſaid) the evidence is too cleare againſt us.
3. And I will not take upon me to cleare and acquit the third and laſt. I am no Accuſer, neither come I Diſcipline.hither to pick holes in the Churches coate, to paſſe a peremptorie cenſure upon what ever ſtandeth eſtabliſhed by the Law, to which I am a Subject; Yet dare I not ſay but even therein, in point of Diſcipline, (take the word largely) there may be ſome things, and many things amiſſe; Some things Redundant and Superfluous, fit to be pared off, and taken away; Some things deficient and wanting, wherein the Church hath not yet attained her full perfection. Neither can it be thought any diſhonour to thoſe ever honoured Worthies, the firſt Reformers of this Church, that they ſhould leave it in ſome particulars imperfect. Strange and wonderfull it is, that coming out of ſuch darkneſſe, they ſhould ſee ſo much as they did; that they ſhould leave the Church ſo perfect, which they found ſo imperfect, and that both for Faith and Order, in both like that firſt Chao…, without forme and voide.
Of what nature theſe ſuppoſed imperfections are. Not Fundamentall▪But to doe them right, and the Church no wrong; Enquire we yet a little further; of what Nature and Qualitie are thoſe Errours, thoſe Imperfections which we ſuppoſe to be ye… left remaining? Are they Fundamentals, or no? deſtructive to the Eſſence and being of a Church, or no? Not ſo. This alſo is, (or I ſuppoſe will be) freely yeelded and acknowledged at all Judicious hands. In the firſt Reforming of this Church, T. G. Ibid.God tooke care for all fundamentall Ordinances of his worſhip, furniſhing the Church with what was neceſſary for the making, and building up of Saints, and the bringing of his people to Heaven: Word, Sacraments, Prayer, thoſe great Ordinances of God, the very Baſis of the Church, together with all the ſubstantials appertaining to them, were all ſetled and eſtabliſhed at the firſt. And I may adde to them the ſubſtantials of Diſcipline alſo.
Wherein then lyeth the Errour? why ſurely for the But for the moſt part Circumſtantiall.moſt part in circumstantials. Such is Order to Ordinances, a Circumſtance, an Appurtenance. And herein probably there may be ſome, poſſibly many, and thoſe very conſiderable defects to be found amongſt us. The Houſe of God amongſt us may want ſome of her Ʋtenſils and Ornaments; The Worſhip of God, though for ſubſtantialls entire, yet may want ſome of her Appurtenances, and Accoutrements. The Ordinances of God though for ſubſtance rightly diſpenſed and adminiſtred, yet in the manner, and Order of their Adminiſtration, poſſibly they may be found, ſome of them at the leaſt, not ſo Regular and Orderly.
Now put theſe together, and ſee what it is that ſtandeth charged upon this Church, as needing and calling for Reformation. Her Defects in point of Order. Her Members, (firſt) are not ſo joynted and cemented together, as the Timbers and Stones of the Temple ought to be. Many of them, (in the ſecond place) in their perſonall walkings doe not anſwer their profeſſion, being ſcandalous in their lives and converſations. Her Ordinances, in the third place, ſome of them defective in ſome Circumſtances, wanting ſome Appurtenances, or elſe not ſo Exact for the Order and manner of their Adminiſtration.
Theſe Errours and Imperfections of great concernment.Q. Why, but you may ſay, are theſe Errours and Defects, Tanti? are they of ſuch high concernement, as that the Reformation of them ſhould be ſo earneſtly deſired?
A. To this I muſt anſwer, and I ſhall doe it freely; Of Concernement they are, and that of great concernement: Though not of ſo great as ſome have taken them to be, who have forſaken and abandoned the Church for them, renouncing, nullifying it, as being no floore becauſe of theſe remainders of chaffe in it, no Church becauſe of theſe defects, theſe corruptions, Yet of greater, then others happily conceive them. That will appeare if we doe but conſider theſe two things, 1. The Inconveniency of allowing or tolerating of theſe corruptions. 2. The conveniencie of their Reformation.
For the former. Corruptions in a Church are like Moath…s in a Garment, if let alone, they will be ſubject The Inconvenien…y of tolerating them.to decay it. Many and great are the Inconveniencies and hazzards, which the Church of God amongſt us, by reaſon of theſe acknowledged corruptions or imperfections at the preſent lyeth under.
1. The want of unity and agreement, what an Eyeſore? Nay what a Heart-ſore. For the Diviſions of Reuben Iudg. 5. 15, 16.were great thoughts of heart.] To ſee the ſeameleſſe Coat of Chriſt, nay his Body rent and torne in p…eces; Col. 1. 24.Chriſtians, members of the ſame myſticall body, ſo divided in head and heart, in judgement and affection; a ſad ſpectacle, and as ſad a preſage. Vnity, as it is the Beauty, ſo is it the ſtrength of a Church. No one thing either deformes or weakens it more then diviſion.
2. To have the outward Court of the Temple ſo wide, as that it ſhould admit and receive all comers; what a diſproportion? To have all ſorts of perſons, Perſons openly profane and ſcandalous, received into and retained in the boſome of the Church, admitted to Church ſociety and Communion, even communion in thoſe ſacred myſteries, the Seales of the Covenant, what a ſca…dall? What a Hazard? Hereat and hereby ſome are offended, others hardened, the Church endangered. Indangered and that both in reſpect of guilt and infection. Both theſe wayes that of the Apoſtle carries a truth with it: [A little leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe] leaven, corrupt 1 Cor. 5. 6.and ſcandalous ſinners, not purged out, but allowed or connived at in a Church, it leaveneth the whole lumpe; layeth the whole Church under a guilt, where the Church is Acceſſary to that Toleration; beſides the danger of ſouring, leavening, infecting others, poſſibly the whole Church, probably ſome of the members of it: both ways the Church is damnified or indangered.
3. To want a due and right Order in diſpencing the Ordinances of God, or managing the affaires and buſineſſes of the Church, it is a thing of dangerous conſequence; I, though the ſubſtance be right. David in 1 Chron. 13.bringing the Arke from Kiriath-Jearim to Jeruſalem from a private houſe, the houſe of Abinadab, to its own place, the Tabernacle, which he had prepared for it, ver. 10.for the ſubſtance of the duty he was right in it, yet miſtaking in the Order, laying the Arke upon a Cart which ſhould have been carried upon the Prieſts and Levites ſhoulders, God made a Breach amongſt them for 1 Chro. 15. 13it. The Lord our God (ſaith he) made a breach amongſt us, for that we ſought him not after the due order.] Not obſerving the order inſtituted and appointed by God in his Law. Of ſuch dangerous conſequence may ſome failings in point of order be. Were there nothing elſe, this alone may provoke God againſt a people to cauſe him to breake in upon them, to make a Breach amongſt them. Great Inconvenience in allowing, tolerating of theſe corruptions.
On the other hand, as great convenience in their Reformation. The Conveniency of their Reformation.To have all the ſtones gathered out of the Lords vineyard, to have all ſtumbling-blocks and ſcandals, all grounds and cauſes, and (as much as may be) occaſions of diviſion removed, and taken out of the way, whereby the hearts of Gods people may come to be cemented and united together. To have the Court of the Temple reduced to it's due ſcantling and proportion, made neither too wide, nor too ſtrait (there may be an errour on both hands.) To have the Houſe of God cleane ſwept and garniſhed, purged from all corruptions, furniſhed with all requiſite Implements and Ornaments, not only her 1 King. 7, 48, 49, 50.Altar, Table, Candleſticke, but alſo her Tongs and her Snuffers, &c. and thoſe all of pure gold. To have her Officers and Ordinances all reduced to native, primitive purity and ſimplicity. To have this Vineyard amongſt us not only planted with choice vines, but to have a hedge ſet Iſa. 5. 1, 2.about it (a hedge of Diſcipline about the Ordinances) to have a Towre and a Wine-preſſe, and all other requiſites in it. How would this ad both to the beauty and ſafety of the Church, to the Power and Glory of the Ordinances, to the joy, comfort and growth of all the Members of the myſticall Body. Let them not then be blamed who ſeeke and ſeeke earneſtly for the purging of this floore, the Reformation of this Church in the fore-named particulars.
Quest. 2. W…a… ſhall private Chriſtians do …o further this worke.But what then ſhall we doe, for the compaſſing or furthering of this Reformation? Here falls in the ſecond Question: For Anſwer to which take ſome directions; one for the preſent (for I ſee I ſhall not be able to compaſſe what I intended.)
Direct. 1. …e thankfull for mercies enjoyed.In the firſt place. Be we thankefull for what we have. A uſefull, a needfull direction. No means more effectuall to obtaine what we want and would have, then thankefully to acknowledge what we have already received. This doe we in the behalfe of the Church of God amongſt us, not leſſening, not undervaluing, much leſſe over-looking and forgetting the great things which our God hath already done for us. This doe ſome (I feare too many amongſt us) whoſe eyes are all upon the Churches blackneſſe (they are evill eyes which are ſo, a thing which the Church chargeth the Daughters of Jeruſalem (her friends) not to doe. Looke not upon me Cant. 1. 6.becauſe I am blacke, Cant. 1.) her blemiſhes, her ſpots, her defects, her corruptions, and in beholding of theſe they are Eagle-eyed, but in the meane time as for her comelineſſe; her beauty, her graces, her bleſſings, theſe they either over-looke, or elſe looke overly and coyly upon them, as if they were not worth the looking on. The Story tels us of the Iſraelites, that when they firſt ſaw that Bread, which God rained downe from Heaven Exod. 16. 15.for them; They ſaid one to another (ſaith the Text) it is Mannah; or (as the Septuagint and Montanus with others, render it, according to the Originall) foreignMan-Hua, Quid hoc? What is this? And is not this the language of ſome amongſt us at this day, touching that Bread of life, which God daily raineth from Heaven for the feeding the ſoules of his people? Theſe ſacred Ordinances of his▪ his Word and Sacraments, Man-Hua, Quid hoc? What are th…ſe? Ordinances indeed, but they cannot have them in the way of an Ordinance (as they ſay) diſpenced in a due Order, after ſuch a manner as they would have, and therefore nothing worth: eſpecially wanting ſome other Ordinances to attend and accompany them. A dangerous ſurfet (my Brethren.) Such was that of the Iſraelites, which they tooke of their Mannah: We can ſee nothing (ſay they) but this Numb. 11. 6.Mannah, this, we know not what. Why, what would they have? ſome other diſh beſides. They would have ver. 4.fleſh to their Mannah. Who ſhall give us fleſh to e…?] And without this, their Mannah was nothing worth, they were weary of it. A dangerous ſurfet; ſo that proved to them. God heard their prayers, gave them their deſires, ſent them in another diſh, a ſecond▪courſe diſh▪ and that a dainty one, (Quailes) but they had better have been without it. I pray God the like Maladi… Inordinate luſting, though after things in their owne nature very deſirable of dangerous conſequence. ver. 33.amongſt us, doe not meet with a like Remedy; the like ſinne (I meane our inordinate luſting, underſtand i… rightly) do not meet with a like puniſhment. Certainly this ſurfetting of our Mannah (a diſeaſe which begins to grow too epidemicall) it can preſage no good. For this cauſe it was, that the Carkaſes of ſo many of the Iſraelites fell in the wilderneſſe; In Memoriall whereof, they called the place where thoſe Carkaſes were buried, Kibroth▪Hattaavah, Sepulchra concupiſce…iae, The gr…es of luſt. For (ſaith the Text) there they buried the people ver. 34.which fell a luſting: I will not, I dare not ſay, that for this cauſe ſo many Carkaſes are full… amongſt us in this Kingdom at this day; I dare not write Kibroth▪Hattaavah upon the Sepulchers of any that have yet …llen in this unhappy quarrell, the ground whereof is ſaid to be, not Reformation, but Selfe▪preſervation, not the obtaining of what we never yet had, but the retaining of what God and the Law have inveſted us in, and poſſeſſed us of: But this I dare ſay, and this I muſt ſay, that the inordinate luſting of ſome amongſt us, though after things in themſelves very deſirable; their inordinate luſting I ſay, when they ſhall ſo luſt after what they want, and would have, as that in the meane time they ſleight, if not forget, what ever they already have, as little or nothing worth, this may, nay it cannot but provoke the God of Heaven againſt them, and it may be, for their ſakes againſt the Nation, cauſing him to with-hold from it, that good which otherwiſe he intended towards it. Herein let me uſe a miniſteriall foreign, an awefull …oldneſſe: Give me leave to diſcharge my thoughts freely. My feares are (I wiſh they may prove Pannick and groundleſſe feares) that this one ſinne of unthankefullneſſe (the commonneſſe whereof I feare, begins to take away the ſenſe of it) in …leighting▪ undervaluing, if not over-looking and forgetting the ſpirituall mercies which we have, will doe more in putting from us, then all our Prayers can in pulling to us, the mercies which we would have.
What great things God hath done▪ for th… Church already. Pſ. 80. 8. Iſa 5. 1.What? …s all that God hath hitherto done for us nothing, or as good as nothing? That he hath brought his Church amongſt us, as a Vine out of Aegypt (give me leave to goe along with the Pſalmiſt, running deſcant upon his words, Pſal. 80. enterlacing there with ſome paſſages of the Prophet Iſaies, Iſa. 5.) A vine out of Aegypt (that Romiſh Aegypt.) Caſting out the Heathen (thoſe Romiſh Idolaters) and planting it, I, planting it in a very fruitfull Hill (a place plentifull and abundant.) Pſal. 8. …. ver 9.That he hath made roome for it (inclining and inlarging the hearts of Princes and People to the receiving and imbracing of the Goſpell, cauſing it to take root (to be eſtabliſhed by a law) in ſo much as it filled the ver. 10.land, and the hils were covered with the ſhadow thereof (it became a Nationall Church) making the boughes thereof like the Cedars of God, the goodly Cedars (the Members thereof many of them Saints, and that glorious ones in their perſonall walkings. Thus planting it, that hee Iſa. 5. 2.ſhould fence it, making a hedge, a wall about it (fencing it by his owne gracious providence and protection.) Pſal. 80. 13.Not ſuffering the wilde Boare out of the wood to waſte it, nor the wilde beaſt of the field to devoure it (enemies fierce and potent to prevaile againſt it, though often aſſailing it.) Thus planting, thus fencing it, that he ſhould build a Iſa. 5. 2.Tower, and a wine-preſſe in it, (furniſh it with all neceſſaries for the Churches ſubſiſtence, and his peoples ſalvation,) What is all this nothing, or as good as nothing? and all becauſe there are as yet ſome ſtones in this Vineyard left ungathered out; or becauſe there wants a Pruning-knife for the pruning and taking off of ſuperfluous Branches, or ſome other Instruments or Implements of like nature, commodious and uſefull for the Culture, and dreſſing of this noble Vine? What hath God not onelyonly layed the foundation of his Houſe amongſt us, but raiſed up the walles thereof to ſuch a conſpicuous and envied height? And not only ſo, but furniſhed it with ſuch ſtore of neceſſary Temple-furniture, placing his Arke amongſt us, (which alone maketh a Temple where ever it reſteth, as the Kings perſonall Acts 7. 38.reſidence doth the Court) giving to us thoſe foreign, (as S. Stephen calleth them) thoſe living, lively Oracles of his Law and Goſpell: Speaking to us ſo plainly, ſo familiarly, ſo powerfully, as never to any Church, any Nation under Heaven more: In ſo much as we Deut. 4. 7.may herein ſay as Moſes once of his Iſrael, What Nation is there, (or hath there beene) to which God hath come ſo nigh as he hath done to us? He hath placed his Arke amongſt us, the Glory of a Church, the glory of Rom. 9. 4.a Nation. To whom pertained the glory, ſaith Paul▪ ſpeaking of the Arke. Beſides this he hath furniſhed this Houſe of his with thoſe neceſſary pieces, an Altar, a Laver, a Table; an Altar for Sacrifice, a Laver for Waſhing, a Table for Shew-bread, not unaptly repreſenting to us thoſe great Ordinances of God, Prayer, and the Sacraments; Prayer offered up upon that Golden Altar, in and onelyonly in the Name and mediation of Jeſus Chriſt. Sacraments; Baptiſme, that foreign Tit 3. 5.(as S. Paul calleth it,) the Laver of Regeneration; The Lords Supper, ſh…wing and ſetting forth unto us that true Shew-bread, that Bread which came downe from Heaven, the Body and Blood of Jeſus Chriſt. All theſe we have, and I think it will be acknowledged at all hands, that we have them for ſubſtance rightly diſpenced and adminiſtred. And is all this nothing, …or as good as nothing, and all for want of ſome other uſefull utenſiles; Suppoſe a Beeſome, a Shovel, Exod. 27. 3. … King. 7. 40, …0.a paire of Snuffers, (Temple furniture too.) A Beeſome to ſweepe the Floore, a Shovel to caſt out the Duſt, or Aſhes; Snuffers to toppe the Lights, to make them burne the cleare… ▪ all excellently ſhadowing out that uſefull Ordinance of Chriſt, the Cenſures of the Church rightly diſpenſed; And what? for want of theſe, all nothing? What hath Jeſus Chriſt brought his Fanne into this Floore, purging out ſo much Chaffe and Dr…ſſe of Antichriſtian Idolatry and Superſtition, wherewith the face thereof was ſo wholly overſpread and covered? fanning and dreſſing up ſo much Corne here? giving ſuch liberty and efficacy to the Fa…e of his Word amongſt us? and is all this nothing, or as good as nothing? and that becauſe of ſome remainders of Chaffe in this Floore, or for want of a Wing to back and ſecond the Fanne? Oh (my Bretheren) what unparalleld ingratitude is this? How ſhould it be but that ſuch unthankfullneſſe Our unthankfulneſſe for Mercies received a dāgerou… preſage.ſhould even cauſe repentings in Heaven? moove God to repent, if not of what he hath done, yet of what he may have intended to doe. Surely, ſo would it worke with us; to ſee all our former kindneſſes ſleigh…ed and forgotten, as nothing wo…h, and all, becauſe they are not ſeconded with a continued ſucceſſion of new favours; Would it not make us at the leaſt ſtay our hands for the future? Let our own hearts herein tell us, what we may expect and looke for from that God, who is in this kind every day ſo highly provoked. Which that we may prevent, withall, procuring further Grace and Favour from him towards this endeared Church of his, for the perfecting of the great and good worke which he hath begun in it, and the completing of it with what ever Ordinance or Ornament it yet wanteth; learne we to ſet a higher price upon what already we have. Learne we to cry Grace, Grace, to every ſtone in this Building; Not to the Top-ſtone Zach. 4 7.onelyonly; As it is ſaid of Zerubbabel, Zach. 4. He ſhall bring forth the Top-ſtone (o… Head-ſtone) thereof with ſhoutings, crying Grace, Grace unto it.] Thus happily many amongſt us would be ready to doe, could they ſee the Head-ſtone, the Top-ſtone brought forth, the Finiall of the Houſe, the Pin cl… of the Temple ſet up, the worke of Reformation perfected, this they would entertaine with joyous Acclamations and ſhoutings, crying Grace, Grace to it; But in the meane time, as for that which God hath already done, their Grace, Grace, ingraven upon every ſtone in this Building.hearts are not affected with it as they ought to be; As if Grace, Grace, were not ingraven as well upon the Foundation-ſtones as upon the Top ſtone. Whileſt we rea…e it in the one, d…e not over-looke it in the other. Give we unto God the Glory of his abundant Grace in laying the Foundation-ſtones of ſo glo…i…s a Church amongſt us, which, ſhould our eyes never ſee more, yet deſerves a thankfull gratulation from our hearts and tongues. So were the people of the Jewes affected, when they ſaw but the foundation of the Temple layed. Ezra 3. 11.All the people ſhouted with a great ſhout, (ſaith the Text) prayſing the Lord, becauſe the foundation of the Houſe of the Lord was layed, Ezra 3. And ſurely this did our Fore▪fathers, when they did but ſee the dawning of that light which is now brok… forth amongſt us ſo gloriouſly, when they ſaw but the beginning of this Reformation. Let not us their children deſpiſe that day, as a day of ſmall things. Had it beene ſo, yet were it not to be deſpiſed. [Who hath despiſed the day of ſmall things?] Z…ch. 4. 10.but ſuch is not this Day, the Day of the Gospell, the Day of ſalvation brought unto this Church, this Nation, by that first Reformation. A day not o… ſmall, but of great and glorious things; So looke we upon it, ſo account, ſo acknowledge it; Give we unto God the Glory of his firſt Grace, this will be the moſt e…ectuall meanes to obtaine a ſecond Grace. Would we obtaine what yet we want, learne to be thankefull for what we have. Thus I have onelyonly broke the Bulke of theſe Directions; Time takes me off, I muſt ſhut downe the hatches for the preſent; That which remaines I ſhall put over to the next occaſion.