Church Reformation, Sermon 4
THE FOVRTH SERMON, May 10. 1643▪
MATTH. 3. 12.
And he will throughly purge his Floore.]
CHriſts Floore is his Church, his Church viſible. This Floore he will purge; this Church hee will Reforme, and that throughly. This worke we truſt he is about at this day, as in other of his Churches, ſo in this, whereof we are members. Taking this to be his Deſigne, Doe we what we may every of us for the furthering of it. That is the Exhortation which I inſiſted upon the laſt day, but was enforced then to leave imperfect.
Ʋſe.Doe what we may; But what ſhall we doe? In anſwer to this great and uſefull queſtion. I have begun to lay you downe ſome Directions. One I then gave you, and but one, which might ſerve as a preparative and introduction to the reſt. Be we thankefull for what God hath already done for us; thankfully acknowledging the Graces and bleſſings already conferred upon this Church. Not to take notice of the Graces of God in a mans ſelfe, not to acknowledge them in others, is a fault, a ſinne: much more in a Church, and that ſuch a Church, wherein the graces of God are ſo conſpicuous. But I ſpare to preſſe what then I inſiſted on. OnelyOnly, before I leave this Direction, give me leave to ſubjoyne a Caution to A Caution.it. I would be loath (if it might be) to give either Offence, or Advantage. Be we thankefull for what we have, but not ſo as to ſit downe, and rest contented, as if we were already compleat and perfect. Not as though I had Doe not think… our ſelves perfect. Phil. 3. 12.already attained, or were already perfect, (ſaith Paul of himſelf,) Phil. 3.] So ſhould Chriſtians look upon themſelves; ſo taking notice of the graces of God in themſelves, as that withall they ſhould take notice of their wants and imperfections. And ſo looke we upon the Church of God amongſt us, as a Church, I a glorious Church, but not abſolute, not perfect. To ſay or thinke of this Church that ſhe wanteth nothing, were to make her too like to that Beggarly La…dicea▪ (as ſome have already done.) Thou ſayeſt I am Rich, and have need of nothing, Rev. 3.] Never was there Church yet ſo Rich, that could ſay ſo Rev. 3. 17.in truth. Epheſus, Pergamus, Thyatird, famous Churches in their times, yet the Spirit hath a Charge againſt every of them. foreign. I have ſomething againſt thee; I have a few things againſt thee.] Philadelphia Rev. 2. 4. 14, 20though not charged with any downright Corruption, yet was ſhe not free from her Imperfection, Thou hast a little ſtrength, Rev. 3.] Now a little ſtrength implies Rev. 3. 8.a great deale of weakeneſſe. What Church ever yet was, or ever will be free? The through purging of this Floore (as I tould you) is reſerved for hereafter. Here indeed there are degrees of Church perfection▪ but they are all Comparative, none Poſitive, none Superlative, none Abſolute. Church perfection here, is but comparative.In the greateſt perfection here, ſtill there will be an allay and mixture of Imperfection. To think otherwiſe of this Church, were too great weakneſſe; to ſpeake otherwiſe of it, were too open flattery. To attribute ſo much to the wiſedome of thoſe firſt Reformers, as that they ſhould leave the Church every wayes perfect, is an honour, which if they were ſe…ſible Rev. 22. 8.of, they would never owne, no more then the Angell would the divine honour, which S. John would have given to him by falling downe to worſhip him. That priviledge was Apoſtolicall, and it dyed with them, Gal. 2. ….not to be capable of Addition, To have nothing added to them.] So perfect was their Doctrine, their Counſels. Not ſo the Counſels of others, ſpecially where the Word hath left things more dubious and darke, not ſo cleare and evident, (as in the Caſe of Church-Order it ſeemeth to be.) Dreame we not then of a preſent perfection, but taking that for graunted, which cannot be denied, that there are Defects and Imperfections amongſt us; let us not ſit downe as ſatisfied and contented under them, but doe what we may for the hea…ing▪ reforming of them. Though we may not forget thoſe Phil 3. 13.things which are behind, (as Paul ſaith he did his own labours, and ſufferings for Chriſt, viz. in reſpect of any reſting upon them▪ or glorying in them.) Yet reach we forth (both our Hearts and Hands) to that which is before.] This Caution being interpoſed now let the maine queſtion run on. What ſhall we doe?
Direct. 2. Mourne over Imperfections.I anſwer (in the ſecond place) taking notice of the Churches whether Imperfections, or Corruptions, lay them to heart, mourne over them, over Corruptions. So did the Lords faithfull ones over the perſonall corruptions Ezek. 9▪ 4.which they ſaw in Hi…ruſalem, they mourned over them, Ezek. 9. So did our bleſſed Saviour over both Perſonall, and Church-Corruptions, in that City, Luk. 19. 41.When he behold the City, he wept over it, over Imperfections. So did the Chiefe of the Fathers, the Ancient men amongſt the Jewes, which had ſeene the firſt Houſe, the firſt Temple, and the Glory of it; when they ſaw Ezra. 3 12.the Foundation of the ſecond Houſe, they wept …ver i…. viz. over the defect and imperfection which they ſaw in it, becauſe it came ſo f…r ſhort of the former. Others at the ſame time ſhouted aloud for joy, they w…p… and there was ground for both; of Joy, in that the Foundation was layed; of Sorrow, in that it came ſo far ſhort of the Patterne. Even with ſuch a mixed Affection ſhould we at this day looke upon the preſent ſtate of the Church of God amongſt us. Joying over the Foundations which are layed, yet Mourning over the defects and imperfections. Thus be we affected with what upon good grounds we apprehend to be amiſſe, that ſo our Hearts may worke towards a Reformation.
Direct. 3. Begin the work of Reformation at home.Which that we may promote and further, Begin it at Home. Take that as a third Direction, and a maine one. Would we have the Churches floore purged, let every one of us purge his own floore. For every man to ſweepe before his owne Doore, is the next way to make the ſtreet cleane. For every one to purge his own floore, is the next way to have the Churches floore purged. Home-Reformation is the firſt ſtep, and a good ſtep to Church-Reformation. Here begin we the worke, every one at home: Being (as it moſt nearely concernes us) moſt ſolicitous about this worke, Home-Reformation, the Reforming of our ſelves, and thoſe belonging to us; It is our Saviours ſpeech to thoſe good women, which lamented and bewailed him going to his Paſſion. Daughters of Jeruſalem, weepe not for me, but weepe for Luk. 23. 28.your ſelves, and for your children. Heare we the Church of England ſpeaking in a like language to her Daughters; Daughters▪ of England, Reforme not me, but Reforme your ſelves and your children. Not but that private Chriſtians may have an eye to publike Reformation, (So might thoſe women doe what they did, Mourne and lament for their Lord and Maſter,) but the maine buſineſſe which they ſhould be moſt intent about, is Home-Reformation. Weepe not for me, but for your ſelves, and for your children: that is, rather for your ſelves, and them, then for me? (as you heard it not long ſince rightly expounded.) So, Reforme not me, but your ſelves, and your children; Let your thoughts be more taken up with Home-Reformation; then Church-Reformation. A point not unſeaſonable for the times; wherein it is to be feared, leaſt thoughts and ſpeeches concerning the publick affaires of Church and State, being ſo frequent every where, ſhould divert, and take of our hearts from ſome buſineſſes, (I will not ſay of greater, but) of nearer concernement. Would we have this great worke proſper, begin we it at the right end. Begin we Reforming our ſelves. 2 Tim. 2. 21.the worke of Reformation at Home. Every of …s firſt beginning with our ſelves. This is S. Pauls method, 2▪ Tim. 2. 21. where having ſpoken of that mixture, which is, or may be found in the viſible Church, that Houſe, wherein there are veſſels of Gold and Silver, and ver. 22.Wood and Earth; He preſently ſubjoynes, If any man purge himſelfe, &c.] Intimating, that this ſhould be every mans chiefe care; not ſo much the purging of the Church, as the purging of himſelfe. Here begin Iam. 4 8.we at our own hearts and hands, purging both. Purge your hands yee ſinners, and purifie your hearts yee doubleminded, James 4. What ever chaffe we find in theſe floores (as ſome we ſhall find) purge it out. What ever we find here amiſſe, in our hearts or lives, ſet upon the Reformation of it.
Our Fanilies.Next to our own hearts and lives, purge we our Families. I ſpeake it to thoſe whom God hath made Governours of Families, Parents, Maſters. Families, they are, or ought to be, as ſo many Churches; (The Church Philem 2▪that is in thine Houſe, ſaith Paul to Philemon:) Every one a floore; and in theſe floores God hath appointed the Governours to be the f…nners; Let them ſee to the through▪purging, reforming of them. So Gen. 17. laſt.did Abraham, the Father of the Faithfull, Gen. 17. He Circumciſeth himſelfe firſt, and all that were in his houſe. So did Joſhua, going about to reforme the people, he begins at home, reſolves upon a Reformation of his owne Ioſh. 24. 15.Houſe, I and my Houſe will ſerve the Lord. So did David, reſolving upon a Nationall Reformation, a through purging of the floore of his Kingdom…, J will early Pſal. 101. 7.destroy all the wicked of the Land; he begins firſt with his owne Houſe, reſolving, that what ever ſcandalous perſon there was in his Court, he would either reforme him or caſhiere him. He that worketh deceit, ſhall not ver. 8.dwell in my houſe; he that telleth lyes, ſhall not tarry in my ſight. Like courſe take we. For the bringing on of publike, begin with a private Reformation. Purging our owne Floores firſt. It is the Churches complaint againſt Cant. 1. 6.the ſonnes of her Mother, Cant. 1. 6. That they had made her a keeper of other vineyards, but her owne vineyard ſhe had not kept. Her naturall corruption, which was bred and born with her (as Junius interprets the place) that made her very ſolicitous about things, which belonged not to her office and calling, whileſt in the mean time ſhe neglected her duty in things of nearer concernement, things which concerned her ſelfe. This will the corruption of our nature doe, (if not looked to) it will make us ſo buſie, and pragmaticall about the Reforming of others, the Perſons of others, the callings of others (a thing which commeth not within the verge and compaſſe of our callings to doe) as that in the meane time we ſhall neglect our owne hearts, lives, families▪ which as they moſt nearly concerne us, ſo we ſhould be moſt ſolicitous about. Firſt, Purging our owne floors. Which having done; then, as for the purging of the Churches floore, Earnestly pray for it; Quietly wait for it; humbly ſubmit to it. Three Directions more, wherin (as I take it) lyeth the maine of the private Chriſtians duty, which is the marke that I aime at. Touch upon each, as briefly as I may.
Direct. 4. Seeke Reformation by prayer and ſupplications.In the fourth place then, Earneſtly pray for this Reformation. This private Chriſtians may doe, ought to do; Helpe the Fanne of Jeſus Chriſt with the winde of their prayers, Contributing their Requeſts and Supplications to this good worke. Supplications, and that both to God and man.
1. To God in the firſt place. In every thing (ſaith To God. Phil. 4. 6.Paul) let your Requeſts be made known unto God. How? By prayer and ſupplications with thankeſgiving. Let it be ſo here. As many of us as deſire a through-Reformation of what is amiſſe amongſt us, let us make our Requeſts knowne unto God by daily and earneſt Prayers and Supplications, but with Thankeſgiving. Let not that be forgotten. Bleſſing God for what he hath already done in purging this Floore of his, beg it from him that he would goe on to perfect the worke. To that end raiſing, and ſtirring up meet inſtruments for the effecting of it. It is our Saviours direction to his Diſciples, Mat. Mat 9 laſt.9. Pray yee the Lord of the harveſt, that he would ſend forth (foreign, thruſt forth) faithfull labourers into his harveſt. This doe we in this caſe, pray we the Lord and Owner of this Floore, that he would ſend forth, thruſt forth faithfull Fanners into this his Floore. Faithfull fanners, Jer. 15. 9.ſuch as may put a true and preciſe difference betwixt the precious and the vile, the Chaffe and the wheate; not caſting out any of the one, not retaining any of the other; In which two things (as in opening of the clauſe fore-going I ſhewed you) conſiſteth the fidelity of a Fanner. Faithfull Fanners, ſuch as may doe the Jer. 48. 10.worke of the Lord, not negligently, not deceitfully, but with all their might, all their ſtrength, every wayes approving themſelves to their Lord and Maſter in doing his worke according to his owne mind and will. Such Fanners beg we from the Owner of this Floore. Withall imploring his direction, his aſſiſtance for them, that he would both guide, and bleſſe the Fanne in their hands, making their endeavours effectuall for the through purging of this Floore of his.
2. Thus ſeeking it from God, ſeeke we it alſo from To Men.men, thoſe into whoſe hands Jeſus Christ, either hath or ſhall put this Fanne of his; Theſe I meane▪ to whom he hath committed a lawfull Power and Authority, (whether ſupreame (viz. under himſelfe) or ſubordinate) over this Floore, this Church of his, for the ordering of it. Beg we it from them that they would ſet the Fanne a work, uſing all lawfull, warrantable waies and means, both for the diſcovering and caſting out of what ever remainders of Chaffe there are to be found in this Floore. Thus earnestly pray we for this Reformation. Which doing, then
Direct. 5. Quietly wait for it. Lam. 3. 2….In the next place, Quietly wait for it. A good thing ſo to doe in all ſtraits and difficulties. It is good (ſaith the Church) that a man ſhould both hope and quietly wait for the ſalvation of the Lord. This doe we in this caſe, a caſe wherein the worke happily may meet with ſome unexpected difficulties, ſticking in the birth (as now a long time it hath done) not comming off, either ſo eaſily or ſpeedily, as it may be we made account of; in this caſe let us wait and quietly wait: waiting for the Law of our God, as the Prophet Iſaiah ſaith the Iles (the Iſa. 4…. 4.Gentiles) ſhould doe. The Iles ſhall wait for his law, Iſa. 4…. i. e. for the Doctrine of Jeſus Chriſt. This let us of this Iland doe. Chriſt being now (as we hope) about that great worke, which the Prophet there ſpeaketh of, in the words immediately fore-going, ſetting Judgment ver. 4.in the Earth, that is (as the Geneva note gloſſeth upon it) ſetting all things in good order in his Church (for ſuch is Chriſts way ſometimes to bring Order out of confuſion) O…let us now wait for his law, even for what ever it is that he ſhall reveale unto us out of his word to be according to his will, for the ordering and regul…ting of this Church of his. This wait we for, and quietly wait for it. Quietly, not Precipitating; Quietly, not Anticipating the worke.
1. Not Precipitating, not overhaſtening of it. Over…aſty births are ſeldome long lived, never perfect. Be we Not precipitating it. Gen▪ 18. 10, 14con…ent (as …turall mothers are) to tarry the time, the appointed … for this Birth, which we hope the Church … in her wo…be; God… … (I meane) who a… …e … … downe a time, a ſeaſon for all other Eccl. 3. 1.things, a time for every purpoſe under the Sunne, times for us to obſerve; So he hath ſet downe a time, a time with himſelfe for the effecting of this worke. The Apoſtle writing to his Hebrewes, he tels them of a foreign, Heb▪ 9. 10.a time of Reformation, a period untill which thoſe foreign (as he there calleth them) thoſe carnall, legall ordinances and Conſtitutions were to continue. Surely, as that firſt, ſo all ſucceſſive Reformations under the Goſpell, they have all of them their times, their periods ſet downe, and appointed by God. Be we contented Iſa. 28. 16.to tarry that time, not making haſte. He that beleeveth will not make haste, ſo make haſte, as to uſe any unlawfull or unwarrantable wayes and meanes for the compaſſing of his deſires and hopes. So indeed did Jacob Gen. 27.make haſte, thinking to go the next way to get the bleſſing, but he had better have gone further about, and have tarried Gods time for it. Take heed of Precipitating the worke.
2. And (in the ſecond place) take heed of Anticipating Not Anticipating it by taking the Fanne out of the hand of Chriſt himſelfe.it, viz. by taking the Fanne out of the hand of Chriſt himſelfe, or out of their hands into which hee hath put it.
1. Out of the hand of Chriſt himſelfe. This did th…ſe franticke Germane Anabaptiſts of the laſt age attempt to do. Impatient to tarry Chriſts leiſure for the through purging of his Floore, they would ſet upon the worke, to purge, not the Church only, but the world. And how would they doe it? Not by the Word, but by the Sword; therewith attempting (for that was their profeſſed deſigne) to cut-off and deſtroy all the wicked from off the Earth. Here, if I liſted to enter the Liſtes with mad-men, I ſhould not need to goe out of the Text for weapons. He hath his Fanne in his hand, and hee will throughly purge his Floore. The through purging of the Church (much more of the world) is Chriſts owne worke, and a worke▪ which he will do; but when? Not here, but hereafter. In the meane time our Rule is, and theirs ſhould have been; that direction of the Mat. 13. …9, 30.Husbandmans to his ſervants touching the Wheat and the Tares, Let them both grow together untill the harveſt, leaſt whileſt yee pluck up the Tares, ye root out alſo the wheat with them. But I forbeare to preſſe this, …oping that there is none here preſent, or belonging to this place, touched with this frenzy.
His Officers, which are2. Beware of taking the Fanne out of the hand of Jeſus Chriſt, or elſe out of their hands into which he hath put it. There is a two-fold Government that Jeſus Chriſt exerciſeth upon earth. The one inward and inviſible, viz. in the hearts of men; the other outward and viſible in his Church. Now the former of theſe he exerciſeth immediately, by his Spirit; the latter mediately, by Inſtruments, by men. And thus he purgeth his Church here, not immediately, but mediately: (even as the Husbandman doth his Floore, which he purgeth, not by himſelf, but by his ſervants, into whoſe hands he puts the Fanne) delegating and appointing ſome in every Church to be the ordinary inſtruments of publick Reformation.
Who theſe are I have glaunced at already; take it now a little more fully and diſtinctly. They muſt be publike perſons. Publike workes call for publike Inſtruments. Publike perſons are of two ſorts, Civill, Eccleſiaſticall, Magiſtrates, Miniſters.Magiſtrates, Miniſters; And upon their ſhoulders in an ordinary way, doth this worke lye. So it was in the building, re-building of the Temple. The Ezr. 3. 2.chiefe undertakers in that worke, were Zerub…abel and Jeſhua; Zerub…abel the chiefe-Prince with the Elders, the chiefe of the people, as you have it explained, Ezr. Cap. 3. 2. Cap. 5. 2.6. 14. Jeſhua the chief-Prieſt with his Brethren, the other Priests and Levites and Prophets; all joyning hands in the worke. The Prophets exciting and encouraging the Elders, Ezr. 6. 14. The Elders builded, and they proſpered Cap. 6. 14.through the Prophecie of Haggai and Zachariah. The Elders appointing, and the Prieſts directing the Levites to ſet forward the worke of the houſe. Thus was the Cap. 6. 14. Cap 3. 8, 9.Temple builded; and by the ſame hands ought it to be purged. So was it in the dayes of Hezekiah, Joſiah, both which intending a reſtoring of Religion then decayed and corrupted, they ſummon the Prieſts and the Levites, and ſet them a worke to purge and ſanctifie the 2 Chro. 29. 4, 5houſe of the Lord. So you have it, 2 Chron. 29. Hezekiah brought in the Prieſts and the Levites, &c. And ſaid unto them; Heare me ye Levites, and ſanctifie the houſe of the Lord God of your Fathers, and carry forth the fil…hines out of the holy place. Joſiah the like. He commanded Hilkiah the high▪ Prieſt, and the other Prieſts to bring forth out of the Temple of the Lord all the veſſels that were made for The Fan taken out of their hands byBaal, &c. 2 King. 23. 4. See here by whom it is that the Houſe of God, the Temple is to be purged, viz. Magiſtrates, Miniſters. Into their hands hath Chriſt put this Fanne, having (in an ordinary way) committed the Power and Authority of Church-Reformation unto them. Beware then how we take the Fanne out of their hands. Which may be done two wayes, by raſh cenſuring, by unwarrantable reforming. Take we heed of each.
Firſt of raſh and unadviſed cenſuring, paſſing raſh and Raſh cenſuring.harſh, and peremptory cenſures upon things dubious and doubtfull. Surely, ſuch (at leaſt) are ſome of the ſuppoſed Imperfections and Corruptions in this Church; not yet fully cleared up to be ſuch. Certainly it muſt not (I thinke it will not) be denied, but that the lighteſt and uppermoſt of the Chaffe was fanned out in the firſt-Reformation; that which yet▪ remaines being moſt of it not ſo diſcernable to every eye. Thence are thoſe differences in judgement amongſt us, betwixt men both pious and learned, judicious and con…eien…ious. In this caſe then the duty of private Chriſtians is, rather modeſtly to ſuſpend their cenſures, then by a peremptory paſſing and venting of them, to wound the reputations of thoſe who (happily upon as good; or better grounds) are otherwiſe minded then themſelves. Leaving things in queſtion, and putting them over to a due diſcuſſion and Tryall; not condemning them before they Ioh. 7. 51.be heard, which (as Nicodemus ſaith) is againſt the Law; the Law of God, Nature, Nations: Not taking the Fanne, the Power of cenſuring and ſentencing out of their hands, whom God hath betruſted it with. Under the Law you know who it was, that was to give ſentence in a caſe of ſuſpicious leproſie: viz. Aaron and his ſonnes. This was the Priests office to doe, as Lev▪ 13. Aynſvvorth Ann. Lev. 13 3.you may ſee it ſet forth at large, Levit. 13. Not but that all others might looke on the ſore (as the Hebrew Doctors tell us) and judge of it too in a private way, according as they thought; but to pronounce the perſon cleane or uncleane, that belonged to the Prieſts office, Deut. 21. ….as moſt other controverſies of like nature did. By their word ſhall every controverſie be tryed; ſo you have it, Deut. 21. 5. tryed and determined by their word, that Eze. 44 23, 24.is, Gods word in their mouth, So the Prophet Ezekiell explaines it, Ezek. 44. where ſpeaking of the Prieſts and their office in diſcerning and judging betwixt the cleane and uncleane, &c. he ſhewes by what Rule they ſhould proceed in deciding and determining caſes of ver. 24.that nature. In controverſie they ſhall ſtand in judgement, and they ſhall judge it according to my judgements. Marke it. This was that which they were to doe: Judge of things, not according to their owne, but Gods judgements, not according to their fancies or wils, opinions or affections, but according to the Rules and directions Act. 23. 3.in the word. Even as the Judge ſitteth to judge according to the Law; declaring not his owne mind. but the mind of the Law. Such was the judgement of the Prieſt in thoſe caſes▪ not authoritative, but declarative. They ſhall ſhew thee the ſentence of judgement, Deut. 17. Deut. 17. 9. ver. 11.9. ſhew it, viz. according to the ſentence of the law, which they ſhall teach thee: So you have it explained, ver. 11. of that Chapter. In caſes of like nature under the Goſpell, I meane in points of controverſie in or about the Religion of God (for in other caſes we agree to that of Luk. 12. 14. Mal. …7.our …aviour, Who made me a Judge?) ſurely here the law ſhould be required at the Prieſts mouth: viz. the law of God, according to which they are to give ſentence in points dubious, and controverſall, in or about his worſhip and ſervice. Let none take the Fanne out of their hands, their mouthes, by raſh and unadviſed cenſuring.
Ʋnwarrantable Reforming▪Nor yet (in the ſecond place) by prepoſterous and unwarrantable Reforming. Such I call that which is undertaken by private hands without publike warrant. An unwarrantable undertaking. A ruled caſe, Private perſons in an ordinary way, may not attempt or undertake the worke of publike Reformation, the reforming of what they apprehend to be amiſſe, whether in Church or State; no, though the errours, corruptions and miſcarriages therein were never ſo palpable. When our bleſſed Saviour under-tooke that worke of purging the Temple, the Jewes looking upon him as a private perſon (for they knew no other) they demand of him what Ioh. 2. 18.ſigne he could ſhew for what he did. What ſigne ſheweſt thou unto us, ſeeing thou doſt theſe things? This they did Calv. ad. lo…um(ſaith Mr. Calvin) not without ſome ground and reaſon; in as much as it is neither meet, nor lawfull for private perſons, every one, or any one, if he ſee ought amiſſe in the houſe of God, preſently to ſet upon the reforming of it. Damnare quidem corruptelas omnibus liberumeſt. Corruptions (where they are apparently ſuch) every one may (in a private way) condemne them, but not execute them. This is a worke appropriated to thoſe which have authority to doe it. We reade of diverſe Reformations in Scripture, but ſtill we ſhall finde them acted by publike hands. The golden Exod. 32 20.Calfe was burnt and ground to powder, Exod. 32. The Brazen Serpent (that famous relique) being abuſed to … Kin. 18. 4.Idolatry was broken in peeces, 2 King. 18. The Grove ſculptile luci, that Image of the Grove ſet up by Manaſſes 2 King. 23. 6.in the Temple, 2 King. 21. 7.) with other I dola…rous implements, they were broke, and burnt, and ſtampt to pouder, 2 King. 23. But by whom was this done? by Moſes, Hezekiah, Joſiah. As for private In public… adminiſtratione fas non eſt quicquid mutare ſine certâ vocatione ac mandato Dei. Calv. in Ioh. 2. 18. Si ad corruptelas tollendas privatus homo manum admovet, temeritatis arguetu…. Ibid.perſons, if they will attempt workes of this nature, they muſt either ſhew a ſigne, a ſpeciall warrant from God for what they doe, or elſe they cannot be excuſed from unwarrantable raſhneſſe. So that great Maſter of Reformation there cenſures it. I beſeech you let this be taken notice of, which I preſſe and inculcate the rather, becauſe I apprehend that there is no one thing, that will proove more diſadvantagious and prejudiciall to that which is ſo much deſired, a publick and happy Reformation, then this prepoſterous and inordinate zeale, in ſnatching the Fanne or Whip out of the hand of Chriſt; which in ſome ſenſe they may be ſaid to doe, who take it out of the hands of his Servants, his Officers, thoſe to whom in an ordinary way he hath commited the authority and charge of purging his Floore, his Temple, Reforming his Church. Here is the fifth Direction.
Direct. 6. Humbly ſubmit to it.A ſixth and laſt is yet behind. Earneſtly praying, quietly waiting for this Reformation, then (if ever God give us to ſee it,) humbly ſubmit to it. I, though it ſhould not be every way according to our own minds, agreeable to the modell which we have moulded and framed to our ſelves. So did the Churches to the Determinations and deciſions of that firſt Councell or Synod, the Act. 15.Councell at Jeruſalem. Notwithſtanding that the Councell had impoſed ſome burdens upon them; (ſo they call ver. 28.them) burdens, not to their Conſciences, (for ſuch they were not) but in reſpect of ſome reſtraint put upon their liberty by them, as viz. The abſteyning from meats offered ver. 29.to I dols▪ from blood, &c. things in themſelves of an indifferent nature, and ſo lawfull for them to doe, yet the Councell apprehending and conceiving them neceſſary, (neceſſary, not ſimply and abſolutely▪ but respectively pro tempore, for that time; not in themſelves, in their own nature, but extrinſically, and accidentally neceſſary, viz. Calv. ad lo…um.for the preſerving and maintaining of Peace and Ʋnitie in the Church, (as Calvin well explaines it.) it enjoynes ver. 31.them, and the Councell enjoyning, the Churches ſubmit, and that both humbly and joyfully. Surely even ſuch a ſubmiſſion ought Chriſtians to yeald to the determinations of lawfull Authority in things not contrariant, but agreeable to the Rules of the word, either to the particular and expreſſe rules and directions therein conteyned, 1 Cor. 14. laſt. 2 Cor 108. chap 13. 10.or elſe to thoſe generall Rules of Decencie, Order, Edification, the three maine points of the Churches compaſſe, according to which ſhe is to ſteare her courſe▪ in the ordering of all ſuch Church affaires, as are not expreſly and diſtinctly ſtated and regulated in the word; of which nature no queſtion ſome will be found. In all theſe, God and his Church expects a humble ſubmiſſion from the hands of all private Chriſtians. The Law was expreſſe under the Law. In matters of controverſie which could not eaſily be decided, the people were to repaire to the Prieſt and the Judge, and to their Order they were to ſtand. So you have it expreſſely, Deut. 17. Deut. 17. ver. 8. 9, 10, 11.If there ariſe a matter too hard for thee in Judgement, &c. Thou ſhalt come to the Priests, the Levites, and to the Judge, (the Judge for the time being, who was to ra…ifie the ſentence of the Prieſt,) and enquire, and they ſhall ſhow thee the ſentence of Judgement. This the Prieſt and the Judge were to doe, Ex Offi…io. And (marke what followes,) Thou ſhalt doe according to the ſentence which they ſhall ſhew thee, and thou ſhalt obſerve to doe according to all that they informe thee; viz. according to the ſentence of the Law; (as you have it, verſ. 11.) that is, the Law of God, which was to be their Rule. Now ſurely, however that Law, being Judiciall, was (as touching the obligation of it) Temporarie, yet the equity and Moralitie of it is perpetuall. In caſes controverſall about the Religion, Worſhip and Service of God, the people ought to make their addreſſes to the Priest and the Judge, Miniſters and Magiſtrates, deſiring and expecting their deciſions, their determinations, and to that ſentence of theirs, (being (as I ſaid) conſonant and agreeable to the Word, viz. to the particular or generall Rules of it,) they ought quietly and humbly to ſubmit. So the Apoſtle preſſeth it in that knowne place, Heb▪ 13. Obey them th… have the Rule over you, (foreign, Ductori…us, Pr… ſitis, your Heb. 13 17.Leaders, your Rulers, be they Civill or Eccleſiaſticall, (though he ſpeake there chiefely of the latter) And ſubmit your ſelves. foreign, Obey and Submit, viz. in Believing and practiſing what they teach and require, agreeable to the Word of God, which ſtill muſt be their Rule and ours.
Concluſion.Time taketh me off, I muſt ſtrike ſayle. Put we now theſe directions together, and reduce them to practiſe. Would we have the Floore of Jeſus Chriſt amongſt us purged, and throughly-purged, the Church of God bleſſed with a happy Reformation of what is amiſſe amongſt us; Be we thankefull for what we have; Mourne over what we want: Begin the worke of Reformation at home, at our own Hearts, Lives, Families; which having done, then earneſtly pray for, quietly wait… for ſuch a Reformation as may be after Gods own Heart and Mind; which he ſhall pleaſe to tender unto us, thankefully receive it, humbly ſubmit to it. So doing, doubt we not but God will doe his own worke in his owne time. To this end it is Ioh. 15. 1. Iſa. 53, 1….that God the great Huſbandman hath put the Fanne into the hand of this his righteous Servant, the Lord Christ, that he ſhould purge his Floore. And this he will doe, and that faithfully, throughly. He will throughly purge his Floore. Our hopes are, that he is now about to doe it, and that he will ſpeedily doe it. Whether ſo, or no, we are aſſured he will doe it. Whether this Floore, this particular Church in this Kingdome or no, we have no aſſurance, though ſome comfortable hopes; but his Floore, his Church, his Church viſible upon Earth, he will purge; waſhing off thoſe spots and freckles from the face of it, which doe now any wayes deforme it; beautifying and adorning it with all requiſite ornaments and habiliments, which may make it lovely in his eyes, and the eyes of his Saints; ſo dreſſing and preparing Rev. 21. 2.it as a Bride adorned for her Huſband. This the Lord Jeſus, the Head of the Church, in his own time will doe; And for this let all of us waite and pray.
REV. 22. 20.
Even ſo come Lord Jeſus, come quickly.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Brinsley, Church Reformation (1643)