Concerning Ministers Meddling with State Matters in their Sermons, application · Section 18 – Section 19
How univerſal they are, and inſeparable from Chriſtianity. And chiefly in leading men, and times of greateſt need.
From hence we may obſerve, that theſe duties have an univerſall influence upon all the wayes of Chriſtians; for as Chriſtians, they are eſſentiall to them in all the works of their ſeverall callings; and if they ſtudie not to do all their works by theſe rules, they cannot be ſaid to do them as Chriſtians; for as Chriſtians we are commanded to do all our matters with charitie, 1 Cor. 16. 14. for we are obliged by the love of God to us, as his dear children to be followers of God; and to walk in love, as Chriſt alſo hath loved us. Epheſ. 5. 1, 2. And if we walk not thus, it is evident that we are none of his children, but have renounced his love, and are deſtitute of the life of God in all our undertakings; for he that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love. 1 Joh. 4. 8. And again, as Chriſtians we are bound to ſerve God, and Chriſt in his kingdom; and if we ſerve him not, how can we truly bear his Name? Now the kingdom of God, wherein we are appointed to live, and wherein all our works are to be done as a ſervice unto him, is righteouſneſſe, peace, and joy in the holy Ghoſt: and he that in theſe things doth ſerve Chriſt, is acceptable to God, and approved of men: ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 14. 17, 18. If then we ſerve not Chriſt in theſe things, or intend them not at all; how can we be called his ſervants, or ſaid to live in his kingdom? The end of the whole profeſſion of Chriſtianity, as to us men, within our ſelves, and in reference to one another,1 Ioh. 1. 4. is the fulfilling of our joy. This end is attained, when we partake of the righteouſneſſe and peace which is in Chriſt Jeſus; and when through his love, we are moved and inabled, to impart that which we do partake unto one another, that by the enlargement of grace, there may be a fulneſſe of joy in all. For all that profeſſe the name, and partake of the life of Chriſt, have an intereſt in one another; and as by their right and priviledge to him, they may challenge from each other the conſolation that is in him, and the comfortPhil. 2. 1, 2. of his love, and the fellowſhip of his ſpirit; ſo it ought to be one of their chief aimes, in the common profeſſion, and indeed is the main of their duty therein, to intend, and to impart theſe things effectually towards one another: which if they do not, they neither ſerve Chriſt, nor ſeek their own good in his kingdom; but in very deed, renounce him, and his ſervice, and their intereſt in each other, and the whole truth of the profeſſion. And if in all mens actions, and at all times theſe Rules are ſo neceſſarie, and fundamentally eſſentiall to Chriſtianity, that nothing can be acceptable to God, nor profitable to men without the obſervance thereof; then we muſt needs conclude, that they are moſt of all neceſſarie in the chiefeſt actions, of our chiefeſt men that are leaders in the profeſſion; and at the times of our greateſt extremities and difficulties. For if in ſuch times we take not counſell at the mouth of the Law, and of the teſtimony; we can expect no dawning of the day of ſalvation, nor morningIſa. 8. 20. 22. light ariſing to us: but in all our doubts we ſhall meet with eaſeleſſe grief and trouble, in all our deliberations with endleſſe confuſion and diſorder; in all our difficulties, with dimneſſe of anguiſh and pain: and by our own undertakings and counſels, we ſhall be driven into darkneſſe, and deſpair at laſt.
Now to the end, that at this time, and in the ſtraits whereunto God hath brought us, partly for our finnes, partly to fit us for his Kingdom, we may not miſcarrie, and fall into ſuch ſad inconveniences: and that by the neglect of our duty, let us come unto the third and laſt point of our diſquirie, which is to be the fruit and concluſion of all that hath been ſaid hitherto. And that is
How theſe Rules are to be made uſe of to cure our diſeaſes viz. By the diſcovery of our preſent condition.
To ſee in our preſent condition how theſe Rules ſhould be obſerved, by thoſe that are in place to cure our diſtempers.
And to this effect I ſhall, as briefly as may be, look upon our preſent condition, upon our diſtempers therein which are the cauſes of our diſeaſe; and upon the Method of the cure, by the application of the Remedie thereunto
I am not ignorant, that our preſent condition is differently underſtood, by the ſeverall parties whereinto we are fallen; ſome look this way, ſome that way upon it: but all that can diſcern any thing which is to be ſeen; or judge of the reaſons of what they ſee: may diſcern this of our condition, that we are neither ſetled in, nor much inclined to entertaine, peaceable affections: that we are ſtrangely byaſſed, and broken to pieces in our wayes and actings: that moſt of us are beſet outwardly with difficulties, (burdens on the one hand, wants on the other;) and many poſſeſt inwardly with ſcrupulous perplexities about the way to be eaſed thereof. And thoſe that can judge, may judge, that the reaſon why our condition is thus at preſent is twofold.
Firſt, becauſe we are many wayes diſcontented one with another, in reference to that which is paſt on all ſides: Secondly, becauſe there is no agreement amongſt us, about the way of future ſettlement, in expectation of what is to come: and whatever any may think, or hope upon ſpirituall grounds, concerning the event of theſe evils: (wherof I can entertain, I bleſſe God, as great hopes as any,) yet ſure it is, that none can look with the eye of a Chriſtian upon our preſent condition, referring it unto God; but he muſt confeſſe that we are under a viſible judgement, which may as well end in our utter deſtruction, if God in mercy prevent it not; as in a happy ſettlement, nor can any rationall man be ſo ſenceleſſe, as not to perceive this to be a Truth: nor is it credible that any true Chriſtian will be ſo ſtupid, as not to lay this Truth to heart.