Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
DAvid did not onelyonly rejoyce in the Arke, and dance before it in teſtimony of his joy, but did alſo erect and ſet it up in the n2 Sam 16.17.midſt of the Tabernacle: Every man that doth indeed rejoyce in Chriſt, every man to whom Chriſt is truly welcome, doth deſire and endeavour the exaltation of Chriſt, the ſetting up of Chriſts kingdome, the welfare of Chriſt and his Goſpell; therefore the people here ſay,Welfare and exaltation of Chriſt and his kingdome deſired. Bleſſed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord; not only by way of exaltation and rejoycing in Chriſts comming, but alſo by way of exoptation and wel-wiſhing, heartily deſiring the welfare and proſperity of Chriſt, his kingdome, and Goſpell, Bleſſed be he; furniſhed be he, with the greateſt and choiſeſt wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, prudence, mercy, power, fortitude, and courage for the adminiſtration of his kingdome and people; ſucceſſefull be he, in the promulgation and preaching of his Goſpell, in the gubernation of his Church and children, in the diſſipation of all adverſary powers; victorious be he in the ſubjugation and conqueſt of his enemies; glorious be he in the converſion of ſinners, in the multiplication and increaſe of his holy and loyall ſubjects; beautifull and amiable be he, in the eyes of all perſons; Let his Goſpell ſhine like the Sun from the one end of heaven unto the other; Let his name be as an oyntment powred out, caſting a ſweet ſmell throughout this great houſe of the world; to him let all the Kings and kingdomes of the earth vaile and ſtoop, become truly obedient and ſubject. This is the prayer, deſire, and endeavour of all that rejoyce in Chriſt aright, teaching us, That,
Doct.It is the duty of all people unfainedly to deſire, and earneſtly to endeavour the welfare, promotion, and advancement of Chriſt, his ſpirituall kingdome and Gospell. David and o2 Sa…. 6.15.all the houſe of Iſrael joyned together in erecting and ſetting up the Arke in the Tabernacle, Kings and Subjects, Maſters and ſervants, parents and children, the people of every calling and condition ſhould unite their forces, their hearts and hands, their counſels and tongues, their affections and endeavours to ſet up Chriſt, to advance his Goſpell, to honour and enlarge his kingdome: This was ſhadowed in the building of the Temple; to the building thereof concurred Solomon and his ſervants Hyram of Tyrus, and the Sydonians,p1 King. 6. who did hew the timber for it; to the building of the Church of Chriſt, to the ſetting up of Chriſt and his Goſpell, there ſhould be an univerſall, unanimous, full and ſweet concurrence of men of all nations, of Kings and ſubjects, of Lords and ſervants, of Miniſters and people, every man in the place and calling wherein God hath ſet him, according to the gift and endowment which God hath beſtowed on him, muſt concurre in his prayers and endeavours, to advance the honour and kingdome of Chriſt Jeſus. This was alſo figured in the neighbouring Kings payment of tribute unto Solomon, deſiring his friendſhip, and by variety of gifts and preſents making their peace with him. All people comming from all the Kings of the earth to heare his wiſedome; the whole as in a ſhadow, preſignifying mens payment of the ſpirituall tribute, of feare and reverence, faith and obedience, love and thankfulneſſe unto Chriſt; their entring into a Covenant of peace with Chriſt, their ſeeking of the love and friendſhip of Chriſt, their attendance upon the Goſpell to heare and learne Chriſts wiſedome, their dedication of themſelves and their ſubſtance to the ſervice of Chriſt, their ſpirituall ſubjection unto Chriſt, and their holy and gracious endeavours to make the name of Chriſt glorious. This was foretold by the Pſalmiſt, qPſal. 72, 9.they that dwell in the wilderneſſe ſhall bow before him, and his enemies ſhall licke the duſt, they ſhall humble themſelves under the mighty hand of Chriſt, they ſhall acknowledge and receive him as their Lord, they ſhall feare and reverence him as their King, they ſhall vaile and bow to his ſcepter, they ſhall put themſelves and all that is theirs under Chriſt, they ſhall give themſelves to the exaltation and ſetting up of Chriſt: The Kings of Tharſis and of the Iſles ſhall bring preſents, the Kings of Sheba and Seba ſhall offer gifts; they ſhall conſecrate their abilities to Chriſts ſervice, they ſhall communicate of their ſubſtance to the maintenanne of Chriſts Church and Miniſters, to the preſervation and increaſe of Chriſts kingdome. All Kings ſhall fall downe before him, all nations ſhall ſerve him. All ſhall adore and ſerve him as their King, all ſhall exalt and honour him, as loyall ſubjects their heavenly Soveraigne; all perſons from the higheſt to the loweſt muſt ſerve the Lord Jeſus, and ſtudy to make him glorious; grace works obedience in the hearts of Princes, as well as in the hearts of beggars: The Sun as well as the ſtars did obeyſance unto Joſeph in his viſion; Kings as well as inferiour perſons, doe ob…ance unto Chriſt under his kingdome and Goſpell.rRev 4.10. The foure and twenty Elders in Saint Johns viſion, fell downe before him that ſate on the throne, and worſhip him that liveth for ever and ever, and caſt their crownes before the throne. Godly Kings and Governours caſt their crownes, their dominion, dignity, power, honour, and jurisdiction, and all that they have before Chriſt, they make all ſerviceable to the exaltation of Chriſt and his kingdome. This was like prophecyed by the Prophet Eſay, the ſIſa. 60.5.abundance of the ſea; multitudes of men dwelling in Iſlands, ſhall be converted unto thee, ſhall be gathered unto the Church and kingdome of Chriſt, and the forces, great troupes and companies of the Gentiles ſhall come to thee, ſhall be joyned to the people of God, embrace their Religion, and enter into a ſweet and gracious fellowſhip with them: They ſhall bring gold and incenſe, they ſhall contribute liberally to the maintenance of the Goſpell, and Chriſts poore members, they ſhall dedicate their earthly abundance to Chriſts ſervice, and they ſhall ſhew forth the praiſes of the Lord, they ſhall be very induſtrious and ſtudious to make the name of the Lord Jeſus glorious. The ſonnes of strangers ſhall build up thy wals, become members in thy houſe, and fellow-helpers in thy worke, and their Kings ſhall miniſter unto thee, ſhall ſerve Chriſt and labour the welfare of his Church and kingdome. The glory of Lebanon ſhall come to thee, there is nothing ſo excellent which ſhall not put it ſelfe under Chriſt, and be made ſerviceable to his Goſpell and kingdome; and thus our Saviour taught his Diſciples to pray, that Gods kingdome might tMat. 6.10.come, that the Goſpell might be preached, and men filled with the light thereof, As the aire is filled with light upon the comming of the Sunne; that the Holy-Ghoſt might be powred out, and the hearts of men inſpired with the knowledge, love and obedience of the truth; that all the luſts of men, the impediments of Gods gracious kingdome in the ſoule of man might be crucified, and utterly extinct; and that God might univerſally, ſpiritually, and fully reigne in the hearts of men, all the weapons of their rebellion laid aſide, and their ſoules brought into a gracious ſubjection; and it is the Apoſtles charge, pray that the word of the Lord may u2 Theſſ. 3.1.run, have a free and a ſpeedie paſſage, running as the Sun, ſhining to all the corners of the world, and running as the rivers, to water the earth, and be glorified by the pure and powerfull preaching of it, by the holy and gracious working of it, by the ready and cheerfull entertainment of it, and by the holy and humble ſubjection of the ſoules of men under it: Mans obedience makes the word very glorious, and the free and ſpeedy paſſage, and powerfull working of the Goſpell, ſhould be earneſtly prayed for by the Lords people; this is the charet on which Chriſt rideth in ſpirituall triumph; this is the ſcepter by which he ſwayeth in the ſoules of his choſen, and the welfare of this doe all the friends and welwiſhers of Chriſt much deſire, and with great earneſtneſſe endeavour, wPſal. 45.3.gird thy ſword upon thy thigh (ſaith the Pſalmiſt in the perſon of the faithfull unto Chriſt) O moſt mighty, ſhew thy ſelfe in thy word and Goſpell like a mighty man of warre, fully armed, to mortifie the luſts, to humble the ſoules, and to bring into ſubjection all the thoughts of thy ſervants, and doe this in thy glory and in thy maieſty, make thy ſelfe appeare dreadfull, and glorious, by the powerfull and gracious effects of thy Goſpell, and in thy majeſty ride upon the word of truth, the Goſpell of ſalvation, prosperouſly.: Be thou ſucceſſefull in the preaching of the Goſpell, for the ſpeedy and univerſall manifeſtation of it to all people, for the profligating and putting to flight of all falſe doctrines and corrupt worſhip, as the Sunne doth diſpell the clouds, and Aarons rod devoured the Magitians ſerpents; for the reclaiming and gathering home the ſoules of men, as the ſhepheard gathereth home the ſheep by his voice; for the healing of the diſeaſed ſoules of men, as Bethesda healed the diſeaſed bodies; for the ſetting up of thy throne in their hearts to raigne and rule within them, as a King reigneth in his Throne. Chriſts bleſſed ſucceſſe in the miniſtery of the Goſpell, is both the wiſh and prayer, joy and labour of all that love him. He is a very ſtranger to Chriſts kingdome that ſeekes not Chriſts exaltation. The true members of Chriſt preferre the welfare of Chriſts Church, kingdome, and Goſpell, above the welfare of their owne eſtate and perſon. As the arme lifteth up it ſelfe to receive the blow, rather then it ſhall fall upon the head; ſuch as clearly diſcerne and truly taſte Chriſt in the Goſpell, are very ſolicitous to uphold Chriſts kingdome, and propagate his Goſpell: xPſal. 122.9.Becauſe of the houſe of the Lord our God I will ſeeke thy good, ſaith David to Jeruſalem, becauſe the doctrine of ſalvation is there publiſhed, the worſhip of God there erected, and God there manifeſted and made knowne: I will ſeeke thy good, I will endeavour thy ſafety, I will doe what in me lies to uphold the doctrine there taught, and the worſhip there eſtabliſhed: I will ſeeke the good thereof by prayer and ſupplication, by advice and counſell, by communicating whatſoever is behoofull, either for the ſupportation, honour, or comfort of it. A good man will not willingly keep backe any thing which may tend to the advancement of Chriſt,1. Grounds of this truth. his Goſpell, and kingdome; and thus it ought to be.
1. Covenant.1. In regard of the Covenant between us and Chriſt, we are baptized into the yMat 28.19.name of Chriſt; into the faith of Chriſt, to beleeve in him as the authour of our ſalvation; into the religion of Chriſt, to adore and worſhip him as our ſpirituall and heavenly Soveraigne; into the doctrine of Chriſt, to learne him as the truth is in him, to heare him as the great Prophet and Doctor of his Church; into the profeſſion of Chriſt, openly declaring our hope and expectation of ſalvation by Chriſt, our ſubjection under Chriſt, and our dependance upon Chriſt; into the ſervice of Chriſt, being dedicate and ſet apart by Baptiſme unto Chriſt, as his peculiar people, to adore and ſerve him, to honour and exalt him; and into the death of Chriſt, receiving Baptiſme as a teſtimony of mortification, and as an inſtrument of the Holy-Ghoſt, for the extinguiſhing and killing of ſinne by the death, and for the quickning of our ſoules by the reſurrection of Chriſt, to the end that we who live ſhould live no more unto our ſelves but unto Chriſt: This is the tenour of the Covenant which the Lord himſelfe uttered by the mouth of the Prophet, I zIer. 37.39.will be their God. I will be their King to command them, their counſellor to guide them, their ſhield to defend them, their Saviour to miniſter ſalvation to them, their father to make proviſion for them, to communicate the ſence of my love unto them, and their portion to ſatisfie them; and they ſhall be my people, the ſchollers of my ſchoole to learne my will, the ſubjects of my kingdome to honour and exalt me, the ſervants of my family to obey and ſerve me, and the bride of my delight to love me, and to bring forth fruit to me. By vertue of the Covenant between us and Chriſt, our names are given unto Chriſt, as ſouldiers to their Captaine, to fight for Chriſt; as ſubjects to their Soveraigne, to exalt and magnifie the name of Chriſt, to labour the welfare and honour of the kingdome of Chriſt. Abner entring into Covenant with David, a2 Sam. 3.went forth to bring about all Iſrael unto David, to exalt and ſet up David, and to increaſe the kingdome of David. Thus man being entred into Covenant with Chriſt muſt bring himſelfe, and all that is his, and all other people, ſo much as in him lies into ſubjection unto Chriſt, he muſt to the utmoſt of his power, labour the exaltation of Chriſt and his kingdome: ſuch men are very regardleſſe of their holy covenant and ſacred promiſe, as labour not the exaltation of Chriſts kingdome and Goſple.
2. Relation.2. In regard of the Relation betwixt us and Chriſt. Chriſt is the King and we the Subjects; Chriſt is the Lord and we the Servants; Chriſt is the Head and wee the members: Chriſt is the Bridegroome and we the Bride; true Subjects endeavour the honour of their King and Kingdome. Sauls Subjects would put to b1 Sam. 11.12death all them who would not have Saul to reigne over them. Davids Subjects preferred him above themſelvs, endeavoured his c2 Sam. 18.3.ſafety, put themſelves in hazard to ſafegard him, accounted him worth ten thouſand of themſelves; the members ſupport and beare up the head, imploy all their ſtrength in the defence and honour of the head; good ſervants labour their Maſters honour and welfare; Thy ſervants ſaid Davids men to him, d2 Sam. 15.15are ready to doe whatſoever my Lord the King ſhall appoint, and the Centurian could ſay of his ſervant, Doe this and he doth it: And the faithfull Spouſe brings forth children to her husband, ſhe was a fruitefull Ʋine by the ſides of his houſe, and her children like Olive plants round about his Table, a great honour, a crowne as Salomon ſaith to her husband: thus muſt we by vertue of that Relation which is betwixt us and Chriſt, as loyall ſubjects mortifie and put to death, whatſoever doth in us oppoſe Chriſts honour and dominion, exalt Chriſt and his Goſple above our ſelves, our eaſe, profit, or credit; expoſe our ſelves to all difficulties, dangers and inconveniences amongſt men, for the magnifying of Chriſts name, and the welfare of Chriſts Goſple; as good ſervants be ready to doe whatſoever Chriſt ſhall appoint us for the making of him glorious; as true and living members of Chriſts myſticall body, we muſt put our ſelves under Chriſt, beare up Chriſt and make him conſpicuous in the eyes of others, and like a chaſte Spouſe bring forth all our fruite unto Chriſt, endeavouring to the utmoſt of our power the welfare of Chriſts kingdome and Goſpell. Such men are altogether unmindfull of their relation unto Chriſt, who deſire not, who labour not the proſperity of the Goſpell and kingdome of Chriſt.
3. In regard of Chriſts intereſt in us.3. Chriſts intereſt in us. We are not our owne, but Chriſts, as ſometimes the King of Syria ſaid to the King of Iſrael, thy ſilver and thy gold is e1 King 20.3, 4mine, thy wives alſo and thy children, even the goodliest are mine. Thus may Chriſt ſay to us, thy body and thy ſoule, thy wife and thy children, thy gold and thy ſilver, thy lands and thy livings, and whatſoeuer thou haſt is mine; and we muſt anſwer as the King of Iſrael did, My Lord, O King, I am thine, and all that I have. This the Lord claimeth by the mouth of the Prophet: Now thus ſaith the Lord that created thee O Jacob, and that formed thee O Iſrael, I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, fIſa. 43.1.thou art mine, my choſen veſſell, my redeemer, and ſanctified one, my childe, my ſervant, my jewell, and the Lords gDeut. 32 9.portion (ſaith Moſes) is his people, Jacob is the Lot of his inheritance; He hath ſeparated and taken us unto himſelfe, to be his peculiar people, whom he loves, in whom he delights, and to whom we muſt bring forth all our fruit, and be unto him whatſoever we are, as a portion or inheritance, is all that it is to him that ownes it; and Chriſts we are indeed, by hIoh. 17.7.donation. We are given unto him from eternity in the decree of Gods election; by redemption, he hath bought us with a price; by vocation he called us out of darkneſſe into a marvellous light, and hath made us a peculiar people to himſelfe, and alſo by way of ſpirituall Conjunction and wedlocke. We are eſpouſed unto Chriſt, and are ſtiled iRev. 19.8.his wife. And as we are Chriſts, ſo we muſt be for Chriſt, ſo we muſt ſeeke the proſperity of Chriſts kingdome, and advancement of his Goſpell: k1 Chr. 12.8.Thine are we O David, and on thy ſide, thou ſonne of Jeſſe, ſaid Amaſai to David, peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be unto thine helpers. Thus muſt we ſay unto Chriſt, thine are we O Chriſt, and on thy ſide O Sonne of God, peace, peace, all welfare and proſperity be to thee, and thy kingdome, ſucceſſefull be the labours and undertakings of all them that are thy miniſteriall and underhelpers. This is urged as a fruit and effect of Chriſts intereſt in us. l1 Cor. 6.20.We are bought (ſaith the Apoſtle) with a price, therefore let us glorifie God in our bodies and in our spirits; and againe Chriſt hath died, that wee who live,2 Cor. 5.15. ſhould not henceforth live unto our ſelves, but to him who died for us, and roſe againe. That man doth not well conſider Chriſts intereſt in him, who puts not himſelfe and all that is his upon Chriſts ſervice. He is doubtleſſe a ſtranger to the efficacy and fruit of the worke of Chriſts redemption, who doth not throughly apply himſelfe to the ſetting up of Chriſt and his Goſpell.
4. Subverſion of Satan.4. In regard of the Subverſion of Satan and his kingdome. The ſetting up of the Arke was the fall of Dagon; the ſetting up of the houſe of David was the overthrow of the houſe of Saul; the ſetting up of Chriſt, his Kingdome, and Goſpell, is the overthrow of Satan. Where the Goſpell is preached, and Chriſt ſet up, Satan fals like mLuk. 10.18.lightning from heaven, his holds of ſin are overturned, like the wals of Jericho at the blowing of the rammes hornes. There is no competition between the Devils kingdome, and the powerfull preaching of the Goſpell. When David was once ſet upon the throne all Iſrael by degrees came about, left the houſe of Saul, and bowed unto Davids ſcepter: When Chriſt is ſet upon his Throne, exalted and lifted up in the preaching▪ of the Goſpell, all that are ordained unto life come about and ſtoop to Chriſt, they leave the ſervice of ſinne, Satan, and the world, and vaile to Chriſts ſcepter, they nAct. 26.18. Acts ….turne from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. When Philip preached in Samaria, the Devils went out of many that were poſſeſſed by them: The Lord hath ordained the miniſtery of the Goſpell to be the inſtrument and meanes of the ruine of Satans kingdome; and for this cauſe we ſhould come our ſelves to Chriſt, and labour the welfare and increaſe of Chriſts Kingdome, that Satan the grand adverſary of our ſoules, of our peace, of our ſalvation, may be overthrowne and troden under oRev. 16.20.foot, and have no more place pRev. 12.8.in heaven, in the Church of God, in the hearts of the people of God, but be qIoh. 12.3….caſt out, as a ſtrong man bound is put out of his houſe, and a King vanquiſhed and overcome is caſt out of his Kingdome: He is no true ſubject unto Chriſt, that endeavours not the ſubverſion of Satan and his kingdome, that Chriſt alone may raigne, and have compleat dominion over Gods Church and people.
5. In regard of the Glory, Crowne, and dignity of Gods Church, and people. The ſetting up of Chriſt, his Goſpell, and Kingdome, is the glory of the Church of God; the appearance and ſhining of the Sunne in the fulneſſe of his beauty is the glory of the world; the preſence of the Arke was the r1 Sam. 4.23.glory of Iſrael, being a witneſſe of Gods glorious preſence among them, the Lord there giving forth his oracles, and hearing the prayers of his people. Thus the preſence, appearance, and bright ſhining of Chriſt the Sun of Righteouſneſſe in the Goſpell, is the glory of the Church. Where Chriſt is in the Goſpell, there God is graciouſly preſent, clearly manifeſting himſelfe to mens underſtanding, and mercifully hearing and anſwering the prayers of his people, and the place where the ordinances of God are, where the Goſpell is publiſhed, and the myſteries of Gods Kingdome opened, is called the habitation ſPſal. 26 8.of his houſe, and the place where his honor dwelleth. The Lord doth ever ſhew himſelfe very glorious to the ſoules of his ſervants, in the uſe of his ordinances; and vouchſafes great honour to the people, in ſetting up his Goſpell and Kingdome among them; and therefore the Church of God is called the tIſa. 11.10.glorious reſt of Chriſt, becauſe Chriſt by his Goſpell, and by his love and grace doth reſt there; that place is of all places moſt glorious, which is the Evangelicall reſting place of Chriſt; and the Lord foretelling the multiplication of his Church, the increaſe of his faithfull people, and augmentation of his ſonnes Kingdome, ſaith he uIſa. 60.7, 15.will glorifie the houſe of his glory, and make his Church an eternall excellency; and therefore we ſhould mightily endeavour the exaltation of Chriſt and his Goſpell, becauſe this is the honour, crowne, and glory of the Church: The cleare, full, and open enjoyment of Chriſt in the Goſpell, is the prime glory of any place or people. Such people are very baſe and ignominious, whatſoever be their outward abundance, who enjoy not Chriſt in his ordinance; that man is altogether regardleſſe of the honour, dignity, and glory of Gods Church and people, who labours not the exaltation of Chriſt and his Goſpell.