Admonition Moving to Moderation, Part 2
2. The Motive.
The Lord is at hand. Moderation certainly muſt be both a moſt excellent grace, and a moſt neceſſary duty. For more could not be ſaid to the inforcement of it. As will evidently appear, whether by this moving cauſe be meant the Lord Chriſts being near, or at hand.
1. In his Word and Goſpel which is nigh unto us, to inſtruct us ſufficiently, (yea, perfectly) to Moderation, in body or minde, in perſons or places, and in all Affections, Actions, Paſſions, Speeches, Geſtures, Habits, Accidents, or Affairs. It is our line, cord, meaſure, cannon, rule, both to regulate us in our faith, and moderate us in our manners alſo. As for things adiaphorous, or of a middle nature; hence likewiſe have we the true Touchſtone for their Trial, and the equal ballance to weigh them by. For if they be not here commanded, we know they are not good, or not good ſo to be made neceſſary, and ſo impoſed. And if they be not here forbidden, we know they are not evil, or not ſo evil, as to be thought unneceſſary, and ſo neglected. The word that moderates in all things elſe, hath left theſe things only to our Moderation. Nevertheleſſe, hath not in theſe things left Moderation (active or paſſive) to us as a thing indifferent, becauſe it is there commanded, yea, and the things ſo moderated, conſequently commanded alſo.
2. By his Spirit: abiding with his Church to guide, or way lead it into all Truth: and into all order and expedience of it. For it ſeems good to the Holy Ghost, as well as to us, to be moderating and directing, even in matters indifferent and ceremonial, Act. 15.28. And mark how moderating, to lay upon you no greater burden then theſe neceſſary things. If the Spirit and the Church think them neceſſary, it behoves us to think them no great burden; Nay (according to an emphatical kinde of akyrologie) the neceſſary things of theſe, or the things that are neceſſarily of theſe: For there may be ſome things neceſſarie, or neceſſarily to be adviſed, and accepted, even in things of themſelves not neceſſary. Such as are in outward ceremonies, peace, order, unity, decency, avoiding of ſcandal, preciſeneſſe, ſingularity and the like. And that this is according to the Moderation of the Spirit, no body (throughly ſcanning that place) can deny.
3. In his Preſential Providence, or Providential Preſence, viz. to obſerve, approve, promote, and reward our Moderation. 1. To obſerve it And therefore let us behave our ſelves moderately, as children before the face of their Parents; and as Servants in the eye of their Maſters; It is the Lord, let us therefore gird our Coats unto us, (Joh. 21.7.) not only for natural, but Chriſtian modeſties ſake. Let us buy of him white raiment, (pure and innocent Moderation) that we may be cloathed, (with order and comelineſſe) and that the ſhame of our nakedneſſe, (looſe and ſlovenly ſervices) do not appear, (not only for him, but for all the world to take notice of) Rev. 3.18. But above all, let us be careful to cover the dung (of our filthy immoderations) for the Lord our God walketh in the midſt of us, Deut. 23.13, 14. 2. To approve it, of which we have proof ſufficient and clear, both by his own will revealed, and in the eminent examples of his Saints. 3. To promote and further it. For Moderation that meets with ſo many enormities, exorbitancies and obſtacles, to reſiſt or retard it: needs alwayes a more ſpecial preſence and aſſiſtance of divine grace and power, both for the propagation and eſtabliſhment of it. 4. To reward it. For where had not Moderation (right Moderation) the bleſſing and comfort of peace and unity in the Church, of plenty and tranquillity to the Commonwealth, of plain ſatisfaction to conſciences, and of plenary contentation to all ſorts and conditions of men?
4. By his own inſtruments and ordinary means, ordain'd by him to that end. At hand now indeed, graciouſly & wonderfully preſenting himſelf in preſenting to us, his great Vicegerent, our Royal Moderator (the very picture and pattern of moderation, modeſty, equity, clemencie, courteſie, gentleneſs, patience, and all that this preſent grace can be ſaid to ſignifie or intend,) Ready (in his Reſtauration) to reſtore the Church to her former unity; the Kingdom to its ancient liberty, and both to their fundamental and perpetual ſafety. All which (he well knows) is not to be done by any more apt expedient, and convenient meanes, then in and by moderation, underſtood in her full and perfect ſenſe and ſway. At hand to help that multitude of Counſellours, for the eſtabliſhment of truth, of peace, and ſafetie, that neither good purpoſes may faile, nor the people fall. That matters may be conſulted and concluded, though not anſwerable to every mans immoderate importunity: yet to the moderate expectation of all. At hand (we hope) in a godly, learned, grave Synod, where ignorance may be informed, weakneſs confirmed, perplexity reſolved, wilfulneſs convinced, and hereſie, faction and hypocriſie utterly exploded. And are all theſe at hand? and the Lord himſelf in all theſe? Hold then dear Chriſtian Friends; and you my Brethren of the Miniſtry eſpecially; and let us not now run hand over head. Is it for us Privates, (I beſeech you) to preoccupate and foreſtal the publick Authority? let it be a mark upon thoſe that have been too backward heretofore, to be now too forward: that ſo they may give ſome teſtimony of their pliable diſpoſition to become ſtreight again, by overbending themſelves. But as for us, let us ſtay the time, and yet a little longer poſſeſs our ſouls in patience. If we have loſt, they will redeem it: if we have been diſgrac't, they will vindicate it; if we petition, they will anſwer it: only let us ſo moderate our ſelves, as to wait their moderation.
5. Laſtly, by Death and the laſt Judgment; to viſit and do vengeance upon all the iniquities of Immoderation; when he ſhall ſtop, not only the mouths but the breaths of immoderate men, and cut them off from troubling his Church, yea, giving them over to a deſperate immoderation of cutting off themſelves, and by being over-wicked and over-fooliſh, to die before their time. That is, by their own wickedneſs, rather then others Juſtice; yea, and that raging rather then repenting. And as for ſuch of them whom he hath ſuffered to die in their neſts: It was but a ſad ſigne that humane judgement was too moderate or mean, for their dreadful deſerts; and therefore he reſerved them (it is to be feared) to that of his own. As for all the reſt, Almighty God hath wonderfully made uſe of no more evident means then their own Immoderateneſs, (of pride, ambition, treachery, hypocriſie, covetouſneſſe, luſts, oppreſſions,) whereby to ſupplant cunningly, and utterly overthrow one another. To the end, that Moderation (which is the ſtability of Church and State,) might again (by his wiſe, juſt, and good Providence,) be reſtored and eſtabliſhed. So be it.