Sermon 26 January 1647, Sermon

Sermon 26 January 1647 · Sermon

p. 1A SERMON PREACHED To the Honorable the Houſe of Commons at the Monethly Faſt, Januar. 27. 1647.

MATTH. 11. 12.

And from the dayes of John the Baptiſt untill now, the Kingdome of Heaven ſuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

THat you may the more cleerly underſtand the ſcope of our bleſſed Saviour in theſe words, be pleaſed to obſerve that in the beginning The context opened.of this Chapter, Iohn the Baptiſt had ſent two of his Diſciples upon a meſſage to Chriſt; not for his own information, but for the confirmation of his Diſciples, who were too much addicted p. 2to himſelf, that they might be ſatisfied in receiving Chriſt to be (as he was) the promiſed Meſſiah, by ſeeing and hearing what he did and taught; as ſoon as theſe Diſciples of Iohn were gone, Chriſt turnes to the multitude, that were about him, and from the 7. verſe of this Chapter, to the 16. verſe, doth make a notable diſcourſe wholly concerning Iohn the Baptiſt; and there are two parts of Chriſts ſpeech concerning Iohn; Firſt,

A blaming of the levity, and inconſtancie of the people, in their reſpect towards Iohn, for they had magnified him ſo (not long before) that they were ready to have received him as their Meſſiah; but now Iohn was grown no body with them; this our Saviour doth bitterly taxe. And the argument whereby he reproves them lies in ſuch a diſtribution as this is, Either you were very fooliſh in magnifying Iohn, when there was no ſuch worth in him, or you are extreame vaine and light in withdrawing your hearts from him, that was ſo worthy at firſt to be received: the firſt is not to be granted, therefore the ſecond muſt needs be true; what went you out into the Wilderneſſe to ſee? was it a Reed ſhaken with the wind? did you goe as children doe, to ſee rattles and toyes? no, but wee went to ſee and heare Iohn the Baptiſt; and what in him? a man cloathed in white raiment, alas, Iohn was no Courtier; no, we went to him as to a Prophet; I, ſo he was (ſaith Chriſt) and more then a Prophet, the greateſt Prophet that ever the world ſaw, and the greater is your fault in ſlighting of him.

In this as in a glaſſe you may ſee the levity and inconſtancy of people who contemne him to day whom they admired yeſterday, and that doctrine which this day they eſteeme as a treaſure they by and by abominate, becauſe indeed Athenian-like they imbrace it not becauſe true, but p. 3becauſe new: thus it hath been of old, and thus it is to this day, he who to day is lifted up is to morrow trodden down, who is now accounted cloquent is preſently eſteem'd a babe, rude or barbarous, and all from their ſickleneſſe, the Word and Miniſters are the ſame, but the people are changed, like ſick peoples palate, who long for that meat one day which they nauſeate the next day, or as children who delight in thoſe toyes one day which the next they throw out of the doores.

2The ſecond part of Chriſts diſcourſe concerning Iohn is,

A high commendation of Iohn, and of his Miniſtery, from three notable arguments: Firſt,

1That Iohn was the Prophet, that was foretold long before by two emminent Prophets, Iſaiah, & Malachi, both of Verſe 10. 14.them ſhewing that the Lord would ſend his meſſenger before his face, and (ſaith Chriſt) if you'l beleeve it, this is he. 2The ſecond is taken from the eminencie of Iohns worke, hee did immediatly goe before Jeſus Chriſt, as a Noble Verſe 11.man that ſhould lead the Prince by the hand, and ſhew him to every one, This is he; he did not as the other Prophets hold him out in types and ſhadows, and ſpake of a Meſſiah that was to come a long time after, but as another Chriſtopher did carry Chriſt upon his ſhoulders, and held him out in his armes, that every one that came neer Iohn might ſee him pointed out to the Lambe of God, that took away the ſinnes of the world; and the clearer any Miniſtery is in the diſcovery of Chriſt, the more excellent it is; but yet that Chriſt might ſet the true bounds to the honour of Iohns Miniſtery, he adds that though of all the Prophets that ever were before him, there was none like him, yet the leaſt Miniſter after Chriſt ſhould have done his worke, the meaneſt Miniſter of the Goſpel had a more excellent Miniſtery then Iohn the Baptiſt, becauſe the excellencie of a p. 4Miniſtery is in the light that it carries: Now Iohns light did farre goe beyond all that went before him; but the leaſt Miniſter of the Kingdome of Heaven, after Chriſts work was done on earth, ſhould be able ſo cleerly to ſhew forth the life, death, paſſion, reſurrection, aſcenſion, interceſſion of Chriſt, ſending of the holy Ghoſt, and all thoſe glorious myſteries, that children might bee able to underſtand them; and this goes far beyond the Miniſtery of Iohn the Baptiſt: This is the ſecond Argument whereby Chriſt magnifies the Miniſtery of Iohn; the third is, that that I have choſen for my Text.

3That from the dayes of Iohn the Baptiſt the Kingdome of Heaven ſuffers violence, and the violent take it by force: the ſumme whereof is, that from Iohns time there was raiſed up in all who truely embrac'd the Goſpel, a ſervent ſpirit to purſue and advance the Kingdome of Heaven with all eagerneſſe; no Souldiers are more violent in aſſaulting and taking aſtrong hold then Iohns Diſciples were in proſecuting the Kingdome of Heaven with all their might, when once it was diſcover'd to them.

Now all theſe arguments whereby Chriſt doth extoll the Miniſtery of Iohn, are intended not onelyonly as ſo many teſtimonies of honour to Iohn, but are alſo ſo many Arguments to prove Jeſus Chriſt to be the true Meſſiah; for whatever proves Iohn to be the Elias, that ſhould make his way ready for him, the ſame proves Jeſus Chriſt to be the Saviour that ſhould come unto Gods people; and this of my Text as ſtrong and cleare as any other, becauſe it was foretold of him that the people ſhould be willing in the day of his power, ſhould come in as plentifully as the dew out of the wombe of the morning, ſhould flie after Pſal. 110. Eſay 60. 8.Ps 110Isa 60:8him as the Doves to their windowes. This is the commendation of Iohn; if you would know the fruit of all this, p. 5what this high encomium of Iohn did work upon the hearers, you may read in the 7. of Luke, where Verſ. 29. 30. Luke 27. 30.this ſame ſtory is recorded, and the effect of it is there added, which our Evangeliſt doth omit, viz. that when Chriſt had ſaid theſe things of Iohn, the Publicans and the reſt of the people, who had before been baptized by Iohn Baptiſt, glorified God, were awaken'd, and brought to ſorrow for their neglect of Iohn, and ſo encouraged to imbrace Jeſus Chriſt, whom Iohn pointed out; but the Scribes and Phariſees, the learned Doctors, and others, that had deſpiſed the Miniſtery of Iohn, did no whit regard the honour that Chriſt did give to Iohns Miniſtery, and ſo neither accepted Iohn the forerunner, nor Chriſt the Saviour, The parts and meaning of the Text.but rejected the counſell of God againſt themſelves; This is the ſum of the whole context, Our generall obſervation from this commendation which our Saviour gives to Iohn, is, that the Lord Ieſus is moſt ready to honour Conſider this violence of the people toward the Kingdome of Heaven, Firſt, as an honour to Iohn. Secondly, as a deſcription of true Converts.them who abaſe themſelves for his ſake. Iohn had exceedingly abaſed himſelf, declaring himſelf to be but the voyce of a cryer, unworthy to unlooſe the latchet of Chriſts ſhooe, making himſelf a footſtoole to exalt Chriſt, willing to decreaſe that Chriſt might increaſe, and now Chriſt heaps honour upon Iohn abundantly, ſo that wee may ſee that ſuch as honour Chriſt ſhall be honoured of him; and that although honour flie from them who vainely ſeek it, yet it followes them who flie from it. But I come to my Text, which as you have heard is one branch of that honorable teſtimony which our Saviour gave to Iohn the Baptiſt, which I ſhall deſire you with me to look upon under a twofold conſideration. Firſt,

As they are intended to bee a Crown and an honour to Iohn the Baptiſt; From the dayes of Iohn the Baptiſt untill now, the Kingdome of Heaven ſuffers violence; Secondly, and principally,

p. 6Wee will conſider theſe words, as they doe containe a deſcription of men, who are rightly affected with the kingdome of heaven; The Kingdome of Heaven ſuffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 1Of the firſt of theſe, very briefly; the meaning I take to bee this, This eagerneſſe and fervency of Spirit in the people is to bee looked upon, partly as a fruit of that cleere light, which Iohn Baptiſts Miniſtery did hold out; never any diſcovered As an honor to Iohn, as being,the kingdome of heaven ſo cleerly as Iohn did, and therefore never was there ſuch zeal to preſſe into the Kingdome of heaven, as was in Iohns time. 2Secondly, and partly as a conformity to Iohns Spirit; Iohn came in the power and Spirit of Elias, a man of mettle and zeal, that did the work of the Lord with all his might, and therefore the people whom his Miniſtery wrought upon, were moulded into Iohns Spirit, they were made like unto their Teacher, and both theſe are by our Lord intended as a Crowne to 3Iohn; From the dayes of Iohn the Kingdome of Heaven ſuffers violence. A word or two of each of theſe; Take the Firſt, a fruit of the clear light, his Miniſtery held out. Whence learn,zeal and eagerneſſe of the people after heaven, as a fruit of that clear diſcovery of the Kingdome of heaven by Iohns Miniſtery, and it affords us this excellent leſſon,

Doctrine. The clearer light any people have from Heaven, the more violent they will be after Heaven.That the clearer light any people doe receive from Heaven, the more will their zeal bee enflamed towards heaven; never any preached heaven ſo clearly as Iohn, never any ſo violent in the purſuit of it, as thoſe that received Iohns Miniſtery; it was propheſied of Iohn in the 1 of Luke Ver. 15, 16, 17. that he ſhould be filled with the Holy Ghoſt, and ſhould goe before the Lord to prepare his way, and (ſaith the Text) he ſhall thereby turne the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, the hearts of the children to their Fathers, and the diſobedient to the wiſdome of the wiſe: the meaning is this, Iohns Miniſtery ſhould effect this, that if p. 7Parents heretofore were ignorant of the wayes of God, and ſo ſlighted their children, for their childrens godlineſſe ſake, now the Parents ſhould turn to the wiſdome of their children; If children heretofore had ſlighted their Parents, for their wiſdome and godlineſſe, now the children ſhould turn to the wiſdome of their Parents; the diſobedient ſhould turn to the wiſdome of the wiſe, whether this wiſdome were found in the Fathers, or in the children, in whomſoever wiſdome ſhould bee found, the diſobedient would turn to them when Jeſus Chriſt ſhould bee clearly diſcover'd to them; the Apoſtle in the 2 of Cor. 3. 13. layes this downe moſt clearly and fully, when hee ſpeaks how gloriouſly Jeſus Chriſt is revealed in the Miniſtery of the Goſpell, he expreſſes the fruit of it thus; We all with open face beholding as in a glaſſe the glory of the Lord, are changed into the ſame Image from glory to glory; whoever doth clearly ſee the glory of Chriſt in the Goſpell, according to the meaſure of his light, ſo is the meaſure of the transforming of his heart into the image of the Goſpell; And the reaſon is, becauſe this light doth not onelyonly diſcover a ſupereminent excellency in Chriſt and his wayes, but alſo heales the will and affections, and ſatisfies the whole ſoul with ſuch a ſutable goodneſſe, that it can doe no other but fly to it as the Eagle to the carkaſſe.

Application. Hereby we may learn how to judge of pretended light.This Leſſon which is of ſingular uſe for many things, I note it onelyonly to bee a direction to us, how wee may try both our own and the pretended light of others, concerning the Kingdome of heaven in our dayes, eſpecially in theſe late yeares, wee have more diſcourſe then ever of New Lights, and new Goſpel diſcoveries, and all our old Preachers and profeſſors are by a great many accounted to be legall men, Morall men, who doe not ſee into the p. 8myſteries of heaven, and Jeſus Chriſt, as ſome of late, thinke themſelves have attained unto, this you know is ſpoke of very much amongſt many people: Now I doe willingly acknowledge, that day unto day utters knowledge, and night unto night diſcovers wiſedome, every new day, and every new year, the nearer wee come to Chriſts laſt appearing, will certainly diſcover Goſpell Truths more clearly then they have been underſtood before; yea, and I as willingly and readily acknowledge every one to have received more light then formerly, or more light then his brethren, when I ſee any mans heart enflamed with more zeale, transformed into more holineſſe, and humility, and gratiouſneſſe of ſpirit, then others doe attaine to; this is cleare in my Text; A cleare light did kindle a great deale of zeale: but when you meet with any that ſpeak of diſcoveries, of glimpſes of glory, and new light, and in the meane time, with all their light and knowledge doe walke licenciouſly, and reject the ordinances of God, and walke in wayes that are contrary to the cleare diſpenſation, and counſell of the Goſpel, I will never feare to ſay, that that light what ever it be, proceeds from the Prince of darkneſſe, from which the Lord deliver all his people. Secondly, as this violence of their ſpirit was conformity to Secondly, a conformitie to his ſpirit. I earn here, that the Teachers ofttimes appear in their Diſciples.Iohns ſpirit, who walked in the power and ſpirit of Elias, a man of zeale, we may learn, That the Image of the ſpirit of Teachers frequently appeares in their Diſciples. If you ſearch the Scriptures, you'l finde nothing more uſuall then the people moulded into the ſpirit of their Teachers & Rulers: It's worth your obſervation that all the Epiſtles written to the ſeven Churches, wherein ſome of them are condemned to be dead, and ſome to bee cold, and ſome for looſing their firſt love, and ſome commended for their puritie and ſincerity, and watchfulneſſe, &c. all this is ſpoke p. 9to the Angel, that is, to the Colledge of Miniſters to them that were their leaders; yet therein the holy Ghoſt intends that Character of the whole Church, although hee names onelyonly the Angel, becauſe of old it hath been a Proverbe, as is the Prieſt, ſo are the people; like Miniſter, like Hoſea 4. 9.Hos 4:9people; like Magiſtrate, like flock; and although no man can communicate his own ſpirit unto his Schollers, but onelyonly our Lord Ieſus, who can powr out his ſpirit at his pleaſure; yet all experience ſhews us, that the frame of ſpirit that is in ſuperiours, whether Magiſtrates or Miniſters, hath a wonderfull influence upon the molding of thoſe that are under them; Magiſtrates and Miniſters in this ſenſe may be truely ſaid to be ſet for the riſing and fall of others, their vertues and vices are imitated by them who are under them, if they fall they draw many down with them, as the Dragon drew the third part of the ſtars, and great Cedars cruſh many lower Trees and make them fall with them; if Peter temporiſe with the Jewes, his example compels others to doe the like; ſo alſo is their zeale for Gal. 2. 14.Gal 2:14God a great provocation to their Schollers and others who are under them; but I intended onelyonly to point at theſe two things. Thirdly, in both theſe as a crown of glory to Iohn. Learne hence, The greateſt glory which God puts upon any man is to make them inſtrumentall in building the Kingdome of Heaven. Doct.The third which I chiefly ayme at in this firſt conſideration of the words, is, That this excellent ſpirit that was found in the people, is here ſet upon the head of Iohn the Baptiſt as his Crown, this is made Iohns glory, that the Epoche of a new world, or a newface of a Church did take the date from the Miniſtery of Iohn; From the dayes of Iohn the Kingdome of Heaven ſuffers violence; and the Leſſon that I obſerve from it is,

That the greateſt glory that ever the Lord ſets upon any whom he uſeth is, that the Kingdom of Heaven is advanced by their Miniſtery or ſervice. This I think you ſee plain in the Text, & this I ſhall indeavour a little to open and apply p. 10unto you: it is true, that when the ſervants of God are faithfull, they are accepted with God, and ſhall be glorious with him, though there bee no ſucceſſe of their labours; the Prophet Iſaiah ſaith, though Iſrael be not converted, and Iudah not gathered, yet I ſhall be glorious with my God; and Paul ſaith, Wee (that is, wee faithfull Eſav. 49. 5. 2 Cor. 2. 15.2 Cor 2:15Miniſters) are a ſweet ſavour unto God, in them that periſh, as well as in them that are ſaved: the ſervants of God loſe not their labour with God, when they are unprofitable towards man; but if the Lord doe pleaſe to uſe any as means to advance the Kingdome of Heaven, hee never conferres a greater glory upon any of his creatures: Daniel faith in the 12. of Daniel, whether they bee Magiſtrates or Miniſters, or private men, They that turne many to righteouſneſſe, Dan. 12. 3.Dan 12:3ſhall ſhine like the Stars; you know the Stars are the brighteſt part of the whole Creation; they that are meanes to win people to righteouſneſſe, ſhall ſhine like Stars. Obſerve alſo what an honorable name the Lord gives to ſuch in the 58. of the Propheſie of Iſaiah: Thou ſhalt be called the repairer of the breach, the reſtorer of paths to walk in, the Eſay 58. 12.Isa 58:12raiſer up of the foundations for many Generations: intimating that a greater name of glory cannot bee given them. There is an excellent ſtory in the ſixth Chapter of the Propheſie of Zechariah, the Lord appointed that Ioſhua the high Prieſt, (who was a type of Chriſt, and was then building the Temple, and ſetting up the worſhip of God) ſhould have crownes of Gold and Silver ſet upon his head, typifying thereby the glory that ſhall bee ſet upon the head of the Lord Jeſus, that is the great builder of his …. …. 10. 14 opened.Church: but in the ſame Chapter the Lord commanded the Prophet to take of them that are of the captivitic, and names Helem, and Tobijah, and Hen, and ſome others, who (as ſome Interpreters) think were Ambaſſadors ſent by p. 11the reſt of the ſcattered Jewes to bring their oblations; active men that came to helpe forward the work of God: others thinke they came as private men enflamed with zeale to ſet a good example unto others, and brought their Silver and Gold that they might further the work that was in hand; implying thus much, that theſe excellent men to whom God had given a ſpirit to helpe forward that work, and had brought their Silver and Gold, and other gifts, the Lord would have their gifts turn'd into Crowns, and have their names written upon their Crownes, and theſe ſhould be hung up in the Temple of God, as an everlaſting memoriall of the glory that God put upon theſe forward men. Truly thus doth the Lord deale with all his ſervants, if he give the talents of authority, of Magiſtracy, of Miniſtery, of wiſedome, of wealth, or whatever may be uſefull, to any, and they obtaine a heart to employ theſe to advance the Kingdome of Chriſt, the Lord turnes their talents into crownes, and engraves their names upon their crownes, and hangs them up as a memoriall before the Lord: and this I could ſhew you out of 100. examples in the Scripture, eſpecially of thoſe two ſorts of great inſtruments, Magiſtrates and Miniſters, that it hath been the greateſt glory that ever God put upon any of them, that they have bent themſelves to advance the Kingdome of Heaven; What is the great glory of Moſes? but that he brought Iſrael out of bondage, and brought them into a covenant with God, and gave them ſtatutes, and oracles, and ordinances; What is the glory of Ioſhua? but that hee did plant Iſrael in their owne poſſeſſion, and brought them into a covenant, and there ſet them into a way that they ſerved God all his dayes: What was the glory of David? but that being raiſed (from being a Shepheards boy) to bee a King, hee did doe good unto Gods people, and provided beyond all p. 12meaſure, whatſoever might build a Temple for God, and ſet the orders to the Prieſts, and enabled the ſervants of God to ſerve him with liberty and cheerfulneſſe: And what was Solomons, but the building Gods houſe, &c? And ſo I might go on with Aſa, and Iehoſaphat, and Ioſiah, and Ezrah, and Nehemiah, all theſe great Worthies, their glory hath been that the Kingdome of God was advanced by them: the like of Miniſters, Iehojada the Prieſt, buried among the Kings, becauſe hee had done good to Iſrael, and honored God and his houſe, hee had helped Religion wonderfully forward; and Iohn the Bap iſt here in my Text, it was propheſied of him by the Angel, He ſhall be great in the ſight of God, Iohn ſhall be a very great man; Alas, what was Iohns greatneſſe? hee was a Prieſts ſonne, lived in a kind of Hermits life, and went in a leather girdle, and eate countrey fare, and went in courſe apparell: wherein was his greatneſſe? It was this, many of the hearts of the childen of Iſrael ſhall hee turne unto the Lord his God; and ſo Samaria it is Philips crowne, and all the countries and cities that Paul wonne to Jeſus Chriſt are ſo many crownes to him: and you ſhall reade of the Church, the woman in the twelfth of the Revelations when ſhe was cloathed with the Sunne, that is, Chriſt Jeſus her Lord, his rightcouſneſſe was her glorious rayment, yet ſhee had a crowne of 12. Stars upon her head, that is, the 12. Apoſtles of Chriſt, that had laboured to bring her to that light and grace: theſe were ſet upon the Churches head, and ſhee wore them as a crowne: Many more inſtances might bee given, but to cleare it a little further, conſider but theſe two grounds for it: Firſt,

R. 1.Who ever are inſtrumentall in advancing, and building up, and furthering the Kingdome of Heaven, the Lord gives them to partake with himſelf, in that which is his p. 13own greateſt glory, and the greateſt glory of his Son, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, when Satan had ruin'd mankind, and himſelf become the God upon earth, and drawn all men off from God to worſhip Devils, the great deſigne of God was to ſet up another Kingdome, that ſhould bee called the Kingdome of God the Kingdome of his Chriſt, the Kingdom of the Lord Jeſus, the Kingdome of Heaven; and for the erecting of this, Chriſt did all his work, came from Heaven, became a man, died, roſe again, ſent out his Spirit, it is the great deſigne of Heaven, that this Kingdome ſhould bee erected and advanced; Now when any are found to help forward this, they are aſſociated with the Lord Jeſus, in this great Work; and therefore you ſhall read in the Propheſie of Obadiah, the laſt verſe of it, where the Lord ſpeakes of winning both the Jews and other Nations home to Chriſt, Saviours ſhall come upon Mount Zion, Saviours ſhall be there; Who are they? the Jewiſh Interpreters ſay, that the Saviours there meant are, Rex Meſsias, & ejus ſocii; theſe Saviours are, King Meſsiah R. D. Kim….and his Companions that ſhould work with him; and moſt interpreters do agree, that the Saviours are the Apoſtles, and the Apoſtolicall men, and others, that ſhould bring 2 Cor. 6. 1. 1 Cor. 1. 6. Philip. 2. 30.2 Cor 6:11 Cor 1:6Phil 2:30the people homeagain to God, and help to convert the Nations, the Lord calls them by the name of Saviours, and many are ſaid to be fellow-workers with Chriſt, and the Apoſtle ſaith of Timothy, See that Timoty bee without any moleſtation with you, (in the …. of the Cor. 16) for he works the Worke of God, as I doe; and of Epaphroditus, it is ſaid of him, that for the Work of Ieſus Chriſt, hee was ſick unto death; the work then that they are imployed in, to build up the Kingdome of Heaven, is the ſame work that God and the Lord Ieſus Chriſt work: and can there be a greater glory communicated unto any creature, then to bee p. 14tooke into aſſociation with God, in a ſervice that is for his higheſt glory? Secondly, as they are aſſociated with God, ſo

Reaſ. 2.They make the people to whom they are inſtrumentall, beholding to them, for the greateſt benefits that people are capable of receiving; Seneca ſaith, Nihil in rebus humanis praeclarius quam de republica bene mereri, There is nothing in all the affaires of mankinde more honorable then to deſerve well of the Common-wealth, to be inſtrumentall of good to others, it is the glory of man in all humane ſocieties; and you ſhall find that Tubal-Cain, and others that did invent inſtruments of Braſſe, and Muſick, Gen. 4.Gen 4are numbred among thoſe that have done good to the world: and Hezekiah hath a Crowne of praiſe, that hee … Kings 20.did build a poole, and brought water to the Citie of Ieruſalem: But for a man to be inſtrumentall to helpe forward the Kingdome of Heaven, to advance it, to draw people out of the ſnares of Satan unto God, to help them with the pardon of ſin, and right to everlaſting life, theſe are mercies with a witneſſe, no wonder though the Galatians could have pull'd out their eyes, and have given them to Paul, when he had been a means to help them to the knowledge of Chriſt, and ſo to Heaven: ſo that whether you regard the glory of being aſſociated with God, or the good that they convey unto others, there can be no ſuch honour, as to be inſtrumentall in helping forward the Kingdome of Heaven.Appli.

To the Parliament to intend this work above all other.This Leſſon is of excellent uſe, eſpecially to two ſorts of men, that are or may be publikely inſtrumentall in it, I mean Magiſtrates and Miniſters, I am called at the preſent to ſpeak onelyonly to the firſt, therefore I'le ſay nothing of the latter, but for you Honourable and beloved, that are the Patriots of the Kingdome, is it not in your heart, to do all p. 15the good that is poſſible to poor England? I dare ſay you are deeply affected with the diſtreſſes of it, and would not count your lives deare, ſo you might but promote the good of it; ſhall I tell you what that thing is, which above all things in the world, will be advantagious to England, and glorious to your ſelves, lay the cauſe of the Kingdome of Heaven to your hearts, more then ever you have done, endeavour to be inſtrumentall to make Religion thrive and proſper, that the Kingdome of Heaven may ſuffer violence under your ſervice; ſo ſhall your names bee ingraven with the name of God, and numbred among the Saviours of this Land: Let me ſpeak freely to you, you have contended long and vehemently for reſcuing the Kingdome of England from the bondage and preſſures that it lay under, and that England might be a free people, herein you have wrought in the fire, and becauſe the cure hath been hard & coſtly woe and alas (I muſt ſpeak it) the Patients are weary of it, and could rather wiſh to bee under their old Soares, then under ſuch Phyſitians, and are ready to ſay with the murmuring Iſraelites, Let us make us a Captain and return againe unto Egypt, would be againe at their fleſh pots and onyons though under bondage: your ſelves doe know how much ingratitude is ſhewed, and all becauſe there is not that event and ſucceſſe that hath been hoped for, but would the Lord make you inſtrumentall to advance the Kingdome of Heaven really, there ſhould never bee found one among thoſe that ſhould partake the benefit of it, that would be weary of you, but would for ever bleſſe the Lord for you. If the generations to come, and future Chronicles may but be able to ſay, From the dayes of ſuch a Parliament, the hearts of the people of England were turned to God, from the dayes of ſuch a Parliament the Miniſtery was reformed, ſetled, encouraged, with countenance, with p. 16maintenance; Ʋniverſities were reformed, hereſies, blaſphemies, every thing contrary to Chriſts truth, was diſcountenanced, ſuppreſſed, beaten down, and the glory of the Lord Chriſt was laid to heart; might but this bee ſaid of you, after all your toyle and blood, and after all your being caſt down; and laden with reproach and ſcorne, your names ſhould revive, your glory ſhould be eternall, this and the everlaſting world would number you among the repairers of the breaches of Gods people, and you ſhall bee called Saviours of the Kingdome of England, if the Lord doe but direct you to doe this worke; but in the meane time, ſhould the Lord leave you that it ſhould bee otherwiſe, that the affaires of Chriſt ſhould prove retroomnia, that the Kingdome being overſpread with blaſphemies and hereſies, and the poyſoning of the ſoules of people, &c. ſhould bee concurrent with your worke, and you not endevour to adminiſter the beſt helping hand you can to it, it would bee ſaid of you, as Eccleſiaſticall writers do of one age ſince Chriſt that was overſpread with hereſies, and deſtitute of worthy men to oppoſe them, it was called Infoelix ſeculum, an unhappy age: ſo would you be accounted Infoelix Parliamentum, an unhappy Parliament: if this ſhould happen under you, and you not indevour to the utmoſt to redreſſe it. I pray the Lord, and it is my prayer when ever I can pray, that God would give that glory to you, and ſet that crowne upon your heads, that with Ioſhua and Zerubbabel, and and the reſt of thoſe whom God hath counted fit to bee numbred among his Worthies, you might make this the great deſigne, that from the dayes of this Parliament, the Kingdome Heaven might bee ſet up, and flouriſh in England: and ſo I have done with the words in the firſt conſideration of them, as they are a crowne ſet upon the head of Iohn the Baptiſt: From the p. 17dayes of Iohn the Kingdome of Heaven ſuffers violence.

I now proceed to the words as they containe a deſcription of a people really converted and brought home to Chriſt, The Kingdome of Heaven ſuffers violence, and the violent take it by force; take but the Rhetorick off from theſe words, they ſignifie no more then that which is ſaid in the 1 of Luke 16. Many of the children of Iſrael he ſhall turne to the Lord their God: … Conſider the …ext as a deſciption of true Converts.many ſhall bee converted by him, but the holy Ghoſt expreſſes it in theſe Metaphoricall termes, becauſe they doe fully ſet out the true Genius of every ſoule who is aright inſtructed of the Kingdome of Heaven. In the words there are two things:

1Firſt, what the frame of ſpirit is, which poſſeſſed the people under Iohns Miniſtery, in theſe words, the Kingdome of Heaven ſuffers violence. Secondly,

2The ſucceſſe of this frame of ſpirit, the violent take it by force. For the firſt, the Kingdome of Heaven ſuffers violence, wherein there are two things to bee interpreted. 1First,

What is meant by the Kingdome of Heaven. 2Secondly,

What by the Kingdome of Heavens ſuffering violence.

1By the Kingdome of Heaven, in one word, both here What is meant by Kingdome of Heaven.and at leaſt in 100. other places of the New Teſtament, is meant the adminiſtration of the Covenant of grace, after Jeſus Chriſt was exhibited in the fleſh; the laſt & beſt adminiſtration of the covenant of Grace; The Kingdome of Heaven is come to you; The Kingdome of Heaven is like a Merchant man; The Kingdome of Heaven ſhall be taken from you, &c. all theſe expreſſions are nothing but the adminiſtration of the Covenant of Grace under Meſsiah; and this is called the Kingdome of Heaven, not onelyonly in oppoſition to the kingdomes of the world, other politique Commonwealths, but principally (I thinke) in oppoſition to the ſpirituall p. 18kingdome of the Devill, which is the kingdome of darkneſſe, and leads people to deſtruction, and this adminiſtration is called the Kingdome of Heaven, partly, becauſe the Prince and Soveraigne Lord of it, is the Lord from Heaven, and hath his throne in Heaven, and partly becauſe all the ſubjects of it, are made Heavenly in their converſations; Phil. 3. 2….Phil 3:2partly, becauſe all the good things communicated to them doe come from Heaven; and principally, becauſe the Kingdome of glory, that is to be injoyed in Heaven, and the adminiſtration of the Covenant of Grace here upon earth, are all but one and the ſame thing, onelyonly that is the upper Region, this the inferior, there is the Metropoliticall Citie, and theſe are (as it were) the Suburbs, and the Countrey Villages, but all is one Kingdome; there is nothing there, but what is enjoy'd here, only with theſe two differences, that here the Kingdome of Heaven is mix'd and imperfect; mix'd with corruption, mix'd with affliction, and the graces of it not perfectly communicated; and there it is ſimple, and pure, and entire, without any defect or mixture; and here it is adminiſtred in ordinances, and received by faith, there it is adminiſtred immediatly, and enjoyed by ſight; but otherwiſe I know no difference, Heaven there, and Heaven here to the Saints is all but one Kingdome; therefore it is called the Kingdome of Heaven.

2. What is meant by the Kingdome of heaven ſuffering violence.Secondly, and what is meant by the Kingdome of heaven ſuffering violence; I confeſſe ſome Interpreters ſay that Heaven ſuffers violence, that is, ſuffers perſecution; adverſaries doe ruſh upon it: but ſo it cannot be ſaid, that the violent take it, for theſe violent men doe not take but loſe the Kingdome of Heaven, who perſecute it: but my Text ſpeakes of ſuch violent men as take and enjoy it. The Arminans ſay, that by the ſuffering violence is meant, the perſecuting of it to the taking of it away, not the taking of it p. 19to themſelves, but the taking of it away from others, and will not let people lay hold upon it: nor enter into it, but our Lord himſelf interprets the meaning in the 16. of Luke 16. Luke 16. 16.Luke 16:16where that of this ſtory is related: There Chriſt ſaith, and from the dayes of Iohn the Kingdome of God is preached, and every one preſſeth into it: So that the ſuffering of violence here, is, that the Kingdome of Heaven is aſſaulted by violence of thoſe that will have it, what ever it coſt them: all who are rightly informed and inſtructed in the Kingdome of Heaven, doe with contention and earneſtneſſe of ſpirit, break through all difficulties, uſe all diligence, that they may enjoy the Kingdome of Heaven as their portion, what ever it coſt them. In a word, what Paul ſaith of his own practice, Philip. 3. is a cleere interpretation of this Text, I do Phil. 3. 8, &c.Phil 3:8count all droſſe and dung, that I might gaine Chriſt, I make ſhipwrack of all, I looke at nothing that I have already got, but I ſtill looke for that which is before me, I preſſe forward, if by any meanes I may attaine to the reſurrection of the dead. Now you have the meaning, ſince Iohn hath cleerly diſcover'd the Kingdome of Heaven, the ſpirits of men are ſo fired, that there is no taking of them off, but with all the violence poſſible they all labour and endeavour to advance it, and to get into it; and from this there are two excellent leſſons to be handled, I'le onelyonly name one of them, and handle the other. The firſt is,

That the adminiſtration of the Covenant of grace in the Doct. 1.Goſpel of Chriſt, is no other thing then the very Kingdome of Heaven: nothing leſſe then the very Kingdome of Heaven: let the men of the world ſlight it, eſteeme it a bondage, a drudgery, yet it's no leſſe then a Kingdome, yea a Kingdome of Heaven, which doth tranſcend all the Kingdomes of this world as far as Heaven is above the earth: that is p. 20one; I dare ſay nothing of that, leſt I bee prevented: the other is,

Doct. 2.That all who are rightly affected to the Kingdome of Heaven, offer violence to it. Violence it is a motion above the meane, beyond mediocrity, it is a motion with greateſt intention and indeavour, this is the leſſon I would Preach to you, that whoever are rightly affected to the Kingdome of Heaven doe uſe their utmoſt endeavour, and offer violence to it: let mee firſt make it cleer to you that it is ſo: and then I'le haſten to the Application; That it is ſo, if you pleaſe but to weigh theſe three or foure things, it will bee beyond all queſtion.

That every where in the Booke of God, where the endeavours of men are deſcribed who look after Heaven; 1.theſe endeavours (I ſay) are expreſſed, by all the indefatigable paines that are laid out about any thing in the world, the moſt laborious trade of a Husbandman, of a Traveller, of a Warfaring man, of a Merchant are uſually brought to expreſſe the labours of men that look after heaven, yea ſuch exerciſes which are too violent for any to make a trade or ordinary practiſe of, are uſed to ſet out the violence of their labour who ſtrive for the Kingdome of heaven as running a race, ſtriving for maſteries or victories in the Olympick games, 1 Cor. 9. 24. &c. Know yee not that they who 1 Cor. 9. 24.1 Cor 9:24run in a race ran all, but one receiveth the Garland: ſo run that yee may obtain, &c.

2The affections with which they are carried to it, are ordinarily ſo expreſſed, that all the love they beare to any thing elſe is hatred, if compar'd with the love they beare to this: Chriſt ſaith in the 14. of Luke; If any man will bee Luke 14 17.Luke 14:17my diſciple, and hate not father, and mother, and wife, and children, and life, and all that he hath, and himſelfe alſo, hee cannot be my Diſciple. Now certainly the Lord doth not p. 21meane poſitively, the Goſpel doth not teach any man to hate his father or his mother, or his wife or children, it is againſt nature, and againſt the Goſpel; but the Lord meanes comparatively, that take all the love that they bear to their own lives, or to what ever is deare to them, as Iacobs love to Leah was hatred, when compar'd with his affection to Rachel, ſo all their love to theſe things is hatred if compared with the love that they beare to the Kingdome of Heaven; and this Chryſoſtome expreſſes very elegantly when he ſaith, in his purſuit of baniſhment or martyrdome for Chriſt, if his father ſhould meet him and ſtand in his way, he would throw his father upon the ground; if his mother lay in his way, he would tread upon his mothers belly: meaning whatever it was, that ſhould be an obſtacle to him, they ſhould be all ſcorn'd and hated by him, if their intereſt in him ſhould offer to ſtand in competition with the affection hee bore to the Kingdome of Heaven.

It is ordinary with Chriſt to expreſſe it thus, that whoever Luke 14 33. Matth. 13. …4. 45.Luke 14:33Matt 13:4Matt 13:45mindes the Kingdome of Heaven, and embraces it aright, will forſake all for it, they ſell all for it; in the 13. of Matthew, the man that found the Treaſure, ſold all with joy, the man that found the pearle of great price, ſold all, and the Diſciples were able to ſpeak it, Maſter we have forſaken Matth. 19. 29.Matt 19:29all to follow thee: How is that? how doe they ſell all? the meaning is, they forſake all, Firſt,

In their judgments, and eſtimation of all other things, they Phil 38.are nothing in their thoughts, when compared with this: I account all loſſe and dung for Chriſt. Secondly, fell and forſake all.

2In their affections, that they care not for them, they doe not love them, nor delight in them, when compar'd with this. Thirdly, ſell all,

In their reſolution and purpoſe of their ſpirit; they being prepar'd to part with all, either by degrees; or all at a clap, p. 22according as their intereſt in the Kingdome of Heaven doth call for any of them: And as the Scripture is plain, that it muſt be ſo, ſo if you look but into the examples of all that have imbrac'd it, you ſhall ſee de facto that it hath been ſo; look upon the examples, read thoſe Holy men of God, of old, that ſaw not the Kingdome of Heaven ſo cleerly, as now it is diſcover'd: Abraham aſſoon as ever this City and Kingdome was diſcover'd to him, left Meſopotamia, left his Father, his kindred, the Land of his Nativity, his eſtate, went hee knew not whither, onelyonly to follow a word that directed him to this Kingdome: Moſes whoſe Heb. 11. 24.Heb 11:24practice is epitomized in the 11. of the Heb. 24. that he did count the honour of being Pharaohs daughters Son, hee counted the pleaſures of the Court of Egypt, hee eſteemed the wealth of Egypt, the treaſures of it, he counted them all as nothing in compariſon of this; there is the Worlds Trinity, honour, pleaſure, wealth, troden under foot, by a man, that had but ſet his heart to the Kingdom of Heaven. The time would fail me to relate unto you what all the Worthies have done: But look a little into Chriſts time, that w^ch my Text doth more immediately intimate, what violence they uſed, how the people trod one upon another, to attend upon the Ordinances: how they would tarry ſometimes 3. dayes together, without eating a bit of bread or drinking any thing but a cup of water, only that they might get ſome acquaintance with Chriſt, and the way to life; how his Diſciples for ſook their Callings and Nets to follow Chriſt, and doe what hee would have them doe; how Paul made ſhipwracke of whatſoever was dear unto him, and preſſed forward, onelyonly that this might bee made good to their ſoules, that Heaven was theirs; how the Virgin company who follow Chriſts loved not their lives to the death: huge Rev. 12. 11.Rev 12:11clouds of witneſſes there are whoſe examples prove clearly p. 23that who ever are rightly affected to the Kingdome of Heaven, will doe what ever they can in this worke, with all their hearts, and all their might, and all their ſtrength. Furthermore this violence and eagerneſſe of affection towards the Kingdome of Heaven, in all into whoſe hearts the knowledg of the Kingdom of Heaven doth come,

Expreſſes it ſelf in two things: Firſt,

1In labouring by all meanes poſsible to make it ſure to their own ſoules, to work out their ſalvation with ſeare and with trembling, to make their intereſt in the Kingdome of God, the unum neceſſarium, the one thing that is neceſſary, to part with all other things, that this may be their abſolute portion; that is one, and the other,

2Wherein they are equally ſet, with eagerneſſe of ſpirit, in endeavouring within their power and calling, is, that all Mountains may be made plain, al obſtacles removed, al furtherances added, which may advance the Kingdome of Heaven, that other Fleſh as well as their ſelves, may ſee the Salvation of God. Read your Bibles, I affirme it confidently, you ſhall finde that all that have been eager for themſelves, ſo far as it hath lien in their lot and way, have expreſſ'd at leaſt the ſame eagerneſſe to advance it, and ſet it up for others; Abraham that all his children might know the Lord: Moſes though hee minded his own intereſt in Heaven far beyond all the world, (as I ſhew'd you) yet preferd the ſalvation of Iſrael before it: Lord rather raſe me out of the Book thou haſt written then for ſake thy people; hee was more for Iſrael then for himſelf. And ſo all thoſe other Worthies, David never did that for himſelf, nor for all his children, in providing for them, as hee did for advancing Religion, the zeal of Gods houſe eat him up: and ſo did Aſa, Iehoſophat, Hezekiah, Ioſiah, Ezra, Nehemiah, and many others of the old; and thoſe of the New Teſtament, with what violence did the p. 24Diſciples of Ieſus Chriſt, all of them goe up and downe, that they might gaine others to the Lord Chriſt to winne them to him? how did they goe about preaching, and doing good every where: being contented to be thought vile, to be in their wits, or out of their wits, to bee made a gazing ſtock to men and Angels, to be made the refuſe and offſcowring of the world, to bee anything, ſo they might promote and advance the Kingdome of Heaven? I know you are able to prove theſe things yourſelves, and therefore I doe not inſiſt upon them, the ground of all this, is,

Reaſon. From the neceſſity and excellency and benefit of the Kingdome of Heaven.Becauſe the Kingdome of Heaven, to all who are rightly informed in it, doth appeare not onelyonly to bee a matter of abſolute neceſſity, but ſo abſolute good, ſuch ſuperlative excellency in ſuch raviſhing ſweetneſſe, ſuch in expreſſible conſolation that the ſoule that hath but once diſcover'd it, cannot forbeare, but fly upon it, as the Eagle flyes to the prey; and if with Sampſon they find this Hony combe, they muſt eate themſelves, and give to their Father, or their Mother, or their children, and all that are about them. If you would know what they are, truely a little time will not ſo much as name them; but they are ſuch as theſe, to bee delivered out of the power of darkneſſe, and dominion of the Devill, to be reconciled to God, to have the pardon of their ſinnes, and the imputation of Chriſts righteouſneſſe, to bee made Gods adopted ſonnes and daughters, to have peace with God, and peace with our conſcience, and peace with the creatures, and joy in the holy Ghoſt, to have all things in this world turn'd to their good, and in the end to be delivered from death and hell, and to reigne with God and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in heaven for evermore; ſuch things as theſe, the Kingdome of Heaven doth bring with it; now would you wonder that any man ſhould be ſick of love, (as the Church ſaid ſhee was) that doth but ſee this face? p. 25wee uſe to ſay that for the ſummum bonum, for the chief good, exceſſe of affection, can have no exceſſe, the higheſt affection that any living man can expreſſe, cannot bee ſuppoſed to have an exceſſe in it, when it is for that is the ſuperlative good of all others; I have but one Queſtion or two briefly to cleare, and then my way is plaine to the Application. It may be demanded, Firſt,

Queſt. 1.What uſe is there of a violent ſpirit in the purſuit of the Kingdome of Heaven? Can wee by ſearching finde out the Almighty? is this Race to the ſwift? or this Battle to the ſtrong? doth any mans eagerneſſe and violence of ſpirit purchaſe this at Gods hand? is it in our power, by our labour to carry it? is not all in this work of Gods free Grace, who ſhewes mercy to whom hee will ſhew mercy? and to what purpoſe then is that violence of the ſpirit?

Reaſon.To that I anſwer, it is certainly true, that no wiſedome of man can ſearch the Kingdome of heaven out; the Vultures eye never ſaw it, it is a path that the Lion never walked in, and the wayes of it are hid from all fleſh; it is as high as heaven; wee can doe nothing, the ſearch of it is deeper then the Center of the earth, wee cannot know it, Man knoweth not the price of it, neither is it found in the land of the living; the depth ſaith, It is not in me, and the Iob 11. 7, 8: Iob 28. pertorum.Job 11:7Job 11:8Job 28Sea ſaith, It is not in me, it cannot be gotten for gold, neither ſhall ſilver be weighed for the price of it, it is hid from the eyes of all living; God onelyonly underſtandeth the wayes thereof, and giveth it to whom hee pleaſeth, and if any man ſhould thinke that his eagerneſſe, or violence of ſpirit could purchaſe it, he and his labours muſt periſh together: this is certaine; but though this bee true, yet the Lord who is the free giver of it, hath order'd that it ſhall bee ſought after this manner partly as a ſigne and token, that wee eſteeme it in its due place, and partly as the meanes p. 26that he pleaſeth to bleſſe, and his promiſe is, that they who ſeeke it as ſilver and ſearch for it as for hid treaſure, ſhall find Prov. 245.underſtanding and the fear of the Lord; and beſides all this, there is that reaſon in nature for it, that whatever the heart doth once place the greateſt felicitie in, it can doe no other, but it muſt follow it with all its might. But it may be once again demanded.

Qu. 2.Doth not the Scripture ſay, it is eaſie? and if it bee ſo, quorſ…m haec? to what purpoſe ſhould violence be ufed, to take a Fort, that will be taken without violence? Chriſt ſaith, my yoke is eaſie and my burthen light, a ſlight labour may ſerve for an eaſie yoak, a weak ſhoulder is enough for a light burthen: To which I anſwer.

Reaſ.Never did yet any man read in Gods book, that the obtaining of the Kingdome of Heaven was an eaſie matter; Chriſt-ſaith, it is hard to be ſaved, that ſtraight is the way, and narrow is the gate, and wee muſt labour at it, and many will cry, Lord, Lord, that ſhall not finde it; many ſhall ſeek Matth. …, 29. 30.but not enter, becauſe they ſtrive not to enter; but neveriſaith it is eaſie. Indeed when once the ſoule hath learned to conforme to Chriſt, when they have learned of him to bee humble and meek, then Chriſts yoak is eaſie, and ſo it is in other things, if a man have given his heart to doe the Devills drudgery, it is an eaſie thing for him to ſweare, and whore, and drinke, and drab, and dice, and commit villanies, this abominable drudgery is eaſie to a mans ſpirit, that delights in it; and to travell from countrey to countrey, to fight, and be wounded, and all theſe things are eaſie to ſpirits that ſuit them; it was eaſie for Iacob 14. yeers together to watch and toyle, when it was for his beloved Rachel. In all things finis dat medi is amabilitatem & facilitatem, the pleaſing end propounded and aimed at makes the meanes ſweet and eaſie, though difficult and hard in themſelves: So when the love of heaven is got into the heart of p. 27man, then it is eaſie with him, it is pleaſing to his nature, ſuitable to his ſpirit, to ſpend, and be ſpent, to be any thing, to doe any thing, that he might get it: but otherwiſe the things themſelves are hard to be got: I have nothing behind, but the Application of it, and that ſhall bee in theſe two Uſes. Firſt,

Ʋſe 1. For humiliation.This Leſſon doth afford us very much matter of humiliation and mourning upon this day of our ſoule affliction; and ſecondly, it is a Leſſon that affords us excellent direction for diſcharge of our neceſſary dutie for time to come.

Firſt, for mourning: Doe all that are rightly affected with the Kingdome of Heaven, offer violence to it, in this way that I have diſcover'd to you? how ſad then is the condition of moſt in England this day? wee all profeſſe our ſelves to bee the children of the Kingdome, wee are by a certaine generall profeſſion of Chriſtianitie, numbred among them that call our ſelves the ſervants and followers of this Kingdome, but are wee true borne, or are wee Baſtards? This leſſon will determine it. Firſt,

1. How many uſe violence againſt the Kingdome of Heaven.How many are there to bee found in England, who in ſtead of offering violence to get the Kingdome of heaven, doe offer violence againſt the Kingdome of heaven, and doe all they can to ruſh upon the kingdom of heaven, to deſtroy it, and beat it down; who do not only with the Gadarens intreat Chriſt to be gone from them, but with thoſe diſobedient ſubjects, ſend him word he ſhall not paign over them, & with them of Nazareth, ſeek to tumble him downe the brow of the hill, upon which their Citie was built: willing to uſe all labours, and travell, yea all violence, that the Goſpel and Ordinances, wherein this Kingdome is adminiſtred, might bee diſgraced, cruſhed, baniſhed, beaten downe? Of theſe men I can ſay no more, but this, their damnation ſleepeth not, they may in words profeſſe Chriſt, but certainly in their p. 28workes they abſolutely deny him, and ruine will be their end; Secondly,.

2. How many are flight & lukewarm in ſeeking it for their own ſoul.How ſadly doth this ſpeak againſt the generality of people? yea I fear againſt the greateſt part of our ſelves, who are here before the Lord this day, & God in mercy open al our eyes to ſee it, and powre ſo much grace into our hearts, that wee may aright apprehend and be ſenſible what our eſtate is; you heare that all who are rightly affected to Heaven, doe offer violence to it in all the wayes I have open'd; Brethren, doe you ſo? ſay every one for your owne ſoules, doth your conſcience witneſſe, that you offer violence to the Kingdome of Heaven? Compare a little what violence you uſe for other things, and what you uſe to obtaine a part in the Kingdom of Heaven: Can you not watch, and work, and toyle, and ſpend and be ſpent for ſome earthly thing or other? For your wealth, or your pleaſure, or your honour? Doe you not drive like Iehu, furiouſly, as if you would break your Chariot wheeles into peeces? doe you not thus for the world? And doe you thus alſo for your immortaſt ſoules? Are you not like David in his old age, when no cloths could make him warm? are you not like the Egyptians when their Chariet wheeles were taken off, when they drove ſlowly and heavily? are you not like Snailes in the purſuit of the things of Gods Kingdom? my heart could bleed in the ſerious thoughts of theſe things, O wretched creatures that wee are, that we ſhould thus deceive our ſelves! There is a notable ſtory of a poore wretched woman, whoſe houſe was on a fire, and ſhee ſeeing her houſe would bee burn'd down, beſtir'd herſelfe, to the utmoſt, to ſave what ſhee could, gets out her linnen, gets out her pewter, and what ever elſe ſhee was able, and all this while this poore creature had a Babe lying in a Cradle, which ſhee never thought of, (indeed ſome others did ſee it, and carry it out,) but p. 29when all was conſumed, it came into the womans mind, O Lord (ſaith ſhee) I have forgot my child, I have ſaved my braſſe, and my pewter, and my child is burnt, and fell mad immediately, at the apprehenſion of her deſperate neglect of her Babe; O beloved, we are (the Lord knowes) no leſſe mad, here is a poore Tabernacle of ours, it is of a light fire, here is a World on a fire, and a Kingdom on a fire, and we have ſomewhat that wee would all ſave, and one man ſaith, I muſt have this Money, and the other, I muſt ſave ſo much Land; and another, I muſt ſave ſuch an Office; and ſaith another, I muſt get ſuch a preferment, and in the mean time there is a poore immortall Soule, like a Babe in a Cradle, and a Kingdome of Heaven, that is onelyonly a ſuitable portion to it, this we wholly neglect, we doe nothing for it; it may be, come to Church, and hear Sermons, and joyne in Prayer, and attend upon Duties, but with ſuch dull ſpirits, that if a man would aske his ſoul the queſtion, his Conſcience would ſay, this is not to ſtrive as for maſterie, this is not to run in a race, this is not to ſtrive as if a man would obtain: Miſerable that we are, the Kingdomes of the Earth ſuffer violence, our Farmes ſuffer violence, our Trade ſuffers violence, but Heaven ſuffers no violence; the Lord forgive us, and help us to lay theſe things to our hearts, and to be humbled for them this day: and Thirdly, yet one thing more,

3. How little zeal is found for the advancing of the Kingdome of Heaven for the good of others.What great cauſe have wee to be humbled, when wee look upon that other branch of it, the little vigor ánd fervency of Spirit, that men have to advance the Kingdome of Heaven, in reference to the good of others? in other things, every good Common-wealths-man is diligent, ſome would advance Trade to the utmoſt, and others would advance Liberty to the utmoſt; indeed all other things men ſeek to improve them to the utmoſt, but O p. 30the little care is found among men to advance the Kingdome of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, to the utmoſt: Many oppoſing it as a dangerous thing, they ſay of it as Haman, of the Jewes, It is not for the Kings profit to ſuffer it; and others as Herod, ſeek to ſtrangle it in the Cradle; others who will not appeare enemies to it, yet O how little will they now doe for it? Is it nothing to them that paſſe by the way to ſee godlineſs trod under foot, to ſee Miniſters trod down, to ſee Hereſies and Blaſphemies ſpread, to ſee all goe backward in the things of Heaven? it takes not the hearts of a great many; God grant that many of your ſelves, who are our Reformers, have not great cauſe to put your mouths in the duſt for theſe things this day, when you are before the Lord our God; you know how zealous you have been in your own work, if you have had the like affections in advancing the Kingdome of Chriſt, lift up your heads and take the comfort of it this day: but if you like that cold Worſhipper of Baal, Gideons Father, who had an Altar for Baal, yet when one had it broken down, and hee perſwaded to puniſh him that had done that deed, anſwered, Let Baal plead for himſelfe, let him revenge his own quarrell: ſo if you deal for the Kingdom of Chriſt, let it ſhift for it ſelf.

If any of you have ſuch a cold heart for Religion, and let it goe at ſix and ſevens, bee permitted to lie in the duſt, and be deeply humbled; if not, I muſt tel you from the Lord, that lie will not onelyonly not delight to uſe you, but hee will ſpew you out of his mouth, for hee had as willingly have a dead Aſſe offer'd in a Sacrifice to him, as a dull Spirit to ſet upon his work: for theſe things let our ſoules be humbled this day; and that is the firſt uſe; the ſecond is a uſe of exhortation in two branches:Ʋſe 2. Exhortation in two branches.

Is the Kingdome of Heaven a buſineſſe of that nature, p. 31that all who are rightly informed about it, will ſeek it violently, eagerly, with all their ſtrength? 1. Each to contend violently to get it.O that the Lord would leave that impreſſion upon every one of our ſoules this day, I deſire that for the time to come we might make it our onelyonly worke for our ſelves, to worke out our ſalvation with feare and trembling; Would I knew what to ſay, to inflame your hearts about it, would the Lord did pleaſe to open your eyes, and ſhew you how little the World is worth, and how little good is to be found in it, and how far below your ſoules, and how much your immorall ſoules are worth, and how excellent a thing the Kingdome of Heaven is, that you might be contented with Paul for time to come, to make it your work to purſue after it, to account all loſſe to win Ieſus Chriſt, doe any thing, or be any thing, ſo it bee in the purſuit of the Kingdome of Heaven; Much I might ſay, to ſtir you up, but I am afraid I ſhould be burthenſome to you, and would not be ſtraightned in the laſt branch of all; and therefore I come to

An exhortation to this honorable Aſſembly, by whom I am called to be helpefull to this day, that in that part of their work which concernes the Kingdome of Heaven, they would doe it with all their might, labouring to advance it, as all thoſe Worthies have done whom God hath thought fit to regiſter in his Book, as men accepted with him: Beloved, if you pleaſe to open your eyes, and look abroad into the Kingdome, into every corner of it, you'l ſee lamentable objects every where, afflicted creatures of all kindes, crying to you, that you would reach out a helping and healing hand to them, but in nothing ſo much is the Kingdome deſolate this day, as in the things that doe properly belong to the Kingdome of Heaven, the Faith of Gods people, I mean the doctrinall part, is woefully overthrowne, in many places by blaſphemous and hereticall p. 32doctrines which are got in, and ſown through the cunning craftineſſe of them that have lien in wait to beguil unſtable ſ…les the Worſhip of God is woefully neglected and troden under foot; Faſt Dayes, and Sabbath Dayes, in moſt places not one whit regarded, the Miniſtery not more contemned, nor ſo much under reproach in the hotteſt perſecutions that they have lien under heretofore, the Glory of the Lord marvellouſly abuſed in point of Religion: England is this day an amazement to the Nations round about it, to the inſulting and rejoycing of all the enemies of it, and the mourning and ſadding of heart unto all that love it. Could you but (as in a glaſſe) behold the unſetled caſe of the Kingdome of Heaven in this Land, you would quickly grant there is a great deal of work to be done, by thoſe that have any vigorous ſpirits, any bowels in them to rowle towards the helping forward of this great work. Now that you may adminiſter a healing hand, I ſhall endeavor to ſay ſomewhat that may quicken you up, and I beſeech you give me leave to lay before you, theſe following conſiderations: Motives to provoke to this work.eight things I would have you all ſeriouſly to think upon, to provoke you to be vigorous, and violent in advancing the Kingdome of Chriſt: Firſt,

1Certainly there is not onelyonly ſuch a thing as zeal for God, but it is a grace of abſolute neceſſity in all the ſervices of God, and ſo lovely, that it is the luſtre, and the varniſh, the gloſle, and beauty of all performances unto God, that which ſets them off with glory in the eyes of God & man. Gods work requires it; every cauſe which concernes the Kingdome of Heaven, muſt either be done with zeal, or meddle not at al with it, a lukewarme ſpirit in the ſervice of God, is worſe to God, then a ſpirit that will doe nothing, hee will ſpue it out of his Mouth, as abominable meate; Now then, becauſe Religion is a work for God, the proper p. 33cauſe of God, the cauſe wherein his glory is moſt intereſſed, aſſociated with God, you muſt needs doe it with zeale, with all vigor, and beſt intention of your ſpirit; Secondly,

2Conſider further, you all have lifted up your hands to the moſt high God, and that in the day of your diſtreſle, you have bound your ſelves by an Oath of God, and you have brought the Kingdome into an Oath of God with you, you have ſworne that you will willingly, cheerfully, conſtantly, to the utmoſt of your power, within your callings, beat down what is contrary to Religion, that you will ſtudy the advancement of Reformation, according to the Word of God, and the pattern of the beſt reformed Churches: this in the day of your diſtreſſe, you have ſworn: you have ſince told the Kingdome you forget it not, you have order'd the Miniſters oftentimes to read it upon the Faſt dayes, that it might be in the eyes of all▪ Now I beſeech you know, that the keeping Covenant with God is a matter of a high concernment; and the breaking of your Covenant with man, uſes not to goe unrevenged, but the breaking Covenant with God, is a thing will never eſcape the wrath of God. Thirdly,

3Conſider that this work of advancing the Kingdome of Heaven, is a work that belongs to you; I told you before, you have ſworn to doe it, within the compaſſe of your calling, now it is a work within the compaſſe of your calling, it belongs to you; the Lord hath not truſted you onelyonly with Civill liberties, and to beat down oppreſſion and injuſtice, and outward wickedneſſe againſt the ſecond Table, (in which the Lord make you more zealous) but beſides this, the things of Gods Kingdome are committed to you. You ſhall read, if you look into Gods Book, all the Worrhies whom God hath taken notice of, their Crown & glory hath been, that they did beat downe Idolatry, oppoſed and ſuppreſsed p. 34what ever was contrary to Religion, built up Gods houſe, ſet up his Ordinances, encouraged his Miniſters, and for the doing of theſe things, they were approved, commended, rewarded, and ſuch as neglected them were by God blamed, branded, puniſhed: ſo many examples are extant in the Scripture of the Old Teſtament, that I need not name them, and the ſame is propheſied to be done by Magiſtrates under the New Teſtament, Kings ſhall be Nurſing Fathers Eſa. 19. 29.Isa 19:29to it, and Queenes ſhall be Nurſing Mothers to the Church; they ſhall give it bread & milk, and provide for it, and nouriſh zach. 13. 3.it: and for puniſhing the oppreſſors of it, there is a Goſpell Propheſie, in the 13. of Zechariah, When any ſhall propheſie falſly, his Father and Mother that begat him, ſhall thruſt him through, and ſay, Thou ſhalt not live, for thou ſpeakeſt lies in the name of God; Now then ſince this belongs to your place, and work, I beſeech you for the Lords ſake, be zealous in it: and Fourthly, conſider,

4As it is for Chriſt, and for his Kingdome, ſo Ieſus Chriſt hath very well deſerved at your hands, to have you vigorous in his cauſe, hee hath earned it; hee is before hand with every ſoule of you; look upon the zeal hee ſhewed, when hee came to doe your work for you, how did he bow the heavens and come downe upon the earth? and from the throne of glory came, and lay firſt in the wombe of a Virgin, and then in ſwadling bands in a Manger, and afterwards lived a poore life, and then pray'd, and preached, and wrought Miracles, with indefatigable paines, with burning zeal, yea, gave his life a ranſome, he gave his ſoule to the death, that hee might be a ranſome for you, and thereby Titus 2. 14.Titus 2:14purchaſe you to be a people to himſelf, zealous of good warkes, hath he not deſerved it? I, and he hath deſerved it at your hands in this great work hee hath ſet you about, in this great concuſſion and earth quake of the Kingdome, wherein you have been p. 35ſo farre imployed; What miſchiefs hath he diſcover'd, which have been contrived againſt you? What ſeaſonable Mercies hath he ſent you? What unexpected victories hath he given you? How hath the Lord made Mountains plain before you, and brought you into the condition wherein you are, and made you enjoy that, which many times (I dare ſay) you were paſt all hope of ſeeing? the Lord then deſerves his cauſe ſhould be thought upon by you. Fifthly, conſider,

5That the ſetting up of the Kingdome of Heaven, the advancing of it, is a matter of the greateſt concernment unto the whole Kingdome, of any thing that ever you can be employed in; when you have thought all that lies within your compaſſe, there is nothing of that concernment to the Kingdome, as the Kingdome of Heaven is; for why? you know the greateſt part of our well being here upon earth, lies in the things of Gods Kingdome, and the whole ſum of our everlaſting well being in Heaven to eternity, is wholly to be taken from the Kingdome of Heaven, not from any outward things that you can helpe us with; and as the things concerne us for our well being, ſo theſe are the things will bring other things with them; ſet up the Kingdome of Heaven throughly in the Kingdom of England, and you ſhall ſay of it, as Nabals ſervants ſaid of Davids men, 1 Sam 24. 16.1 Sam 24:16when they lay with them, all the while the men were with us, they were a wall about us, that we loſt nothing, none could hurt us, nay it wil be a wal of fire to England; Salvation will God provide for wals and Bulwarks to you; I fear not to ſpeak Zach 2. 5. Eſa. 26. ….Zech 2:5Isa 26it to wiſe men, that the four Seas of England, and if to them were added wals of braſſe of 20. cubits high & thick about England, and all your Souldiers as the ſons of Anak, they could not give that ſecurity to the Land which the Kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt would be to it: Let the Goſpell flouriſh, let Religion proſper, let that goe on, and ſalva omnia, that will ſecure all other things to you; the very Heathens p. 36ſaw this by the light of nature, you cannot read of one Lawgiver amongſt them, but ever counted the matters of the worſhip of their Gods, and of Religion to be of greateſt advantage to their ſtates, and therefore counted Religionſo ſacred a thing, that they made their Kings & Princes alwaies their chief Prieſts, that the care of the Gods might not be neglected: it is true, theſe poore blind wretches knew not God, and worſhipped Devils, and therefore miſcarried, but yet thus much we may learn from them, that even in their judgments, nothing ſo ſecures a Nation as Religion; Now when wee have the cleer light of the Goſpel, and ſo many examples before us, and ſo many promiſes from Heaven, can we expect the like ſuccor and help from any thing elſe, as from the advancement of that: Sixthly,

Know ye for certain, you never ſhall bee able to breake through your difficulties, and to ſettle this poor Land in Peace, unleſſe your whole heart be ſincerely ſet to advance the Kingdome of Heaven; you ſhall not proſper in other work; I know it grieves your hearts, and it grieves thoſe that love England, to ſee how you labour in the fire, and what pains you take, and ſtill the end of one trouble, is the beginning of another, our clouds return after the rain, and when wee think we are going to moore our ſhip, wee are inſtantly ready to daſh againſt new rocks, up and down we are, and England appeares to our eyes, as a dying fading plant; certainly the Lords anger is not yet turn'd away from England, there is ſomewhat provokes him, God grant that we may ſearch whether it be not ſomewhat like that in the 1. of Haggai, that the houſe of God was not regarded, as it ſhould be: I doe acknowledge here before you, my heart is overwhelmed with grief oftentimes, when I look upon our unſetled condition, but could I once ſee, and might it appear, that the Lord had let it ſo really into the hearts of our Parliament, p. 37that they could with all their might, buckle to the work of God ſincerely and faithfully, to enquire what God would have them doe in the cauſe of Religion, and doe it to the utmoſt, I think all my feares would vaniſh; I ſhould ſay we went forward, when wee ſeemed to goe backward; wee proſpered, when we ſeemed to be overthrown; I could ſay to my own melancholy ſpirit, as Luther ſaid to Melancthon, Ego miſerrimas iſtas curas quibus te conſumi ſcribis vehementer odi, &c. I doe extreemly hate (ſaith he) thoſe cares that thou ſayeſt doe conſume and tear thee; it is not the greatneſſe of our danger, but the greatneſſe of thy infidelity, that is the cauſe of it, it is the cauſe of God that we are ingaged in, So mee thinks, I could reſolve that the enemies of England & of the Church of God, would quickly bee where they ſhould bee, that is, made the Lords footſtoole, and we ſhould triumph over them, & break through all, if the Lord would but incline the hearts of thoſe hee hath called to it, to goe through-ſtitch with the things of the Kingdome of Heaven; and therefore I moſt humbly beſeech you fall to it, and in it doe as Baruch did, of whom you may read in the 3. of Nehem. 20. that he did build the Nehem. 3. 20.Neh 3:20wal earneſtly, and Tremelius reades it, accendit ſe he ſets himſelf a fire to it, he ſtirred up himſelf, he did not ſtay till others ſtirr'd him up, but hee provok'd himſelſelf to it; doe it with all your might, and doe it throughly too, do not make Icr. 6. 14.a patch'd buſineſſe of it; the Lord made that once a curſe to the Miniſters of Iſrael, that they healed the wounds of the people ſlightly; therefore that I may ſpeak plain Engliſh, ſearch Gods Word, and find, not what may be agreeable to humane policy, but ſearch what God would have you own, and ſet up, what he would have you oppoſe, and what hee would have you beat down, what hee would have you indulge, how far hee would have you indulge it, by what p. 38rules it ſhould be done, get a clear light in theſe things, for the Scripture is able to make every man of God perfect in all his workes, get this, and fall to it throughly, and God Almighty will be with you; the Lord will yet blow over the clouds you are afraid of, and will proſper your work in your hand, but truly, if you doe neglect it, and ſhall not bee faithfull to the Lord in it, beleeve it, though our miſery and ruine may be protracted and beaten off, and kept off for a time, it wil return upon us, and come in like the huge breaking in of waters, and like a great breach in a high wall, whoſe mine comes ſuddenly; therefore becauſe you cannot do the reſt of your work without it, let this be the main. Seventhly, I'le but name the two other, and lay this to heart likewiſe,

7That a great part of thoſe miſeries that the Kingdom of Heaven lies under at this day in England, have broke out ſince the cure of it was committed to your hands: I doe not ſay through your fault, the root of theſe humors was in the ſick bodie before; and in ſuch confuſed times, (as hath appear'd in Germany and other places) abundance of diſorders doe come in, eſpecially in times of War; but becauſe God hath bleſſed you, and inabled you to afford a healing hand in many things, to take off the bridle of bondage, which lay upon our necks, and to pull down huge Mountains, and that Gods people injoy a great deal of liberty in many things, more then they did heretofore, be provoked to help in this alſo: A mercifull good Phyſitian, who hath begun a cure, if any new diſeaſe break out, while the Patient is under his cure, he would be very loth any thing ſhould fall out to be the Patients ruine, while under his hand, and therefore let this alſo provoke you earneſtly to carry this work on: and Laſtly,

8Know that if the Husbandman will ſleep, the envious man p. 39ſleeps not; Gebal and Ammon, and the children of Lot, and Aſhur, and Tyre, and all that are enemies to the Kingdom of Chriſt, beſtir themſelves againſt it: Cataline watches, ut perdat rempubliam, omits no endeavour to deſtroy Religion, Sanballat and Tobiah, doe all that ever they can to hinder the building of the wall; ſhall not Nehemiah, ſhall not Ezra, ſhall not the reſt of Gods people, put to their hand too? Vt jugulent homines ſurgunt de nocte latrones, If theeves watch by night to kill men, ſhall not honeſt men watch to preſerve their own lives? When there is ſuch a marvellous endeavor to corrrupt our Faith, to take away Government, to take away Worſhip, to take out the power of godlineſſe, to diſcourage all that fear God, to doe any thing againſt them, ſhall not they that are the ſervants of the Lord doe the utmoſt that they can to encourage them? For the Lords ſake, conſider of theſe things, and God Almighty give you a right underſtanding in them; this is the firſt thing, what they did, they offered violence to the Kingdome of Heaven, the Kingdome of Heaven ſuffers violence.

The ſecond part you have in the next words, the ſucceſſe of their violence, they take it by force, Rapiunt; It is a Metaphor taken from a Caſtle taken by ſtorm, by the violence of thoſe that will it take or looſe their blood, ſo the violent doe take the Kingdome of Heaven; and theſe words are both Reſtrictive, and they are Promiſsive; they are reſtrictive, they are the violent men and no other, that get it; if of any work in the world it be true, that the ſluggard is cloathed with rags, it's true here; hee that onelyonly cries, Lord, Lord, ſhall never come into the Kingdome of Heaven; this is a peculiar mercy in ſtore for theſe violent ſpirits, that the violent, and no other ſhall get into Heaven: and then as it is reſtrictive, ſo it is promiſsive, though careleſſe endeavours and ſlight labours may prove abortive, vigorous p. 40proſecution of it ſhall not miſcarry; they that ſeek ſhall find, to them that knock it ſhall be open'd, to them that aske it ſhall be granted, they that ſeek wiſdome, as men ſeek Silver and Gold, the Lord will give it them; he hath laid it up in ſtore, Prov. 2. 34.Prov 2:34let them that have violent hearts, offer violence to it, and the Lord hath promiſed they ſhall not miſſe of it: but this (the time being gone) I dare not handle.

FINIS.

End of the text · Stephen Marshall, Sermon 26 January 1647 (1647)