Jerusalems Watchmen the Lords Remembrancers, Sermon
A SERMON PREACHED BEfore the Aſſembly of Lords, Commons, and Divines, upon their Faſt July 7. 1643.
Iſaiah 62. the latter part of the 6. and 7. ver.
Yee that make mention of the Lord keep not ſilence; And give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh, and till hee make Ieruſalem a Praiſe in the earth.
BEholding the face of the Church in this Chapter,The Chapt. analyſed into 4. parts. it appears to me as the Garden of God, made glad with four precious gracious promiſes, like the four Rivers that watered the Eden of the Lord.Gen. 2.
In the firſt, the Lord promiſeth to raiſe his Church out of a low afflicted eſtate, into an illuſtrious glorious condition, v. 1. For Zions ſake I will not hold my peace, and for Ieruſalems ſake I wil not reſt, (for ſo with a Learned Expoſitor, I take the words to be the words of God promiſing, aSoultetus ad loc:& not of the Prophet praying) For Zions ſake I will not hold my peace, &c. untill the righteouſneſs therof go forth as brightneſſe, and the ſalvation of it as a Lampe that burneth; which righteouſneſſe ſhall be ſo glorious that all the Kings and Nations of the earth ſhall behold and admire it, v. 2. It ſhall be as a crown of glory and a Royall Diademe in the hand of God, v. 3. And a new Name breathing nothing but delight and pleaſure will God put upon his Church, becauſe the Lord God delighteth in her, v. 4, 5.
In the ſecond place, the Lord promiſeth to raiſe up unto his Church Inſtruments fit for himſelfe to uſe in this great work of Reſtoring his Church and making it glorious, v. 6, 7. I have ſet watchmen upon thy walls O Ieruſalem, which ſhall not hold their peace night nor day, yee that are the Lords Remembrancers, &c.
In the third, the Lord promiſeth to continue this his Churches felicity, and confirmes this promiſe with an Oath. The Lord hath ſworn by his Right hand and by the arm of his ſtrength, Surely, &c. v. 8, 9.
In the fourth, the Lord promiſeth an encreaſe and dilatation of his Church, by meanes of this proſperity and glory; Goe thorough, goe thorough the gates, prepare yee the way of the people, &c. Lift up a Standard for the people, &c. v. 10, 11, 12.
Our Text lies in the ſecond part of this Chapter, wherein the Lord having 1 promiſed unto his Church Inſtruments and means fit for himſelfe to uſe in the effecting of the great things before promiſed; I have ſet (for I will ſet, an uſuall Hebraiſme, thereby to ſhew the certainty of the thing promiſed) I have ſet watchmen upon thy wals O Jeruſalem: And having 2 undertaken for the Fidelity, and ſedulity of theſe watchmen, which ſhall never hold their peace night nor day: Preſently by an Apoſtrophe turnes to theſe watchmen, and gives them a charge to ſee they make good what he had undertaken: Yee that make mention of the Lord, keep not ſilence; give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh, and till he make Ieruſalem a praiſe in the earth.
In the words you may pleaſe to conſider theſe three things.
The text divided.Firſt, the Perſons called upon, diſciphered thus, yee that make mention of the Lord.
Secondly, the ſervice or employment they are called unto, deſcribed Negatively; keep no ſilence, and give him no reſt.
Thirdly, the Duration or extent of this employment; till he eſtabliſh, and till he make Ieruſalem a praiſe in the earth.
For the firſt of theſe, the perſons called upon, Explained.they are thus characteriſed, yee that make mention of the Lord; the margent reads it, yee that are the Lords Remembrancers; the Greek foreign The Vulgar, qui Reminiſcimini Domini: Pagninus, qui Reminiſcimini Iehovae: Arias Montanus, Rememorantes Dominum: Jun. & Trem. qui Commemoratis Iehovam. All which unleſſe it be our marginall reading imply no other then what is the common duty and diſpoſition of all the people of God, to remember the Lord, and make mention of the Lord; only that; The Lords Remembrancers ſeems to have ſomething in it peculiar to ſome ranke and order of men; yee that are the Lords Remembrancers; yee to whom it doth ex officio belong to put the Lord in mind of his people and of his promiſes. In the Originall it is foreign. C. à Lapide upon the place ſaith that the Kings of Iuda & Perſia had ſuos aSo 2 Sam. 8.16. Jehoſaphat the ſon of Ahilud foreign & 2 Sam. 20.24. foreign Recorder, in the margent it is Remembrancer; qui negotia gerenda commemorat, & ſupplices por…git libellos.Maskirim admonitores, qui ſingula geſta & gerenda Regi in mentem revocarent; ſuch as we are wont to ſay are Regi à Commentariis. It ſeems this was ſome ſtanding office in the Court to be the Kings Remembrancer: to this the prophet here alludes, Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers; yee to whoſe office it belongs to put the Lord in mind of his Churches neceſſities, and his promiſes, which can be no other then the watchmen ſpoken of in the foregoing words, I have ſet watchmen upon thy walls O Jeruſalem; therefore the Greek Tranſlation joyns theſe watchmen and this remembring the Lord in conſtruction together. foreign. And upon thy walls ô Ieruſalem I have ſet watchmen all the day, and all the night, which ſhall not hold their peace for ever remembring the Lord; ſo that the Lords Remembrancers here are the ſame with Ieruſalems watchmen before, and they no other but the Prieſts and Prophets and Miniſters of the Lord.
The ſecond thing conſiderable in the text is, the employment they are called to, and that is deſcribed Negatively; keep no ſilence, give him no reſt; which implies that their employment here is vocall, and that can be but either in preaching or in praying: Some think the Miniſters of the Lord are here called upon for diligence in both theſe; but in this place I conceive, the Lord calls them to attendance upon prayer, becauſe of the following words, give him no reſt. The pronoun there having reference to God, and not to Jeruſalem; keep no ſilence, give him, that is the Lord, no reſt, pray, cry importunately, unceſſantly. God here by his Prophet calls his Miniſters to pray, as elſewhere he doth, by his Apoſtle, to preach, foreign, in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon; Night and day. I have ſet watchmen upon thy walls ô Ieruſalem, which ſhall not hold their peace night nor day; yee that are the Lords remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt.
The third and laſt thing conſiderable in the words is, the Duration or Extent of this employment; how farre their prayer muſt extend it ſelfe, or how long they muſt continue praying, even till he eſtabliſh, and till he make Ieruſalem a praiſe, till God have not only laid the foundations, but ſet up the Pinacles of a glorious Church. Not only brought forth the Corner ſtone, but the Top ſtone of Ieruſalem, and all the earth with ſhouting, cry, Grace, Zach. 4.7.grace to it.
I might out of the words, preſent unto you ſeverall Doctrines;Severall Doctrines out of the text. as many in number as the parts of the text: as,
Firſt, that God will certainly eſtabliſh Ieruſalem, & make it a praiſe in the earth. This is clear, for certainly God would never call his ſervants to pray for that which he never intended to do; were there never a text but this in all the book of God, that told us of this beauty and glory, wherewith God in the latter dayes will clothe his Church, even upon earth; were there nothing ſaid of it elſewhere in this Evangelicall Prophet Iſaiah; nor any mention of it in that Propheticall Evangeliſt St. Iohn, if in his whole book of Revelation, he had not uttered one word of this the Churches glory, yet in this one text, there is enough to ſupport the faith of Gods people, in the patient and comfortable expectation of it; God hath commanded prayer for it; therefore God will doe it: for, He never ſaith to the ſons of Iacob, Seek yee mee in vaine, Iſaiah 45.19.
Secondly, we might obſerve that, though the Lord will certainly make his Church glorious, a praiſe upon earth, yet he will not doe this till it be obtained of him by earneſt and unceſſant prayer: Therefore in order to his owne holy and bleſſed ends, he here commands his ſervants prayers.
Thirdly,we may obſerve this, that it is in ſpeciall manner the duty of Gods Miniſters to pray earneſtly and unceſſantly to God, that he would eſtabliſh and make Ieruſalem a praiſe in the earth.
The Doctrine to be inſiſted upon,This third I will embrace as adequately anſwering this Auditory and Day. To an Aſſembly of Gods Miniſters met together in a ſolemne Day of Prayer, to ſeeke God for the good of Ieruſalem, what can be more appoſite then ſuch a Doctrine as this that tels them, It is in a ſpeciall manner their Duty to pray, opportunè, importunè, unceſſantly, importunately, that God would eſtabliſh and make Ieruſalem a praiſe in the earth? The God of wiſdome and grace who directed the thoughts of his Servant unto this word, enlarge his own gratious hand, and the heart and mouth of his poore and moſt unworthy inſtrument, that helped by his Spirit, and your Prayers, I may utter right things, and ſuch as may advance Gods glory, and further all our hearts, not onelyonly in the worke of this day, but in that great employment whereunto wee deſire this day to ſanctifie our ſelves.
It is in a ſpeciall manner the duty of Gods Miniſters to pray that God would eſtabliſh Ieruſalem and make it a praiſe in the earth.
I will not ſay, it is needfull (in ſuch an Auditory, it cannot be;) but it may be convenient, and I muſt, pro more, a little open the termes of this propoſition. Not to ſpeake of the perſons, upon whom this duty is impoſed, Gods Miniſters; nor of the duty impoſed upon them, Prayer; I ſhall onelyonly ſpeake of the ſubject of the duty here propounded to us, which is two-fold:
Subjectum cui, or cujus; and Subjectum quod.opened in two things.
The firſt ſhewing whom wee muſt pray for; the ſecond, what we muſt pray for.
Firſt for whō we muſt pray.For the firſt of theſe, the ſubjectum cui or cujus, whom we muſt pray for, the Text and Doctrine tells us,Jeruſalem. Ieruſalem. Ieruſalem may be taken two wayes, either literally, or myſtically.
Literally, 1 For the place and City ſo denominated, or 2 For the people ſometime inhabiting that place. For the place or city, that was ſometime ſo famous among the Nations, the City where God dwelt, the habitation of his holineſſe, the place neere unto which Chriſt was borne, in which he converſed, manifeſted the truth of his godhead in his Actions, the truth of his manhood in his paſſions, was betrayed, ſcourged, reviled, condemned in it,John 19.41. crucified, buried neer unto it, this is literall Ieruſalem: but this is not that Ieruſalem we muſt pray for, our devotions muſt not with the Papiſts dote upon the ruines and rubbiſh of that bloudy citie, the City of Gods curſe.
Secondly, Ieruſalem literally ſignifies the people of Ieruſalem, the Nation of the Jews, whom God hath in his righteous indignation ſcattered over the face of the earth, as chaffe before the wind: theſe we may pray for, I meane the remnant according to the election of Grace, that God would gather them againe according to his promiſe: And ſo all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, Rom. 11.26.
But yet this is not that Ieruſalem here meant neither. The Ieruſalem meant in this place is the Myſtical Ieruſalem, that Ieruſalem, whereof this was but a type, the new*Revel. 21.2. which text ſeemes to referre to this of Iſaiah, & ſpeak the ſame language; for as here ver. 4.5. God ſaith, The Lan I ſhall be married; And, God will rejoyce over Jeruſalem, as a bridegroome rejoyceth over his bride: ſo here John ſees this Ieruſalem prepared as a bride adorned for her husband Ieruſalem comming downe from God out of Heaven: And ſo it implyes two things.
Firſt, the Church of God in the utmoſt latitude of it: the whole Catholique Church diſperſed over the world, the generall aſſembly and Church of the firſt borne is unto us Mount Sion, the City of the living God, the heavenly Ieruſalem, Heb. 12.22, 23. for which we are to pray, that God would eſtabliſh and make it a praiſe in the earth. And ſecondly, by Ieruſalem Myſticall we are to underſtand that particular Church, in which we live, of which we are, to which we ſtand in the ſame relation that the Iews did to Ieruſalem; for this we are to pray, that God would eſtabliſh, and make it a praiſe in the earth. And ſo I come to the ſecond thing to be explained,Secondly, for what we muſt pray. the ſubjectum quod, or, what it is we are to pray for.
Two things we find mentioned in the text: firſt, that God would eſtabliſh: ſecondly, that God would make his Church a praiſe in the earth.
Firſt, that God would eſtabliſh his Church.Firſt, that God would eſtabliſh his Church; for though the Church hath a ſtrong foundation, and walles, and bulwarkes ſtrong, yet it is in it ſelfe but a weake building,Mat. 16.18. earthly tabernacles planted on a rock. Iſaiah 26 1. 2 Cor. 5.That which God ſpeakes of the earth, may be applyed to the Church, Pſal. 75.3. The earth, and all the inhabitants of it are diſſolved, I beare up the Pillars of it. All the commiſſures and contignations of this great fabrick of the Univerſe would be looſned and disjoynted, if God did not put under his everlaſting armes, and beare up, and eſtabliſh the Pillars of it: So would it be in the Church of God; therefore we muſt pray, that God would eſtabliſh his Church,In two things. and that in two things: firſt in Truth; ſecondly, in Peace: Firſt, in truth againſt all errors; Secondly, in Peace againſt enemies.
Fi…, in Truth.Firſt, we muſt pray that God would eſtabliſh▪ his Church in truth. The Church is ſaid, 1 Tim. 3.15. to be the pillar and ground of truth; not as the Papiſts affirme, as if truth were grounded upon the judgement and determination of the Church: the Church is indeed the Pillar of truth, not becauſe it holds up the truth, but becauſe it holds forth the truth; the metaphor is taken, not from Pillars that are ſupporters of houſes, but from ſuch Pillars as anciently were wont to be fixed in market places, and other places of publique meeting, upon which they hung their lawes, (as the leges 12. Tabularum at Rome) that they might be publique to the view and notice of all men; as amongſt us Proclamations, for the ſame end are paſted upon poſts: ſuch a Pillar of truth we grant the Church is, and ought to be a Pillar to hold forth the truth, to the view of all men; a Pillar to which all men reſorting may read, and know the truth; it is foreign, but not foreign, the Pillar and ground of truth; the word in the Originall is foreign, which in the firſt and native ſignification is a ſeat; the Pillar and ſeat of truth, the place of truths abode and reſidence, its proper ubi, where truth is always to be found; this the Church of God is or ought to be.
Now, though the Church of God ſhould be thus, yet we know there is no Church, but it is ſubject unto error: The Apoſtle tells us there muſt be Hereſies, 1 Cor. 11.19. and that foreign and our Saviour tells us, that there ſhall ariſe ſome ſuch ſubtill maſters of hereſie, that they ſhall ſeduce (if it were poſſible) the very elect of God, Mark 13.22. Therefore we muſt pray, that God would eſtabliſh his Church in truth againſt all errors.Epheſ 6.14. Truth it is the Churches girdle; A Church quae hanc Zo nā perdidit aut ſoluta eſt, as the Latine proverb is, a Church that hath loſt this girdle of truth, or hath this girdle looſed, is an Adulterous beggerly Church; therefore, yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no ſilence, give him no reſt till he eſtabliſh his Church in truth.
Secondly, in Peace.And as in truth, ſo ſecondly, in Peace; Peace is one of the richeſt bleſſings of heaven, a comprehenſive bleſſing, a circle of bleſſings; I will not rhetoricate in the praiſes of it: the want of peace hath made us know what peace is worth; in the enjoyment of this rich, deſirable bleſſing, we muſt intreat the Lord to eſtabliſh Ieruſalem, his Church; yee that are the Lords Remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh Ieruſalem in peace.
And this peace is threefold; Civill, with the Nations; Eccleſiaſticall, with its own members; and ſpirituall or celeſtiall, with its head and God.
Firſt,1. Civill. we muſt pray that God would eſtabliſh his Church in peace among the Nations; the Church of God is among the Nations,Cant. 2.2. as the lilly among the Thorns: the lot of Iſrael was among the uncircumciſed Heathens; ſo is the Churches; yet hath her God promiſed peace in the middeſt of enemies, Mic. 4.3. He ſhall judge among many people, and rebuke ſtrong Nations afar off, and they ſhall beat their ſwords into ploughſhares, and their ſpears into pruning hooks, Nation ſhall not lift up a ſword againſt Nation, neither ſhall they learn war any more, but they ſhall ſit every man under his vine, and under his figtree, and none ſhall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of Hoaſts hath ſpoken it; You that are the Lords Remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh his Church in this peace.
Secondly, there is peace Eccleſiaſticall, peace of the Church with its own members,Secondly, Eccleſiaſticall. peace in the bowels and boſome of the Church; wee muſt pray, that God would eſtabliſh his Church in that; that the Church may not languiſh, and die of Antiochus his diſeaſe, a torment in her bowels, that there may be no incompoſable diviſions, no irreconciliable rents, no in urable ruptures in the Church, which is one of the greateſt and ſaddeſt miſchiefs, and miſeries can fall upon the Church, or the Church fall under: That God who makes men to be of one minde in a houſe, as the greek reads that of the 68. Pſalme, foreign, that God I ſay can make men of one mind, in a Church, in a Nation, in Ieruſalem, and hath promiſed that he will doe it, Ezek. 11.19. I will give them one heart, and Zeph. 3.6. I will turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to ſerve him with one conſent. O happy, happy we, if God would fulfill theſe promiſes in us! happy we, if we could obtain this at the hands of God by our prayers! yee that are the Lords Remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh his Church in this peace.
Thirdly, Spirituall or Celeſtiall.Thirdly, there is ſpirituall or celeſtiall peace, peace between God and his Church; wee muſt pray that God would eſtabliſh his Church in that alſo, that God would ſo watch over, and work in his Church, that no ſin may take hold and ſpread upon it, which might cauſe a quarrell between his Church and him, or cauſe the Lord to ſay, Mine heritage is to me as a ſpeckled bird, Ier. 12.9. That God would ſo order all the wayes of his Church before him, and towards him, that he may never know her by any other then thoſe precious and lovefull names of Ammi and Ruhamah, Hephzibah and Beulah: Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt till he eſtabliſh Ieruſalem his Church in this peace alſo. Thus you ſee the firſt thing we are to pray for, that God would eſtabliſh his Church upon the two pillars of truth and peace, as Solomon did the proch of the Temple upon thoſe two brazen pillars Iachin and Boaz.
The ſecond thing we muſt pray for, That God would make his Church a praiſe.Yet there is one thing more, that this Text commands us to pray for, that is, that God would make Ieruſalem a praiſe; Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt, til hee eſtabliſh, and till he make Ieruſalem a praiſe in the earth. In the former we pray that God would fortifie his Church, in this, that God would beautify his Church; make it cleare as the morning, faire as the moon, glorious as the ſun, terrible as an army with banners, lovely as Tirzah, comely as Ieruſalem, the praiſe of all the earth.
This God doth by five things.Now God makes his Church a praiſe in the earth, ſpecially by theſe five things;
Firſt, by furniſhing his Church with fulneſſe of ordinances.
Secondly, by ruling his Church according to his own orders.
Thirdly, by filling his Church with abundance of light and knowledge.
Fourthly, by improving this knowledge to the working of holineſſe.
Fifthly, by enlarging and encreaſing his Church by theſe meanes.
Firſt, by furniſhing it with ordinances.Firſt, God makes his Church a praiſe in the earth, by furniſhing it with fulneſſe of ordinances: this was that which was the foreign, as the Apoſtle calls it, Rom. 3. the preheminency of the Church of the Iewes above all other Nations, foreign, firſt of all and chiefly, it was this, that to them were committed the oracles of God; this is that which God himſelf tells his people, ſhould make them glorious and praiſe-worthy in the eyes of all the Nations of the world, Deut. 4.6, 7, 8. This is your wiſdome and your underſtanding, in the ſight of the Nations, which ſhall hear all theſe ſtatutes, and ſay, Surely this Nation is a wiſe & underſtanding people: for what Nation is there ſo great, who hath God ſo nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things, that we call upon him for? And what Nation is there ſo great, that hath ſtatutes and judgements ſo righteous, as all this law, that I ſet before you this day? Now when God beſtowes his oracles and ordinances upon a people, firſt his word, and then appending ordinances, ſeales, Sabbaths, cenſures, adminiſtred in purity, and in power, then he makes them a praiſe: Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt, til he thus make his Church a praiſe.
Secondly,2. By ruling it according to his own orders. God makes his Church a praiſe by ruling it according to his own order: foreign, are the two great deſtroyers of the Church of God; it is equally prejudiciall to the Church, not to be ordered at all, as to be ordered after the luſts & wils of men; God (who is the God of order, & not the author of confuſion, but of peace, as in all the Churches of the Saints, 1 Cor. 14.33.) would have all things in all Churches, be done decently and in order, v. 40. now when all ordinances and offices are adminiſtred in the Church according as God hath ordered, then is that Church a praiſe in heaven and earth, with God and Saints. 1 Cor. 11.2. Now I praiſe you brethren that you remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances as I delivered them unto you. And on the other ſide diſorder or deflection from the rule of Chriſt, though but in one adminiſtration, is a blemiſh and doth detract from the Churches praiſe, as appears in the ſame chepter, v. 17. Now in this that I declare unto you, I praiſe you not, that you come together not for the better, but for the worſe; and v. 22. What, have you not houſes to eat and to drink in? or deſpiſe you the Church of God, and ſhame them that have not? what ſhall I ſay to you? ſhall I praiſe you in this? I praiſe you not; one aberration from the rule of Chriſt in the adminiſtration of this one ordinance of the ſupper of the Lord, caſts a cloud upon this Churches glory, and cauſes a great diminution of their praiſe, therefore we muſt pray that God would help his Church in all things to keep the ordinances as they are delivered unto us: Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt, til he make his Church thus a praiſe.
Thirdly,3. By filling it with abundance of light and knowledge. God makes his Church a praiſe when he fills it with abundance of light and knowledge; when after a night of ignorance or error that had ſwallowed up, and buried the Church of God, the Church hath a reſurrection, and looks forth as the morning, Cant. 6.10.cleare as the ſun, faire as the moon, it raviſheth all eyes, and fixeth them upon it ſelfe in admiration, that men ſay, Who is this that locketh forth as the morning? Cant. 6.10. Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt, til he make Ieruſalem thus a praiſe; remember him of that which he hath promiſed, Iſaiah 11.9. All the earth ſhall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the ſea.
Fourthly,4. By improving this light to the working of holineſſe. God makes his Church a praiſe, by improving & ſanctifying this knowledge, to the working of holineſſe in the hearts and lives of his people; this was the praiſe of Ieruſalem, it was a holy City, this is the praiſe of the Church, they are a holy people, Deut. 26.18, 19. The Lord hath avouched thee this day, to be his peculiar people, as he hath promiſed thee, and that thou ſhouldeſt keep all his Commandements: and to make thee high above all Nations which he hath made, and that thou maieſt be an holy people unto the Lord thy God as he hath ſpoken. Abundance of light unſanctifyed would make the Church, if it were poſſible, rather hell then heaven, and make men but like the devills, who know much, but are the more deſperately wicked, therefore we muſt pray that God would ſanctify that knowledge, wherewith he filleth his Church, that ſo the beauty thereof may be perfect: Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him noreſt, till he make Ieruſalem thus a praiſe.
Fifthly, God makes his Church a praiſe,5. By encreaſing his Church. by encreaſing his Church, by enlarging the tents, and extending the cords of it; this is a bleſſing God calls his Church to rejoyce in, Eſay 51.1, 2, 3. Sing O barren, &c. break forth into ſinging, &c. enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them ſtretch forth the curtains of thine habitations, ſpare not, lengthen thy cords, and ſtrengthen thy ſtakes, for thou ſhalt break forth on the right hand, and on the left: and thy ſeed ſhall inherite the Gentiles, and make the deſolate Cities to be inhabited. We are to pray that God would make his Church a praiſe thus alſo.
Thus you have, (Right Honourable, Honourable, Reverent, and beloved in our Lord Ieſus) the ſenſe of this doctrine as fully as my weak thoughts in the little time I had to beſtow upon this work were able to comprehend it; yee ſee for whom we are to pray, Ieruſalem, the Church of God in generall, & our own in particular; yee ſee what it is we are to deſire for the one & for the other, truth, peace, and praiſe; ſuch a trinity of bleſsings, as the bleſſed Trinity hath none better to beſtow upon the dearly beloved of his ſoul, while ſhe ſojourns upon earth. I know I ſpeak to an Auditory ſo rationall as I ſhal not need confirm this truth by reaſons; & to ſo cordiall to the Church of God, as I ſhall as little need to ſtir you up to the practice of this truth by application;The point confirmed by examples. elſe I might fill up a large portion of the time remaining in telling you how all the Lords remembranters in all the ages of the Church, under the Law, under the Goſpell, have exemplified this truth: under the Law, before the Captivity, Moſes, Samuel, David, Iſaiah, Ieremy, which of the Lords Prophets have not made the eſtabliſhing and beautifying of Ieruſalem the burthen of their prayers? In the captivity though they had loſt their Vrim and Thummim, and the fire of the Sanctuary that came from heaven, yet they had not loſt this holy heavenly diſpoſition, of praying for Ieruſalem; ſee abundant evidence of it, in Ezekiel, Daniel, Mordecai; and after the captivity, in Ezra, Nehemiah, and others; And now in the times of the Goſpell, the ſame ſpirit ſtill animates Gods children, and enclines their hearts ſtill to ſeek the good of Ieruſalem; how doe the Apoſtles in ſeverall Epiſtles teſtify this diſpoſition in them? Rom. 1.9. God is my witneſſe whom I ſerve with my ſpirit in the Goſpel of his Son, that without ceaſing I make mention of you (ſaith that Apoſtle to the Church of Rome) alwayes in my prayers; ſo Epheſ. 1.16, 17. making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, the Father of glory, may give unto you, &c.
Yea, ſo much religion have the Saints of God before us placed in this duty of praying for Ieruſalem, that they have deprecated the neglect of this as a moſt abominable ſinne: 1 Sam. 12.23. As for mee, God forbid that I ſhould ſinne againſt you, in ceaſing to pray for you; nay, have imprecated a curſe upon themſelves, if ever they ſhould be ſo wretched, Pſal. 137.5, 6. If I forget thee O Ieruſalem, let my right hand forget her cunning: if I doe not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth, if I prefer not Ieruſalem above my chiefe joy; it is one of the greateſt judgements that can befall a Prophet, to be ſilenced: witneſſe Zachary whoſe unbeleef God puniſhed with this, as an only judgement; witneſſe thoſe amongſt our ſelves, that have had their mouths ſtopped by the violent hand of man, who know what it is to have the word of God as a fire in their bones and no vent for it; yet even to this, doth the Prophet here curſe himſelfe, If I forget thee O Ieruſalem, if I doe not remember to mourn for thee, to pray for thee, let me never pray more, let mee never ſpeak more if I forget to ſpeak for thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; The good Lord be mercifull to every one of us, and pardon all our forgetfulneſſe of Ieruſalem, whom we have as much cauſe and reaſon to remember as ever any had.Proved by Reaſons.
For 1 is not Ieruſalem aHeb. 12.22.the city of God, theb1 Tim. 3.15▪ houſe of God, thecPſal. 135.4. Titus 2.14. peculiar of God, thedIſaiah 62.4. delight of God, eIſay 62.2.the crown of glory, the royall diadem in the hand of God? is notfCant. 5.2. the Love, the dove, the Spouſe, the ſiſter, gEph 1.23.the body, hEph 1.23.the fulneſſe, i2 Cor. 8.23.the glory of Ieſus Chriſt? and in all theſe reſpects doth it not deſerve our prayers?
And ſecondly, are not earth and hell up in armes againſt Ieruſalem? are not men and devils in league together, to confound and deſtroy Ieruſalem? Pſalm 83.3, 4. They have taken crafty counſell againſt thy people, and conſulted againſt thy hidden ones. They have ſaid, Come, and let us cut them off from being a Nation: that the name of Iſrael may be no more in remembrance. Geball, and Ammon, and Amalek, &c. And doth not Ieruſalem in this reſpect now need our prayers?
And thirdly, hath not the Lord made promiſes unto Ieruſalem of theſe things we are to pray for▪ of truth and peace, Ierem. 33.6. I will cure them, and reveal abundance of truth and peace unto them: as alſo of praiſe, v. 9. It ſhall be to me a name of joy, a praiſe and an honour before all the Nations of the earth; and Zeph. 3.20. I will make you a name and a praiſe among all the people of the earth. And is not the Lord able to accompliſh theſe promiſes notwithſtanding al their counter-machinations of his enemies? Iſay 46.10. My counſell ſhall ſtand, and I will doe all my pleaſure.
Yet fourthly, It is not the Lords pleaſure to accompliſh theſe things unto his Church but in and by his peoples prayers; Ierem. 33.3. Call unto mee and I will anſwer thee, and ſhew thee great and mighty things which thou knoweſt not; Ezek. 36.37. I will yet for this be enquired of by the houſe of Iſrael to doe it for them.
Doctrine applyed,Sed quò feror? ſome uſe I would gladly make of this point, if I knew what; I might afford variety of profitable inſtructions, but it is not for me to preſume to inſtruct ſo Honourable, Learned and Religious an Aſſembly; give me leave to apologize for my ſelfe with Elihu, Iob. 32.6. I ſaid I am of few days, and yee are old, wherefore I was afraid and durſt not ſhew you mine opinion; I ſaid dayes ſhould ſpeak, and multitudes of yeares ſhould teach wiſdome. The Lord knows, glad would I have been to ſit at any of your feet to learn, rather then to ſtand hereto teach, and to receive rather then to give inſtruction, therefore I decline that work.
For Reproof.In the next place, this truth might ſerve for reproofe, and if ſuch an application would not lead me beſides my Auditory, ô with what vehemency might a man from hence, in the name and by the Spirit of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt thunder indignation and wrath upon the heads of thoſe, who though they have uſurped, and poſſeſſed the place of ſuch as ſhould be the Lords Remembrancers, yet in ſtead of performing the duty of this text have practiſed the cleane contrary, in ſtead of praying that God would eſtabliſh his Church in truth, have endevored nothing but to undermine the truth, to ſubvert, adulterate the truth; their folly (as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, 2 Tim. 3.9.) is manifeſt unto all men, God hath unmasked them, and all that will ſee may ſee their deſigne was to let in ſuch an inundation of popery and Socinianiſme as ſhould have drowned the truth of God for ever; in ſtead of praying that God would eſtabliſh his Church in peace, they have acted the part of thoſe unclean ſpirits, the frogs ſpoken of, Rev. 16.14. ſtirring up the kings of the earth to battle againſt the Church of God; firſt in Scotland, who were the Incendiaries, what the fuell of the war there? And ſince that in England, have not the warres of both kingdomes had the ſame fuell and fomenters? and who are they but the Ieſuitizing clergie of England, who like the uncleane ſpirit we reade of Mark 9. fearing they ſhall now be caſt out of their long poſſeſſion, rent and tear the kingdom, and lay it wallowing (not as he did the child there, in its foam, but) in its bloud? What ſhall I ſpeake of ſuch a clergie? who in ſtead of praying that God would make his Church a praiſe, have endeavoured nothing more then to rob the Church of all that might make it praiſe-worthy, in ſtead of deſiring that the Church might enjoy fulneſſe of ordinances, endeavouring to ſtrip the Church of them all; to aboliſh Sabbaths, to bring the delight of dayes, the Queen of dayes under the curſe of Iobs birth day, Let it not be joyned to the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months; to excommunicate preaching and praying, and caſt them quite out of the Church; to turn the ſacrament of the Lords ſupper into a ſacrifice of the altar; In ſtead of praying that all ordinances and offices might be adminiſtred according to Chriſts rule and order, would have all things in Gods houſe & worſhip done according to their own fancy, will, luſt, humour. What ſhal we ſay to ſuch a Clergy? (they dote upon the name ſtill,Ariſt. de Hiſt. Anim. l. 8. c. 27. let them enjoy it) Ariſtotle ſpeaks of a little worm called foreign, that is peſtilently noxious & deſtructive to Bee-hives; no leſſe noxious and deſtructive hath our foreign the greateſt part of them been to the true Church of God amongſt us; againſt whom, the Church of God may powre out as ſad complaints to her Lord Ieſus Chriſt, as ſometimes ſhe did, Cant. 5. The watchmen, the keepers of the wall, found me, they ſmote me, they took away my vaile: let ſuch read their doom, 2 Pet. 2 their judgement now of a long time lingreth not, & their damnation ſleepeth not.
I had not turned aſide to this reproofe, (for I look for none of this generation here this day) had it not been to provoke my ſelfe and you to a more ſerious and deep humiliation for thoſe abominations of the late times, which though many of us have ſeen and obſerved even then, and ſome of us have felt and ſmarted under the violences thereof, yet few I fear amongſt us have had our hearts ſo humbled for the iniquity of thē, as they ſhould have beene: the Lord help us ſo to take to heart this day, our own and other mens ſins, that he may forgive our iniquities, and heal our Land.
But I return to my Auditory, and the only boldneſſe I ſhall aſſume, brethren and fathers, is but to do as much as Naamans ſervant did unto his Lord, exhort you to doe that which you know God would have you doe, pray for Ieruſalem: and I am confident I might ſpare even this; it is your work daily; but God having called me this day to ſpeak unto you, for Zions ſake I cannot hold my peace; Qui monet ut facias quod facis, dum monet laudat.
The Doctrine applyed for exhortation,Is it the duty of Miniſters in a ſpeciall manner to pray unceſſantly that God would eſtabliſh Ieruſalem and make it a praiſe in the earth? then let every one of us by ſolemn engagements to God & to his Church bind our ſelves to the performance of this duty: and ſurely brethren if ever there were times that called for this duty, if ever there were men called to this duty, this is the time, we are the Men.
Firſt,1. Enforced from the time preſent. for the time; if ever there were time that did command the moſt importune and unceſſant prayers of all Gods miniſters and people, (for here I will take in all) that they ſhould cry mightily to the Lord night and day in the behalf of Ieruſalem, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt, til he eſtabliſh and make Ieruſalem a praiſe in the earth, if ever there were a time that did exact this, Now is the time. Had I art or grace enough to preſent before you the lively (or rather) gaſtly deadly face of Ieruſalem, the Churches of Chriſt Ieſus at this time, I know it would command tears and prayers from the moſt flinty heart in this congregation: could I let you ſee Ieruſalem like that man in the parable, Luke 10.30. that went down from Ieruſalem, fallen among theeves, and by them ſtripped and wounded and left halfe dead, while many, too many with the Prieſt and Levite paſſe by on the other ſide of the way, and will not ſee (though they cannot but ſee) the Churches bleeding miſeries; amongſt all her lovers there is none to comfort her, Lam. 1.2. Zion ſpreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her, Lament. 1.17. Zion ſpreadeth forth her hands from ſea to ſea, from one Nation to another people, and there is none to comfort her, there is none to guide her amongſt all the ſons whom ſhe hath brought forth, neither is there any that takes her by the hand of all the ſons that ſhe hath brought up, Eſay 51.18. O were I able to expreſſe this to the life unto you, you would ſay, if ever there were a time for you to ſhew your ſelves as the good Samaritane to beſtow, as he did, your wine, your oyle, your money, nay your teares, your prayers, your blouds upon the healing of the Churches wounds, Now is the time.
Or could I let you ſee the Church Ieruſalem, as Iohn ſaw her in that Revelation which was given unto him by Chriſt Ieſus, chap. 12. in the ſame condition, though not in the ſame cloathing; a woman cloathed, not (as there) with the ſun, but with a cloud, not having the moon under her feet, but a globe of flames, a field of blood under her feet, not as there with a crown of twelve ſtarres upon her head, but rather in Tamars dreſſe and poſture, 2 Sam. 13.19. who with aſhes on her head, and her garment of divers colours (the enſigne of her Virginity and Royalty) rent and torne, and with her hands upon her head going forth crying, ſuch may we conceive the dreſſe and poſture of the Church of Chriſt to be, ſhe now, as there, Revel. 12. cryeth travelling and pained to be delivered; in this pained condition the Church hath been now almoſt theſe three years, ever ſince the beginning of this Parliament, the Church of God amongſt us hath been in travell, crying and pained to be delivered; and all this while, as there, the great red dragon ſtands before the woman to devour the child as ſoone as it is born. O! the ſight of the Church in ſuch a ſad condition might force a teare from a ſtone, a prayer from a ſpeechleſſe, heartleſſe man; but from Miniſters, from thoſe that are the Lords Remembrancers, me thinks it might draw tears enough to rince the earth from bloud, and prayers enough to offer violence to heaven.
But not to ſpeak parabolically, but plainly, I ſay again, if ever there were a time that did command the moſt importune and unceſſant prayers of all Gods miniſters and people, now is the time; was there ever time, wherein the Church of God was more ſhaken, more in danger to have both her pillars of truth and peace broken, reduced to duſt, to nothing, then at this time? The enemies of the Church have a long time ſought to undermine the truth, but now, they raiſe Armes againſt the truth, they plant open battery againſt the truth. And for our peace, where is it? Terras reliquit, it hath taken to it ſelf the wings of a dove, and forſaking earth is fled to heaven, frighted hēce with the ſound of the trumpet, the alarum of warre, and the cryes of bloud. We may chronicle of our age, that which the Prophet Azariah ſpake of ſome ages of Iſrael, 2 Chron. 15.5, 6. In thoſe times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries. And Nation was deſtroyed of Nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adverſity. Never was this poor Church & people in a more broken diſtreſſed condition in regard of peace civill, nor ſcarce ever worſe in regard of peace eccleſiaſticall: now when there are ſo many ſwords in England and in Ireland drawn againſt the Proteſtants; ô that we ſhould be even at daggers drawing one againſt another! O the bitter diviſions and digladiations of Proteſtants amongſt themſelves in theſe bleeding times! For the diviſions of Reuben there are great ſearchings of heart; for the diviſions of Reuben there are great ſearchings of heart. Holy Ridley and Hooper, though in the times of the peace & liberty of the goſpell, they could never agree about black and white, but had many wrathfull bickerings, yet in time of perſecution for the goſpel, they could, as their own expreſſion is, agree in red; when God came to put them together in tears, and ſufferings, and bloud, they could forget all differences of judgement then, and love and live and die together as brethren. Doe thoſe know what ſpirit they are of, that at ſuch a time as this, when all the true hearted Proteſtants in England are put in one calamitous, ſuffering, bleeding, condition, are yet quarrelling about their own opinions, weakning the Proteſtant party by ſub-diviſions, which if united is ſcarce enough to withſtand the common adverſary; ſhould this be if we had not loſt our peace with God? As the Holy Ghoſt ſpeaks of the calamities of the Church in Iuda, 2 Kings 24.3. ſo may we ſay of the calamities upon the Church of England, Surely at the commandement of the Lord came this upon England; and the Lord grant, the Lord grant that the following words be not verified in their time, the Lord grant this be not come upon us, to remove England out of his ſight: but however we may take up the Churches lamentation, Lam. 3.17. Thou haſt removed me far from peace; Ey, and as far from praiſe The crown is fallen from our head, Lam. 5.16. we are become a reproach to our neighbours, a ſcorn, a deriſion, a by-word, a ſhaking of the head; thoſe few of us that adhere to the Proteſtant Religion and cauſe, are repreſented to the world at home and abroad, as Sectaries, Anabaptiſts, Rebels, that if ever there were a time for us to cry to God to ſcatter thoſe clouds of bloud, confuſion, contempt, that cover the face of the Church, to bring forth our judgement as the light, and our righteouſneſſe as the morning, now is the time, Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh, and till he make Ieruſalem a praiſe in the earth.
A ſecond enforcement of this duty from the perſons preſent.And if ever Men were called to this work, we are called to it; 1 as Miniſters: 2 as Miniſters ſelected from the reſt of our brethren, to this preſent ſervice, whereunto we deſire to ſanctifie our ſelves this day. ½ As Miniſters it doth ex officio belong unto us, to be the Lords Remembrancers: to put the Lord in mind of Ieruſalem; you know what order the Lord took, that the Prieſts, the Miniſters of the Lord, under the Law, might continually remember Iſrael the Church of God unto the Lord, the high Prieſt was to bear the names of the twelve tribes upon his ſhoulders, engraven in two ſtones; and upon his breaſt, engraven upon twelve ſtones: Ex. 28.12.29. that he might bear them upon his heart for a memoriall before the Lord continually; they were to be the Prieſts Remembrancers, that he ſhould be the Lords Remembrancer, to put the Prieſt in mind of putting God in mind of Iſrael, by praying for them: this type is properly applyable to Chriſt, who is the only high Prieſt of his Church, yet ſo farre as the Miniſters of the Goſpel are Chriſts ſubſtitutes upon earth, ſo farre this may (at leaſt by way of alluſion) be applyed unto them, for ſo farre there ought to be in them the ſame diſpoſition towards Ieruſalem that was in Chriſt Ieſus, that as Chriſt wept over Ieruſalem, ſo ſhould they; as he remembred Ieruſalem, ſo ſhould they; as he prayed for Ieruſalem, ſo ſhould they; he by way of meritorious interceſsion, they by way of Miniſteriall interceſsion, 1 Tim. 2.1.to bear Ieruſalem upon their ſhoulders and upon their hearts continually, when ever they addreſſe themſelves into Gods preſence. Ieruſalem is engraven upon the hand of God, and therefore ſhould be ingrav…n upon the hearts of his Miniſters, and is, if God hath layed his hand upon their hearts. Yee know the ſtory of that heathen Prieſt that being to offer ſacrifice before a battle writ Victoria (or ſome ſuch like word) in the palme of his hand, and in unbowelling the ſacrifice laid his hand upon the heart of the beaſt, and left the characters of the ſame word there, that what had been written upon the hand of the Priest was read upon the heart of the ſacrifice. Behold I have graven thee, ſaith God to Ieruſalem, upon the palmes of my hands, Iſaiah 49.16. and look how many hearts there are of Nobles, or Gentry, or Miniſters, or others, upon whom God hath layed his hand, I doubt not but there is the ſame configuration upon them that is ingraven upon the hand of God: that as God himſelfe cannot forget Ieruſalem, (as he ſheweth there) becauſe it is engraven upon the palms of his hands; ſo they cannot but remember Ieruſalem, becauſe it is engraven upon their hearts; that as Queen Mary ſaid of Callice, when I am dead rip me and you ſhall finde Callice at my heart: ſo there is a many a godly man, and many a godly Miniſter eſpecially who might ſay, when I am dead rip me and you ſhall finde Ieruſalem at my heart. That ſacred name is deeply graven there; If I forget thee O Jeruſalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. All you that are the Lords Remembrancers, you that have Ieruſalem written in your hearts, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh, and till he make Ieruſalem a praiſe in the earth. If ever Men were called to this work, Miniſters are.
And if ever Miniſters were called to this work, thē more eſpecially are you whom it hath pleaſed God by the Authority of the honourable Houſes of Parliament to call together to debate and adviſe of ſuch things as may be neceſſary, or conducing, to the eſtabliſhment of Truth, and Peace, and Beauty in the Churches of Chriſt Jeſus; and doth it not then eſpeciall lye upon you to keep no ſilence, give the Lord no reſt, till he eſtabliſh, &c. I ſay till he eſtabliſh, for, except the Lord build the houſe, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lord reform the Church, it is to no purpoſe to goe about to reform it; except the Lord ſet up the Pillars of Peace and Truth in his Church, and put the crown of Glory upon his Church, it is labour loſt to endevour it; You that are called to this great work, you of all men ought to keep no ſilence, give the Lord no reſt, till he eſtabliſh, and till he make Ieruſalem a praiſe in the earth.
I need not tell you how many eies and expectations there are upon this Aſſembly, I ſpeak it not as a matter of boaſting, but as a matter of trembling and lying low before the Lord this day, from all the parts of the Kingdome, from all the parts of the Chriſtian world, the eies of all the people of God are upon you; forrain Churches have their eies towards you, waiting what you will adviſe for the more utter …tinction of Papery, & effecting of a more neer and f…ion between us & the reſt of the Reformed Churches; all the parts of the kingdome have their faces & voyces towards you, me thinks I hear a voyce from all the corners of the Land comming up to this Aſſembly, to be by you reported to the honourable Houſes of Parliament; a voyce like that of the poore woman to the King upon the wall, help, help, for the Lords ſake help: help us to better Miniſters, help us to better Ordinances, help us to purer worſhip, help us to better Diſcipline, help us to remove thoſe things that deterre us from the Lords table, help our tender Conſciences to more liberty, &c. I know it Brethren, Gods people moſt of them look for help by this Aſſembly, through your faithfull advice given to the Honourable Houſes of Parliament. And may not you anſwer as he did there, except the Lord help thee, whence ſhould I help thee? there is ſuch an Augeae Stabulum of corruption, & confuſion in Doctrine, Diſcipline, worſhip, in all; that (verily) unleſſe that God who is able to remove the iniquity of the land in one day, Zach. 3.9. and to cauſe the Prophet & unclean ſpirit to paſſe out of the land, Zach. 13.2. unleſſe that great God ſet his hand to this great work, it will never proſper; and yet if it ſhould not proſper, the ſin would be laid at your door, and you would bear the reproach of it to all memory; therefore great need to importune God to come down and own his work; ô that thou wouldeſt rent the heavens and come down, that the Mountains might flow at thy preſence! Yee among all the reſt of the Lords Remembrancers, keep no ſilence, give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh, and … make Ieruſalem a praiſe in the earth.
And ohe thing more, what I know you have all taught others your ſelves, now put in practice, purſue your prayers, with your indeavours; what yee pray for, contend for: as yee pray that God would eſtabliſh his Church in truth, ſo with united indeavours labour to raiſe up and eſtabliſh the decayed truth among us, vindicating the truths of the Proteſtant Religion from all Popiſh, Arminian, Socinian, Anabaptiſticall, Antinomian, and all other errors whatſoever. And as yee pray that God would eſtabliſh his Church in peace, ſo labour to work out the Churches peace; 1 With God, by endeavouring a removall of what ever pollutions, or prophaneneſſes, have turned God into an enemy to us. And then 2 labour the Churches peace with its own members; which certainly yee ſhall eſtabliſh, if denying your ſelves and laying by all pre-ingagements to your own opinions, deſires, ways, ye ſhall willingly, and unanimouſly, conſent to that which upon juſt and pious debate ſhall be found to be the way and truth of God; which I doubt not but through his grace ye ſhall all doe. Beleeve it Brethren, in your Union will be laid a happy foundation of Union through the whole Kingdome; if yee agree in this Aſſembly, I durſt me thinks promiſe my ſelf, and you, a happy agreement amongſt all that fear God in the Nation: And then we need take no thought for the third thing, peace with our enemies: God will either ſubdue them under us, or make them be at peace with us: only let neither the deſire of peace with them, nor of peace amongſt our ſelves, bribe us to tolerate any thing in the Church of God that might make him to be at war with us.
And laſtly, as yee pray that God would make the Church a praiſe, ſo endeavour that alſo; endeavouring that the Church of Chriſt may enjoy all thoſe Liberties and Ordinances that are purchaſed for her by the bloud, and bequeathed to her in the teſtament of her Lord Ieſus: that all her wayes may be ordered according to the rule of Gods word: that the Goſpell may runne and be glorifyed: that thoſe two great illuminating ordinances of Preaching and Catechizing, which are as the greater & leſſer lights of heaven, may have ſuch liberty, encouragement, maintenance, that all the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. Rom. 15.5.6.This doe, and proſper: and that you may thus doe, the God of Patience and conſolation grant you to be like minded one towards another, according to Chriſt Ieſus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God even the Father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Amen, Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Matthew Newcomen, Jerusalems Watchmen the Lords Remembrancers (1643)