The Head of the Church, Order – Dedication
Die Mercurij, 27. Januarij. 1646.
ORdered by the Lords in Parliament Aſſembled, That Mr Seaman is hereby thanked for his great paines taken in his Sermon, Preached before the Lords of Parliament, this day in the Abbey Church Weſtminſter, It being the day of the Publique Faſt; And he is hereby deſired to print and publiſh his ſaid Sermon, and that none doe preſume to print the ſaid Sermon or any part thereof, without authority under his owne hand.
John Browne. Cler. Parl.
John Rothwell is hereby appointed for the printing of the Sermon intended by the Order above ſpecified.
LAZARVS SEAMAN.
THE Head of the Church, THE Iudge of the VVorld. OR, The Doctrine of the Day of Iudgement briefely opened and applyed IN A SERMON Preached before the Right Honourable, the Houſe of Peers; in the Abby-Church at Weſtminſter, on a publike Faſt day, Ian. 27. 1646.
By LAZARUS SEAMAN Preacher at Alhallowes Breadſtreat London. One of the Aſſembly of Divines.
He commanded us to Preach unto the people, and to teſtifie that IT IS HE which was ordained of God, to be the Iudge of quick and dead. Acts. 10. 42.
Audivi in Belgio inſignem potentemque Concionatorem, qui in omnibus concionibus multis e…hcacibuſque verbis populo refricabat & inculcabat memoriam Judicii, motuſque animorum vehementes ciebat, & multos convertebat. Cornel. A Lapide.
LONDON, Printed by E. G. for I. Rothwell, at the Sun and Fountaine in Pauls Church-yard, 1647.
TO The Right Honourable THE Houſe of PEERES.
MY LORDS,
BEfore the ſitting of this PARLIAMENT, the ſhadow of ONE of YOUR number was a ſhelter to me; and the kindly influence of HIS favour, no ſmall refreſhing. Since the beginning of it, I am more ohliged to HIM in ſpeciall, and to YOUR WHOLE HOUSE under GOD for a peaceable ſetling in that Miniſteriall ſtation wherein I ſtand at preſent. How much I am ingaged to AN OTHER, is not for me to expreſſe. Theſe thoughts made me the more obedient to YOUR call for preaching, though moſt unworthy both of the worke, and audience. And though I have as little love unto, as fitneſſe for the preſſe, yet to ſhew my humble gratitude, with due reſpects unto YOUR HONORS, and by writing to be more uſefull in the Lord, then I could be by voyce, I now preſent You with my ſecond thoughts upon that grave ſubject the day of judgement.
Many Starres within a few yeares, have fallen from the firmament of YOUR HOUSE. Beſides the Biſhops, whoſe place ſhall know them no more, and thoſe LORDS who dyed in warre againſt the COMMON-WEALTH (who have all but thoſe two words for their Common EPITAPH
—ILLACHRIMABILES PERIERE—)
And thoſe alſo who are either wandring in Forraign parts, or ſit ſolitary at home, and are dead as to any place or vote among YOU: there were OTHERS WISE, VALIANT, and FAITHFULL, whom we lament with wonder, HOW ARE THE MIGHTY FALLEN? and yet death hath Lorded over THEM alſo. When I conſider theſe things (for we poore men are bold ſometimes to thinke thus high) it ſeemes to me a reall demonſtration that thoughts of DEATH and JUDGMENT are neceſſary for YOUR LORDSHIPS, as for other men.
May it therefore pleaſe YOUR HONORS to make theſe things the matter of YOUR daily meditation. There ſhall be a day of JUDGEMENT. This DAY is already APPOINTED. As the DAY, ſo the JUDGE. The JUDGE ordained is the MAN CHRIST JESUS. The WORLD is to be judged by this MAN. And this MAN ſhall judge the World in RIGHTEOUSNES.
For the Iudge, nec fallitur, nec flectitur, as BERNARD ſpeakes. The day is certaine, though uncertaine. The judgement is either for ſalvation, or condemnation. The perſons to be judged are quick and dead. h. e. Iuſt and unjuſt as AUSTINE. Soules and bodies, as RUFFINUS, or rather, thoſe whom he ſhall finde alive, and thoſe who ſhall be dead before his coming. Among theſe ſhall he the great as well as the ſmall. YOUR LODSHIPS among others. Then PEERS ſhall have no priviledge. The ſervant of Rulers *Iſa. 49. 7.ſhall ſhew himſelfe to be the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Let theſe thoughts ſleepe with you, and wake with you, bring them to the Houſe, carry them abroad, let them ride with YOU in YOUR Coaches, and dine at YOUR tables, yea make them YOUR meate and drinke. Ezechiels roll had written in it lamentations and mourning and woe, yet it was in his mouth as honey for ſweetneſſe. *Ezech 2. 10. Chap. 3. 3.Such a roll is the doctrine of that day, and it will have like effect in their hearts who can well digeſt it. Let it therefore abide with YOU till you can by faith with diligence look for and haſte unto the coming of the day of God, *2 Pet. 3. 12.and count it as bleſſed for You, as it will be Glorious for Chriſt. *Tit. 2. 13.All that love his appearing ſhall receive a Crowne of righteouſneſſe; *2 Tim. 4 8.But how can they be ſaid to love it, who love not to thinke of it? My hearts deſire is to ſpeake comfortably unto YOUR Honours as Paul did to the Coloſſians; When Chriſt who is our life, ſhall appeare, then ſhall YE alſo appeare with him in glory. But I muſt needs adde that which followes immediately. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth, &c.*Col. 3. 4 5.
And remember that beſides YOUR account as men and Chriſtians, you have more to reckon for, by reaſon of YOUR places, Honours, and condition. Something was amiſse in the Star-chamber, and at the Councel-table; for why was the one put downe, and the other regulated? State affaires at preſent are all of YOUR mannaging. But this above all is conſiderable, Religion in YOUR time hath a great change, and I am perſwaded for the better; yet it will be inquir'd into, what Divine principles have acted you in Divine things? and whether you have followed the Lord fully which was Calebs praiſe. *Num, 14. 24.In the things of Chriſt hath your care been to pleaſe Chriſt? Can you ſay before HIS THRONE, as he ſaid unto his Father while he was on Earth, I have glorified thee on Earth, I have finiſhed the worke whith thou gaveſt me to doe? *John, 17 4.Have you indeed ſetled a government in the truth and power of it according to the Covenant? h. e. according to the word of God, and the example of the beſt reformed Churches. Are you reſolved that YOU and YOUR FAMILIES will be ſubject to it? Becauſe their is neither Jew nor Greeke, Bond nor Free, Male nor Female, but all are one in Chriſt Jeſus?*Gal, 3. 28.
To looke forwards. The hardeſt part of YOUR worke is yet behind. The disbanding of Armies, diſmantling of Garriſons is very deſirable. To ſettle the Militia in ſafe hands, pay the debts of the Kingdome, bring Delinquents unto condigne puniſhment, provide for Widdowes, and Orphans, muſt not be forgotten. And for this the vowes of God are upon you to bring the three Kingdomes unto the neereſt conjunction and uniformity in Religion. But what will ye doe with Chriſt Ieſus and for his Church? Settle the Crowne firme on his head, lay him for your corner-ſtone and ſoundation in all the parts of your building, leſt he raiſe himſelfe out of the ruines of this Kingdome, and another Crown perplex you, till you learne from his word that it is your onelyonly ſafe rule whereby to order Civill affaires, and much more all matters of Religion.
I ſhould ſay more, But I hope tboſe who ſucceede me, as better able will drive this naile more home, and be more practicall on this Doctrine. In the meane while, that God would guide YOUR HONOURS by his Spirit, ſo to Judge YOUR ſelves, and others here, that when you come before the Supreame Tribunal, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS may welcome YOU with Well done good and faithfull Servants, ſhall be the daily prayer of
Your Lordſhips humbly devoted in the ſervice of Chriſt Jeſus LAZARVS SEAMAN.