Subjection to Christ in All His Ordinances, Sermon 1 (1 of 3)

Subjection to Christ in All His Ordinances · Sermon 1 (1 of 3)

p. 1A wholeſome Caveat for a time of LIBERTY.

2 CHRON. 12.8.

Nevertheleſſe they ſhall be his ſervants, that they may know my ſervice, and the ſervice of the kingdoms of the Countrey.

THe greateſt part of this Chapter is ſpent in ſetting down that famous Warre which Shiſhak King of Egypt made againſt Rehoboam King of Judah.

The cauſe of this War in regard of Shiſhak is not ſet down; probable conjectures there be: Jeroboam probably might be treacherous, who having a party in Egypt, leſt Rehoboam ſhould grow too great, together with ſome other pretended wrongs, might awaken this Bear from his den; but in regard of God, you may ſee p. 2the Reaſon ſet down, Verſ. 2. Becauſe they had tranſgreſſed againſt the Lord.

The time of this War is ſet down in the 1. Verſ. When he had eſtabliſhed the Kingdome by wholeſome lawes, erecting Gods worſhip, and countenancing godly men, 2 Chro. 11.16, 17. which continued three years, and ſtrengthened himſelfe by fortified places, and munition fit for war, as in the foregoing Chapter appears. Now when he had moſt peace and quiet, he and all Iſrael ſuddenly forſake the Lord, which was the fourth year; and in the fifth year comes Shiſhak, and with a mighty hoaſt waſtes all before him untill he come to the chief City.

Now in Verſ. the 5. and 6. is ſet downe the repentanee of the people with their Princes eſpecially. Shemajah, who no doubt had ſpoke againſt their idolatrous courſes before, takes his ſeaſon when they were low and tamed, and tells them the true cauſe of their miſery, Verſ. 5. Many ſins there were in the Land, as Idolatry, and Whoredomes, &c. yet the venom was, They had forſaken the Lord: Let the ſin be what it will be, yet let it be ſuch a one as men forſake the Lord by it, that's the provocation; hereupon they humble themſelves, ſome effectually, ſome hypocritically, yet all outwardly, and ſay the Lord is righteous; they extenuate not their ſinne, they lay not the blame on man, no not on p. 3Shiſhak, but ſee the Lord, juſtifie his proceedings, The Lord is righteous, we unrighteous, although it were more heavy then it is.

Now in the 7. Verſe, and in the words read is ſee down the mitigation of Gods plague, and the moderation of his chaſtiſement, I will not poure out all my wrath, yet I think it not fit to ſhew perfect deliverance, I'le make them ſervants, to let them know, &c.

There are two parts in the words read.

1. The puniſhment or chaſtiſement on Judah for forſaking the Lord, and backſliding from him, which is bondage and privation of the liberty they had, they muſt be Shiſhaks ſervants.

2. The Lords end; it was very gracious, That they may know my ſervice, &c.

For explication.

1. What is meant by ſervice?

Anſw, There are two things in ſervice. 1. Government. 2. Subjection: cheerfull obedience to that government. Both the Hebrew word, as alſo the nature of the thing it ſelfe hath theſe two.

God ſets up his government over a people, his people do or ſhould ſubject cheerfully to this government; By my ſervice is therefore meant my government, and your ſubjection wrought by me to this government.

p. 42. They ſhall know.

1. Not by the knowledge of the brain, for that they know now, but knowledge of experience, as it's ſaid in Ezek. 6. ult. When I ſhall have made the Land deſolate in all their habitations, they ſhall know that I am the Lord. Now what ſhall they know of it?

Anſ. The difference between them, the ſorrow of the one, the ſweet of the other; the miſery of the one, and bleſſedneſſe of the other; the bondage of the one, and the liberty of the other.

There might be many things obſerved from the words, but I note only the generall.

Obſer. Doctr. 1 That when any people of God forſake the Lord , and caſt off his government over them, they provoke the Lord to put them under the bondage of another government. They that abuſe Gods liberty muſt be under bondage; the Lord hath a Kingdome in this world moſt glorious; hence when men will not be under it, if they will not be ruled by him , they muſt be ruled by the whip; and if Chriſts laws cannot binde, Chriſts chains muſt. Jer. 5.19. And it ſhall come to paſſe when ye ſhall ſay, Wherefore doth the Lord all theſe things unto us? then ſhall thou anſwer them, Like as ye have forſaken me, and ſerved ſtrange gods in your land, ſo ſhall ye ſerve ſtrangers in a land that is not p. 5yours. Pſal. 107.10, 11. Such as ſit in darkneſſe and in the ſhadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron, becauſe they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counſell of the moſt high. Ezek. 20.24, 25. Becauſe they had not executed my Judgments, but had deſpiſed my Statutes, and polluted my Sabbaths, &c. Wherefore I gave them alſo ſtatutes that were not good, and judgements: whereby they ſhould not live, &c. Zach. 11.15, 16. And the Lord ſaid unto me, Take unto thee yet the inſtruments of a fooliſh Shepherd. Verſ 16. For lo I will raiſe up a ſhepherd in the land which ſhall not viſit thoſe that be cut off, nor ſeeke the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that ſlandeth ſtill, &c.

When people break covenant with God, and loath him, then ſaith the Lord, I'le not feed, and then he ſets over them Idol-ſhepherds.

This is certain, when the ſoule will not ſubjecl it ſelfe to God, he goes about to ſubject God to him, nay to his Iuſts. Iſa. 43.24. Thou haſt made me to ſerve with thy ſins. For one of them muſt ſtoop, and a man would have the Lord be mercifull, patient, and pittifull to him, when he is in league with his luſts, now this the Lord will not do: And hence, if he does not deſtroy him, he with-draws himſeif from ſerving of the creatune, and hence other evils take hold of it, and bring it under. When Adam p. 6ſtood, and was for God, all creatures ſerved him, and the riches of Gods goodneſſe preſerved him, the Lord communicated the ſweet of his government or ſervice to him; but when he turned away from the right ways of God: Now if the Lord ſhould ſerve him by governing of him in goodneſs, he ſhould ſerve a luſt, and bow to the creature, nay to a luſt, which is a vilet thing, then for one creature to fall downe and worſhip another. Therefore now hence it comes to paſſe, becauſe the Lord will not be a ſervant to any mans luſt, there muſt be ſome other government that muſt ſeize upon them. Hence ſet all the Saints in the Churches with their faces ſubjected to the Lord, his good will and righteous wayes, and then his goodneſs ſhall flow down upon them in and through Chriſt, for otherwiſe we have nothing to do with good, but when we are ſet right for God. Hoſ. 2.19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever, yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteouſneſſe, in judgment, in loving kindneſſe and mercy, &c. The Lord will then command all creatures to be ſerviceable to his Church and people; Verſ. 21, 22. But on the contrary miſery muſt needs ſeize upon the ſoule that doth caſt off the government of the Lord Jeſus: Thus much for the general! explication of the point.

Now in particular. 1. What is this government p. 7or ſervice of God?

2. What is that bondage he captivates his unto?

3. Why doth the Lord do thus?

Queſt. 1. What is this government or ſervice of God, Queſt. 1 which being ſhaken off the Lord gives them over to bondage?

Anſ. There is a double government of the Lord over his people. Anſw.

1. Internall or inward, of which our Saviour ſpeaks, Luk. 17.21. The kingdome of God (ſaith Chriſt) comes vot by obſervation and outward pomp; For behold the kingdome of God is within you: And this is nothing elſe in generall, but when the Lord doth bv his Spirit in the word of his grace cauſe the whole ſoule willingly to ſubmit and ſubject it ſelf to the whole will of God ſo farre as it's made known to it; this is the inward kingdom of God & government of Chriſt in the ſoul. Rō. 8.14. So many as areled by the Spirit are the ſont of God. Pſ. 110.2. The Lord ſhall ſend the rod of thy strength out of Zion, &c. 2 Cor. 10.4. Far the weapons of our warfare are not carnall, but mighty through God to the pulling down of ſtrong holds. Verſ. 5. Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chriſt. There are mighty boiſterous diſtempers, but the Lord when he comes in his Kingdome, to ſit upon the royall throne of the hearts of his people, now they flie: and this is the inward Kingdom p. 8of Chriſt, like a poore Subject pardoned and received to favour, he is before the face of the Prince continually attending on him. Revel. 7.14, 15. Theſe are they which came out of great tribulation, and have waſhed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Verſ. 15. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and ſerve him day and night in his Temple, &c. Now this is meant in part by Gods ſervice in theſe dais; do you think the Lord cared for thouſands of Rams? no, but to walke humbly, Mica. 6. Did he care for Temple and Ordinances? no, but Iſa. 1.19. If ye be willing and obedient, ye ſhall eate the good of the land. Neb. 9.20. In thoſe dayes he gave them his good Spirit to inſtruct them.

2. Externall or outward, the end and inſtitution of which was to ſet up and help forward the inward; for externall Ordinances are nothing in themſelves, meane things, but as they are appointed arid ſanctified for this end, they are moſt glorious: and therefore Chriſt threatens the Jewes, Matth. 21.43. That the kingdom ſhould be taken from them; what was that? Surely not inward, for that they had not, but the outward and externall means called Gods kingdome; all theſe helps and meanes ſhall be taken from you, and all laid ruinous. Now this externall kingdom of Chriſt is double.

p. 91. The externall kingdome or government of God by his Church, in the adminiſtration and execution, and ſubjection to the bleſſed Ordinances of God, wherein the power and Kingdome of Chriſt is ſeen, and thus, Dan. 2.44, 45. Dan. 7.27. If ſhall be given to the Saints of the moſt high, &c. Not to prophane herds of beaſts, or cages of unclean birds, but to the Saints of the moſt high, Whoſe kingdome is an everlaſting kingdome, and all the Princes of the world ſhall ſubject themſelves to this kingdom of Chriſt.

This outward Kingdome Chriſt adminiſtreth amongſt his people in this world: And this was part of the Lords government over his people herein, though various from our forme now.

2. Of the Common-wealth, which may have divers forms, and had in the time of Iſrael; but it receiving its law from God, and governing for God , hence it was the government of God , and ſubjection hereunto was ſubjection and ſervice to God himſelfe: And hence when the people caſt off Samuel, 1 Sam. 8.7. They have not rejected thee but me. Rev. 11.15. The kingdomes of the world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Chriſt, and he ſhall reign for ever and ever. For although the Common-wealth of Iſrael was made up of the Church, and hence Joſephus calls it a Theocracy, p. 10where the Lord governed; and yet the ſame thing had divers foreign, formes and reſpects, and hence there was a diverſe government then, and hence made diverſe, 2 Chron. 19.5, 8. Jehoſaphat ſets Judges in the land throughout all the fenced Cities. Such is the wildneſſe, boldneſſe, and careleſneſs of mens hearts, that they do not only need lawes, but watchmen over them to ſee they be kept: and hence the Lord appointed ſome chiefe, ſome Judges in every City, and alſo ſome in every Village, as by proportion may be gathered, Exod. 18. every ten men had one over them.

Now this was the bleſſed wiſdome of God to put all into ſweet ſubordination one unto another for himfelf.

1. Every one profeſſing his name is made for God, for Chriſt, as Lord of Lords, unto whom every knee muſt how, and inwardly ſubject.

2. Hence the Lord (it being not good to leave man to himſelfe) erects a Kingdome of the Church with his owne power, and authority, and government in it for that end.

3. This being poor and ſhiftleſſe againſt inward and outward revenge, hence the Lord ſets up Kingdoms of the world, which either rule for this end or theſe ends or not, if they do not, they are to anſwer it, and ſhall one day to Chriſt, whom God hath p. 11made head over all things to the Church, Eph. 1.22. If they do, then their government, judgement and kingdome is the Lords in a ſpeciall manner: and hence break the yoak of ſubjection to any one of theſe, you caſt off Chriſt, the Lords government and ſervice; and being ſo linked together, in truth if you break one you break all, and this will provoke the Lord to make you kiſſe the clinke, and to put your necks under iron bondage that refuſe ſubjection to him.

Quest. 2. Queſt. 2 What is that bondage or other government to which the Lord gives over his people when they have caſt off his government, this will provoke the Lord if the Lord be caſt off, and the caſting off the government of Chriſt will bring the moſt famous Kingdomes, Churches and Families into bondage; you will ſay what is this bondage? when is it that the Lord takes his ſeaſon for the execution of it?

Anſ. 1. Anſw. 1 The Lord takes his own times to do it, theſe were a 12. monethmonth before the Lord ſent Shiſhak: Here he was more quick. Nebuchadnezzar comes at laſt▪ and many yeares 'tis before the Lord doth it.

2. The Lord is various in working, Anſw. 2 as he is wonderfull and hath divers wayes or meanes of bondage, he hath more priſons and chaines then one.

Firſt, ſometimes the Lord opens the door of a Kingdome or State, for the inrode p. 12of ſome forraign, or it may be barbarous Enemy breaking in ſometime by power, coming in ſometime by craft, and then ruling like Lions, which the Lord makes to vex and prick the people of God; thus here their lives were ſpared, but liberties loſt. Thus Judg. 2.13, 14. They forſook the Lord, and ſerved Baal and Aſhtaroth. And in verſ. 14. The anger of the Lord waxed hot againſt Iſrael, and he delivered them into the hands of ſpoylers that ſpoyled them. Ver. 15. Whitherſoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was againſt them for evill. And this the Lord doth many times ſuddenly, that one would never thinke that ever the Lord ſhould be ſo ſudden; the Lord can be as quick to puniſh, as man to ſinne, and that unexpectedly. Eccl. 9.12. Man knows not his time, but are taken like fiſh in an evill net ſuddenly. Lam. 4.12. The kyngdomes of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not have beleeved. Judg. 5.8. They ſet up new gods, and war was in the gate.

2. Sometimes the Lord turnes the edge of that lawful authority God hath ſet over them againſt themſelves, to be a heavy ſcourge from God upon them: Thus it was with Iſrael in Egypt, Exod. 1.8, 9. there aroſe a King which knew not Joſeph, and it's ſaid then they were oppreſſed. Thus Jeroboam whom the ten Tribes choſe, Hoſ. 5.11. he oppreſſed the people, he will be innovating, p. 13and this becomes their oppreſſion: Thus the people under the reign of degenerate Solomon (though their complaint might be in part unjuſt.) Such is the venome of ſin and unſubduedneſſe to the Kingdom God, that the Lord turns light into darkneſſe, and makes an aking head matter of ſorrow to all the ſtate and body of people. Eccleſ. 10.16. Wo to thee, O Land, when thy King is a childe. And one man ſhall do a world of hurt, one Shebna or Amaziah, and this the Lord doth in juſtice many times for caſting off his government.

3. Sometimes the Lord gives a people up into the hands of one another to be mutual oppreſſors of each other that a mans neighbour ſhall be his oppreſſor. Zach. 11.9. I will pitty no more the inhabitants of the land, I will deliver them every one into his neighbours hands. I will feed you no more, that which dieth let it dye, and that which is cut off let it be cut off, and let the reſt eat every one the fleſh of another. Sometimes the Lord is pleaſed to ſend marvellous ſtraits into a place, that men are forced to imbondage themſelves ſometimes by words as bitter as death, as ſharp as arrows; the Lord is pleaſed for the forſaking of his righteous wayes to make a mans ſelf rip his own bowels, the father againſt the childe, the maſter ſhall be a ſcourge to the ſervant, and the ſervant ſhall be a ſcourge to his maſter, weary him of his p. 14life, the government of the Lord in a mans heart or family being caſt off. Mic. 7.4, 5. Truſt not in a friend: No greater bondage in the world then for men profeſſing the Lord, to be deſperately ſet one againſt another.

4. By taking from a people all that righteous power of government the Lord hath ſet over them, when a people deſpiſing the Lord and inward government firſt (for there all begins) and ſo not prizing what they have, nor praying for them, nor ſubjecting to them, the Lord hereupon ſends ſome ſickneſſe, or ſome other evill, that they are either ſuddenly taken away, or gradually, and when they are gone, all ſink, or elſe ſuch croſſe carriages, that as Moſes ſaid, ſo ſay they, I cannot beare this people. Thus Judges 21.25. Men did what was right in their owne eyes when there was no King in Iſrael. No State ſo miſerable as an Anarchie, when every one is a ſlave, becauſe every one will be a maſter. Thus, Iſa. 3.1, 2.6. Be a ruler to us. No, I'le not undertake to rule. So, 2 Chron. 15.3, 5. when without a teaching Prieſt, then no peace at all, men will not be under government of them, you ſhall not have them, they ſhall reſt in peace, and you ſhall then know the want of them.

5. By giving them over to Satans, and their own hearts luſts, that ſeeing they will not ſerve the Lord, they ſhall ſerve their p. 15luſts & their ſins, that now the Lord he hath left off chaſtiſing of men, and conſcience ſhal check no more, proſper, ſaith the Lord, and go on in thy ſin. Pſal. 81.12. So I gave them up to their own hearts luſts, and they walked after their owne counſels. Rev. 22.11. Let him that is filthy be filthy ſtill.

When the Lord ſhall give a man over to Satan, not only to winnow him, to let out the chaffe, and ſo to make the grain the purer, or to buffet them as he did Paul, but to inſnare them, and hold them, that he ſhall not only tempt, but his temptations ſhall take, and not onelyonly take, but hold. 2 Tim. 2. ult. Who are taken captive by him at his will; taken alive as a ſnare doth, that now a man is beyond the reach of all means, only peradventure God may give repentance. Iſa. 1.5. Why ſhould ye be ſtricken any more? ye will revolt yet more and more. The Lord leaves ſmiting, and ſayes, Go on and proſper in thy ſinne: and which is the worſt of all, Satan ſhall ſo blinde him and harden him, fill him with pride, paſſion, lying, hatred of Gods people, cavilling againſt the Lords wayes of grace, ſlighting of his betters deſpiſing of wholeſome counſell from his deareſt friends, that he knowes not that gray hairs are upon him. And after this when God hath caſt out, it may be the Church doth alſo, a moſt fearfull bondage that the Lord gives ſuch a ſoule over unto.

p. 16There are two reaſons of this point, which I collect only from the ſtory in this Chapt.

Reaſon 1. Reaſ. 1 Inregard of the righteous Judgement of God. It's juſt and equal that he that will not be ruled by this bleſſed Lord Jeſus, he ſhould be ruled by his luſts; he that will not be in ſubjection to a merciful Chriſt, he ſhould be in bondage to unmerciful men: this an humbled heart will acknowledge, as theſe do here, Verſe 6. They acknowledged the Lord to be righteous: Mam being fallen it had been righteous with God to have left all men as the Angels that fell in chains of darkneſſe for ever. But among his church and people the Lord ſends the Goſpel to proclaime liberty, and with it ſends Chriſt with his Spirit, to come to the priſon-doores of poor ſinners, to give repentance as well as remiſſion of ſinnes, and now if they will not come out of their bondage, accept of the Lords liberty, 'tis exceeding righteous to deal with them as we do with priſoners condemned to die; if the Prince comes to the priſon-doores, and ſaies, I am come to give thee thy life, nay and here is pardon, nay favour, and to pull off thy chaines alſo, now if he ſaies no, I had rather be in priſon; every one will ſay it is juſt; and as it was in the yeare of Jubile he that would not go free was to be a bondman for ever. 'Tis very righteous p. 17to give men their own choice, 'tis no wrong to let them have their own will: If indeed the lawes of Chriſt were Draco's lawes, hard and heavy, there were ſomething to object, but they are moſt ſweet, and for which of all other bleſſings men have cauſe to bleſſe him, Pſal. 147. ult.

Reaſon 2. Reaſ. 2 In regard of the mercy or merciful wiſdome of the Lord towards his Church and people, eſpecially his peculiar ones, that hereby they keep the cloſer to the Lord, ſet a higher price upon the rules and government of the Lord, love his kingdome the more, and the liberties thereof, and uſe them better when they have them again, ſo here, that they may know my ſervice, &c.

11. How ſweet it is. Experience we ſay is the Miſtris of fooles; ſuch is the fooliſhneſſe of mens hearts that men are many times never truly taught a truth till they are taught it by ſenſe. Prov. 5.11. and thou mourn at laſt when thy fleſh is conſumed; tell a man of all the glory of the Saints, they never underſtand it till they feel it, tell men of the wo of their wayes, they will not beleeve it till they ſee it. Pſal. 32.9. Be not as the horſe or mule that hath no underſtanding, whoſe mouth muſt be held in with bit and bridle. Hoſea 10.11. Ephraim is like an Heifer that is taught. Like untamed Horſes that will caſt their rider, unleſſe p. 18they be held under and backt, and then they are gentle, ſo 'tis here; and truly 'tis long before a man can learn the ſweet of Chriſts government: hence Iſrael muſt be long in Egyptian bondage, and many long miſeries, ſo that if there be either juſtice or mercy in the Lord he will do this, and this point ſhall be true.

Ʋſe 1. Ʋſe 1 Hence then ſee that the greateſt liberty and ſweeteſt liberty is to be under the government of Chriſt Jeſus, although men do not think ſo: hence the Lord tells them here they ſhall know my ſervice, they might have replyed we do know it. No, till they be in bonds they know it not, nor cannot learn it. So 'tis now; and hence let men obſerve whiles they live looſly, and are guided by their own wiſdome, for their own ends, according to their own will, at peradventures, at rovers, as they pleaſe, they do think this liberty very ſweet; and 'tis better then to be curb'd in: But let the Lord ſtrike an arrow in the heart of theſe wilde bucks, that have broke parke and pale, ſend affliction, and an Iron yoke of ſorrow upon them or diſtreſſe of conſcience, if there be any ſenſe and feeling left, they will bemoan themſelves, and ſay, I did think my liberty ſweet, but now I ſee 'tis bitter in a ſinful way: and the Lords way was moſt ſweet, by their own confeſſion. Hence Pſal. 2.3. Let us break their bands, p. 19&c. But Oh now hence learn this truth, and digeſt it throughly, that the greateſt liberty lies here: do not in thy judgement think Chriſtian liberty lies, in being freed from the law as a rule of obedience in reſpect of the matter of it to be done, nor in thy practiſe; but know, though thou didſt meet with a thouſand Sorrows with it and griefs, yet 'tis ſweet. Chriſts yoke; (Mat. 11.30) is eaſie, and his burthen light. What? When not a hole to hide his head in, when a reproach of men, a worme & no man, when be boare the Fathers wrath? Yes, when he was meek under it, (not mine but thy will be done) it was then moſt ſweet. 1 Kings 9.21, 22. To be a ſervant to Solomon is no bondage, Pſalm 119 32. I will runne, when thou ſhalt inlarge my heart.

Vſe 2. Ʋſe 2 Hence ſee the reaſon why the Lord hath deprived his Churches of their liberty, and his government over them at ſundry times, and hath put them under Iron yokes, and bonds, and ſore preſſures, the reaſon is ſhewn, they have either openly or more ſecretly caſt off the government of the Lord, here hath been the very wound the aile of all Churches famous and glorious. Pſal. 81.14. Oh that they had hearkened, I ſhould then ſoon have ſubdued their enemies. The cauſe is not ſo hard to finde to a diſcerning ſpirit who is privy in any meaſure p. 20to the councels of God. 1 King. 9.8, 9. Solomon hath a promiſe that the Lords eyes and heart ſhall be to his people which are under him: but if once they ſlip the Coller, then wo; and why? Becauſe they forſook the Lord that brought them out of Egypt, they had liberty, but they caſt it off.

What do you think was the moving cauſe of all thoſe bloody perſecutions, when the blood of dogs was more precious then of Chriſtian Churches? were not they godly? yes, I do not doubt of it: but as it was here, though humbled they muſt be in bondage, becauſe they had caſt off the government of the Lord Jeſus. And hence in the Apoſtles time evil times were come, ſad apoſtaſies from the truth, and becauſe it was long before they were low enough. And hence, Revel. 6. till the fifth ſeal was opened; no crying, as it was with Iſrael in bondage, no prayer to purpoſe, and becauſe the Lord ſaw they would abuſe all liberties if they had them. And hence in Conſtantines time, when peace came in, contention came with it, and ſo abuſed all, that their peace was their poyſon. And hence in the primitive Churches, they began to caſt off the government of the Lord Jeſus, murmurings there were, hence came perſecution; but they were a precious people, and made bleſſed uſe of it. And the Lord couples their chief perſecution with their reſt. p. 21And 'tis ſaid, Acts 9.31. Then had the Churches reſt, &c.

And what do you think of the reaſon of the long reign of Antichriſt, exalting himſelf above God and all that's called God, bringing the Church under the heavieſt bondage for body and ſoul that ever the earth ſaw? Men did not love the truth, either ſpeculative to guide their minds, or practical to rule their wils; and hence left to this day.

What is the cauſe of Bleeding Germanies wo? Oh poor Germany! Whence the Goſpel firſt brake out in its full ſtrength, that now 'tis a field of blood, that men in woods like ſatyres are afraid of men, and men in cities glad to eat the intrailes of Beaſts, and ſometimes the fleſh of their own babes to preſerve their lives. What was there no evil, but the common condition of the Church to be under the croſſe? ask them, they cannot tell what ailes them, but curſe the Emperour and Swedes, &c. Oh think of it with ſorrow in ſecret for them that know it not themſelves, they have ſecretly, I ſay, ſecretly caſt off the government of a merciful Chriſt, and hence are under the hand of unmerciful men.

What is the cauſe in our native countrey, notwithſtanding all prayers and tears no deliverance? truly men do not know it but the Lord ſees it, they know not how to uſe their liberty.

p. 22And for our ſelves, what ſhall I ſay, I cannot but bleſſe God and wonder to ſee how 'tis with many, and rejoyce to ſee many precious holy ones, to whom one day in Gods court is ſweeter then a thouſand elſewhere: but I muſt profeſſe and cannot but mourne for others, men that were eminent under bondage, but never worſe then here; as if the Lord ſhould ſay, Look here be your eminent ones; look, and feare, and mourn you miniſters of my houſe; here be the people you had thought had been converted, and that of all others ſuch a one would never a fallen ſo; one an opinion takes him, another a lot, another looſe company, another his luſt, another growes proud, another fierce, another murmuring: what ſhould I name al? Oh that my words might be healing, &c.

Ʋſe 3. Ʋſe 3 Hence ſee what will become of us that are now under the government of the Lord; if ever we caſt it off, either inward, or outward, or both. We are not dearer to him then his people Iſrael here, nay Judah. When old Iſrael the great and numerous tribes of Iſrael had ſet up calves, little Judah and Benjamin received the Prieſts, and yet they fell and were in bondage. I know we are not yet in bondage; yet it is not more unſeaſonable to ſpeake now then for the Lord to Solomon, 1 King 9.1.

Queſt. Queſt. But there being much unſubduednes p. 23in the hearts of the beſt, how ſhall one know when there be ſuch ſinnes for which the Lord will caſt from under his government?

Anſwer 1. Anſw. 1 When men do not loath their own hearts for their unprofitableneſſe, but loath Gods ordinances ſecretly, and grow weary of them as of their burdens, becauſe of the unprofitableneſſe of them. When a people finde not that ſpecial good by them which recompenceth all loſſes, and ſo prize them, but lay blame on them becauſe unfruitful to them, Malachie 3.13. He ſpeaks to a people got out of Captivity, Your words have been ſtout againſt me, no ſay they, 'Tis in vaine to ſerve the Lord, what profit is there in this? you muſt conceive they had many loſſes, were very poor as verſ. 11. a temptation which a proud heart cannot indure above any, here is now no profit in mourning, faſting, &c. and Gods own people began to think ſo: and hence, Verſe 16. Then they ſpake often one to another, there was good effect of his Sermon: now what follows? Chapter 4.1. Hence the wicked ſhall come and cut off Branch and Root in Antiochus time, there is a burning day a coming, that ſhall burn down houſe, root and branch: and hence, Matthew 21.43. The kingdome ſhall be given to them that bring forth fruit, You will ſay, we do; No thy own mouth ſhall condemne thee, you p. 24do not, you finde no good by all the ordinances of God, and hence come thoſe Queſtions: what warrant for ſuch an ordinance? the bottome is, they never felt good of it, and hence grow weary of it: well if it be your burthen, the Lord will eaſe you of it.

22. When you ſee men (profeſſing the feare of God) mutually naturally contentions, and continuing ſo: I ſay, contentious with Saints which they ſay they love, and which by covenant bound to love, either from ſome conceived wrong, and hence cannot forgive as Chriſt doth them; or from aprejudicate groundleſſe opinion, they care not for me, nor I for them; or from a ſpirit of ſcornful Cenſoriouſneſſe, what are ſuch and ſuch? or becauſe diſtaſted, becauſe of ſome reproofe in their ſinne; or by ſome opinion, or by ſōe worldly conveniency, or laying out lots, or reſtraint of ſome liberty, &c. or becauſe of ſome ſin: Now can ſit and cenſure; and I ſay, when this is mutual; for a godly man may be contended with, but he prayes & mournes and pitties, unleſſe it be at ſome time; but when it ſhall continually abide ſo fierce and implacable, Eccleſ. 7.9. Anger reſteth in the boſome of fools; when a man ſhall be glad of an occaſion of difference, that ſo he may depart and have ſomething to quiet conſcience for breach of Covenant, that there can be no healing, but Bellies of pigs are more deare then bowels! p. 25of Saints, and when quiet, upon the leaſt occaſion apt to pick holes and quarrel. Now it's time for the Lord to give over to another government. Zach. 11.14.15. When Brother-hood is broken, then an Idol-ſhepheard is ſet up. Exodus 2. Moſes was ſent to deliver Iſrael, but he findes two Hebrews oppreſſed ſtriving, and muſt not be checkt neither, well then fare-well deliverance if you be of that ſpirit; you ſhall love one another better if ever the Lord doth that for you. It hath been the wiſdome of ſome Princes, when their ſubjects have been at Civil warres, to call them forth to a common enemy, and there they can agree. Oh brethren, there is no ſinne like this, and yet none ſo ſlighted. You ſhall know what it is either by being yoked under enemies or ſinnes. The firſt of theſe breaking bonds of union to Chriſt, the other with his members.

Ʋſe 4. Ʋſe 4 Hence ſee the reaſon why many men are delivered up to the bondage of their own luſts, the moſt ſad bondage and power of Satan, who have ſeemed to be delivered from it; truely they have caſt off the government of the Lord. Men wonder why in this countrey men are more vile then ever they were, men that gave great hopes; the reaſon is this, they have ſeemed to be under Chriſts government, but ſecretly caſt it off: And hence filthy and vile luſts are their Apparitors and Purſevants, &c.

p. 26Objection. Object. The Saints feel a bondage, how ſhall one know the difference?

Anſwer. The firſt and greateſt inthralment is, Anſw. 1 when Satan and ſinne ſo rule as that they know them not, this is lamentable, that like thoſe, John 8.33. when Chriſt told them, if they continued in the truth it ſhould make them free, they would not believe that ever they were in bondage: ſo here a man thinkes himſelf free when he is a ſlave, thus Pſalm 81.13. God gave them up to their own hearts luſts, and they were led by their own Councels. The Saints may be much carried away by the power of Satans temptations, but never ſo far as to think their bondage is their freedome, and to have reaſons and arguments prevailing againſt the good wayes of Gods grace, and to have reaſons to maintaine their ſinfull courſes, and that is in ſuch as have wit, and parts, and knowledge, which through the righteous judgement of God are left ſo farre to abuſe it, as to make uſe of it to maintain their ſin-ful luſts.

2. Anſw. 2 When men if they ſee their bondage yet have no heart to come out of it, in uſing all means for that end. When the will is in captivity, no captivity like it, no gally-ſlave like it: A childe of God hath a bondage and is led into captivity, but Oh miſerable man he cries; but theſe, Prov. 17.10. have a price in their hand, but no heart to make uſe of it. Ezra. 1.5. So many whoſe hearts the p. 27Lord ſtirred, they gat up to go to Jeruſalem: But the Lord never ſtirs the hearts of theſe poor creatures: they know and feare, yet have no heart to get out of that condition, nay rather willingly are ſo. They ſell themſelves to their luſts, and ſins, and Satan; here is (ſaith Satan) this gaine, neglect prayer for it, tell a lie for it, breake Covenant for it, loſe thy peace for it: here is this honour and credit, look big on it: here is this eſtate, carry thy countenance high, and thus apparrel thy ſelfe with theſe trappings, walke thus with thy bootes French-like: here is this pleaſure and mirth, keep thou this company, looſe thy heart, neglect thy God, give thy ſelfe over to it: here is this eaſe, deferre thy repentance, be cold in prayer, neglect thy family; and a man ſells himſelfe to his luſt, pleaſures and honours; thou art thus provok't, and therefore now thou muſt fret, and murmur, and rage, and hold thy own, and ſo eaſe thy heart, thus men ſet themſelves to ſale willingly.

3. Anſw. 3 When men have ſome heart to come out of it, but the Lord leaves men to an indifferency, and conſequently to apoſtaſie, as it was with Agrippa almoſt perſwaded, and like the Iraelites that refuſed to go into that good land, Numbers 14. And hereupon the Lord was wroth, and ſaid they ſhould not, but they repentedand would faine have had ſome pitty ſhewed in regard of their p. 28miſery, but their enemies fell upon them and deſtroyed them: al the plea of the Arminians is for this, which is nothing elſe but mens miſery. Luke 14. thoſe that were invited made their excuſes and ſaid, I muſt needs go and ſee it: But found no neceſſity to come to Chriſt. Now the Saints the Lord never leaves them to a ſpirit of indifferency, but keepes them in a ſpirit of neceſſity. I muſt come out of this miſerable condition, ſaith the poore ſoul, they ſay not, fleſh is weak, but I muſt have helpe. Pſalm 110. becauſe 'tis the day of the Lords power, they will not reſt contented without helpe; and if the Lord delayes them and hears not, they will follow the Lord ſo much the harder.

4. If they have any reſolution to come out, and think it muſt not be thus, and purpoſe never to live thus again; yet notwithſtanding all their purpoſes and reſolutions they fall again, and never get any real conqueſt, their untamed hearts & wils are never a whit more ſubdued. Iſaiah 63.7, 8. For he ſaid, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie. So he was their Saviour, but they ſoone rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: their wills were never ſubdued. But now the Saints either the Lord preſerves them from ſuch falls and apoſtaſies: Or if they do depart from the Lord by reaſon of the prevailing power of any temptation, they ever get real conqueſt by their fall, their p. 29ſinful corruption thereby gets its deadly wound. Rom. 11.10. Their backs are not alwayes bowed down, but the Lord raiſeth their bowed down ſpirits, Pſalm 145.14. and upholdeth their ſpirits for them when they think they ſhall one day fall by the hand of ſuch Saul-like ſins and diſtempers. A carnal heart may carry a faire profeſſion, and be in ſubjection to Chriſt for a time, but his back ſtands alwayes bowed down under his profeſſion, it is his burthen, and hence at laſt he caſts it off as a man doth his weariſome burden: but on the contrary, childe of God being indeed weary of his ſinne, and carrying that up and down with him as his burden, with his ſoul bowed down in the ſenſe of his own vileneſſe, by this means through the helpe of Chriſt, at laſt he comes to get real conqueſt over his ſinne, and caſt it off.

55. When the Lord in this caſe lets them alone without inward or outward troubles, this is a fearful ſigne. Hoſea 4.17. Ephraim is joyned to his Idols, let him alone, the Lord will take no more paines with them, he is wearied out with ſtriving. Iſaiah 1.5. Why ſhould ye be stricken, ye will revolt yet more and more; when the Lord ſees men the worſe for his merciful corrections, he deales like parents that have have ſtriven long with their children, and can do no good on them, they then reſolve to let p. 30them take their own courſe, and will own them no longer to be of their family: the Lord never deales thus long with his; but if their ſinne will not waſte by words, the Lord will then try what chaines will do, and now they ſhalt finde good, now they ſhall remember their backſlidings and apoſtaſies from God, and their impenitency in finne, in fecret ſinnes, eſpecially in the dayes of their peace and proſperity; now the Lord will make finne as bitter as ever it was ſweet. Oh conſider this you that are proſperous, and becauſe the Lord is good to you, therefore you think the Lord likes well of your wayes. No greater plague then for the Lord to give a man peace in his ſinne, or if the Lord begins to afflct thee in thy name, or eſtate begin to be blaſted, and thou canſt ſee Gods hand on thee, and knoweſt it, and yet thou remained unhumbled, this is a ſigne thou art under the bondage of thy finne.

Ʋſe. 5. For examination, whether we do, Ʋſe 5 or when a people do caſt off the government of the Lord and deſtroy his kingdome? it's needful to know the ſinne that we may prevent the miſery; and 'tis certaine, let New-England be watchful, and make ſure here, to advance the Prince of peace, and to keep the right and government in his hand, and you ſhall have the bleſſing of God and his ordinances, peace and mercy p. 31in your times, and continued to your children; for his kingdom is an everlaſting kingdome, and of the increaſe of his kingdome there is no end: and on the contrary, if New-England caſt off the government from over them, and refuſe his ſervice, the Lord will then take the kingdome from you, and you ſhal then know the want of what now ye injoy. Now becauſe Chriſts government or kingdome is

1. Inward.

2. Outward

in Church,

in State.

I ſhall let you know 1, when the inward kingdome of Chriſt is ſet up, and when 'tis tazed down, which I ſhall do by giving you a briefe view of the nature or it, and wherein it conſiſts, and ſo you may the better Judge of your own hearts in this particular. As Satan hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of thoſe that are without, ſo the Lord Jeſus hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of all his Saints, Col. 1.13. Bleſſed be God (ſaith the apoſtle) which hath tranſlated us from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan into the kingdome of his dear ſonne, which is very ſpiritual, little ſeen, a man may be under all outward government, and yet naught here; and therefore attend: this inward kingdome therefore conſiſts in four things, or when the whole ſoul ſubmits it ſelf to God in theſe four particulars.

11. When the whole foul gives entertainment p. 32unto the Lord himſelf to come into it: for if a people ſhall ſay they are under ſuch a government, and yet will not admit the Prince himſelf to come amongſt them, but keep him out of the kingdome, 2they caſt off his government and his kingdome.

2. When the whole foul cloſeth with the whole will of the Lord; for if a people ſhall receive a Prince amongſt them, but he ſhall make no wholeſome Laws to governe them, but will be led by their own wills and luſts, 3they pull down his kingdome.

3. When the whole ſoul thus cloſeth with the will of Chriſt by vertue of the power and Spirit of Chriſt: for if a people ſubmit to the will of their Prince, but 'tis not by vertue of his authority over them, command of them, and helps he hath given them for that end, but it is by reaſon of ſome forreign power, that underhand incourageth them to yield, this is poore ſubjection.

44. When the ſoul thus ſubmits to Chriſts will for the Lords ends, denying its own wiſdome or will, and is-led by the Lord to his end▪ for if a people ſhall ſubmit to their Prince, but 'tis to ſet up other princes, he is caſt off from his throne. When a man ſhall ſerve God, and be under his government becauſe it is profitable or honourable, it ſuits his own end, this is poor ſervice in the Lords account.

11. I ſay then, the ſoul is under the inward p. 33kingdome or government of Chriſt, when the whole ſoul gives entertainment to the Lord of Lords, the Lord himſelf with all his traine, in and by the Goſpel of gra…e, the royal ſword and Scepter of Chriſts kingdome; for when Chriſt himſelf is thus received, the kingdome of God is come to that ſoul, and entred into that heart; and hence Marke 1.14, 15. the Goſpel is called the Goſpel of the Kingdome, and when John and Chriſt preached believe and repent, for the kingdome of God is at hand. Under which word is comprehended much, but principally Chriſt Jeſus ready to enter the ſouls of his people; and hence Iohn preached Chriſt. Now 'tis ſaid, thoſe that were effectually wrought upon, Matt. 11.12. that the kingdome of heaven did ſuffer violence, and the violent take it by force; ſo that the kingdome of God is come into the hearts of all the elect of God, when the ſoul uſes a holy violence, and the Lord does draw the heart to an entertainment of the Lord himſelf; Many difficulties there be between them and Chriſt, and yet they break through all.

This is the condition of all men by nature, they are ſtrangers to Chriſt, and live without God and Chriſt in the world, and Chriſt from them, and ſo Satan takes poſſeſſion, and rules them, and ſo men are under the kingdome of darkneſſe, ſo that p. 34the divel himſelf poſſeſſes every natural man, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, he worketh in the children of diſobedience, and runne on ſo, and remain ſo. Now the Goſpel of the kingdome, and the means to advance Chriſt in his kingdome, makes a free offer of Chriſt himſelf; indeed it offers pardon, grace, mercy, life, glory, but all theſe, are in Chriſt himſelf, and we poſſeſſe them by poſſeſſing and receiving of Chriſt himſelf; as a poor woman hath all the wealth of the man by entertaining of the man. So that the Goſpel firſtly and primarily offers Chriſt himſelf, and faith doth pitch on Chriſt himſelf and doth open thoſe everlaſting doores, that the King of glory may come in. Iohn 1.12. 'tis ſaid, So many as received him, he gave power to be the ſonnes of God. 1 Iohn 5.12. He that hath the ſon, hath life; ſo that now let a man refuſe or reject the Lord himſelf as he is thus offered in the Goſpel, he does refuſe the kingdome of the Lord, and does refuſe to be under the power of the Lord. True it may be ſaid the kingdom of God hath been nigh to him, when Chriſt is offered in the Goſpel, and God layes as it were nothing ſhall pleaſe me ſo much as this, if thou doſt receive me. Luke 10. Go and preach to theſe and theſe Cities and if they will not receive you, ſhake off the duſt of your feet, and let them know the kingdome of God hath been nigh p. 35to them; then Chriſt comes into the ſoul when the whole ſoul takes the Lord for himſelf, Chriſt and all that Chriſt hath, Chriſt in a pardon, and Chriſt in a promiſe: at that very day the Lord gave the heart to receive him, then is the kingdome of God come in that heart, and with him all, life, peace, joy, and glory, God, Spirit, and all.

Now the whole ſoul receives him, when 1. The minde ſees him in the glory of his grace, that though it had low, mean thoughts of Chriſt before, for which it mournes; yet the riſing of this glorious Sun upon him, he eſteemes all things loſſe for him that he may win Chriſt, and be found in Chriſt, I in him, and He in me, in Vocation: and not having my own righteouſneſſe, in Juſtification: And to feel the life of Chriſt and death alſo in ſanctification, and to attain to the reſurrection of the dead in glorification: and now nothing is dear to the ſoul but Chriſt. — 2. When the will, after the ſoul hath had ſome hopes the Lord may look towards it in his grace, and having had many heart-breaking teares before the Lord, the Lord is now pleaſed by the glad tidings of the Goſpel to give the will power not only to receive and entertaine the Lord, but gladly to receive him. The ſoul wonders that ever the Lord ſhould bow down to him, and offer mercy to him; and when as together with this, by the ſweet p. 36ſavour of his Grace chat he doth let into the heart, the ſoul doth receive the Lord with moſt dear imbracings into his ſoul, that now there is none like to the Lord. Cant. 1.3. Thy name is like an oyntment poured out, where the very feet of the meſſengers of glad tidings are beautiful: But the Lord himſelf is the only crown and Joy of the ſoul, when the leaſt look of love to a caſtaway is more ſweet then kingdoms, ay and much more, that's love it ſelf. Iſaiah 52.9. Brtak forth into joy, ſing together ye Waſt places of Jeruſalem; for the Lord hath comforted his People. When kings ſhall ſtop their mouths as vile in themſelves, and not able to ſet forth that glory they never heard of before, and the ſoul for Joy ſells away all to buy this pearl, that it ſayes with David, Hon do I love thy Lan! Now beloved when the ſoul does thus receive the Lord, the kingdome of God is come to that ſoul; and therefore try and examine, is it thus with you? or hath the Lord begun to deal thus with thee, to give himſelf, the glory of Angels, the wonderment of heaven, the mighty God of heaven to come to thy heart? thou art then under the government of the kingdome of God. But now on the contrary if thou canſt be content to receive the ordinances of Chriſt, or the conſolations of Chriſt, or ſome of the commands of Chriſt, and that is all, and the Lord never p. 37gave thee a heart to cloſe with Chriſt himſelf, it 's a ſtrange thing to thee, that which is the main thing, the Diamond in the Ring of the Goſpel; thou art yet farre enough off from the kingdome of God; I dare not ſay, nor think for all the world, that ever the kindome of God came to thy heart. Again, if you have received Chriſt, but not with thy whole ſoul: that now the offer, promiſes, blood, life, grace, glory in the Goſpel, are grown common things to thee; that the Lord never ſent thee home wondering at the glory of Gods grace to a poor wretch, never yet ſaid'ſt, Bleſſed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: the Lord never yet lay next thy heart, or if thou haſt had ſome liking, and ſome love and affections in pangs; yet the Lord is not only precious, and exceeding dear in thy heart, thy heart breaks not for grief that thou haſt ſo much ſlighted him, ſo little born him on thy heart; It is a ſigne that the Lord hath begun to reveal himſelf to thy ſoul, when he gives thee a heart to mourne for thy ſtanding out againſt him, but this never came to thy ſoul.

Certainly, here is the wound of many men: The Goſpel of God never hath its proper effect, till the Lord help thee to give thy whole heart thus to a Saviour, to a God, to the Prince of peace; and till this is done, the Goſpel is ineffectual, it doth nothing. p. 38It was a ſweet prayer of him, Make thy Sonne dear, very dear, exceeding dear, only dear and precious, or not at all; If thou hadſt a thouſand hearts, it was too little for Chriſt to love him, and do'ſt grudge him one? when thou haſt imparted thy heart, and eſteem to thy luſts and creature; do'ſt thou love the Lord with part of thy heart? but a vile luſt, a poor creature muſt have a ſhare, and the remnant will ſerve Chriſt, is he not the only pearl of thy heart, to give him daily communion, no this thou art a ſtranger to. Hear ye deſpiſers, and wonder, and periſh, God will Work, a worke in your dayes. What is that? the infinit God cannot expreſſe as it were, the wrath that ſhall come againſt ſuch a ſoul; nor I cannot expreſſe the wrath that ſhall come upon ſuch a deſpiſer of the Lord Jeſus. Give him all thy heart or none; if thou haſt the Lord, thou haſt his whole heart; if he had had a thouſand lives, he would have laid them all down for thee: He poured out his blood for every one of his, but for the preſent thou art out of the Kingdom of God to this day.

22. When the whole ſoul cloſeth with the whole will of Chriſt, having thus received him; for if a Prince become, and people will not be ruled by him, nor any lawes that he makes, though never ſo good, but what they liſt, the Kingdome is caſt off; For, beloved, p. 39there is a marvellous common deceit in mens hearts, they would not for all the world but have Chriſt; ay, but the will of Chriſt is neglected, that is a clog, and the burden of the Lord of hoſts; Chriſt is ſweet, and his will is bitter; Chriſt is precious, and his will is vile. Why do you make him a King, and ye will make lawes for Chriſt, and you will rule Chriſt, and his will ſhall not ſtand? here is no King; Such kinde of idle Libertines were in the Apoſtles time, 1 Joh. 1.6. If we ſay We have fellowſhip with him, and Walk in darkneſs, we lie, and there is no truth in us: But now when the whole ſoul does ſubmit to the whole will of the Lord, now his Kingdome is come indeed, when his will is thus ſweet. Dan. 7.27. His Kingdome is an everlaſting Kingdome, and all nations ſhall ſerve him: and his ſervants ye are whom ye obey, whether Chriſt, the devil, or your own hearts.

Now the whole will

1. Directing.

2. Correcting

now when the ſoul ſubmits to both, then Chriſt rules in his Kingdome; ſometime you meet with Chriſts directing will; now this is mens frame, naturally they will not ſee it, they Will not come to the light, John 3.20. they are led by their own counſel, and will not regard the light and counſel of God in his word; they will quarrel with the p. 40light when it is croſſe to their ends, gaine, honour and the like; men have high thoughts againſt the Lord Jeſus, 2 Cor. 10.5. Caſting down imaginations, and every high thought that exalteth it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God. And again, if men do ſee it, yet like the devil that has much light, they do not love it, nor out of love (not unleſſe it be out of fear) ſubject to it, like Balaam that had no love to Gods command, but onelyonly was acted by fear and conſtraint; now when the ſoul continues thus, it caſts off Chriſts Kingdom; but if the whole ſoule firſt comes to the light, though it ſees little, ſets the whole will of Chriſt before it, Pſal. 18.22. ſaith David; I have kept the wayes of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God, and though it hath had many quarrellings againſt the truth of God, yet now it hath not, nor dares not, but ſayes, Lord, teach me; the. Lord gives them hearts to lye down at the ſeet of any man that ſhall ſhew them any thing that is amiſſe in them, and they ſay with David, Lord, ſearch me, and try me: I have many crooked wayes, and therefore, good Lord, finde them out, and therefore come to the Lord for that end; and though there be ſomething in them that is deſperately contrary to the good will of God, yet there is an inward man that does delight in the law of God, and when the Lord is pleaſed to give them an heart to p. 41ſubmit to the will of God; Oh the ſoul doth wonder at the Lord, that the Lord ſhould ſhew him any thing, and help him againſt temptations; and though there be a great deal of wearineſſe in the wayes of God, yet there is a ſpirit within him, that it is indeed heaven it ſelf to him to be in the ordinances of God; now ye ſtoop to the directing will of Chriſt, when this is rhy way, though thou goeſt oft out of it, yet comed in it again, as ſin is a wicked mans way, although he goeth athouſand times out of it.

Now, for the other, the correcting will of Chriſt; The Lord hath ſtrong tryals: Now here ſubjection to Chriſt is required as well as to the directing will of Chriſt; then the ſoul ſubmits to this will when the minde objects not, charges not God with folly, as Eli, 1 Sam. 3.18. It is the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth him good; And likewiſe the will, though it hath had many ſad bouts, yet this is his frame in the concluſion, that the will of Chriſt is better then every thing elſe, the will of Chriſt is alone ſweet to him, Iſa. 38. ſaith Hezekiah, Good is the will of the Lord, and ſo Lam. 3. It's good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth, and to turne his cheeks to him that ſmites him; Nay when there is ſpiritual evils on the ſoul, as was on Chriſt himſelf, ſpiritual deſertions, nothing but bitterneſſe and ſorrow; yet the ſoul ſaith, as Chriſt did, Not my will, but thine p. 42be done, Father ſave me from this houre, yet Father glorifie thy ſelf, and ſo the ſoul does humbly ſubmit it ſelf to the Lord; though the Lord ſhould never pitty it, yet it will lye down at the feet of the Lord, now is Gods Kingdome come.

But if the ſoul will have Chriſt, and yet caſt off the will of Chriſt. 1. Either in his judgement, that the law of God as given by Chriſt, ſhould be no rule to a Chriſtian; ſuppoſe you were in England, and were there preſt to bow before an Altar, or Image; what ſhall lead you, if that Gods will and law muſt not be your rule? The Lord will one day make you know, his bleſſed will, in that bleſſed law of his, that ye ſhall never finde peace to the end of the world, except the Lord do help ye thus to walke. Again, when men cannot endure the will of Chriſt, cannot endure exhortations, what doth the man mean to exhort us thus? I tell thee, there goeth forth power with the exhortations of Chriſt. I ſay, take heed of caſting off the will of Chriſt here; and ſo when men in their practice ſhall quarrel againſt any of Gods truths, and are loath to ſee it, or if they do, yet not love dearly every truth of God, but it's a burden to them; eſpecially if it croſſe their own ends and gaine, they will not ſee it to be a truth, leſt they ſhould be convinced, and turne to the rule of it; if the will and ordinances of p. 43Chriſt be a burden to a man, and a man is not wearie of his wearineſſe, but wearie of them all the while: Art thou under the government of Chriſt? If a man forſaken of God, led by his own councels be under the Kingdom of Chriſt, then thou art; ſo long as there is credit for the truth, ſo long it is entertained; but now ſuppoſe it be coſtly, that it ſhouldbring beggery & affliction with it, is it now ſweet to you? doth this ſupport thy heart? I am in Gods way, canſt lye down and ſubſcribe to the equity of Chriſts proceedings with thee, though he ſhould never ſhew favour to thee; if it be not thus, I dare not ſay thou art under the Kingdome of Chriſt. And ſo for the correcting will of Chriſt, many ſad afflictions the Lord tries thee withall, the Lord tries men marvellouſly; when thou art under the hand of the Lord, thoſe very things that ſhould make men cry to heaven, and wean thee from the world, thoſe very things do harden thee, and make thee grudge and repine. The Lord be merciful to thee, if this be thy frame, the Kingdome of Chriſt never came into that heart; you are begging for mercy; and the Lord ſayes, you mercy? you have abuſed it; no ſaith the Lord, Go to your luſt that have deſpiſed the day of grace, and ſo now you caſt off the Lord, becauſe the Lord will not give you mercy when you would have it. Will you now quarrel with the Lord? no, down proud heart; pray ſtill, p. 44and mourn ſtill, and turne to the Lord; and ſay, Lord do with me what thou wilt, I am clay in thine hand, thou may'ſt make me a veſſell of diſhonour, I deſerve not the leaſt bit of bread; ſuch a one as is above the Lord and his will, is not under the Lord, therefore ſubmit thy ſelf to the good will of Chriſt.

33. When the ſoul doth thus ſubmit to the will of Chriſt, by vertue of the power and Spirit of Chriſt, i. e. when the ſoul doth not ſubmit by vertue of its own power, ſtrength or ability, for this is forre gne power; But as it do h ſeek to ſubmit to the will of Chriſt, ſo it would have Chriſt himſelf, act it and rule it, and ſo inable it to ſubmit there unto; Now is the Kingdome of God come neere to that heart. And herein Chriſts Kingdome is different from Princes, they give lawes that men may keep them by there own, might; hence they command no imimpoſſible things, but the will of Chriſt is ſo croſſe to a carnal heart, that 'tis impoſſible man of himſelf ſhould ſubmit to it: But the Lord doth it for this end, chat the ſoul ſhould then come to Chriſt in its need, that he would do all the good pleaſure of his will, and now the Lord himſelf reignes, and that gloriouſly, Rom. 8 1, 2. For the law of the Spirit of life which is in Chriſt Jeſus, hath made me free from the law of ſin and death. Acts 5.31. A Prince and Saviour, for to give p. 45repentance and remiſſpon of ſint. It is part of his Princely power for to give remiſſion of ſins; both in turning from ſin, and to God, and all the wayes of God, and now you exalt him when he is thus ſet up: 1 Cor. 4.20. The Kingdome of God is not in word, but in power. The power of Chriſt Jeſus is come into thy ſoul, and the ſoul is under the Kingdome of the Lord Jeſus, when it doth lye under the mighty power of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Theſſ. 1. 11, 12. We pray alwayes for you, that the Lord would work and fulfil the good pleaſure of his will, and the work of faith in power, that Chriſt may be glorified. Yea, then is Chriſt glorified when God omnipotent reignes over ſin and unbelief; and when the Lord doth this, not only the Kingdome of God is now come, but the Kingdome of Chriſt in glory is come; there is many a poor ſoul thinks Chriſt rules him not, becauſe he cannot do this nor that, became he findes his heart unable, and unwilling for to ſubmit to the will of Chriſt; I finde no ſtrength at all, ſaith the ſoul, and I go to Chriſt and finde not ſtrength conveyed, and now he thinks he is not under the Kingdome of Chriſt. I anſwer, that is not the queſtion; but hath the Lord made thee willing in the day of bis power? when the ſoul doth lye under the power of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; when che ſoul doth lye like wax before the Lord Jeſus; when the ſoul p. 46ſaith, Lord there was never any change of my nature; the good Lord change it, and if there be any change, the good Lord increaſe and ſtir up the graces of thy Spirit in my ſoul, and do thou lead me and guide me. Brethren, the Kingdome of Chriſt is come to this ſoul: John 5.40. You will not come to me for life; He doth not ſay, you do not quicken your ſelves, or ye cannot come to me, but will not; here is their wound, they will not come to Chriſt for life. Rom. 6.19. As ye have yeelded your members ſervants to ſin and Satan, ſo now yeeld up your ſelves ſervants to righteouſneſſe and to holineſſe. Pſal. 119.5, 6. Thou hast commanded that we ſhould keep thy precepts continually. Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy precepts continually! Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy ſtatutes! When a Chriſtian is grapling with his own heart, ye will never be able to overcome the unſubduedneſſe thereof; but when ye bring them to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that he would take a courſe with them: 1. Now ye pleaſe Chriſt. 2. Ye take a ſure courſe to have the will of God done, he being in office for that end; for Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour to Iſrael: When the ſoul doth look up to the Lord Jeſus, and lye under the power and Spirit of the Lord Jeſus. 3. You now make the yoke of Chriſt ſweet, and his name glorious; nothing glorifies Chriſt p. 47ſo much as this, when Jeſus doth work in a Chriſtian, now the Kingdome of Chriſt is come to the ſoul, and that in power.

But now when men will not ſubmit thus far to Chriſt: 1. They can do nothing, but will not come to him, on whom God hath laid ſalvation; you ſay, you cannot underſtand, nor edifie by the Sermons ye hear, and you cannot part with your luſts. Ay, but now this is thy condemnation, thou wilt not go to a Saviour that he may teach thee and help thee, when men will not have the Lord Jeſus to reigne over them: or 2. If men do come, they will not come to him where he may be found; but ſay, I can do nothing; Chriſt muſt do all, and ſo neglect the means wherein he will be found: or 3. Will ſubmit and come in means to him, but not then at the ſpeciall time when He is to be ſought, and may be found, viz. in time of temptation. But then forget and forſake him, and cry not Hoſanna: Lord, now ſave, now help me againſt this luſt; When temptation comes, when paſſion and pride come, do you now go to Jeſus Chriſt? When the world begins to draw thy heart away; doſt thou ſay thus, Lord I have prayed this day againſt this ſin, and Lord I have no ſtrength againſt it, now Lord help me? but here is the miſery of the ſoul, it doth not go to Chriſt, and by this means live in complaints all their life-time. 4. If laſtly p. 48any thing be to be done , they will do it themſelves, as Paul, Gal. 1.12. Not but that a Chriſtian ſhould put forth himſelf, a Chriſtian is not a dead-hearted Chriſtian at all times, but the grace of God which comes from Chriſt, doth act the ſoul in a continuall dependance on Chriſt; and where Chriſt acts not, there Satan doth. Now I ſay the Kingdome of God is come, when the ſoul doth thus ſubmit to the ſtream of the bleſſed Spirit of the Lord, that the Lord may guide it. Oh beloved, here is the skill, that poſeth the Angels how to tell you; ſo to yield your ſelves to Chriſt, as that Chriſt may come, ſo to abide in the ſtock, that all your fruit may be from him: So to lye under the Lord, as that the ſtream of the Spirit of life may fall on thee; ſo to be implanted in the Lord, as to fetch life from him, and bring forth fruit to him. But try this courſe, ſubmit to the will of the Lord Jeſus, be nothing in thy own eyes; and if the Lord do give thee any thing, bleſſe the Lord for it; if any ſtrength againſt thy ſin, be vile in thy own eyes, and try and ſee if ye finde not the Kingdome of God, the glory of Heaven come into thy ſoul. Oh the light, life, prayers you might have, the heavenly conference ye will have together, that it would do a mans heart good to be with ſuch a Chriſtian; that thoſe that are with you might ſay, Verily God is in this man; verily there is joy in p. 49Heaven when the Saints keep in this frame.

4 When the ſoul yeelds thus to the will of Chriſt for Chriſts ends; for ſuch is the ſubtil wretchedneſſe of mens heart, that men would have Chriſt glorifie himſelf, that he may glorifie and honour them; like Simon Magus, that would give any money for Apoſtolical gifts, that he might be ſome tody that way alſo: Now if a man ſhall ſubmit, go to Chriſt for gifts and parts; that's to ſet up another King, to advance a mans ſelf; and ſo alſo ſin and the devil, and Chriſt muſt be made a ſervant for this end; He is now no King▪ like a Rebel that is not content, that thouſands of the Kings Subjects ſhould ſerve him, but he will have the Prince ſerve him alſo: Every man will ſay; this doth utterly overthrow the Kingdom of ſuch a Prince. When a man ſhall ſecretly fight againſt the Lord, and be for himſelf; and for the devil and ſin within; When a man ſhall make all the creatures ſerve him, the ſouldiers of his army; meat, drinke, and outward comforts, this is a marvellous thing; Ay, but when a man ſhall make Jeſus Chriſt, and God himſelf, and profeſſion of Chriſt; make theſe to ſerve him, to raiſe up his name; this the Lord takes very ill.

Only this I would adde; when the ſoul doth look at Chriſt with a ſingle eye, that Chriſt is ſweet and precious, and lyes under the bleſſed Spirit of Chriſt for that end; p. 50and now looks up to Chriſt, that he may ſubmit to him with a ſingle eye, that the name of Chriſt may be glorified by life, and death: true it is, ſelf will be in every duty, and ſo is contrary to the Lord in all, and not for the Lord. Yet though it be thus, there is another thing in the ſoul that is wholly for God and Chriſt: and hence ſeeks that he may do his work; his heart loves him, and ſo ſeeks him; and he begs it with many teares. Oh that my children might ſerve and love this God; nay, that all the world might ſee, and bleſſe, and admire this God, and the Lord inlargeth his heart herein, Pſal. 72.19. and truely now the Kingdome of God is come to thy ſoul. Rom. 5. 17. As ſin and Satan do reigne by death: So Jeſus Chriſt doth reigne by life to eternall life. Matth. 25.14. He is the true Subject that improves his Talents for the King: Chriſt will ſubdue all his to himſelf, Pſal. 66.3. Through the greatneſſe of thy power, ſhall thine enemies ſubmit themſelves to thee. Rom. 14.17. For the Kingdome of God is not in meat and drinke; but in righeouſneſſe and peace, and joy in the holy Ghoſt. When a man ſhall be picking fault with things, and this and that offends him; get ye gone, the Kingdome of God conſiſts not in that: But when the ſoul do's go to the Lord, & maintain his peace with God, and love to the people of God, and joy in the holy Ghoſt, p. 51here is the Kingdom of God; He that ſerves Chriſt in theſe things, the Kingdome of God is come into his ſoul.

He that thus ſubmits to the Lord Chriſt; he muſt firſt be a man wearie of his own counſels, and muſt loath himſelf: When the Lord hath wearied a man of his own wayes; he ſayes, What am I that the Lord ſhould ſhew me any mercy? And when the Lord calls him to any ſervice; Lord, What am I, that I ſhould now pray to thee? Bleſſe the Lord, when the Lord doth keep thy heart in this frame; but now when men will honour Chriſt, and yet Saul-like have Chriſt honour them: Many poor creatures they think it a credit to be in Church-fellowſhip, and they will ſeek to know Chriſt, that they may attaine Church-fellowſhip, and have honour; but know it, till the Lord do pull down thy baſe ends, and make thee loath thy ſelf, and ſo to ſubmit to his bleſſed will; truely till then, the Kingdome of God is not come to thy ſoul: Think of theſe things, for if the Kingdome of God be in our hearts, then look for good dayes; Brethren, let New-England be confident of it: but if this be gone from the ſoules and hearts of men and women in their ſeverall families and places; though they may have the outward Kingdome of Chriſt, yet the inward Kingdome being not ſet up: I ſay no more but what he ſaid, Go to Palestina p. 52and Bohemia. Certainly, if they had not caſt off the Lords government, they had nevever ſeen thoſe lamentable dayes; they had outward Ordinances; Oh, but here was the thing; the inward Kingdome of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and ſubjection to the will of the Lord Jeſus, and to be for the Lord Jeſus; this the Lord ſaw, was not in them, therefore the Lord hath left them to be lamentable ſpectacles. Therefore dear brethren, I do beſeech you, pray and beg for this Kingdome. Thou ſayeſt, I fall ſhort of this: Know this Kingdome of God is at firſt like a grain of Muſtard-ſeed, ſome little lying under the will of Chriſt; if it be in truth, bleſſed be God for it; The Kingdome of God is come, and the ſoul doth weep and mourne after the Lord, that the Lord would bring every thought into ſubjection.