Sermons Preached from Luke 11:21-22, Title page 1 – Sermon 1

Sermons Preached from Luke 11:21-22 · Title page 1 – Sermon 1

SERMONS Preached at the Lecture in Boſton, from Luke XI. 21, 22. SHEWING

I. That the Soul of Man is a noble Palace which the Great GOD built for Himſelf.

II. That it is now become as a Gariſon or ſtrong Hold, which Satan keeps againſt GOD.

III. That there is a wretched Peace and curſed Quiet, which the carnal heart lies in under Satans Tyranny.

IV. That the Victorious SAVIOUR reſcues whom He pleaſes, and will reſcue all His Choſen, from Satans Power and Tyranny.

To which is added, A Diſcourſe from Pſalm CXXII. I.

I was glad when they ſaid unto me, let us go into the Houſe of the LORD.

By BENJAMIN COLMAN, Paſtor of a Church in Boſton.

BOSTON: Printed by B. Green, for S. Gerriſh & D. Henchman, Sold at their Shops. 1717.

SERMON, 1. That the Soul of Man is a Noble Palace which the Great GOD built for Himſelf.

LUKE XI. 21, 22.

When a ſtrong man armed keepeth his. Palace, his Goods are in Peace: But when a ſtronger than he ſhall come upon him and overcome him, He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his ſpoils.

IN the Content our bleſſed Saviour is anſwering the blaſphemous Imputation of the Phariſees, who charg'd Him with caſting out Devils by vertue of a Compact and Confederacy with Beelzebub, the prince of Devils. Our LORD argues the Abſurdity and perve… Malice of that Objection; and he … copious and cogent in the Argument. A w… p. 2and good Man, whether Elias or even Moſes, would have been ready to think ſuch a ſpiteful Contradiction, not worthy of any Confutation, except the vengeance of Eternal fire to fall from Heaven on the Blaſphemers: but the Meek and Merciful Lamb of God endured this Contradiction of Sinners againſt Himſelf, and tried to convince them by Reaſonings that were plain and irreſiſtible; at leaſt for their ſakes that ſtood by he did it, that this Venom of Hell might not enter into them.

He argues with them that ſurely Satan would not caſt out Satan, and that a Kingdom divided againſt it ſelf can never ſtand; that it muſt needs be by the ſinger of God that He caſt out Devils, and that therefore the Kingdom of God was ſenſibly now come unto them: that it was Evident that He had a power over the Devil, and was Stronger than he and came to deſtroy his works; and therefore that He ought to be acknowledged by them to come from God, and as ſuch to be ſubmitted unto.

This He illuſtrates in the Words of my Text by comparing the Poſſeſſion that Satan had of the Bodies and Souls of many Miſerables, unto a ſtrong Man armed keeping his Palace in peace and quiet; till there comes upon him One ſtronger than he and overcomes him, and ſpoils his houſe after he had diſarm'd him. When a ſtrong man armed keepeth his Palace, &c.

In which Words we have,

p. 31. A Repreſentation of the Devils quiet poſſeſſion of Miſerable Perſons: The ſtrong man armed keepeth his Palace and his goods are in peace. Now it appears by the Context.

1. That Satan is this ſtrong man armed. He is a Spirit of Mighty Strength and Power, and he is arm'd againſt God and us to do what miſchief and hurt he can. On Earth there is not his like, and he is a King over all the Children of Pride. He is only under the reſtraints and check of Almighty God, and and of His Ho… Angels which remain in the perfection of the… Strength; and if it were not for this Bleſſed and Superiour Power Satan would make a wretched World know his ſtrength daily. We read of this wicked Power in Arms, and who he fights with: Rev. 12.7. And there …as war in Heaven; the Dragon and his Angels warring againſt Michael and his Angels This is the ſtrong man armed that dares to make War with the Lamb; the Lion of Hell againſt the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

2. The Palace that he keeps poſſeſſion of is the Hearts of the Sinful Children of Men. This he has uſurp'd. God built it for Himſelf and worthy of Himſelf. Sin betray'd it, by defiling it into Satans hands. There he keeps, rules and works; even in the Children of diſobedience. Here he lords, and tyraniſes: and does what he can to fortifye the Soul againſt Chriſt, and keep him out of it. It was once the Peaceful Palace of God, p. 4now 'tis the ſtrong hold and Gariſon of a Rebel-tyrant and Out-law, in a ſtate of War.

3. Satan quietly poſſeſſes the Impenitent Soul as if it were his Property. His Goods are in Peace. He calls it his Palace & his Goods. He pleads a long quiet poſſeſſion, and the right of Conqueſt, if not Conſent too. The Sinners Mind and Heart and Will are his; tamely yielded to him, wickedly uſed for him. Satan rules without controul, his Luſts are done, and his Intereſt ſerv'd; and all the Powers of the Soul are employ'd by him in his Service. They are his Goods; and the Sinner is eaſy and unconcern'd about the matter, is ſecure and merry, ſervile and obedient, likes his Maſter and loves his Service; has no ſenſe of miſery, nor fear of danger. Thus the ſtrong man armed keepeth his palace, and his goods are in peace: A juſt repreſentation of the Devils quiet poſſeſſion of miſerable Souls.

II. There follows a more pleaſing account of CHRISTS Reſcuing the poor Soul out of Satans hands. But when a ſtronger than He ſhall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour, &c. So then,

1. There is a stronger than the ſtrong man armed, even Chriſt If we ſpeak of Strength, lo he is ſtrong! Stronger than all is our Father in Heaven: and the Mediator there hath a P…ion divided to Him with the ſtrong. …St… is … Lord God that Judges.

2. … ſ…ll …me upon the Enemy. The certainty p. 5of His doing ſo ſeems expreſs'd, and the Manner of it by a way of ſurprize; ſuddenly and unexpectedly; in His Peace and Security, when all is quiet and he is leaſt fear'd; when the Enemy thinks all is his own for ever. His hand ſhall find out all his Enemies.

3. When he comes he will overcome. The Victory will fall to CHRIST. None ever exalted or hardned himſelf againſt God and proſpered. Michael prevails.

Now the Evidences of this Victory are two.

1. He taketh from him all his Armour wherein be truſted. What is that? What is Satans Armoury in which he puts his confidence, accounting himſelf ſure of the Sinner? And how does Chriſt take it away? Why, He breaks the power of Sin and Corruption in the Soul, (ſayes Mr. Henry) he rectifies its Miſtakes, delivers it from its Prejudices. When the Eyes are opened, and the Heart is humbled and changed, then Satans Armour is taken away. "The Sword is firſt wreſted out of Satans hand, and then the Scepter. Satan is bound and caſt out himſelf. Satans Armour‖‖Pool in loc. wherein he truſted was his keeping men in darkneſs, blinding them with Error and Superſtition, ſeducing them into the love of ſinful practices: Now Chriſt takes away this his Armour by ſcattering the darkneſs expelling Error and Superſtition, …ching the way of God in truth, and p. 6bringing Souls into the love of it: taking away the chains of guilt and deſtroying the Power of Sin. Thus Souls are turned from darkneſs to light, and from the Power of Satan unto GOD.

2. He divideth his ſpoils; or as it is in another place; He ſpoils his Houſe. This is eaſie to do after the Enemy is overcome and diſarm'd. Upon Victory follows the taking the Spoils. The Conqueror poſſeſſes for himſelf the Palace, which he has taken, and from whence he has driven the Foe; or where he has taken him Captive. The Endowments of our Mind and Body, made uſe of before in the Service of Satan; our Powers and Intereſts ſo before devoted and debaſed, are theſe ſpoils. Spoils wherein Satan once prided him, and ſpoils which God values and which ſhould be Sacred to Him for ever. This is the Conquerors Reward, which he hangs up in the Temple of God for an Everlaſting Triumph: Col. 2.15. And having ſpoiled Principalities and Powers, he made a ſhew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. His Croſs.

Having thus at large opened this Copious Text, I would offer from it theſe Four Obſervations.

I. That the Soul of Man is a Palace which the Great GOD built for Himſelf.

II. That it is now become as a Gariſon, or ſtrong hold which Satan keeps againſt God.

III. That there is a wretched Peace and curſed Quiet which the carnal heart lies in under p. 7Satans Tyranny.

IV. That the Victorious Saviour reſcues whom He pleaſes, and will reſcue all His choſen from Satans Power and Tyranny.

Of theſe in their Order, as God ſhall Enable; and of the Firſt at this time.

DOCTRINE, I. That the Soul of Man is a noble Palace, which GOD has built for Himſelf.

This is the Palace which the Text ſpeaks of; even Mans Soul, and tho' it is not here ſpoken of as the Palace of God, but much the contrary; yet from the beginning and Originally it was His only. Every houſe has ſome Builder, but He that built all things in God: and for whom did He or could He make any thing, and every thing, but for Himſelf: for his pleaſure they are and were Created. But above other things God made his Rational and Intelligent Creatures for his own poſſeſſion, uſe and propriety. This is common to Angels and Men; Heaven is His Throne, and the Earth His Footſtool; but Angels the Inhabitants of Heaven, and Men the People of His Paſture Earth, were His own deſigned Habitation and Reſidence. He made both one and other in His own Image, in His likeneſs. The Realms above He prepared for Angels; this Earth a Paradiſe for Man, whom He placed an Imbodied Angel upon it, a Celeſtial Mind clothed in fleſh, crowned with p. 8glory and honour; and he walked with God, God viſited him daily and converſed with him, yea dwelt in him. This was Mans First State; He was the Reſidence and Manſion of the Creator here upon Earth.

For what is a Palace? but ſome Dwelling of a Prince or King, which he builds for himſelf, for the Honour of his Majeſty, and to ſhew the Riches of his Kingdom. He builds it ſpacious and large to keep his Court there, and ſpares no Art and Coſt to render it Magnificent and Sumptuous. Such now is the Creature Man, taking Body and Soul together. He is a Stately and curious, ample and rich Building of God. The King of Glory pitch'd this Tabernacle upon Earth. The Body he form'd & rais'd out of the duſt, and breath'd into his Noſtrils the breath of Life and made him this living Soul. The Body is a wonderful Structure, and was a much more Elegant piece of Workmanſhip at the firſt: but the Spirit therein tho' Inviſible is a Creature of far more admirable and beautiful Powers. O the divine Art and Power, the Wiſdom and Glory of God, Conſpicuous and Aſtoniſhing in producing the one and the other!

In ſhort;

If a King builds — What leſs than a Palace? And where a King dwells — What is it but a Palace? If then God made Man to reſide in him, We are the Palace of the Great King.

And what find you in the Palaces of Kings here on Earth, which is not to be found in the Soul of Man.

p. 91. Here God meant to Reign and Keep His …. Here he Erected his Throne and Sea… of Judgment, in the Heart and Conſcience, Here he appointed his Servants to ſtand in his Preſence and Miniſter to him, even the … Powers & every Affection of the Soul. Here he gives Audience, and receives the humble Addreſſes of a loyal and dutiful Mind, and ſtoops to Converſe with his Servants. The Kingdom of God is within you.

2. Mans Soul is a Palace for Space and Amplitude. It is larger than the Circuit of the Heavens, whereon the ETERNAL rides. It ſcorns to be confined within the body or to be bounded by the Earth, or by the viſible Heavens. It can compaſs the Ʋniverſe in a Moment, and one of its ſingle Tho'ts is … than that: for I think of Him that is … MENSE, whom all worlds can not o… tain. In this Idea, this adoring Tho't … dwells. Here is a Palate for him … than the Heavens of Heavens. This … a living Image of his Immenſity, and … Space is at laſt a dead and dull one. … among the Orbs of light is the … brighteſt Body, and nothing is … for beauty and velocity and ben … the Globes which it ſhines upon; but I … unto you this Eye and Light of the World … a ſmall and dark and ſingle Attome, … to the vaſter Powers of a Batimal … of Tho'ts can in … and a brighter …ay … p. 10Throne of God, and there…ly Adoring, … delighting in and enjoying the Father of theſe Lights, and the Former of Spirits.

3. Again, In Kings Palaces do you look for rich Furniture? how rich are the Endowments of the Humane Mind? What are the carved Works and Gildings of the Rooms of State? What are the coſtly Pictures of the Galleries of Kings? What are the Tapeſtry and Imbroider'd Hangings, their Tables of Silver and veſſels of Gold, the peculiar Treaſures of the Provinces ſubject to them; compar'd to the Adorning and Magnificent furniture of a Humane Mind; the Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledge and Largeneſs of heart which their Great Miniſters and Counſellors are adorn'd with, and without which Kings themſelves do not ſhine in their Palaces and on their Thrones. For Inſtance, Nebuchadnezzars Reaſon and Princely Endowments for Empire was a far greater Glory than Great Babylon which he had built for the Houſe of his Kingdom: Witneſs the day when the God of Heaven ſtruck him for his Pride and took away his Princely Powers, and they drove him from among men; unfit any longer for his own Palace, he dwelt among the Beasts of his Park: But at the end of his dayes his Underſtanding returned to him, and he lift up his Eyes to Heaven, and bleſſed the Most High GOD his Maker and his Judge, and prais'd and honour'd Him that Liveth for ever & ever. Now his Brightneſs return'd to him, his p. 11Counſellers and his Lords again ſought to him and excellent Majesty was added to him, Dan. 4. ult. Verily, here was a ſight much more. Magnificent than proud Babylon with all its Towers and Palaces could afford: Here was Majeſty in its Excellency; A Wiſe & Mighty Emperor Contemplating, Adoring, Magnifying and Extolling the Immenſe and Eternal Majeſty of Heaven; before whom the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing. This Princely Humane Mind now look'd vaſtly greater in an Act of Reaſon and Worſhip. than ever He had done before in Governing the Empire, or receiving the Homages of Princes and Provinces. Draw this to the life, and let it for ever hang in the Palaces of Princes. Shall I go on and ſay,

4. In Kings Palaces do we look for Cleanneſs and Purity, that there be no duſt or ſoil to be ſeen there; for they that be in Kings Palaces go in ſoft Raiment, and every Apartment there will be ſwept and garniſhed: Such was the Soul and Body of Man as He came out of his Makers hands; He was in the Likeneſs of GOD very Holy and Good, without the leaſt ſpot or ſtain, the Glory of the Lord filled the Houſe, which he had juſt finiſh'd and Conſecrated: Man was full of Grace and Truth: the Glory of the Only-Begotten was to be ſeen in the meaſure proper to ſuch a Creature; Whoſe Delights were with the Sons of Men before Man was Created, or ever the Earth was.

And indeed without this Original Holineſs p. 12Man could not have been deſigned the Dwelding of GOD: for what Communion has Light with darkneſs, or the Temple of God with Belial? But now, Man being made a Holy as well as a Living Soul, He was therefore neceſſarily under a religious Conſecration to God from the firſt Moment of his Exiſtence: and his Poſterity in Mans Primitive State of Innocence & Sanctity could have been nothing elſe but ſo many Lively Stones in one Spiritual houſe; a Holy Building and a Holy Prieſthood, as Believers now are again, to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices.

Thus the Palace becomes a Temple, properly ſpeaking: A Dwelling Sacred to God: not barely the Manſion of a great King, but a Houſe Dedicated to the Worſhip of the ETERNAL GOD-HEAD the Holy One. Such Man was made; His Heart an Altar for the Holy God; Spiritual Exerciſes and Holy Acts of Devotion and Obedience, the Sacrifices on that Altar holy Affections the Fire from Heave… …ng on the Sacrifice, in the Smoke whereof the Soul would (Angellike) have been for ever Aſcending; and in all this the Underſtanding and the Will, the trading and commanding Faculties of the Soul, were to do the part of the Lords Prieſts, and to be the Offerers.

Man being holy, God was Converſable with him, and indeed made him for Communion with Himſelf: He was made to know God, to love him and delight in him; to obey and p. 13ſerve Him, and finally for ever to Enjoy Him: Here and hereafter to live bleſſed in the favour, care and love of God towards him. He made Man with a Capacity for and an Inclination after Communion with Himſelf; and doubtleſs therefore was he ready to apply Himſelf to Man, and to communicate unto him in a way ſuitable to the Nature which he had given him: and could not fail "of doing ſo unleſs Man laid ſome Obſtruction "in the way. It remains therefore only to ſay,

5. That the Creature Man was in his Original and firſt Deſign a Dwelling worthy of the Eternal & Inviſible King. Surely he would not make an Intelligent and Immortal Mind that ſhould not be ſo! And I may ſay, ſurely Eternal Wiſdom & Goodneſs could not make 'em unworthy of his own Habitation. For however one Rational Being may be of an Order a little lower than another, yet the loweſt muſt be not unworthy of Himſelf. For if not unworthy of his own Making then certainly not of his own gracious Converſe and Abode. The Wiſdom of God could not Deſign Man better than he was made, nor the Power of God make him better. As for God his Work is perfect: and ſo he ſaid of it when he had made Man upon the Earth. Wherefore,

1. "The Father of Spirits plac…d a Spirit in Man ſo agreeable to his own Spiritual Nature, on purpoſe that he might converſe with him. The Inſpiration of the Almighty gave him underſtanding for this very end. God his p. 14Maker taught him more than the beaſts of the Earth, and made him wiſer than the fowls of heaven that he might enquire and ask after Him. Where ſhould the Eternal Mind and Spirit dwell without Himſelf, but in ſome Immortal Spirit, Mind and Reaſon of his own Creating? The Moſt High dweldeth not in Temples made with hands: What Houſe can we build Him for the Place of his Reſt? truly none: but he has built Himſelf a proper Dwelling in the Spirit of Man, the Humane Mind.

2. The preſent Ruines of the Soul of Man ſhow what a Structure it once was. Travellers be…vail the Deſolation of many famous Cities and Palaces, the Heads of Mighty Empires and Royal Seats of Mighty Princes. Yet in their Ruines they often find ſtupendous Marks of their Antient Greatneſs. So whoſo is wiſe and will obſerve his own Soul, tho' he cannot but find a vaſt Deſolation upon it, yet in its preſent Weakneſs and Corruption he muſt needs perceive what a glorious Workmanſhip, what a Superiour Creature it once was. When theſe Powers were perfect; when this Mind was full of light and knowledge, when this Will was ſubject to that light, and theſe Affections all regular, and obedient to it, and Conſcience full of Peace and Joy in its own Integrity; what a Lovely and Venerable Form was this! how did it ſhine in Paradiſe, the favourite Creature, Vice-gerent & meet Repreſentative of GOD p. 15here below; the Delight of God, the love of Angels its next Kindred, and commanding the Reverence and Homage of the Inferiour Creatures by an External Raye of Majeſty and Beauty. All this is yet as plainly to be perceived within our ſelves that it once was, as when we have paſs'd by demoliſh'd Houſes, that were ſometimes Magnificent Structures; we look on the pieces of ragged Walls yet ſtanding, the ſtrong Foundation, its breadth and wide Circumference, the broken pieces of curious carved work, and ſay, — What a Sumptuous Building was this once! and how meet for ſome Princes Reſidence!

But then again,

3. The Rebuilding and Reſtoring of this Dwelling and Temple at ſuch a vaſt Expence as the Blood of CHRIST, ſhews what it was in its firſt deſign, and yet is when rebuilt in the ſight of God. When David drew the Plan of the Temple he had deſign'd, in doing which the Infinite Mind and Divine Artichec guided him; he at the ſame time gather'd an Immenſe Sum of Riches, the ſpoils of many Countries in proportion to the vaſt Fabrick. He that had ſeen the Treaſure amaſs'd and devoted, and counted the Sum, would have wonder'd how it ſhould ever be expended; and it may be they that ſaw it finiſht might wonder as much whence the Riches could be gather'd that ſhould raiſe and adorn that coſtly Pile. Yet this is but a ſmall Image of the Infinite Price which the GOD of Heaven p. 16has expended on the Repair and Rebuilding of his Palace in our Souls. For at what price ſhall we be able to value the leaſt drop of the Blood of his own Son! For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as ſilver and gold, but with the precious blood of Chriſt as of a Lamb without blemiſh, who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the World, 1 Pet. 1.18. If we believe the Eternal Godhead, and the infinite Dignity and Glory of our Saviour, what a price are we bought with. Acts 20.28. The Church of God which he has purchaſed with his own blood. Heb. 9.14 The blood of Christ who thro' the Eternal Spirit offered up himſelf without ſpot to God. i. e. His own Eternal Godhead gave the infinite price to the Offering and Sacrifice. A price which Angels cannot Eſtimate, nor are thoſe Hoſts of glorious Spirits to be weigh'd againſt it, nor the World, which it might well purchaſe, for He Himſelf made them all.

But there yet remains one more Particular to be conſidered in the Argument before us, and I ſhall add no more, for the Tho'ts of Men or Angels can riſe no higher,

And that is,

4. Let us view this Palace of the Bleſſed God, the Humane Nature, in the Perſon of Chriſt, God-Man, Emmanuel, God with us. God manifeſt in our fleſh, tabernacling in a Body of Gods preparing for him, the Second Adam, the Lord from Heaven, in whom we are made p. 17Alive; the ſingular work of God, conceived by the HOLY GHOST, the promis'd Seed of the Woman, born of a Virgin, the power of the Higheſt Overſhadowing, whereby the Firſt begotten was bro't into the World. The Commandment came forth at his Birth to the Spirits above, Let all the Angels of God worſhip Him; and down came the Multitudes of the Heavenly Host; they ſaw and ador'd and Sang — Glory to God in the Higheſt! They bro't us the glad Tidings of Great Joy, — To you is born the Saviour, and they yet deſire to pry into the Ineffable thing.

In him dwelt the Fulneſs of the God-head Bodily, in him all the Treaſures of Wiſdom of Knowledge, of Holineſs & Righteouſneſs; for He received not the Spirit by Meaſure: He was Fairer than the Children of Men, Grace was Pour'd into his Lips, yea the bright Angels of God were dark, and the Heavens not clean in compariſon of him; He was the LORD that was lookt for by them that were waiting for Redemption in Iſrael, and he came into his Temple, and by his divine Preſence made the Glory of the Second Temple greater than the Glory of the Former: for in the firſt Temple he only gave a ſign and token of his preſence between the Cherubims in a Shechinah, or Body of light; but into this Second Temple he came Perſonally and Bodily, a GOD Incarnate; and being found in faſhion as a Man, but Eternally in the Form of GOD and without robbery Equal with God; He Worſhipt, p. 18he Obeyed, he fulfilled all Righteouſneſs in our place and on our account; yielding ſuch an Obedience to the honour of God, and to repair the diſhonours which the Sin of Man had done to the Great God, as Adam and his Poſterity if they had all ſtood in their firſt Purity and Perfection could never have been able to render to the Majeſty of Heaven. For as the Altar Sanctifies the Gift, ſo the Divine Nature in the Perſon of the Redeemer did his Obedience to the Law; and as thouſands of Millions of things finite put together can never make any thing like an Infinite, ſo all the Obedience of all Creatures for ever paid to God could never equal one Act of Obedience and Worſhip from Him who was Himſelf GOD: But moreover, the Son of God in our Nature humbled himſelf yet further and became Obedient unto Death, even the death of the Croſs, taſting death for every Man, and bearing the Curſe of the Law: For it became Him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many ſons unto glory to make the Captain of our ſalvation perfect thro' ſuffering; for both he that ſanctifieth and they that are ſanctifyed are all of one; for which cauſe He is not Aſhamed to call them Brethren: — For as the Children are partakers of fleſh and blood, He alſo Himſelf took part of the ſame, that thro' Death he might deſtroy him that had the power of Death, that is the Devil: — For verily He took not on him the Nature of Angels, but the ſeed of Abraham.

p. 19And now in this very Nature, being Riſen from the dead, and being by the Right hand of God Exalted, this ſame glorious JESUS is ſet down on the right hand of the Majeſty on High, in the Glory which he had with the Father before the World began; far above all Principalities and Powers and Might, and Dominion, and every Name that is named, not only in Heaven but on Earth.

Now let us but conſider this Great Thing! this Palace and Temple of the Eternal God. head in the Man Chriſt Jeſus! What was Adam in his Paradiſe to this glorious Perſon! What was the Glory of God in the burning Buſh, or between the Cherubims to this glorified Jeſus? What was the ſhining of Moſes face, or the flames of Elijahs Zeal before this greater Glory! To which of the Angels ſaid he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee! Has the great God ever taken the Nature of Angels ſo near to Himſelf? No verily. Here then let us ſee the Glory of Humane Nature in the Perſon of the Redeemer. God has ſeen meet to exalt and dignifye it; to do all this for it and in it! To make it His dwelling. His Temple, and the Light and Glory of Heaven it ſelf: for the Lamb is the Light thereof. Well therefore did our Saviour turn off their Admiting Eyes who obſerved to Him the wonderful Stones of the Material Temple, and he pointed them to his own bleſſed Body, ſaying, Deſtroy this Temple of God and I will raiſe it up in three p. 20dayes! Twas done, and in it God reigns and his Glory reſides there for ever and ever. And thus it appears that the Creature Man was in his Original and firſt deſign, and is in his Reſtoration and Recovery, a dwelling worthy of the Eternal and Inviſible King.

I might add ſome other Reaſons, why God has made his Rational and Intelligent Creatures for his own Dwelling; Namely, from his Delight and Pleaſure in his own Glorious Workmanſhip, and in his Image on them: for the making his Creature happy and bleſſed by Communion with Himſelf: And for the diſplay of his own Glory, Perfection and Happineſs in the Creature: Let us make Man in our Image, after our likeneſs, and let them have dominion over the fiſh of the ſea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

USE.

But I paſs to the Ʋſe and Improvement of the Doctrine; as the time may allow me.

1. See the Dignity and Honour of Man! God made him a little lower than the Angels, and crowned him with glory and honour. But in this he was ever as the Angels, that he was made the Living Temple of the Deity as well as they. And to this his Original honour he is reſtored by a Redeemer: Rev. 21. p. 213, 5. And I heard a great voice out of heaven ſaying, Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and be will dwell with them, and they ſhall be his people, and God himſelf ſhall be with them, and be their God. And he that ſat upon the Throne ſaid, Behold I make all things new.

What an honourable State is this? as Mr. How excellently ſayes upon the Argument; and what an excellent Creature does it imply to be Immediately Sacred to GOD and his own Converſe! a Soul receptive of the Deity! able to entertain God by Knowledge and Contemplation, by Reverence and Love, by Adoration and Praiſe … a moſt delectable and pleaſant State to be ſeparated to this Entertainment of the Divine Preſence.

2. Let us ſee and admire the Condeſc…nti… of God to Duſt and Aſhes. Will God in v… deed dwell with Man upon Earth? behold Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee? Lord, what is Man that thou art mindful of him! What a low and mean and narrow, nay and dirty place are we become, to be ever again honoured with the Indwelling of the Divine Glory! Behold the Heavens are not clean in his eyes, and he chargeth this Angels with folly; how much leſs on them that dwell in houſes of clay, whoſe foundation is in the duſt, Job 4.19. This Grace of G… to us may well be in our Eyes His brighte… Glory. And thus God ſpeaks of it Himſelf: Iſai. 53.15. For thus ſaith the High and Lofty p. 22One that Inhabits Eternity, I dwell in the High and Holy Place, with him alſo that is of a humble ſpirit.

3. What a curſed thing muſt Sin be, which defiles the Temple, and layes the Palace of God in ruine…, and unfits as to be his Dwelling. God the rightful Lord and Owner is turn'd out of His own Houſe; for Evil cannot dwell with Him. Not only is the Magnificence deſtroyed, and Man come ſhort of the glory of God; but his Temple is turn'd into a Stew, and Stye, and a Cage of every unclean thing. They are altogether become filthy, the habitation of Devils and the hold of every foul ſpirit.

And here I cannot but Entertain you with a moſt affecting ſtrain of Meditation, on this deſolation of the Temple of God in Man, from the Pen of the late Excellent and Venerable Mr. How.

"Here God once dwelt, but He is now retir'd and gone! The Lamps are extinct! the Altar overturn'd! the Light and Love are now vaniſht, which did the one ſhine with ſo heavenly brightneſs, the other burn with ſo pious fervour. The Golden Candleſtick is diſplaced, to make room for the Throne of the Prince of darkneſs! the Sacred Incenſe, which ſent rowling up in Clouds its rich Perfumes, are exchang'd for a poiſnous helliſh Vapour, and inſtead of a ſweat ſavour there is a ſtench! The comly Order of the Houſe is turn'd into Confuſion, and the Beauties of holineſs into noiſome Impurities, the Houſe of Prayer into p. 23a den of Thieves! and that of the worſt and moſt horrid kind, Sacriledge! What have not the Enemies done wickedly in the Sanctuary!

Thus He.

4. Is the Soul of Man a noble Palace which God built for himſelf, See the Reaſon then why God has done ſo much for our Redemption. For what King would not recover his Palace out of the hands of Traitors and Rebels, that had Perfidiouſly ſeiz'd upon it? And what Expence could be tho't too much, or what Force to imploy unto this End? In the Man Chriſt Jeſus God prepared to Himſelf a moſt perfect Temple, and the glory of the latter Houſe (the Second Adam) was Greater than the Glory of the firſt; For the firſt Man Adam was made a living Soul, the laſt Adam was made a quickning Spirit: In him we are again the Building of God, a Spiritual Houſe, and an Habitation of God thro' the Spirit. But when we contemplate the Only-begotten of the Father coming down from Heaven and Tabernacling in our fleſh, for a time, and upon his return to Heaven, when we conſider of the Deſcent of the Eternal Spirit of Grace to make His Abode here for ever; we muſt needs Enquire for what Great End and Purpoſe the Amazing Undertaking is? And here we find it —: 'tis to Repair and Rebuild the Palace of the Great God on Earth! To reſtore this fair part of the Creation of God! To Renew the face of the Earth, by reſtoring his loſt Image in us! To this End it pleaſed the Father that in p. 24Chriſt ſhould all fulneſs dwell, by him to reconcile all things to himſelf: And to this End is He Aſcended that He might receive Gifts for Men, even for the Rebellious, That the Lord God might dwell among them, Pſal. 68.18.

5. If the Soul of Man was originally deſigned, and is recovered by Grace, to be the Palace and Dwelling of God; then no doubt Good Men ſhall dwell with God, and God in them in the Life to come. There are Habitations for them in Heaven, Many Manſions in the Fathers Houſe which Chriſt is gone to prepare for them, and will take them to; but there they ſhall be (together with the Angels) themſelves the Manſions and Habitation of God. We know that if our Earthly Houſe of this Tabernacle be diſſolved, we have a Building of God, an Houſe not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. There we know that the Redeemed are before the Throne of God, and ſerve Him Day and Night in his Temple, and He that ſitteth on the Throne dwells among them.

6. And laſtly; If the Soul of Man be a noble Palace which the Great God has built for Himſelf, Learn then the Duty thou oweſt to the bleſſed God. Restore Him the poſſeſſion of thy Soul; which is his own, for he made it and gave it Being and all its Endowments. Yea He has alſo bought it and dearly paid for it. p. 25Wherefore I beſeech you Brethren by the Mercies of God that ye preſent your Bodies a living ſacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reaſonable ſervice. Let not Satan keep poſſeſſion of you, neither yield ye your Members as Inſtruments of unrighteouſneſs unto ſin, but yield your ſelves unto God, as thoſe that are alive from the dead; and your members as inſtruments of righteouſneſs unto God. Let us ſay with the Redeemed Iſraelites, He is my God and I will prepare him an Habitation, my fathers God and I will exalt him. Yea let us ſwear unto the Lord and vow unto the mighty GOD, ſurely I will not come up into the tabernacle of my Houſe, nor go up into my Bed; I will not give ſleep unto mine Eyes, nor ſlumber to mine eye-lids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an Habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. We have ſolemnly Conſecrated our whole ſelves, Soul and Body, to the Lord; and we ſhould with Great ſolemnity be often renewing the Act of Self-dedication.

Wherefore, Live as one holy and devoted. Let nothing common or unclean come into the holy Place. Remember what thou art, Know thy ſelf, and how dreadful is the conſideration! This is no other than the Houſe of God, and Gate of Heaven. Kings are ſerved in their Palaces, with great Reſpect and Alacrity; and God is to be Worſhip'd in his Temple with Reverence and Godly fear. So imploy all thy Powers to the Glory of God with the utmoſt p. 26devotion. Turn aſide, with Moſes, to ſee this Great Sight, God in the Buſh, and that not conſumed; and let an awful Reverence ſieze thy Soul, for Thou and the Place where thou ſtandeſt is holy Ground.