Page images
PDF
EPUB

250 Gentiles not caft off at the fewes calling.Ch.8.

Pfal. 16.

II.

Rev.22. 17,20. Life

I.

This is the prayer of all the Churches; now that all things are accomplifhed, the which Prophets and Apoftles have fore-told, that Chrift would haften his laft coming as fwiftly and quickly, as the swifteft of the creatures, the Roe, or young Hart, to take them up with himfelfe into the higheft Heavens of the Mountaines of fpices, where are all manner of fpices, where are all manner of sweet and fragrant and pleasant things, even fulneffe of joy at Gods right hand for evermore. Thus is the end of the Revelations,The Spirit and the Bride, and every faithfull foule faith in like sense, Come Lord Fefus, come quickly.

The Ufe of this is, firft,to teach us that the Nations of the Gentiles fhall not be caft off from the fellowship of the Church, when the Jewes are called, as the Jewes were out of the Church, that *Rom.11. the Gentiles might be grafted in*; but even after their calling, new Churches of the Gentiles fhall be brought in; yea, their converfion fhall bring from the dead into the world:What shal the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? yea, the Gentiles fhall bring their glory to it, yea, the

19, 20.

Rom.11.

13,15.

Rev.21.

24.

curfed

251

55,60,61.

Ch.8. Faith gives communion with Chrift. curfed Canaanite fhall not be excluded from partaking in this bleffing. How Ezek. 16. much more may we hope then that these Churches of Chriftendome, which have fuffered fo much with Chrift, and for him, under the Dragon, the Beast, and the Turk, fhall partake with the glory of thefe Churches of the Jewes when the time shall come.

Secondly, this doth teach us how to use 2. attaine fellowship and holy familiarity with Chrift, even by faith, leaning upon him as our beloved; infidelity and doubting hinder our fweet communion with Chrift, labour wee therefore to abandon it from us.

Thirdly, wee may here fee the duty of ufe 3. inferiour Magiftrates what it is, even to fee that the Church be raised up under them, how much more to countenance and protect it with their fhadow, and to comfort it with the fruit of their sweet and wholefom lawes and examples?

Fourthly, this may ferve for tryall of ufe 4. the goodneffe of our affections to Chrift; if we thirst after his deep affection to us, and continuall remembrance of us, if we labour to fubdue our felves and all ours

to

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]

How to try our affections to Christ. Ch.8. to him, if wee jealously warre against all that which might impaire our love to him,if we burn up all our impediments,if no afflictions can difcourage us from him, if no profperity can shake our intire defires after him, we are then well affected to him as this Church is: If we defire to have fuch deep place in Christs heart, it is a plain figne Chrift hath a deep place in our hearts.

and con

Fifthly,this may fhew us a meanes how to confume all bafe and kitchin-loves and lufts in us, fet upon these fenfuall worldly things; grow up in this fpirituall love to Chrift, and it will fwallow up fume these leffer fires; the greater light will extinguish the leffer, as the Sun will put out the kitchin fire; fo this ftrong fire of Chrifts love in us will burn up,and eat out all luft in us.

Sixthly, this may comfort the true Church and children of God, in affurance of their perfeverance: if our love to him be fo unchangeable, that many waters of afflictions cannot quench it, nor floods of temptations drown it; if it be fo ftrong as death, that it will devour all before it, how much more is his love to Seventhly,

us.

Ch.8. Magiftrates to be as walls, why.

Seventhly, this lets us fee that the Churches that are well established themfelves, muft not contemne their weake neighbour-Churches, but take care, and ufe all good meanes for their establishment and growth: How farre fhould greater Churches be from cutting off the breafts, or breaking downe the walls of their small neighbour Churches

253

ufe 7.

Eighthly, this may teach Magiftrates ufe 8. to be as walls to keep out all diforder, stand up as a wall if there come in diforders,ftand fo high that they cannot come over; if any would goe a begging, keepe them in reftraine beggery, idleneffe, drunkenneffe, whordome, and profaneneffe,all evill courses; be as a wall, where on to reare a filver Palace for ever; whereon to lay the frame of a good motion, course, or order, to be taken for the publick good, any good motion made, or to be made, is as a wall to divide equally to all men their right.

Ninthly, this may teach Minifters to ufe 9. be as doores to open a wide entrance for the people to come to Chrift. not as thofe Scribes and Pharifees,

254

* Luk.12.

52.

ufe 10.

The duty of Magiftrates and Minifters.Ch.8. which Chrift complaines of *, which neither enter in themfelves, nor would fuffer others: fuch are rather Port-cullifes, yea, gates of Hell.

Tenthly, this may let us fee the duty of Magiftrates; if Minifters be doores, it fhould be their care to hemme them in with boards of Cedar, to provide for their fecurity: it is the duty of every Magiftrate and member to hemme them in, that no enemy may be able to oppose thein,but that they may be without feare *1 Cor. among them, as it is *, See that Timothy be without feare among you.

[ocr errors]

16.10.

ufe 11.

Use 12.

Eleventhly,this may let us fee,a Church enjoying a faithfull Miniftery, and a Chriftian Magiftracy, enjoyeth a fpeciall favour from Chrift.

Twelfthly, this lets us fee what great care Chrift will one day have of his Church, though Lyons, Dragons, and Beares have broken in upon the Church to devoure it; and befides many Foxes have fought to fubvert it, and to cut the efinewês of it afunder, yet when Chrift

fhall take the government of it into his hands, there fhall be no enemy to offer violence to it: When the great Levia

than

« PreviousContinue »