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THE TOMB-STONE, AND A RARE SIGHT.
LONDON, Printed by Tho: Roycroft, for Edw: Dod, and Nath: Ekins, and are to be ſold at the Gunn in Ivie Lane, 1653.
THE TOMB-STONE, OR, A broken and imperfect Monument, of that Worthy Man (who was juſt and perfect in his Generations;) Mr.
JOHN CARTER, Paſtor first of Bramford, and laſt of Belſted in S ƲFFOLK.
Erected above eighteen years after his deceaſe:
BY His unworthy Son JOHN CARTER, Preacher of the Goſpell, and as yet ſojourning in the City of NORWICH.
PROV. 10. 7.
The memory of the Juſt ſhall be bleſſed.
London, Printed in the Year, 1653.
HERE under this stone lyeth hid a Rich treaſure, The Precious Dust of that holy man, that burning, and shining Light Mr Iohn Carter: first Pastor of Bramford, and afterwards of Belsted in Suff: With Esther, his Faithfull Conſort, both of them Waiting for a bleſſed Resurrection.
7.
I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the Faith.8.
Henceforth there is layd up for me a Crown of righteouſneſſe, which the Lord, the righteous Judge ſhall give mee at that day: and not to me onely; but unto them alſo that love his appearing.
ATYS, the Sonne of Croeſus the Rich King, was dumbe in his Child-hood, & ſo continued many years: he was never
Cyrus enter'd Sardis, and then, the Child ſeeing a common Souldier running upon his Father with a drawn ſword to kill him, brake forth into violent and articulate ſpeech, O man, kill not Croeſus! So that he, who till that time lived mute to himſelfe, then became a cleare ſpeaker for the ſaving of his Father.
This, Madam! in a ſence, is my very caſe. I had thought to have been mute in this kind for ever, and never to have ſpoken againe by my Pen in Print. Though many, and aLife, with Golden letters, and his praiſe ſhal be for ever in the Goſpel; but that his remembrance amongſt men (after this Generation) might have beene cut off by devouring time; to ſave the memory of my Father alive, I break ſilence.
I annex to his life, a piece of mine own. The reaſon why I do ſo, and
this Sermon rather then any other, it is not for any worth that I apprehend in it, but be
Why I preſume to tender this homely peece to your Honour, I ſhal humbly give a ſhort account; Partly for my Fathers ſake. Ioſeph, to hoIacob, brought him, and ſet him before the King. Give me leave alſo, Elect Lady! to bring my Reverend Fa
Alſo, becauſe the Subiect is ſoe ſuitable to your Honour all the way. Your Ladyſhip loves the ſweet perthe Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, you bear him in your heart, and embrace him with the Arms of your precious faith. My Naile, and Wheele, I preſented to your Ladyſhip out of du
Paul ſaid concerning his Corinthians, ſo I of your Ladyſhip. Madam! you are in my heart; Chriſt lives in your Ho
Finally, As Saint Paul writ to Philemon, Thou oweſt to mee even thine owne ſelfe; In a like phraſe I may ſpeake to your Lady
WHen Saint Paul called to remembrance the
Lois firſt: Hee was eaſily perſwaded that the ſame dwelt in Timothy the Grand-Child alſo. So true
Now to the end that any of you, who (being of the elder ſort) have received any Godly Principles, immediately from your Grand-Father and Grand-Mother, when they were a
It is, I confes, but an imperfect and blind delineation of ſo de
It was the ſaying of a learned and godly Divine unto his chilHow will you looke me in the face, before the dreadfull Tribunall of Jeſus Chriſt, if any of you appeare before me then, in an unregenerate condition? How will aWe have Abraham to our Father: but Chriſt ſaid to them aYee are of your Father the Devill, for the luſt of your Father ye wil do. Theſe things I write, not that I ſuſpect you, much les condemn you, (Of many of you I am conto walke accurately. The bleſſing of my Fathers God be upon you al.
Accept in good part this poor remembrance, from
EVen Nature teacheth us viz. Bramford: as alviz. Belſted. To both thoſe
Brethren! My hearts deſire, and prayer to God for you, is, that you may bee ſaved. The meanes of Salvation you enjoyPaſtor, my deare Father, Mr. John Carter. He appeared to you all that while, as that bright Star, Matth. 2. By his light, and motion, by his Doctrine, and Converſation, he guided you to Chriſt. He ſo long as hee was in his TabernaRemember therefore
how you have received, and heard, and hold faſt, and repent. Remember how hee was an example
of Beleivers, in word, in converſation, in Charity, in Spirit, in faith, in purity. Conſider, how ſhall you eſcape, if you neglect ſo great Salvation: Will it not be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom, in the day of Iudgment then for you? Now for the ePaſtor aFather Abraham! If one were ſent to my Fathers houſe, from the dead, they would repent. I commend unLord here I am, and the Children which thou haſt given me.
This is, and ſhal be the pray
THAT which Naomi ſpake to Ruth concerning Boaz; Hee hath not left off his kindneſſe to the living, and to the dead: It is fully verified of your ſelfe; you ceaſe
Frontiſpice of your learned Bookes.
In your firſt part of the marrow of Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtory, We had in
Now, good Sir! let me be bold to give you a ſhort account of my ſelfe. Some few daies ſince, I went about to make a new Diary for my ſelfe. I was deſirous in the firſt place, to ſet down ſome paſſages of my Father, for mine own ſatisfaction, and uſe. I began ſo; and before I was aware, it amounted to ſo much, as I thought better that publiſhed, then no
My humble requeſt to you, worthy Sir, is this, that (though I ſlipped the laſt opportunity, yet) if you ſhall ſet forth any more lives; or if you ſhall have a new Impreſſion of any of the former: that you would extract ſo much of my precious Fathers life, as you ſhal judge fit, and place it where you pleaſe, in your Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtory. Your Monuments will bee laſting in after ages, when my poore Pamphlet will bee worne out with time. Pardon my boldneſſe: The Lord ſtrengthen out your daies, for the good of his Church, and the honour of his Saints.
John Carter, my deare Father of bleſſed memory, and now a glorious Saint in Heaven, was borne at Wickham in Kent neer Canterbury, about the yeare of our Lord 1554.
He was deſcended but of meane Parents, (yet religious, and of good repute) not able to maintaine him, at the Univerſity, wholly at their own charge. One Mr. Roſe, a rich man in Canterbury (as my Father hath told me) Surely, taking notice of
Cambridge. He was of Clare Hall: Pupill to Doctor Byng the famous Civilian, MaRobert Byng, a learned and worthy GentleTheme given him to make. The Theſis was,
Frugalitas virtutum maxima.
When the young Schollars brought in their Themes, the Lecturer took them, and read them; and when he came to Carters Theme: he ſtood a little at a ſtand: at laſt, ſayes he before them all: here is the beſt Theme that I ever read: and gave him money, commended, and en
After my Father had taken his degrees, Batchelor, and Maſter of Arts: His Tutor Doctor Byng (out of his ſingular love to him, and reſpect to his learning, and piety) gave him a Chamber in his own lodgings, where he continued a yeare or two, which made much to the compleating of him for the work of the Miniſtry. And all that while he continued a gremiall in the boChaderton, Doctor Andrews (afterwards a Prelate) Maſter Culverwell, Maſter Knewſtubs, &c. and divers others, whom God raiſed up, and fitted to ſend forth into his Harveſt, to gather his Corn, then ripe for the Sickle, into his Barne. At their meetings they had conſtant exerciſes. They prayed toApollos, eloquent men, and mighty in the Scriptures. And the Lord was with them. They brought in a great Harveſt into God's Barne.
He would not run before he was ſent: he would not enter upon the exerciſe of the holy work of the Miniſtry, till he had, not only an inward calling, but alſo an outward: viz. an aſſignation, approbatiprimus Presbyter, or praeſes) going about to oppoſe him: asked him this queſtion: Have you read the Bible through? Yes, ſaid he: I have read the old Teſtament twice through in the He
An. 1583. The Vicaridge of Bramford in Suffolk neer Ipſwich fel void. Mr. Roſe
Canterbury, before mentioned, procuCanterbury. The ſalary was only twenty Marks per Annum at firſt: afterward the Church raiſed it to twenty pounds per Annum, and that was the moſt that ever he had there.
He accepted of it: and being ſettled in it, he ſet himſelfe to do the work of Chriſt faithfully, with all his might, as a work
Every Lord's day he preached twice very powerfully, and Catechiſed the younger ſort. He preached a Lecture every ThurſeIpſwich and other adjacent places did reſort. And God gave ſuch ſucceſſe to his Miniſtry, that from time to time, many were gathered in to Jeſus Chriſt. There are many precious Chriſtians that remaine unto this day, that acknowledge their converſion was by Mr. Carter's Miniſtry.
Before Sermon he prayed very ſhort: and ever in the ſame words. After Ser
The Milk of his Cows he gave to the poor of the Town every Saturday through
Yet God ſo bleſſed him, that whileſt he was in Bramford, he quickly paid Mr. Roſe of Canterbury, all the money he laid out towards his education in Cambridge: and before he left Bramford, he purchaſed aper Annum.
God's bleſſing only makes rich.
He brought up both my elder and only Brother, and my ſelfe, at the Univerſity in a good faſhion: and for my ſelfe, I muſt acknowledge, beyond my deſert, or rank.
He was Orthodox and ſound in his judgement: an able and reſolved Cham
He was alwayes A Nonconformiſt, One of the good old Puritans of England. He never ſwallowed any of the Praelaticall Ceremonies againſt his Conſcience. He was often in trouble by the Biſhops; but God ever raiſed him up friends that brought him off. He was of a peaceable Spirit; and never cenſured any that were conformable, if he judged them conſcien
At his firſt comming to Bramford he ſaw the travel of his Soule: he had a plentifull Harveſt! many Soules were added to the Church daily by his powerfull Miniſtry, and holy life.
But after many yeares the people were glutted with Manna, and began to loath it; there grew a great decay in their firſt love.
About the yeare 1615. or ſomething before, there aroſe up a Generation of malignant men, haters of a faithfull, and painfull Miniſtry, and of the power of Godlineſſe.
At this very juncture of time, the ReBelſted fell to be void: a very ſmall Village, ſome three miles from Ipſwich, a ſolitary place: the means better then Bramford: yet ſhort of a competency for ſuch an eminent pillar of the Church; ſome 50, or at moſt 60 pounds per Annum.
The Patron Mr. Bloſſe became a Suiter to my Father to accept of it. He refuſed it againe, and againe. His reſolution was to endure perſecution at Bramford, to grapple with all difficulties, and dye there, rather then to remove. But the providence of God over-ruled him. At Bramford he ſaw he muſt be outed: Mr. Bloſſe would take no deniall: he found favour in the eyes of the Biſhop; and was inſtituted without ſubſcription, or any ceremonyes: and then at laſt, God taking him by the hand, and pulling him whether he would or no, he removed from Bramford (after ſome 34 yeares ſervice in the work of the MiniBelſted Parſonage, where he conBramford; and though his Congregation there were but ſmall, yet he had many Fiſh that came to his Nett, from Ipſwich, and other adjacent Townes, deſtitute of faithfull Shepheards: So that his latter Crop in Gods harveſt-field was very conſiderable.
Little Belſted was a Tuſculanum to him; where in his age he had much ſecret and ſweet Communion with God, in the houſe, and with Iſaac in the fields; a beginning of that glorious communion he now enjoys with God in the mountains of Spices.
He being dead, yet ſpeaks; his Works praiſe him in the gates. From the Preſſe we have had his learned, and pithy ComMilke for Children. The other, Winter evenings communication.
His paines in the ſtudy of the Revelation were indefatigable. He writ much in a lit
For his carriage and deportment in his Family, it was very religious. He had the Morning and the Evening SacriAdam and Eve, or ſome of the old Patriarchs.
And in all his Houſe there was nothing but honeſt plainneſſe. He was ſuch an one as Jacob,
Nathanael, in whom was no guile.
He never uſed Plate in his houſe, but Veſſels of Wood, and Earth: Pewter and Braſſe were the higheſt Mettals for his u
He never feaſted, but alwayes had whol
The righteous man is mercifull to his Beaſt: he was carefull even for the bruit Creatures, that they ſhould be fed to the full. All his Cattell were like the firſt Kine that Pharoah ſaw feeding in the Meadow, they were fat-fleſhed, and well-favoured; in ſo much that I have heard ſome godly people ſay merrily, If they would be a Cow, or a Horſe, or a Hogg, or a Dogg, they would chuſe Mr. Carters houſe.
Hee had a ſharp wit: and was ſweet, mild, and pleaſant in his converſation; yet not any of his moſt facetious paſſages, that did not ſavour of holineſſe. His diſcourſe was ever heavenly, and his eyes, almoſt, e
Beſides his Family prayers, and duties, he prayed conſtantly in his Cloſet, when
And I know his ground: he judged his owne beſt prayers imperfect, and Chriſts prayer moſt perfect, and comprehenſive.
That you may the better be ſatisfied concerning his ſenſe and judgement in this matter, I will here tranſcribe one paſſage out of his Printed Commentary upon the ſixth of Matthew, v. 9. Where after hee hath ſet forth the excellency and perfectiHe now directeth us to the right performance (Viz. of the duty of prayer) After this manner pray yee. Or as Saint Luke ſetteth it down, [When you pray, ſay] Not binding us ſtrictly to uſe theſe words alwaies, and none other, but to uſe the matter, manner, and like affection. But as for them who cannot ſo well inlarge their ſuits in other words, or for
thoſe alſo, who can, and do it, yet remain ſtill unſatisfied, as not having done it ſufficiently (and who can do it ſufficiently?) the Lord hath left this moſt excellent helpe, to uſe the very words of this divine prayer, as the moſt worthy Servants of God ever have done: And learn we here by the way, what an abſolute neceſſity lyeth upon us (which ought to be our greateſt glory and comfort) to pray in theſe words, or in this manner: For it is the undiſpenſable Commandement of our Lord Chriſt. After this manner pray.
Thus farr he.
He had a ſpeciall dexterity in comfortI have had a longing deſire to ſee, or heare of the fall of Antichriſt: But I check my ſelfe. I ſhall go to Heaven, and there newes will come thick, thick, thick.
When others came to him, and preſſed
Revelation, and they were perſwaded, God had revealed ſome
A man met him neer his houſe, and calCarter! what ſhall I doe? My Wife is entring into her Travell, and I thinke ſhee will dye with very fear. Sayes he to the man, Make haſte, run to your Wife, and tell her I am going to my Cloſet as faſt as I can to pray for her; bid her not faint, but be of good comfort: The man ran to her, and told her what had paſſed. Preſently her feares vaniſhed, God gave her ſtrength, ſhee was delivered immediately, and very ſafely; and her Husband came back to my Father (as I re
Another time a poor man met him by the way, and cryed to him piteouſly, Mr.
Carter! What ſhall become of mee? I work hard, and fare hard, and yet I canPray hard, and I warrant you thrive.
There dwelled in his Pariſh a Tanner, a very godly man, and one that had much communion with my Father: This man, as he was very buſie tawing of a Hide with all his might, not ſo much as turning aſide his head any way; My father coming by acFaithfull in the duties of my Calling.
Being at Dinner in Ipſwich, at one of the Magiſtrates houſes; diverſe other Mi
A certaine man came to him, and made his moane: Saith he, I have loſt the greaWhen the Fountaine dryes up in one place, God will open it in another.
To me he ſayd once, John! God hath alwayes brought water for me out of the hard flinty rock: Thoſe covetous, hard-hearted men who have beene enemies to my perſon and Miniſtry, have many times come in, and given me countenance and maintenance.
Cambridge, and walking with him towards the Stable, took his laſt leave of him in theſe words, in LaCave, mi fili, faſtum, ignaviam, Antichriſtum: i. e. My Son, beware Pride, Sloth, Antichriſt.
He would ſay, a Traveller muſt have a Swines belly, an Aſſes back, and a Mer
It may wel be ſayd of him, Semper erat, ubi non erat: His heart was where his head is, and where now his ſoule is; in Hea
His whole life was nothing elſe but a Communion day. I have often thought that old Jacob lived in him. I am ſure the ſpirit of God breathed as much in him, in his words, writings (holineſſe dropped from his Pen in every ordinary Letter that he writ) in his actions, Soliloquies, as in any man of later times. He was alwayes
A godly Woman told me once, That ſhe had been ſervant to a religious Gentle
A man he was moſt juſt and exact in his dealings: he put a clauſe into his Will for the carefull payment of his debts: And when my Siſter Eunice, and I (his Execu
In his Library, I found two or three Books (I beleeve not one of them worth a groat) upon which he had written. This Book is borrowed of ſuch an one: Let it be reſtored; or if the Owner cannot be found, allow ſomething to the poor for it, and that liberally.
Once being in a journey many miles from home, in changing a peice of Gold at a Shop, he tooke a halfe crowne peice in ſtead of a ſhilling; neither he nor the
He was of a ſweet, milde, and gentle nature, and of a gracious ſpirit: A loving and faithfull Husband, and an indulgent Father; if he failed in any thing, it was in his carriage to his Servants; for truely he did not carry himſelfe as a Maſter to Servants, but as a familiar friend to his freinds. He would make them to ſit down with him, and drinke to them at meat.
He, and my Mother were marryed to
He lived to eighty yeares of age: When I (the youngeſt of nine, and the unwor
He was much and frequent in ſecret faſt
On the Sabbath day he never had any thing roſt to Dinner, becauſe hee would have none detained at home from the pub
His Church at Belſſed ſtood in a very ſoBelſted, that he prayed, then read a Chapter, and after that prayed largely, and very heavenly, as if he had been in his Family, or in the publique Congregation.
He vigorouſly held on the courſe of his Miniſtry to the laſt. It may be ſaid of him, as of Caleb, and Joſhua; he was as fit for Service in Gods Harveſt-field at foure
Some abatement of bodily ſtrength there was, as old Age did ſteale upon him: Af
But in his Intellectuals, and Spirituall ſtrength, there was no failing. I cannot but here interſert a Paſſage that now comes in my minde.
Old Mr. Benton of Wramplingham in Norffolke, a holy man of God, being upSuffolke, in thoſe parts, could not but give a viſite to his old friend
Carter of Belſted. Being with him, he heard him diſcourſe with holy Gravity, & a mixture of all kind of Learning, Solidity, and Wit; he ſtood amazed, and ſaid, Mr. Carter! I ſee you are like the Palm, and Cedar, that bring forth more Fruit in your Age. I thank you (ſaid my Father) for telling of me what I ſhould be.
And now the time of his departure was at hand. Some fortnight, or three weeks before his tranſlation, there appeared ſome decaies in his Body, and his memory did a little faile. He would ſometimes (but veEunice, (for my Mother being dead about two yeares before, ſhe was the ſtay of his houſe, and ſtaff of his Age) ſhall we not go to PrayI feare we have not done what we ſhould do.
Febr. 21. 1634. being the day before the Sabbath, in the Evening he calls ve
Eunice! ſaith he, I am not able to go to Church yet; I prethee lead me to my Bed, I will lye down a little, and reſt me. So he aroſe up out of his Chaire, and walkEunice! ſayes he, what ſhall I do? Put your truſt,
in that God of whom you have had ſo much experience, who never yet did leave you, nor forſake you.
He ſaid, The Lord be thanked.
So he gather'd up himſelfe, went to the Beds-ſide, ſate downe upon it, and imme
Hee intended a Sabbaths Labour for Chriſt, and Chriſt gave him reſt from his Labour; even the reſt of an eternall Sab
When my Siſter began to ſpeak to him, and lift him, ſhe found that his breath was departed, and yet no change in his Coun
Not many daies before he dyed, he calJohn, I ſhall ſee him no more in this life; and remember me to the reſt of my Children, and Fami
Stand faſt in the Faith, and love one another. This was the laſt meſſage that ever he ſent.
Hee ended his life with a Doxology, breathing out his laſt, with theſe words; The Lord be thanked.
When he had thus yeelded up his ſpirit into the hands of his heavenly Father, my Siſter Eunice diſpatched a Meſſenger to me to Norwich: For ſo he had given order before he dyed, that his body ſhould not be put in the Coffin till his Son John came. God carryed me through the journey in hard weather: and through his good proBelſted early on the Tueſday. And going to the houſe of mour
I fell upon his face, I confeſſe, and kiſſed him, and lift up my voice and wept, and ſo took my laſt leave of him, till we meet in a better World.
In the afternoon, February 4. 1634. at his interring, there was a great confluJoaſh the King of Iſrael: Oh my FaIſrael, and the horſemen thereof! Old Mr. Samuel Ward, that famous Divine, and the glory of Ipſwich, came to the Funerall, brought a mourning Gowne with him, and offered very reſpectively to Preach his funerall Sermon, now that ſuch a Congre
But my Siſter and I durſt not give way to it: For ſo our Father had often charg
Mr. Ward reſted ſatiſfied, and did forIpſwich, he turned his whole Lecture into a Funerall Sermon for my Father, in which he did laGloria fugientes ſequitur.
Glory is like a ſhadow; follow it, and it will fly away: fly from it, and it will fol
For humility hee was moſt eminent. Humble in his habite, humble in his com
He writ very much; but hee left nowhat is Printed: and his Expoſition of the Revelation; and a Petition to King James for the taking away of burdenſome Ceremonies out of the Church: nothing elſe but a few broken Papers, which, I ſuppoſe, he look'd upon
He baulked all things that might tend to outward pomp, and oſtentation: He would have no Funerall Sermon: He gave order to be buryed, not in the Church, but in the Church-yard: where hee and my ſweet Mother, that glorious Paire, lye in
He had learned of Chriſt to be meek, and lowly in heart; he was humble in his life, and humble in his death; and now the Lord hath highly exalted him.
He kept a conſtant Diary, or day-book, in which he ſet down every day Gods ex
He caſt up his accounts with God every day; and his ſins were blotted out, before he was called to his laſt reckoning: His day of refreſhing is come, he reſts from his Labours.
Plus vivitur exemplis, quam praeceptis, ſaith Seneca: Examples of the dead are
He was a true childe of Abraham; and the bleſſing of Abraham fell upon him, I will bleſſe them that bleſſe thee, ſaith the Lord; and I will curſe them that curſe thee. Not long ſince I was at Bramford; there dwelleth an ancient Gentleman, one of great quality, my friend, and my Fathers old friend; he ſpake thus to me: Mr. Carter! I have now lived to ſee the downfall of all your Fathers oppoſers, and enemies. There is not one of them, but their Fami
I cannot but add one thing more; It may be truely ſaid of him, and his faithfull Yoke-fellow, as it is writen of Zacharias, and Elizabeth: They were both righteous before God, walking in all the Comman
I confeſſe I have drawn his life very imSheba; the one halfe hath not been told you. It will not be long before the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhall open the Books at the laſt, and great day, then, and there you ſhall read his compleat Story.
The Memory of the Juſt is, and ſhall be bleſſed.
IT is ſayd of Christs ſayings, and doings; that if they ſhould bee written every one, the World it ſelfe could not containe the Bookes. Farre be it from me to attribute ſo much to my worthy Father. Yet this much I am certaine of, that there are many things in his Life, and thoſe of very great concernment, which have ſlipped me. Therefore I leave theſe enſuing Pages vacant, that ſo as thou remembreſt any of his holy ſayings, and doings, not mentioned before, thou mayſt write them downe, for thine owne benefit, and the good of others.
Lift up thy voice like a Trumpet.
Behold your King!
We preach Chriſt crucified.
Behold the Lamb of God.
The Lamb ſlain from the foundation of the World.
A RARE SIGHT. OR, THE LYON: Sent from a farr Country, and preNORWICH; in a Sermon upon the Solemne GuildJune 18. 1650.
By IOHN CARTER, Preacher of the Goſpel; And as yet Sojourning in the City of NOR
Joh. 1. 21.
Sir! We would ſee Jeſus.
LONDON, Printed in the yeare 1653.
AS a Teſtimony of his reſpect, love and thankfulneſſe to them, for all their undeſerved Favour, and faithfulneſſe. As alſo becauſe they have a juſt claim thereunto. Mr. Matthew Lyndſey, who deceaſed in the midſt of
his Majoralty 1650. had the true right to it. The Sermon was preached at his request, and at his Inauguration. He dying, it deſcends by Inheritance upon theſe his Succeſſors.
The Sight is very rare indeed, but very poorly, and meanly ſet forth; Such as it is, the unworthy Author humbly tenders to them, with apprecation of all Grace, Honour, and Happineſſe.
Behold, the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah!
This is a ſolemne day; the Cities great anniverſary Feaſt, for the Inauguration of the cheife Magiſtrate: Here's much concourſe from ſeveral parts. I ſhal thereBehold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Concerning which, I ſhall propound two things to your obſervation, the parts of the Text.
Behold.
Sight or Shew preſented.
A rare, and ſtrange Living Creature de
WORLD.
Of the Tribe of J ƲDAH.
Theſe are the parts, and particulars of the Text. But I will not tye my ſelfe ſtrict
1. I will ſpeak ſomething of the ſence, and meaning of the words.
2. I will give you the ſumme, & ſubſtance of all, in one generall propoſition, in one plaine doctrine.
3. Then, in the third place, I will returne to the parts and particulars: I will review, ſearch, and examine them, for ſuch ſpeciall obſervations, and Inſtructions, as may be profitable: beſides the main, and generall doctrine.
4. And laſt of all, I will (as God ſhall enable me) endeavour to make profitable uſe, and application of all.
I ſtand heer by call, and commiſſion from God. Its my duty to lift up my voice like a Trumpet to Uſher in this rare ſpeMoſes, you will now turn a ſide, and ſee this great ſight.
Let him that hath an eare, heare, and let him that hath an Eye behold. And let the Eye of the God of Heaven be upon us all for good: and let the Lion of the Tribe of Judah be with us, and help us and bleſſe us, Amen.
Behold!] This demonſtrative, hath ſingular weight, and moment. Aliquid repentinum, et inſperatum demonſtrat. It points to ſomething that is ſudden, unex
1. To excite, and ſtir up attention, and in
2. To command. Thus Chriſt made uſe of it. It was his word of command. He ſaid unto them In his Doctrine, Hearken, Behold. I command you to attend.
So here: it's the ſounding of the Trum
Behold then! But firſt, I pray, before you look for the Lion, Lift up your eyes a little higher, to the firſt Verſe. There you ſhall ſee A Throne ſet in Heaven, and one ſitting upon that Throne, in great gloa book, written within, and on the back-ſide, and ſealed with 7. Seals V. I.
What Book may this be?
A. It is none other but this Book of the Revelation.
Would you know the Contents of this Book? It is a Propheticall-Hiſtoricall De
Not onely decreed, but as it were in
It containes the decrees, Counſels, and will of God, concerning the future ſtate, and government of the Church. It contains great Myſteries; Of the Kingdome and Ty
Theſe Myſteries are written in a Book. i. e. in Gods eternall Praeſcience, Providence, and Decree.
Book is claſped up and ſealed. 1. For matter moſt excellent, and Divine: kept ſecret from the knowledge of al creawith ſeaven Seales: moſt ſurely as myſteries of the greateſt moment, Worth and Certainty.
Therefore behold: verſ. 2. A ſtrong Angel proclaiming with a lond voice: Like a Herauld or Officer. Who is worthy, for the excellency of his perſon, or for his deTo open the Book, and to looſe the Seals thereof? To diſcloſe theſe ſecret de
Who? O it's a hard, and difficult matin Heaven. No Anin Earth: No Saint living. None under the Earth. No Saint departed, whoſe body is under-ground: or more generally, no creature in Heaven, Earth, or Sea, was able to open the Book, to read, underſtand, or divulge it; Neither to look thereon. To have any thing at all to do with it.
Alas! alas! This is a ſad thing! Behold verſe 5. John the Divine weeps much, Becauſe no man was found worthy to open, and
to read the Book, &c. He wept much, to ſee himſelfe, and others, deprived of ſo deep, ſo ſweet, and ſo excellent Myſteries; but eſpecially to think, that God ſhould be deprived of the glory of them. What then? Shall the Church never know the Contents of that Book?
Yes; yes, it ſhall. Behold, in the fifth verſe a word of Conſolation. One of the Elders ſaith unto me, weep not. One of the body, of the Councill of State; one of the AſſeſJohn, weep not. q. d. This is thine infirmi
Behold! behold! Lift up thine eyes now; do'ſt not diſcover a rare Sight? a Lion! Behold! That Lion of the Tribe of Judah,
the root of David, he hath prevailed to open the Booke, and to looſe the ſeven Seales thereof.
I have now brought you down to my Text: your eyes are by this time upon the rare Sight, and I ſhall endeavour to keep them fixed there from henceforth.
The words read, are nothing elſe but an Elegant, Metaphorical deſcription of him, who can, and onely can open, and reveale the Decrees, Counſels, and will of God to the Church.
Behold! with admiration, and joy, this is the Lion. I finde in the Scripture a three-fold Lion. 1. Of the Foreſt. 2. Of the Internall Pit. 3. Of the Tribe of Judah.
1. A Lion of the Foreſt, Jer. 5. 6. bred in the Woods, and Deſarts. This is a rare, and Noble Creature, the chiefe among Beaſts; this is properly called a Lion.
2. The Lion of the Infernall Pit; that is, the Devill, called ſo by way of ſimilidecerpere to pluck, rent and teare. Such is the Devill, 1 Pet. 5. 8. Your adverſary the Devill, as a roaring Lion, walketh about ſeeking whom he may devoure.
Judah. What is he? Indeed it is a Male, a Noble, Generous, and Famous Lion: Yet not a Beaſt, (as ſome blaſphemous Hereticks have ſpoken, horreſco referens, in theſe le(meere men) nor Angels. Would you know certainly who it is? The next verſe will tell you. Behold! there you ſhall ſee ſtanding in the midſt of the Elders A Lamb, as it had been ſlaine, this is the Lion; for verſe 9. you ſhall finde, it was this Lamb, who was worthy to take the Booke, and to open the Seales thereof. Here the LiThe Lion, or the Lamb, is hee that was ſlaine, and hath redeemed us to God by his own blood, even the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the root of David. He, and none other is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Of the Tribe of Judah. viz. Of the PoſteJudah; which excelled all the o
You muſt conceive, that here is an allu
Num. 2. 2. Every man ſhall pitch by his own Standard, with the Enſigne of their Father's houſe: farre off about the Tabernacle of the Congregation ſhall they pitch. All the while they travailed in the Wilder
In the front were Judah, Iſſachar, and Zabulon.
In the Reare Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manaſſes.
In the North-wing, Dan, Aſer, and Naphtali.
In the South-wing, Reuben, Simeon and Gad.
Judah carried a Lion in his Standard: Reuben a Man-drake, Ephraim an Ox, and Dan an Eagle.
Judah carried a Lion in his Standard. The occaſion of this Coat of Armes you have, Gen. 49. 9. Viz. Jacobs bleſſing. Judah is a Lions Whelp. And here you have the originall of Armes; GOD was the firſt King of Heraulds: He command
Armes were tokens, or reſemblances, ſignifying ſome Act, or Quality of the Bearer. In their Banners, Shields, or Tar
This armoriall Enſigne, the Lion, was given to Judah, to ſhew, 1. The Courage of that Tribe above the reſt; and 2. That it ſhould be the governing, the Law-giChron, 5. 2. For Judah prevailed above his Brethren, and of him came the chiefe Ruler. And 3. That God had de(David as the Type, & afterwards) at the fulneſs of time, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt the Antitype, ſhould be born of that Tribe according to the fleſh, and lineally deſcended, through the Loines of many Kings, Succeſſive one to another, as to his humane Nature. And ſo came forth the Famous Lion of the Tribe of Judah. For it is evident that our Lord ſprang out of Judah. Heb. 7. 14.
And thus you have the ſenſe, meaning, and expoſition of the words.
2. I ſhall now in the ſecond place, give you the ſum, and ſubſtance of all in one gene
The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. For the evidence and deTheſis, I will lay it out unto you in three Branches.
The truth of this, with the reaſon, I will give you both together. It is both propheGen. 49. 9. Iuda is a Lions Whelp. Iudah! this cannot be meant of the perſon of Judah, that's certaine: for he crouched, and bowed downe to Joſeph his younger Brother, and dyed in Aegypt.
Therefore it muſt be underſtood firſt, Judah. The Ofſpring of Judah ſhall be a Lion's Whelp: but for what cauſe is he ſo deſcriPropter dignitatem Regiam. The Lion is Rex quadrupedum: The nobleſt of all fourefooted creatures: and the King of all beaſts. Pro. 30. 30. 31. A Lion, and a King put together. In the 8, 9, and tenth Verſe of that 49. cap. of Gen. you have a graphiJudah many Generations after: ſhewing, that Iudah ſhall meet with many potent, and implacable enemies to conflict withall: that he ſhall conquer and ſubdue them all. Ver. 8. Thy hand ſhall be in the neck of thine Enemies. Ver. 9. From the prey, my Son thou art gone up. 1. Iudah ſhall teare his Enemies in pieces, as a Lion rents his prey. He ſtouped downe, he couched as a Lion, and as an old Lion. That notes a full victory over all his Enemies: The Lion's couching is not for feare, but becauſe he
Judah tread on the neck of all his enemies, and ſit downe in peace. But to raiſe it to the height, it ſignifies, that Judah ſhall be the Kingly Tribe, in which ſhould be the Regall power. 1 Chr. 5. 2. Judah prevailed above his Brethren, and of him came the cheife Ruler. This ſigVerſ. 8. Thy fathers Children ſhall bow downe before thee. Verſ. 10. The Scepter ſhall not depart from Judah, nor a Law-giver from betweene his feet, untill Shiloh come: And this was fulfilled in David firſt, and in Solomon.
But though the Propheſie were in part fulfilled in the temporall Kingdome of Judah, yet chiefly all is verified in Chriſt; and it hath its complement in the KingJudah, which words are nothing but a Periphraſis, an elegant metaphoricall deſcription of the Kingdome of Chriſt: Jeſus Chriſt is a Lyon; that is, Jeſus Chriſt is a King: Chriſt a King.
Promiſed, Jerem. 23. 5. Behold, the days
come, ſaith the Lord, that I will raiſe unto David a righteous branch, and a King ſhall reigne and proſper, and ſhall execute judgement and juſtice in the Earth.
Born. Matth. 2. 2. Where is he that is born King of the Jewes?
Proclaimed, Zechariah 9. 9. Rejoyce greatly, Oh Daughter of Zion, ſhout oh Daughter of Jeruſalem! Behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is juſt, and having Salvation, &c. Inaugurated, Matth. 21. 5. Crowned, Pſal. 21. 3. Thou ſetteſt a Crown
of pure Gold on his head. Cantic. 3. 11. Go forth yee Daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon. That is, Jeſus Chriſt, with the Crown wherewith his Mother Crowned him in the day of his Eſpouſals. Revel. 6. 2 He had a Bow, and a Crown was given him. Cap. 19. 12. On his head were many Crowns. And verſe 16. Thus runs his royall Title,
He was qualified with all Kingly graGod, thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladneſſe above thy fellowes. Of old they did annoint their Kings; but Chriſt had an Unction above all other Kings. Saul
a Viall of oyle poured on his head; Jehu
David a horn of oyle: evenon ad menſuram, Not by meaſure.
1. Within, his inward Unction was with Kingly graces. There are certain gifts, and qualifications requiſite for the diſcharge of the Kingly Function; withKing. 3. 9. 3. Juſtice, Prov. 16. 12. The Throne is eſtabliſhed by righteouſneſſe. 4. Mercy, Prov. 20. 28. Mercy and truth preſerve the King, and his Throne is upholden by mercy. All theſe were eminently, yea infinitely in Jeſus Chriſt; and therefore he was meet to be a King. He was a Lion.
1. The Lion is ſtrongeſt among Beaſts, Prov. 30. 30. Courageous, and MagnaThe Government is upon his Shoulder. And he is called the mighty God. Iſa. 9. 6. All power is given him in Heaven, and Earth Matth. 28. 18. He is the Almighty. Rev. 1. 8. Chriſt is the generous Lion of un
2. The Lion is an Emblem of Wiſdome, as well as of Strength, a Creature that hath great Sagacity. Strange things are written of the wiſdome and policy of the Lion, (by, and by you ſhall meet with ſome of them.) He is crafty in waiting for the Prey, watching his opportunities, Pſal. 10. 9. He lyeth in wait ſecretly, he lurketh in his Den. He is ſubtle in deceiLeonis Veſtigia quaeris.
In this grace alſo Chriſt excelled all oSolomon was famous for wiſdome, (for he had ſought it of God) for there
was none like him before, nor after. But beSolomon, a wiSolomon; the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. In him are hid the treaſures of Wiſdome, and Knowledge, Col. 2. 3. And wiſdome (for Government) is better then Strength.
3. In the Lion is obſerved ſtrict Juſtice. Non punit ultra condignum; If any one hit him, or throweth a dart at him, & hurts him not, the Lion will onely ruſh againſt him that ſtrook the blow, & throw him down, but not hurt him: If any wound the Lion, and draw blood, the Lion will turn again, and teare him, but not to death; but if a
In this grace of Juſtice Chriſt excelled all others. He ſhall order his Kingdome, and eſtabliſh it with Judgment, and with Juſtice for ever. Iſa. 9. 7. He loveth righteouſneſſe and hateth wickedneſſe. Pſal. 45. 7. A Scepter of righteouſneſſe is the Scepter of his Kingdome. Heb. 1. 8. He is Melcheſidec, King of righteouſneſse, Heb. 7. 2.
4. In the Lion alſo is clemency, and mercy. He is benevolent to mankind, ſpares them that proſtrate to him, and will not hurt Women, nor little Children.
And in this grace alſo Chriſt exceeded
Matth. 21. 5. Behold! the King cometh unto the Meek, and ſitting upon an Aſſe, and a Colt, the fole of an Aſſe.
Iſa. 42. 2. He ſhall not cry, nor lift up, nor cauſe his voice to be heard in the ſtreet. 3. A bruiſed Reed ſhall he not breake, and the ſmoaking Flax ſhall he not quench.
He wept over Ieruſalem, and had comHe was a faithfull, and a mercifull high Prieſt; And he was a faithfull, and a mercifull King. See the oyle with which he was inwardly anIſa. 11. 2. And the Spirit of the Lord ſhall reſt upon him, the Spirit of wiſdome, and underſtanding, the Spirit of Counſel, & might, the Spirit of Knowledge, and of the feare of the Lord.
Here are his Kingly graces, his Lion-like qualifications, whereby he was fitted to weild the Kingdome. No man, Angell, nor Arch-angell; none in Heaven, and Earth, can be found meet to under-go this Office, onely Jeſus Chriſt, God-man could beare it.
You have ſeene how the Lion, Meſſiah the Prince, was annointed within.
Now ſecondly, I will make out his Ti
And this externall Unction had Jeſus Chriſt; not with materiall oyle, but he had a full, and undoubted right to the Government: He was no uſurper, he had a ſolemn calling from God the Father to this Office; and from him he derived a three-fold right.
The Kingdome was his.
1. By Aſſignation from the Father, Pſal. 2. 6. I have ſet my King upon my holy Hill of Zion. Act. 2. 36. Therefore let all the houſe of Iſrael know aſſuredly, that God hath
2. By inheritance, Pſal. 2. 7. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath ſayd unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Heb. 1. 2. God hath appointed him heire of all things. Even the wicked Husbandmen acknowledged thus much, This is the heire, Mat. 21. 38.
3. By free Donation, Pſal. 2. 8. Aske of me, and I ſhall give thee the Heathen for
thine Inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for thy poſſeſſion.
By this time, the firſt branch, or ProJehu, they blew with Trumpets, and proclaimed, ſaying, Jehu is King: So here, having ſeen the anoynBehold, Chriſt is King: Behold, Chriſt is King.
The Lyon of Lyons; The moſt excelIſa. 43. I am the Lord, and beſide me there is no Saviour. The cheife Prieſts ſayd, We have no
King but Caeſar. Chriſtians muſt ſay, We have no King but Chriſt.
But haply, ſome will object, Are there Iſrael and Judah? Had not Aegypt their Pharaohs, and the Philiſtims their Abimelechs? Do wee not read in Daniel, of the head of Gold? the Silver
I anſwer with Saint Paul, There are
Lords many: many Kings: And Saint Peter mentions, The King as ſupreame, and that as an Ordinance. But ſuch a King as the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is not in the whole World. And I will ſhew you ſome diffe
1. Chriſt is the onely abſolute, ſupream, ſoveraigne, independent King; the onely Lord Paramount: all other Kings have but a derived, delegated power from him. Pro. 8. 15. By me Kings raigne (ſaith the Lord Jeſus, the wiſedome of the Father) and Princes decree Juſtice. All other Kings are but ſubordinate, Viceroys, Lord-Depu
2. All other Kings are men, meer men; Jeſus Chriſt is God and man; as he is the man Chriſt Jeſus, ſo he is God over all, God-Man, but he.
the Earth: But the Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath an univerſall Kingdome. Pſal. 72. 8. He ſhall have Dominion from Sea to Sea, and from the River unto the ends of the Earth. v. 9. They that dwell in the Wilderneſſe ſhall bow before him, and his enemies ſhall lick the duſt. v. 10. The Kings of Tarſhiſh, and of the Iſles ſhall bring preſents; the Kings of Sheba, and Seba ſhall offer gifts. v. 11. Yea, all Kings ſhall fall down before him, all Nations ſhall ſerve him. He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; yea, he is King of Heaven and Earth, and of all things in them. There is no univerſall King but he.
4. In reſpect of duration: All other Kings are men that dye, and their KingChaldeans and Babylonians; ſo many the Medes and Perſians, ſo many the Graecians, and ſo many the Romans (that I medThe Lord hath rent
the Kingdome of Iſrael from thee; ſaith Samuel to Saul: even this day he hath done it, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better then thou. And this was the Writing that was written concerning Belſhazzar, Thy Bingdome is divided, and given to the Medes and Perſians.
But unto the Sonne; unto the Lord Jethe Father ſaith, Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever. God the Father ſpeaks concerning his Son, as Jupiter is brought in ſpeaking of the Romans:
His ego nec metas rerum, nec tempora pono,
Imperium ſine fine dedi.
His ſeed will I make to endure for ever,
and his Throne as the dayes of Heaven. His Throne ſhall be as the Sun before me. It ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever as the Moon: and as a faithfull witneſſe in Heaven. SELAH.
The Angell Gabriel was ſent from God to the Virgin Mary, with this Oracle, Thou ſhalt conceive, & bringforth a Son: and
ſhalt cal his name Jeſus. He ſhal be great, and the Lord God ſhall give unto him the throne of his Father David. And he ſhall raig
Jeſus Chriſt is the Lyon. The Lyon is a Creature (as Pliny writes) that lives long to an incre
You have the ſecond Branch or Pro
Firſt, And according to the Letter, He was King of Iudah. He had a juſt right, and title to the temporall Crowne and Kingdome. He was of the Seed of David according to the fleſh; lineally deſcended Matthew, chap. 1. ſets downe the Pedegree of Ioſeph, the HuſMary, his ſuppoſed Father. Hee deſcended from David through the loynes of Solomon. Saint Luke, chap. 3. 23. deMary his Mother that bare him; ſhee deſcended from David through the loynes of Nath
The Husband and Wife were both of the ſame Family; and therefore Chriſt had a title to the temporall Kingdome, Crown, and Dignity, both by the Fathers and MoWhere is he that is borne King of the Iewes? For we have ſeen his ſtarr in the Eaſt, Matth. 2. 2. This Pilate ſubſcribed, and would not revoke it, Ieſus of Nazareth the King of the Iewes.: He was a Lyon true bred.
But as for this temporall Kingdome and Dominion over Judah & the other Tribes, our Lord Jeſus Chriſt would not meddle with it. Hee had indeed, jus ad rem: but would never take poſſeſſion. They would have taken him by force to make him King, Joh. 6. 15. but he perceiving it, departed, and hid himſelfe in a Mountaine. Hee de
Therefore ſecondly, By the Tribe of Judah, wee muſt underſtand the ſame thing that is ſignified by Mount Sion, and the
City of the living God: and, the heavenly Jeruſalem, Heb. 12. 22. And what is that? Verſ. 23. will tell you, The generall aſſembly and Church of the firſt borne, which are written in Heaven. The whole company of the Elect, who are ordained to life e
Chriſt is the King of his Church, and the Church is Chriſts Kingdome: The Elect, the company of true Beleevers are his ſubPſal. 2. 6. I have ſet my King upon my holy hill of Sion: that is, over the Church. As Pharaoh made Joſeph Governour over all his Houſe, ſo God the Father made his Sonne Jeſus Nathanael confeſſeth in his little Creed; John 1 ▪ 49. Thou art the ſon of God: thou art the King of Iſrael: His peculiar juriſ
Queſt. But is not Chriſt a great King over all the Earth? Pſal. 47. 2.
Anſw. Chriſt hath a twofold King
1. Regnum potentiae: his Kingdome of power; by which, as God, together with the Father, and the holy Ghoſt, hee power
2. Regnum gratiae, The Kingdome of grace: Whereby as Mediator, hee calls and governs his Church and choſen: And in regard of this latter he is ſayd proper
Thus you have ſeen:
Now attend to the reaſon of all togea Lyon? ſuch a King?
He muſt be a Lyon, a King, becauſe he is Mediator of his Church. This great and
A Mediatour is for the reconciling of parties that are at variance: and hee that undertakes the work, muſt be in grace and favour with both parties, and he muſt deal, not onely between, but with both parties; with the party offended, and the party ofThere is one
Mediator between God and man: the man Chriſt Jeſus. He therefore muſt deal and negotiate with both parties; and to this end he puts himſelf upon a threefold office, of a Prophet, Prieſt, and King.
1. And firſt hee deales with the party offended; with God for men. This hee doth in his Prieſtly office. Every high Prieſt
is taken from among men; is ordained for men [in things pertaining to God; that he may offer gifts and ſacrifices for ſin. Here you ſee, he deals with God, on the behalfe of men offending, and how? by offering ſacrifiThat day thou eateſt, that day thou ſinneſt, thou ſhalt dye certainely.
Lyon of the tribe of Judah, hee had a quoHee was a man of ſorrowes, well acquainted with griefe, from his birth to the Croſſe: Yea, he dyed a bloody and a moſt accurſed death, to appeaſe the wrath of God, and ſlay the enmitty. And brought as a Lambe to the ſlaughter: and is the vewhich ſtood in the midſt of the Elders, as it
had been ſlaine. Thus he ſatisfieth.
A ſecond buſineſſe he doth for man, is, as a Prieſt, to pray, and intercede to, and with his Father, that his Sacrifice may be
I pray (ſaith Chriſt) for theſe with me now, and for all them alſo
that ſhall beleeve on me.
Thirdly, He doth ingage to his Father, that all that the Father hath given him, ſhall beleeve. That hee will work faith in them by his Spirit, John 6. 3. All that the Father giveth me, i. e. all the Elect, ſhal come to me, i. e. they ſhall beleeve. Thus Chriſt is an agent for man with God. And in this Prieſtly office, he purchaſed his Kingdome: Therefore, ſaith God the Father, will I divide him a portion with the great, and he ſhal divide the ſpoyle with the ſtrong; becauſe he hath poured out his ſoule unto death; and he was numbred with the tranſgreſſors, and he bare the ſins of many, and made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſors.
Againe ſecondly, it is neceſſary, that he deale and negotiate on Gods part, with men; and this he doth as a
1. As a Prophet: He is ſent out of the boſome of his Father unto men, to open the Book, Revel. 5. 7. 9. to declare and John 6. 40. And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one that ſeeth the Son (i. e. beleeveth on him) may have everlaſting life: and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day.
2. As a King: To impute and apply that great benefit of Redemption to man, and to make it effectuall: And to accoma Lyon, he muſt be a King, and that for theſe cauſes.
1. To gaine and gather his Kingdome: To gaine them firſt into the Kingdome of grace, and at laſt to gather them into the Kingdome of glory. Now to effect this, he muſt be a Lyon, a potent King; for he muſt conquer before he can raigne, yea he muſt make a double conqueſt. 1. Hee muſt conquer his ſubjects; he finds them all Enemies at firſt, all Rebels: it is truely ſayd of all the Children of Adam: This people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart.
Peter, Epiſt. 1. chap. 5. Verſ. 8. Your adverſary the Devill, as a roaring Lyon walketh about ſeeking whom he may devour. In the pawes of this Lyon are all men and women in the World by nature. The Prince of the power of the ayre, that evill Spirit worketh in the Children of diſobedience, Epheſ. 2. 2. The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, muſt conquer that roaring Lyon the Devill, before hee can gather a Kingdome, and raigne.
Queſt. But how doth he conquer the Devill? how doth he conquer his Subjects?
Anſw. Hee conquerd the Devill, as he was God, by force and might, by his infiHe took part of our fleſh and blood, that through death hee might deſtroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devill. And deliver them who through feare of death, were all their
life time ſubject to bondage, Heb. 2. 14, 15. Hee ſpoyled Principalities and Powers, hee made a ſhew of them openly, tryumphing over them in it: that is, in or upon his Croſſe, Col. 2. 15. Faith ſeeth Chriſt upon the Croſſe, as ſitting in a tryumphall Chariot. Duo (ſaith Origen) in cruce affixi intelliguntur: Chriſtus viſibiliter, ſponte ſua, ad tempus: Diabolus inviſibiliter, invitus, in perpetuum.
Hee conquers the rebellious hearts of his Subjects; and gathers together into one
the Children of God that were ſcattered abroad, by his voice, Scepter, and Sword.
By his voice. The Lyoneſſe, as the learDead
in treſpaſſes and ſinnes. Chriſt lifts up his voice, and roares in the Preaching of the Goſpel, by which he recovers the life of his people. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, ſaith our bleſſed Saviour, Joh. 5. 25. The houre is coming, and now is, when the dead ſhall heare the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear ſhall live.
Pſal. 110. 2. The Lord ſhall ſend the Rod, or the Scepter, of thy ſtrength: that is, the Miout of Zion: and by it, thou ſhalt rule in the middeſt of thine Enemies: Thoſe that were enemies, by that ſpirituall Scepter, thou ſhalt make them loving Subjects, and a willing people, verſ. 3.
By his Sword: And that's the ſame ſtill, the Preaching of the Goſpell. This is the ſharpe two-edged Sword that went out of Chriſts mouth. Revel. 1. 16. this is quick and powerfull, and ſharper then any two-edged Sword, peircing even to the dividing aſunder of ſoule and ſpirit, joynts and marrow. This is the two-edged Sword in the which binds Heathen Kings in Chaines, and Nobles in fetters of Iron: That is, the Goſpel brings Heathen Princes and people into ſubjection to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. This is that Sword of the ſpirit, even, the Word of God, ſpoken of by Paul: And there you have the con
2. Chriſt muſt be a Lyon, a King, to governe his ſubjects, his Church: Withthere was no King in Iſrael, every
man did what ſeemed good in his owne eyes: and all things went to wrack. Chriſt muſt be a King, to give Lawes: So Chriſt: There is one Lawgiver: even this Lyon: and to They are led by the ſpirit of God, as
many as are the ſons of God. Judah, that is, the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, is his
Lawgiver: And he doth not onely give Lawes, but (that which no King nor Pohe puts his Law in their inward parts, and writes it in their hearts, Jer. 31. 33.
3. Chriſt muſt of neceſſity be a Lyon, a King, to protect and defend his Church, people, ſubjects. The Lyon will ſtand to the defence of his young ones, even to the death; and having the prey in his paw,
Judah.
The Kingdome of Chriſt is ever beſet with Enemies, The Heathen rage, the people conſpire: the Kings of the earth ſet themſelves,
and the Rulers take Counſell together, againſt the Lord, and againſt his annointed: againſt his Chriſt. They have, not onely, fleſh and blood, but Principalities and
Powers alſo; the Rulers of the darkneſſe of this World, and ſpirituall wickedneſſe in high places, to wreſtle withall. And thereJudah, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt undertakes the protection of it. Hee will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her Aſſemblies, a cloud, and a ſmoak by day,
and the ſhining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory ſhall be a defence. And the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevaile
againſt it.
4. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt muſt be the Lyon, the King, to exerciſe judiciary pow
To bring Malefactors to condigne puHoſ. 13. 7. Therefore will I be unto them as a Lyon, as a Leopard by the way will I obſerve them. Verſ. 8. I will meet them as a Bear that is bereaved of her Whelps, and will rent the Caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a Lyon: the wilde beaſt ſhall tear them. Luke 19. 27. But thoſe mine enemies that would not that I ſhould reign over them, bring hither and ſlay them before me.
Hee alſo muſt be a Lyon, a King, to diThe Lyon doth teare in peices enough for his Whelps, and ſtrangled for his
Lyoneſſes, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with Ravine: So the Lord Jeſus, Divides the ſpoyle with the ſtrong. He ſpoylHe aſcended up on high, hee led Captivity captive, and gave gifts to men, Epheſ. 4. 8. As a King hee will, hee will inrich his ſubjects with grace here, and glory hereafter: he will reward his followers, not for their merits ſake, but for his mercies ſake. He will ſay to one, Well done thou good ſervant, becauſe
thou haſt been ſaithfull in a very little, have thou authority over ten Cities: And to aBe thou alſo over five Cities. And
they that follow him in the Regeneration,
when Chriſt the King ſhall ſit in the throne of his glory; they alſo ſhall ſit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Iſrael. And every one that hath forſaken houſes, or Brethren, or Siſters, or Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands, to become his ſubjects, ſhall receive an hundred fold, and ſhall inherite everlaſting life.
Thus have you the generall Do
3. Before I come to make application of it, I will addreſſe my ſelfe to my third task, and returne to the parts of the Text, and take a review of them; and ſpeake ſomething to them, and obſerve ſomething from them diſtinctly and very ſhortly. The parts you may remember are two.
1. For the firſt: The Trumpet ſounBehold! This demonſtrative, as it points to ſome admirable thing, ſo it is a word of command. Here
Obſerve, It is the duty of every ChriJohn the Divine is here called upon
John the Baptiſt calls as much upon his Diſciples, to behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the ſins of the World, John 1. 29. Even Pilate could call unto the Jews, ſaying. Behold your King! John 19. 14.
But why muſt we alwayes ſet our eyes Behold thy King,
cometh, he is juſt, meeke, and lowly. And why muſt we thus behold him? Chriſt himſelfe will give you the reaſon, Matth. 11. 29. that you may learne of him to be meeke and lowly in heart. I have given you my example, ſaith the Lord Jeſus, John 13. 15. that you ſhould do as I have done to you. Judah had a Lion in their Standard, and that they were to follow. Jeſus Chriſt is our StanThe root of Ieſſe: i. e. Chriſt, ſpringDavids ſtock, ſhall ſtand for an Enſigne of the people. Luke 2. 34. Behold, ſaith Simeon, this Childe Ieſus, is ſet a Lyon.
2. You have heard the Trumpet ſounViz. The ſight, or ſhew, The Lyon of the tribe of Iudah: and why of the Tribe of Judah? The Apoſtle ſhall give you the reaſon clearly, Heb. 7. 14. For it is evident that our Lord ſprang out of Iudah.
Obſerve then, the Pedigree of this Lyon. He came out of the loynes of Judah, the fourth Son of Jacob, and was born in that Tribe. In the words next following my Text, Chriſt is called the root of David: which metaphoricall expreſſion doth im
1. That Chriſt indeed is Davids root, David ſprang from him. David in ſpirit
called him Lord, and hee might alſo call him Father, for Jeſus Chriſt is the everlaſting Father, Iſa. 9. 6. All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made, that was made, Iohn 1. 3. Even David had his originall from him.
Secondly, and moſt properly, the meanDavid was the root of Chriſt: that is, Chriſt ſprang from David. God raiſed up Chriſt out of the decayed Houſe
David, by his mighty arme. So plainly Iſa. 11. 1. There ſhall come forth a Rod out of the ſtemme of Jeſſe, and a branch ſhall grow out of his roots.
You have both together, Revel. 22. 16. I am (ſaith Chriſt) the Root, and the Offſpring of David. I bear David, in regard of my Deity: and I come of David, in reThat Chriſt is Man. He is God of the ſubſtance of his Father, begotten before the Worlds: and Man of the ſubſtance of his Mother, borne in the World: Of a reaſonable ſoule, and humane fleſh ſubſiſting. Jeſus Chriſt our Lord was made of the Seed of David, according to the fleſh, Rom. 1. 3. He took our fleſh, he took all our infirmities, ſin onely
excepted.
4. I have by Gods gracious aſſiſtance fiBehold, and hearken.
And firſt it wil ſerve for our Inſtruction.
From all that hath been ſaid, we may gather divers this Lion, this King.
What manner of Kingdome, the King
The Conqueſt of temporall, and earthFor the Weapons of our Warfare are
not carnall, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, caſting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it ſelfe againſt the Knowledge of God, and bringing into Captivity every thought to the obedience of Chriſt. 2. Cor. 10. 4. 5. Chriſt himſelfe renounceth all temporall, and earthly Dominion. Thus Ieſus anſwerPilate: My Kingdome is not of this World; if my Kingdome were of this World, then would my Servants ſight, that I ſhould not be delivered to the Jewes; but now is my Kingdome not from hence, Joh. 18. 36. In reſpect of Dominion, Right, and Title; all the Kingdomes of the World are the Lord Ieſus Chriſt's. He hath jus ad rem: But in regard of Poſſeſſion, and uſe, hee abdicates all. He never owned any tempoWhen they would have come, and taken him by force, to make him King, he departed alone himſelfe, and hid himſelfe in a Mountaine, Ioh. 6. 15.
The more is their folly, that by being Subjects of Chriſts Kingdome, expect chiefly temporall good things, Riches, Honours, and Pleaſures. So the Iewes, they alwaies dreamed of a worldly KingMeſſiah to come with outward Pomp, and worldly Glory.
Act. 1. 6. Wilt thou at this time reſtore the Kingdome to Iſrael? And the Mother of Zebedees Children lingred after this: Grant that theſe my two Sons may ſit, the one at thy right hand, and the other on thy left,
in thy Kingdome. She meanes a temporall Kingdome: But what ſaith Ieſus Chriſt to her? Yee know not what you ask; are you able to drink of the Cup that I ſhall drinke of, and to be baptized with the Baptiſme that I am baptized with? Can you drink of a cup of deadly Wine, with me? Can you endure to be plunged over head, and eares, in a flood of Afflictions? This you muſt look for in my Kingdome: Riches, and Honours, and Offices, theſe are not the good things of Chriſts Kingdome; no, no. The Kingdome of God, is not meat, and drink, but righteouſneſſe, and peace, and joy in the Holy-Ghoſt, Rom. 14. 17.
2. Againſt the Chiliaſts, or Millenaries: That the 1000 yeares reigne of the Saints upon the Earth, is but a meer dream, a falſhood, a groſſe error. They fancy to themſelves, that a 1000 years before the generall reſurrection, Chriſt in his huIeruſalem, where he was crucified: that all the Mar
That they ſhall all live without ſin, and without Ordinances: that they ſhall paſſe theſe 1000 years with all manner of earthCerinthus) I will not enter the liſts to encounter it, I will not meddle with the controverſy. I ſhall only ſpeak a word, if it may be, to ſhame the fautors of this fond fancy. What, a Saint? and ſo addicted to carnall pleaſures? Did Chriſt ever enThe Foxes have holes, and the foules of the Aire have neſts, but the Sun of man had
not where to lay his head. He contemned theſe low things. And what muſt the Saints his followers look for upon earth? Chriſt himſelfe ſhall tell them: If any man
will come after me, let him deny himſelfe, and take up his Croſſe, and follow me. Chriſt
Iudah.
If you be not aſhamed of the love of the World, The luſt of the fleſh, the luſt of the
eyes, and the Pride of life; The worlds TriAuguſtine ſaith to the Theife upon the Croſſe, in his elegant Proſopopoeia, Lord, ſayes the Malefactor to Jeſus, remember me when thou comeſt into thy Kingdome?
Auguſtine, Quid Regium vides? What royalty, Oh! wretched man, doſt thou behold? what Crown doſt thou ſee, but a Crown of Thornes? what Robe? what Purple? but a Common Soul
Here's Chriſts raigne upon earth; hee raigned in ſuffering, he conquered by dy
Obſer. 3. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, the King of his Church.
Then, the government of the Church is Monarchicall. This is the happineſſe of the Church: Monarchy is the beſt GovernGod hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is his body, Eph. 1. 22, 23.
Here at one blow, off goes the triple Crowne. The Popes Kingdome is overRome, the Univerſall Biſhop is depoſed; if the Pope be King, then there are two Kings of the Church, and Jeſus Chriſt is not THE Ly
Bellarmine grants it, that Chriſt is the onely King, and Monarch of the Church,
ſpiritually and inviſibly govern it: yet ſaith he, the Church being corpo&c. To conRome hath found out other Lyons, beſides the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah. They uſually called their Popes Leones. In 440. they had their Leo Magnus, and ten ſince him have borne the ſame name. But the Pope muſt change his kind, and be content to be another Beaſt. A roaring and a devouring Lyon we will alJudah, the onely King of his Church.
That there is a viſible, and externall goMatth. 18. 17. Acts 20. 17, 28. 1 Tim. 5. 17. It muſt be governed by the Biſhops,
Paſtors, Teachers, Elders, and Deacons; in the ſeverall Precincts. The whole world is too large a Dioces for any one mortall Creature to take care of. The care of all Churches is beyond the ſtrength of any one man. Onely the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah can open the Book, and read it to all Churches: Hee onely can rule, and govern all Churches. Chriſt himſelfe is preIoh. 16. 7. And therefore none of the Churches ſtand in need of the Pope, to give Lawes to them, or to govern them. He is an Uſurper, and muſt down; Chriſt is the Lion, the onely King of the Church.
Obſerv. 4. Chriſt is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah; that is, lineally deſcenIudah. That may ſeem ſtrange; why ſhould not the MeſReuben? Becauſe he was the firſt-born: Iudah was the fourth Son of Iacob. The reaſon here&c.
Gen, 35. 22. Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his Fathers Concubine. He committed this foule ſin, and Iſrael heard it: And for this cauſe he diſinherited Reuben, and the bleſſing of the Birth-right
Iudahs head. He became the Lyon; the Soveraignty and Princedome was his. Obſerve then, Sin diſinheriteth: See this, Heb. 12. 16. Leaſt there be any fornicator, or prophane perſon, as Eſau; who for one morſell of meat, ſold his Birth-right, 17. For ye know that afterward when he would have inherited the Bleſſing, he was rejected. Here you have 2 diſtinct examples to conFornicator, nameReuben, who defiled his Fathers ConEſau was the firſt-born, yet loſt the Inheritance, the Lordſhip, and DomiThe Elder ſhall ſerve the younger, Gen. 25. 23.
Haply, ſome vile, and deſperate Sinners will make nothing of this. Tuſh, ſay they, let them looke to this that are borne to Lands, and great Poſſeſſions; our Fathers have not a penny to leave us, we have no Inheritance to looſe: What, no InheriThen are you Baſtards and not Sons. Then God is not your Father; all the true Children of God have a two-fold InThey be Heires of God,
and joynt-heires with Chriſt. But to the unKnow yee, that the unrighteous ſhall not inherite the Kingdome of God: Be not deceived, neither Fornicators nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abuſers of themſelves with mankinde, nor theeves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, ſhall ever inherite the Kingdome of God.
Obſerv. 5. For our inſtruction: How miſerable, deplorable, and deſperate our condition is by nature: ſo loſt, as that nothing in Heaven or Earth could recover us, but the power, ſtrength, wiſedome, goodneſſe, and courage of ſuch a Lyon as the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah. We are all borne dead (as you have heard) and ſhould never have revived, if this Lyon had not roared over us. We are blinde by nature: The naturall man receiveth not
the things of the ſpirit of God, for they are fooliſhneſſe unto him, neither can hee know them: He is ignorant of God and of Chriſt, and of the will of God concerning mans ſalvation: and in that ignorance muſt have periſhed everlaſtingly, if the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah had not opened the Book, and unlooſed the Seales thereof. No man
hath ſeen God at any time, the onely begotten Son, which is in the boſome of the Father, he hath declared him, Ioh. 1. 18. We were all by nature under the guilt of ſin, under the wrath of God: we could never have been acquitted, we could never have been reconciled, but muſt have lain under Gods fierce anger for ever, if the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah had not ſtepped in between the party offended, and the party offendI beheld, ſaith Saint Iohn, verſe 6. and loe! in the midſt of the Throne and of the foure Beaſts, and in the midſt of the Elders ſtood a Lambe as it had been ſlaine. Behold the Lambe of God, which taketh away the ſin of the World, Joh. 1. 29. For he is our peace, having aboliſhed in his fleſh the Enmity. And that he might reconcile
both unto God, in one body by the Croſſe, having ſlaine the Enemy thereby.
We were in the Jaw, and Paw of the the Lyon of the Tribe of Juwhen he ſaw that there was no man, and wondred that there was no Interceſſor, therefore his arme brought Salvation unto him, and his Righteouſneſſe it ſuſtained him. O the depth of our miſerie, in our naturall, in our loſt condition!
Obſerv. 6. That from Geneſis to the Revelation, the Church of God gives the ſame coat: viz. The Lyon: the Armes were given, Gen. 49. 9. And the ſame Enſigne is advanced here again in the Text more plainly. The Iewes, and the Gentiles have all the ſame Chriſt. One, and the ſame Lyon. Jeſus Chriſt is the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah: And he is the Lyon of the GenMoſes was perſecuted in Aegypt, he bore the reproach of Chriſt, Heb. 11. 26. When the Iſraelites ſinned in the Wilderneſſe,
they tempted Chriſt, 1 Cor. 10. 9. The ProMeſſiah onely. Chriſt began at Moſes, and went through all the Prophets, and expounded unto them in all the Scriptures: viz. Of the old Teſtament, the things concerning himſelfe, Luk. 24. 27. All the Jewes beleived in the ſame Chriſt that wee do. There is one, and but one faith, Eph. 4. 4. And they were all ſaved by the ſame faith, in the ſame Chriſt; who was revealed by Oracles from Heaven, foretold, and propheſied by the Prophets, typified in the Sacrifices. Though Chriſt were not manifeſted in the fleſh, till the fulneſſe of time; though he was crucified in the laſt age of the World, yet the verJeſus Chriſt is the ſame yeſterday, and to day, and for ever, Heb. 13. 8. He is the Lambe ſlaine from the foundation of the World, Revel. 13. 8. The old people, and the new people, they are all of one Houſe, and Family, and ſo have all one coat of Armes; The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah. All this Saint Peter ſhortly concludeth in the CouncJeruſalem. But we beleive,
that through the grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, we ſhall be ſaved even as our Fathers were. Act. 15. 11.
Obſerv. 7. The Lyon is a growing creaGen. 49. 9. to which this Text relates. The PaJacob there uſeth three ſeverall words, to ſignifie three degrees of the Lyons growth. 1 a Lyons Wh
2. he couched as a Lyon. 3. as an old Lyon. Thoſe ſeveOf the increaſe of his Government, and peace there ſhall be no end. Eſa. 9. 7. The bounds of Chriſt's Kingdome ſeeIn Judah was God known, his name was great in Iſrael: In Salem was his Tabernacle. Pſal. 76. 1. Salvation was of the Jewes only: John 4. 22. They were a very ſmall people in compariſon of the reſt of the Nations of the World. But afterwards Chriſt comming in the fleſh, he brings light to the Gentiles. And all the
ends of the earth have ſeen the ſalvation of our God. Pſal. 98 3. Chriſt is the ſtone which is cut out with out hands: (which
became a great Mountaine, and filled the whole earth. Dan. 2. 34. 35.
Theſe Obſervations I have propounded to you for inſtruction, and information. Now I ſhall paſſe on to
1. OF all thoſe that do not bow down, and proſtrate before this Lyon of the Tribe of Judah. Such as receive not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt to be their King, but reHoſ. 10. 3. We have no King, becauſe we feare not the Lord. Or, as thoſe malignant Citizens, that hated Chriſt, and ſent him this meſſage: We will not have this man to reign over us. Luke 19. 14. or in the Language of thoſe Heathen Kings, and mutineers. Pſal. 2. 2, 3. That take Counſel together againſt the Lord, and againſt his Annoynted, his Chriſt, ſaying, Let us break their bonds in ſunder, and caſt away their cords from us.
But are there any ſuch? ſo deſperatly rebellious? Let that be tryed. The deEvery eye ſhall ſee him. Revel. 1. 7. So is it in the Kingdome of grace, when Chriſt comes into men: eGod delivers thoſe, from the power of darkneſſe. 1. Of Ignorance, whom he hath tranſlated into the Kingdom of his dear Sonne. Col. 1. 13.
Go no further then this Character, and alas! how few Subjects hath Chriſt? how many are there that know nothing of Chriſt more then his bare name, Jeſus ▪
That they can ſweare by: uſe it for a Charm, and bow to it; put of the Hat, and
Nabal did to Davids ſervants:—Who is David, and who Jeſſe? who is Chriſt? who is the Sonne of David, who is the Sonne of Ieſſe? They know him not.
Loyalty: Fidelity, Syncerity: to give
It ſtands in Renouncing all other power, Serving of him, and none elſe, Loving of him with all the heart, and truſting in him in Kiſſing the Sonne, Pſal. 2. 12.
But alas! what abundance of diſloyalEngland, that yet underhand were Penſioners to the King of Spaine. So are there multitudes who took Iuramentum fidelitatis, the oath of Allegiance, and fidelity to Chriſt the Lyon, the King, in their Baptiſme: but they are Penſioners to the Devill: they ſerve him wholly, by ſinning, Lying, Swearing, Killing, Stealing, Sabbath-breaking, Adultery, &c. There are diſloyEzek. 6. 9. I am broken with their wheriſh heart, which hath departed from me; and with their eyes which go a whoring after their Idols. They ſeem to fix their Eyes upon Chriſt: yet run after their Covetouſneſſe, and ſinfull pleaſures: contrary to the faith which they have plight with Chriſt, whom they call Husband.
Honour, and feare. Honour the King. 1 Pet. 2. 17. My Sonne feare God, and
the King. Prov. 24. 21. Heer is the Character of a good ſubject, to honour, and fear his Prince.
Queſt. But whereby is this Honour, and feare manifeſted?
Anſw. By ſervice, and obedience. Serve the Lord with feare. Pſal. 2. 11. They that dwell in the Wilderneſſe ſhall bow before him. All Nations ſhall ſerve him. Pſal. 72. 9. 10. According to this Rule, come to the tryPharaoh? Who is the Lord that I ſhould obey his voice? I know not the Lord,
neither will I let Iſrael go.
May not the Lord write it before them in
a Table, and note it a Book: that this is a rebellious people? They many of them know the Lawes of their Prince, and yet tranſDeny himſelfe: they make ſelf their Learn of me to be meeke, and lowly, but they are fierce, and proud. Chriſt commandeth faith, and love: Theſe are the two great Goſpell-Lawes;
Sign. 4. Faithfull payment of Tribute; as Auguſtus Caeſar, ſo the Lyon of the Judah, Chriſt, the King of his Church, doth lay Taxes upon all his Subto render Tribute, to whom Tribute
is due, and to give to Caeſar, the things which are Caeſars. And according to this rule, how ſmall is Chriſts Kingdome in compathe Kings Fiſh. The King alwaies gives the bulck and body of this Fiſh to thoſe that catch it; but he reſerves to himCapita, & Caudas, the heads, and the tailes, as a tribute, and acknowledgment, that all was his, & due to him. In like mancapita, & caudas, the ends of time, the Morning, and the Evening, and what other convenient time may be reIſaac, go out to meditate in the Evening? How rare is it, to finde a man, that with David, will pray,
and cry aloud, Evening, and Morning, and
at Noon.
There is a Tribute due to Chriſt our King, out of our Eſtates; and here the poore Members of Jeſus Chriſt are his ReWithhold not good from them to whom
it is due. The poore are (in a ſenſe) ownAlmes, is as unjuſtly, and brokenly paid in this City, and in this whole Nation, as it is in any part of the Chriſtian World: and this, I feare, Chriſts Collectors, and Receivers will witneſſe a
There are extraordinary Taxes, upon extraordinary occaſions; you are pretty well acquainted with them. Such there are in the Kingdome of Chriſt; in times of trouble, and perſecution, Chriſt calls for thy Goods, Liberty, Life, for thy deareſt blood. Tell me, art thou willing to part with theſe, when Chriſt requires them?
A good Subject will fight for his King: If my Kingdome were of this World, ſayes Chriſt, then would my Servants fight, that I ſhould not be delivered to the Jewes, Joh. 18. 36. But alas! alas! how few Champions
Nebuchadnezzar made a Degree, that every People,
Nation and Language, which ſpeake any thing amiſſe, againſt the God of Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego, ſhall bee cut in peices, and their houſes be made a dunghill: But now Hereticks that ſpeak amiſſe of God, and of Chriſt, and of the Scriptures; and moſt horrid Blaſphemers do ſwarm; and are, I had almoſt ſaid, tolerated, and cheriſhed. Who fights againſt them? Who oppoſeth them? Who contends for the In the multitude
of people is the Kings Honour, Prov. 14. 28. He that is a right and faiththy Kingdome Come?
7. For a ful-do. And not ſo much a new ſigne, as the ſum of all before: Is ſin? Is Satan caſt out? Hath Jeſus Chriſt his Throne in thy heart? Doth he rule in thee altogether? art acted, not by Satan, not by the World, not by the Fleſh, but by the Spirit of Ieſus Chriſt; then thou art his Subject.
But they that are not ruled, and goand they have a King over them indeed; it is the Angell of the bottomleſſe Pit, whoſe name is Abaddon, and Apollyon, Revel. 9. 11. The Devill is their King, and they are his Vaſſals. Theſe lye under the wrath of God: And how dreadSolomon will tell you; The Kings wrath is as the roaring of a Lyon, but his favour is as the dew upon the graſſe, Prov. 19. 12. And do they ſay? we will not have this King to reigne over us; they ſhall be ſubject at the long-run; if they will not bend in time, they ſhall be broI have ſworn by my ſelfe, ſaith the Lord; the word is
gone out of my mouth in righteouſneſſe, and ſhall not return, that to me every Knee ſhall bow, Iſa. 45. 23. They that here will not kiſſe his golden Scepter, ſhall at the laſt, and dreadfull day, be daſhed in peices with his iron Rod. Then ſhall he ſay to his mighThoſe mine Enemies that would not that I ſhould Raigne over them, bring hither, and ſlay them before me, Luk. 19. 27. Thoſe that in time will not proſtrate to this Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, he will be
Reprehenſ. 2. Is Jeſus Chriſt the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah? This checks not onely the arrogance and boldneſſe, but alſo the madneſſe and folly of all ſuch as provoke this Lyon, and riſe up againſt him. There are ſuch, fighters againſt God, who oppoſe themſelves, and exalt themſelves above
all that is called God. This is Antichriſt. And as Saint John ſpeaks in his firſt Epiſtle, Chap. 2. 18. Even now there are many Antichriſts, whereby we know that it is the laſt time. Not onely that Antichriſt, the great Babylon, ſitting upon ſeven Mountaines, with a Golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and filthineſſe, and drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of JeViz. Such as riſe up againſt the very perſon of Chriſt, ſome againſt his Divinity, others againſt his Humanity, and many againſt whole Chriſt: Such as riſe up againſt the ScripThe rod of his ſtrength, which hee ſends out of Zyon:
Theſe are the ſharp two-edged Sword which cometh out of the mouth of Chriſt, whereby he conquers and rules in the midſt of his enemies: And all ſuch as oppoſe the truth, Ordinances, and Government of Jeſus Chriſt, they ſet up their power againſt the power of Chriſt; they draw out their, Sword againſt Chriſts Sword. Againſt theſe the Lyon of the tribe of Judah will roare, yea he will tear them in peices.
But eſpecially he will be feirce and terJacob ſhall tell you: Judah is the Lyons Whelp, Gen. 49. 4. Judah: that is, the Church and people of God: The annointed of the Lord, his Prophets, and his Saints, Pſal. 105. 14, 15. And here I may turne my reprehenſion inOh God! the Heathen are come into thine inheritance, thy holy Temple
have they defiled, they have layd Jeruſalem on heaps. The blood of thy Saints have they ſhed like water round about Jeruſalem. We
are become a reproach to our neighbours, a ſcorn & deriſion to them that are round about us. The Lord hath ſent Prophets, & wiſe men, and Scribes, and ſome of them have they killed,
and crucified, and ſome of them have they ſcourged, and perſecuted from City to City.
I ſaw the ſoules of them that were beheaded for the witneſſe of Jeſus, and for the
word of God: and which had not worſhipped the beaſt, neither his Image, neither had received his marke upon their foreheads, or in their hands.
But it may be ſayd, as the King anſwerEſter, Who is he? and where is hee that
Verſ. 6.durſt preſume in his heart to do ſo? And Eſter ſayd, The Adverſary and Enemy is this wicked Haman. Hee was a great FaThey have ſayd, Wee will prevaile, who is Lord over
us?
Judah, whoſe Whelps they have injured and killed? Let me tell theſe deceitfull and bloody men, two or three things.
1. That there is no creature more ten
2. Let me tell them, they are indeed LyDavids cruell Perſecutors were gaping, ravening, and roaring Lyons. Nero was a Lyon, and ſuch are all Tyrants. Judah is ſtronger then they: Hee is the ſtrongeſt aand a King againſt whom there is no riſing up, Prov. 30. 30, 31. He is a foole that will contend with one that is mightier then himſelfe, Eccleſ. 6. 10.
3. Let me tell them yet further; the Lyon may ſeem to ſleepe a while, even whileſt his Whelps ſuffer; but hee will rouſe up and roare. Some write, that the Lyon never ſleeps, but often ſeemes to ſleep when he is moſt awake. I am ſure the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah doth neither
ſlumber nor ſleep: Hee may ſeem to ſleep,
hee will awake as one out of ſleep, and like a mighty man that ſhouteth by reaſon of Wine: And he will ſmite his Enemies in the hinder parts; he will put them to a perpetuall reproach, Pſal. 78. 65, 66
4. And laſtly, let me tell them a Story which I have read in a learned and appro
A Lyon and a Lyoneſſe, having Whelps, went both out to hunt for prey: In their abſence a Beare entred their Den, tore and killed the young Lyons, not able to defend themſelves; ſoon after the old Ly
This is credibly related: I will not warWhelps of the Lyon of the tribe of Judah, that maſſacre the Saints of Chriſt, are u
For their ſecurity and ſafety they climbe up their tree; and their towre is the arme of fleſh: their greatneſſe, their multitudes, their amunitions, their military skill, their riches, their freinds The rich mans wealth is his ſtrong City, and as a high wall in his owne conceite, Prov 18. 11. They think in their ruffe and gallantry, that none can pluck them down; they vaunt, who ſhall us controule! How ſoon can the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah fetch Hewers out of the Mountaines, and hew down their Tree wherein they truſted, and teare them in peices, when there ſhall be none to help? Jeſus Chriſt can ſoon call in Carpenters, to Verſs. 1which have ſcattered Judah, Iſraell, and Jeruſalem.
And he will certainly do it. I will paſſe their doom (yet not I, but the Lord) and
Therefore the Lord will bee unto them as a Lyon, as a Leopard by the way he will obſerve them: He will meet them as a Beare that is bereaved of her Whelps, and will rent the Caule of their heart, and there will he devoure them like a Lyon, the wild Beaſt ſhall teare them. Hoſ. 13. 7. 8.
From hence I ſhall ſlip to the third Uſe: viz.
Exhortation; And here I ſound the Trumpet again: Behold!
Judah! The Lyon couchant was the Enſigne of Judahs Tribe, and Family. And the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, is the Enſigne of his Church. And in that day, there ſhal be a root of Jeſſe, which ſhall ſtand for an Enſigne of the people: to it ſhall the Gentiles ſeeke, Iſa. 11. 10. Behold this Child, the Child Jeſus, is ſet for a Signe, or Banner, for many in Iſrael, for the Church.
Then follow, follow your Captain, your Enſigne. Eye him by knowledge, by faith walk after him: tread in his ſteps, imitate him. Chriſt is now lift up, here he ſtands Gideon, and ſaith to you all, Looke upon me, and do likewiſe: Or as Abimelech,
what you have ſeen me do, make haſt, and do as I have done.
And here I muſt crave liberty to branch out my Exhortation: and that I may, as a faithfull Steward, divide to every one in Gods houſe their part, and portion; I ſhall direct my Exhortation
New-elect,
Worthy Praetor, you are aſcending this day to the higheſt place of Government in this place, where God hath laid out the bounds of your Habitation. Behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah: Behold your King, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and follow him, ſtep after ſtep: Be you a Lyon alJudah the Prince, and Governour was Judas Macchabeus, that Worthy, hee, in all his acts, was like a Lyon, and like a Lyons whelp roaring for his Prey. The RoLeones, Lyons. Many Kings, and Comthe Lyon for their Armes. This was ſymbolized by the ſteps Solomons Throne: The King made a great Throne of Ivory, and over-laid it with pure Gold: And there were ſix ſteps to the Throne, and ſtaies on each ſide of the ſitting place, and two Lyons ſtanding by the ſtaies; and twelve Lyons ſtood there, on the one ſide, and on the other, upon the ſix ſteps. And ea Lyon, with your Caſtle.
the Lyon, but in their Adminiſtration they perform none of thoſe things, which are propounded in the Lyon.
Be you a Lyon, let the reſt be Lyons; carry your ſelves like Lyons. Let me ſpeak to you, as the Prophet did to the Altar, Iſa. 29. 1. O Ariel, Ariel; that is, Leo Dei, the Lyon of God, ſo was the Altar called, becauſe fire came down from HeaAriſtotle attributes to the Lyon a round face. and makes it to repreſent the Sun, the ſhaggy haire not being unLet your light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good works, and glorifie your Father, which is in Heaven, Matth. 5. 16. And this you ſhall do, if you will take forth theſe fol
1. Behold! behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah. Eye Chriſt in all your GovernHe loved righteouſneſſe, and hated wickedneſſe. A Scepter
of righteouſneſſe, is the Scepter of his Kingdome, Heb. 1. 8. He defends the poor, and fatherleſſe; he doth Juſtice to the afflict
2. Jeſus Chriſt is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, the King of his Church; that's his charge, as Mediator. Follow your BanPaſtors according to Gods own heart, which may feed the people with
knowledge, and underſtanding. Chriſts firſt care was to open the Book. Bring into the City ſuch able Divines, as may open Gods Book, and declare the will, and counſell of God concerning mans Salvation. Give to faithfull Miniſters countenance, and maintenance. O Norwich if thou periſheſt, it is thine own fault: Can you ſpend ſo
Zion. Let your main nurſing Father, be all nurſing Fathers to the Church.
3. Jeſus Chriſt was a Lyon, be you ſo, in the City, in the Country, in the Common-wealth: be a Lyon, be Lyons.
Not in all things, I pray, take heed of that. In ſome reſpects, you muſt ſtrive to be unlike to Lyons, viz.
1. The Lyon hath a faire out-ſide. His Coat is Or continually, of yellow colour, and ſhines like Gold; but what's his ininteriora Canis, Entrals like a Dog. Take heed of baſe Hypocriſie: to
2. The Lyon is ſtately, Majeſtical, comeMarch: they come in like a Lyon, and go out like a Lamb; they are juſt like the yeare; when the Sun enters into Leo, in July, then the ſeaas they were. Well, ſome Magiſtrates, if they be Lyons, they are like that Lyon, in the 1 King. Chap. 13. verſe 28. The Lyon ſlew the Prothe Carcaſſe, nor with the Aſſe.
Some have been better to meet (viz. At their firſt comming on, then to fol(viz. after their going off.) But as for you, whom God hath lifted up to the chiefe place of Magiſtracy in this City, be you better to follow then to meet: leave a good example, and let your laſt works be
more then your firſt.
3. The Lyon hath a foule mouth and a ſtinking breath, and a harſh tongue, like a Cat, or rather like a fire: Farr be it from you to be like the Lyon in theſe: Take heed of a foule mouth, let your very lanLet your ſpeech
be alway with grace, ſeaſoned with Salt, that
you may know how to anſwer every man: Light ſpeech, vaine ſpeech, rotten ſpeech, is a ſigne of a rotten heart; a ſtinking breath comes from putrified entrailes. The words of a Magiſtrate will be watched, and his ordinary diſcourſes will be a great ornament, or a great deformity to him. And take heed of a harſh tongue, I know you will meet with many provocations in your adminiſtration of Juſtice; yet ſtrive againſt anger and choler, and let your tonLet all bitterneſs and wrath, and clamour, and evill ſpeaking, be put away
from you, with all malice. They are Lyons of the Foreſt that have ſuch foul mouthes, and harſh tongues: But learne you of the Lyon of the tribe of Judah: full of grace are his lips. Learne of him, for hee is
meek and lowly in heart.
4. The Lyon never ſeizeth upon any, exſatiati, innoxy; But when their bellyes are full, they do no more hurt. I fear too many Magiſtrates are ſuch Lyons, if they be angry at any mans perſon, they will ſeize upon him and puniſh him ſeverebread in ſecret,
the light of his countenance, let that ſa
They write that in ſome Regions there are black Lyons to be ſeen; too many ſuch I feare have been ſeen in our City: I be
I have ſhewed you wherein you ought not to be like Lyons: I ſhall endeavour next to ſhew you wherein you are to be like Lyons. Be like the Lyon of the tribe of Judah in all things; yea, be like the ordi
Videre,
Video. The Lyon is of ſharp ſight, and ſleepeth with his eyes open: Herein be you like the Lyon; yea, be like the Lord, whoſe eyes run too and fro throughout the
whole earth: Let your eye be every where, as farr as it can poſſibly reach; have your eye about in the Church, mark what is done there: Let your eye be about in the Market, to ſee what meaſures and weights and wares are there: Let your eye be aThe Lyon of the tribe of Judah, is ult.
Viſitator: I will Engliſh it in Daniels words, A watcher, and a holy one: Be you ſo.
2. Juſtice appeares notably in the Lyon, in diſtributing, and in puniſhing.
the Lyon doth teare in peices
enough for his Whelps: for every Whelp enough, and alſo for his Lyoneſſes.
The Lyon is alſo juſt in puniſhing, Nunquam ſe vindicat ultra modum, ſo they write: Hee doth never take revenge be
And herein be you a Lyon: All Magithe Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, The Scepter of his Kingdome is a right
Scepter, or a Scepter of righteouſneſſe.
Be juſt in your diſtributions, Viz. of your favours and rewards; ever counteFor Rulers are not a terrour to good
works, but to the evill. Governours are ſent of God, for the puniſhment of evill doers, and for the praiſe of them that do well. The LyDaniel, but to flye upon falſe witneſſes, and perſecutors of the ſervants of the Lord; to roare and be terrible un
Be juſt in puniſhing offenders, to corIf the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, the Judge ſhall cauſe him to lye downe, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault in a certaine number, Deut. 25. 2. that is according to the proportion of his ſin. They were to moderate the puniſhment according to the nature of the treſpaſſe, and the DeEye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot
for foot. Burning for burning, wound for wound, ſtripe for ſtripe. The Law of reta
3. The Lyon is eminent for mercy: For
The Lyon of the tribe of Judah is gentle and mercifull: Behold
thy King cometh to thee, he is meek: Be you alſo mercifull.
Shew mercy in giving, diſtribute liberalThe Lyon of the tribe of Judah: what did he give to relieve, and ſave your Soules? He gave himſelfe. The bread that I will
give, is my fleſh, which I will give for the life of the World. Hath Jeſus Chriſt given his fleſh, and blood for you, and to you, and will not you give common bread to his poor Members, to comfort their bo
Shew mercy in forgiving.
Parcere pro
Tu quoque, fac ſimile.
The Lyon did not tyrannize over the
Parcere ſubjectis, as well as Debellare ſuperbos.
You ſhould conſider, that even you are not without your Infirmities. All Authors agree in this, that the Lyon hath a contiovertaken in a ſault,
yee which are ſpirituall reſtore ſuch an one, in the ſpirit of meekneſſe, conſidering thy ſelfe, leaſt thou alſo he tempted. The Lyon was made like unto his Brethren. God only knowes how ſoon you your owne ſelves may ſtand in need of mercy: and that, not only from God, but even from men alſo. What you would that men ſhould do to you, the ſame do to
That hee
ſhall have Judgment without mercy, that hath ſhewed no mercy.
4. Have an eſpeciall care of your train: I meane your Aſſociates, your Counſelfeare God, love the truth, and hate Covetouſneſſe. Let your delight be in the Saints, and ſuch as be excellent. Do not vouchſafe to know a wicked, deceitfull, proud, lying perſon. Let your eies be upon the faithful of the Lord, that they may dwell with you; who ſo walk in a perfect way, let them ſerve you. And I ſhall endeaIndex animi
cauda, the motion of the Lyons taile, ſhewViz. of his Train, his familiars, and follow
For the Cities ſake, have a care of your traine: There is nothing more miſBehold, the great red Dragon;
his tayle drew the third part of the ſtarrs of Heaven, and did caſt them to the Earth: that is, brought them downe from mindThe Prophet that teacheth lyes, he
is the tayle: So are Incendiaries: The Foxes they are indeed crafty and ſubtle for themſelves, and greedy of prey; yet I conceive that of themſelves they are not Incendiaries; but yet you know if they have a fire-brand in their taile, they will ſet the whole field on fire, and cannot helpe it.
Yea have a care of your train, for your owne ſoules ſake, leaſt you be drawne aRehoboam was a ſtately Lyon, but he forſooke his old traine, the counſell of the Hee conſulted with the
the young men that were grown up with him. And this was the ruine of ten parts of his Kingdome. Heare, and feare, and beware: let the Lyon look to his taile.
5. The Lyon is eminent for Courage, and Magnanimity: A Lyon is ſtrongeſt amongſt Beaſts, and turneth not away for any. Be you ſo, be a Lyon. Give me leave to ſpeak to you, as the Lord ſpake to Joſhuuh; when he entred upon his place to be Lord-Generall, the Lord of Hoſts. Bee ſtrong and of a good Courage, be not afraid, neither be thou diſmaied. For the Lord thy God is with thee whereſoever thou goeſt. Be valiant for the Lord, be not Cowed, nor over-crowed. They write that there is a baſtard, adulterate race of Lyons, which are begotten of the Female Libbards, which are degenerate, heartleſſe, and cowCrouchant, or current. It is worthy the obſerving in the generous Lyon, that he will run apace through the Woods, and range ſwiftly through the foreſt after the prey; but when he is purſued & chaſed by hunters, he comSolomon, The wicked flee, when no man purſueth, but the righteous are bold as a Lyon, Prov. 28. 1.
6. There be three things which go well, yea foure, which are comely in going. The
Lyon is the firſt, and chiefeſt of them: The
the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah: be you holy, as he is holy. Only (ſaith Saint Paul) Let your Converſation be ſuch as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt.
Scipio a beautifull HarVellem, ſi non eſſem Imperator, were I not a Governour, I would. Let all that are before me this day take forth this Leſſon, let your ConverſaLet your Converſation be in Heaven. Walk like Angels: They
went every one ſtrait forward; whether the Spirit was to go, they went. Remember you are Kings, Chriſt hath made us ſo. Then let your going be King-like. A King may be known by his Majeſticall gate, and deWhat manner of men were they,
ſaid Gideon to Zebah, and Zalmunna, whom yee ſlew at Tabor? And they anſwered, as thou art, ſo were they; each one reſembled the Children of a King. Finally Brethren,
whatſoever things are true, whatſoever things are honeſt, whatſoever things are juſt, whatſoever things are pure, whatſoever things are lovely, whatſoever things are of good report: if there be any vertue, and if there be any praiſe, think of theſe things.
And as I call upon you, to walk as the Lyon, ſtately, gravely, and holily in your whole courſe of life: So let me exhort you, without offence, more particularly, to walk as Lyons, even in regard of outAgrippa came to the Judgment Seat with great Ad populum phaleras. Theſe procure ſome reveLeonem radere, to barb, and ſhave the Lyon: to over
7. Know where your ſtrength lyeth. The Lyons ſtrength is in his head, and in his breaſt chiefly. And there lyeth your ſtrength, a good head, and a good heart, make a good Magiſtrate. Labour thereThis book of the Law ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou ſhalt meditate therein day, and night; that thou mayſt obſerve to do according to all that
is written therein; for then thou ſhalt make thy way proſperous, and then ſhalt thou have good ſucceſſe. And above all, labour to have a good heart, an honeſt heart, a ſanctified heart, an obedient heart. Such a heart as David had; even an heart according to Gods own heart. Which that you Solomon did, pray, pray. Go unto the Lord, and ſay, And now oh Lord, my God, I thy Servant am in the midſt of thy people, which thou haſt choſen, a great people: Give therefore thy Servant an underſtanding heart, to judge thy people, that I may diſcern between good, and bad: For who is able to judge this thy ſo great a people? 1 Kin. 3. 8. 9.
Beare away with you theſe few words of Exhortation; and that you may the bet
You ſhall beare, not Or, or argent: No no; you muſt not be carried away with Silver, or Gold, or ſuch earthly, and tran
It muſt not be a Lyon dormant. I beſeech you do not ſleep, neither at the Church, nor on the Bench.
It were a ſhame to have it, either crouchant, or fugient. Never yet was ſeen ſuch a Coat, as a Lyon current. To flee is a reproach: do not flee away, do not turn your back on Gods truth, on Gods cauſe, and Gods people; and all for cowardly feare: ſtand to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, to the laſt drop of blood.
Neither ſhould the Lyon be over-rampant: Rampant ſheweth his geſture in ſeizing on the Prey. The Prey that a Marampant, but not over-rampant, not over-rigorous; mingle mercy with Juſtice in your Government. Be not righteous over-much, Eccleſ. 7. 16.
I had thought a Lyon paſſant might have done well. The paſſant Lyon ſheweth but halfe his face as he paſſeth by: this popaſſant towards the faithfull MiniState, paſſe by it, connive; do not turn your head aſide to teare, and deſtroy a man, that is precious in Gods ſight; onely bepaſſant: and therefore the Lord hath paſſed over them, even over their faire
neck, and brought them low.
The Lyon therefore which I ſhall compaſſant guardant: The Lyon paſſant guardant ſhewes his whole face; which notes not only Courage, and Reſolution, but Vigilancy alſo, and circumſpection. Be
aſcendent, to riſe up to the chiefe place of Magiſtracy. Be faithfull, and zealous for the Lord.
Be vigilant in your great Office, not dormant; be ſalient, nimble, active, and inrampant; and divide the Prey in a juſt manner: diſtribute re
Be mercifull in giving, and in forgiving. And to the Conſcientious, that cannot ſwallow every Impoſition, be paſſant, go by and let them alone.
Lyon! look to thy taile; take heed of a ſecret malignant traine.
Be bold as a Lyon, Couragious, let no
Walk ſtately; let your whole ConverLeo quieſcens.
You ſhall reſt from your Labours, and your workes ſhall follow you.
Now the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah ſtrengthen you with his might, protect you with his power, guide you with his wiſedome, imbrace you with his merAmen.
To the Miniſters of the Goſpell. One of the Elders ſounds the Trumpet in the care of Iohn the Apoſtle, and Evangeliſt; calls upon him to behold, to eye this Lyon of the Tribe of Judah. q. d. I charge you to mark this Lyon well: And why? Even that he may compoſe himſelfe to the ex& conſtat ex pictura, ſed non ex
Scriptura. That the foure living wights, cap. 4. 7. did repreſent the foure EvangeMatthew was the Man, Luke the Oxe, John the flying Eagle, and Marke the Lyon. It is certain, that thoſe Creatures import the properties of Angels, and are the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah.
1. The Lyon of the tribe of Judah came and tooke the Booke out of the right hand of him that ſate upon the throne, Verſ. 7. So the Miniſter of the Goſpel, he muſt take the Book in his hand: The Book of God, the holy Scriptures: he muſt deliver noSearch the Scriptures, John 5. 29. Hold faſt the forme of ſound words, which thou haſt heard from me, 2 Tim. 1. 13. The Miniſter muſt take what Saint Paul writes, what the Spirit of God holds forth in the holy Bible. There is a numerous generation now in theſe dayes, that caſt the written word aſide, and pre
2. The Lyon of the tribe of Judah, when he had taken the Book, he opened it, and looſed the Seales thereof. So the MiniPreſbytery: And then, and not till then, hee takes the booke, and having taken it hee muſt open it; that is, he muſt expound it, and apply it: So Ezra the Scribe, he tooke the book of the Law, and opened it in the ſight of all the people: Hee read in the booke
diſtinctly, he gave the ſenſe, and cauſed them to underſtand the reading. And juſt ſo the great Maſter of the Aſſemblies, the ProHe came
to Nazareth, went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, and ſtood up to read: And there was delivered unto him the book of the Prophet Eſaias. And when he had opened
Iſa. 61. 1. And then he cloſed the book, and preaPaul gives Miniſters their charge, 2 Timoth. 4. 1. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his Kingdome. V. 2. Preach the Word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, out of ſeaſon: reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long ſuffering and doctrine. Miniſters are Lyons, Lyons muſt not be mute.
3. The Miniſter muſt be a Lyon, bold and couragious in the execution of his ofAnd keepe nothing of Gods
counſell back. He muſt lift up his voyce like a Lyon, and roare in the eares of Kings, Potentates, and the greateſt States-men. The Lyon muſt roare, though the Doggs bark, and the Wolves howle, and all the Beaſts of the Forreſt do yell and grin. A
Thou ſhalt go to all that I ſhall ſend thee; and whatſoever I command thee, thou ſhalt ſpeake. Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee, Jer. 1. 7, 8. Make thy face ſtrong againſt their faces, and thy forehead ſtrong againſt their foreheads, Ezek. 3. 8. Miniſters muſt have undaunted reſolutions, ahd be as bold as Lyons.
4. Miniſters of the Goſpell muſt not forget the ſtately gate of the Lyon: The Lyon is comely in his going. Miniſters ſhould be carefull above all others, to walke as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt: A holy walking, that is the comely walkViz, the light of knowledge, and the perfection of holineſſe; theſe were
Aarons heart, when hee walketh, when he goeth in before the Lord. He had a Robe down to his feet, and towards the bottome, beneath upon the hemme of it a golden Bell, and a Pomegranate, a Golden Bell, and a Pomegranate round about.
Cap a pe, from head to foot. It is the duty of Miniſters, Vivere concionibus, & concionari moribus, to live Sermons, Melius docemur vita quam verbo, Examples prevaile more with men then Precepts. In all things ſhew thy
ſelfe a Pattern of good Workes (ſaith Paul to Titus) in Doctrine, uncorruptneſſe, gravity, ſincerity. In the frame of the Temple upon the borders, were painted, and inLyons, Oxen, and Cherubims: To ſhew what kind of perſons they ought to be, who ſerve in Gods houſe. As Angels for knowledge, to dive into the Myſte
the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah help us, verſe 4. John wept much, becauſe none was found worthy to open the Book, and to read it; We muſt weep, and pray, pray, and weep, that we may be enabled to oand hard to be underſtood. Alas our hearts will faile us, and we the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah do not ſtrengthen us, and put Courage into us, & keep up our Spirits; to him therfore we nought to make our Addreſſes. Yea, in this let me beg help for my ſelfe, and others: wel-beloved, I ſpeak to you all that are before me this day, in the words of Saint Paul, Eph. 6. 18. Pray alwaies, with all prayer, and ſupplication of the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perſeverance, & ſupplication for al Saints. 19. And for me, and for all the faithfull Miniſters of the Goſpell, that utterance may be given unto us, that we may open our mouths BOLDLY, to make known the myſtery of the Goſpell.
I paſſe on now to the third Exhortati
And firſt, Is Jeſus Chriſt the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah? Then proſtrate, bow to Caeſar that which is Caeſars, pay him all his Tribute; of time, of your Eſtates, of every thing. Fight for him; contend for the faith, the truth, the hoWe have no King but the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
To move you hereunto, conſider the excellency of this Kingdome, above all o
He is fairer then
the Children of men. He is the ſupream, the abſolute King of himſelfe, all other eartha corruptible
Crown, but his Kingdome enduSheba ſaid of Solomon, the Type, hath its Complement, and perfection in Jeſus Chriſt: Happy are the Servants, and Subjects of this King.
Bleſſed be the Lord thy God, Oh thou Lyon of the Tribe of Judah! which delighted in thee, to ſee thee on the Throne of Iſrael, becauſe the Lord loved his Iſrael for ever; therfore made he thee King. It hath the beſt SciI have ſet my King upon my holy
hill of Zion. There is the nether Zion, and the upper Zion, both pleaſant. Of the neZion (the Pilgrim Church upon Earth) it is ſaid; Beautifull for ſcituation, the joy of the whole Earth is Mount
Zion, the City of the great King. And what is the beauty thereof? The preſence of God dwelling in the midſt his people, and
God is known in her Palaces for a Refuge Of the upper Zion (the triYee are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jeruſalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels, to the general Aſſembly, and Church of the firſt-borne which are written in Heaven; and to God the Judge of all, and to the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, and to Jeſus. Heb. 12 22, 23, 24.
It hath the beſt Lawes. What Nation is
there ſo great, that hath Statutes, and Judgments ſo righteous, as all this Law which I ſet before you this day? Deut. 4. 8. In the Lawes of other Kingdomes, in humane Lawes, there is the wiſdome of men; but in Chriſts Lawes there is the wiſdome of God. Humane Lawes may be unjuſt, Chriſts Lawes are all righteous, and holy. The Lawes of other Kings may be burdenſome, and tyrannicall, Chriſts Yoake is ever eaſie.
is perfect, converting the Soule. Other Kings they can write their Lawes in Taputs his Law in their inward parts, and
writes it in their hearts. Jer. 31. 33. Yet more; In this Kingdome are the beſt HoIn the light of the Kings Countenance is life, and his favour is as the latter raine, Prov. 16. 15.
They are, and ſhall be all Kings. They are already Kings in a ſtate of grace: Chriſt hath made us Kings, Revel. 1. 6. And they have a better Kingdome in reverſion, they ſhall be Kings in the Kingdome of glory. Feare not little Flock, it is your Fathers good pleaſure to give you the Kingdome. Luk. 12. 32.
Come in then, all you that are yet under the tyranny of the roaring Lyon; follow the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah: And that you may Heraulds; he ſends them abroad to invite into his Kingdome: The miniſters of the Goſpel are his Meſſengers, by them
he ſends forth the rod of his ſtrength, Pſal. 110. 2.
Pray, pray, Thy Kingdome come, Matth. 6. 10. You have taken the Oath of AlleJudah: The Trumpet is blown, now look to it; who is of the Lords ſide?
2. Is Jeſus Chriſt the Lyon of Judah, the annointed King of his Church? Then be exhorted, in the next place, to partake of his Annointing; take you alſo Kingly honour, be you all Kings. The men of Judah,
Joh. 2. 27. Bee Kings.Behold the people ſhall riſe up as a great Lyon, and lift up himſelfe as a yong Lyon; he ſhall not lye down, untill he eate of the Prey, and drink the blood of the ſlaine. Numb, 23. 24.
And here I ſhall give you a CommiſſiApame, the Kings Concubine, in the Apocryphall book, Shee
took the Crown off the Kings head, and put it upon her own; yet in the mean ſeaſon the King gaped, and gazed on her, and ſtill grew more fond. Do you ſo, take the Crown of Chriſt, and put it on; not to depoſe him,
Judah hath made us
unto our God Kings, and we ſhall reigne on the Earth, as you have it in the 10. verſe.
Do you communicate with Chriſt, in the buſineſſe of Vocation; he gaines and gaJudah. Let the Miniſter do this by preachWhen thou art converted, ſtrengthen thy Brethren, Luk. 22. 32.
Communicate alſo with Chriſt, in the work of ruling: rule well in your ſeverall charges: Let the Elders rule well their Flocks; Let the Houſeholders keep good
Againe, Chriſt as a King protects his Church, his Subjects. He is a ſhield to them that truſt in him. Communicate with him as the clefts of the Rock, for Chriſts ſinfull luſts that fight againſt the
Soule. You muſt war againſt your owne corrupt wills, and carnall reaſons; yea, you muſt fight againſt ſelfe, deareſt ſelfe. If any man will come after me (ſaith our King, and Captain) let him deny himſelfe, and take up his Croſſe and follow me, Matth. 16. 24. Beat down rebellious and ſtirring Affections. Exerciſe judiciary power, demortifie your members which are upon the earth, fornication,
uncleanneſſe, inordinate affections, evill concupiſence, and covetouſneſſe.
Once more, Communicate with Chriſt in his Kingly Office, in reſpect of his triWhen he aſcended up on high, he led Captivity Captive, and gave gifts unto
men, Eph. 4. 8. Araunah gave as a King: Chriſt hath made you Kings, you partake of his Annointing, give gifts unto men: give Almes, ſpirituall Almes, corporall Almes; This is a Character of a ſpirituall King. He hath diſperſed abroad, he hath given to the poor: his righteouſneſſe endureth for ever, his horn ſhall be exalted with honour, Pſal. 112. 9.
Thus let me perſwade you to be Kings; For if you partake of his Annointing in grace, you ſhall alſo reigne with him in glory. There are multitudes that will not ſtrike a ſtroke for Chriſt, but let the ſtrong man go away withall. But as for you my beloved, be as the Tribe of Judah, Lyons, Kings. Ephraim compaſſeth me about with lies, and the houſe of Iſrael with deceit, ſaith the Lord; But Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithfull with the Saints, Hoſ. 11. 12.
3. Jeſus Chriſt is the Lyon, becauſe
Judah is a Lyon: then, his Fathers Children ſhall bow down before him, Gen. 49. 8.
Let every Soule be ſubject to the higher Powers, Rom. 13. 1. Give to Caeſar the
things that are Caeſars; Honour, ObediSubmit your ſelves to every ordinance of man, for the Lords ſake; whether it be to the King as ſupream; or unto Governours, as unto them that are ſent by him, for the puniſhment of evill doers, and for the praiſe of them that do well. Feare God, honour the King, 1 Pet. 2. 13. 14. 17. Couch to the Civill Magiſtrate. The DoBelial, that will not be ſubject to any Yoake. Though ſome of them be conPauls Pen, That Magiſtracy is a Goſpell Ordinance, and a great bleſſing. Take away MagiſtraI exhort you therefore, that firſt of all, Supplications, Prayers, Interceſſions, and giving of thanks he made for all men, for Kings, and for all that are in Authority, that we may lead a godly, and peaceable life, in all godlineſſe, and honeſty, 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2.
4. Chriſt is the Lyon: thereby is ſigniHe ſhall roare like a Lyon: Saith the Prophet Hoſea: cap. 11. 10. That is, ſaith the gloſſ: Chriſt ſhall cauſe the ſound of the Goſpel to ſound all the world over. All God's faithfull Miniſters are Lyons alſo. Then be exhorted to hearken to the Prothe Lyon of the Tribe of Judah roares in thine ears. The Lyon hath roared: whats that? The Lord God hath ſpoken. Amos 3. 8. who will not feare, who will not tremble?
You ſhall meet with a remarkeable ſtory in the firſt Book of the Kings, cap. 20. 35. One of the Prophets ſaid unto his NeighSmite mee I pray thee: a ſtrange command, one would
man refuſed to ſmite him. q. d. I will obey you in ſomething elſe, but not in this. What ſaith the Prophet to him: becauſe thou haſt not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as ſoon as thou art departed from me, a Lyon ſhal ſlay thee. And as ſoon as he was departed from him, a Lyon found him, and ſlew him. Did the Lord ſhew this ſeveIerem. 44. 16. As for the word that thou haſt ſpoken unto us, in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. What ſhall the end of thoſe be, of all thoſe, that in theſe dayes hate, deſpiſe, and contemne the Miniſters of the Goſpel? yea, and the veEngland's doome. 2 Chron. 36. 15. And the Lord God of their Fathers ſent to them by his Meſſengers, riſing up betimes, and ſending: becauſe he had compaſſion on his people, & on his dwelling place. 16. But they mocked the Meſſengers of God, and deſpiſed his words, and miſuſed his Prophets: until the wrath
of the Lord aroſe againſt his people, till there was no remedy: if the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah be not hearkned unto, nor regar
5. Jeſus Chriſt is the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah; that is, lineally deſcended out of that Tribe, from the loines of the PatriIudah. Then be exhorted to have reſpect to that Tribe; love, and honour the Jewes: What a deare love had Saint Paul to his Country-men! He calls Chriſt to witneſſe, that he had great heavineſſe; and continuall ſorrow in his heart. That he could wiſh himſelfe accurſed from Chriſt for his Brethren, his Kinſmen according to the fleſh. And why? Becauſe they are Iſraelites, and the adoption, and the glory, and the Covenant pertaineth to them. But eſpeciof them, as concerning the fleſh, Chriſt came. Do you love the branch, and wil you not love the root? yea, though it be but the root of his humanity?
Ob. But ſome will ſay, the Jewes did crucifie the Lord of life, and therefore de
Anſw. Take heed of malice, and bitterMeſſiah the holy one, its true; but they did it ignorantly in unbeleife; and thereFather, forgive them, for they know not what they do, Luk. 23. 34.
And they have ſuffered abundantly for their ſin; as their wickedneſſe was exBut hath God caſt off his people? God
forbid. God will deale more favourably with the Jewes. afterward. They have fallen by the edge of the Sword, and are led away Captive into all Nations, and Jeruſalem ſhall be troden down of the Gentiles, til the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled, Luk. 21. 24. Now they are troden under foot, but its onely for a time. They are, as you ſee, miraculouſly preſerved in all Countries, though hated, and oppreſſed: And God will not forget his Covenant made with Abraham, and his friend ſo many ages ſince. It is not for nothing, that Chriſt is ſtiled the glory of the people Iſrael. Luk. 2. 32.
The Redeemer ſhall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from tranſgreſſion in Jacob, ſaith the Lord: As for me, this is my Covenant with them, ſaith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy Seed, ſaith the Lord, from henceforth, and for ever. Iſa. 59. 20. 21.
For I would not Brethren, ſaith Saint Paul, that yee ſhould bee ignorant of this Myſtery, that blindneſſe in part is happened to Iſrael, untill the fulneſſe of the Gentiles be come in, and ſo all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved: As it is written, there ſhall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and ſhall turn away ungodlineſſe from Jacob. Rom. 11. 25. 26. Since therefore, they are broken off but for a time, ſince we look for their reſtauration, and that ere long there will be one Sheepto meet a
election of grace (as God ſhall call) in the Kingdome of Glory: Let us do nothe Lyon of the Tribe of Judah; and pray for them, that God would perShem to dwell in the Tents of Japhet.
6. Behold, Heer I ſound the Trumpet yet again: Behold! and in the ſixth place I ſhall endeavour to quicken, and ſtir you up to behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah. My laſt word of Exhortation is, to perſwade you to eye the Lord Jeſus Chriſt with all diligence, and intention.
Look upon him, that you may imitate, and conforme your ſelves to him in all things. As I have obſerv'd it in the LimJudahs Enſigne, which they followed in their war-fare; Jeſus Chriſt is our Enſigne,
Follow the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, in His
1. In his Kingly Graces; Learn of me, ſaith Chriſt, that I am lowly and meek, Matth. 11. 29.
Hee is wiſe, and be you renewed in knowledge, in wiſdome according to his Image, Col. 3. 10.
He is ſtrong as a Lyon; be you ſo: Be ſtrong in faith, Rom 4. 20. Be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, Eph. 6. 10.
He is juſt, & merciful, I wil put them he together. And herein he is a pattern to thee: He hath ſhewed thee, oh man! what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walke humbly with thy God, Micah 6. 8. Put on therefore (as the elect of God, holy, and beloved) bowels of mercies, kindneſſe, humbleneſſe of minde, meekneſſe, long-ſuffering. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another. Coloſſ. 3. 12. 13.
the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, in his ſtately Deportment, walk as hee walks; the Lyon hath a comely gate: Let your whole practiſe be conI have given you an example, that you ſhould do as I have done, Joh. 13. 15. Let us walk honeſtly, ſaith Saint Paul, Rom. 13. 13. The By putting on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 1. By expreſſing the life of Chriſt in your lives. Chriſt is repreſented to you here, as your King, and Captain: behold your King, and as you ſee him do, ſo do you. In every Action ſet Chriſt before your eyes; and ever think with your ſelves, how would Jeſus Chriſt act if he were in my room. Art thou a Mawhen we were Enemies? You are Behold! the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah. Do all things according to the pattern ſhewed thee in the Mount, Heb. 8. 5. Do not feed your ſelves without feare. Chryſoſtome wiſheth that people at their Feaſts, and Cups would think of Hell, and feare. The Lyon trembles at fire: Herein be Lyons, think of the fire of Hell, and be afraid.
Yet further, the Lyon loves, and frethe Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, often,
One thing more let me commend to
the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, he is a compaſſionate King, and a mercifull High-prieſt: he went about do&c.
the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah! When you are full, diſtribute of the Prey to thoſe that are hungry, and for whom nothing is prethe Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, take care for them; let ſomething be diThe King ſhall ſay, in as much as you have done it unto one of the leaſt of theſe my brethren, yee have done it unto me, Matth. 25. 40. The Lyon is the moſt gratefull Creature in the world: And here give me leave to inſert a Story, both for the remarkableA. Gell. Noct. Att. Relates the ſtory from Appion Polyhiſter: Who did affirm to him, that in the City of Rome he ſaw the thing with his own eyes, he was a SpectaRome many monſtrous and ſavage Beaſts: Above all the reſt there was one Lyon, who for vaſt magniAndrodus for an offence was brought forth to this Lyon, either to fight with him, and conquer him, or elſe to be torn in peeces by the Lyon, and noAndrodus afar off, hee made a ſudden ſtand, as it were in admiratanquam noſcitabundus: as if he thought he knew him, and were deſirous to know him more perfectAndrodus (who was almoſt dead for feare) and gently ſtrokes his thighs and hands with his tongue: UpAndrodus begins to recover his Spirit, and fixing his eyes upon the Lyon, he, and the Lyon, as knowing one another, began to renew ac
Hereupon there was a ſtrange admiraAndrodus was called beCaeſar; and the cauſe enquired why the moſt fierce, and barbarous of all the Lyons, ſhould ſpare him, and none elſe. Then Androdus gave a full account of the whole matter. I was a Servant, ſayes hee, to a Proconſul, a Lord-deputy in Africa; there having hard uſe, and continuall ſtripes from my Maſter. I was forced to run away. Wandring in ſolitudes, that I
Rome to my Maſter; he preRome: and now ſhewes me this kindneſſe for his cure. Appion ſaid, he heard Androdus make this relation. It was ſoon publiſhed abroad: and all the men petitioned Caeſar that the man might be pardon'd, and ſet free, and that the Lyon might be given to him. And upon the requeſt of the people, it was granted. Afterwards, ſaith Appion, we ſaw Androdus leading the Lyon about the City by a ſmall Cord, from Tavern to Tavern: the people gave him money, and all as they met him, would ſay, Hic eſt Leo, hoſpes hominis, Hic eſt homo, medicus Leonis. Here is the Lyon the mans Land-Lord, and here is the man, the Lyons Surgeon.
The Story hath been ſomething long, I will give you the Application ſhort and quick: The man plucked a thorne out of the Lyons foot, the Lyon gave the man his life for a reward: And will not the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah do more then a Lyon of the Forreſt? Doſt thou ſee in any of Chriſt poor Members, a thorne? a thorn
Here what this Lyon, this King, this Jeſus will ſay to you when he ſhall come in his glory. Come yee bleſſed of my Father, receive the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and you gave nee meat, I was thirſty, and you gave me drink, I was a ſtranger, and you took me in, naked, and you clothed me, I was ſick, and you viſited me, I was in priſon, and you came unto me, Matth. 25. 34. 35. 36. Bleſſed are the mercifull, for they ſhall obtain mercy. Matth. 5. 7. You have heard the word of Exhor
Ʋſe 4. Of Conſolation, Jeſus Chriſt is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah; the AlThe Lord Jeſus Chriſt reigneth, let the
Earth rejoyce, let the multitude of the Iſles be glad thereof. Zion heard, and was glad, and the Daughters of Judah rejoyced, becauſe of thy judgments, oh Lord. Various, and manifold are the Conſolations, I will propound them to you, that your joy may be full, and as ſhortly as is poſſible, becauſe I haſten to a concluſion, and de
Conſel. 1. Againſt all the Churches EO Lord how are my Foes increas'd? And eſpecialRome, and Hell, all Jeſuited ſpirits, all Hereticks, and Sectaries (who love to fiſh in trouthe Lord Jeſus Chriſt is our Judge, the Lord is our Law-giver, the Lord is our King, he will ſave us, Iſa. 33. 22.
He may ſeem a Lyon dermant for a ſeaMatth. 8. 24. But the Lyon is awake, even when he ſeemeth to ſleep. He that keepeth Iſrael ſhall neither ſlumber nor ſleep. Pſal.
The Lord ſhall awake as one out of
ſleep, and like a mighty man that ſhouteth by reaſon of Wine; and he ſhall ſmite his Enemies in the hinder parts, and put them to a perpetuall reproach. All attempts againſt the Church are vain. The Gates of Hell ſhall not prevaile againſt it: The Lord JeZions Enemies in peeces, and there ſhall be none to help. For hee muſt reigne till he hath put all Enemies under his feet, 1 Cor. 15. 35.
Conſol. 2. Againſt our ignorance and blindneſſe: The poor Chriſtian complaines as Agur, Prov. 30. 2. Surely, I am more brutiſh then any man, and have not the underſtanding of a man. 3. I neither learned wiſdome, nor have the knowledge of the holy. And for this he weeps, and laments: But heare what the Elder ſaith, Weep not, behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath prevailed to open the Booke, and to looſe the ſeven Seales thereof. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is appointed of God, to reveale the deHe is made unto us wiſdome, 1 Cor. 1 30. No man hath ſeen God at any time: the onely begotten Son, which is in the boſome of the Father,
hee hath declared him, John. 1. 18. There followed great joy, Songs, and Muſick in Heaven, when the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah had taken the Book; and undertaken to open it.
Conſol. 3. Againſt all our ſpirituall EThe Lyon of the Tribe, of Judah
hee hath overThe Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath ſpoyled the roaring Lyon, that walketh about, ſeeking to devoure us. He overcame in dying, and ſo obtained high Dignity, and became Lord of all. Now he coucheth as a Lyon, and none can drive him from his Prey, which he caught out of the Dragons Pawes. Saint Paul is Herauld to the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, proDeath is ſwallowed up in Victory: Oh death! where is thy Sting? Oh Grave where is thy Victory? The Sting of death is ſin, and the ſtrength of ſin is the Law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us Victory through our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. 1 Cor. 15.
Iohn heares of Chriſt as a Lyon, but in the next verſe he ſeeth him as a Lamb ſlain, ſacrificed: and he is the Lamb of God, which taketh away the ſin of the world, Ioh. 1. 29. He made peace by the blood of his Croſſe.
Conſol. 4. Againſt Defects, wants of righteouſneſſe. Alas, ſaith the poor Creawithout holineſſe no man ſhall ſee the
Lord: And I have no righteouſneſſe, or at leaſt very imperfect, none that will juſtifie. It is true Chriſtian, if thou ſpeakſt of thine own righteouſneſſe inherent, and actuall; its at the beſt but as a ſhort Garbehold the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah: He hath a Golden Skin to cover thee withall. I will tell you a peece of Herauldry: There are uſed in Armes Colours, and Furres. Furres are the Skins of certain Beaſts ſtripped from their bodies, and artificially trimmed for adorning of Garments for Kings, and great men. The Lyon is Iudahs Armes; The Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah is the
is made unto us Righteouſneſſe and Sanctification, 1 Cor. 1. 30. Haſt thou nothing in thy ſelfe? there is e
Conſol. 5. Againſt all afflictions and troubles that the Children of God meet withall here: Poverty, Perſecution, and the like. Art thou in great ſtreights? Yes, perhaps thou will ſay, but alas, I cannot pray; yet bee of good comfort, Jeſus Chriſt at the right hand of his Father, doth pray, and make continuall Interceſthe Tribe of Judah: And you know that Judah was an InterIudah ſaid, oh! do not
ſlay our Brother. And herein a Type of Chriſt, The Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah mateare in peeces enough for his whelps, and diſtribute
Here you have had great conſolation from Chriſts Kingly Office; againſt the implacable Enemies of the Church: againſt blindneſſe and ignorance, againſt all Spi
Ob. But haply, ſome will ſay, is Chriſt able, and willing to do all this for his peo
Anſw. To this I anſwer, and that ſhall be
Conſol. 6. He is able to do it, for he is a Lyon: The ſtrongeſt. The Alpha, and Omega, the beginning, and the ending: which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. He is alſo willing; for this end he was ſent, and for this purpoſe he took our Nature, and came into the World: he is our bone, and our fleſh. The Lyon of
the Tribe of Iudah our Kinſman, our Bro
Ob. But alas, will ſome poor Chriſtians
Anſw. To this I ſhall anſwer with a Caution, with a limitation: The ConſoJudah; onely to ſuch are true and faithfull Subjects of the Lyon, of the King Chriſt Jeſus. And who are they? I will tell you ſhortly, ſuch as beleive and repent, and this I ſhall add as a ſeventh Conſolation. Doſt thou beleive in the Lyon of the Tribe
of Judah? in Jeſus Chriſt? be of good comfort, Sin, and Satan ſhall never hurt thee. To him, to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt give all the Prophets witneſſe, that through his name, whoſoever beleiveth in him, ſhall receive remiſſion of ſins. Act. 10. 43. Pliny writes, that if any one be annointed with the blood of a Lyon, or the fat, the bitings of no venomous Creature can hurt him. If thy Soule be annointed with the blood of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, ſin cannot ſting thee, and the bitings of the old Serpent cannot harm thee.
Doſt thou finde wants and defects in thine own righteouſneſſe? yet doſt thou
the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah? Be of good comfort, he hath Righteouſneſs enough to juſtifie thee. I read, that GarNot having thine own Righteouſneſſe, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt. Phil. 3. 9.
Againe, Doſt thou repent unfeignedly of all thy ſins, and tranſgreſſions? be of good comfort, the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah will have mercy upon thee. They ſay, if the Lyonneſſe defile her ſelfe, and comthe Lyon of the Tribe of Judah. Haſt thou deWaſh you therefore, and make you clean, repent,
and be converted, and your ſins ſhall be blotted out, when the times of refreſhing ſhall come from the preſence of the Lord. Act. 3. 19. Solomon tells us, that a living Dog is
better then a dead Lyon. But I ſay unto you, my Beloved, that a dead Lyon is better then all the World beſides. Chriſt cruciSampſons Riddle declared; Out of the Eater came forth meat, and out of the ſtrong came forth ſweetneſſe: what is ſweeter then honey? and what is ſtronger then a Lyon? Judic. 14. 14. 18. Chriſt crucified is ſweet. Chriſt cru
Thus have you heard the Trumpet ſoun
As the Trumpet ſounded when this glorious Shew was firſt brought in, ſo now at the cloſe I ſound the Trumpet once more. Behold, behold, behold!
I come to that which hath been my deviz. To exhalt Jeſus Chriſt. Here in my Preaching I lift up an Enſigne to the people: I lift up the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah in this Standard. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, ſaith Chriſt, will draw all men unto me. I lift up the Lion of the
Tribe of Judah before you, that I may draw all your eyes and all your hearts to him. Eye Chriſt, know Chriſt, gaze conMy heart is inditing of a good
matter, I will ſpeak the things which I have made touching the King. I will ſound forth the Praiſes of the King, of Chriſt, the bleſThou art fairer, oh King! then the Children of men, grace is powered into thy lips. Thou art full of Majeſty, truth, meekneſſe, and righteouſneſſe, all thy Garments ſmell of Myrhe, and Aloes, and Caſſia. Jeſus Chriſt is the chiefeſt among
ten thouſand. He is the GOLDEN LYON. His head is like the moſt fine Gold, his Locks are buſhy. (So is the Nobleneſſe, generouſneſſe, and ſtatelineſſe of the LyHis mouth is moſt ſweet, yea, he is altogether
lovely. The tongues of men, and Angels cannot expreſſe the excellency of Jeſus Chriſt in himſelfe; therefore love, admire, adore him.
Yet eye him a little further, and behold what he is relatively, in relation to us, and then you will ſee much more to enyour Prophet, not onely a Prieſt, but your Prieſt: Not onely a King, but your King. Behold, your King; And what is he to you? what! Rejoice oh daughter
of Zion; Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, he is juſt, and having Salvation. He brings Salvation along with him for thee, if thou beleive in him, and receive him. He is our Mediator, our Redeemer, our Saviour: He hath called us with a holy calling, out of the Kingdome of darkneſſe, into his holy, and heavenly Kingdome. He hath given us divine Lawes, and rules us with the Scepter of the Goſpell, and with his holy Spirit. He is the Cloud, and the
defence of his Church: A ſhelter to it aAntoninus Caracalla, Rom. Imp. had a Lyon, to which he gave an honourable name, he nouriſhed it, and doted on it. He would not onely kiſſe his Lyon in publick, but he did admit it to his Table, and his Bed: yet doubtleſſe his Lythe Lyon of the tribe of Iudah, whoſe mouth is moſt ſweet, and who is altogether lovely.
I will do but one thing more. The chiefe Magiſtrate hath had his Shield: Now I will give to every one in the Aſſembly an Eſcoucheon, a Coat of Armes; That you may behold it afterwards, and view it for ever. Ever gaze upon it, to engage your hearts more, and more to Jeſus Chriſt. I will give you the Armes of Iudah.
The Beleiver muſt beare Mars, that is red. The charge muſt be a Lyon, Sol; that is, Gold: The Sun of Righteouſneſſe is the Golden Lyon, in a red field, a field of
But as for the poſture of the Lyon in your Banner, or Shield: Let me tell you, the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah hath gone through all poſtures, for your ſakes, for your Salvation.
He was conceived in the Womb of the bleſſed Virgin. Then he was a Lyon Latent: She brought forth her firſt-born Son: Chriſt in his Birth was a Lyon Iſſuant.
Salient. Behold, he cometh leaping upon the Mountaines, skipping upon the Hils. Cant. 2. 8. It was his meat, and drink to do his Fathers will, and to finiſh the work of our Salvation.
He was a man of ſorrowes, perſecuted, and purſued: and when he was chaſed, he was a Lyon Paſſant, he went on, and turn
In his Propheticall Office he is a Lyon Rugient, he roares in the Preaching of the Goſpell.
In his Prieſtly Office, upon the Croſſe, he was a Lyon Combatant, he encountred the Enemies of our Salvation. He ſpoyled
Principalities and Powers, he made a ſhew
openly, triumphing over them in his Croſſe. He was laid in the Grave, there he was a Lyon Dormant, quieſcent, yea, to ſpeak properly, in the Grave he was a Lyon Couchant; when hee had conquered, hee laid down and reſted by the Prey, and all the Powers of Hell trembled; he couched down, as a Lyon Triumphant.
In his Reſurrection, and going to his Father, He was a Lyon Aſcendent.
At his ſecond coming in glory to judge the World, he ſhall appeare a Lyon Rampant. Then ſhall he rent, and teare in peedivide the ſpoyle, diſtribute the Prey amongſt his Whelps: the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah? Should not every one of our Tongues be a Trumpet to found forth Patriarch Jacob: Gen. 49. 8. Judah! thou art he whom thy brethren ſhall praiſe. In the Hebr. there is an elegant paranomoſia.
Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, to receive glory, and honour, and power. Thou art worthy oh Lamb of God, which wert ſlain, to receive glory, and honour, and praiſe. For thou art worthy to take the Booke, and to open the Seales thereof: For
thou waſt ſlain, and haſt redeemed us to God by thy blood: And haſt made us unto our
God Kings, and Prieſts.