However becauſe I delight not to to recede from the beaten tract, unleſſe it be upon urgent neceſſity, therefore chooſe whether ſence you pleaſe, the difference will not be materiall in reſpect of the obſervations ariſing hence, which before I enter upon, there is yet one thing more to be explained in a word or two, and that is, Why from the dayes of John the Baptiſt this Kingdome of the heavens doth thus violently come in, or if you reliſh the former notion better, Why it ſuffered ſuch violence in his dayes more then in former times.

The Reaſons are 1. Becauſe the Law and the Prophets were in force untill thoſe dayes, and then upon the expiring of that diſpenſation, Johns miniſtery, with the Goſpell and Kingdome of Chriſt, like time and the motion of the heavens took beginning together at one and the ſame inſtant; therefore the Evangeliſt hath coupled them both together, Mar. 1.1, 2, 3. and S. Peter hath done the like, Act. 10.37. The Word you know which was publiſhed through all Judea, beginning at Galilee, after the Baptiſme which John Preached. Iohns Miniſtery it was you ſee preparatory and introductive unto Chriſt, the whole deſigne of his Preaching and Baptiſme was to diſcover Chriſt, and to make him manifeſt unto Iſrael, Iohn 1.31. His preaching being in the Spirit and power of Elias tended unto this, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, Luke 1.17. and his Baptiſme being a ſummons to repentance for the remiſſion of ſins, Mar. 1.4. did manifeſtly pre-ingage the people to beleeve in him that ſhould come after him, that is, on Chriſt Jeſus, Acts 19.4. Now the goſpell being preached, which is the word of the Kingdom, it never returnes back without ſucceſſe, but like a draw-net when it is let down, ſome or other are caught and converted unto Chriſt by it.

Omnia prius f •• geban • ſub miniſterto Scritarum & phariſae orum Muſc. in loc.2. Johns miniſtery was mighty and powerfull, above the proportion of former times: the people lived under ſhadowes and dark clouds before, which caſt forth but little light and yeelded leſſe heate, their hearts were as cold and frozen as yee, under the Miniſtery of the Phariſees and Scribes, but Iohn was a burning and ſhining light, Ioh. 5.35. His Doctrin and converſation kindled a light of knowledge and an heat of zeal in the hearts and conſciences of men, which drew them to Chriſt with much violence.

3. When Iohn had once begun this courſe, ſoone after, our Saviour with his twelve Apoſtles and 70. Diſciples came after him advancing and carrying on the work to a greater height and progreſſe, and look how far Iohns miniſtery excelled all that went before, ſo far did the miniſtery of our Saviour and his followers excell and go beyond him, both in reſpect of a more cleer manifeſtation of glorious truths, and alſo in reſpect of a more forcible operation upon the conſciences of men.

And now having rubbed out theſe eares of Corne, come we in the next place to reap from them ſuch fruits of inſtruction as they will afford; the points ariſing hence are foure. 1. That the Church and people of the New Teſtament, is the Kingdom of heaven. 2. Where it pleaſeth God to raiſe up choyce and pr •• ious Inſtruments to Pre • ch the Goſpell (as he did here) there the Kingdom of Chriſt will forcibly come in, and numbers will as forcibly preſſe and throng into it, though there be never ſo much oppoſition againſt it. 3. Thoſe that would have a ſhare in this Kingdome, they muſt not be dull and remiſſe, but earneſt and violent in their purſuit. 4. All thoſe, and onely thoſe, which are thus earneſt and violent, ſhall prevaile in their deſign, and carry the prize which they are ſo eager for.

For the firſt of theſe, That the Church and people of the New Teſtament, is the Kingdom of heaven; This is coucht in the Text and implyed onely as a ground, and therefore to inſiſt upon it at large would be a little impertinent. I ſhall therefore hint you to ſome reaſons for this manner of denomination and ſo paſſe it over.

Firſt, therefore the Church of the New Teſtament is called The Kingdom of heaven, becauſe in the Church, and in it onely the Scitum eſt qoud Judaei na • rant de R. Simeon F. Jo • hai, cum ille vid • ret occ •• em aviculis inſidias ſtruente naudivit vocem caelitus delapſam i • haec verba. Sine Caelis (i. e. ſine deo) ne una quidem avis capta eſt aucupio quanto minus tot & tot animae filiarum hominum. Lud. Capell. Spei leg ex Bere ſhith. Rabba. Sect. 7 • . Heavens govern and that not onely in a generall way of power and providence, for ſo is all the world under that government: Nebuchadn • zz • r when he had been ſchooled by grazing 7. yeeres among the bruits, he came to ſee this cleerly, that the heavens do rule, Dan. 4.26. But the Church is under the rule and government of the heavens in another manner then the world is. God raignes over the world onely in a Providenciall way, ordering and diſpoſing all things according to his ſecret Councell; but he raignes over the Church according to his own hearts deſire, by the Scepter of his Word and Spirit: looke upon which you will, of all the States and Governments in the world, even thoſe that are moſt exactly ordered according to the rules of Civill Policy, Juſtice and prudence, and you ſhall finde that they are but men at the beſt, and often worſe then men, beaſts and ſometimes worſe than beaſts, devils that beare all the rule and carry all the ſtroak.

The foure great Monarchies which have been ſo glorious in the world, would you know what Emblem the Holy Scripture ſets them forth by Dan. 7.17. They are foure great beaſts which ariſe out of the Earth, and to the laſt beaſt of this litter, the worſt of all the former, though in outward reſpects the moſt glorious, the Dragon reſigned his power, and his Throne and great authority, Rev. 13.2. S. Auguſtin is in the right for this Magna Regna, Magna l • tro • ima, the great Kingdomes of the world, what are they elſe in plain Engliſh but Tabernacles of Robbers, dens of Lyons, and mountaines of Leopars, Job 12.6. Cant. 4.8. Copernicus his conceit is here no paradox, the earth mooves and the heavens are at a ſtand, the Wiſdome, the Councell, the Policy, and Intereſts of the Earth, turne all the ſpheares, move all the Engins, and do all in all; but the Wiſdome, the Councell, the Policie and Intereſts of heaven ſtand ſtill, and ſtrike never a ſtroke, carries no ſway at all. But in the Church its otherwiſe, there the Lord alone raignes in a peculiar manner, and his Will is done in earth as it is in heaven, &c. that is the princiall reaſon, others are of inferiour remark which I ſhall briefly glyde over.

2. The Church is the kingdom of heaven, becauſe the Prince that commands there, is the Lord from heaven, Dan. 2.45. 1 C • r. 15.47. The ſtone cut out of the mountaine without hands; heavenly, in reſpect of his extraction and originall, as being ſprung from the boſome of his Father, by an eternall and ineffable generation; and from the womb of his Mother by a Divine and miraculous conception, without any concurrence or help of man; and heavenly to, in reſpect of his Inauguration and entrance into his Kingdome, which was neither by popular Election, which courſe he declined John 6.15. nor by ſucceſſion, for his Kingdome reſts ſolely in his own hands, and never did nor can paſſe from predeceſſour to ſucceſſor; nor yet by conqueſt or force of Armes as other Princes enter. Chriſt waved all theſe wayes, and came into his Throne by an Ordinance from heaven, Dan. 7.13.14. When Peter drew his ſword he commanded him to put it up, For my Kingdome (ſaith he) is not of this world, its in this world, but not of this world, the prime ſource and originall of it is not from hence, John 18.36.

3. The firſt planting, eſtabliſhing, and the continuall advancement and propagation of this Kingdome, proceeds not from any councell, policy, or ſtrength of the world, but from the Wiſedome and Power of God. It is God alone, and no other, That plants the heavens, and layes the foundation of the Earth, and ſaith unto Sion, Thou art my people, Eſay 5.16. As they ſay of Thebes, That it was built by the ſound of Amphious harpe, ſo its true much more of the Church and Kingdome of God, it was built by the Fiſhermen of Galilee, and not any other way, but onely by the preaching of the Goſpell, Micah 7.11. In the day that thy walls ſhall be built the D • cree ſhall be far removed, P • ſc. in locum. which Piſcator Interprets thus, longe lati que propagalitur Evangelium; the Goſpell ſhall be propaged far and wide all the world over.

4. In reſpect of the Subjects who are not of this world, but ſevered and ſeparated from it. 1. By an heavenly Election, They are the Congregation of the firſt born, whoſe names are enrolled in heaven, Heb. 12 23. And 2. They are taken and bought from the earth, by a ſpeciall work of Redemption, out of every Country, and Kindred, and People, and Nation, Revel. 59. and cap. 14.3, 4.3. They are ſingled out from others by a powerfull converſion, upon which ground they are ſaluted, Holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling, Heb. 3.1. And 4. Their trading and traffique is not for the things of this world, but their converſation is in heaven, Phil. 3 20.5. Their inheritance and portion is not in the earth, for here they are but ſtrangers and pilgrims out of their own Country, but they have an inheritance immortall, Dan. 8.10. undefiled reſerved in the heavens for them, 1 Pet. 1.4. In theſe and divers other reſpects the Saints which are members of the Church, though they live in the earth, yet they are accounted in Scripture, the Citizens and Inhabitants of heaven.

5. The Lawes and Ordinances which the Church is governed by, are all extracts taken from an heavenly originall, 1 Chron. 28.12.19. Heb. 8.5. Vmbra in lege Jmago in Evangelío, vtritatus in caelo Ambroſ. copies and draughts derived from the Pattern in the Mount, as Moſes Tabernacle, and Solomons Temple, were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . The Church of God, ſaith Nazianzen, which is the inferiour Tabernacle and Houſe of God here below, it is in all its inſtitutions, rites, and Ord • nances, commenſurable to its pattern and prototipe for the heavenly Tabernacle which is above.

6. The Acts and adminiſtrations of the Church, if they be ſuch as they ſhould be, divine and Spirituall, they ſent not of the earth, breathe not of the world, but the whole ſavour and relliſh of them is heavenly; when the Word is Preached, it is not the Wiſdome and Spirit of man, but the Lord from heaven that ſpeakes, Heb. 12.25. Mat. 10.20. And the Apoſtle tels us likewiſe, that when men Prophecy, there is ſuch a demonſtration of divine power, that unbeleevers comming in are convinced by it, ſaying, God is in you of a truth, 1 Cor. 14.25. The like may be ſayd of prayer, its the Spirit that muſt frame every requeſt, and indite every Petition, if it be according to Gods Will, Rom. 8 27. So the execution of Church cenſures, and generally all Church adminiſtrations they are not ſuch as they ſhould be, if they carry not with them a certaine perfume as it were, or odor of heaven.

This may ſuffice for the firſt point, I defer the Uſe of it till I have done with the next; which is this, Where the Lord raiſeth up choyce Inſtruments to Preach the Goſpell, as he did here in the dayes of Iohn and of our Saviour, there the Kingdom of heaven comes in amaire, and multitudes take hold of it. For the proof of this, ſee the truth of it in cleer predictions and prophecies, foretelling that it ſhould be ſo, Eſay 2.1, 2, 3. It ſhall come to paſſe in the latter dayes, that the Mountaine of the Lords houſe ſhall be lifted up (not onely on the Mount Marlah at Jeruſalem) but on the top of the Mountaines, and all nations (not the Jews only ſhall flow unto it; but how ſhall this be brought about) the Law of the Lord ſhall go out of Sion, and the Word of the Lord out of Jeruſalem, and then he ſhall rule among the Nations. If the Goſpell be preached, the Kingdome of God will advance and get ground among all the Nations of the world.

The like Prophecy we have Pſal. 110.2.3. When Chriſt ſends out his Goſpell, which is that rod of his power, out of Sion, he will then be ruler in the midſt of his enemies, Populus ſumme voluntarius fi • Piſc. inloc In the day when he ſends out his Armies (to wit of Apoſtles and Prophets) His people ſhall be a willing people, or as ſome Interpretors turn it, they ſhall be all voluntiers in the beauty of his holineſſe, and the dew of his youth (that is, the multitudes of children that ſhall be born unto him) ſhall be as numerous as drops of dew in a ſpring or ſummers morning.

2. See the reall performances and accompliſhment of theſe Prophecies. In the firſt dawning of the Goſpell, when the ſtate of the Jewiſh Church was exceeding corrupt, even then by the preaching of Iohn great numbers of people came over unto Chriſt, and by Solemn Baptiſme took the oath of allegeance unto him, Mat. 3.5, 6. And the Miniſtery of Chriſt and his Apoſtles was yet more effectuall, their diligence was ſuch, that they went through every City and Village preaching and ſhewing the glad tydings of the Kingdome of God, Luk 8.1. And the people flocked after them in ſuch multitudes that they trode one upon another; Luke 12.1. And they were ſo eager and violent for the Kingdom of God, that they came by break of day to ſeek Chriſt in the deſert and they layd hold of him that he ſhould not depart from them, Luk. 4.42. And the ſucceſſe of thoſe endeavours was ſuch, that Satan fell from heaven like lightning, Luke 10.18.

All this came to paſſe whiles the Goſpell and Kingdom of Chriſt was yet pen • • o as it were in a corner, & confined only to the Jews; but after that Chriſt was once by his Aſcention lifted up unto heaven, Mark. 9.1. Sic interpritantur illum locum Cal. Beza Buzer. Toſſ. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . then he drew all men after him, John 12.32. then was fulfilled, and not before as ſome learned conceive, that prediction of our Saviour Mat. 16.28, Verily I ſay unto you, there be ſome ſtanding here, that ſhall not taſte of death till they have ſeen the Kingdome of God come with power. The Kingdom of God came with power when the Holy Ghoſt came down like a mighty ruſhing wind, and ſhooke the place where the Apoſtles were on the day of Pentecoſt gathered together, Act. 2.2. This violent ruſhing wind, was an Emblem of the great power of the Goſpell which ſhooke the foundations of Sathans Kingdom, and overthrew all his ſtrong holds, demoliſhed Idols,Rom. 16.26. ſubdued all the learning, policy, and power of the world, and captivated all Nations to the obedience of faith. The Jewes had moſt of them a ſtrong prejudice againſt Chriſt, yet S. Peter with his Fiſh • rs net came over them and caught 3000. of them at one draught, Act. 2.41. The Samaritans had for a long time been held under the power of Sathan by the Inchantments and Sorceries of Simon the Conjurer, but the Goſpell comming among them, thoſe Magick Spells loſt their force, and were un-witched by a more pot • nt and effectuall charm, Act. 8.12. Its recorded there, That when they beleeved the things that were ſpoken by Philip concerning the kingdome of God, and the Name of Jeſus Chriſt, they were Baptized both men and women: When the Word is Preached, its as poſſible to keepe down the Sun from riſing, as to hinder Chriſt from getting up into his Kingdom.

But how comes the empty breath of a few weak and deſpiſed men to be ſo effectuall and prevalent?

The Reaſons are, 1. This is the Inſtitution and Ordinance of God, which therefore muſt needs be mighty and powerfull,Non vi no • armis nec carceribus ſed ſolo gladio Spiritus quod eſt verbum dei tot victorius tot triumphos paravit Eccleſiae Chriſti Poſſidon. de Auguſt. in vitaejus. to bring about the end it was appointed for: this was the ſole Apoſtolicke Weapon whereby they ſubdued all the world to the Scepter of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 10 4.5. It is not the bare ſound of the Word, but the concurrence of God with his own Ordinance that did give it ſuch life and ſucceſſe every where, Mark 16. ult. As the woman of Tekoah was ſubtile, becauſe the hand of Ioab was with her, ſo the Preaching of the Apoſtles was powerfull becauſe the hand of the Lord was with them, Act. 11.21 Zabarell gives this account why heate being but a meere accident is yet the cauſe of all nutrition; It is not as it is a bare quality, Zabar. phyſ. non ut ſo • us ſed ut inſtrumentum animae. but as the Inſtrument of the Soule. And if any aske, How the Preaching of the Goſpell workes ſuch rare effects, it being ſo weak and contemptible a thing, the anſwer is, Non ut ſonus ſed ut inſtrumentum dei, not as it is a ſound, but as the Inſtrument of God; there was never any man more excellently accompliſhed, or more diligent in this great work, then the Apoſtle S. Paul, he carried the Word of the Kingdom and ſet up the Scepter of Chriſt, well neere to the third part of the know world, Yet I dare not ſpeak, ſaith he, of any thing which Chriſt hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, through the mighty power of the Spirit of God, Rom. 15.19, 20.

2. In the Goſpel there is a diſcovery of great and glorious things, which objectively and morally work upon the apprehenſions of men. All objects make impreſſions upon the hearts of men according as the worth and excellency, the uſe and neceſſity of them is more or leſſe apprehended, every man is drawn by that which appeares beſt for him in his own judgment: As a ſheepe may be led along with a green bow, ſo may an Epicure with pleaſures, an ambitious man with a baite of honour, and covetous men with a bribe, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Homer. de A. hill. a martiall man with feats of Armes, and every man with that which carries the greateſt ſtroke with him, and which he hath the greateſt apprehention of. In like manner doth it fall out here; the great things propounded in the Goſpell, when they are ſeene and underſtood according to their own worth, they attract the heart and raviſh the affections; the Arminians ſay, That the Word preached, Vid. Came • . in Ep • ſt. ad viram Doctum. workes upon the underſtanding irreſiſtibly; in the Elect no doubt it doth ſo, when the houre is come which God hath appointed, and when there is an impreſſion of light ſet on irreſiſtably upon the minde, the will and affections are alwayes in a due proportion, equally moved and ſtirred as the hinder wheeles in a coach are with the former, and when both the underſtanding is conquered, and the will caught, and the affections raviſhed, what then can hinder men from comming into the Kingdome of Chriſt. If the Phariſees by taking away the key of knowledge, debarred men of entrance into the Kingdome of God, Mat. 23.13. Luke 11.52. Surely then the preaching of the Goſpell, and the diſpenſation of the myſteries of it, being the right uſe of the Keyes of knowledge, muſt needs be a meanes to give people admiſſion and entrance into that Kingdom.

3. In the Preaching of the Goſpell there is not onely a bare Propoſition and diſcovery of glorious things to whet up and provoke the affections of men, but there is an offer and tendry of them upon the eaſieſt and freeſt termes; as if the Lord were weary of his Kingdome, and would gladly make it over unto men, he offers it for nothing, requires nothing but acceptance and thankes; more than this, he intreats and woo's and ſollicites men, yea he importunes and urges, and in a manner offers violence unto them, to make them plyant and tractable to their own happineſſe. As Lot urged the Angels and offered violence to them to come and lodge with him,In his locis 70. Interpretes utuntur hoc verbo 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & aliis paſſim. Gen. 19.3. and Jacob in like manner was urgent with his brother to accept his preſent, Gen. 33.11. and the Levites father-in-law would needs with much importunity heape kindneſſe upon him; ſo the Lord he ſeemes with a loving violence to obtrude, as it were, his Kingdom upon men,Nolite cogitare invilum trahi trahitur animus & amore, Aug. tract. 26. in Joh. and to preſſe it upon them with ſuch eagerneſſe of affection, as if he knew not how to be happy without them. When the gueſts that were invited to the marriage Supper of the Kings Son, refuſed the offer, Go, ſaith he, into the high wayes and hedges and Market places, and bring in the blinde, and the lame, and the halt, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Luke 14.23. compell them to enter in, that is, uſe all your uttermoſt endeavours to allure and draw them, try all concluſions by perſwaſions, promiſeſ, threats, to work upon them. Gen. 19.26. Nemoſe ab invito coeli vellet ne homo quidem Tert. As Lot when he lingred in Sodom, and was loth to depart; the Angells layd hold on him and pluckt him out: ſo the Lord would have his ſervants to enforce as it were, and hale men into his Kingdom, that they might be ſaved; not that he doth in proper ſpeech conſtrain or enforce the will; for that agrees not with its nature, it being a rational faculty which cannot be compelled, but the Lord drawes it with a ſweet and liberall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a loving and gentle violence, a pleaſing & powerfull neceſſity, which in effect is all one with thoſe cords of a man and bands of love which the Prophet ſpeakes of, Hoſea 11.4. and when men are thus drawn its no marvell if they come and offer violence to the Kingdom of heaven, when it hath firſt offered ſuch violence to them.

4. The Goſpell and Kingdom of Chriſt is of an increaſing and growing nature, it ſpreads like a leaven, Mat. 13.33. growes like a graine of muſtard ſeed, ver. 31. It got firſt into families, then it crept next into Cities, afterwards it advanced into whole Provinces, Countries, Common-wealths, that little ſtone that was cut out of the mountaine without hands, figured the Kingdome of Chriſt which will break in pieces all other Kingdomes, and grow into a great mountaine filling the whole earth, Deut. 2.34, 35.

5. And that which is yet more obſervable, this Kingdom of Chriſt it growes by its loſſes, thrives by its decayes, proſpers by its oppoſitions: it is in this like unto a bed of Cammomill, the more its trodden down the more it gets up, and riſeth; the old rule here if ever holds true, Punitis ingeniis gliſcit it authoritas, oppoſition makes the Goſpell it ſelf,Manifeſta ſetum •• i virtus contra odia humana porrex it cum tanto magis Chriſtus praedicaretur quanto magis praedicari inhiberetur, Hilar. cont. Auxent. and thoſe that bring it, gather ſtrength and win the more Authority: when the Apoſtle was caſt into priſon, the Word of the Lord was not bound, howſoever the Adverſaries thought to ſtop the proceedings of the Goſpell by that courſe, yet it tended rather to the enlarging and propagation thereof, Phil. 1.11, 12. Lo here how bonds and fetters helped forward the happy ſpreading and progreſſe of Chriſts Kingdome; oppoſition at Jeruſalem, made it get footing in Rome the Imperiall City; and not onely ſo, but even grow famous too in Caeſars Palace, the Apoſtle tooke notice elſe-where, of a great doore and effectuall, which was opened unto him, when yet there were many adverſaries, 1 Cor. 16.9. which plainly imports great ſucceſſe in deſpight of great reſiſtance; when the Dragon lay in waite to devoure the Churches man-childe as ſoone as it was borne, he was fruſtrate of his hopes, notwithſtanding all his rage, the childe was caught up to the Throne of God, Revel. 12.5. So in Diocleſians time, when there was ſet up an Edict in the Market place for the utter extirpation of Chriſtianity, the whol world ſoon after turned Chriſtian.

• . Uſe for Inſtruction.See then how great and ſingular a bleſſing it is which God affords unto any people, when he raiſeth up ſtore of precious and choyce Inſtruments to Preach the Goſpell among them. Howſoever we may haply deſpiſe the day of ſmall things, and make but ſlight account of ſuch a mercy, yet it is a favour certainely of as much worth in the intendment and conſequence of it, as the kingdome of heaven amounts unto. Its a ſign that God is comming to Keep his Court of reſidence, where he ſends out harbingers to take up roomes and to prepare lodging and entertainment for him. When Saviours come upon mount Sion, the next newes is this, That the Kingdom is the Lords, Spirituallter ſignificati ſos Apoſtulos & miniſtros verbi qui ſervare dicuntur cos quibus Evangelium annuntiant. Draſ. in loc. confer. 1 Tim. 4.16. Obad. v. 21. God abates nothing to a people of the height of his favours when he vouchſafes unto them this mercy, Jer. 3.14, 15. Its promiſed as a ſpeciall token and pledge of Gods matrimoniall love, Return unto me ye back-ſliding children, for I am married unto you; how doth that appeare? I will give you Paſtors according to my own heart, which ſhall feede you with knowledge and underſtanding; and would you know of what conſequence that is, verſ. 17. At that time they ſhall call Jeruſalem the Throne of the Lord: the Lord Raignes to be ſure, and hath a Throne where he is pleaſed to plant a faithfull and powerfull miniſtery; and where the Lord Raignes, there is,

1. The greateſt Honour and advancement that can befall a Nation. Its that which makes a Country to be the land of Immannel, Eſay 8.8. A glorious high Throne, Jer. 17.12. A Crown of glory and a Royall Diadem in the Lords hand, Eſay, 62.3. In a word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Hero. dian. this is it which lifts up a people as high as heaven, Mat. 11.23. Let Italy glory in this, That it is, for pleaſure, the garden of the world; we ſhall never neede to envie them, whilſt it may be truly ſaid of great Britain, That it is the Court and preſence Chamber of the great King; this is the Churches peculiar honour, The name of it ſhall be called from henceforth, The Lord is There, Ezech. 48 35.

2. As the greateſt honour, ſo the greateſt ſafety and protection attends where the Lord Raignes. The Church, it is the Kingdom of heaven upon Earth, and it is a ſtrong City, having Salvation for its walls and Bulwarkes, Eſay 26.1. It may indeed before aſſaulted and battered, but cannot be overcome; it may be endangered,Mat. 26.18. but not deſtroyed; Chriſt muſt be plucked out of heaven, and the Scepter wreſted out of his hands, before the Church can miſcarry.

3. The Kingdome of heaven is a ſtorehouſe of all bleſſings, temporall, Spirituall, and Eternall; the bleſſings of the heaven above, Deut. 33.13. and of the deepe that coucheth beneath, Irriguum ſuperius & irriguum inferius the upper ſprings and the nether ſprings, yea all Gods freſh ſprings have their courſe here, Pſal. 87.7.Qui poſſidet poſſidentem omnia nunquam pauper erit. Ber. Chriſt hath unſearchable riches of grace and glory, and he makes them all over, together with himſelf, to thoſe that receive him. That State can never be bankrupt, that poſſeſſeth him who is the poſſeſſour of all things; looke over all the world and conſider what good thing we would have in reference to our private or publike well-fare, whether it be riches, honour, wealth, peace, liberty, policy, plenty, proſperity, or whatſoever elſe, which heaven can afford, they come in as additions with the Kingdom of God, Mat. 6.33. We value our Magna Charta much, our civill rights and liberties we count them precious, and yet they are but for this life, but the grand Patent and Charter of heaven Feoffes us in the promiſes of the life that now is, and of that alſo which is to come, 1 Tim. 4.8.

To winde up therefore this clew, Whereſoever the Lord is pleaſed by the Miniſtery of his Servants to eſtabliſh himſelfe a Kingdom among men, there is a Throne of honour, a myne of wealth, a ſtorehouſe of bleſſings, an Ocean of comforts; In a word, there is the ſpring-head where all happineſſe flouriſheth and all miſery withers.

2. Vſe for Conſolation.2. Here's matter of comfort and encouragement, That whereſoever the Goſpell is preached, there the Kingdom of heaven comes in, and no oppoſition can keep it out. The Prophets are wont to make this as a ground of greateſt comfort, even in the midſt of ſad times. How beautifull are the feete? how welcome the acceſſe of thoſe which bring this good tydings unto Sion, Thy God raignes, Eſay 52.7.Eſay 40.9. Rom. 10.15. We may feede upon this cordiall, even on our ſolemne Faſt, in our greateſt mourning, in the midſt of all our teares, this may excite us to ſome expreſſions of thankfulneſſe and ſtrains of gratulation. The Lord raignes, ſaith the man after Gods own heart, and what then, let the earth rejoyce, let the multitudes of the Iſles be glad thereof, Pſal. 97.1. If any other people in the world, ſurely wee of this Iſland have great cauſe to rejoyce and be glad in this regard, howſoever it be with us in other reſpects, yet bleſſed be God it may not,Brittanorum in acceſſa Romanis loca Chriſto tam • n ſunt ſubdita Tert. it cannot be denyed, but that the Lord raignes and hath had his Throne among us for a long time. Tertullian obſerved long ſince, that Chriſt ſet up his colours, and came in as a conquerer before the Roman Eagles could ſpread their wings here; and S. Hierom: hath an expreſſion to this purpoſe,De Brittanniis aeque ac Hieroſol, mis aequaliter patet Aula caeleftis. Hier. That the Court and Kingdom of heaven is as open at great Brittaine as at Jeruſalem; and although in the generall Apoſtacy of Antichriſt the Kingdom of heaven was here faſt locked and barred up for many hundreds of yeares, yet it was afterward by the happy reformation in the dayes of our Fathers, here alſo, as well as in other Churches ſet open againe according to that prediction, Revel. 15.5. After this I looked and behold the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Teſtimony in heaven was opened; I neede not tell you what ſtore of excellent and glorious Inſtruments the Lord then raiſed up,Noſtram doctrinam a prima ejus praedicatione prohibent reges duces & magiſtratus cum univerſes ſatellitibus illa tam • n non flacceſcit ut doctrina humana ſed magis f • oret. Clem. Alex. ſtrom 7. both of Magiſtrates and Miniſters, nor how mightily they carried on the work, though againſt a world of oppoſition. It ſufficeth that we all know that the foundation of the Temple and Tabernacle of God was layd, and the ſtreet and walls of the heavenly Jeruſalem built, though in troublous times; and from that day forward to this, the Lord that hath the key of the houſe of David, that opens and none ſhuts, and ſhuts & none opens, he hath ſet before us an open door, as he did for Philadelphia; Rev. 3.7.8. and although there hath been, and ſtill is, much oppoſition, and great endeavours to have this door ſhut and faſt bolted, yet ſtill its kept open in deſpight of Rome and hell, and is not this juſt matter of comfort, that God hath by his Word opened us a paſſage into his Kingdom which no Art or power of the Enemies can block up? Doth it not revive and cheer up our Spirits in our ſaddeſt droopings; that although the Lord ſuffers our treaſures to waſte, our eſtates to be drayned, our proviſions and ſupplies brought low; though he feede us with the bread of adverſity, and water of affliction, as it is in the Prophet, Eſay 30.20, 21. Yet he ſuffers not our teachers to be ſcattered into corners; notwithſtanding all oppoſition, he ſtill continues a freſh Spring of the Goſpell, and with it the cloud of his preſence among us.Nil ſentit erus in nervo cum animus eſt in caelo, Tert. Surely we are injurious to the bounty and goodneſſe of our God in this kinde, and value it not aright. If it beare not ſuch weight in our eſtimations and thoughts, as to counter-vaile, and more then countervaile, to outballance all our afflictions.

And though there be ſome that would make us beleeve, That we are ſtill in the midſt of Babylon, and that it is not Chriſt but Antichriſt that hath his Throne among us, yet that is not a more malicious then an ignorant ſlander, and tends not a little, were it true, to the honour of that man of ſin: For how almoſt can you honour him more, as a reverend and grave Author ſayes well,Mr. Ball Mod. Tryall of the grounds tending to ſep: then by holding him to be ſuch an one under whoſe raigne a faithfull and effectuall miniſtery takes place, the Word of the Kingdom being purely preached, the Sacraments rightly adminiſtred for ſubſtance, thouſands of people converted, and the way to Salvation and life eternall as open as in any other place in the world, Surely we ſhould be worſe ſcared then hurt with thoſe expreſſions of horrour and atrocity, which the Scripture brands the kingdom of Antichriſt with, if this were the condition of his raign and government. Sed non ſic notus Vlyſſes, I hope we are taught of God to know the manners of that man of ſin otherwiſe then ſo.

But to paſſe over this, let us deſcend into a more particular ſurvey and diſcovery of our preſent condition,3. Vſe for Humiliation. and then I doubt me we ſhall finde but too much ground of juſt mourning and humiliation, for although it is true, that there is a Kingdom of heaven among us, which proſpers and flouriſhes in a conſiderable degree; yet it hath not ſpread and got ground in ſuch a large manner as might have beene expected and deſired.Hoſ. 9.3. A man would think that we who have been tenants in the Lords land, and have had a Patent and Charter of the Goſpell leaſed out unto us, for the terme of more than foureſcore yeeres, with many other great advantages, above other parts of the world; a man would think I ſay, we ſhould have been long ſince a people ſo refined in Religion, ſo ripe in knowledge, ſo eminent for the life and power of godlineſſe, ſo exemplary for purity of Ordinances, Miniſtery, Doctrine, Worſhip and Government, as might have rendred us a praiſe in all the Reformed Churches, and a ſingular pattern and myrrour to the other parts of the world. But alas how far ſhort are we of ſuch a condition, and what great cauſe have we of mourning and humiliation in ſundry reſpects?

1. Its matter of mourning, That although there be ſome, yet we have not workmen enough rightly fitted and furniſhed with ability and fidelity for the Kingdom of God; if we had as many labourers as Solomon had for the building of the Temple, and he had many hundreds of thouſands, 1 Kings 5.15.16, yet all this would be no more then ſufficient, in reſpect or the great Work of God now in hand and upon the wheeles among us. But alas, we have ſcarce the tithe of that number, the harveſt is great, and the labourers but few, as our Saviour complained in a like caſe, Luke 10.2. The Apoſtle having mentioned ſome 4. or 5. men of principall note, who aſſiſted him in the great work of Preaching the Goſpell, hee doth as it were fetch a ſigh and breath out his ſoul in an expreſſion of ſome griefe, for that there were no more ſuch, Col. 4.11. Theſe onely ſaith he, are my fellow workers unto the Kingdom of God, which have beene a comfort unto me: you know how our Saviour mourned, and how his bowels yearned with compaſſion over the multitudes, when he obſerved them to be deſtitute in this kinde, and ſcattered abroad like ſheep without a ſheepheard. Mat. 9.36.

2. Its yet more to be lamented, that we are clogged and cumbred with others, who in ſtead of promoting and carrying on, do indeed retard and ſet back the proceedings of the Goſpell and Kingdom of Chriſt 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , as the ſaying of Byas was, their very help is a diſadvantage and an hinderance, rather, there be no ſmall numbers imployed in the Service of the houſe of God, whom a man would diſdaine to ſet with the dogs of his flock, as Job hath it, Chap. 30.1. of this ſort are,

1. Thoſe troopes of blinde guides, ignorant ſots, prieſts of Jeroboams order, the ſcum and froth of the people. Indeed the ſillieſt creatures in the world, if they were but men, were good enough as one fayes to make prieſts for Jeroboams gods,Dr. Stoughton. which were but calves, but what hath the Goſpell and Kingdome of Chriſt deſerved, that it ſhould be put into the hands of ſuch huckſters.

2. Little better upon the matter, though ſome of them are more learned, are thoſe Loiterers, rather than labourers in Gods Vineyard, who feede themſelves and famiſh their flocks, Non-reſidents I meane, who through covetouſneſſe make Merchandize of the Church of God, and care not what becomes of the ſoules of the people, bought with Chriſts blood, ſo they may wallow in their pomp and jollity. Maſter Greenham wiſhed that this Inſcription or Motto might be written on their doores and poſts, on their beds and tables, on their ſtudy, bookes, plate, and all their furniture, precium ſanguinis, pretium ſanguinis, The price of blood, The price of blood.

3. Worſe then both the former, are thoſe ſonnes of Eli, or ſons of Belial rather, who by their corrupt Doctrine, or ſcandalous converſation, poyſon thoſe who are committed to their charge, pulling down the Church and Kingdom of God with both hands, but building it up with neither; if the people call for bread, they give them a ſtone, and when they aske a fiſh, reach them a Serpent; are not Chriſts flock, trow ye, well provided for, when they are ſet over to the feeding of ſuch Wolves?

4. That ſmall ſprinkling of faithfull Miniſters and people that are in the Land, have they not been diſcouraged, oppreſſed, and perſecuted with all extremity of rigour, onely for that power of godlineſſe which they held out, as if they that are themſelves and would gladly draw others to be ſubjects in the Kingdom of heaven, were for that reaſon not worthy to live upon the earth. That which we reade of the Jewes, Ezek. 11.15. It was me thinkes an exact image and portraiture of the late face of our times; The great ones that bare the ſway, caſt out all the Miniſters and people of God, ſaying, Get ye far hence from the Lord, to us is this Land given in poſſeſſion: oprreſſion was in power, ſuperſtition in credit, Luxury Idleneſſe in favour, Ignorance cheriſhed, prophanneſſe countenanced, negligence harboured, all Impiety foſtered and maintained,Nil pet • avit agnus tantum lupus eſuriit. onely the faithfull ſervants of Chriſt were and eye-ſore and a burthen which the land could not beare; and what was the quarrell? Why they could not reconcile their Conſciences to the piety of thoſe times, the new revived Popery would not relliſh antiquated ſuperſtitions then obtruded were not pleaſing, they could not concoct Idolatry with witty diſtinctions, In a Word, they could not ſwallow the doctrine of Balaam, which ſome great Prelates and their adherents ſet abroach, teaching men to bow to a piece of wood or ſtone, the work of the hands of the Maſon or Carpenter, no doubt a right worſhipfull block, therefore the enemies either drove them out and perſecuted them into ſtrange Cities, as Jeroboam did the conſcientious Levites, 2 King. 17.21. Or if they tarried ſtill in the Land, they were appointed out as ſheepe to the ſlaughter, Zach. 11.45. conſult the place and it will ſeeme a Prophecy calculated for our Meridian.

5. To affect our hearts with juſt griefe, yet more, ſee if there be not a mighty Reigne of all manner of Iniquity almoſt every where in the Land. Is there not an overflowing Deluge of Popery, Atheiſme, Hereſies, Sects, Schiſmes, Idolatry, Tyranny, Simony, Bribery,Merito quis • irari poſſit quomodo in tam diſſolluta conſu • tudine omniumque rerum excepta praſulatus ſug • illatione doctrina tum diu incorrupta perſtitit Brightman in 3. cap. Apoc. Sacriledge, Oppreſſion, Rapine, Whordom, Drunkenneſſe, Adultery, Murther, with all other abominations, that can be named? are not all theſe as you heard worthily from the reverend Doctor in the morning, broken in like a torrent or winter landflood upon us? It was a ſad complaint of a learned and worthy Divine of ours divers yeeres ſince, That there was ſuch a generall corruption of manners here, that all things ſeemed to be lawfull, and might be acted freely and with impunity enough, except medling with the Prelates Myters, which only were ſo ſacred that they might not be toucht: the Jewes have a ſaying, That when all the creatures were deſtroyed by the flood, Noah had a copy of them in the Arke, which was after re-printed to the world; and ſure I think, were all the corrupt Religions, and all the notorious ſinnes of the world loſt, a new Edition might be ſoon ſupplyed and ſent out by the Copies and Paternes of them that are among us. Where theſe things are, and abound, it may be queſtioned whether the Lord raigns; but it is out of all doubt that ſo far forth at leaſt Sathan hath a Throne there, as in the Church of Pergamus, Revel. 3.13.

6. That which may heighten our griefe as it doth our miſery yet further, ſince the beginning of the Reformation none of all out former Princes or Parliaments have ever yet ſo laid theſe miſchiefes to heart, as to make any effectuall proviſion againſt them. Daut animum ad libere loquendum ultimae miſeriae. Extreame miſeries will force a man to ſpeak out more freely then otherwiſe were perhaps fitting, Let me therefore intreate you, moſt honoured Senators, to lay your hands on your breſts, and tell me whether this be not true. What law hath ever yet been enacted to enforce diligence and painfulneſſe in preaching, or to eſtabliſh a learned and faithfull miniſtery? Nay hath not the doore unto the Miniſtry been ſet wide open, and Sacred Orders proſtituted to all ſorts of perſons though never ſo apparently unfit or unworthy? And hath there ever yet been any ſollid well-grounded courſe, either to prevent the entrance of ſuch at the firſt, or to eject and remove them afterwards? The like may be ſaid of the unſuppreſſed growth of ſcandalous ſinnes, dangerous errours, deſtructive opinions and hereſies, beſides the prodigious ignorance next to Barbariſme, which hath been ſuffered to overflow the Dominion of Wales, and the neighbouring Kingdom of Ireland; to ſay nothing of the blinde corners in our own Land, in all which there is ſo little knowledge of Chriſt and the Goſpell, that a man could hardly take it upon his conſcience, that the moſt of the people are not Infidels; ſurely very few would ſuſpect them to be Chriſtians; Who would think that ſuch a Kingdom as this, profeſſing the Goſpell and faith of Chriſt,Pudet haec appr • brianobis & dispotuiſſe & non potuiſte refelli. ſhould ſuffer ſuch abuſes and prophanations, and take no effectuall courſe for the redreſſe and reformation of them. It may be a juſt griefe and ſhame unto us that ſuch things may be layd to our charge and that we cannot anſwer for them.

7. But this is yet worſe then all the reſt, and more to be lamented, That the Publique State of the Kingdome hath heretofore by Parliamentary Acts and Decrees Legitimated ſome of the former and ſundry other miſchiefes:Vid. Mollerum in Pſal. 94.2 • . and is it not a ſtrong conviction of ſin reigning in a land, where the throne of Iniquity eſtabliſheth miſchiefe by a Law? Pſal. 94.20.Qui non impedit peccatum quum poteſt Jubet. Other ſins may be charged upon private perſons, but the publique ſtate muſt beare the guilt of thoſe evills which it might have hindred and did not, much more of thoſe which it did command; and how can that State be excuſed from commanding of ſin, which enacteth lawes againſt Gods Lawes? what ſhould I neede to tell you of the errours and overſights of former times, in which the civill Authority and ſanction of Parliaments hath confirmed and ratified, not onely Non-reſidency, Pluralities, Impropriations, and a dumb Miniſtery, with other like corruptions, but that which hath given growth, and ſpreadth to all theſe, and many other horrible abuſes, a pompous high towring and moſt unprofitable Hierarchy, with a multitude of Chauncellours, Commiſſaries, Surrogates, and other inferiour Officers depending thereupon; the moſt of which have beene ever found by conſtant experience, very bitter enemies to the Kingdom of God; and now the whole faction of them, with all its dependants, is riſen up in Armes to oppoſe Religion and Liberty,Nunquam 〈◊〉 religio ni • i inter reverend • ſſi • os, 〈◊〉 and to ſacrifice to their unbounded ambition, the proſperity, honour, and happineſſe of three Kingdomes. It was a harſh expreſſion, but too true, Religion is never in danger but among the Right Reverend.

8. Once more, look upon all theſe great evills, not as ſinnes onely, but as Judgements alſo, eſpecially that Church-deſtroying, ſoul-damning curſe of a corrupt Miniſtery, which is one of the foreſt plagues that God is wont to puniſh a wicked people with. Its undeniable this, upon the former grounds, for if Paſtors after Gods own heart be ſuch undoubted pledges of ſpeciall favour and grace, ſure then the contrary muſt needs be interpreted as ſymptomes of wrath and infallible arguments of much diſpleaſure: God is angry with a people to purpoſe when he inflicteth upon them ſuch a Judgement, Hoſ. 9.7. Iſrael might well know (and ſo may England now by the ſame token) that the dayes of viſitation and recompence were come, when the Prophet it a foole, the ſpirituall man mad, Ideo muitum eſt odium Dei videlicet in te • Druſ. in • . an heavie condition God wot, but hark what followes; For the multitude of their Iniquity and the great hatred: we are for the moſt part ſlight and ſhallow in ſearching out the true roote and ground of ſuch a Judgement when the Prophets are fooles, and ſpirituall men mad, we ſhift off the blame from our ſelves, and derive it upon others; oh we may thank the Prelates for this, or we may thank corrupt and Simoniacall Patrons; theſe commonly be our thoughts, but truely we may thank our ſelves moſt of all, who by our manifold great ſinnes have provoked our God to ſcourge us with ſuch a dreadfull viſitation, Let us therefore ſit in the duſt and accept of our puniſhment, acknowledging and owning our demerit. If there be multitudes of Prophets fooles, and multitudes of Spirituall men, that are no better then mad or diſtracted, take the Prophets word for it, and write it down as an Oracle, That it is for The multitude of our Iniquity, and for Gods great, but juſt, Hatred, conceived againſt us.

It was Hirams complement to Solomon, Becauſe the Lord loved his people, therefore he made thee to be King over them, 2 Chron. 2.11. And let me ſay in the ſame manner,Jer. 5.6. becauſe the Lord was angry with his people, therefore in Church and State he made ſuch and ſuch Lyons, Wolves, and Leopards, to rule over them; when a Religious man in an expoſtulatory ſtraine, complained to God of Phocas that Paracide, who paved his way to the Throne by the murther of Mauritius his predeceſſour, ſaying, Lord, wherefore haſt thou made this man Emperour: The ſtory records, Biſhop Vſher in his Tract De Chriſtianarum Eccleſi •• um ſacceſſione & ſtatut relates this out of Cedrenus. that the Lord returned this unto him in anſwer, enimvero quomodum non inveni pejorem, Verily, becauſe I have not found a worſe: It ſeemes the ſinnes of the Romane State were then grown to ſuch an height, that if God could have culled out a worſe Inſtrument then Phocas was, they ſhould have had him to ſit at the Helm, and Steere their Common-wealth with a vengeance. And if any ſhould expoſtulate now, and complaine in like manner unto God and aske, Why he hath ſet over the Church ſuch multitudes of blinde Seers, mongr • ll temporizers, ſuperſtitious Chemarims, deſperate malignants, Incendiaries and furies, May he not returne the ſame anſwer, Becauſe he hath not found any worſe; Verily, the ſins and provocations of our Land are riſen to ſuch an height and ſwoln to ſuch a Number, that if the Lord could have raked together a worſe generation of pernicious and deſtructive inſtruments, from any corner of the world on this ſide of hell; Its not to be doubted but that ſundry of our Pariſhes and Congregations ſhould have been thought worthy to be plagued with them.

I know this will ſeeme a ſad, and perhaps too grievous a charge, but will ye pleaſe to conſider how the Lord lightens and thunders, and with how tragicall an accent he uſhers in ſuch a Judgement, Eſay 29.9, 10, 11, &c. Stay your ſelves and wonder, and cry y • e out, Wherefore is all this noiſe? What meanes ſuch unuſuall fulgurations? Sure the matter muſt needs be great, more then ordinary, when the expreſſions are ſo full of horror; Indeed ſo it is, for the Lord was now preparing a Judgement for his people, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i. e. Spiritum proſundiſſini ſoporis. little ſhort of the damnation of Hell, at the 10. verſ. He powres out upon them a Spirit of ſlumber, rockes them faſt aſleepe in a profound ſecurity, and that they might never be awaked, Their eyes were cloſed (as dying men uſe to be) their Prophets, Rulers, and Seers, were covered; a black and palpable miſt of Egyptian darkneſſe, encloſed and over-clouded them all, learned and unlearned, The viſions of heaven were unto them a Sealed booke, verſ. 11.12. Utterly inexplicable and unintelligible: and if we would know what meanes the heate of this fierce wrath, ſee the ground and meritorius cauſe of it, verſ. 13, 14 It is for the Iniquity of an hypocriticall and ſuperſtitious, people, Propter p • etata populi principes & prelati excacantar. A Lapide in loc. which draw neere unto God with their mouth, and with their lips do honour him, but their hearts recede far from him, and their worſhip of him is taught by the precepts of men. Therefore doth the Lord proceede to do this marvellous work and wonder in their dayes: when he would ſeale up a people unto deſtruction, he ſtrikes them with a ſpirit of giddineſſe,Quos perdere •• lt Jupiter dementat. and makes their wiſemen that ſhould be, as blinde as beetles, ſo as they can ſee nothing.

Let me with you patience adde one place more, of many others, to cloſe up this,Zach. 12.16. 1 Kings 22.20. Revel 9.1, 2, 3. Mich. 2.6, 11. They ſtraightned the Spirit of the Lord and ſilenced his Prophets, they liked not their Prophecies which never boded unto them any good, but ſtill, as they thought, put them to ſhame; therefore to fit their humour, that there might be like Prieſt like people; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 If any man, ſaith the Lord, verſ. 11. walking in the ſpirit and falſhood do lye, ſaying, I will Prophecy unto you of wine and ſtrong drink he ſhall even be the Prophet of this people. The viſions and inſpirations of faithfull Prophets, which like golden ſhowers came dropping from heaven, theſe were loathed, therefore the Lord lets them have ſuch as they beſt reliſhed, drunken ſots ſetting all their doctrines abroach from their wine cellar. Doe but turn the key of the ſpeech and alter the Scene, and it will ſuite our condition to an haire. If any man walking in the Spirit, and falſhood, will Preach againſt Preaching, and cry up the divine right of Epiſcopacy with Altar and Image worſhip, and the only lawfull devotion of May games and Morrice dances, for the Sanctification of the Lords day, he ſhall even be the Prophet of this people.

4.This may reach out a word of exhortation, Firſt to all in generall, and next in a more ſpeciall addreſſe to miniſters, and laſtly to our honourable Senators.

1. To all ſorts.1. It generally concerns us all of what degree or condition ſoever we be, to helpe forward as much as lyeth in us, the powerfull preaching and receiving of the Goſpell, which is the onely meanes by which the Kingdome of heaven comes in and gets poſſeſſion: Indeede we cannot all be Chriſts Scepter bearers that is, an Office peculiar to ſome few that are deſign'd to it by ſpeciall appointment; we cannot all promote the affaires of the Kingdom of heaven by Preaching, but there is ſomewhat which we may all doe,

1. We may prepare and make way for the erecting and ſetting up of Chriſts Throne in our owne hearts and in our families and dependants; we may do much, if we put our ſtrength to it to do our utmoſt. If Chriſt raigne in our own conſciences by the Scepter of his Word and Spirit, and the Kingdome of God be within us, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Homer. as the expreſſion is, Luke 17.21. We ſhall then ſtraine our indeavours with all violence, to make our houſes Bethels little Temples, and Sanctuaries, and courts for Chriſt to keepe reſidence in, there ſhall be roome for no ſwearers, drunkards, ſcorners of Religion or any other children of Belial, that turn the broad ſide againſt Chriſt, and will not have him reigne over them.

2. We may hold faſt what we have got already, not ſuffering any enemy to take our crown and Kingdom from us; there is a holy art of violence if we could hit on it, by which the King may be detained and held in our galleries by the chaines of an acceptable and well pleaſing captivity, Cant. 7.5. If he ſee us earneſt and zealous, with all our moſt ſerious deſires and affections, winding about him, and paſſionately enamored and ſick of love for him, and ſtedfaſtly reſolved to retaine him with us in deſpight of all oppoſitions, it will not then be in the power of any enemies to drive him out or pluck him away from us.

It may be we cannot prevaile to advance the Kingdom of heaven to a further extent and progreſſe, and to the achieving of new acquiſitions; but we may, if we be zealous and reſolute, make good the ground, which it hath already won, maintaine and defend all the Forts and ſtrong Holds, which it hath already taken in and conquered. We cannot be all Souldiers to fight the Lords battels in the field, but there is an holy war which we all may and muſt wage againſt Chriſts and our enemies, which would if they knew how, plunder him out of his Imperiall Soveraignety, and us out of our Salvation. S. Jude would have all Chriſtians 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ,Dicant nos praefractos dures pervicaces dum in eo ſunt ut Chriſtum enobis ripiant hic ſuperviſſum ſumus & eſſe volumus, Luth. earneſtly to contend and wraſtle for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints. Here it behooves us all to be ſtout and invincible Champions to take up the Armes of our Chriſtian warfare, againſt Sathan and Antichriſt, and all their Enſigne-bearers: whoſoever go about to encroach upon our conſciences, and to raigne over us in matters of faith and Religion beſides Chriſt, we muſt hold our owne againſt them to the laſt gaſpe.

3. If we can do nothing elſe, yet we may help forward the propagation of the Goſpell by our prayers, S. Paul often moves the people to pray that a doore might be opened unto him, Col. 4.3, 4. and that the Word of the Lord might run and be glorified. Habebat ille verbi tonitruum ſed dari ei viam querebat, ſaith Gregory, He had the thunder of the Word, and yet he deſired the peoples prayers that it might get the eaſier entrance,Nos in tanta rabie hoſt •• a undique p • rſequentuum nihil al • ud ••• amus ni • i ed • re gemitus c •• ſuſpiria ſed 〈◊〉 ſunt bombardae noſtrae & inſtrumenta bellica quibus di •• pavimus tot innotreanum Antichriſti. Luth. Acts. 12.6, 7, 8, &c. and make the ſwifter progreſſe through all the difficulties and rubbs which he knew it would meete with. There are great mountaines of oppoſition that lye in the way of Chriſts Kingdome, but prayer, if it be earneſt and faithfull, will remove them, Mat. 7.20. This was the Engine which the Prophet plyed when he would with his breath blow downe the great Monarchy of Babylon, which ſo long hindred the Churches reſtitution, Eſay 64 12. Oh that thou wouldſt rend the heavens and come down, that the mountaines might flow down at thy preſence; when the ſpirit of prayer growes hot and violent, it melts mighty mountaines, and makes them flow downe as ſnow before the ſun, or wax before the fire.

There be many faithfull Miniſters which now lye in chaines, and ſuffer Impriſonment as Peter did, when Herod ſet a ſtrong guard of Souldiers to keepe him: the enlargement of them were a great advantage to the Kingdome of God, a ſtrong Gale of prayer would turne the lock of the Priſon doores, ſhake off all their fetters, and fetch them out with ſafety; there be many blinde corners in the Land, where the people ſit in darkneſſe, and the ſhadow of death, having ſcarce any more knowledge of Chriſt and the Kingdom of heaven, then thoſe that live in the wild deſerts of America, how miſerable is the condition of ſuch poore ſoules, which are beſieged with hell fire, and yet know not their owne danger: The key of knowledge not being with them, the kingdom of heaven is faſt locked and ſhut up upon them with Iron gates and barres. If we can do nothing elſe, yet we may at leaſt pitty ſuch poore ſoules and weep over them, and pray for them, that the Lord would thruſt ſome faithfull labourers into his harveſt among them, Mat. 9.38.

4. We may and muſt with our prayers joyne our endeavours, imploy our Intereſts, friends, purſes, withall the contributions, talents, and advantages that we have to help forward the propagation of Chriſts Goſpell and Kingdom, that it may prevaile and proſper every where, eſpecially in our own Land. We all pray that his Kingdom may come, we are not in good earneſt, but do in effect mock God, when we uſe not all poſſible meanes to accompliſh what we pray for. If we be deſirous to have a Kingdom of heaven upon earth, we muſt ſpare for no coſt, but like the wiſe Merchant man, venture all we have for this pearl; Wherefore were our eſtates given us, but to honour God, advantage our ſelves and helpe our neighbours? which we can no way procure more effectually then by laying them out to purchaſe a ſound Miniſtery, we can never put out our wealth to a nobler uſe; riches are then Goods, when they are thus imployed: if there be any other, this is the beſt way to make our ſelves friends of the unrighteous Mammon, Luke 16.9. We may at once ingage God and man to be our friends by this courſe. For what can be more to the honour of God,Tyrii ad Chriſtum converſi divitias ſuas conſerunt ad uſus Sanctos, i. e. ad Cultum dei & ſuſtentionem miniſterii Evangelici, Piſc. or benefit of man What more acceptable to both then to do with our Eſtates as 〈◊〉 did after its converſion, write upon them Holineſſe to the Lord, L • in 23.18. Happy are thoſe ſtones, ſaith the Philoſopher, of which Temples are made; and happy is that Sacred Revenue, ſay I, which is imployed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , to make a bridge for men to go to heaven by. Oh that ſome common ſtock might be raiſed for this purpoſe. There was an honourable deſign on foot ſome few yeeres ſince, for the buying out of Impropriations, and the redeeming of the Churches patrimony; it was a worke of as eminent piety and charity as ever any this Age hath produced, and the ſtopping of it by ſome execrable inſtruments, was an act of as pure Sathanicall malice againſt, the glory of Chriſt, and the Soules of men, as ever iſſued out of Hell; and were there no other exception againſt ſome great Incendiaries but this, it were enough to render their perſons hatefull, and their memory infamous to all generations.

But howſoever all are intereſſed in this, yet the Miniſters of the Goſpell it belongs to them in a more ſpeciall manner,2. To Miniſters. to endeavour the proſperity, honour, and enlargement of Chriſts Kingdome; their very office and calling, beſpeakes this at their hands, wherefore elſe are they appointed of God and ſeparated from others,Oratio ejus Tonitraum vita ſulgar. Nazian. de Baſil. but to be both by their preaching and converſation builders of his houſe, Stewards in his family, Watchmen in his City, Labourers in his Vineyard, burning Lamps in his Temple: the ſucceſſe and fortune of Chriſts Kingdome depends next unto God upon the Iſſue of their endeavours. If they whoſe office it is to attend the Sanctuary, had but the fire of the Sanctuary burning on the Altar of their own hearts; If they were like John the Baptiſt, Burning and ſhining lights, oh what a goodly light of knowledge, and flame of zeale, would be kindled in the hearts of the people; How would multitudes come flowing in, to borrow fire from their hearth, and light their candles at their Lampes? What a ſingular honour would this be to have it recorded as ('tis here of John) That from the days of ſuch and ſuch a Miniſter, ſince the time of his arivall and continuance, in ſuch and ſuch a Congregation, with the parts adjacent, there hath bin great contention, much wreſtling and violence for the Kingdome of heaven, great trading and trafficking for remiſſion of ſinnes, the Graces of the Spirit, which before were ſcarce at all looked after.

How much better were this, then to have it left upon record, That ſince the entrance of ſuch and ſuch a Dumbe Miniſter or lazie Drone, there hath been a great decay of Religion and piety, a great famine of the Word, with a Mighty Inundation of Popery, Atheiſme, and all Prophanneſſe, ſince the entrance of ſuch Idoll Sheepheards, and Prieſts of Baalam; all vices have grown, all vertues withered: What a wofull account will ſuch men have at the day of judgement, when it ſhall be charged upon them, as upon the Phariſees, That they neither entred themſelves into the Kingdome of God, and that they hindred others that were deſirous to enter; moleſting, diſcouraging, and doing what they could, to caſt them out with a rage, that reached as high as heaven; with ſuch a violence as this, they will finde that God was not, nor ever will be well pleaſed.

3. To the Parliament.I deſcend to that part of this Exhortation which concernes our honourable Senators: If powerfull and plentifull preaching of the Goſpell, be the next way to bring down the Kingdome of heaven among us; you ſee then Worthy Patriots, what it is which the Lord and his people expect and call for at your hands. The generall complaint is from every corner of the Land, That the people have been for a long time almoſt quite without the true God, and without a teaching Prieſt, and without the Law, as the Iſraelites were, 2 Chron. 15 3. No Miniſtery, no Worſhip, no Ordinances, or that which is little better then none; and the generall requeſt and deſire is like to that motion of the man of Macedonia, That you would ſend ſome over to helpe them. If therefore the glory of Jeſus Chriſt and the Salvation of his people, bought with his own blood, be deare and precious unto you, as we know they are. If ever you deſire to have the honour of being the chiefeſt Inſtruments to plant a new heaven and a new earth in this Land, Helpe every Congregation to faithfull Paſtors, and pure Ordinances; you are as Joſhuah and Zerubbabel, the two Olive-branches, or the two anointed ones, which ſtand before the Lord of the whole earth; Oh let the golden Oyle ſtill ſtream out in abundance from you to feede the Lamps of the golden Candleſtick, Zach. 4.12, 14.Hi ſunt duo ſilli magnatum qui ſtant coram Domino totius terrae. Chal. Paraphraſtes. God hath made you nurſing fathers, and nurſing mothers to his Church, bleſſed be God we have found you ſuch: Go on ſtill with your honour, and make yet more full and liberall proviſions for all the children of his family; by this meanes Religion and the Church ſhall flouriſh more than ever, and thouſand, thouſands, ſhall bleſſe God for you.

If you would ſtraine your ſelves to do a work of the richeſt merit, and grandeſt importance for the Churches of Chriſt, I do not know any other that may be of ſuperiour, or but of equall conſideration with this, which among many things uſefull is without all doubt, That one thing mainely neceſſary, Luke 10.42. The Kingdome of God cannot be held up without this, The key of knowledge (you know the cuſtody of it, in the Prieſts lips) it is the key of heaven; take away this, and ſuppoſe the whole land were paved with gold, and walled with rockes of Adamant; ſuppoſe we were crowned like the fortunate Iſlands, with the richeſt confluence of all worldly proſperity, honour and happineſſe:Satius erat ſolem non lucere quam Johannem non docere ſic populus de Chryſ. in vita ejus. what would all this availe whiles the heavens are ſhut up and faſt locked againſt us. Take away a right Miniſtery and what is the moſt flouriſhing Common-wealth? but as a Paradiſe without the tree of life, as the firmament without the Sun, or as a goodly Palace richly furniſhed and hung about with ſtately ornaments, but without any windowes to let in the light of heaven.

Among all the Religious and worthy Acts of Jehoſhaphat, this is recorded as one of the chiefe, 2 Chron. 17.7, 8 9. That he ſent his Princes, and with them the Levites, to teach the People in the Cities of Judah, and I neede not tell you, for its well knowne how proſperous and ſucceſſefull that deſign prooved. I doubt not but this practiſe of that incomparable Prince, will be ſet up unto you, as a pattern for imitation. Bleſſed be God ye have begun well, I ſhall neede to ſay nothing, but as that Greek Commander ſaid unto Teucer, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , go on and proſper, Gather out of the Kingdome of our God, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , all things and perſons, that are offenſive and that do Iniquity, Mat. 13.41. Ye have diſplaced ſundry unworthy and ſcandalous ones, which like drones cumbred the hive and preyed upon the honey, which ſhould have ſerved for the laborious Bees; take the ſame courſe with the reſt, Remove the ſtumbling blockes, Eſay 62.10. prepare the way of the people, lift up a ſtandard that they may flocke to it, as doves to their windowes, this is the way to leave the Church a Pallace of Marble, which you found as a cottage of brick. I have inſiſted but too long upon this, wherefore I paſſe it over, and come to the next. Thoſe that would put in for a ſhare in this Kingdome, they muſt not be dull and ſluggiſh, but earneſt and violent in purſuance of it.

There is indeed a violence, nothing praiſe-worthy, held out in Scripture, which is either, 1. In generall, when men put forth themſelves to the uttermoſt, and draw out their ſtrength in any ſinfull way, be it what it will, As the Prieſts and people when Ahab-like they ſold themſelves over to Idols, and the full bent and ſway of their ſpirits was unto ſin, here was a violence, ſuch as it was, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sept. Jer. 23.10. Their courſe was evill and their force not right. Or 2. There is a violence taken in a more ſpeciall and reſtrained fence, which is all one with oppreſſion and rapine pillaging, ſpoyling, plundering, and other ſuch practiſes which Jehoiakim that wicked Prince is branded for Jer. 22.17. John the Baptiſt reads a Lecture to the Souldiers that came to his Baptiſme,Luk 3.14. to beware of this violence, it being ſuch a character as leaſt of all ſuits with thoſe that pretend towards the Kingdome of heaven, S. Paul is peremptory, that none ſuch ſhall ever come there, 1 Cor. 6.10.

It is a violence quite of another nature and ſtraine, which is here hinted unto and commended. An honeſt and juſt violence, an holy Rapine, a lawfull and heavenly Robbery, a divine Sacriledge, which to give you in a word a rude and curſory deſcription of it, is nothing elſe, But a vehement bent of deſires, affections, endeavours, intenſively aſpiring, and reaching after the Kingdome of God, and greedily laying hold of all helpes, meanes, and advantages which may conduce and tend thereunto.

We have ſundry inſtances in Scripture of ſuch a violence as this. The woman of Canaan, Mark 7.27. ſhe was ſo obſtinate in driving on her deſign, that ſhe could not be beaten off, no not with repulſes, the more Diſcouragements ſhe had, ſo much the more reſolute and violent ſhe grew, taking a ſtrong hold-faſt of Chriſt, and cleaving to him like a bur, and never giving him over till ſhe had got what ſhe came for. So the blind man which ſate begging by the high-way-ſide, you may enter him into ſame Liſt, When he heard that Jeſus paſſed by, he cryed after him with a loud voyce, and when the Diſciples diſcouraged him, he cryed yet out the more a great deale, and clamored after him, Jeſus thou ſon of David have mercy on me, Luke 18.35. And were not thoſe Auditors of Chriſt exceeding violent who thronged after him in ſuch crowdes that they trode upon one another, Luke 12.1. and thoſe alſo no leſſe, who forced their acceſſe unto Chriſt by digging through ſtone walls, and uncovering the roofe of the houſe where he was? Mark. 2.4. What ſhould I neede to ſtand upon particular Inſtances, the Scripture is full of them every where. The Souldiers, Publicans, and Harlots,Surgunt Indocti & caelum rapiunt & nos cum doctrinis noſtris ſinc corde ecce ubi volutamur in carne ac ſanguine, Aug. in thoſe dayes, they roſe up in great numbers and took the Kingdome of heaven by force; whiles the Phariſees and Scribes and thoſe profound Schollers were left behind. Thoſe that ſeemed firſt were the laſt, and they that were laſt proved firſt. This violent Diſpoſition and ſtraine of Spirit, I ſhall endeavour to ſhew wherein it conſiſts, how it workes and wherefore it is ſo requiſite and neceſſary.

1. Therefore this violence conſiſts in earneſt and vehement deſires. 2. In ſtedfaſt purpoſes and Reſolutions. 3. In ſtirring and impetuous indeavours. To begin with the firſt of theſe. Earneſt and vehement deſires; They are the next and moſt immediate iſſues, and out-goings of the ſoule, the feete on which it runnes, the wings on which it mounts and flyes towards the object deſired and longed for; and theſe deſires are either good or evill, carnall or ſpirituall, thereafter as the object is, on which they fix, and the order and manner in which they move. A man may know what the conſtitution and temper of his ſpirit is in relation to the Kingdome of God, if he can but diſcerne how the pulſes of his deſire beate, and what the chiefe and principall thing is, which the moſt quick and violent motions and ebullitions of his heart workes after. If a man be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as the Philoſopher ſpake, a Citizen and inhabitant of this world, his deſires grovell on the earth, he pants after riches, honours, pleaſures, reliſheth nothing elſe; but now on the other ſide, if a man be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , a Citizen and inhabitant of another world, then the currant and full ſtreame of his deſires is ſtill riſing and working up towards heaven, He will pant after God, as the chaſed Hart doth for the water brookes, Pſal. 42. And thirſt for him as the dry and parched ground doth for ſhowres of raine, Pſal 63 1. He will long (like a woman with child) for his Salvation, Pſal 119.174. and if it be deferred he will faint and fall into a ſwoune, Pſal. 119.81, 82. And be ſick of love, Cant. 5.8. Such deſires as theſe are violent, and they are of ſuch force and prevalence that nothing can withſtand them.Tae • am quiſque pot • ſt in negotio religionis quantu • optime vehementiſſim • que vult, Cam. A man may do what he will and carry what he will in matters of Religion if he have but earneſt and vehement deſires, Matth. 7. Aske and it ſhall be given you, ſeeke and ye ſhall finde, knocke and it ſhall be opened unto you, This asking, ſeeking, knocking, is nothing elſe but prayer; and prayer is nothing elſe but the ejaculation or darting out of earneſt and impetuous deſires, which pierce the clouds and ſtrike up unto God, get into his boſome, charme his wrath, opens or ſhuts his hands, extorts mercies, removes Judgements, and never will away without its errand.

This is that golden Key, as one fitly calls it, which can open all lockes,Vehementiſſimum à ſiderium eſt elavis aurea totius proſectus in regno Dei Harph. Theol. m • ſt. remove all barres, raigne over all Impediments in heaven and earth. Its a kinde of omnipotent thing that can prevaile with God and man above all expreſſions and thoughts. As they write of Proteus, that when any came to conſult with him, and to receive Oracles from him, he would at the firſt turne himſelfe into a thouſand varieties of colours and ſhapes, but if they preſſed on him with importunity, and held him hard and cloſe to it, he would then give them at laſt ſatisfactory oracles; So the Lord, though he ſeeme for a while to neglect and take little or no knowledge of the deſires of his people, and ſeemes to put them off, and winde from them, yet when their deſires grow violent, and when they knock at his gates with importunitie, then he lets them be their owne carvers, and is content that they ſhould raviſh from him whatſoever they will. By this you may ſee how ſtrong and forcible deſires be, though they ſeeme but of a ſoft and gentle ſtraine, they raviſh the objects they are ſet on; As if a man looke upon an object of beauty, and luſt after it, you know what interpretation our Saviour makes of that; ſo if a man look upon the Kingdom of heaven, and luſt after it, he hath already raviſhed it in his heart.

2. This violent diſpoſition and ſtraine of ſpirit diſcovers it ſelfe in ſtedfaſt purpoſes and reſolutions, Reſolution it is the ſpring of Action. Its that which poyſeth and ſteeres a mans courſe, ſuch as our purpoſes and reſolutions are, ſuch be our actions and enterprizes, the hand of the dyall goes without, as the weights and wheels of the clock turn it within; ſo the head plots, the hand acts, according to the ſway of a well or ill ſetled Reſolution. The heart ſaith (if it be ſet right for heaven) I muſt and will have the Kingdom of God; let honours and wealth go which way they will, to ſet up Chriſt upon his Throne, that he may raigne in heaven and earth, and in the hearts of men: Though it be a difficult, a painefull, and chargeable deſigne; yet this I muſt and will drive to the worlds end; let other things ſink or ſwim, proſper or wither, it skills not, the Goſpell of Chriſt ſhall prevaile with me univerſally; let the world lye at ſix and ſeven, this courſe I muſt and will follow, though all the duſt of the earth, ſands on the ſhore, and tyles of houſes were devills, this I will ſet in hand with, come what will come; ſuch a reſolution as this is violent, and it will overcome all reſiſtance, and make a man with a full purpoſe of heart cleave unto God, Act. 11.29.

We may ſee a lively portraict of ſuch a ſpirit, in the Apoſtle S. Paul, Act. 20.22. He went bound in the ſpirit, as in a chaine, to Jeruſalem, and though he knew himſelfe, and others told him too, by the inſpiration and inſtinct of the ſpirit, That nothing but bonds and impriſonments waited for him in euery City, yet all this could not move him, he had ſuch a magnanimous and adamantine reſolution to go through with his work, and fulfill his miniſtery; that his life was not at all deare unto him, neither did he ſet any value on it in compariſon of the ſervice which he was now upon. So true is that of the Spouſe, Cant. 8.6, 7. Love is as ſtrong as death, zeale as hard (i.e. inexorable) as the grave, much water cannot quench it, neither can the floods drown it, no difficulties or oppoſitions can allay or abate, much leſſe extinguiſh the heate of it, If a man would give all the ſubſtance of his houſe for it, it would be utterly contemned.

The whole world, though vayled with the moſt glorious and gliſtering temptations, would be ſcorned, as too meane and poore a bribe, to draw off the heart of a man from the kingdom of God, when it is once well fixed and ſteeled with a firme and adamantine reſolution; no diſwaſions, ſloth, feare, policy, covetouſneſſe, fickleneſſe, nor any other thing, can either divert, or ſtop, or interrupt him in his enterprize.Eſto obſirmatus ad morem pardi ad faciendum voluntatem patris t • i qu • eſt in caelo, Druſ. praer. ex libro Abeth. When a man is thus obſtinately and couragiouſly bent unto his worke, this is violence well pleaſing unto God. The Jewes have a ſaying, That a man ſhould ſet his face as a flint, and that his countenance ſhould be like a Leopard, ſtout and ſtearn and obſtinate to do the will of his father in heaven.

3. This conſiſts in ſtrong and ſerious endeavours; A man is not violent in matters of the Kingdome of God, if he do not put forth himſelfe into action, trying every concluſion, rolling every ſtone, and leaving nothing unattempted that may conduce to the atchieving of his end. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ariſt. Every man ſaith the Philoſopher, workes as he is, and his acts, and operations are ſuch as his principles. If the inward principles of his deſires beat faintly, if his purpoſes faulter and reele and be not ſteady and conſtant, then his Actings in like manner, will either be none at all, or feeble, and unſpirited, and conſequently fruitleſſe and bootleſſe; as an arrow weakely ſhot off will not carry home, but fall ſhort of the mark; and ſhort ſhooting, we ſay, looſeth many a game; it doth ſo in religion alſo: but now, when the deſires are as hot as a flame, and the purpoſes as ſtrong as ſteele, then to be ſure vigorous and Spirited endeavours will follow unavoydably. The Church in Solomons Song may ſerve for an inſtance to cleer this; for a long time ſhe lay languiſhing, and as I may ſay wind-bound; no excitations, wooings, or entreaties of her lover could prevaile, to get her up out of her warme bed, her ſecure and ſlumbring condition; ſome velleities and imperfect wiſhings and wouldings ſhe had, but ſtill the door was locked againſt Chriſt; her will was not bowed, there lay the inward impediment, the will was but halfe ſtirred, and therefore no ariſing, no motion, till Chriſt comes and puts in his hand to the hole of the doore, and takes away the bar, ſhoots the bolt, removes the Impediments, and then her bowels were affected and moved towards him, Then ſhe aroſe and ſought him with a curious diligence every where, her hands beſtirred themſelves till they ſweat, till they dropt againe, O • nis animae motus radix eſt amor. Pariſ. quodlibet agens propter amorem agit qoud cunque agit. Aqui. 1.2. q. 28. art. 6. her feete trudges up and down the ſtreets to finde him whom her ſoule loved, and a world now for them that could tell her of any tydings of him, Cant. 5.2, 3, 4, 5, &c.

Its a true ſaying, That love is the roote and principle of all the motions of the ſoul; for though there be other affections, and thoſe active, yet all are reducible to love; and in the ſtrength thereof they Act, and put all the wheeles of the ſoule in motion, as David when his heart was caught with a violent paſſion of love towards God, how doth he extend and ſpread out his armes, and put forth all oares and ſailes in a ſtrong purſuance after him. Pſal. 63.8. My ſoule followeth hard after thee: there was never a more difficult and in humane view, a more unfeaſible deſign then that of the Jewes in Nehemiahs time, when they were to build the houſe of God, they had a potent faction at Court, and malignant Councellours at home, to retard and ſtop the proceedings of the work, they were faine to build with a trowell in one hand, and a ſword in the other, yet they prevailed againſt all difficulties, and this is given in account at the reaſon of it, The people had a minde to worke, Neh. 4.6.

You ſee now what this violence is, and wherein it conſiſts, ſee in the next place how it workes, either in relation to the good which it reacheth after, and would obtaine; or elſe in relation to the evill which it would remove, and be rid of.

In the relation to the good which it deſires to obtaine. 1. It ſtirreth up a generous and mighty ambition to excell in the inward gifts and graces of the Spirit, which are neceſſary qualifications for all them that would have a ſhare in the Kingdome of God. A man that is in a violent ſtraine, he cannot reſt in any mediocrities, never thinkes he hath vertue and grace enough, ſtill he is aſpiring and reaching after more, He gives all diligence to adde unto his faith, vertue, knowledge, temperance, brotherly kindneſſe, godlineſſe; all the reſt of that chaine of pearls which the Apoſtle ſtringeth up, 2 Peter 1.5, 6, 7, as well knowing, that if theſe be in him, and abound, they will make that he ſhall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of Chriſt, and then to be ſure, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Ariſt. an entrance ſhall be miniſtred unto him abundantly into the everlaſting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, v. 11. As a ſcholler thinkes he can never have learning enough, and a covetous man thinks that he can never have wealth and riches enough; ſo is it with a Chriſtian of a violent Spirit, he never reſts contented with his preſent pitch▪ but labours ſtill to abound more and more; ſtrives, if poſſible, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Ariſt. to get up a note above Elah, ſets himſelfe no bounds, counts all that he hath attained, as nothing, like the Apoſtle S. Paul, whoſe zeale and covetouſneſſe, and ambition, in this kind was ſo beyond all meaſure ſuper ſuperlative, that although he had already gotten the greateſt meaſure of grace that ever any mortall man attained on this ſide of heaven, yet he forgot it all, and ſcarce thought it any competencie, ſtill preſſing forward to an higher marke, as if he would pre-occupate the ſtate of glory, and attaine even in this world, unto the reſurrection of the dead, Phil. 3.11.

2. In the worſhip and Service of God, and in the uſe of all the Ordinances, publique and private, the violence of a mans ſpirit workes much in this:Eccleſ. 9.10. the Jewes have a rule, That whatſoever a man doth in the ſolemn Worſhip of God, he ſhould ſtretch and ſtraine his inventions to do it with all his might, elſe it is not currant nor allowable with God; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . and the Apoſtle requires the like, Rom. 12.11. He would not have a man ſlight and formall, but fervent in Spirit, ſerving the Lord; and the word notes an ebullition or boyling up of our ſpirits to the height. The oddes is not great, if any at all, between the omiſſion of duties altogether, and the remiſſe performance of them, ſeeing a man is a looſer both wayes. Acts of worſhip and devotion when they are liveleſſe and ſuperficiall, are like a bow ſlack bent, which will not carry the arrow home to the marke. S. Baſil obſerves further, That ſuch ſlighting over duties, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Baſil. is not onely unprofitable, but hurtfull and prejudiciall to the State of the ſoule, as tending onely to nouriſh an hypocriticall and barren formality. There is nothing in the world more unbecomming the worſhip of God, then ſuch a ſlight wanton ſuperficiall ſtraine of ſpirit, when a man playes with Religion and ſerves God as if he ſerved him not. It was Davids juſt praiſe, that the Zeale of Gods Houſe did eate him up, Pſal. 69.9. And he daunced before the Arke with all his might, and when Michael ſcoffed at him for it, I will, ſaith he, be yet more vile then thus, for God, 2 Sam. 6.14, 22. Nor was Hezekiah behind him in this, of whom to his everlaſting honour it is recorded that 2 Chron. 31.27, In every worke which he began in the ſervice of the houſe of his God, and in the Law, and in the Commandements to ſeeke his God, he did it with all his heart and proſpered. The ancient & primative Chriſtians when they met,Coimus in Caetum & congregationem ut deum quaſi manufacta precationibus ambianus orantes haec vis deo grata eſt, Tert. Apol. 39. and crowded together with one ſhoulder, at their devotions, were ſo earneſt that they ſeemed to beſiege the Throne of Grace, and to raiſe a common ſtrength to invade, and make a riot upon God in their prayers, and this, ſaith Tertullian, was a violence right welcome unto God: Jacob was honoured and called Iſrael for this, becauſe he wreſtled in prayer, and by main ſtrength prevailed like a Prince with God, Hoſ. 12.3, 4, 5. Gen. 32.28.

3. Nor is the violence either leſſe acceptable or leſſe neceſſary which we are to uſe for the Word and worſhip of God, either to maintaine and hold it up when we have it, or to reſtore and recover it, if loſt or endangered: S. Jude held it neceſſary to write unto beleevers to ſtir them up 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Earneſtly to contend for the faith, which was once delivered unto the Saints, v. 3. and the angell of Pergamos is much commended for holding faſt Chriſts Name, and not denying his faith in a time of perſecution, Revel. 2.13. If wicked men would rob us of the Goſpell, take from us the Worſhip and Ordinances of God, plunder us of our glory, our crown, our Salvation, here we muſt hold faſt what we have, Revel, 2.25. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Not giving place by ſubjection, no not for an houre, Gal. 2.5. nor yeeld to betray one ſillable unto them, as Baſils worthy reſolution was; we value not the truth of God, nor ſet a right eſtimate upon his worſhip and Ordinances, if we be not violently bent to maintaine and defend them to the laſt drop of our blood.

And if there be a famine of the Word, a want or loſſe of any part or piece of worſhip, it muſt be violently ſtriven and contended for. Solomon would have us buy the truth and not ſell it, Prov. 23.23. at any rate to purchaſe it, at no rate to part with it: a man that is rightly principled for heaven, will venture through an Army of Philiſtims for water of life, as Davids worthies did, unto the well of Bethlehem; the people would part with their very Jewells, the moſt pretious things they had, for the erecting the ſetting up of Gods Tabernacle, David would not take an houres reſt till he had prepared an habitation for the Arke, Pſal. 132.3, 4, 5. and becauſe he ſet his affection upon the houſe of God, he prepared for the building of it with all his might, 1 Chron. 2, 3, 4 He thought it a thing unbecomming him, to dwell himſelfe in a houſe of Cedar, when the Arke of God dwelt under curtaines:Joſeph. de Bell. Jud. and the Jewes in the ſore famine and ſiege of Jeruſalem, brought ever the faireſt and fatteſt Cattell for ſacrifices, though they were conſtrained themſelves to feede upon Rats and Mice and other worſe vermine; they choſe rather to pine and famiſh their own bodies, that the Altars of God ſhould be altogether unfurniſhed, or take up with the worſt: and when the Tribunes complained for want of gold in the Treaſury,Livy Hiſt. to offer to Apollo, the Romane Matrons plucked off their chaines, bracelets, and rings, freely offering them to the Prieſts to ſupply that defect in the ſervice of their gods; This certainly was a high ſtraine of devotion in thoſe Jewes and Heathens, And what do you think of the Primitive Chriſtians, were not they alſo thus violent when they ſold their eſtates, and layd down the price of them at the Apoſtles feete, to purchaſe the meanes of Salvation for themſelves and others? If the people of this land would bid ſo high for the rich pearl of the Goſpell, The Kingdom of heaven were ours.

2 In remo • ing of evills.2. And as in procuring of helpes, meanes, and advantages for the attainement or advancement of the kingdom of God, ſo in removing the lets and impediments, this heaven-ſprung-violence will work and beſtir it ſelf to the uttermoſt. If the Goſpell of Chriſt, the Word of the Kingdom, chance to be brewed with humane traditions, or the Worſhip and Ordinances of God adulterated with ſpurious inſtitutions and impure mixtures, Quid non audet amor, what will not a man of violence do or ſuffer? What labour or coſt will he ſpare? What adventures will he not make? What hazards not run, rather them ſuffer (if he can helpe it) ſuch pollutions? He will ſet his ſhoulders, with Sampſon, to the pillars of Dagons houſe, and pull them down, though himſelfe be oppreſſed in the ruines; he will cut down the grove of Baal, and overthrow his Altars, though the men of the City cry out of him, and threaten to have his life for it. He will do his uttermoſt to remove ſcandalls and ſtumbling blockes as Hezekiah did the brazen Serpent when Idolized; to ſcourge out of the Temple corrupt Churchmen, which make merchandize of holy things, as our Saviour did the money-changers; to reforme abuſes and prophanations of Gods Name, his Sabboth, and Sanctuary, as Ezra and Nehemiah did; He will not connive at his neereſt friends, but eject and caſhiere them, if Idolatrous or ſuperſtitious, as Aſa did Maacha his Queen Mother, 2 Chron. 15.16. Hezekiah made it his firſt work when he came to the Kingdom to ſet open the doores of the Lords houſe, which for a long time had been ſhut up; he was ſcarce warme in his Throne when he was fiery hot, for a full and through reformation, 2 Chron. 29.3. And Ioſiah his grand-childe, when he was yet but young was nothing leſſe, if not more eminent in this violent zeal than he. All the Altars, Groves, Images, and whatſoever other trinkets, reliques, and monuments of ſuperſtition were found in the land, he offered them up for a hecatomb, made a bone-fire of them, as you may ſee at large, 2 Chron. 34.3, 4, 5, &c.

You ſee now the chiefe Ingredients of this heroicall Diſpoſition, and ſtraine of Spirit, and ſome few (for I cannot name all) of the principall operations of it, ſee now the Grounds and Reaſons of it.

1. In reſpect of God 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Its meete and our bounden duty, that we ſhould uſe all our violence, and if 'twere poſſible more then all, in matters of this nature; Its good councell that of the wiſe man, Eccleſ. 9.10. Whatſoever thine heart findes to do, do it with all thy might, ſlightneſſe of heart in carrying on any buſineſſe is naught, but worſt of all in Religion, God likes it well when we put on to purpoſe, muſter all our Forces, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ex omni valde tue. and ſtir up our ſtrength to lay hold of him, Eſay 64.7. He lookes for what we can, Deut. 6.5. And if we offer him leſſe than all, we might as well offer nothing. When our intentions in his Worſhip, are not ſcrewed up to this height, its a ſign that our hearts are divided and cloven, and therefore hypocriticall: when the Jewes were careleſſe and perfunctory in their devotions, and put God off with any ſacrifices which came next to hand, he accounted this as a diſhonour to him, and as a derogation to his Majeſty and greatneſſe, and therefore he thundred out a dreadfull curſe againſt them, Mal. 1.14. If ye offer the blinde and the lame for ſacrifice, is it not evill; offer it now unto thy governour, will he be pleaſed with thee, or accept thy perſon, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, verſ. 8. This carriage of theirs bewrayed plainely how little reſpect their hearts bare him. It was a cleere evidence againſt them, that they made him not their chiefe; therefore he lets them know how ſenſible he was of this diſreſpect, verſ. 14. Curſed be he that having a male in his flock, offereth unto the Lord a corrupt thing, for I am a great King, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. If there be not a ſtamp and impreſſion of zealous violence in all our religious addreſſes unto God, our deportment is not ſuch as becomes the Majeſty and greatneſſe of ſuch a King.

2 And as this violence is juſt and neceſſary in reſpect of God, who requires and calls for it at our hands, ſo is it alſo in reſpect of the prize it ſelfe, which is here contended and ſtriven for, it being the Kingdome of heaven, and therefore well worthy of all the violence which we can uſe for it: to be eager and earneſt in other things of an inferiour allay 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 it will not quit the coſt, violence for the moſt part is above the proportion and value of them; but the Kingdome of God is a matter of the greateſt importance and conſequence of any other in the world. It is worthy of all the courage, zeale, and reſolution that we have; where can we lay them out better, or ſo well, as for the atchievement of a kingdom. The heathen man could ſay, Imperia pretio quolibet conſtant bene: A kingdom cannot be over bought, the crown Imperiall of a mortall Prince, it is a radiant and ſparkling object; whatſoever a man payeth for it,Occidat, modo imperet, Suet. in vita Ner. it is held a rich purchaſe notwithſtanding. Agrippina thought the Romane Empire a good penni-worth, though ſhe bought it for her ſon Nero, a very wretch, with the loſſe of her own life. What violent running, wreſtling and ſtriving was there of old in the Olympique games? what combates and contentions? yet all was but for a corruptible crown, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, 1 Cor. 9.24, 25. The greateſt reward they could looke for, was but a crown of Lawrell, a chaplet of flowers; and beſides, they all ran in thoſe maſteries, and yet it was but one onely that could receive the prize: but we ſtrive for an Incorruptible crown, and if we ſtrive violently, as we ought, we ſhall all obtaine the prize we ſtrive for; and when it is obtained, it will be more worth then all the crownes and diadems in the world.

The Crownes of the greateſt earthly Monarchs, though the pearls in them be never ſo gliſtering, yet they are ſtuffed, for the moſt part, with ſuch thornes, attended with ſo many piercing cares and ſorrowes and diſcontents, that a wiſe man, if he ſhould meete with one of them lying before him in the way, he would ſcarce thinke it worth the taking up; but the crowne of this Kingdome which we ſtrive for, if by all the violence we can uſe in doing or ſuffering we may win it at the laſt, it will ſuper-abundantly make amends for all.

Its poſſible that we may, nay its certaine that we muſt endure much, if we will ſet our ſelves with obſtinacy and violence to run this courſe; tis a Law enacted in heaven, That we must all through many tribulations, enter into the Kingdome of God, Act. 14.22. But this needs not diſcourage. If our ſuffering be great, our Reward is Hyperbolicall, 2 Cor. 4.17. Our light afflictions which are but for a moment, 2 King. 11.14. what compariſon betwixt them and the reward which they work out for us, which is, a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory. Its poſſible, in theſe plundring times, we may loſe our eſtates, it skills not much; if we part with that which we cannot keep, to gaine that treaſure which we cannot loſe: The Primitive Chriſtians, ſuffered the ſpoyling of their goods with joy, knowing they had in heaven a better and more enduring ſubſtance, Heb. 10.34. It may be, whiles we are zealous for the honour of God, we ſhall be in danger to loſe all our owne reſpect, and reputation among men; the black mouth of Calumny may aſperſe the loyalty of our intentions, and ſully our Names with horrid imputations of treaſon and Rebellion; Jehoiada did but endeavour to put down unjuſt uſurpation, and to ſet up the right heire in this throne, and to draw the people into a Covenant with God, and yet Athalia cryed Treaſon, treaſon. Oh, but ſayes Saint Peter, if ye ſuffer reproach for Chriſts ſake, hapyy are ye, for the ſpirit of glory and of God reſts upon you, 1 Pet. 4 14. A Chriſtian is never ſo glorious as when he ſuffers moſt reproach and ignominy for Chriſts ſake. There is nothing in the world, ſaith Chriſoſtome, nothing at all comparable to that glory. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Chryſ. in Mat. Homil. 8. When men revile and perſecute you, and ſay all manner of evill againſt you falſly for my ſake, rejoyce and be exceeding glad, ſaith our Saviour, for great is your reward in heaven, Math. 5.11. A dram of credit well loſt, in a good cauſe, and for a good conſcience, will amount to as much in the returne of it, as an eternall Crown of glory is worth: but we may haply yet further endanger our liberties, forfeit our deareſt contentments, incurre the diſpleaſure of our friends, loſe our intereſts, yea our lives and all we have in this world: we could never bring them to a better market, we ſhall gaine an hundred for one, take his Word for it who cannot lye, you cannot deſire better aſſurance, it being all which heaven and earth have to ſhew for their continuance, Luke 18.29. Verily I ſay unto you, there is no man that hath left houſe, or Parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the Kingdome of Gods ſake, who ſhall not receive manifold more in this preſent time, and in the world to come, life everlaſting.

Its a thriving trade indeede, thus to part with tranſitory things,

Si aliqua amiſiſtis vitae gaudia, negotiatio eſt aliquid amitteris ut majora lacreris, Ter. in lib. ad Mart.

Si homo mille annis Deo ſerviret quam ferventiſſime, non mereretur dimidium diei in calo. Anſel.