Christs alarm to drowsie saints, or, Christs epistle to his churches by William Fenner.

Revel. 3. 1.

These things, saith hee, that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven Starres.

I Have begun to handle this Epistle, wherin I noted foure things:

First, the inscription, declaring to whom this Epistle is sent, To the Angel of the Church in Sardis, write: that is, to the Minister of the Church, and to the Church it self.

Secondly, The Subscription, declaring from whom it is sent: These things, saith he that, &c.

Thirdly, The Substance, or subject matter of the Epistle: I know thy works, &c. Usque ad, ver. 4.

Fourthly, The Conclusion, He that over-commeth, &c. ver. 5, 6.

I have already Analysed all this whole Epistle, and Pa∣raphrased upon every part of it, and shewed you the mean∣ing of it, and the scope of it; and have made some entrance upon it; namely, to reprove their deadnesse and coldnesse in Religion, and to quicken them up unto life, lest the judge∣ment of God fall upon them. I have dispatcht the Inscripti∣on: And to the Angel of the Church in Sardis, write: and so I passe on to the second: Namely, the Subscription, These things saith, &c.

These words, as ye heard, contain a description of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom this Epistle is sent. The Description is not a whole and an entire description of him, but only accommodated to the businesse in hand. And there∣fore it describes him onely from two admirable Royalties that are in him. The first is this, That he hath the seven Spi∣rits of God, that is, he hath the Holy and quickning Spirit, to give him to whomsoever he please, q. d. if ye would be quickned, hearken unto me, come unto me, I have all the graces of the Spirit to quicken you withall.

Secondly, That he hath the seven Starres, that is, as I told you, he hath all the Ministers of the Church in his hand, and at his dispose, These things, saith he that hath the seven Spi∣rits of God, and the seven Starres, That is, Christ hath all the Starres, all the Ministers of the Church, they are all in his hand. I told you, he is said to have them in five respects: 1. They have their Mission from him. 2. They have their Commission from him. 3. They have their Abilities from him. 4. They have the successe of their labours from him. 5. They have their protection from him, he opens their mouths as long as he lists, and shuts them, when hee seeth fit so to doe.

I have spoken of the first; The Ministers of Christ have their Mission from Christ, he hath the sending of them, As my Father hath sent me, so send I you, Joh. 20. 21. it is Christ that sends Ministers to the Church, as he told Jerusalem, Behold! I send unto you Prophets, and Wisemen, and Scribes, Matth. 23. 34. He called the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two, Mark. 6. 7. So he called the seventy and sent them also, Luk. 10. 1. so, it is Christ that sends all true Ministers, to this day. True, the Church does Ordain them, I▪ but if they be not sent by him too, they are intruders. Now when he sends them, they are his Ministers, though the Church put them into Orders. As it is with a true Con∣stable, though the Parish choose him, yet he is the Kings Officer, and does things in the Kings name. So it is with every true Minister, Christ hath the sending of him. He is the Minister of Christ, as the Apostle sayes, Let a man so ac∣count of us, as of the Ministers of Christ. 1 Cor. 4. 1. And therefore look what▪ we do in our Office, we doe it in his name. As Peter said, In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk. So we say unto Gods Elect, rise up and walk, in the name of Jesus Christ repent of all thy wicked wayes and be∣leeve, and though the world will not stirre at our speech, yet they that are elected of God doe stirre, they are none but the

reprobate that lye still in their sins. Sometime or other we get home all the Elect, they hear us, they obey us, they sub∣mit to our Doctrine, in the name of Jesus Christ.

The Use of this is; first, for comfort of the poore Mini∣sters of Christ, may be we meet with many wolves in the delivery of his errands. We meet with sowre faces, and wry lookes, suspensions, oppositions, and such like wolvish dealings, for doing of our message; what need we care for all these, as long as Christ sends us. Certainly, if he send us, he will be with us, as God said to Moses, I send thee, cer∣tainly I will be with thee, Exod. 3. 12. he will be with us for the good of his chosen, in all the course of our Ministery, be it short, or be it long. We shall be usefull unto them, though the reprobate world will not obey any of our words. Christ will be with us in the Pulpit, in the prison, in a dog-hole, if the wicked put us in it, as Christ said, Goe and teach all Nati∣ons, and loe I am with you to the end of the world, Matth. 28. 19, 20. This is our comfort, Christ will be with us, and this is the Elects comfort, they shall be sure to finde him with us in our Ministery: if we be in the Pulpit, there they shall hear us teaching of them; if in the prison, there they shall have us sealing of the truth to them.

Secondly, if Christ hath the sending of us, wee must be sure to doe his message, that we performe the work he sends us to doe. Every messenger should doe thus. I seek not mine own will, saith Christ, but the will of the Father which hath sent mee▪ Joh. 5. 30. if a Merchant should send a servant beyond the Seas, to be a Factor for him, if that servant should goe and trade for himself, to get money for himself, and an estate for himselfe, and neglect his Masters businesse, he may look for a cold welcome home: So when Christ sends us to bee Factors for him, to see what Soules wee can gain unto him, if we should now seek our selves, how to be rich, how to be some-body in the world, how to get preferment, and so leave his businesse undone; wee may look for a cold welcome

home. Certainly, if Christ sends us, we should minde his work, we should glorifie Christ, labour to reveale Christ, to win Soules to Christ▪ This is our businesse to doe.

Thirdly, If Christ hath the sending of us, wee must give him account when wee have done. When Christ had sent his Disciples to preach, they returned again, and gave him account of what they had done, Luk. 10. 17. Lord even the Devils are subject unto us. Lord I have done thus and thus, I have declared all thy whole counsell, I have kept nothing back: I have done thy message, and such and such have heard mee, but such and such will not hear me. A messen∣ger is bound to give an account unto him that sends him: nay, the devill himself returned to give an account: when the Lord sent him to tempt Job, hee came again, and told what hee had done, Job▪ 2. 1. So wee should come again, and tell God what wee have done. When the children of Dan sent spies to search the land, they came and related what they had done, so should we doe. Lord, behold, here am I, and here are the people that I have begotten by thy Word, and here are the rebells that I could never get to reforme their wicked wayes. Wee see how they that had received the Talents, how they came and gave in their accompt, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. O what a case shall wee be in, if wee cannot give up a good account at the last day, of what wee have done in our places and callings!

Fourthly, If Christ send us unto you. O, Beloved, what a great mercy is this •••• that Christ should send unto such as you bee? If Christ had sent unto you, when yee had sought him and turned unto him, it had been very much, but that hee should dispatch messengers unto you, when yee had not so much as a thought of him; nay, when yee sinned against him, This was a mercy indeed! It was a great kindnesse, that Joseph would send unto his Father, and his Brethren, and bid them leave all, and come into the Land of Aegypt: O, saith he, regard not your stuffe, for the best of the Land of

Egypt shall bee yours, yee know his brethren were unkinde unto him. Beloved, Joseph was never so unkindly dealt with by his Brethren, as Christ hath been by us, and yet that he should send to such wretches as wee are: O leave all, and come unto me, regard not your stuffe, regard not your profits, never trouble your selves with this thing and that thing, for all the best of heaven shall be yours; O what an infinit kindnesse is this! when he will send such treasures of his to us, by his Ministers. As Joseph filled his brethrens sacks with corne, which they carryed to their fathers house, in Canaan, to preserve them alive till they came into Egypt; So the Lord Jesus Christ, hath put his spirituall treasures, as it were, into a sack, and given them his Ministers to dispence to their brethren, to nourish them, and preserve them, untill they come home to him: hee fills his Ministers sacks every week for us, they come with sack-fulls of heavenly and di∣vine truths every week to us, with sack-fulls of food to feed our soules unto eternall life, and when that is spent, he sends us every Sabbath more; and therefore how should wee e∣steem a true Minister that comes to us from Jesus Christ! Hee is one of a thousand, as Elihu speaks, if there bee a messenger with him, an interpreter, one of a thousand, to de∣clare unto man his righteousnesse, then hee is gracious unto him, Joh 33. 23, 24. that is, then is God gracious to us in∣deed. When God sends us a messenger from him, such a one is one of a thousand, such a one declares to us our righte∣ousnesse. Yee know wee cannot stand before God without righteousnesse. Now such a one declares to us righteous∣nesse. He brings us the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ. So that we should be thankfull to Christ that he sends us any of his true Ministers. O my Brethren, we that are the Ministers of God, wee come with heavenly and glorious things, every day from our Lord Jesus Christ: Though wee have them but in earthen vessels, yet they are things, that the whole world is but drosse and dung to; and therefore think how

yee should come to Church; think how yee should bee affe∣cted with our message, think with what affections ye should heare our Sermons: Now I come to heare a message from Christ, a Letter from Christ, a Direction from Christ, a reproofe from Christ, counsells from Christ, for the fra∣ming of my life, now I shall be told, what I may doe to in∣herit glory. O, sayes the Apostle, He hath given to us the Ministery of reconciliation with God: to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespassesunto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then wee are Embassadours for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ his stead bee reconciled unto God, 2 Cor. 5. 18, 19. 20. q. d. Ah yee poore creatures, God and you are out, yee are ene∣mies of God, by your evill works, the wrath of God hang∣eth over you, wrath for all your sinnes; wrath for all your drunkennesse; your covetousnesse; worldlinesse; wrath for all your carnall courses; your slighting of heaven and hea∣venly things, the wrath of God abideth on you. Now the Lord of Heaven and Earth hath sent us as Heralds of Peace, we come as Embassadors from the Lord of all glory, we have the word of reconciliation, the word which we preach, will make God and you friends again, if yee will beleeve it, and imbrace it. We pray you in Christ his stead to consider of it, bee reconciled unto God, heare our message, doe not slight what wee say to you, we speak to you from Christ, This is the onely Word that can make God and you friends.

O how will this judge the world, that the Ministery of the Word, is no more regarded nor heeded! When God sends his Ministers unto people, and because forsooth, their flesh and blood does not like it; they look little after it▪ Wher∣as this containes eternall life, and if ye reject this, ye reject eternall life. I beseech you judge what I say: Doe you meet with a reproofe that crosses your corrupt Iusts? I pray you reason the case thus with your own Soules, I am reproved

for my loosenesse, and my vain wayes, my fashioning of my self according to this world, my fawning, my flattering, my gaming, my scandalous courses, my sinning against light, I have had good education, I have lived under good meanes, but I am very gracelesse, if I put off these reproofes, I put off the word of reconciliation: This is the word that comes to reconcile me to God, if I have faith to apply it, but if I put it from me, and doe not regard it, I refuse all recon∣ciliation with God. So, when the Word shewes you your duty, how to beleeve, how to live, how to walk, in all holi∣nesse and true righteousnesse. Consider, if yee put it from you, yee put away from you the onely word of reconcilia∣tion. These are the truths that are sent unto me, to reconcile me unto God: O, if I will have none of them, I cast off the Son of God, and everlasting life. Still when the Prophets would speak unto the people, this was their preface, The Lord sent mee: so sayes Isaiah, the Lord sent mee, Esa. 48. 16. so sayes Jeremiah, the Lord sent mee. When they refused to hear what he said: O, sayes hee! Truely the Lord sent mee, of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you, to speak all these words unto you. Jer. 26. 15. One would think it wore enough to strike terrour into the hearts of men, to put off any Sermon, any rebuke, any exhortation of Christs Ministers, when they know the Lord sends them. Of a truth the Lord hath sent mee to speak all these words unto you. May bee, the Minister is as poore a creature in himself, as one of you; O, but remem∣ber who sends him, as Christ sayes, hee that heareth you, hear∣eth mee, and hee that despiseth you, despiseth mee, and hee that de∣spiseth mee, despiseth him that sent me, Luk. 10. 16. So much shall suffice to have been spoken of the first way, whereby Christ is said to have the seven Starres, that is, the Ministers of the Church, namely, he hath the sending of them.

Secondly, Hee hath them, that is, hee hath the giving of them their Commission, as they have their Mission from him, so they have their Commission from him too. They are not

onely messengers but Embassadors. This Commission hath two things; first, the heads of their Embassage, that Christ sends them to treat of. Secondly, the authority of their Em∣bassage, that Christ invests them with.

For the first, the heads of their commission, Christ hath the appointing of them, what they shall treat of, and they are five. First, they shall preach the Word. Goe and preach the Gospel to every creature, Mark. 16. 15. Secondly, to remit the sin of all them that doe embrace the Gospel, Joh. 20. 23. that is, to pronounce all the promises of the Covenant of Grace, and in particular, forgivenesse of sins to all true peni∣tent and beleeving Soules. Thirdly, to administer the Sa∣craments of the New Testament, to all the said persons, to whom the promises of eternall life doe belong, for the assu∣ring of their hearts, concerning all the things of the King∣dome of God to them in particular, Matth. 28. 19. Fourth∣ly, To build up the Church of God, for the perfecting of the Saints, and the edifying of the body of Christ, untill they all come, &c. Ephes. 4. 12. Fifthly, to shut the Kingdome of Heaven upon all that have an evill heart of unbelief, to goe on in their sins, and not to stoop to the Scepter of Jesus Christ, Mark. 16. 16. and in divers other places. These are the heads of their commission, that Christ will have them treat of in their Embassage unto men.

Secondly, now for the Authority that hee invests them with, it is not any carnall or earthly authority, to jet, and to vaunt, or to domineere, as though they were Lords, and Gods heritage, 1 Pet. 5. 3. no, sayes Christ, it shall not be so with you. But hee that is greatest among you, hee shall bee as the least, Luk. 22. 26. and therefore I doe not here speak of any earthly authority: No, the Authority that Christs Mi∣nisters have, and they have it from him, is a spirituall Autho∣rity: uamely, not onely to preach, and to declare forgive∣nesse of sin, and to administer the seales of the covenant, and to build up the Saints, and to denounce wrath and damnati∣on

to all that continue in their unregenerate estate through impenitence & unbelief, but to do all these things with a hea∣venly Power and Authority, to have an Office under Christ for the doing of them, so as to be the very mouth of Christ, and that which they doe according to their commission from him, to stand firme and good, for ever and ever. I will give power to my two witnesses. Rev. 11. 3. The Lord hath given me power and authority sayes the Apostle, 2 Cor. 10. 8. You will say this is great power indeed, all the Kings & Potentates of the earth have not so great power as this, this is a power of life and death, not naturall, nor temporary, but Spirituall and eternall, this is a power not oven mens Bodies but over their soules, not in small matters▪ but either for salvation ordamnation. This is a great Commission, how come they by such a great one as this is? O sayes Christ, I am able to in∣vest them with as much as this comes to. For all power is given unto me in Heaven and Earth. Matth. 28. 18. q. d. I am able to furnish you with all authority and power, goe you in my name, and preach you in my name, in my name bid people repent and beleeve, in my name open heaven to all that doe obey, and shut it upon all that doe disobey, and I will make it good.

The use of this is. First, have the Ministers of Christ such a Commission from Christ? then they are the greatest Em∣bassadors, that ever were, or can be. Embassadors of earthly Kings, have a great Commission, they represent the Kings person from whom they come, Alas, what are they to these? they come about petty things, about civill peace, or warre and yet they are Lord Embassadors, they are Lords by their places, they are much respected among men. O then what great Embassadors are the Ministers of Jesus Christ, that represent the King of Kings person, that repre∣sent the person of the Lord of Lords, that came to Treat of peace betweene God and Man, or of open Hostility be∣tween the Creator and the Creature? as Paul sayes now then

wee are Embassadours for Christ, As though God did beseech you by us, wee pray you in Christs stead be reconciled unto God, 2 Cor. 15. 20. that is, we have a very great commission, we represent the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, we come to treat with you about eternity, according as you heare us, or heare us not, so it will be with you unto all eternity. O con∣sider what we have to do, you are enemies unto God from the womb, as long as your sins doe remain, ye are enemies still, we come to set you at one again. Yee know the condition, yee know what the heads of our commission bee, if yee will not hearken unto them, and submit, yee are damned for ever; if ye doe, blessed and happy are yee for evermore, was there ever such a great Embassage as this? as the Apostle sayes, To make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which, I am an Embassadour in bonds, Ephes. 6. 19, 20. q. d. though the wic∣ked and blinde world, look upon me as a Schismatique, and a malefactour, and cast me into the prison, and here I am in bonds, they see no such thing in me, as an Embassadour of the great God, yet the truth is, though I bee in bonds, they shall know it one day to their cost, who I was, and what a commission I had, and what it is to slight it, and put it off. I am an Embassadour of the mystery of the Gospel, though I be in bonds.

Secondly, Have some Ministers, such a commission from Christ? then let them learn how to behave themselves in their function. My Brethren, Christ hath committed unto us the custody of his own power, and authority, and therefore we are to exercise it in his name, our commission is to charge the great men of the world, Charge them that are rich in this world, that they bee not high-minded, 1 Tim. 6. 17. True, we are your servants for Jesus his sake, and wee are to be hum∣bled, and to wait upon men of lowest degree, and to conde∣fcend unto men of meanest capacity, and there is a time when wee should for loves-sake intreat, but the truth is too, wee have power to charge and command, These things command

and teach, 1 Tim. 4. 11. These things speak and exhort, and re∣buke withall authority. Tit. 2. 15. We must not betray the power and majesticall simplicity of the Gospell of Jesus Christ. We have Christs owne power and authority in our ministery, and therefore wee are to command you in his stead: as ever you will answer Christ, before his Tribu∣nall at last day, neglect not those things, which we preach to you from him. Now we command you, Brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that yee withdraw your selves from every brother that walkes disorderly, and not after the Tradition which hee received of us. 2. Thes. 3. 6. True, we are inferiors to Kings, and Princes, and Magistrates, and the Nobility and Gentry of the land: There be thou∣sands and thousands that are our Betters, in all civill respects; but our Embassage is above all.

The Lords own Power and Authority goes through the ministery, as a Trunk. As, the King may send a Command to the greatest▪ Nobleman of the Kingdome by the hand of a meane man▪ and he is to hearken to it: though the messen∣ger in himselfe be his underling, yet his message is above him, and he looses his head if he despise it. So, beloved, we are over you in the Lord, that is in regard of our message. Though we be your inferiors, and some of you be our bet∣ters, and wee are to stand with Cap in hand to you; yet ye loose your soules; if ye will not heare us, and obey our Embassage. We must not bow to your humors, nor make the Spirit of Christ in the Gospell to bend and comply with human lusts. If Princes and Potentates were by, we must not spare their sins. Nathan deales roundly with King David. Thou art the man. Jehu, with King Jehosaphat, wrath is upon thee from the Lord, because thou hast helpt the ungodly. We must let all the world know that Christ whom wee preach, is above them all, wee must not prostitute Christs Scepter, no not at a Monarchs foot. If we be men-plea∣sers, we are not the servants of Christ. We must not suffer

Christs word to be bound, whosoeuer is our hearer, whether high or low. We defie popish Divinity that exalt their An∣tichristan Clergy, above the civill Magistrate. Belar∣mines Martin is but a foysted story. But yet in this sense we are above all the Kingdomes of men, as God sayes, Behold I have put my words in thy mouth, and loe I have set thee this day over Nations and Kingdomes, to plant and to root up, to build and to throw downe. Jer. 1. 9. 10. Let no man thinke we are saucy, though we reprove the greatest of you all, as long as we doe it in Christ, and from Christ, we are the mouth of the Judge of quick and dead, and he will make our words good; The meanest Sergeant in the Kings name dares arrest the greatest Duke. So, my Brethren, we come in the Kings name, in Christ his name, and therefore we must not be afraid of your faces, As Paul told Philemon, I have great authority in Christ to command thee, that which is convenient. Philem. 8. We have great authority to com∣mand every one of you, to doe your Duties towards God, and man. We have Christ for our Author, and therefore he will be a wall of Brasse to us. We are his Embassadors, and therefore our Message is with great power.

Thirdly, Have we this Commission from Jesus Christ? then this may serve to condemne all such as doe not obey our Ministery. Though wee have all this authority, the ve∣ry power of Christ himself in our mouthes, that equally binds King and Begger; Yet who obeys our commands? who stirres? who repents? who submits himself unto our commission? we have called for humiliation, but no man will humble himself▪ We have cryed for reformation, and amendment of life, but no man relents; wee have read our commission every week unto people, we shew them our Let∣ters Patents from the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are coun∣ted as idle tales by the most. O what an indignity is this un∣to our Lord Jesus Christ! we are his Embassadors, and your standing out against us, is not against us, but against him,

and he will repay it. O, sayes the Apostle, if any man obey not our word, By this Epistle, note that man, 2 Thess. 3. 14. q. d. note him with a brand of infamy, note him as a Rebell against Jesus Christ, look upon him as a wretched misera∣ble creature, take heed of him, avoid him, withdraw your self from him, point at him, yonder goes a wretch, that will not obey the voyce of his teacher, excommunicate him from your company, have as little to doe with him as you can. Be ye shie of such a man, certainly there is great wrath hangeth over him. So, Beloved, if any obey not our word, note such persons, note such parishes, note all such families, the wrath of heaven hangeth over them, their stubbornnesse, and hard∣nesse of heart is not against us, but against the Lord. These are notorious Townes, notorious people, that have Christs Embassadors among them, and yet will not be obedient, and yet how is our Embassage made nothing of! if Kings onely, and Princes, and Lords, and great men should make nothing of it, we should not so much wonder, because they are greater men, then those that God sends his Embassage by, and yet if they were wise, and knew what they did, they durst not doe as they do, but every base fellow stops his eare, and hardens his heart, against the God of Heaven and earth, and will not obey our word: nay, men can hear their sins ripped up, and the Anathema's of Christ spread before their faces, and not blush. They can heare that those very sinnes they live in, doe separate from God, do adjudge them to hell, and shew them to be under the blacknes of darknesse, and the sentence of damnation, they can see it showne them out of the word, which they cannot deny for their hearts, though they would never so faine, and yet they will not repent nor returne that they may have mercy. Not one drunkard will leave, nor one Mocker leave, nor one Covetous person, nor one gracelesse wretch leave, they will have their owne wayes, doe the Ministers of God what they can. We can get none to be awakened, none quickened, none stirred, none start∣led

to any purpose. Setting aside here one and there one that truely obeys the voyce of Gods servants, the whole countrey lying in ignorance of God, in the privation of his Spirit, unreconcilednesse with heaven, voydnesse of faith, emptinesse of grace and life, the nakednesse of an outward profession, having no true quickening within, nay the most in grosse wickednesse, drunkenesse, company-keeping, unruli∣nesse, disorder, uncleanenesse, lasciviousnesse, covetousnesse, mocking at the pure in heart, malicious alienation of spirit against the holy wayes of God. Nay since we have spoken to them in the name of the Lord, yet none will hearken to any effect that their soules may live.

Fourthly, therefore, I pray you let me adde one use more; doe but consider, how the Lord taketh this at our hands, that his Ministers are thus vilipended. They are in more danger of their liberty for reproving, then the wicked for committing of their sins. Are his Ministers, his Embassadors? then he will never endure that his Embassadors shall bee abused. When the King of the Ammonites had abused Davids Embassadors, that he sent him in love. 2 Sam. 10. Ye know what it cost, it cost above 40. thousand mens lives. The Ro∣mans slue the Illyrians and the Tarentines, for mis-u∣sing of their Embassadors, and as Cicero sayes, our Ancestors sayes he, for this very thing destroyed all Corinth. For alas how could Princes deale with one another, if Embassadours should not goe safe, and be hearkened unto? Therefore Em∣bassadors must be regarded. When Scipio Africanus tooke a ship full of Carthaginians, though he meant to rifle all they had, yet when they said they were Embassadors, he would not meddle with them. True, they were not, they did but counterfeit, that so they might escape. But yet you may see how inviolable Embassadors were, the least indignity offe∣red to them, was punisht as if it had beene offered to the person of that Prince, that they did sustaine. Well then, how doe we thinke will the Lord take it at peoples hands,

that his Embassadors are abused, and disobeyed, that people will not diligently come to them, and acknowledge their er∣rands, and yeeld obedience to him, no Nation under heaven hath had more Embassadors from Heaven then we have had, and though some have hearkened to them, yet for the most part they meete with Ammonitish dealings they are disfigu∣red, and mocked, and laded with indignities, denyed to de∣liver their message, every paltry rascals complaint admitted against them, none walke in so much danger as they, none more shot at, then they; scarce any will heare them and sub∣mit to their Embassage, and those few that doe, are counted the only factious people, and pestilent fellows in the land, O, what wrath is there against us for these things▪ For this very cause, the Lord plagued all Judah even because they would not listen to Gods Embassadors that he sent to them earely and late, as the Prophet speakes. Jer. 29. 17, 18, 19. Thus sayth the Lord of Hoasts. Behold I will send upon thee the sword, the famine and the Pestilence, and will make them like vile Figges, that cannot be eaten they are so evill, and I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine and with the Pestilence, and I will deliver them to be removed to all the Kingdomes of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment and an hissing and a reproach, among all Nations whither I have driven them. Mark now; what is the reason, why God would doe thus? Because they have not hearkened to my Word, saith the Lord, which I sent unto them by my servants the Prophets, rising up early and sending them, but yee would not heare sayth the Lord. This was the reason, why God would plague them so grievously, because they would not listen to his Embassadors that he sent them for their good. The like we reade of the ten Tribes: the Lord powred his vengeance on them too for this very reason, because they would not heare his Embassadors, there∣fore the Lord cast them out of his sight, and flung them away from being his people and hee would never be their God more, the place is 2 King. 17. 13, 14, 15. The Lord testified

against Israel & Judah, by all the Prophets & Seers, saying, Turne ye from your evill wayes and keepe my Commandments and my Statutes, according to all the Law which I commanded your fathers notwithstanding they would not heare, but hardned their necks, like to the neck of their Fathers, and did not beleeve in the Lord their God, and they rejected his Statutes and his Cove∣nant, that he made with their Fathers. Mark, this was the cause why the Lord was so angry with them, and removed them out of his sight. Because they would not doe as his Embassadors did command them in his name. Now as God hath let out his fury upon them for not attending to his Em∣bassadors, so he hath done, and daily doth and will yet more doe upon us. For though for temporall Judgements, God be patient and forbearing, beyond all admiration, we feele yet no Sword, no Famine, no Pestilence, we may be astonisht to see how long suffering he his, O if we had the grace to con∣sider of it, neverthelesse the Lord is effusing out upon us the very dregges of his Cup, he fats us up for his eternall ire, he hath done converting of our hearers, he hath done blessing of our Sermons, he hath made us Loammies, and Toruha∣mahs, & turned us into a generation of his wrath. You whose eyes God hath opened, whose hearts God hath inclined unto him, whose Consciences God hath purged and Sancti∣fied and made you Saints. Blesse him and praise his holy name, and make more of his infinit grace and goodnesse. For it is to be feared God will now adde no more to your mumber, he delivers people now to a reprobate sence, he re∣solves to be revenged on our land in fire and Brimstone, for the contempt of his glorious Gospell, that hath beene preached so long a time. He lets men fill up the measure of their sins, that those that are filthy may be filthy still, those that are drunkards may be drunkards still, those that are led with their lusts, shall be so still, to the intent that he may bring upon the world, all the fiercenesse of his spirituall and everlasting wrath, and that he may revenge the quarrell of

his Covenant, and the labors of so many Embassadors, whom he hath sent unto you, and ye would not heare. O that this might move some of your soules, that so ye might prevent this dreadfull judgement and be plucked out like Brandes out of the Burning.

Fifthly, Another Use is, are Gods Ministers, his Embas∣sadors? then they must Preach no mercy at all, unto such as wilfully stand out against Jesus Christ. When Antony was a Rebell, O sayes Tully, it is not fit to send him Embassa∣dors of Peace, to treat with him of Peace; as Theseus said once: Goe, sayes hee, and tell Creon, Theseus offers thee a gracious offer; Yet I am pleased to bee friends, if thou wilt submit. This is my first message: But if this offer prevaile not, look for me to be up in Armes. So, Beloved, Gods of∣fers of peace have been made already, again, and again, and they have been rejected. Now his Embassadors must cry. Armes, Blood, and fire, and pillars of smoak. At the first God dealt with us, as Tullus with his Enemies, Quae verbis componere potuit, armis non decrevit: as long as hee could reconcile them with his word, they should not have his blows: So the Lord hath dealt with us, at the first he per∣swaded us with the promises of his Word, now seeing no more can be gotten in that way, hee will have his Ministers lay the axe at the rootes, to hew down, and to destroy, and to slay people with the sword of his lips. Doe not wonder, when we preach hell and damnation to all rebellious soules▪ You will say, here is nothing but judgement, Preachers send us all to the devill, they preach, as if they would drive us to despaire: they should put in, except wee repent.

I Answer, it is enough now to understand it; when the Gospel hath been a long time in a place, Gods Embassadors must hold out the black flagge: when Tamberlane had hung out his White flagge, and that would not doe, and his Red flagge, and that would not doe neither; then he hung out his Black flagge. Now look for no mercy. So, Christs

Embassadours should doe. When Paul knew that the Gospel was contemned in Corinth, the white and red flagge had cea∣sed to doe good; You see how hee hung out his black one. Know yee not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God. Bee not deceived, No idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effe∣minate, nor railers, nor covetous, shall ever inherit the King∣dome of God, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. He does not put in, now except yee repent; no, no, now look for no mercy. So the Apostle John. The fearfull, and unbeleevers, and whoremongers, and lyers shall be cast into the Lake that burnes with fire and brim∣stone, Rev. 21. 8. hee does not put in, except ye repent: if we should bee ever putting in, except yee repent, and conclud∣ing with mercy upon condition of repentance, what would hard-hearted people say? O wee had a terrible Sermon to day, but the Preacher gave us comfort in the closure, he had a sweet bit at the last, and thus they heale all again. Nay, when people grow once to be stubborn, then Prophets have been so farre from putting in except yee repent, or any other tearm of mercy, that they used to meet with the peoples pre∣sumption of repentance. So Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, and o∣thers, they threaten destruction to the wicked, and they adde this above all, though they cry for mercy, nay, though they fast, and could get Noah, and Samuel, and Job and Daniel to pray for them, yet they shall have no mercy: q. d. ye think to avoid these judgements, by repenting another day; no, no, when yee cry for mercy, yee shall not have it. When a Na∣tion, or a Parish, or any people grow perverse, and have re∣jected the sweet tenders of mercy, Gods Embassadors are to look upon such wretches as rebels; no indenting with them more, no tearms of peace more, as the Law sayes, with Pi∣rates, and Traytors, and Rebels, the Law of Armes is not to bee observed, as Baldus speaks, they have broken the league, as Florus speaks: when Spartacus the Rebell, desired an Em∣bassage of peace, hee would faine have Crassus contract a league with him, Crassus scorned the motion; when Talfari∣nas

that egregious Robber and Traytour, sent an Embassa∣dor with treaty of Peace to Tiberius the Emperour, Tiberi∣us took it with indignation, that hee should bee so sawey with him. No Embassage of peace is to be made with rebellious wretches; wee need not put in, except yee repent, when we are to deal with such; No, no, when ye grow once to despise reproof, see you to that. True, if yee doe repent, who knows what God will doe? Though Crassus would not parlee with Spartacus about peace, yet when hee did repent indeed, hee received him to mercy. So will God doe with you. But in the mean time, know that the God of Heaven is at defiance with you, and all the curses in his Book, are directed against the face of you. Yee have played the deaf Adder, against the gracious tenders of mercy from day to day, and there∣fore see your damned condition. The Embassadors of Christ have not one tittle of mercy of you, if we could see you melt, and cry out, and down on your knees, and your hearts turn, and your spirits sink down before God, then wee might say something unto you; therefore, Brethren, if the Ministers of the Gospel doe daily preach more and more judgement, doe not think much, they ought so to doe.

Sixtly, and Lastly, one Use to you that feare God, and beleeve his Embassadors, and are besought by them. Let me say to you, as the Prophet Isaiah said, Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voyce of his servants, that walketh in darknesse, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God, Esa. 50. 10. that is, bee of good comfort, though all the world, and all the devills in hell bee against you, yet bee of good cheare; what, although yee meet with never so many temptations, and feares, such a fogge of them, that ye can see no light, yet it shall assured∣ly goe well with you. Though others have not come in at the preaching of the Word, ye have. Howbeit others will not reform, will not see the Lords hand lifted up, they will not acknowledge their sins and sinfull doings, and damned

case, yet ye have. Yee have seen it, and felt it, and run to the throne of Grace, and have sought the Lord, according as Gods Embassadors have directed you out of his Word, yee have feared God, and obeyed the voyce of his servants, though others make a mock of such as will be ruled by Prea∣ers; tush, they shall not curb mee, sayes one, and they shall not controll mee, sayes another. What, does hee think to lead mee in a string? Yet yee doe fear God, and yee dare not stand out against the preaching of his servants, yee de∣sire that yee may ever practise their Word, and lead your lives according to it, what ever others doe. Bee of good chear, sayes the Prophet, The Lord is your God, and doe yee stay your selves on him. the Doctrine that God hath sent un∣to you by the Ministery of his servants, is the only Doctrine of Salvation, and therein yee shall finde eternall life.

Notes

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