THE
SERMONS OF JOHN BRINE
God:
the Defense and Glory
of His
Church
by John Brine
(London: Aaron Ward,
1734)
A SERMON PREACH’D AT DEVONSHIRE-SQUARE
ON THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER,
TO THE SOCIETY, Who Support the Lord’s Day Evening Lecture, In that
PLACE Publish’d at the REQUEST of some who heard it. Printed for AARON WARD
at the King’s-Arms in Little-Britain. LONDON:
1734.
ZECHARIAH
2:5.
For I, saith the Lord, will be unto
her a Wall of Fire round about, and will be the Glory in the Midst of her.
THIS
Prophecy was delivered about the Time of the Jews
Return from Babylon, where they were in a State of Captivity
seventy Years: In which the Prophet excites them to a speedy Departure out of
their Enemies’ Country to their own Land, and incourages them to re-build
the City of Jerusalem; assures them of Success in that Undertaking,
altho’ it was attended with Difficulties which, to them, might seem
insuperable. IN order
to obviate an Objection to the Safety of the City, which this People might
form from the large Number, great Power, and Nearness of their Adversaries;
the Lord, in these Words, declares, that he would be its Protector: For I,
saith the Lord, will be unto her a Wall of Fire round about; that is to
say, I will securely guard and defend it, and consume all those who attempt to
destroy it; and adds, that he would fill it with Glory, and will be the
Glory in the Midst of her. The great Privileges which are promised, not
only refer to this People, for they concern the whole Church in every Age and
Period of Time.
The
Text furnishes us with this Doctrine, that God is the Defence and Glory of his
Church: This doctrinal Proposition
consists of two Branches.
First,
THAT
the Church’s Safety and Security is in her
God.
Secondly,
THAT
she derives all her Glory from him.
First,
I begin with the first Branch: The Church could not have subsisted in any Age,
unless divine Power had been exerted to support and protect her.
The
People of God are not in a Capacity to defend themselves, or maintain their
Interest, against the violent Attempts of indefatigable Enemies, which is
evident from these Things:
1.
THEY are
much inferior in Number; the Church is but a small Collection of Persons out
of the numerous Crowd in the World, hence Christ declares that his Followers
are a little Flock; fear not, little Flock, for it is your Father’s
good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (Luke 12:32.) THE
Enemies of real Religion are far more, than
its true, hearty, and constant Friends; it is the Multitude that let
themselves to oppose the Cause of God, and only an inconsiderable Few, who
appear in its Defence.
2.
THE Church
in general, is composed of Persons mean and contemptible; there is but a small
Number of the Wealthy and Powerful, that have Humility enough to espouse and
defend the despised Interest of a Redeemer. The Apostle’s Observation holds
true to this Day, that not many wise Men after the Flesh, not many mighty,
not many noble, are called (1 Corinthians 1:26.): Some indeed of a higher
Rank are Instances of sovereign Grace, the Consideration of which should
inflame their Zeal for the Honour of God, and quicken their Desires to
contribute to the Spread of his Gospel: But the much greater Part of Believers
are in low and obscure Life; therefore it is not to be expected that the Cause
of Religion can be maintained by the Power and Influence of such as embrace
it.
3.
THE People
of God are not equal in Wisdom and Policy to their Enemies: The Generality of
those who profess the Name of Christ, are Persons of weak Understandings;
therefore our Lord observes, with Thankfulness to the Father, that he had
hid the Mysteries of the Gospel from the wife and prudent, i.e. Men Superior
Knowledge and Abilities, and revealed them to Babes; that is to say, to
such as are of mean Capacities (Matthew 11:25.): Nor will the
Circumstances of these Persons allow them to take the Methods for Improvement
in Knowledge and Experience, as those in the opposite Interest are capable of;
therefore the Cause of Christ is destitute of such temporal Assistance for its
Support and Propagation, which the contrary to it is furnished with: These
Things being thus, it must necessarily be allowed, that the Churches Defence
and Security arises not from within her self.
Secondly,
HER Enemies
are ready to improve every Opportunity and Advantage which offer to disturb
and distress her. The carnal Mind of Man is filled with a fixed Aversion to
God, and all spiritual Good, as the Apostle affirms, the carnal Mind is
Enmity against God, it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be
(Romans 8:7.): And therefore the nearer any Saint approaches to the
Likeness of God, the greater as the Hatred of wicked Men to him. Thus Cain slew
his Brother Abel, because his own Works were evil, and his Brother’s
righteous (1 John 3:12.). This fettled Enmity in the Hearts of Men
to powerful Godliness, pushes them on to treat the Professors of it with the
greatest Severity: This Matter is capable of abundant Proof from the many
Plots, and Conspiracies, which were formed against the old Testament Church
before her Captivity in Babylon: But my Design is briefly to observe
the Opposition which her Enemies made to obstruct and prevent the Re-building
of the holy City and Temple; in which we shall discover Hypocrisy, Calumny,
and inveterate Malice, the common Principles upon which the Churches
Opposers act. It was predicted by the Prophet Jeremiah, that Cyrus,
King of Persia, should enact a Decree to impower the Jews to
return to their own Land, and rebuild the Temple of the Lord, which Prediction
had its exact Accomplishment at the Time prefixed, as Ezra informs us: Now
in the first Year of Cyrus King of Persia, (that the Word of the
Lord, by the Mouth of Jeremiah, might be fulfilled) the Lord
stirred up the Spirit of Cyrus King of Persia, that he made a
Proclamation throughout all his Kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
Thus saith Cyrus King of Persia, the Lord God of Heaven hath
given me all the Kingdoms of the Earth, and he hath charged me to build him an
House at Jerusalem, which is in Judah (Ezra 1:1, 2.). Whereupon the
Principal and Chief of the People joyfully departed from Babylon to
execute the Royal Will of Cyrus, who ordered that they should be
furnished with every Thing requisite thereto. As loon as this Work was begun,
the Samaritans pretended Alliance, and Friendship, with the Jews, and
offered to assist them therein; yet not with any real Design to advance it,
but to hinder its Progress, as their future Conduct evidently proves: Such
Dissimulation and Hypocrisy is not unusual with the Church’s Adversaries, in
order to obtain the greater Advantage against her. These very Persons sent a
Letter full of heavy and false Accusations to Cambyses (who in
Scripture is called Artaxerxes, and Ahasuerus) the Son of Cyrus,
against the People to whom they expressed so much Respect, representing
them as full of seditious and rebellious Principles, which caused the King to
give strict Order that a Stop should be put to the Work; and accordingly there
was, with Expedition and great Force (Ezra 4.): Nor was it revived ‘till the
second Year of the Reign of Darius, who succeeded Cambyses on
the Throne; at which Time also, the
Enemies
of the Church fought how to prevent its farther Success: But Providence
over-ruled the Methods they took to strengthen the Hands of those engaged
therein (Ezra 5, 6.) It is frequent with God, to turn the Measures of the
Adversaries of his People to a far different Use, from what they design. THE
City and Temple of God were rebuilt,
notwithstanding the violent Opposition. made against it by a large Number of
implacable and malicious Adversaies, who stuck at nothing that might
have obstructed the Work. THUS the
Lord was a Wall of Fire round about it;
for this Undertaking was not effected by humane Force, or Policy, but by the
miraculous Blessing of Providence, as we learn from these Words, “Not by
Might, nor by Power, but by my Spirit, faith the Lord of Hosts (Zechariah
4:6.).
As
the Church, in the former Dispensation, was encompassed with Enemies, so under
the present, she hath suffered many Afflictions from the Hands of powerful
Adversaries. WHEN Christianity
was first planted, great Persecutions were raised against it by Rome Pagan,
of which History informs us, “Nevertheless, the Purity and Power of
Religion exceedingly flourished; and large Numbers embraced the Christian
Faith, being incouraged to it by the pious Lives and holy Triumphs of the
Saints, when in the most cruel Torments that hellish Rage and Malice
could invent”. I AM of
Opinion that the Interest of Christ never lost Ground by the strongest
Oppositions its most inveterate Enemies have been able to make against it;
Adversity has always proved more to the Advantage of the Church than
Prosperity: This is evident in the different Turn which the
Affairs
of Religion took in the Reign of Constantine, the first Christian
Emperor; for under his Government, Corruptions in Doctrine, and superstition
in Worship, were soon introduced by many ambitious Clergy, who valued
the Christian Religion no farther than the Profession of it served to promote
their temporal Interests. AND to
this Cause, I apprehend, are owing the abominable Errors, and detestable
Idolatries, of the Romish Church.
WHEN
it pleased God to set the Reformation on
Foot, by Wickliff in England, Huss and Hierom of Prague;
How did the Devil rage? What Troubles did he bring upon those, who embarked in
this glorious Cause? But it being of God, it prospered in spite of all
Opposition; and since the Establishment of the Reformed Religion here, What
numerous Methods have been taken to reduce England, the Bulwark of the
Protestant Interest, under the Roman Yoke? THIS
has been often attempted by open Violence,
secret Intrigues, and devilish Projects: The cruel Papists designed to
have given a fatal Blow to the Protestant Cause in England, by taking
off the King, Lords and Commons, at once: If they had succeeded herein, What
Rapine, and barbarous Murders, would have immediately followed throughout the
Kingdom? But kind Providence discovered the execrable Plot, at the very Time,
when it was to be executed (which was on this Day) to the great Confusion of
its Authors, and the inexpressible Joy of the Nation: A memorable Deliverance
indeed! which ought never to be forgot by all true Lovers of Religion and
Libertyf1.
IN many
other Instances since, God has eminently appeared for us. In King James the
Second’s Reign, a Scheme was laid to inslave the Nation, to introduce Popery
and arbitrary Power; but the Design of the Church’s Enemies was, at that
Time, also miraculously frustrated by the Prince of ORANGE
coming over, and ascending the abdicated
Throne.As this Prince was a Hero in the Field, so on the Seat of Government,
he was remarkably mild and gentle, always steady in his Principles of
Religion, and to the Cause of Liberty. THROUGH
the whole of his Reign, he discovered a
fervent Zeal for securing the Protestant Interest; and in nothing did he give
a clearer Proof thereof, than fettling the Crown on the illustrious House of Hanover:
A Family, which he was persuaded would pursue the same generous and noble
Designs, that he had in View; nor was he mistaken in his Opinion, as is
evident, since the Accession of that House to the Throne. But let us not
forget what Measures were taken in a late Reign to deprive us of the happy
Prospect of so just and mild a Government; and how seasonably God disappointed
the Designs of our Enemies, in making way for GEORGE
the First of glorious Memory, to ascend the British
Throne, To which he had an indisputable Right. GOD
grant that the same Principles which he
always stood firm to may fill the Breasts of all the Branches of his noble
Family, and that they may continue to wear the English Crown to the
latest Posterity: Some useful
Observations
may be deduced from these Things.
1.
THAT the
Christian and Reformed Religion are true, or of God, what less than divine
Power could have propagated the Christian Faith in the first Ages of the
Church, when the whole World was let against it, and resolved to overthrow it;
especially as a few ignorant and illiterate Men were employed to spread it:
And yet, the Word of the Lord had free Course, and was glorified (2
Thessalonians 3:2.). It obtained Conquests over almost all the Nations
in the World, but not by humane Force, for of that it was destitute; as
it is really very foreign from its Nature: And pretty much the same may
be observed of the Reformed Religion. The Persons engaged in the Reformation
were very few; their Enemies numerous and potent, who made the most fierce and
cruel Oppositions against it: Nevertheless, it gained surprising Advances in a
very short Time, which evidently discovers it to be the Cause of God.
2.
THE great
Folly of those, who leek the Ruin of the Church, one would imagine, that as
they have often been defeated in their Designs against her, and in such a
Manner, as plainly demonstrates that God is resolved upon her Defence. THEY
might easily collect, that it is in vain to
attempt her Subversion; and that the Consequence will certainly be fatal to
themselves. THAT the
Church hath sufficient Incouragement in the greatest Dangers to depend upon
the Protection of Providence, God is in the Midst of her, she shall not be
moved, God shall help her, and that right early (Psalm 46:5.). That
the Lord will be the Security of his People may be concluded from these
Things:
(1)
HIS Value
for them above all others, the Church is most nearly interested in his Favour,
he treats all others with Neglect in Comparison of her: When Nations, or
Kingdoms, stand in the Way of his gracious Purposes concerning his Saints, he
gives them over to Ruin and Destruction; hence he thus lays unto the Church, I
gave Egypt for thy Ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee, I
will give Men for thee, and People for thy Life (Isaiah 43:3, 4.). THERE
are none in the World of which he makes any
Account but his Children; and therefore he expresses himself after this
Manner, What have I here, that my People is taken away for nought (Isaiah
52:5.). This Language clearly intimates, that all others are as nothing in his
Esteem; his tender Concern for the Church he lets forth in the most moving Way
in these Words, He that toucheth you, toucheth the Apple of mine Eye (Zechariah
2:8.). THAT is,
as a Man is industriously concerned to defend that valuable and
useful
Member from Injury; so I am thoroughly engaged in your Welfare and Safety from
that infinite Love and Value I have for you.
(2.)
HE has
promised it, and his Word may be depended on; the holy Scriptures abound with
Promises of this Kind. The Church may expect perpetual Protection from God, as
we learn by those Words of his, Sing ye unto her, a Vineyard of red Wine, I
the Lord do keep it, I will water it every Moment; left any hurt it, I
will keep it Night and Day (Isaiah 23:3.). The sacred Oracles
declare, that the Saints shall dwell on high; and that the Place of
their Defence shall be in the Munitions of Rocks. The Church though a
small, is yet a strong City, because God will appoint Salvation for Walls
and Bullwarks: Now the gracious Promises of God may be fully relied on;
for he is in one Mind, and who can turn him? And what his Soul desireth,
even that he doth: God is not a Man, that he should lye; neither
the Son of Man, that he should repent: Hath said it, and shall he not
do it? Or, Hath be spoken, and shall he not make it good (Job 23:13;
Numbers 23:19.).
(3.)
His own Glory is nearly interested in
this Matter: The Welfare of the Church is interwoven with the Honour of her
God; his Name is publickly professed by her, his Word is precious to her, and
in his Institutions the delights: Her several Members are called Trees of
Righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified (Isaiah
56:3.). The Lord allures us that they are a People formed for himself, and
that they shall shew forth his Praise. The Church is the proper Seat of
divine Glory on Earth; hence the Apostle hath these Words, To him be Glory
in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages, World without end, Amen
(Ephesians 2:21.): Therefore a Regard in God to his own Honour will influence
him to protect the Saints.
(4.)
He will destroy those who seek the Ruin
of his Church, none can afflict the Saints without the .greatest Injury to
themselves; since God is as tender of them, as a Man is of the Apple of his
Eye: The Church is a burdensome Stone, and all that burden themselves with
her shall be cut in Pieces, though all the People in the Earth be gathered
together against her (Zechariah 12:3.). God may for wise Reasons permit
the Enemies of his People to harass and distress them, yea, he may use them as
his Rod for the Correction of his Children; yet this will not excuse them from
his most severe Resentment and Anger, which, I apprehend, to be the Import of
these Words, Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, I am jealous for Jerusalem, and
for Zion with a great jealousy; and I am very sore displeased
with the Heathen that are at ease, for I was but a little displeased, and they
helped forward the Affliction. To the Saints the Lord is a Wall for
their Security, and round about them, so that they are not any way open to
Invasion: As he is a Wall of Fire, it is most certain that he will
consume and burn up those who attempt the Destruction of his Church, the City
about which he is a Wall of Protection and Defence. However. formidable her
Enemies may be, and though they may imagine that it is an easy Thing to devour
her, because she is weak and defenceless in her self, as was before observed;
yet they will ever find it absolutely impossible, and will eternally sink
under the intolerable Weight of divine Vengeance.
THEY
are but as combustible Matter before
devouring Flames, they are comparable to Briars and Thorns, not only on
account of the Grief and Pain which they occasion to the Church; but also
because they will be consumed in a Moment by the burning Wrath of a provoked
God: For to them he will for ever be a consuming Fire (Hebrews 12:28.),
without any Intermission or Allay.
I
proceed to consider the second Branch of the Doctrine.
Secondly,
The Church derives all her Glory from God: And will be the Glory in the Midst
of her. These Words may be understood
passively, or actively, as Cornelius a Lapide observes, though he.
prefers the latter Sense, “This Glory may be taken in a two-fold Manner;
first passively, i.e. in her I will be Glorious, that is, I will be
glorified and reverenced with honourable Worship in Jerusalem: Thus several
take it, as he tells us; secondly, and better actively; i.e. I will
glorify Jerusalem, I will bring Glory to itf2”;
in
this Light others understand it, as he informs us.
I SHALL consider
it in both Senses, God as glorified in the Church by what he works in her; and
by that which he enables her to do with a direct View to his Honour.
1.
God is greatly honoured in the Church
by what he works in her. And,
(1.)
In the Conquests he makes upon the Hearts
of rebellious Men. BY his
omnipotent Grace, he subdues the stubborn and perverse Will of Man, brings him
to submit to Christ as King in Zion, or chearfully to yield Obedience
to him in that Capacity. It is true, the Language of every natural Person’s
Heart is, I will not have this Man to reign over me (Luke 19:14.); but
God conquers the inflexible Will of the Sinner, according to his Promise in
the everlasting Covenant, thy People shall be willing in the Day of thy
Power (Psalm 110:3.). FROM this
Work abundant Glory redounds to the Riches of God’s Grace,
as
is most evident from these Words, But God, who is rich in Mercy, for his
great Love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in Sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, by Grace ye are saved: That in the
Ages to come he might shew the exceeding Riches of his Grace in his Kindness
towards us through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4, 5, 7.).
(2.)
IN upholding
of his Saints; they are insufficient of themselves to perform any Thing that
is spiritual, their corrupt Part strongly inclines them to back-slide from
God; hence the Lord says of them, My People are bent to Back-sliding from
me. (Hosea 11:7.) THEY are
subject to many Temptations, and unable to resist the least; a great many
Enticements to Evil frequently present to them, which entangle the Affections,
and influence the Will: And therefore they cannot persevere in Holiness in
their own Strength; but they shall be kept by the Power of God through
Faith unto Salvation (1 Peter 1:5.). In their Support and
Preservation the Wisdom of God is display’d; for the greatest Enemies are
over-come, Sin, Satan, and the World, by such as are impotent in themselves;
and this is readily acknowledged to be all of free Grace by the Saints: Also
the almighty Arm of God is most clearly discovered in enabling such weak and
feeble Creatures to withstand and conquer potent, subtle, and unwearied
Adversaries.
2.
God is greatly glorified in the Church, by
what he enables her to perform with a direct view to his honour.
(1.)
BY that
Faith she exercises in him: The true Church is composed of Believers in
Christ; the is a spiritual House made up of lively Stones, as faith the
Apostle, And ye also as lively Stones, are built up a spiritual House (1
Peter 2:5.). THAT is
to say, they were Persons endued with supernatural Life, which is the proper
Principle of all spiritual Acts: Those who are in a State of Unregeneracy are
destitute of such a Principle of Grace; and therefore the Apostle observes to
the Ephesians, that they once were dead in Sin, and you hath he
quickened who were dead in Trespasses and Sins (Ephesians 2:1.). Life
must necessarily precede Motion as a Cause doth its Effect; all Acts flow from
Life; spiritual Acts proceed from spiritual Life; such an Act is resting on
God’s Promise, which is Faith: By the Exercise of that Grace God is highly
honoured; hence it is said, that Abraham staggered not at the Promise of
God through Unbelief; but was strong in Faith, giving Glory to God (Romans
4:20.)
THIS
is an excellent Grace, it abases the
Creature, and ascribes the Whole of our Salvation, and of every Mercy to God,
it adores his incomprehensible Wisdom, admires his infinite and immense Favour,
extols his Power, and chearfully submits to his fovereign and absolute
Dominion in all Things.
(2.)
THE holy
Obedience of the Church advances the Glory of her God, the hath a tender
Regard to his Honour, and desires a perfect Conformity to his most righteous
Will. SIN is
the greatest Burden of the Saints, and it gives them, when it is prevalent in
their Souls, inexpressible Disquietude; under divine Influence their Language
is really this to their heavenly Father, Teach me to do thy Will, for thou
art my God, thy Spirit is good, lead me into the Land of Uprightness (Psalm
143:10.). The Spring of their Obedience is not Selfish and carnal, but
evangelical and spiritual; it is not performed with an Expectation of
procuring Favours from God, but to acknowledge with a humble Gratitude his
undemerited Regard and Love: This is a truly generous and noble Principle,
which is formed in the Saints by the holy Ghost, and is cherished by all his
Operations upon them.
(3.)
GOD is
honoured by Ascriptions of Glory to him; this will be the delightful Service
of the Church in Heaven, without any Interruption; and it is a Work which the
Saints begin on Earth, when they have a lively Sense of their own
Unworthiness, or view the Impurity of their Hearts, and the Imperfections that
attend all their Duties, when they have a Prospect of their aggravated Guilt:
And behold how God’s super-abounding Grace rises over their Mounts of Sin
and Rebellion, that it has secured to them the most valuable Blessings, they
are struck with Wonder, and cannot but give him the Glory thereof in such low
and humble Expressions as these, Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto
thy Name give Glory (Psalm 115:1.) with the greatest Pleasure at such a
Time they join with the Apostle in laying, Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in
heavenly Places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3.): Thus God is glorified in the
Church.
3.
The Words may be understood actively,
I will fill her with Glory: The Church’s
Glory doth not consist the Multitude of her Members, a Christian Community may
be large and numerous, and yet dishonourable; the Riches and Grandeur of her
Members are not her Glory, nor are beautiful Edifices for the publick Exercise
of religious Duties any Part of her Honour, neither doth it consist in a
pompous and gay Mode of Worship; the Church may be truly Glorious, although
all these Things are wanting: This must be granted if it be allowed that the
purest Church which ever was upon Earth might lay claim to true Honour, which
was composed of Christ and his Apostles; indeed, where these are not, the far
greater Part of Mankind imagine that the Glory of Religion doth not attend. THE
Church’s Beauty is not discoverable by a
carnal Eye, for it is spiritual and invisible, fine is truly Illustrious; but
internally so, The King’s Daughter is all glorious within, her
Cloathing is of wrought Gold (Psalm 45:13.). Her outward Appearance
is mean and despicable, yet she possesses inwardly the greatest Glory, upon
which Account she thus speaks of her self, I am black, but comely as the
Tents of Kedar, as the Curtains of Solomon (Canticles 1:5.); the
outside of which were coarse and rough, but within they were very beautiful
and rich: Her real Beauty and Lustre consists in these Things:
(1.)
THE Purity
of the Principles she embraces and defends. The Gospel is an excellent System
of Doctrines, which are calculated for the Honour of God, and that center in
the Glory of the Mediator; hence it is called Glorious, according to the
glorious Gospel of the Blessed God (<540111>1
Timothy 1:11.). Now it is to the Advantage as well as Honour of the
Saints to preserve the Gospel pure and free from the invented Schemes of Men:
The Primitive Church is highly commended for a close Adherence to divine
Truth; and they continued stedfastly in the Apostle’s Doctrine and
Fellowship, and in breaking of Bread, and in Prayers (Acts 2:42.). WHENEVER
the Church becomes corrupt in her Opinion,
she declines in her true Glory; and therefore let all the Saints, as the
Apostle exhorts, stand fast in one Spirit, with one Mind, striving together
for the Faith of the Gospel (<500127>Philippians
1:27.). Such as never discerned the Excellency, felt the Power, nor
tasted the Sweetness of Christian Doctrines, may conceive that it is of little
or no Moment, what Reception and Entertainment they meet with: But Persons
enlightned by divine Grace discover an excelling Glory in them, and pay the
strictest Regard to all the Branches of heavenly Truth: For they are sensible
that the Doctrines of the free Grace of God are the Source of all their
present Consolation, and the Sum of their future Hopes; therefore they cannot
but esteem them more than all Things else; they know that they are more to
be desired than Gold, yea, than much fine Gold; they are sweeter to
them than the Honey, and the Honey-comb (Psalm 19:10.) That which
heightens the Glory of the Gospel- Revelation is, it contains the fuller
Display of the divine Perfections, as they harmoniously agree in the Salvation
of lost Man, through the Obedience, Crucifixion, and Death of Christ: If
therefore it is to the Honour of the Church to receive and maintain a Set of
Doctrines, wherein the Glory of God is most nearly concerned, it must be
allowed that it is her peculiar Glory to stand fast in the Truth.
(2.)
HER Honour
lies much in Strictness of Disciple. Christ the Head of the Church hath
prescribed the belt of Rules to preserve Unity, Holiness of Life, and
Uncorruptness of Opinion, among his Followers, which it is the Glory of every
Christian Community strictly to observe.
A
religious Society cannot countenance Persons of pernicious Principles and
scandalous Lives, without Censure from Christ: Thus he reproves the Church at Pargamos,
because some of her Members entertained erroneous Doctrines, and were
guilty of evil Practices, I have a few Things against thee, because thou
hast there them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to
cast a Stumbling-block before the Children of Israel, to eat Things
sacrificed to Idols, and to commit Fornication; so thou hast also them
that hold the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which Thing I hate (Revelation
2:14, 15.). THE Enemies
of Religion are very forward to improve every irregular Step of the Saints to
the Disadvantage of those Truths which they profess, their sinful Actions they
charge upon their Sentiments, and represent the Doctrines they embrace as
licentious and loose, affirm that they have no good Influence upon the Hearts
or Lives of Men; and therefore every particular Congregation of Christ is
under an indespensible Obligation to eject all such, whose Conduct is not
answerable to their Profession, in order to prevent open Reproach from the
World.
(3.)
ANOTHER
Branch of her Glory is the Holiness of her
Members. It is certainly her Honour to be conformable to her Lord, who is
holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from Sinners (Hebrews 7:26.), free
from all Blemish in Heart and Life; he did no Sin, neither was Guile found
in his Mouth (1 Peter 2:22.); he is the perfect Pattern whom she ought to
follow: This he recommends to his People, laying, learn of me, for I am
meek and lowly in Heart (Matthew 11:29.); we are to imitate no others any
farther than they tread in his Steps. The great Apostle proposes himself as an
Example to the Corinthians, but with this Limitation, Be ye
Followers of me, even as I also am of Christ 1 Corinthians 11:1.):
Looseness and Immorality among Professors is a great Dishonour to the
Christian Name; it causes the Gospel, and Ways of Christ, to be evil spoken
of, as was before observed. On the contrary, a regular and holy Walk
recommends Religion, and vindicates the Doctrine of Grace. from the false
Aspersions which are thrown upon it by Opposers; and. is an evident Proof,
that what is objected to it, as abating Mens Regard to Holiness, is mere
Calumny and Falshood; that it really influences such that have experienced its
Power, to shun Vice, and practise Vertue: These were the happy Effects it
produced in the Primitive Christians, as the Apostle affirms; for the Grace
of God which bringeth Salvation, and hath appeared to all Men; teaching
us, that denying Ungodliness and worldly Lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present World (Titus 2:11, 12.).
(4.)
THE Church’s
Glory consists in Unity and Love. Jars and Contentions, Heats and Animosities
among, the Saints, weaken their Hands, and give an Opportunity to the Enemies
of the Gospel to prejudice their common Interest; not that all Contention is
unlawful, for it is a Duty incumbent upon us to contend for the Faith, we are
expressly exhorted to it, it was needful for me to write unto you, and
exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the Faith which was once
delivered unto the Saints (Jude 1:3.); that is to say, for revealed Truth.
When the Doctrine of Christ is opposed and Error is advanced, Providence calls
upon his Servants to vindicate the one, and to expose the other, which ought
to be done with Zeal and Fervour; but not with undue Heat, or personal
Reflections on any: It very ill becomes those, who profess to have a Value for
Revelation, to be luke-warm and indifferent about the Doctrines it contains,
whatever may be the Opinion of the Generality concerning them. No Branch of
sacred Truth ought to be sacrificed to Peace, although some may presume to
pronounce it of little Consequence or Weight: If the latter is
not to be maintained without giving up the former, Dissension is rather to be
chosen: To purchase Peace at the Expence of Truth, is buying it at too dear a
Rate; but where the Cause of Truth is not concerned, we are to follow the
Things that make for Peace, and the Things wherewith one may edify another (Romans
4:19.); which is beautiful and excellent, as the Words of the Psalmist plainly
intimate, Behold, how good and how pleasant a Thing it is, for Brethren to
dwell together in Unity; it is like the precious Ointment upon the
Head, that ran down upon the Beard, even Aaron’s Beard, that went
down to the Skirts of his Garments; as the Dew of Hermon, and as
the Dew that descended upon the Mountains of Zion, for there the Lord
commanded the Blessing, even Life for evermore. (Psalm 133:1, 2, 3.)
(Lastly.)
HER greatest
Honour is the Enjoyment of the divine Presence. The Glory of the Christian
Religion principally consists in the Influences of God upon his People, and in
the Manifestations of his Love to them: The external Part, without these
Blessings, is but like the Picture of a Man, In which, though there may be
Likeness and Proportion, Life is wanting. IT
is only a dead and lifeless Form, without
Nearness to, and Fellowship with God, the Object of our Worship; Communion
with God, elevates our Souls, strengthens our Graces, and gives Vigour to all
our religious Acts. UPON a
serious Reflection on the general Disposition of our Minds, and the usual
Manner in which we perform the Exercises of Religion, whether in the Closet,
and in the Family, or in the House of God; I fear we shall find that we have
but too great Reason to confess, that the spiritual and experimental Part of
Religion is very much loft amongst us. Is there not in us an in-differency to
Duty? Are we not dull, heavy, and wandering from God in the Discharge of it?
But little of powerful Godliness is seen, or felt, by us; and therefore our
Glory is greatly eclipsed: There is just Occasion for us to say, How is the
Gold become dim? How is the most fine Gold changed? The Stones of the
Sanctuary are poured out in the Top of every Street; the precious Sons of
Zion, comparable to fine Gold, how are they esteemed as earthen Pitchers,
the Work of the Hands of the Potter (Lamentations 4:1, 2.). May the
happy Time be hastened, when the Church shall be a Crown of Glory in the
Hand of the Lord, and a royal Diadem in the Hand of her God (Isaiah
62:3.). When he will say to Zion, Arise, shine, for thy Light is come, and
the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
FOOTNOTES
ft1
The horrid Gunpowder-Treason, which Plot was
formed in the third
Year
of the Reign of King James the First, by Henry Garnet, a Jesuit,
Robert
Katesby, Thomas Peircey, Thomas Winter, Guy Faux, and
other
desperate Papists.
ft2
Gloria haec dupliciter accipi potest Primo
passive. q.d. In Gloria ero, id
eft,
glorificabor & colar in Jerusalem; per latriae Cultum, Secundo, &
melius
active, q.d. glorificabo Jerusalem, gloriam ei asseram. Vid. Loc.