man die at once, crucified with Jesus, "That we may be henceforth dead to sin, dead to the world, dead to ourselves, and alive only to God."

SERMON III.

PREFACE.

and for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

ALL the works of Divine Providence are full of wisdom and justice, even every one severally considered; yet we observe them best to be such, when we take notice of their order and mutual aspect one to another, whe ther in the succession of times, or such pas sages as are contemporary, and fall in toge ther at one and the same time. As, when the Lord brings notable judgments upon the proud workers of iniquity, and, at the same THERE is no exercise so delightful to time, confers special mercies on his own those that are truly godly as the solemn people; who is there that may not perceive worship of God, if they find his powerful justice and mercy illustrating and beautify. and sensible presence in it; and indeed there ing one another? It is true, the full reward is nothing on earth more like to heaven than and perfect rest of the godly is not here be that is. But when he withdraws himself, low; they would be sorry if it were: nor is and withholds the influence and breathings this the place of plenary punishment for the of his Spirit in his service, then good souls ungodly. Men may look for a judgment find nothing more lifeless and uncomfort- too, yet the Lord is pleased at some times to able; but there is this difference, even at give some resemblances and pledges, as it such a time, betwixt them and those that were, of that great and last judgment in rehave no spiritual life in them at all, that markable passages of justice and mercy, at they find, and are sensible of this difference; one and the same time; and such a time it whereas the other know not what it means. is that the prophet foretels in this his ser And for the most part, the greatest number of mon, which concerns the two sister kingthose that meet together with a profession to doms of Israel and Judah. Having de worship God, yet are such as do not under-nounced a heavy calamity to come upon Isstand this difference. Custom and forma- rael, under the name of Ephraim, he comlity draws many to the ordinary places of forts those of Judah, under the name of the public worship, and fills too much of the room; and sometimes novelty and curiosity, to places not ordinary, has a large share but how few are there that come on purpose to meet with God in his worship, and to find his power in strengthening their weak faith, and weakening their strong corruptions; affording them provision of spiritual strength and comfort against times of trial; and, in a word, advancing them some steps forward in their journey towards heaven, where happiness and perfection dwell! Certainly these sweet effects are to be found in these ordinances, if we would look after them. Let it grieve us then, that we have so often lost That sovereign Lord who at first set up our labour in the worship of God, through the lights of heaven to distinguish times and our own neglect, and intreat the Lord, that seasons, by their constant motion, and likeat this time he would not send us away empty; for how weak soever the means be, if he puts his strength, the work shall be done, in some measure, to his glory and our edification. Now, that he may be pleased to do so, to leave a blessing behind him, let us pray, &c.

ISAIAH Xxviii. 5, 6.

:

In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people;

residue of his people. They not being so grossly corrupted as the other were, he stays them with this promise: In that day, saith he, when the other shall be overwhelmed, as with a deluge, the Lord of hosts shall be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people.

The promise is made up of three benefits, yet the three are but one; or rather, one is all the three to them. The Lord of hosts; it is He that shall be their honour, wisdom, and strength. He shall be a crown, &c. But first, a word of the circumstance of time, In that day.

wise, by his supreme providence ruling the world, hath fixed the period of states and kingdoms, and decreed their revolutions, their rising, ascending, and their height, with their decline and setting, hath, by a special providence, determined those changes and vicissitudes that befal his church. That which the Psalmist speaks, in his own par. ticular, Ps. xxxi. 14, 15, holds of each believer, and of the church, which they make up in all ages and places: "I said, Thou art my God; my times are in thy hand;" sure and steady hand indeed, and therefore he builds his confidence upon it. Ver. 13, 14. They took counsel against me, but I

trusted in thee. And upon this, he prays let both your hopes and your fears serve to in faith, that the face of God may shine sharpen your prayers. Be not too much deupon him, and the wicked may be ashamed. jected with any discouragement, neither be Thus, then, as many as are looking after ye carnally lifted up with outward appeara day of mercy to the church of God, pray ances; for the heart of him that is lifted and believe upon this ground, that the time up is not upright in him, Hab. ii. 4; but of it is neither in the frail hands of those live, as the just do, by your faith; and if that favour and seek it, nor in the hands of the deferring of your hopes should sicken those that oppose it, how strong and subtile your hearts, as Solomon speaks, yet stay soever they be, but in that Almighty hand and comfort them with the cordial of the that doth in heaven and earth what pleaseth promises. This you are sure of, you have him. If he have said, Now, and here, will God's own word engaged for it, that in I give a day of refreshment to my people that those latter days Babylon shall be brought have long groaned for it, a day of the purity to the dust, and the true church of Christ and power of religion; if, I say, this be his shall flourish and increase: And this vision purpose, they must have somewhat more is for an appointed time (as Habakkuk than omnipotence that can hinder it. When says of his); at the end it shall speak, and his appointed time comes, to make a day of not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; it deliverance dawn upon his church, after their will surely come, it will not tarry, Hab. long night, either of affliction or of defection, ii. 3. or both; they that contrive against that day- In that day. In the day of Ephraim's spring, are as vain as if they would sit down or Israel's calamity, denounced in the former to plot how to hinder the sun from rising in verses, which, as most do conceive, was when the morning. And they that let go their the Assyrian oppressed them, and in the end hopes of it, because of great apparent diffi- led them captive, in the reign of Hosea, as culties that interpose betwixt their eye and you have the history of it, 2 Kings xvii.; the accomplishment of that work, they are at which time Hezekiah was King of Judah, as weak as if they should imagine, when as you find in the following chapter; and in mists and thick vapours appear about the that notable reformation wrought by him, horizon in the morning, that these could with those blessings that followed upon it, hinder the rising of the sun, which is so far is found the accomplishment of this promise out of their reach, and comes forth as a to Judah, In that day, &c. The parallel bridegroom, and rejoices as a mighty man of God's different dealing with these two to run his race, says David. Those mists kingdoms, at the time there specified, (In may, indeed, hinder his clear appearance, and keep it from the eye for a time; but reason tells us, even then, that they cannot stop his course. And faith assures us no Though Judah also had its own corrupless in the other, that no difficulties can hold tions when Hezekiah came to the crown, yet back God's day and work of mercy to his it pleased the Lord to spare them, and work people. But you will say, "All the diffi-a peaceable reformation, making Israel's puculty is to know whether the appointed time nishment their warning. Truly that nation, be near or not." It is true we have no par- with whom the Lord deals thus graciously, ticular prophecies to assure us; but certain-is vilely ingrate if they observe it not with ly when God awakes his children and makes much humility and thankfulness, and with them rise, this is a probable sign that it is profit too. If the Lord should answer your near day. I mean, when he stirs them up desires and hopes with a reformation in a to more than usual hopes, and prayers, and peaceable way, and should yet lengthen out endeavours, it is very likely that he intends your long-continued peace, and should make them some special good; but yet more, this little past shaking of it cause it to take when he himself is arisen, (as it pleaseth root the faster; if he should, I say, do this, him to speak,) that is, when he is begun to where would ye find fit praises for such a appear, in a more than ordinary manner of wonder of mercy; especially considering, that working by singular and wonderful footsteps in the meanwhile he hath made other reformof Providence. This is, no doubt, a sign that ed churches fields of blood, and made, as it he will go on to shew remarkable mercy to were, the sound of their stripes preach repenZion, and that the time to favour her, yea, tance to us? But certainly, if the hearing the set time is come, Psalm cii. 13. the voice of the rod prevail not, we shall feel the smart of it, as this people of Judah did afterwards, because they were not so wise as to become wiser and better by Israel's folly and calamity. We are expecting great things at our Lord's hands, and our provocations and sins against him are great; yet there is none of them all puts us in so much danger of dis

Howsoever, then, let the wonderful workings of the Lord move those of you that have any power and opportunity, to be now (if ever) active, for the greatest good, both of the present age and of posterity. And you that can be no other way useful, yet you shall be no small helpers if you be much in prayer;

that day,) does afford divers lessons, which might be here not impertinently taken notice of. Only this,

appointment as impenitence. Were there" the glorious sanctuary," or "the beauty of more repentance and personal reformation holiness." And the ark of God, you know, amongst us, we might take it as a hopeful was called the glory. The glory is departed forerunner of that public reformation which from Israel, (said the wife of Phineas,) so many seem now to desire. for the ark of God is taken. Pure religion,

The Lord of hosts. This style of his, and a pure worship, is the glory of God you know, is frequently in the prophets, in amongst his people, and consequently, their their predictions of mercy and judgment; glory. Now, referring this prophecy to Hezeintimating both his greatness and majesty, kiah's time, the accomplishment of it is eviand his supreme power for accomplishing his dent in that work of reformation, whereof you word. No created power can resist him; have the full history, 2 Chron. xxix. 30, 31, yea, all must serve him. The most excellent &c.

creatures can have no greater honour; the If it be thus, that the purity of religion greatest are not exempted, nor the meanest and worship is the crown and glory of a peoexcluded from serving him. In Acts xii. ple; and therefore, on the other side, that 23, you find one of the noblest creatures, and their deepest stain of dishonour and vileness, a number of the vilest, made use of at the is the vitiating of religion with human devisame time in the same service. Because ces; then, to contend for the preservation or Herod did accept of the sacrilege of the peo- the reformation of it, is noble and worthy of ple, and gave not back to this Lord of hosts a Christian. It is for a crown of Jesus his own glory, the angel of the Lord smote Christ, which is likewise a crown of glory and him, and the vermin devoured him. And diadem of beauty to them, he being their in Egypt, you know the employing of the head. It is, indeed, the true glory both of destroying angel, and what variety of hosts kings and their kingdoms. Labour, then, this Lord of hosts did employ to plague them. for constancy in this work; let no man take What madness, then, is it to oppose and en- your crown from you. You know how busy counter this great general; even in doubtful the emissaries of the Church of Rome have cases, to run on blindly, without examining, been to take it from us, or, at least, to pick lest peradventure a man should be found a the diamonds out of it, and put in false, counfighter against God! And on the other side, terfeit ones in their places; I mean, they it is a great weakness to admit any fear under stole away the power of religion, and filled up his banner. If a man could say, when he the room with shadows and fopperies of their was told of the multitude of the ships the own devising. It is the vanity of that church enemy had, Against how many do ye reckon to think they adorn the worship of God when me? How much more justly may we reckon they dress it up with splendour in her ser this Lord of hosts, against multitudes of vice, which, though some magnify so much, enemies, how great soever! They are to yet may most truly be called a glistering him as the drop of a bucket, and the small-slavery and captivity. Then is she truly free est dust of the balance. It is ignorance and and wears her crown, when the ordinances of mean thoughts of this mighty Lord that God are conformable to his own appointment. make his enemies so confident; and it is the It is vanity in men, I say, when they dress same evil, in some dergee, or, at the best, it up with a multitude of gaudy ceremonies, forgetfulness of his power, that causeth diffi- and make it the smallest part of itself, wheredence in his followers, Isa. li. 12, 13. Now, as, indeed, its true glory consists not in the same Lord of hosts, you know, is like- pomp, but in purity and simplicity. Apoc. wise called the God of peace; he is indeed, xii., we find the church under the name of et pace et bello insignis, splendid both in a woman, richly attired indeed, but her orpeace and war. The blessing of peace and naments be all heavenly, the sun her cloth. the success of war are both from him; and ing, and her crown of twelve stars; needs to him alone is due the praise of both. she then borrow sublunary glory? No, she Shall be a crown, &c. He shall dignify treads upon it; the moon is under her feet. and adorn them by his special presence; to- There is another woman, indeed, in that same wit, in the purity of his ordinances and re- book, arrayed in purple and scarlet, decked ligion amongst them; the profession and with gold and precious stones, and having a flourishing of that shall be their special glory golden cup in her hand, but that golden cup and beauty; for as the other two benefits is full of abominations and filthiness, and she concern their civil good, justice flourishing herself the mother of abominations. Apoc. within, and wealth and opulency from with- xvii. 4. The natural man judges according out, so doubtless this first, this glory and to his reach, but to a spiritual eye there is a beauty, is religion, as the chiefest of the three, most genuine beauty in the service of God and the other two are its attendants. In and government of his house; and when they Psalm xxvi. 8, the sanctuary, the place of are nearest to the rule, the word of God, then their solemn worship, is called the place is it, that the Lord himself is the crown and where God's honour dwelleth, or the taber- diadem of his church.

nacle of his honour; and Psalm xcvi. 9, A crown, &c. Again we consider this

personally, as belonging in particular to every glory, you will glory in him, and in nothing believer. They are all made kings and else. Though you be wise, you will not priests unto God the Father, Rev. i. 6. glory in your wisdom, nor in strength, nor in They are a chosen generation, a royal riches, nor honours, though you had them priesthood, 1 Pet. ii. 9, how despicable so- all; but if you glory, you will glory in the ever to the world. This is their dignity: Lord. And withal, your highest joy will The Lord is their crown and diadem: he be to see the advancement of his glory; and subdues their lust, and makes them kings if you can, to be any way serviceable to the over their own affections, and more than con-advancing of it.

querors over all troubles and persecutions; And a spirit of judgment, &c. Both to whereas carnal men are continually hurried those that sit in judgment, and to the people; like slaves, unto base employments, still kept for justice is the strongest base and establishtoiling in the ignoble service of their own ment of authority. And withal, the influ lusts. They think, indeed, it is their liber-ence of it is most sweet and comfortable to ty, but that is a baseness of spirit that com- those that are under authority; and where it is plies so well with so vile and servile a con- wanting, that order and relation of superiors dition; and whereas they judge the godly to and inferiors, which God hath appointed in be the refuse and dross of the earth, and the the societies of men, for their good, tends exproper objects of contempt, this is because ceedingly to the damage of both; and, theretheir crown, though most glorious, is invisi- fore, where God intendeth to continue the ble to the eye of nature. The Lord is a peace and welfare of a people, he is liberal crown if they knew what this is, they in pouring out much of this spirit of judg would see enough in it to countervail their ment on those that sit in judgment. On the outward meanness, and the reproaches the contrary, it is for a heavy punishment, when world casts on them, as the apostle St. Peter he withdraws his spirit from rulers, and leaves hath it, 1 Ep. iv. 14: "If ye be reproach- them wholly to the corruption and vanity of ed for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for their own spirits. the spirit of glory and of God resteth on you:" he is their crown.

And observe, how this crown is opposed to that blasted glory and fading crown of pride, spoken of in the former verses.

That sit in judgment. To all that are in places of authority and judicature, from the supreme to the lowest magistrate: for this concerns them all, for they be all raised in their subordination, and several places, above Who is there that sees not, in daily expe- the people, for the benefit and good of the rience, the vanity and inconstancy of worldly people, as the stars that be set so high, yet glory? And yet, how few are there that are placed there to be useful and beneficial wean themselves from it, and learn to disdain to the inferior world. it! Still men dote upon that which is not, Now, this spirit of judgment comprehends upon a shadow, a nothing. But would you in it both due wisdom and prudence, for the have a glory that fadeth not, a garland that trial and right judging of affairs, and for the cannot wither, make the Lord your crown and discerning betwixt sound and perverse counyour glory; and if he be so, glory in him and in nothing else: Let not the wise man glory, &c. but let, &c. Jer. ix. 23,

sel; and withal, a judgment practically good, that cannot be biassed from the straight line of equity and justice by any sinister respect.

You that are noble aspire to this crown, as Now, seeing the spirit of judgment is from being so far above your perishing honours the Lord, (yea, he is this spirit,) it ought to and bounded powers; and you that are out- persuade those that sit in judgment, to enwardly meaner and lower, see how little cause treat and pray for this, and to depend upon you have to complain of your condition, see it, and beware of self-confidence. Trust in ing you are not debarred from this best and the Lord, saith Solomon, and lean not to greatest honour. And that you may discern thine own understanding; if you do, it will it aright what it is, know that it consists in prove but a broken reed. And as they that the renovation of God's image within you, sit in judgment should entreat his spirit by which is in holiness and righteousness: so prayer, so generally, all must share with them the Lord becomes your crown in the kingdom in this duty, and make supplication for all of grace; and by this you may discover, that are in authority over them, especially in whether or no you have attained it. If you extraordinary times. Truly we have matter can yet delight to wallow in the puddle and of thankfulness, that the Lord hath in some pleasures of sin, you are far from this royal measure inclined the royal heart of our Socondition; but if you find your soul possess-vereign to the desires of his people, and ought ed with the love of holiness, and that you are still to pray that the Lord would give the trampling upon profane delights, this may king his judgments; and then, as the Psal. persuade you that God hath enabled you, and mist adds, The mountains shall bring peace crowned you with his grace, and will crown to the people, and the little hills by righyou with glory. Again, try it by this; if teosuness, Psalm lxxii. 3. And for this the Lord is become your crown, and your end, let all that wish the public, yea, their

own good, pray much for abundance of this | So that we are either altogether senseless and spirit of judgment to be conferred on them; dead before him, or, if any fit of spiritual your eyes and expectations are upon them. motion rise within us, we find it here, and If you would enjoy the lamp, you must pour here we leave it, as if it were sacrilege to take in oil. This spirit, indeed, you cannot pour it home with us. But did once that spirit of upon them, but if you pour out many prayers, grace breathe savingly upon our souls, we you may draw it from above; he will give it, should straight renounce and abhor those base who here promises to be a spirit of judgment. idols, and then all the current of our affecAnd strength. Observe the way to be tion would run more in this channel; our powerful and successful against foreign ene- services would then be spiritual, and it would mies is, to have religion and justice flourish-be our heaven upon earth to view God in his ing at home. And truly, if it please our sanctuary; and the obtaining of the change God to answer the desires of his people at is, and should be, one main end of this our this time, it may so unite the affection and meeting; and that it may be the happy effect strength of the two kingdoms, (the Lord of of it, our recourse must be to the throne of hosts being their strength,) as to make them grace by humble prayer, in the name of our a terror to their enemies, whereas they were mediator, Jesus Christ the righteous. become a scorn and derision to them. your particular, labour to make the Lord your glory, to have Christ made unto you, as the apostle speaks, both wisdom, and righ-| teousness, and sanctification, which are the Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory and beauty of the soul, and redemption glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. from your spiritual enemies. Draw strength from him to fight and prevail against them, ADMIRABLE is the worth and depth o till after the short combat of this life, you ob- Divine Providence! This either we know tain the crown, and dwell in his presence, not, or, at least, seldom remember. While where you shall fear no more assaults, neither we forget the wonders of Providence, we of sin nor affliction, but shall be for ever direct our thoughts to baser objects, and happy in the blessed vision of his face. To think not on it; and while we forget the him be glory. Amen.

SERMON IV.

PREFACE.

For

ISAIAH lx. 1.

depth of Providence, (if at any time we look towards it,) we judge rashly and think amiss of it. If this be true of that general providence whereby God rules the world, it is more true of his special providence towards his church. This is both the most excellent piece of it, and therefore best worth the reading, and also the hardest piece, and therefore it requires sobriety in judging; above all other things, he that suddenly judges in this, makes haste to err. To have a right view of it, it must be taken altogether, and not by parcels pieces of rarest artifice, while they are a-making, seem little worth, especially to an unskilful eye, which, being completed, command admiration. P. Martyr says well, De Operibus Dei, antequam actum, non est judicandum. There is a time when the daughters of Sion embrace the dunghill, and sit desolate in the streets, as Jeremiah hath it in his Lamentations, iv. 5, and at that same time the voice of Babylon is, I sit as a queen, and shall see no sorrow, Isa. xlvii. All is out of order here. But if

EXTERNAL worship doth openly acknowedge a Deity; but want of inward sense in worship secretly denieth it: The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. It is strange to hear so much noise of religion in the world, and to find so little piety. To present the living God with a carcase of lifeless worship, is to pay him with shells of services, and so to mock him; and it is a more admirable long-suffering in him to defer the punishment of such devotion, than all the other sins in the world. The Egyptian temples were rich and stately fabrics. A stranger, who had looked upon them without, would have imagined some great deity within; but if they entered, (as Lucian says, laughing at them,) nothing was to be seen, but only we stay a while, we shall see Sion and Babysome ape, or cat, or pied bull, or some other lon appointed to change seats, by the great fine god like these. To behold our fair sem- Master of the world: Come down, (says he,) blance of religion that frequent this house, daughter of Babylon, and sit in the dust, it would appear that we were all the temples Isa. xlvii. 1. And here to Sion: Arise, of the Holy Ghost. But whoso could look shine; for thy light is come, and the glory within us, would find in many of our hearts, of the Lord is risen upon thee. It is an lust, pride, avarice, or some such like secret vice, adored as a God; and these are they that, while our bodies sit here, do alienate our souls from the service of the eternal God.

entire catastrophe; both parties find a notable alteration together; that same hand that exalts the one ruins the other. When the sun rises upon the church, her antipodes