A defense of some important doctrines of the Gospel : in twenty-six sermons, most of which were preached in Lime-Street
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^'^l ik^<. 'r^- >\'^^ /3 5 / • OP THE Theo logic a'l Seminar y, PRINCETON, N.J. ' Shelf, Division Section Book, N©.^.... 1/. I A DEFENSE OF SOME Important Dodlrines OF THE. GOSPEL, IhTwentySix SERMONS. * Moftof which were Preached in LIME. STREET. By feveral Ministers. In Two Volumes. VOL. I. LONDON: Printed for A.Ward, at the KingVArms, and J . O s w A L D, at the Rofe and Crown, in Little- Britam 5 and R. H e t t, at the Bible and Crown, in the Poultry. Mdcgxxxii. ;H E N dodrines of pure revelation are oppo*^ fed, it is the duty of all who believe them, to appear in their de^ fenfe ; and this is really engaging in a noble caufe : It is ftanding up for the honour of the great God^ againft thofe v^ho fet their imperfect reafon, and proud conceits, above infinite wifdom : To ftrive for the faith once delivered to the faints, is moft necefFary, when it meets w-ith the Gontradidion of finners. As A 2 error iv The Preface. error never raged with greater vio- lence than it does in our unhappy times, and as lukewarmnefs never difcover'd it felf more, than in the prefent day of darknefs, it never could be more expedient than now, to plead for the glorious gofpel of the bleffed God. The fufficience of the light of nature is Warmly contended for, by fuch as do not profefs to rejeft revelation ; and moft of the dodrines of fcripture have been given up, one after ano- ther, by fome who yet declare that the Bible is their religion. It is therefore now time, if ever, for thofe who fee no realbn to renounce the old Proteftant dodrines, the glory of the Reformation, to bear their teftimony againft the errors of the day, and to ftand up for the great truths, which have been hand- ed to them by their fathers, and which they embrace, not merely becaufe they have received them from The Preface. from the worthies who have gone before them, but becaufe, after ltri6t and impartial examination^ they find, that thefe, and no other, are the doftrines reveai'd in fcripture. Near two years lince, fome Gen- tlemen, who, it is to be hoped, have a true zeal, and a hearty con- cern, for the intereft of Chrift, judged it proper to ftrt upa Lefture % for one winter and fpring feafon, that a courfe of Sermons might be preach'd, in defenfe of feveral truths^ which they reckoned to be of the la ft importance, and which are, in our time, violently oppofed. Nine Mi- nifters, who w^ere chofe for this work, cheerfully undertook it. When this courfe was finifh'd, it was the unanimous defire of the Gentlemen, that they would print * This Le^^ure was begun at the Meeting in Lime-flreet, where the Reverend Mr. Bragge ftated- ly preaches, on November 12, 1730. and was con- tinued weekly till April 8, 17 31. their vi The Preface. their Sermons ; with which requeft they have complied, hoping to do fome fervice, if it is only by efta- blilhing wavering minds in the great doctrines which are now matter of conteft. Thefe Difcourfes we now fubmit to the candid perufal of ferious and judicious perfons. We have not en- ter'd upon the direft proof of the truth of our holy religion, becaufe it was not our defign to engage with proper Deifts, but with erro- neous profeflbrs of Chriftianity. The great doftrines of the bleffed Trinity, and of the Perfon of Chiift, we have not meddled with ; feeing^ feveral of us have treated largely upon them before, and our labours are in many hands. Some thoughts which we had not time to deliver from the pulpit, we have taken the liberty to add. The bodily indif- pofitions of fome of our number, which ended in death, as to one, who The Preface. vii who was a real credit to the caufe, have occafioned a much greater de- lay in publifliing this work, than was appehended, when it was firft put to the prefs, which is near a year fince* We can each of us fay, as to our felves, that we have advanced no- thing but what we believe to be true, and agreeable to fcripture. Ifany, with meeknefs, gravity, and impartiality, Ihall think fit to obje£t againft what we have laid down, we hope, we (hall be enabled, by the Holy Spirit, to plead for the things of God ; being defirous of nothing more than to eftablifh the truth, as it is in Jefus : But if any fhould purfue us with rancour and reviling, with banter and grimace, we ftial] pafs by fuch treatment with pity and filence : Or, fhould they, who ihall be difpofed to animadvert upon what we have delivered, in the following Sermons, charge upon us viii The Preface. us the fentiments of particular per- fons, we Ihall leave thofe concern'd to vindicate their own tenets. We recommend the whole of what we have done to the bleffing of that good Mafter^ for whofe glory we plead, and whofe battles we light : And we would humbly hope that our great God and Saviour JefusChrift, the word of whofe pa- tience we defire to keep, and in de- fenfe of which we now appear, will make our endeavours to be of real fervice,^to eftablilh pious perfons in the belief of the dodrines in difpute^ and to furnifli them with fome wea- pons, to repel the attacks of gain- fayers. June 15, 1732. THE THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. I. HE Holy Spirit's ftandard lifted up^ and difplay*d againft error ; in a ier- mon on Isaiah lix. 19. When the enemy iTiall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord fliall lift up a ftandard a- gainft him page i By Mr. Bragge* a IL The Contents. 11. Of the infufficience of natural reli-^ gion, in two fermons page 37 By Mr. Taylor. The firft fermon on I Cor. xi. 14.. The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolifhnefs to him ; nei- ther can he know them, becaufe they are fpiritually difcern'd 5 9 The fecond fermon on Rom. i. ai. Profeffing themfelves to be wife, they became fools 87 III. The doflrine of particular eledlion ftated and defended ; in two fer- mons on !2 ThESS. The Contents. xi 1 Thess. ii. 13. We are bound to give thanks al- ways for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, becaufe God has, from the beginning, chofe you to falvation, through fandification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth page 14.5 By Mr. Sladen. The firft fermon 145 Thefecond fermon 195 IV. The doftrine of original fin ftated and defended; in tv^o fermons Q49 By Mr. Goodwin. The firft fermon, of the imputation of Adam's fin, on Rom, v. 19. By one man's difobedience many were made finners 251 The til The Contents. The fecond fermon, of original cor- ruption, on Psalm li. 5. Behold, I was (haped in iniquity, and in fin my mother conceived me page a 87 V. The fcripture doftrine of particular redemption ftated and vindicated; in four fermons on Titus ii. 14. Jefus Chrift gave himfelf for us,= that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himfelf a peculiar people^ zealous of good works 3^5 By Mr. Hurrion. The firft fermon 327 The fecond fermon 365 The third fermon 4^9 The fourth fci ^ion 453 The Spirit's Standard lifted up and difplayd againft Error. I N A SERMON O N ISAIAH lix. 19. y By Robert Bragg e, Miiiifter of the Gofpel, Vol. I. B PThenihe enem Itke (f^^a^4m^ LordJhalllC againfi him. come tn 100 of the a ftandard T is a glorious truth, which refledts light on the whole gofpel, and adds luftre to all the works of God; that what- ever God doth, or fufFers to be done, be it in the church, or in the world, is for the manifeftation of his own glory. To this great end, that his glory may ftiine forth the brighter, his works of nature are made to fubferve his deligns of love and grace ; the firft Adam, at the head of this lower creation, was but the figure of him that was to come. Dark and difmal as the veil is, fin hath fpread over all nations, and great as the confufion is, which it hath hurl'd quite round the B 2 globe. The Spirit^ s Standard lifted up globe, all in the end will be fo over-rul'd, as to be an eternal illuftration of the glory of God, as it fhines forth in the face of Jefus Chrift. The fcattering caufed by fin would not have been fuffer'd, but to make way for the gathering together of the whole eleftion of the Father's grace, in a far more glorious Head. Of which you read % '' That in the difpenfation of ful- nefs of times, he might gather together in one all things in Chrift, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him." Full as hell is of darknefs, the glory of God's vindictive juftice (hines brightly therein 5 and full as the enemies are of wrath, be they men, or devils, all their wrath ihall be made to praife God. I fhall not confider thefe words in their connexion , fo to do, would take up too much of your time : but, in fpeaking to them, I fhall obferve the following me- thod. I. Who the enemy is the text fpeaks of, fhall be my firft enquiry. II. Why the enemy is at any time fuf- fer'd to come in like a flood, fhall be my next. III. I fhall let you fee how remarkably the Spirit of the Lord hath all along lifted up a ftandard againft them, * Eph. i. |o, IV. and difplay^d again/I: Error. IV. I fhall produce the ftandard which we, who are fet for the defence of the gofpel, fhould, as enabled by the Spirit, be now lifting up. V. Who the prefent enemy is, which threatens to come in like a flood, fhall be my laft enquiry: And fo I fhall acquaint you with the defign of this Lecflure; and conclude with the joint rcquefl of your Leftu- rers. I. I fhall begin with the firfl of thefe; which is to tell you, who the enemy is, my text fpeaks of. The truly gracious, of any denomination, are not to be numbered among the enemy. Thefe may differ among themfelves, and labour under miftakes about lefs matters; but being one Spirit with the Lord, they are enabled, whereunto they hav^e attained, to walk by the fame rule. Being taught of God, they are brought to acknowledge every good thing in Chrifl, that is to be found in one another -, according to that golden rule, which regulates the commu- nion of faints \ « That the communica- tion of thy faith may become eiFed:uaI, by the acknowledging of every good thing, which is in you in Chrifl Jefus." Wa^ ^ Phil. 6. B 3 this The Spirit^s Standard lifted m this rule of Chriftian fellowfliip more ob- ferv'd, we fhould differ without falling out. The unity of the Spirit would be preferv'd, at another rate than it is> in the bond of peace ; neither would the people of God kindle fire on earth, or call for fire from heaven to devour one another. Nei- ther babes, nor men, nor fathers in Chrift, are the enemies my text fpeaks of; but the feed of the ferpent are ; who, in num- berlefs inftances, have difcover'd, and arc ftill difcovering their bitter enmity againft the feed of the woman. The people of God, whofe New Teftament name is that of the faints, and faithful in Chrift Jefus, have all along had their enemies. Righ- teous Abel had a cruel enemy, bloody Cain. Thus the patriarch Jacob had a fierce ene- my, profane Efau. Jacob, to be fure, took a wrong ftep to obtain the blefling j who was fuffer'd thus to come at it, that it might appear he deferved it no more than did profane Efau ; who difcover'd the plague and enmity of his heart, by refol- ving on the death of his brother. Thus Ifrael, under the Old Teftament, had ma- ny and fierce enemies ; there was Pharaoh, king of Egypt, with his cruel counfellors j there was Goliah of Gath, with his Phili- ftines; there was Senhacherib, king of Affy- ria, with his railing Rabfhakey ; there was Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, with many and difplay^d againft Error. many more. Their own idolatrous kings were fome of Ifrael's worft enemies ; who were fo ourrageoufly wicked, as not only to lay afide the worfhip of the true God, but to place their idols in his temple : the calves at Dan and Bethel were very provo- king 5 but idols in the temple it felf were more fo. The top inftance of the enmity which lives and reigns in the feed of the ferpent, is the treatment which Chrift and his apo- files met with, in the fulnefs of time, a- mong the Jews, and wherewith his gofpel and witneffes are ftill treated. One would have thought, that, confidering who Chrift was, ana on what kind errand he came, he fliould have had no enemy, efpecially among his own : the prophefies relating to the fufferings of the Meffiah, were as unlikely to have had their accomplilhment, as that of the kings of Europe, their con- fenting to give away their power to the beaft : but accomplifh'd they were, which is a wonderful proof of the truth of the Chriftian religion. Never had any more enemies, nor fiercer, than Chrift had. They who waited for the confolation of Ifrael, were his friends ; but how few were they ? The reft, from them that fate in the gate, to them that deferved the flocks, were his enemies: he was the fong of drunkards, as well as the envy of the B 4 San- 8 The Spirit'' s Standard lifted up Sanhedrim. His brethren did not believe in him, which was a plain proof he was no cheat -, for had he been fo, to be fure his brethren would have been let into the fecret, and his near kinsfolks went forth to take him ; he paffed for an enemy to Caefar among the rulers, and for a mad- man among his relations. Thus his apoftles, during the courfe of their miniftry, had their enemies ; few died a natural, but mpft a violent death ; fealing the teftimony they bore to the truth, as it is in Jefus, with their blood. How was perfecuting Saul perfecuted, when he came to be a Chriftian ? Hell foon turn'd the tables upon him, and was in an uproar againft him. Thus the pri- mitive faints had their enemies, both at Rome and at Jerufalem, and every where elfe. Where-ever the feed of the woman had any footing, the feed of the ferpent fent out a flood of perfecution to deftroy them. Witnefs the ten bloody perfecutions under Rome Pagan 5 which have been out-done by Rome Anti-chriflian : the dragon filTd himfelf with the blood of the faints 5 but the fcarlet whore hath often made her felf drunk therewith. In the maifacre at Paris, flie drank the blood of an hundred thoufand Proteftants ; and of three hundred thoufand in that of Ireland ; and of a million in that great perfecution of and dijflayd againjl Error. of the Waldenfes, and of the Albigenfes. How did (he begin to glut her felf with Englifh blood, during the fhort reign of bloody queen Mary ? Our civil rites, as Englifhmen, have all along had their ene- mies : how forward were many, during the reigns of king Charles and of king James, to have introduced flavery, as well as popery ? And are there not ftill among usfome who would be glad was the prince abfolute, and the clergy independent ? Hath the reformation no enemies among us ? Are all dead and gone who hate to be reformed ? Hath the Revolution no ene- mies? The Proteftant fucceffion in the royal houfe of Hanover no enemies ? It was to be wiih'd they had none -, but ene- mies,^to be fure, they have ; though, blef- fed be God, their numbers leflen, as light encreafeth. Thus the dodrines of the gofpel have all along had, and Itill have, their enemies. The dod:rine of the Refurredtion had fo ; of which number were Hymeneus and Philetus, who faid it was paft already''. And fo had the dodrine of Chrift*s true and proper divinity, of his incarnation, of his fatisfaclion, of his imputed righteouf- nefs, and of his efficacious grace. Thus much may fuffice, by way of anfwer to the firft enquiry. ^ I Tim. i 20. 2 II. I o The Spirits Standard lifted up II. My next enquiry is this ; why is the enemy fufFer*d, at any time, thus to come in like a flood ? To which I anfwer, in fix things. I. It is for the manifeflation of his glory, who works all things after the counfel of his own will, thus to fuiffer it 'y who can and will bring glory to him- felf, even praife, which is the top of glory, out of all the inftances and attacks of the enemies wrath \ " The wrath of man fhall praife thee;" which holds as true of the wrath of devils. Had not Chrift, the feed of the woman, been an over-match for Satan, one abundantly able to bruife his head, the old ferpent had not been fuffer'd to enter paradife, nor to tempt our firfl parents, and leaft of all to prevail: but fuper-creation grace would have inter- pofed s for to be fure, that grace, whence is our recovery by Chrift the fecond Adam, could have prevented our fall in the firft. Was not the King of faints able to caft the man of fin, as a millftone, into the fea of God's judicial wrath, to rife up no more for ever, Anti-chrift had not been fuffer'd to fhew himfelf, and much lefs to wear a triple crown at Rome. The doing of which will out-fhine IfraeFs deliverance out of Egypt, and Pharaoh's being drown- ed in the red fea ; by this Chrift will get ^ Pfal. Ixxvi. lo. unto and dijflayd againfi Error. 1 1 unto himfelf a glorious name of pralfe, and be eternally exalted; whofe glory, as Man and Mediator, will be but the greater, in God's falvation, for all the oppofition it meets with from the enemy. It is with Chrift, the Sun of righteoufnefs, as it is with the natural fun ; we may darken our houfes, and fhut out the light, but can- not darken the fun : fhould all eyes be put out, the fun would remain as full of light as ever ; the feeing eye adds nothing to the fhining fun, that is the fame whether the horizon be full of clouds, or without them : its light and heat are but the more manifefted and recommended, by our win- ter feafons, and long nights. 2. It is alfo for the trial and exercife of all his people's graces that this is fuffer'd. As the caih of the nation (hould not be lock'd up, nor hoarded, but traded with; fo the graces of the Spirit are talents of fuch worth and ufefulnefs, that God will not have them hid in napkins. Untry'd faith is uncertain faith, which holds true of the reft of our graces. Had not Abra- ham's faith been try'd, he had not been caird, in the word of God, the father of the faithful, an higher title than his being the father of many nations, or Adam's be- ing the father of all mankind. The trials and temptations of the people of God can- not be fet in a fweeter light than they are, by I a The Spirits Standard lifted up by the apoftle Peter % " Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a feafon, if need be, ye are in heavinefs, through manifold temptations. That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perifheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praife, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of JefusChrift." Faith alone, becaufe of its ufefulnefs, is here mentioned ; but all other graces are, doubtlefs, included. How fhall the fol- lowers of the Lamb be brought off more than conquerors in the end, if they meet with no enemies in the way ? Faith*s vidto- ries fuppofe a field of battle; aflefli lufting againft the Spirit, a tempting world, and a raging devil. Mean and contemptible, as the followers of the Lamb are, in the eye of the world, they will out-fhine all its Caefars in the day of Chrift's appearance. Thanks be to God, who giveth us the vicflory, will be their tribute of praife above in glory ; for none in heaven facri- fice to their own net, nor burn incenfe to their own drag; but fhout grace, grace, and will do fo for ever. 3. It is to roufe and awaken the wife virgins that this is fufFer'd ; who, in flum- bering and fleeping with the foolifh, a<ft below their charader, as they are God*s witneffes, and God's remembrancers 3 who are and difplay^d agakfi Error. i ^ are to buy the truth, as it is in Jefus, at any rate, but to part with it for no price : they are ahb to give the moft high no reft, until he fo eftablifh Jerufalem, as to make it the praile of the whole earth. Now a fleepy, drowfy, lukewarm, indifferent frame ill becomes perfons who are placed by God in fo high a poft, on whofe diligence and watchfulnefs fo much depends. 4. This is fuffer'd, that the followers of the Lamb may take unto themfelves the whole armour of God. No piece of which can well be fpared ; neither the girdle of truth, than which nothing is more dread- ed by the father of lyes ; nor the breaft- plate of righteoufnefs, that is, of Chrift's imputed furetyfhip righteoufnefs, which defends and fcreens the heart from the thunders of the law, as a broken covenant, and from the lafhes of confcience for the breach thereof: neither can the faint's (hoe be any more mifs'd, than the faint's breaft- plate ; for the gofpel of peace, received in the love of it, promotes practical god- linefs, more than all the thunders of Si- nai. And as for the fhield of faith, we all need to be farther taught how to manage it : it is among our graces like the fun among the planets ; neither can we, who are as brands pluck'd out of the burnino-, be without the helmet of falvation, or lay afide the fword of the Spirit, which is the Word 1 4- The Spirit^ s Standard lifted up Word of God; becaufe we wreftle not with flefh and blood, but with principalities and powers, and with fpiritual wickedneffes in high places y with the rulers of the dark- nefs of this world, who fit at the helm at Rome, at Conftantinople, in the Eaft and Weft-Indies. 5. This is fuffer'd to put thofe who arc one fpirit with the Lord, upon looking up for a frefh anointing. Your having had him as the former rain, in your regenera- tion, fhould encourage you to afk, and to expedl him, as the latter rain, to the end of life: who, as certainly as he hath laid the firft, will bring forth the top-ftone with fhouting, not the Arminian fhout of free will, but that of free grace unto it. To war as well as to worfhip in the Spirit, is what all the followers of the Lamb are called to : Satan is fure of vid:ory when-^ ever you go forth againft him in your own fpirits; a look unto Chrift, your Head, for a frefli anointing is of the utmoft con- fequence,when we are called forth to battle. 6. I may add, this is fuffer'd, to baifle and confound the enemy, who have miffed the mark, as oft as they have bent their bow, and fhot their arrows. Thus they miffed it, in putting Pharaoh upon de- ftroying the males in Ifrael, as foon as born ; for then was Mofes, Ifrael's deli- verer, born, who had not been took up by z Phi- and diffUyd againft Error. PharaoVs daughter, and educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, had not his parents been forced to expofe him. Ne- ver was Satan more defirous to accomplifli any thing than the death of Chrift ; who, by dying, deftroyed him that hath the power of death, who is the devil : where the enemy hoped to have triumphed over him, he fpoiled them ; whofe crofs proved their overthrow, and his refurreftion their entire defeat. Thus in the pit which they dug for Chrift, were their own feet taken. III. I ihall now give you fome memora- ble inftances of the enemies coming in like a flood ', and let you fee how vidlorioufly the Spirit of the Lord hath, all along, lifted up a ftandard againft him. I. How like a flood did the gates of hell come in upon all mankind, when the old ferpent had artfully drawn our firft parents into fin? Then, if ever, was there joy in hell ; but hell's joy was but like a flafh of lightning ; for in the evening of that dark and gloomy day, did the glorious light of the gofpel firft break forth. That the old ferpent was by when the threatning was pronounced, is very manifeft, he being the firft that was fentenced : to whom the firft promife, Jf it was underftood by him, muft have been like a clap of thunder, be- fore which he fell 5 who, as he had gain'd his 1 6 The Spmt^s Standard lifted up his point, fo he was to receive his death's "wound, by theinflrumentality of a woman; for it was her feed, and not the man's, that was to bruife his head. The ftandard of the firft promife virtually contained in it all after-promifes .; for the incarnation, death, and refurredtion of Chrift, are all three plainly hinted at, and foretold there- by; his incarnation, in his being called the feed of the woman, who was to be born of a virgin 3 his death and fufferings, by which his heel is mofl aptly and elegantly faid to be bruifed ; his refurred:ion and vidory, by which he effedlually bruis'd the ferpent's head. 2. How like a flood did the enemy come in, firft in oppreffing, and then in purfuing Ifrael ? That Ifrael's name might be ex- tinguilhed, Ifrael's males were ordered to be drowned, as foon as born ; and though God had, by an high hand of power, de- livered his people out of Egypt, Pharaoh refolv'd to purfue, with a profped: of over- taking and dividing the fpoil : but how awful, as well as remarkable, was the ftan- dard which the Spirit of the Lord lifted up againft Pharaoh, and his hoft, by drown- ing them in the red fea ? who were firft in- fatuated, and fo deftroy'd. 3. How like a flood did the Aflyrians comeinagainftjudah? Their defenced cities were taken, and Jerufalem befieged by an army and dif played againfi Error. I ^ army of an hundred and fourfcore and five thbufand men, all full of rage aiid rancour againft Ifrael, if any judgment tnay bef form'd of them by Rabfhakeh's railing let- ter. But good Hezekiahj inflead of re- turning railing for railing, gave himfelf to prayer ; in anfwer to which, the Spirit of the Lord lifted up fuch a ft^ndard, as ef- fed:ually brought about Ifraers deliverance j for the angel of the Lord went forth, and fmote, in one night, an hiindred and four- fcore and five thoufand of the AfTyrians. 4. How like a flood did the eiierny cbrhe in, in the reign of king Ahafuerus ? when wicked Haman refolv'd, by way of re- venge, on the deftrudlion of all the Jews j not only they in Shufhan were to be kilKd^ both young and old, little children and women, in one day; but they from India to Ethiopia, even all that were to be found refiding in any part of the king's domi- nions, who reigned over an hundred and feven and twenty provinces. But how re- markable was the ftandard which the Spi- rit lifted up againft him ? Wicked Haman was hang'd on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai ; and the Jews every where were viftorious over their blood-thirfty enemies, of whom they flew feventy five thoufand. 5. How like a flood did the enemy come in, in that hour of darknefs,of which Vol. I. G Ghrift The Sfirh^s Standard lifted up Chrift fpeaks ^, ** But this is your houf>^ and the power of darknefs ?'' In it the enemy got Chrifl betrayed, denied, and crucified, and to make all lure, requefted Pilate that the grave might be fecured 5 accordingly they fet a watch^ and fealed the ftone. But how glorious was the ftan- dard which the Spirit lifted up in the early refurredion of Chrift ^ ? *^ Behold there was a great earthquake j for the an- gel of the Lord defcended from heaven,, and came and rolled back the ftone from the door, and fat upon it 5 his countenance v/as like lightning, and his raimenE white as fnow ; and for fear of him the keepers did Ihake, and became as dead men." 6. In the ten bloody perfecutions raifed by Rome Pagan, Satan came in like a flood, hoping to crufti the church in its infancy 5 but fuch and fo glorious was the ftandard which the Spirit, in thofe early days, lifted up againft him^ that the blood of the martyrs became the feed of the church. As in Egypt, the more the Ifrae- iites were oppreffed, the more they mul- tiplied ; fo the primitive Chriftians pro- pagated the gofpel, by their fufferings for it s the patience they acted, and their praying for their perfecutors^ overcamo ^ l^ke xxiJt. f ji- s Mattr xxviii. 2, 5, 4. many and difpUyd againjl Errd)^» i q many of them 5 and the fealing their tefti- mony with their blood made their tefti- mony but the more regarded. 7. How like a flood did the enemy come in, in the rife and progrefs of Antichrift, who is drav/n and defcribed to the life in the prophecies of the New Teftament ? Hardly a circumftance of any confequence is there omitted, from the word myftery, "ivrit on his forehead, to his making mer- chandize of the fouls of men* But how glorious and fuccefsful was the ftandard which the Spirit lifted up in the Reforma- tion ? though the man of fin was theri in his height of power, faying, in his heart, he fliould never be moved ; the iirfl reformers were in Chriii's hand an over-match for him, by whofe miniftry he received fuch a wound, as will never be healed. ; 8. To conclude this head. A little be- fore Satan^s binding, and immediately af- ter his being loofed, he is to come in like a flood. A little before his binding, he is to come in like a flood in latter day dark- nefs ; of which you have a very humbling account \ « This know, that in the laft days perilous times (hall come ; for men fliall be lovers of their own felves, cove-^ tous^ boaflers, proud, biafphemers, dif- ^ 2 Tiro. iii. ^hems and difplay^d againjl Error] a I them; and they flood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them that faw them j and the fame hour there was a great earth-^ quake, and the tenth part of the city fell." Rome's downfall feems to be the imme- diate confequence of their refurrecftion ; which is followed by latter day glory ^, " And the feventh angel founded, and there were great voices in heaven, faying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chrifl:/* After Satan is loofcd, he will be fuffer'd to come in like a flood ; which will be his kfl effort, and, of confequence, his fiercefl and boldeft onfec; of which you read ^, " When the thoufand years are expired, Satan fliall be loofed out of his prifon, and fliall go out to deceive the nations, which are in the four quarters of the earth, (where America, which is the fourth quar- ter of the earth, is plainly pointed at) Gog and Magog, to gather then> together to battle 5 the number of whom is as the fand of the fea : and they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compafTed the camp of the faints about, and the beloved city ; and firse came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." By which fire, it's highly probable, the firfl Adam's world will be burnt up j qf which the J Rev. xi. 1 5. \ Chap, xx. 7> ^c» C 3 ^poftlc^ 2 2 The Spirifs Standard lifted uf apoftle Peter fpeaks"'^ for, in the clofe of this chapter, you have an account of judgment^ and of the perdition of ungodly men; and, at the beginning of the following chapter, of a new heaven, and of a new earth. IV. I {hall next obferve v/hat the ftan- dard is, which v/e, who preach the gofpel, fho'dld now be lifting up. I. Negatively. Not the ftandard of a Plato, nor of a Seneca, w^hich is that of carnal reafon, fupported by philofophy^ and varniflVd over with a fhew of mo- rality ; which can no more fupply the place of the gofpel, than the dim light and fliine of the moon and ftars can fupply the place^ pr make up for the want of the light and warm beams of the fun. Though the niind of man was originally the candle of the Lord, it is blown out by lin into a ftinking fnuif : witnefs the flench of ido- latry and fuperilition the world hath for fo many ages pall been filled with. Nei- ther is the ftandard, we fhould lift up, that of Antichrift 3 which is fire and fa- got, with all the inftruments of cruelty, which a raging devil could invent, or a bloody inquifition make ufc of ^ who, in making converts, prove themfeivcs to be none of Chrill's difciples, who came not ^ 1 Pa, iii. 7i €ind difphyd againji Errar. 1 g to deflroy mens lives, but to fave them. Rome's cruelties are thereverfe of Chrift's bowels. Neither is the ftandard we are to lift up, that of Mahomet, whofe weapons were carnal, and not fpiritual ; fuch as flattery, and the force of arms, polygamy, and a carnal paradife 3 who, inftead of foretelling fufferings, promifed viftory 3 and, inftead of working miracles, was full of debaucheries. Neither is the ftandard we are to lift up, that of the Jews; which is that of fables, and romantick traditions, of which their Talmud, and other wri- tings, are full; who, though they have the Old Teftament entire, and the free ufe thereof, yet it is to them as a fealed book, the veil of their hearts not being taken away. This they kept for us, as we do the New Teftament for them. In a word, the ftandard we are to lift up, is not that of any party, in oppofition to Chrift, whofe written word is the touch-ftone of all we preach, and of all we print. To this one and only ftandard of truth, and warrant of the reformation, we are ready to bring all our fermons, confcffions, catechifms, and bodies of divinity : by this we endeavour both to preach and to pray, to walk and to ^ worfhip, 2. Having thus returned a negative, I ftiall return a pofitive anfwer to this great enquiry s what is the ftandard which fuch C 4 ^.^. §4 The Spirits Standard lifted up a§ preach the gpfpel fliould lift up. Tp which I anfwer ; the fame, for fubftance, which Mofes and all the prophets lifted up, under the Old Teftament ; which was Chriftj in type or figure, and which the apoftles and evangelifls lifted up, under the New, which was Chriil without a Yeil : Chrift, as he is God's ftlvation, or the truth, as it is in Jefus, is the ftandard we Ihould be }ifting up. This, like the canopy of heaven, i^ of a vafl extent, and would employ the mind of a Solomon, to the years of a Methufalem, in the ftudy thereof; as it hath done, for a longer fpace cftime, the minds of angels ; and yet we are tpld, for their comfort and encourage- rnentj who are babes in Chrift, that who- fpever believeth that Jefus is the Chrift, is bor|i of God ". Now where this new birth is, there will be a following on to know the Lord 3 to which end fuch a hookas the bible is put into every believer's hand, and the Spirit promifed, to teach us the right ufe thereof Nov/ in lifting up this, ftandard, againft the impenitent and unbelie- ving world;, we Ihould preach, as the apo- file Paul did, repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jefus Chri.(l °, ** Te~ fiifying both to the Jews, and alfa to the, precksj repentance t9\Yard God^ and faith X John V, I, ^ Ads 3SX. ai« '■'■■■ "') \ and dijflayd againfi Error. toward the Lord Jefus Chrift/- It is not fufficient for us, who preach the gofpel, to teach the duty of repentance, unlefswe tell our hearers where, and from whom the grace of repentance is to be had, that Chrifl is exalted a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance unto Ifrael, and remiffion of fins p. In lifting up this flandard againfi the Arians and Socinians, we fhould enlarge on the true and proper divinity of Chrift ; and let our hearers know, that there is not that name in fcripture, by which the li- ving and true God is known and diftin- guifhed from dumb idols, but is given to the Lord Jefus Chrift ; neither is there that divine perfeftion mentioned in fcrip- ture, by which the living and true God is diftinguiflied from lifelefs idols, but is afcribed to the Lord Jefus Chrift. Nei- ther is there any adt of divine worfliip ilientioned or commanded, in fcripture, to be paid to the living and true God, and forbid to be given to idols, but is com- manded to be given to the Lord Jefus Chrift. Neither are there any works, ei- ther of nature or of grace, be it creation work, or that of prefervation, or the dif- pofals of providence, or redemption work, te it the renovation of the foul, or the ? Ac> V. 51; refur-' 26 The Spirits Standard lifted up refurrefl:ion of the body, or the judging of the world, or the making of all things new y but they are afcribed, in fcripture,, to the Lord Jefus Chrift ; which is full and abundant proof, that, according to his di- vine nature, he is one in effence with the Father ; not a mere creature, though the firft of all creatures, but the moft high God, manifeiled in the flefh. To fay^ chat in the Bible fuch things as thefe are afcribed unto a mere creature, would be to place that book of God below the Alcoran* We fhould alfo, in lifting up this glo- rious ftandard againft the Pelagians and Arminians, enlarge on the love and grace, on the fatisfadtion and righteoufnefs of Chrift ; and let our hearers know, how able he is to fave, to the utmoft of God's mercy, and of the fmner's mifery, all that come to God by him ; in making elect: finners firft a wife, and a willing, and fo a pardoned, juftifipd, reconciled, adopted, fandiified, and, at laft, a glorified people. We fhould alfo, in lifting up this ftan- dard, enlarge on the incarnation of Chrifl, and on thofe royalties which belong to him, as he is God's eflential Word made flefh 5 of which royalties you have a fhort, but a moft incomparable account gi- ven by Paul to the Coloffians % that Chrift } Coli. 15, SPc, is and dijflayd againjl Error. ay IS there fpoke of, as incarnate, is evident, becanfe, thus confidered, he hath blood 3 of which you read % " In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgivenefs of fins." Then follows, '' Who is the image of the invifible God, the firft-born of every creature -, for by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vifible and invifible, whether they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers ; all things were created by him, and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things confift." As more of God is to be feen m one man, efpecially in the firft Adam, than in all the beafts of the field, or birds of the air ; fo more of the glory of God is to be feen in the face or perfon of Jefus Chrift, than in the whole world of angels, as well as of men ; or in never fo many worlds of mere creatures, never fo varied or diverfi- fied. Mathematicians can eafily tell how many ways the letters of the alphabet may be difpofed, or how many millions of words may be made out of four and twenty let- ters ', but who can fay how many worlds may, by the power of God, be formed out of fo much matter as this earth, and the vifible heavens contain? But let their pofiible numbers be what they will^, it may be faid, ^ Col. i. 14. 