already; when it is propounded thus hopefully, who would not offer violence to this kingdom? When John Baptist laid it open so clearly to them, This is the Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world,' John i. 29, it made them offer violence to it. And this is another reason why in the latter, the second spring of the gospel-for there was a winter in the time of popery, it being a kingdom of darkness, keeping people in ignorance-so many nations so suddenly embraced the truth. Luther was a man that was wondrously exercised and afflicted in conscience. This made him relish the doctrine of justifi cation by grace in Christ, and thereupon to lay open the mysteries of Christ and the bondage of popery; and this being once a-foot, the people's minds being prepared out of the sense of their former bondage, whole kingdoms came in presently. As in the spring time, when there comes a fine sunshine day, the prisoners are let loose out of the earth after a cold winter, so after the winter of affliction and persecution, inward and outward, came the sunshine of the gospel, and made all come forth and flourish presently. Wheresoever Christ is taught powerfully and plainly, and the excellency and necessity of the state we have by him, and that men may partake of it, if they be not false to their own souls, there is always violence offered to these things, because where the riches of Christ are opened, the Spirit goes with it, and goes with violence, that it carries all before it. Hence, again, we may see that popish spirits are witty* in opposing the unfolding of the gospel in the ministry, especially where there is conscience and skill to unfold Christ plainly. They know when Christ is opened, all their fopperies and inventions will grow base. The more Christ is unfolded, the more people will grow in hatred of antichrist. The more they see the light, the more they will hate darkness. For this cause they oppose the unfolding of the gospel to the understanding of the people; they would keep people in ignorance that they may make them doat upon them. It argueth a disposition dangerous, that shall never taste of the good things of God, to be in a bitter temper against the unfolding of the gospel of Christ. For we see here the discovery of it makes it wondrous effectual. John Baptist laying open Christ clearer than he was discovered before, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence.' Here we are instructed what way we should take if we would bring ourselves or others into a temper fit for heaven, to an earnest temper after holy things, not to begin with dead outward actions, but to begin, as becomes the condition of reasonable men, as God deals with man, befitting the nature of man; begin with the understanding. Let us meditate seriously of the truth of Christ's coming in the flesh, of the end of his coming, 'to dissolve the works of the devil,' 1 John iii. 8, to bring us out of the state of nature to a better condition. Meditate of the excellency of the state of grace, of the eternity'and excellency of the state of glory. Let us warm our hearts with these things. When a man hath once these things and believes them, let him be cold and dull if he can. And so, if we would gain others to a fit disposition for heaven, let us labour to instruct them what their state by nature is; what kingdom they are born in; that they are liable to hell and damnation; that they are under the possession of the 'strong man,' the devil, if the stronger man bring them not out and dispossess him; and let them know withal the infinite love and mercy of God in Christ, offering a better state, giving the gospel and promising his Spirit with his truth; and if they beThat is, wise.'-G. long to God, this will work upon them, or else nothing will. Other courses, to punish men in their purse, or imprison them, or the like, may subdue them to outward conformity, but if we would bring their souls to heaven, let us endeavour to enlighten their understandings to see the danger they are in, and to see the riches of grace and salvation that is proffered in Christ, and this will compel them to come in,' Luke xiv. 83. There will be no need of any other compulsion, no more than there can be need to bid a man escape away that sees wild beasts about him, or to bid a guilty person to flee to the city of refuge and take hold of the horns of the altar. Let John Baptist come before Christ to make way for him, and presently 'the kingdom of heaven suffers violence;' and after Christ's time, when the Spirit was more abundantly given, and the gospel more clearly opened, the world stooped to the gospel. The gospel at length overcame the proud sceptre of the Roman empire. They laid their crowns down before Christ's gospel. The cross of Christ got above the crown in the preaching of the gospel, it was so powerful. Thus, if we would have the number of heaven enlarged, let us desire that God's truth may be opened plainly and powerfully. John Baptist was a plain and powerful preacher; a man of holy life. They all reverenced John as a holy man. Thereupon his doctrine came to be so effectual. This is the way whereby God will do good to those he delights in. For others that are bitter atheists, whom God hath appointed to damnation, the gospel hardens them and makes them worse. The Pharisees were the worse by the preaching of Christ. When the gospel is preached, some are made worse by it, and malign, and persecute it as far as they dare. As the apostle saith, God is glorified in the damnation of such bitter opposers, Rom. iii. 8. We are not to look to gain all by preaching. Those that withstand it are sent by it with the more just damnation to hell, but those that do belong to him are gained this way. Let us labour, therefore, for a clear manifestation of Christ. There is the treasure of all goodness in Christ, whatsoever is necessary to bring us to heaven. And the more he is discovered and applied, the more we are enriched with grace and comfort. Times of change may come; and if times of opposition and persecution come not, yet temptations will come, and the hour of death will come, when we shall have occasion to use all the strength and comfort we have; and the more dangerous the times are, the more sound and clear knowledge of Christ we should labour for, and that will breed this holy violence, that shall break thorough all oppositions whatsoever. NOTES. (a) P. 809.—' As Luther said well, “The more violent the adversaries were, the more free and bold was he." An often-repeated saying of his Table-talk' and letters. Cf. note uu, Vol. III. page 533; also Vol. I. page 126. (b) P. 311.- As we see in the Council of Trent.' For history of this celebrated Council, see note-references in jj, Vol. III. page 532. I take the present opportunity of correcting a mistake of Sibbes' in relation to this Council. See note uuu, Vol. III. page 536. He there makes Luther observe,that if they [the Papists] live and die peremptorily in all the points professed in the Tridentine Council, they cannot be saved." Sibbes gives no authority; but it is plain that Luther could not adduce the Tridentine Council, as the following brief quotation from Bungener's History of the Council of Trent (by Scott, page 66) will shew: 'For the first time (it was now the 22d of February) the Council met to deliberate in good earnest. The legates appeared radiant with smiles. Why so?.. Luther was dead!'-G. ANGELS' ACCLAMATIONS. NOTE. The Angels Acclamations' forms the second of the four treatises which compose 'Light from Heaven' (4to, 1638). Its separate title-page is given below.* For general title-page, see Vol. IV. page 490. ANGELS THE NATIVITY of CHRIST, celebrated by the heavenly Host. BY The late learned, and reverend Divine Doctor in Divinity, Master of Katherine Hall ISAI 9. 6. To us a Child is borne, to us a Sonne is given. Which things the Angels desire to looke into. LONDON, Printed by E. P. for N. Bourne, at the Royall 1638. G. ANGELS' ACCLAMATIONS. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.-LUKE II. 18, 14. THE words are few and pregnant, very precious, having much excellency in a little quantity. The heavens never opened but to great purpose. When God opens his mouth, it is for some special end; and when the angels appeared, it was upon some extraordinary occasion. This was the most glorious apparition that ever was, setting aside that it was at Christ's baptism, when the heavens opened, and the Father spake, and the Holy Ghost appeared in the likeness of a dove upon the head of Christ,' Mat. iii. 16, when all the Trinity appeared. But there never was such an apparition of angels as at this time; and there was great cause, for, 1. There was never such a ground for it, whether we regard the matter itself, the incarnation of Christ. There was never such a thing from the beginning of the world, nor never shall be in this world: for God to take man's nature on him; for heaven and earth to join together; for the Creator to become a creature. 2. Or whether we regard the benefit that comes to us thereby. Christ by this means brings God and man together since the fall. Christ is the accomplishment of all the prophecies, of all the promises. They were made in him and for him. Therefore he was the expectation of the Gentiles. Before he was born, he was revealed by degrees. First, generally, the seed of the woman,' &c., Gen. iii. 15. Then, more particularly, to Abraham and his seed,' and then to one tribe, Judah,' that he should come to him; then to one family, the house of David; and then, more particularly, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,' Isa. vii. 14, and the place, Bethlehem,' Micah v. 2; till at last John Baptist pointed him out with the finger, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world,' John i. 29. Even as after midnight, the sun grows up by little and little, till his beams strike forth in the morning, and after it appears in glory, so it was with the Sun of righteousness;' as he came nearer, so he discovers himself more gloriously by degrees, till he was born indeed; and then you see here a multitude of angels celebrate his nativity. |