21 
 
 f <rf 
 
 A Banner difplayed becaufe of the 
 Truth, Matter of Praife to all the 
 Wellwifhers thereof. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached at the Opening of 
 The ASSOCIATE SYNOD, - 
 At Edinburgh* Augufi 19. 1755. 
 
 By WILLIAM MON CRIEFF, 
 Minifter of the Gofpel in the Aflbciate Con* 
 gregation of Alloa. 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 
 Printed by Sands, Murray, and Cochran. 
 
 Sold at their Printing- hoafe in Craig's Clofe, and by 
 John Reid at his Houfe within the Society-gate* 
 
 MDCCLV, 
 {Price Three Pence.] 
 

 
 The Author was prevailed with, at the ear- 
 neft and repeated Defire of fome of his Brethren, 
 and a great many of the Hearers, to content to 
 the Publication of the following Sermon. 
 

 
 A Banner displayed, &c* 
 
 P S A L. IX. 4. 
 
 Thou hajt given a Banner to them that fear' 
 thee; that it may be difplayed becaufe of the 
 Truth. Selah. 
 
 THE Title of this Pfalm points out to 
 us the Penman and Occafion thereof. 
 It was penned by David King of Is- 
 rael, after he was fettled upon the 
 Throne ; upon Occafion of an illuftrious Vifto- 
 ry obtained over the Syrians and Edocnites, by 
 his Forces, under the Command of Joab, eigh- 
 teen thoufand being left dead upon the Eield of 
 Battle. 
 
 From the Beginning of the Pfalm, he calls to 
 Remembrance the low Cafe they had been in 
 for a long Time before this. What was the 
 Caufe of all, we have in the ift Verfe: They 
 had provoked the Lord Co by their Sins, that 
 he being juflly difpleafed had cafl them off > 
 which he had manifefted in his /battering them 
 abroad. The Difhonours done the Lord, and 
 his righteous Difpleafure upon account thereof, 
 cannot but go very near the Heart of one that 
 defires to fear his Name. In the Glpfe of the 
 Verfe we have a Prayer for his gracious Return, 
 turn thyfelf to us again, as that which he in 
 the Name of the Church earneftly defires ; be- 
 ing indeed perfuaded that it is this would mend 
 Matters with them. As it is his being provoked 
 B " to 
 
C 4 3 
 
 to depart, that is at the Bottom of all the Scat- 
 terings that take pl^ce ; fo it is his Return that 
 would put another Face upon Affairs, and bring 
 them into Order again, uniting us to him, and 
 to one another in him. 
 
 He proceeds in a Back-look to their former lad 
 and low Cafe, #2.3. The Lord had made the 
 Earth to tremble ; had broken it; had /hewed 
 his People hard Things ; and made them to drink 
 the Wine of AJlonijhment. This may perhaps 
 have a Reference to the Confufions during the 
 Reign of Saul, and the Struggle between David 
 and him ; not excluding the many Onfets they 
 met with from the Philiftines, and others their 
 evil Neighbours ; which were too often attended 
 with renting Divifions among themfelves, which 
 caufed fad Thoughts of Heart, Judg. v. 15. In 
 the Cloft of jr 2. we have a Prayer in a Suit- 
 ablenefe to this Lamentation, for the healing of 
 their Breaches ; pointing out, that there were 
 ftill melancholy Things among them, and that 
 any begun Deliverance needed to be further car- 
 ried on. Under all our fcattered and broken 
 Cafes, we had need to have our Eyes only to 
 the Lord as the great Healer. And when he is j 
 pleafed to anfwer his People's Prayers, and grant 
 any Deliverance, it is very proper Exercile then 
 to call to Remembrance the former fad Situation I 
 we were in before he inrerpofed : For hereby we 
 may fee more clearly the Lord's Goodnefi, in 
 feafonably relieving us ; and it is a Mean, by 
 the Lord's Bleffing, to prevent our turning fe- 
 cure, left we fhould be again put into th.e Fur- 
 nace. 
 
 In this Verfe, after the raoifrnful Lamenta- 
 tion, ■ 
 
C 5 3 
 
 tion, a thankful Acknowledgment is made of 
 the Lord's Goodnefs unto them, in ^what he 
 had wrought : Thou haft given a Banner to them 
 that fear thee; that it may be difplayed becaujb 
 of the Truth. In which Words we have feve- 
 ral Things obfervable. 
 
 ifl y A certain Clafs of People are characteri- 
 zed, in thefe Words, them that fear thee. This 
 is the Chara&er of the Church and People of 
 God, who are the only Fearers of his Name ; 
 they are the People that are of a contrite and 
 humble Spirit, who tremble at his Word. They 
 are fo denominated, not from an unbelieving 
 flavifh Fear of God ; but from that filial reve- 
 rential Fear of him, that is put in their Hearts f 
 that they may not depart from him. This Cha- 
 racter, in a ftrift Senfe, is only applicable to the 
 true invifible Church, that have had the Expe- 
 rience of the Day of Chrift's Power : But in a 
 more large Senfe, it may point out the vifiblc 
 Church as contradiftinguiftied from the World z 
 who, adhering to the Doctrines contained in the 
 Lord's Word, and as to their outward Conver- 
 fation walking according to the Rule therein laid 
 down, do profefs to fear his Name. But we in- 
 tend not to infift upon this at prefent. 
 
 idly, We have a certain Privilege conferred 
 upon the People thus characterized ; a Banner is 
 given them : Thou haft given a Banner to them 
 that fear thee. Some by the Banner underftand 
 David's Government, according to God's Pro- 
 mife of giving him the Throne ; which was in- 
 deed a ftrong Encouragement to them that fear- 
 ed the Lord, and a Token for Good of his do- 
 ing great Things. And if we fliould confifler 
 B 2 the 
 
— 
 
 t 6 3 
 
 the Words as having literally a Refpeft to thk; 
 we muft view David in his Government as on- 
 ly a Type of Chrift the Son of David, upon 
 Tvkofe Shoulders the Government is laid; of 
 whom it is faid, he /hall /land for an Enftgn of 
 the People, If. xi. 10. In the Doftrine of the 
 Gofpel does Chrift ftand as an Enfign-to the 
 People ; in him, as the Centre of their Unity, 
 are all Believers, the Army of the Lamb, ga- 
 thered together into one ; to him they do feek, 
 and in him they glofy. But as at this Time the 
 Lord had (pirited a Number in Ifrael to appear 
 againft the Syrians and Edoraites, thele Enemies 
 of his Work and People ; and had blefTed them 
 with Succefs, and thu^givefi a Breathing to his 
 People, enabling them to improve the Opportu- 
 nity by appearing for him and his Caule ; we 
 know not but this may be underftood by the 
 Banner given. The Lord, notwithftanding of 
 awful Things threatened, and in righteous Judg- 
 ment inflifted upon a People, fometimes puts a 
 Banner of a Teftimony for his Caule into the 
 Hands of a Remnant, as his Witnefles that he 
 is God ; and not only in his Providence gives 
 them an Opportunity, but by his Grace enables 
 them to improve the fame, in a way of display- 
 ing it becaufe of the Truth. 
 
 3dly, We may notice by whom this Privile 
 is beftowed : Ihou ha/l given a Banner ; th^ 
 that caft us off, and fcattered us ; thou tha 
 made/l the Earth to tremble, that ha/l broken it 
 ihou that haft /hewed thy People hard Things, 
 and caufed them to drink Wine of Aftoni/hment 
 .thou haft given a Banner. When the Ene?n 
 icomes in like a Flood \ it is the Spirit of the Lor 
 
 thai 
 
 

 L 7 J 
 
 thai lifts up a Standard again/} him, If. lix. 19! 
 The Lord had in Tome meafure maintained his 
 Caufe all along among Ifrael ; and now when 
 the Enemy comes in like an Inundation, he fpi- 
 rited them to appear for him, to fight his Bat- 
 tles wherein his Truth was £6 much concerned, 
 and made their Attempts fuccefsful, giving them 
 Occafion of Triumph ; and thus he gave them 
 a Banner to be difplayed becaufe of the Truth. 
 So are his little Army ftill enabled, under the 
 Influence of his Spirit, to oppofe their Enemies ; 
 and by his BlefTmg made fuccefsful, in a Way of 
 difplaying their Banners. 
 
 4thly, The End of the Banner's being given 
 is declared : It is that it may be difplayed. It is 
 put into their Hands, and Opportunity is given 
 them, that they may difplay it, and not fit ftill, 
 indifferent and ina&ive, neutral and fecure; 
 but may beftir themfelves like- Men valiant for 
 the Truth upon the Earth. 
 
 $thly, The Reafon of the Banners being gi- 
 ven and difplayed is adduced : Becaufe of the 
 Truth. "Which may either have a Refpeft to 
 the giving of the Banner, and then it is becaufe 
 of the Truth of God's Promife ; or to the dis- 
 playing of it, and then it points out that we are 
 to difplay the Banner in behalf of the Truth, 
 viz. the whole of the Lord's Caufe, which h»s 
 "Witnefles and Soldiers are to bear Teftimony 
 unto and fight for, all thofe Truths revealed in 
 his AVord ; for zue can do nothing agahifl the 
 Truth , but for the Truth, 2 Cor. xiii. 8. 
 
 6th!y, This is here brought in as Matter of 
 Praife, after the mournful Commemoration of 
 their former low Cafe; when the Lord feemed 
 
 to 
 
Z « 3 
 
 to fiave cafl them off, and had fleiued them hard 
 Things j that yet he had given them a Banner, to 
 be difplayed becaufe of the Truth. The Verfe is 
 concluded with Selah ; which, according to ma- 
 ny, points out a Paufe in finging: But as it is 
 generally placed at fome remarkable PafTage, it 
 may denote, that what is recorded is worthy of 
 our fpccial Attention and Remembrance, 
 
 The doftrinal Propofition we lay down from 
 the Words, to be conlidered a little, is this fol- 
 lowing, viz. 
 
 That a Banner given to be difplayed becaufe of 
 the Truth, it Matter of Praife to all the Well- 
 
 ivi/hers of Truth. Thou haft given a Banner 
 
 to them that fear thee; that it may be difplayed 
 becaufe of the Truth. On this Account the 
 Church of Clirift does join in a Song. 
 
 In difcourfing this Propofition a little, wc 
 would efTay the Profecution of the following 
 Method,, viz. 
 
 i. To confider the Banner given. 
 
 2. The difplaying of this Banner. 
 
 3. The Reafon of its being given and dif- 
 played, becaufe of the Truth. 
 
 4. To confirm the Do&rine ; or (hew, that 
 a Banner given to be difplayed becaufe of the 
 Truth, is Ground and Matter of Praife. 
 
 5. To deduce fome Inferences for Application. 
 All as the Lord fliall be pleafed to direft and 
 affift. 
 
 We return then, through .divine Affiftance, 
 to the firfl Thing propofed. 
 
 HEAD 
 
C 9 3 
 
 HEAD I. 
 
 I. To conflder the Banner given, to be dif 
 played becaufe of the Truth. 
 
 A Banner is a warlike Enfign ; and the giving 
 it to the Church, fpeaks forth her being here ia 
 a militant Condition. She has many Enemies 
 to oppofe, Sin, Satan, and the World. And 
 how do the Church's Enemies oppofe her ? It 
 is in a Way of fetting themfelves againft the 
 Truths, the Caufe of Chrift, againft the Word 
 of their Teftimony. But whatever Oppofition 
 be thus made, it is not without Contradi&ion 
 from them, in a Way of making a Stand for 
 Truth ; for there is a Banner of a Teftimony 
 given them, put into their Hands, that it may 
 be dilplayed becaufe of theTruth. Concerning 
 which it may be obferved, that, 
 
 i/?, A Banner is of ufe for Unity among the 
 Soldiers ; it is to this they gather, and are as 
 one Body under one Standard or Banner. So 
 we read of a gathering to the Enfign, If.xi. 12. 
 He Jhall Jet up an Enfign for the Nations^ and 
 /hall ajfemble the Outcafls of Ifrael, and gather 
 iogether the Difperfed of fudah, from the four 
 Corners of the Earth. The Lamb's Army are 
 gathered together about Chrift the great Stand- 
 ard-bearer, and inlifted under his one Banner ; 
 and thus are united among themfelves. Some 
 indeed talk, as if the lifting up of the Standard 
 and difplaying the Banner were the Way to mar 
 Unity in the Church : But fuch miftake the Na- 
 ture of that Unity that is required in the Church, 
 among the Army of the Captain of Salvation. 
 The Unity that is to take place in the Church, is 
 
 the 
 
C Jo 3 
 
 the Unity of the Spirit: Eph. iv. 3. Endeavour^ 
 ing to keep the Unity of the Spirit. But this 
 cannot be, but in a Way of endeavouring to 
 difplay the Banner becaufe of the Truth ; for 
 the Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. It is an Unity 
 that bears fbme Refemblance to that eflential 
 Union between the Father and the Son, John 
 xvii. 2 1. 22. That they all may be one, as thou, 
 Father , art in me, and I in thee ; that they aU 
 
 fo may be one in us ; 4 hat they may be one> 
 
 even as we are one : Which therefore muft be 
 a holy Union, an Unity in the Truth; as God 
 is the God of Truth, and his eternal Son is not 
 only the Way, but alfo the Truth. The Unity 
 the Apoftle exhorts the Philippians ta, Phil i. 27. 
 is to ftand faft in one Spirit, being of one Mind, 
 firiving together for the Faith of the Gofpel : 
 Not of one Mind at any rate, though it fhould 
 be at the Expence of Truth; but of one Mind 1 
 in ft riving, that is, in contending earneftly for 
 the Faith of the Gofpel. All which (hew, that 
 true Unity in the Church is founded upon the 
 Truth. God, in revealing an Abundance of 
 Truth to his Church, reveals alfo an Abundance 
 of Peace: And the Way to maintain this Uni- ^ 
 ty, is to be faithful in difplaying the Banner be- 
 caufe of the Truth. It was a Saying of Lu- 
 ther, — Rather than any thing fhould fall of the 
 Kingdom of Chrift and his Glory, let not only 
 Peace go, but let Heaven and Earth go too. 
 
 2d/y, A Banner is of ufe for animating the 
 Soldiers : It is heartlefs in the Battle, when the 
 -Standard falls. If x. 18. the Lord reprefents 
 the Difpiritednefs of the Aflyrians, when he 
 would rife to plead with thejp, by this, Itfhall 
 
C " 3 
 
 be as when a Standard-bearer fainteth. This 
 
 difpirits the whole Army, and puts all into 
 
 Confufion. But it is encouraging while they fee 
 
 the Banner (landing, to fight left it fhould fall 
 
 into the Enemies Hands, and give them Occa- 
 
 Ifion of Triumph. So a Banner given to be dif- 
 
 iplayed becaufe of the Truth, tends to animate 
 
 and encourage the Soldiers of the Lamb : They 
 
 \fhall fear the Name of the Lord from the Weft, 
 
 i and his Glory from the riftng of the Sun : When 
 
 \the Enemy fh all come in like a Flood, the Spirit 
 
 \ of the Lord (hall lift up a Standard again ft him, 
 
 If. lix. 19. When they fee the Standard lifted 
 
 up, they will be encouraged to join under if, # 
 
 and to appear boldly in defence of it. How 
 
 heartlefs are Chrifl's Soldiers, when his Standard 
 
 in their Apprehenfion is like to fall ; when his 
 
 Strength is delivered into Captivity, and his 
 
 Glory left in the Hand of the proud Enemy ? 
 
 But when the Lord appears, giving them a 
 
 Banner to be difplayed becaufe of the Truth, 
 
 how does this encourage them ? and then, in 
 
 a Dependence upon his Grace, they are bold, 
 
 laying, In the Name of the Lord will we difplay 
 
 our Banners, Pfal. xx. 5. 
 
 ^dly, A Banner is of ufe for ftriking the Ad- 
 verfaries with Terror. It is a fearful Sight to 
 the Enemy, to fee their Opponents regularly dis- 
 playing their Banners. If. xxxi. 9. it is faid of 
 the Aifyrian, — And he Jhall pafs over to his 
 Jirong Hold for Fear, and his Princes floall be 
 afraid of the Enfign, faith the Lord, whofe Fire 
 is in Zion, and his Furnace in Jerufalem* 
 When the Church looks forth fair as the moon f 
 and clear as the Sun, fhe is terrible as an Ar- 
 ts my 
 
I la 1 
 
 . 
 
 my with Banners, Cant, vi ia When the 
 Lord makes any Appearance for his People's De- 
 liverance, as was the Cafe at this Time in 
 Ifrael, and enables them to improve it by ap- 
 pearing for his Caufe, this is indeed a fearful 
 Sight to their Opponents ; fo that it may be 
 laid of them, They faw it, and fa they, mar- 
 velled, they were troubled y and hafted away ; 
 Fear took hold upon them there, and Pain, as of a 
 Woman in Travail, Pfal. xlviii, 5. 6, When the I 
 Church overcomes, it is by the Word of their 
 Teftimony, Rev. xii. n. And if they would v 
 appear formidable to their Enemies, and expeft 5 
 to gain Ground againfl them ; they muft hold 
 it faft, in a Dependence upon the Grace that is j 
 in Chrift Jefus, the Captain of our Salvation* j 
 In a Word, 
 
 4thly, A Banner is of ufe for letting the 
 Soldiers know their Side. It readily has the 
 King's Arms upon it, and fome Motto or In- 
 lcription declarative of that Caufe for which it 
 is difplayed. So is this Banner given to them 
 that fear him : It is the Standard of Truth ; it 
 has all the Truths of Chrift infcrrbed upon it. 
 If you would know the Lamb's Side, then look 
 to the Banners difplayed : And that Banner upon 
 which Truth is infer ibed, is the Banner of 
 Zion's King ; it is the Standard that he is the 
 great Bearer and Supporter of, who is the En- 
 fign to the People, and the faithful Witnefs : 
 And that Banner you are called in your Stations 
 to difplay. Where you fee a Banner with Er- 
 ror inferibed upon it, id what Hands foever it 
 is, it is the Enemy's Side ; .and you had need to 
 keep back from it : It is the contrary Side from 
 
 Chrift's ; 
 
 
E 13 1 
 
 Chrift's ; for there the Banner is difplayed %e* 
 caufe of the Truth. Or where you lee a Ban- 
 ner, which, though it has fome of the Truths 
 of Chrift infcribed upon it, yet wants many of 
 them, many of them that are prefently denied 
 and run down; leaving them as Matters of In* 
 differency, not worthy to be fought for, to be 
 earneftly contended for; that is the Enemy's 
 Side alfo : For, fays Chrift, He that is not wit h 
 me j is againft me, Luke xi. 23. Matth. xxviii. 
 20. Teaching them to obferve all Things what* 
 fiever I have commanded you. But you may 
 know Chrift's Side, by the Banner there di£ 
 played, its having all the Truths of Chrift in* 
 fcribed upon it ; and particularly the prefent 
 Truth , the Word of his Patience, Rev. iii. 10. 
 And wlvere-ever you fee -that, as the Lord is 
 making a Proclamation, — Who is on the Lord's 
 Side P thither you fhould gather without Delay ; 
 no longer fitting ftill among his Oppofers, left 
 you ihare in their Judgments. The Lord's Call 
 is, Wherefore come out from among them, and 
 ie ye feparate, and touch not the unclean Thing; 
 and 1 will receive you, and will be a Father 
 unto you, and ye /hall be my Sons and Daugh- 
 ters, faith the Lord Almighty, 2 Cor. vi. 17. 18. 
 And the Echo back to his Call, from all the 
 Wellwifhers to the Truth, — to the Caufe of 
 Chrift, will be, Let us go forth therefore unto 
 him without the Camp, bearing his Reproach, 
 fteb.xiii. 13. I go on, through divine Affiftance, 
 
 HEAD II. 
 
 I II. To conftder the difplaying of this Banner a 
 it is given, that it may be difplayed. 
 
 C % It 
 

 C 14 1 
 
 It is to be remembered, that it is to be di£ - 
 played by every one in their Stations. Private , 
 Chriftians, as well as others, are with the Lamb, 
 as his Soldiers, to fight his Battles, Rev.xvu. 
 14. They, as well as others, are his Witnejfes 
 that he is God, If. xliii. 12. But the Banner is 
 in a fpecial manner to be difplayed by Church- ■ 
 officers? this is particularly committed to their 
 Truft. And here it may be obferved, that, 
 
 1/?, The Banner is to be difplayed doftrU , 
 ttally, by every Minifter of the Gofpel ; accord- 
 ing to our Saviour's Direftion, Matth. xxviii. 
 19. 20. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations, 
 ^—teaching them to obferve all Things what/b- 
 
 ever I have commanded you. Every Truth 
 
 is to be preached ; fo as Minifters may have it 
 to lay, We have not Jhunned to declare unto you 
 the whole Counfel of God. They are not to 
 keep back any Part of the Truth, to pleafe 
 Men ; but faithfully to bear witnefs to the 
 whole of it, particularly the prefent Truth, 
 without regarding their Feud or Favour : For 
 do we now perfuade Men, or God? or do we 
 feek to pleafe Men ? for if we yet pleafed Men, 
 vje fhould not be the Servants of Chrifi, Gal. i. 
 10. Minifters are fet as Watchmen to the Houfe 
 €>f Ifrael, and are to hear the Word at the great 
 Watclmian 's Mouth, and give them Warning 
 from him, Ezek. iii. 17. And that Minifter 
 who is enabled to Faithfulnefs in thus difplay- 
 ing the Banner for Truth, is moft likely to do 
 Good by his Miniftry: 1 Tim. W. 16. Take 
 heed unto thyfelf, and unto thy Doflrine ; con- 
 tinue in them: for in doing this, thou fh alt both 
 five thyfelf y and them that hear thee. And he 
 
 is 
 

 C '5 3 
 
 is mod likely not to be confounded, when call- 
 ed to give his Account. Therefore fhould we 
 ftudy to /hew our/elves approved unto God, 
 (whofe Judgment is according to Truth, little 
 regarding whether Men approve of us or not), 
 workmen that need net to be afhamed, rightly di~ 
 viding the Word of Truth, 2 Tim. ii. 15. 
 
 idly, The Banner is to be difplayed judi* 
 daily, by the Judicatures of the Church, The 
 Church Representative is the Pillar and Ground 
 of the Truth, 1 Tim. iii. 15.; which- no way 
 imports, that the Truth, or our Faith of it, is 
 eftablifhed upon the Authority of the Church ; 
 this depends only upon the Authority of God, 
 the Author of it. But as Pillars or Stays are of 
 ufe for underpropping or holding up another 
 Thing, — fo the Church is the Pillar, the Bafis, 
 or Seat of Truth, (as the original Word im- 
 ports) ; as by it the Truths of God are publifli- 
 ed, Supported, and defended, and in it they 
 are only to be found as in their proper Seat or 
 Place. And as Pillars were of ufe in old Times, 
 to faften upon themany public Edift which Princes 
 wanted to have expoled to the View of all ; fo 
 in the Church of Chrift are the Truths of God 
 declared, and expofed to open View, that all 
 may know them. It is Said, Pfal. exxii. 4. 5. 
 concerning Jerufalem, Whither the Tribes go 
 up, the Tribes of the Lord, unto the Teftimony 
 of JfraeL~For there are fet Thrones of Judg* 
 ment. There were there, it would Seem, not 
 only the civil, but alfo the ecclefiaftical Sanhe- 
 drim, whofe Bufinefs it was to defend and Sup- 
 port IfraeVs Teftimony. So in the Jerufalem of 
 the Gofpel-church, there are Thrones of Judg- 
 ment 
 
C 16 ] 
 
 rnent let, even the Judicatures of the Lord 
 ChrifVs Appointment ; to whom it belongs to 
 difplay the Banner becaufe of the Truth, and 
 who are thus to lay themfeives out for the 
 Maintenance of the Tejlimony of JJraeL Efpe- 
 cially when Truth is oppofed, and a Banner 
 difplayed againfl it, — then it belongs to Church- 
 judicatures, having fuch a Truft as divine 
 Truth, to difplay the Banner becaufe of the 
 Truth : Which they are to do, by judicially 
 condemning Error, and judicially afferting 
 Truth, in Terms oppofite to thole in which it 
 is oppofed, thus giving a certain Sound ; and 
 by faithfully cenfuring them that oppofe the 
 Truth, either by venting of, or adhering to 
 erroneous Doftrines, or by walking contrary 
 to the Truth in their Lives and Converfations. 
 We -find the Churches of Pergamos and Thy- 
 atira reproved, Rev* ii. forfufftring the Erroneous 
 to feduce the hordes Servants, and * for having 
 them among them ; they having been lax in the 
 Exercife of Difcipline, not cutting off thefe 
 Troublers by the fpiritual Sword. There arc 
 fome that hurt God's WitnefTes, to whom he 
 gives Power to prophefy, clothed in Sackcloth; 
 and how do they hurt them ? it is by oppofing 
 the Word of their Tejlimony, that Truth which 
 they difplay the Banner for. But what is to be- 
 come of fuch, you fee, Rev. xi. 5. And if any 
 Man will hurt them. Fire proceedeth out of their 
 Mouth, and devoursth their Enemies ; and if 
 any Man will hurt them, he muft in this Man* 
 tier be killed : As they have the Power not only 
 of the Key of Doftrine, whereby the Minifters 
 of Chrift doftrinally denounce Judgments upon 
 
 the 
 
C '7 2 
 
 the Oppofersof the Truth; but alfo the Key 
 of Difcipline and Government, whereby they 
 Jhut Heaven, bind, and retain Sins, in a 
 ! Way of inflifting Genfures upon fuch Oppofers, 
 as the Lord Chrift, the great Standard-bearer, 
 has directed them ; as well as they open Heaven, 
 looje, and remit Sins, by taking oft thefe Cen- 
 fures upon Repentance. In this refpett does 
 the Lord make, in the Gofpel-days, the Go- 
 vernors of Judah like a Hearth of Fire among 
 the Wood, and like a Torch of Fire in a Sheaf: 
 : that they may devour all the People round about, 
 on the right hand and on the left ; that Jeru- 
 falem may be inhabited in her own Place, even 
 injerufalem; as is promifed, Zech. xii. 6. So 
 the Banner is to be difplayed, both doftrinally 
 and judicially. 
 
 We go on, through the Lord's Affiftance, to 
 the next Thing propofed in the Method, viz* 
 
 HEAD III. 
 
 III. To confider theReafon of the Banner's being 
 given and difplayed : — Becaufe of the Truth, 
 
 As was hinted in the Explication of the 
 Words, this may be confidered as having a re- 
 fpeft either to God, or to us ; to the giving of 
 difplaying of this Banner. 
 
 i/?, It may be confidered as having a refpeei 
 to God's giving of this Banner : Thou haft gi- 
 ven a Banner becaufe of tfe Truth ; and then 
 we muft view it as refpedting the Truth of his 
 Promife unto his Son, — wherein he has engaged 
 that he fhall have a Church, a Number of Wit- 
 neffes to appear for him and bis Caufe, a Com- 
 pany 
 
r 18 ] 
 
 pany of Soldiers to fight under his Banner, in 
 all Ages, and that in fpite of all that Hell and 
 Earth can do to the contrary: Pjal. xxii. jo. 31. 
 A Seed Jhall ferve him, it Jhall be accounted to 
 the Lord for a Generation : They [hall come, and 
 Jhall declare his Righteoufnefs to a People that 
 Jhall be horn, that he hath done this. They will 
 not only betake themfelves by Faith to his Rigb- 
 teoufnefi, and declare it to God as the GroiHid 
 of their Confidence ; bnt alfo declare it to o- 
 thers, even the People that Jhall be born: Pfal. 
 xlv. 17. I vAll make thy Name to be remembered 
 in all Generations r Therefore Jhall the People 
 praife thee for ever and ever. They will re- 
 member it believingly ; and praife him, in a 
 Way of putting in their Mite for having the 
 Remembrance of it kept up in the Ages to 
 come: Pfal. Ixxii. 17. His Name Jhall endure 
 for ever ; his Name Jhall be continued as long 
 as the Sun : And Men Jhall be blejfed in him ; 
 all Nations ft) all call him blejfed. Other Names 
 will rot, will be forgotten : But this Name, fiys 
 Jehovah, flmll endure for ever; it fhail be la- 
 voury among his Retinue, his Army ; and from 
 one Generation to another it will be fpoken of 
 with Honour, and a Banner be difplayed in de- 
 fence of the glorious Prerogatives that belong to 
 him, ivhoje Name Jhall lajt like the Sun. So 
 If lix. 21. the Father fays to his eternal Son, 
 j4s for me, this is myCovenant with them, Jait h 
 the Lord; my Spirit that is upon thee, and my 
 Words which I have put in thy Mouth, Jhall n r A 
 depart out of thy Month, nor out oj the Mouth 
 of thy Seed y nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed's 
 Seedy faith the Lord, from henceforth and for 
 
 ever. 
 

 C *9 3 
 
 <?i><fr. "Where he pawns his Faithfulnefs that 
 there (hall be a Succeffion of Chrift's Seed ; in 
 all Generations he fhall have an Army at his 
 Command, and they (hall have the fame Spirit 
 with their everlafting Father, the Captain of 
 their Salvation ; and the Effett of this will be, 
 that his Words (hall be in their Mouth, that 
 they may fpeak for him, and for his Truths, lit 
 fpite of all the Malice of Hell, by which the ut- 
 moft Endeavours are ufed to get their Mouths 
 flopped. So that the Faithfulnefs of God is en- 
 gaged for Chrift's having an Army in all Ages 
 to fight under his Banner; and as the Accom- 
 plifhment of his Promiles to Chrift, in the 
 Church's darkeft Nights the Lamb may be feen 
 upon Mount Zion, and with him an hundred 
 forty and four thou/and, his little Army, ha- 
 ving his Father's Name written upon their Fore- 
 heads , Rev. xiv. 1. And his Faithfulnefs is al- 
 fo engaged for the Succefs of that Army, and 
 their Victory over their Enemies : For the Lamb 
 Jlmll overcome them ; for he is Lord of Lords, 
 and King of Kings ; and they that are with "him, 
 (who fhare tp his Vittory), are called, and cho~ 
 fen, and faithful, Rev. xvii. 14. And (6 a 
 Banner is given to be dilplayed becaufe of the 
 Truth. 
 
 idly, This may be confidered as refpe£Ung 
 the difplaying of this Banner by us in our Sta- 
 tions ; and then the Truth here is to be under- 
 flood of that Syftem of Truths revealed in the 
 "Word of God, the Scriptures of the Old and 
 New Teftament ; which are the Word of Truth, 
 and the Touchftone by which all Doftrines and 
 Practices are to be tried, and to be received and 
 D approved, 
 
[ 20 ] ' 
 
 approved, or rejected and difapproved, accor- 
 ding as they agree thereto or difagree therefrom t 
 If. viii. 20. To the Law and to the Teffimony : 
 If they /peak not according to this Word, it is 
 becaufe there is no Light in them. This Word 
 Is the only Rule of Faith and Manners ; and 
 the Truth that we are to difplay the Banner for, 
 is to be found there, — either in exprels Terms, 
 or by plain and necefTary Gonfequences from the 
 exprefs Words of Scripture; which is the fame 
 Thing : So we find our Saviour proves the Re- 
 furreftion againft the Sadducees, as a Gonfe- 
 quence from what the Lord faid to Mofes at the 
 Bu(h, — I am the God of Abraham, and the God 
 of Ifaac, and the God of Jacob, Mark xii. 26. 
 And as we would difcourfe a little more parti- 
 cularly upon this Part of the Text in this View, 
 we would obferve, — That the Banner is to be 
 difplayed for all Truth ; and, That it is in a 
 particular Manner to be diiplayed for the pre- 
 fent Truth. 
 
 1. The Banner is to be difplayed for all 
 Truth. There is no Truth little, though 
 fbme have diftinguifhed between, great and lit- 
 tle Truths. Every Truth is a Beam and Ray 
 from the Sun of Righteoufnefs ; it is as a Line 
 meeting inGhrift, the Centre of all divineTruth; 
 and fo there can be no denying of the Truth, 
 but what he looks upon as a denying of him. 
 Thus the holding faft his Name, and not deny- 
 ing his Faith, are the fame Thing, Rev. ii. 13. 
 And again, the keeping his Word, and not deny- 
 ing his Name, Chap. iii. 8. We deny not but 
 there are Truths that lie nearer the Foundation 
 than others, and fo arc of a greater Degree of 
 
 Importance ; 
 
I 21 1 
 
 Importance ; but none can be let go, without 
 Ipoiling the Superftruciure. There is a beauti- 
 ful Chain of Truth in the Word ; and if we de- 
 ny one Truth, we take away one Link, and fo 
 break the Chain, and are ready to be led on to 
 the quitting of this and the other Truth that 
 ftands fo nearly connedted with it. And as there 
 k, on the other hand, a Chain of Error ; when 
 we embrace one, we are ready to be led into a 
 Maze of Error and Abfurdity ere we are aware. 
 We therefore had need to take the Apoftle's Ad- 
 vice> — Holdfafi the Form of found Words, 'which 
 thou haft heard of me, in Faith and Love ivhi<fh 
 is in Chriji Jefus y 2 Tim. i. 13. Some, to pal- 
 liate their undervaluing of Truth, have diftin- 
 guifhed the Truths of God into Eflentials and 
 Circumftantials ; and under this Head of Cift* 
 cumftantials, rank up a Number of God's valu- 
 able Truths, that they look upon as not worthy 
 of making a Noife about and contending for. 
 But there is no Truth circumftantial. Though 
 we do not fay, that the Belief and Perfuafion of 
 every Truth revealed is eflential to Salvation; 
 yet there is no known Truth but is efTential to 
 the declarative Glory of God, and is of more 
 Worth than the Lives of all that ever breathed 
 in God's Air-, and therefore is well worth the 
 contending for, though in a Way of refifting 
 even unto Bhod : And our appearing for what 
 others may look upon as a little, a drcumftan- 
 tial Truth only, especially when it is called in 
 queftion, — is necerfary in order to our glorify- 
 ing God upon the Earth. Chrift was a valiant 
 Witnefs for the Truth, and confirmed his Tefti- 
 mony with his Blood, as well as thereby made 
 D 2 Atonement 
 
[ 22 ], 
 
 Atonement for our Sins : And it is the Honour 
 of his Difciples, to follow the Footfteps of their 
 Lord and Mafter, the great Standard-bearer, 
 boldly confeffing the Truth, and every Part of 
 it ; and, as called thereto, fealing it with their 
 Blood. So the Banner is to be difplayed for all 
 Truth. But if it be inquired, more particular- 
 ly, what are thofe Truths we are to difplay the 
 Banner for ? we anfwer, There are Truths re- 
 letting the Doftrines to be believed ; Truths 
 refpetting the Worjhip to be received and obfer- 
 ved; Truths refpe&ing the Government and 
 Difcipline to be exercifed in the Church ; — and. 
 Truths refpefting Chriflian Prattice, or the Du- 
 ties to be performed by Church-members : For 
 all which the Banner is to be difplayed. We 
 cannot enlarge upon thefe, without incroaching 
 upon your Time ; only a few Hints to each. 
 
 (i.) There are Truths refpefting the Doc- 
 trines to be believed, for which the Banner is to 
 be difplayed ; for thefe doftrinal Truths, among 
 many others, viz. That God made Man up- 
 right, after his Image : Gen. i. 26, And God /aid, 
 Let us make Man in our Image, after our Like* 
 nefs. if 11 . So God created Man in his own 
 Image, in the Image of God created he him. 
 Eccl. vii. 29. Lo 9 this have I found, that God 
 
 hath made Man upright. That there was 
 
 proper Covenant entered into by God with A- 
 dam ; in which he flood not as a private Per- 
 fon, but a$ a public Head, reprefetuing all his 
 Poflerity defcending from him by ordinary Ge- 
 neration ; according to Gen. ii. 16. 17. And the 
 Lord God commanded the Man, faying, Of every 
 Tree of the Garden thou may ft freely eat : But 
 
C 23 ] 
 
 $f the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, 
 thou (halt not eat of it ; for in the Day that 
 thou entefi thereof thou Jhalt furely die. Com- 
 pared with Rom. v. 1 2. Wherefore , as by one Man 
 Sin entered into the World, and Death by Sin ; 
 and fo Death pajfed upon all Men, for that all 
 have finned. 1 Cor. xv. 22. For in Adam all die. 
 Which plainly point out a federal Reprefenta- 
 tion of all Mankind by the firft Adam. 
 
 The Banner is to be difplayed for the Truth 
 concerning Man's Fall by the Breach of the Co- 
 venant of Works ; and concerning original Sin, 
 both imputed and inhd*ent, with which all A- 
 dam's Pofterity are chargeable, which is the 
 Root and Fountain of all a&ual Tranfgreffions : 
 Gen. iii. 6. And -when the Woman Jaw that the 
 Tree was good for Food, and that it was plea- 
 fant to the Eyes, and a Tree to be defrrd to 
 make one wife ; Jloe took of the Fruit thereof, and 
 did eat, and gave alfo unto her HuJband with 
 her; and he did eat. Chap. v. 3. Adam begat a 
 Son in his own Likenefs, after his Image. Rom. 
 v. 12. By one Man Sin entered into the World ,• — 
 Death hath pajfed upon all Men, for that all have 
 finned. Pfal.li.5. Behold, I was Jhapen in Ini~ 
 quity ; and in Sin did my Mother conceive me. — 
 The Truth concerning Man's utter Inability to 
 help himfelf out of that Eftate of Sin and Mifery : 
 Hof xiii. 9. Jfrael) thou hajl dejlroyed thyfelf 
 Rom. v. 6. When we were yet without Strength, 
 
 in due Time Chrijl died for the Ungodly. The 
 
 Doftrine concerning the making of the Cove- 
 nant of Grace, between God the Father as the 
 Party-contraOor upon Heaven's Side, — and God 
 the Son a^the Party-contra&or upon Man's Side, 
 
 from 
 
C 24 3 
 
 from all Eternity, for the Recovery of a cer- 
 tain Company of Adam's ruined Family: Pfal. 
 Ixxxix. 3. I have made a Covenant with my 
 Chofen, I have Jwom unto David my Servant. 
 Prov. viii. 23. fays Chrift, / was fet up from 
 Everlafting, from the Beginning, or ever the 
 
 Earth was. This Truth, That God elefted 
 
 a certain Company of Adam's Family from all 
 Eternity, out of his mere good Pleafure, and 
 gave them to Chrift to be redeemed by him ; 
 and that he represented them, and them only, in 
 this Covenant-tranfa&ion : John xvii. 6. / have 
 manifefted thy Name unto the Men which thou 
 gaveft me out -of the World ; thine they were, 
 and thou gave/} them me. Eph. i. 4.5. Acc6r- 
 ding as he hath chojen us in him, before the Foun- 
 dation of the World, that we fhould be holy, and 
 without Blame before him in Love : Having pre* 
 deftinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Je- 
 fus Chrift to himfelf, according to the good Plea- 
 fure of his Will. The Truth concerning the 
 
 Divinity of the Perfon of Chrift, the Mediator 
 between God and Man ; being, though a diftinft 
 Perfon from the Father, yet the fame God with 
 the Father, the true and fupreme Jehovah : 
 John i. 1. The Word was God. 1 John v. 20. 
 His Son Jefus Chrift ; this is the true Cod and 
 'eternal Life. Jer. xxiii. 6. This is the Name 
 whereby he fh all be called, Jehovah' our 
 Righteousness.- — The Truth concerning 
 his a&ual Incarnation, that he might fulfil the 
 Condition of the Covenant: Gal. iv. 4. But 
 when the Fuhiefs of the Time was come, Cod 
 fent forth his Son made of a Woman, made un* 
 der the Law : Aftliming our Nature into a per- 
 fon al 
 
[ *5 3 
 
 fonal Union with his divine Nature, that he 
 might fatisfy God in the fame Nature that fin- 
 ned ; in whofe Perfon thefe Natures are moft 
 ftriftly united, without any Mixture or Confu- 
 fion, he being ftill Immanuel, God with us. — The 
 Doflrine concerning his fulfilling the Condition 
 of the Covenant, in fulfilling all Righteoufnefs 
 as the Surety of the better Teftament ; by the 
 Holinefs of his Nature, the Righteoufnefs of his 
 Life, and the Satisfaction and Atonement he 
 made-for Sin in his Death and Sufferings : Ac- 
 cording to what was prophefied of him, Dan. 
 
 ix.24. Seventy Weeks are determined to fi- 
 
 ni/h the Tranfgre/fon, and to make an End of 
 Sins, and to make Reconciliation for Iniquity f 
 and to bring in everlafling Righteoufnefs . And 
 what is recorded concerning his Birth, Life, and 
 Death, by the Evangelifts. 
 
 The Banner is to be difplayed for the Truth 
 concerning the objective Extent of the Death 
 and Satisfaction of Chrift, in its extending as 
 far as, and no further than God's eternal De- 
 cree of Election, John xvii. 6. 19. The M^n 
 which thou gavefime out of the World; — for thefr 
 fakes Ifanclify myfelf Extending as far, and 
 no further, in its Deftination as to its Objefts, 
 than thofe to whom it fhall in due Time be 
 certainly applied, If. liil . 8. For the Tranfgref 
 fion of my People was he Jlricken; compared 
 with Pfal. ex. 3. Thy People (which are the 
 fame with the People mentioned in the former 
 Scripture) /ball be willing in the Day of thy 
 Power. If. I'm. 11. He /hall fee of the Travel 
 • of his Soul, and /hall be fatisfied : By his Know* 
 ledge /hall my righteous Servant jufltfy many >• 
 
 for 
 
C 26 1 
 
 for he flail bear their Iniquities. Where it is 
 evident, that it was their Iniquities he bore 
 who are juflified by his Knowledge / that is, by 
 the Knowledge of him, or Faith in him; and 
 that there is a certain infallible Connection be- 
 tween Chrift's fuftaining the Perfons of any in 
 bearing their Iniquities, and the Justification 
 of their Perfons through his perfect Righteouf- 
 nefs. Though in fome Scriptures there are 
 very univerfal Terms ufed, with refpeft to the 
 Obje&s of Chrift's Death ; yet thefe muft be 
 viewed according to the Connexion in which 
 they ftand, and compared with other Scriptures 
 relative to the fame Subject; from which it will 
 evidently appear, that it is the Univerfality of 
 the Eleft of that World of which they fpeak. 
 As there are univerfal Expreffions in Scripture, 
 with refpeft to the Atonement in ChrinVsDeath, 
 and the Purchafe of Redemption thereby ; fo 
 there are as univerfal Expreffions refpeftingirs 
 Application ; as when it is faid, And I, iff 
 be lifted up from the Earth, will draw jilt Men 
 i+nto me, John xii. 32. Bfthe Right eo^ufnefs of 
 one, the free Gift came upon all Men to Jufti- 
 fication of Life, Rom. v. 18. In Chrijl fhall 
 all be ?nade alive, 1 Cor. xv. '21. And if there 
 be a Neceffity of underftanding the univerfal 
 Expreffions with refpeft to the former, of all 
 Mankind, — there is the fame Neceffity with re- 
 ipeft to the latter; and fo we (hall not only 
 have an univerfal Redemption, but an univerfal 
 Salvation, which they that ftand up for uni- 
 verfal Redemption themfelves will not maintain. 
 And indeed, unlefs it could be maintained, that 
 Chrift died for all Men fo as to fave them, — 
 
 that 
 
 i 
 
C v 3 
 
 that Do&rine of univerfal Redemption, or of 
 Chrift's having died in fome Senfe for all, is 
 but a heartlefs Do&rine, bearing nothing of 
 Comfort in it to periflilng Sinners. And be- 
 fides, it rauft land us in the grofleft Abfurdi- 
 ties ; while it muft lead us either to a frujirated 
 Redemption, and to fay that Ghrift (bed his 
 Blood in vain and to no Purpofe, as to the moft 
 Part for whom he laid down his Life, — who 
 are to be eternally fatisfying Juftice in Hell for 
 their Sins, notwithftanding of Chrift's having 
 fatisfied for them : Or it muft lead lis to a con- 
 ditional Redemption ; and fo the whole Armi- 
 nian Doftrine of Man's Free-will, fo oppofite 
 to the Doftrine of God's free Grace, muft be 
 introduced. Or if both thefe fhould be denied, 
 then we muft, according to this Scheme, in- 
 evitably land in alledging that Ghrift died inten- 
 tionally to bring the moft Part of thofe he died 
 for under a greater Condemnation, and that in 
 this he fees the Travel of his Soul; and fo make 
 his Death, as to the greateft Part of its Obje&s, 
 to flow from the greateft Hatred inftead of the 
 greateft Love. Than which nothing is more 
 contrary to the Word of God : For God fent 
 not his Son into the World to condemn the World; 
 but that the World through him might be faved, 
 John iil- 17. It was bepaufe Chriji loved the 
 Churchy that %e gave him/elf fcr it> Eph. v. 25. 
 And the Travel of his Soul is feen, not in the 
 Condemnation of any, but in rhe Jujlification 
 of many by his Knowledge, If. liii. 11. 
 
 The Banner is to be difplayed for the Truth 
 
 refpefting the Adminiftration of the Covenant 
 
 to Sinners of Mankind, in the everlafting Go- 
 
 E fpel ; 
 
i i as 5 
 
 /pel ; wherein ChrJft is fet forth as a fufficlent 
 Saviour, fuitable to the Cafe and Neceffities of 
 loft Sinners,— as clothed with all faving Of- 
 fices, being the Prophet, Prieft, and King of 
 God's anointing and appointing, — and as fuch 
 is offered to Mankind-finners without Excep- 
 tion, to every one that hears the joyful Sound : 
 John III. 1 6. For Codfo loved the World, that he 
 gave his only begotten Son, that whofoever be- 
 Jieveth in him, Jhould not ferifh, but have ever- 
 lajling Life. If. xlv. 22. Look unto me, and be, 
 yefaved, all the Ends of the Earth ; for I am 
 God, and there is none elfe. Chap. lv. i. Ho, 
 evfry one that thirfleth, come ye to the Waters, 
 and he that hath no Money ; come ye, buy and 
 eat, yea, come, buy Wine and Milk without 
 Money, and without Price. Rev. xxii. 17. 
 Whofoever will, let him take the Water of Life 
 freely. And here the "Warrant to Mankind- 
 finners to believe, is founded. It is not found- 
 ed upon the Deftination of the Death of Chrift 
 for any in God's Decree, nor upon any Inten- 
 tion of his as to the Objetts thereof in giving 
 this Satisfa&ion; but upon the infinite Value 
 of the Price paid by a divine Perfon in the hu- 
 man Nature, in which refpeft he ftands equally 
 related to the Family of Mankind, being God 
 In their Nature ; and upon the Exhibition of 
 this Saviour and his Salvation to Mankind-fin- 
 ners as fuch in the Goipel, as fufficient for 
 them, and fuitable to their Cafe ; with the di- 
 vine Authority in the Command, obliging them 
 to receive him and believe on him for their Sal- 
 vation ; together with abfolute Promifes of 
 Life and Salvation through Chrift to Mankind- 
 finners 
 
C 29 1 
 
 finners as fuch,— the PofTeffion of which Blefled- 
 nefs is to be obtained in the "Way of believing. 
 Thus it was that Peter's Hearers founded their 
 Faith, Afts ii. while they were not told of any 
 Deftination of Chrift's Death for them, but thafc 
 this fufficient Saviour and his Righteoufnefs was 
 exhibited to them in the Word of Grace and Pro- 
 mife, ^38.39.41. Repent y and be baptized every 
 one of you in the Name of Jefus Chrifi : — Far 
 the Promife is unto you, and to your Children y 
 and to all that are afar off, even as many as 
 
 the Lord our God /hall call. Then they that 
 
 gladly received his Word, were baptized. Thus 
 the Apoftle founded his Faith, 1 Tim. i. 15. 
 This is a faithful Saying, and worthy of all Ac- 
 ceptation, that Chrifi Jefus came into the World 
 to fave Sinners, of whom I am chief. It is God's 
 revealed, not his fecret Will, that founds the 
 Warrant for our Faith. But as to the Objefts 
 of God's ele&ing Love, or thdfe for whom. 
 Chrifi: died, which is the fame Thing, that be- 
 longs to his fecret Will ; and fecret Things be- 
 long unto the Lord our God, but thofe Things which 
 are revealed belong unto us, Deut. xxbe. 29. As 
 a Traveller's Warrant to make ufe of the Provi- 
 flon brought to his Hand, is not founded upon 
 its being deftinated for him, and prepared with 
 a View to him, and his knowing fo much ; but 
 upon this, that Provifion of an exaft Suitable- 
 nefs to his Need is let before him, and he is in- 
 vited to make ufe thereof: So neither is our 
 Warrant to improve Chrifi and his RighteouP- 
 riefs, founded upon this Righteoufnefs being 
 wrought out in our room and ftead,; but upon 
 this, that unto us a Son is given, whofe Name 
 E 2 is 
 
C 30 H 
 
 h the Lord our Righteousness; that 
 in the Gofpel he brings near this Righteoufnefs, 
 that we may by the Hand of Faith take hold of 
 it, and put it on, #Txlvi. 13. 
 
 The Banner is to be difplayed for theDo&rine 
 concerning the Neceffity of Faith for clofing 
 with Chrift, and fo becoming interefted in him, 
 and the Bleffings purchafed by his Death : For 
 ive are faved through Faith, Eph. ii. 8. ; and 
 without Faith it is impojfible to pleafe God, Heb. 
 xi. 6. It is Faith that lays hold upon the Perfon 
 of Chrift, that matches with the Heir of Hea- 
 ven*; and fb it is in V the Way of believing we 
 are interefted in that Inheritance of which Ghrift 
 is the prime Heir as God's Firft-born. The 
 Fruits of Chrift's Death cannot be intermeddled 
 with, but by Faith. As it is by Faith only we 
 are inflated in the Covenant of Grace, fo there- 
 by only can we receive Bleffings as coming 
 through the Channel of that Covenant ; but the 
 Fruits of Chrift's Death can be conveyed in no 
 other Channel but the Channel of this well-or- 
 dered Covenant. All Mankind are under one 
 
 of the two Covenants. They that are Strangers 
 to Ghrift are under the Covenant of Works ; 
 and fo even the good Things they enjoy come 
 to them with the Curie of that broken Cove- 
 nant : Jobyixiv. 18. the wicked Man's Portion 
 is faid to be curfed in the Earth, But nothing 
 that Chrift hath purchafed, can be conveyed 
 ■with the Curfe upon it : So that none out of 
 Chrift can partake of the Fruits of Chrift's 
 Death ; nor can ever any pofTefs them, but in 
 the Way of believing, and' of enjoying Chrift 
 
 himfelf; 
 
C 3* 3 
 himfelf ; for Chrift and his Purchafe can never 
 be divided. 
 
 The Banner is to be difplayed for the Truth 
 concerning the Neceffity of a Day of Power in 
 order to work Faith in us, and thereby unite us 
 to Chrift: John vi. 44. No Man can come to 
 me, except the Father which hath fent me, draw 
 
 him, The Truth concerning our Juftification 
 
 by Faith in the Righteoufnefs of Chrift, without 
 the Works of the Law, Rom. v. 1. Gal. ii. i6, i 
 A'nowing that a Man is not juflified by the Works 
 of the Law, but by the Faith of'Jefus Chrift. 
 A&s xiii. 39. By him all that believe are jufli- 
 fied from all Things , from which ye could not be 
 
 juflified by the Law of Mefes, The Truth 
 
 concerning our San&ification by the Operation of 
 the Spirit of Chrift ; the Beginning and Progrefs 
 of which is the fure and infallible Evidence of 
 the Perfon's Juftification : 1 Cor. vi. n. Ye are 
 wafhed, ye are fanftified, ye are juflified, in 
 the Name of the Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit 
 of our God. Rom. viii. 1. they to whom there 
 is no Condemnation, that is, are juflified, being 
 in Chrift Jefus , — do evidence it by walking not 
 
 after the Flejh, but after the Spirit. The 
 
 Truth concerning the Influence that the Doftrine 
 of the Grace of God in Chrift believed, has upon 
 the Soul for its Sanffification: For the Grace of 
 God that bringeth Salvation, hath appeared to all 
 Men ; teaching us, that denying Ungodlinefs, and 
 worldly Lufls, we fhould livefoberly, right eoufly, 
 
 and gedly in this prefent World, Tit. ii. 1 1. 12. 
 
 The Do&rine concerning the Neceffity of Ho- 
 linefs in Heart and'Life, without which no Man 
 th all fee the Lord, Heb. xii. 14. Its Neceffity, 
 
 not 
 
[ 3* 3 
 
 not as a Condition, or any meritorious Caufe of 
 our Salvation ; but as an Evidence of our Grati- 
 tude unto God, and as a great Part of that Sal- 
 vation obtained by his Grace : and fo, the Ne- 
 ceffity of experiencing the Power of the Dottrine 
 of the Gofpel, as indeed a Doffrine according to 
 Godlinefs. 
 
 But we cannot infift upon the various Doc- 
 trines to be believed, for which the Banner is tQ 
 be difplayed, All the Dofrrines revealed in the 
 "Word, are Truths for which the Banner is to 
 be difplayed ; ail the Doftrines concerning the 
 Nature, Perfe&ions, and Works of God; con- 
 cerning the great Ruin by Sin, and the great 
 Relief by Chrift ; concerning the Contrivance, 
 Purchafe, Application, and Confummation of 
 Redemption, through our Lord Jefus. 
 
 (2.) There are Truths refpe&ing the Worfhip 
 to be received and obferved in the Church, for 
 which the Banner is to be difplayed. For the 
 Truths refpefting the Matter of our Worfhip : 
 That God is to be worfhipped by the Ordinan- 
 ces of his own Inftitution in the Word; fuch as 
 Prayer, Praife, reading, preaching, and hear- 
 ing the Word ; difpenfing and receiving the Sa- 
 craments of his Appointment ; religious Swear- 
 ing, and the like ; none having Power to ap- 
 point Ordinances or Means of Worfhip, but the 
 Lord himfelf, — who alone is our Judge, our 
 Lawgiver, our King, and will favs us, If. 
 
 xxxiii. 22. And not only for the Truths re- 
 
 fpe&ing the Matter, but the Manner of our 
 AVorfhip alfo : That he is to be worfhipped 
 with Grace in the Heart, by a Mediator, in fuch 
 a Manner as he himfelf has appointed for going 
 
 about 
 
t 33 3 
 
 about the Duties of his Worfhip ; reje&ing all 
 the Inventions of Men, either as to the Matter 
 or Manner of our Worfliip, as being nothing 
 bat Will-worfhip : In vain they do worfhip me f 
 teaching for Doctrines the Commandments cf 
 Men, Match, xv. 9. To admit what they call 
 fignificant Ceremonies of Mens Invention into 
 the Worfhip of God, is to deny that Chrift has 
 dealt prudently in the Ordinances he has infii- 
 tuted, and the Diredtions he has given as to our 
 Worfhip, as the great Lawgiver of the Church. 
 It is obfervable, that, in the Reafons annexed 
 to the fecond Commandment, God declares the 
 Breakers of this Command men tfuch as hate him, 
 which ExprefTion we find not in any other of the 
 Commandments; while yet they pretend the 
 greateft Love to God, and Regard for his Ho- 
 nour ; alledging, their inventing and propofing 
 the Oblervance of fuch and fuch Things in our 
 Worfhip, is for the greater Decency, Reve- 
 rence, or the like. But as the Banner is to be 
 difplayed for the Purity of Doctrine, Co alio for 
 the Purity of Worfhip. 
 
 (3.) There are Truths refpefting- the Govern- 
 ment and Discipline to be exercifed in the Church, 
 for which the Banner is to be difplayed. For this 
 Truth, that Ghrift is the alone King and Head 
 of his Church : If. ix. 6. Unto us a Child is born y 
 unto us a Son is given, and the Government /hall 
 be upon his Shoulder. Pfal. ii. 6. Yet have I Jet 
 my King upon ?ny holy Hill of Z'zon. Eph. i. 22. 
 And gave him to be the Head over all Things to 
 the Church. And therefore he is the alone Foun- 
 tain of all Church Power and Authority; from 
 him alone it is derived : As my. Father hafhfent 
 
[ 34 ] 
 
 me, even fo fend I you, Johnxx. 21.- For this 
 
 Truth, that Chrift, as King and Head of his 
 Church, .has appointed Office-bearers in his 
 Houfe : i Cor. xii. 28. And God hath fet fome 
 in the Church, firft Apoflles, fecondarily Pro~ 
 phets, thirdly Teachers, after that Miracles, 
 then Gifts of Healings, Helps, Governments, 
 Diverfities of Tongues. Eph. iv. 11. And he 
 gave fome, Apoflles; and fome, Prophets ; and 
 fome, Evangelifts ; and fome, Paftors and Teach- 
 ers. The extraordinary Officers are ceafed ; 
 but there are ordinary Officers, who are to 
 continue in Succeffion in the Church till the 
 End of the World, and who may expeft his 
 Prefence in the Difcharge of their Offices in all 
 Ages: Matth. xxviii. 20. Lo, I am with you al- 
 iv ay, even unto the End of the World. Amen. 
 And thefe are Paftors or Teachers, (there being 
 no Handing Office fuperior to that in the Church 
 •of Chrift's Inftitution) ; and alfo Ruling Elders, 
 and Deacons ; as appears from the Scriptures 
 above cited, compared with 1 Tim. v. 17. where 
 there is an Elder fpoken of, as an Officer in the 
 Church diftindl from the Paftor or Elder that la- 
 bours in Word \and Doclrine ; and A&s vi. where 
 we fee the Deacon's Office alfo is of divine In- 
 ftitution, and a ftanding Office in the Church. 
 
 For this Truth, that Chrift hath given to 
 
 Church-officers the Keys of the Kingdom of 
 Heaven: Matth. xvi. 19. and xviii. 18. And I 
 will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdom of 
 Heaven ; and whatfoever thou fhalt bind on 
 Earth, fhall be bound in Heaven ; and ivhatfo- 
 ever 'thou floalt loofe on Earth,' Jhall be loojid in 
 Heaven. And that this was not fpoken to Peter - 
 
 only, 
 
 
E 35 3 
 only, but alfo to the reft of the Apoftles equally 
 with him, appears from the other Place cited, 
 Verily I fay unto you, Whatfoever ye Jhall bind 
 en Earth, Jhall be bound in Heaven ; and what- 
 foever ye Jhall loofe on Earth, Jhall be loofed in 
 Heaven. There is no Word of giving thi* 
 Truft to the Civil Magiftrate ; but it is given to 
 Church-officers, the Apoftles and their Succefc 
 fors in Office to the End of thfc World, even the 
 ordinary Office-bearers in the Church. Nor is 
 it given to the Community of the Faithful; for 
 then all were Rulers, and where were the Ru- 
 led ? but to certain Officers of the Lord's Ap- 
 pointment, to bear Rule over them. There is 
 the Key of Doftrine, which every Paftor has 
 the Power of; having Authority to preach the 
 Word, to difpenfe the Sacraments, and jointly 
 to determine Matters of Faith : Matth.xxviii. 20. 
 Co teach all Nations, baptizing them, &c 1 Cor. 
 
 xi. 23. And there is the Key of Government 
 
 and Difcrpline, to be exercifed by the Officers of 
 the Church in collegio, Minifters and Elders met 
 together in Chrift's Name: Matth. xviii. 17. 
 18. 20. If he neglefl to hear them, tell it unto 
 the Church. Verily I fay unto you, Whatfoever ye 
 Jhall bind on Earth, Jhall be bound in Heaven ;-#* 
 For where two or three are gathered together ift 
 my Name, there am I in the mi&Ji of them. So 
 the Apoftle (peaks of a Power given to us for 
 
 Edification, 2 Cor. x. 8. And fo for this 
 
 Truth, that there are Courts of Judgment ap- 
 pointed by Chrift to meet in his Name, for or- 
 dering th€ Affairs of his Houle, particularly for 
 •the Exercife of Government and Difcipline; as 
 Seffions, Prelbyteries, and Synods provincial, 
 F national, 
 
C 3* 3 
 
 national, or oecumenical, in a due Subordina- 
 tion : Which may be gathered from the Confi- 
 deration of the Churches of Jerufalem, Anti- 
 och, <bc. where different Congregations, which 
 had their own Office-bearers, were under one 
 Prefbytefy ; and A£ts xv. we find the Officers 
 
 of different Churches meet in one Synod. * 
 
 For this Truth, that thefe Judicatures have 
 Power to inflift Cenfures upon them that are 
 guilty of Error, either in Principle or Pra&ice ; 
 as Admonitions, Rebukes, Sufpenfion from the 
 Sacraments, and Excommunication : And with 
 refpeft to Church-officers, befides thofe Cenfures 
 juft now mentioned that affett them as Chrifti- 
 ans; to proceed againft them by Sufpenfion 
 from the Exercife of their Office, and Depofi- 
 tion or Deprivation of the Office ; as appears 
 from Tit. iii. io. i Tim. v. 20. Mattb. xyiii. 
 17. 18. All which have been cleared by emi- 
 nent Divines ; and may be found laid down 
 and proved from the Lord's Word, in the Form 
 of Prefbyterial Church-government agreed upon 
 by the Aflembly of Divines at Weftminfter, and 
 received by this Church as a Part of her Stand- 
 ards. The Truth refpe&ing the Government 
 
 of Chrift's Houfe, is not to be looked upon as 
 light and trivial ; it nearly concerns the decla- 
 rative Glory of God, and the Honour of Chrift 
 the King and Head of the Church. Chrift him- 
 felf particularly bore witnefs to his own kingly 
 Office, when Pilate afked him, 4rt thou a King ? 
 Jefus anfwered. Thou fay eft that I am a King. 
 To this End was 1 born, and for this Caufe came 
 1 into the World, that 1 fhould hear -witnefs unt9 
 the Truth, John xviii. 37. And Co he is faid to 
 
 have 
 
Z 37 3 
 
 have witneffed a good Confejjflon before Pontius 
 Pilate, i Tim. vi. 13. Aad for this many of 
 his Servants and People, particularly in this 
 Land, have not loved their Lives to the Death; 
 but have boldly fealed a Teftimony to the Truth 
 concerning Chrift's kingly Authority and royal 
 Prerogatives, concerning the Government of his 
 Houfe, with their Blood. 
 
 (4.) There are Truths refpefting Chriftiai* 
 Practice, or the Duties to be performed by 
 Church-members, for which the Banner is to 
 be difplayed : All which Duties are contained 
 in the Precepts of \hg moral Law, which is 2 
 perfe&Rule, and of perpetual Obligation. Our 
 Saviour fums up the whole Law in two Com- 
 mandments : Thou Jhalt love the Lord thy God 
 VJith all thy Heart t and with all thy Soul, and 
 with all thy Mind: This is the firft and great 
 Commandment. And the fecond is like unto it > 
 Thou Jhalt love thy Neighbour as thy/elf. On 
 thefe two Commandments hang all the Law and 
 the Prophets, Matth. xxii. 37. — 40. The Law 
 points out both our Duty to God, and to our 
 Neighbour; and the Banner is to be displayed 
 r or Truth, in a Way of pointing out to Church- 
 members thole Duties required of them. And 
 particularly it is to be difplayed for thefe Truths 
 jpon this Head. That the leading Duty re- 
 quired is Faith in the Son of God, which can 
 lever mifs of Influence upon both Heart and 
 onverfation : This is the Work of God, that ye 
 Relieve on him whom he hathfent, John vi. 29. 
 This is his Commandment, that we believe on the 
 Name of his Son Jefus Chrijl, 1 John iii. 23. 
 x is the leading good Work, without which wc 
 f 2 cau 
 
C 38 3 
 
 can do no Work that is good and acceptable in 
 the Sight of God. Faith unites to Chrift, frorc 
 whom our Fruit is found ; Faith matches witt 
 this one Hufband, that we may bring forth Fruii 
 
 unto God, Rom. vii. 4. For this Truth, thai 
 
 our Works and Duties muft fpring from a ney 
 Nature ; for if the Tree is not good, neither an 
 the Fruits : And fo from a Principle of Faith ir 
 Chrift, and Love to God,— and not from thi 
 Principle of Self-love; for while our Dutiei 
 Ipring from this, we are but empty Vines, bring 
 
 ing forth Fruit to ourftlves, Hof. x. 1. Fo: 
 
 tjiis Truth, that they muft be direfted to thi 
 Glory of God as their End, — feeking to havi 
 him exalted, and his declarative Glory advan 
 ced ; for if the Eye is not /ingle, however ftri£ 
 the Profelfion be, and however moral and blame 
 lefs the Conyerfation, the whole Body is but fm 
 cf Darknefs. Though a Work be materiall; 
 good, ar*d commanded in the Law ; yet it i 
 not properly a good Work, unlefs it Ipring fron 
 & right Principle, and be directed to a right End 
 An unrenewed Man's Duties are but fo man; 
 Jplendid Sins : The Prayer of the Wicked is a 
 Abomination to the Lord, and fo are all his fa 
 crifices, Prov. xxi. 27. and xxviii. 9. » Fq 
 this Truth, — that in going about the Dutie 
 which the Lord requires of us, either in the firi 
 or fecond Table of the Law, either toward Gpi 
 or toward our Neighbour, we muft depend up 
 on the Grace of Chrift for our Affiftarice, — an 
 upon the Righteoulhefs of Chrift as the alon 
 Ground of the Acceptance, both of our Perfon 
 and Performances, even the beft of them, P/a* 
 
 lkxi.i6, EpbX'6. TheChurcb, particular 
 
 1^ 
 
C 39 3 
 
 ly Church-officers, are to be concerned to have 
 found Do&rines maintained, a pure Worfhip 
 obferved, and a ftrift Difcipline exercifed in the 
 Church ; and to lay themfelves out for having 
 Holinefs promoted among Church-members : 
 faithfully difplaying the Banner becaufe of all 
 the Truths refpe&ing each of thefe, both doc- 
 trinally and judicially ; and being ready to cen- 
 fure fuch as deviate from them in Principle or 
 Pra&ice, according as the great Lawgiver hath 
 appointed ; having in a Readinefs to revenge all 
 Difobedience y when their Obedience is fulfilled^ 
 
 2 Cor. x. 6. So the Banner is to be difplay- 
 
 ed for all Truth. But it was further obferved, 
 that, 
 
 2. The Banner is to be difplayed, particular- 
 ly for the prefent Truth. We read of the pre- 
 fent Truth, 2 Pet. i. 12. and of the Word of 
 Chrift's Patience, Rev. ill. io. That Truth 
 which is prefently oppofed ar>d run down, is 
 the prefent Truth ; which we are called, in a 
 particular Manner, presently to aflert, maintain, 
 and defend, to difplay the Banner for. That 
 is the Word of his Patience ; as thofe who ad- 
 here to it are expofed to fuch Trials, that they 
 need much Patience for fuitably bearing them. 
 Whatever is the prefent Truth, that fhould the 
 Church efpeciafly difplay the Banner for : Be it 
 ChrifVs being the true Meffiah, as in the Days 
 of his Flefh; be it his fupreme Deity, as was 
 the Cafe when the Arian Herefy prevailed, and 
 as was the Cafe in this Land of late,— when it 
 was impugned and denied ; be it Chrift's alone 
 Headfhip over his Church, and the Government 
 of his Houfe, — as was the Cafe in the late per- 
 fecting 
 
t 4o ] 
 
 fecuting Times in this Land, (and is much the 
 Cafe at this Day ; as Chrift's alone Headfhip is 
 denied, and the Government of his Houfc run 
 down) ; be it the People's Right to chufe their 
 own Office-bearers ; be it the objective Extent 
 of Ghrift's Death, as at prefent: Whatever 
 Truth it be that is prefently controverted and 
 oppoled, that fhould we be efpecially eftablifh- 
 ed in ; and that fhould be efpecially contended 
 for. The Banner is moft vigoroufly to be dis- 
 played, and there the Army are to take moft 
 ipecial Care to ftand their Ground, where the 
 Oppofition is hotteft from the Enemy ; left they 
 fhould prevail. When Truth is oppofed, what 
 are the Oppofers doing ? They are eflfaying with 
 ail their Might to have the Church robbed of her 
 Trealure, of her Jewels, the Truths of Chrift; 
 but then efpecially are they to hold faft what 
 they have, — and to evidence that this Character 
 belongs unto them, the Nation that keepeth the 
 Truth } If. xxvi. 2. I go on, 
 
 HEAD IV. 
 
 IV. To confirm the Dotirine; or, to Jhew, 
 that a Banner given to be difplayed becaufe of 
 the Truthy — Is Matter of Praije to all the Well- 
 wijbers of Truth. And that it is fo, and that 
 they will improve it as fuch, may appear from 
 rhefe following Confiderations, viz. . 
 
 i/?, Confidering, that it is an Evidence of 
 the Lord's being among a People, being yet in 
 a Land, where a Banner is given to be difplay- 
 ed becaufe of the Truth. The Lord has taken 
 
 up 
 
C 41 3 
 
 up his Dwelling in his Church ; he has faid of 
 2ion, — This is my Reft, here will I flay, for I 
 have defired it: And how fhall we know where 
 his Church is ? it is where the Banner is din- 
 played for Truth. Though the Enemy come in 
 like a Flood, yet when he meets with Oppofi- 
 tion and Con tradition, the Standard of a TefH- 
 mony being lifted up, it is a Sign that the Lord 
 is there by his Spirit; for it is the Spirit of the 
 Lord that fhall lift up a Standard againfl him, 
 If. lix. 19. When a Church departs from 
 Truth, that provokes the Lord to depart from 
 them : If. lix. 2. Tour Iniquities have fepar ate d 
 between you and your Cod ; and among others 
 of their Iniquities that had provoked him to 
 leave them, this is one, j? 14. Truth is fallen 
 in the Street, and Equity cannot enter. But 
 where Truth is maintained, where the Faith 
 once delivered to the Saints is earnefily contend* 
 ed for, that is a Sign that the Name of that 
 City, that Place, is Jehovah-Shammah, The 
 Lord is there ; he is there, pleading the Caufe 
 that is his own. And what Ground of Praifc 
 is this, when there is any Evidence given that 
 the Lord is yet in the midft of Jfrael; and that 
 Judah hath not besn forfaken of her God, the 
 Lordof Hofls, though their Land was filled with 
 Sin againfl the holy One of If r a el ? 
 
 2dly, Confidering, that this is for the Glory 
 of God, that the Banner be difplayed becaufe 
 of Truth. It is for the Glory of the Father, 
 for he is the God of Truth, and his Eyes are 
 upon the Truth, Jer. v. 3. and upon all ProfeH- 
 ,fors, to fee how they ftand affe&ed to, and 
 how they lay themfelves out for the Advance- 
 ment 
 
I 42 ] 
 
 ment of Truth. It is for the Honour of Chrift, 
 his eternal Son, who is the Truth; every 
 Truth being as a Line drawn from himlelf the 
 Centre of divine Truth, — that, as has been 
 hinted, we cannot let go the Faith without de- 
 nying his Name. It is for the Glory of God 
 the Holy Ghoft, who is the Spirit of Truth, 
 and is fent into the Church to lead her into all 
 Truth. So that the Glory of the Three-one 
 God is concerned in this. All the Wellwifhers 
 of Truth have the Glory of God much at Heart ; 
 it is the Thing they chiefly defire, to have the 
 Burden of his Praife lifted up ; they muft furely 
 then look upon it as Matter of Praife, and im- 
 prove it as fiich, when a Banner is given to be 
 difplayed becaufe of the Truth. 
 
 *$dly y Confidering the ineftimable Value of 
 divine Truth. How precious, how valuable 
 the Truth is, cannot be told ; it is fo valuable, 
 that we fhould buy it at any Rate, and fell it at 
 no Rate, Prov. xxiii. 23. And fo we are com- 
 manded to contend earneftly for the Faith, 
 Jude y- 3. ; to contend as one in an Agony, dri- 
 ving for that which is of the utmoft Value, 
 the Lofs of which would inevitably impoveridi 
 him. The Truth is the greateft Treafure that 
 can be in a Land, among a People ; (b that it 
 is the worft Thing that can fall out in a Land, 
 to let Truth go : It is the worft Bargain a Peo- 
 ple can make, to fell it ; whatever Riches, Ho- 
 nours, and pretended Peace they Jhould get 
 in exchange for it. But it is indeed a happy 
 Thing, when there are found to take if by the 
 Hand ; when in a Land there is to be found a 
 Nation which keepeth the Truth, ' among whom 
 
t 43 3 
 
 a Banner is to be found difplayed for Truth. 
 And this cannot but be viewed as Ground of 
 Thankfgiving, by all that love the Truth, and 
 Zion's righteous Caufe. 
 
 4th/y, Gonfidering, that hereby there is a 
 . faithful T^ftimony for Chrift's Caufe tranfmit- 
 ted to Pofterity. It is the Duty of the prefent 
 Generation to have the rifing Generation, the 
 fucceeding Race, upon their Heart ; and to be 
 laying out themlelves for handing down to 
 them the Truths of God : Pfal. lxxviii.5.6. 7.8. 
 For he eftablijhed a Teftimony in Jacob, and ap- 
 pointed a Law in Ifrael, which he commanded 
 our Fathers , that they Jhould make them known 
 to their Children : That the Generation to come 
 might know them, even the Children which 
 Jhould be born ; who Jhould arije, and declare 
 them to their Children : That they might Jet 
 their Hope in God, and not fojrget the Works of 
 God; but keep his Commandments : And might 
 not be as their Fathers, a Jlubborn and rebel- 
 lious Generation ; a Generation that fet not 
 their Heart aright, and whofe Spirit was not 
 Jiedfajl with God. So the Command is, Pfal. 
 xlviii. 12, 13. Walk about Zion, and go round 
 about her : Tell the Towers thereof. Mark ye 
 well her Bulwarks, confider her Palaces : And 
 wherefore all this Diligence ? That ye may tell 
 it to the Generation following. And the Pro- 
 mife is, Pfal. xxii. 31. They Jhall declare his 
 Righteoufnef, to a People that Jhall be born. 
 They are norFriends to Pofterity, that are E- 
 nemies to the Caufe of Chrift, and the difplay- 
 ing a Banner becaufe of the Truth ; as they 
 are denying them the Means of the Knowledge 
 G of 
 
■I 
 
 C 44 3 
 
 of Chrift's Caufe, and doing what they can,, 
 that they may be brought up in Ignorance of 
 the Truth, and of what great Things the Lord 
 hath done for us. But furely it is Ground of 
 Praife, when the Lord enables his Remnant fo 
 to aft,— as they may tell Pofterity about his 
 "Works, his Caufe ; fo as they may tell them, 
 that this God is our God for ever and ever ; that, 
 by the Lord's bleffing the Means, a Race may 
 be raited up to praife him when we are gone. 
 And however many fhould confent, for their 
 Part, that the fucceeding Generation be kept 
 Ignorant of thefe Things ; yet we have Ground 
 to rejoice, that the Lord will have them inform- 
 ed, will have the Teftimony tranfmitted : And 
 no fear he want Inftruments ; the Promife fhall 
 be accompliftied, This Jhall be written, or upon 
 IRecord, for the Generation to come ; and the 
 People which fhall be created, fhall praife the 
 Lord, Pfal. cii. 18. 
 
 $thy y Confidering, that a Banner given to 
 be displayed becaufe of the Truth in a Land, — 
 is not only an Evidence that the Lord is in that 
 Land, but a Token for Good that he will not 
 leave it. It is true, famous Churches have had ' 
 their Houfes left unto them defolate; and we 
 vdare not be too pofitive, but the Lord may yet 
 unchurch us, as he has done others. But yet 
 are there not fome^To kens for Good ; fome En- 
 couragements to hope, that however the Lord 
 may fhake us in thefe Lands, and dafh us one 
 againft another, becaufe of our Sins, — that he 
 will not utterly caft us off for all that ? While 
 we confider the early Grant made to Chrift, 
 even from of old, from everlafting, of the Hea- 
 then 
 
t 45 3 
 
 then for his Inheritance, and the utmofl Ends 
 if the Earth for his Pq/fejfion, Pfal. ii. 8. ; and 
 his early taking Infeftment and Pofleflion of 
 them, in fb foon enlightening them with the 
 glorious Gofpel, and early bringing them into 
 Covenant with himfelf : When we confider his 
 maintaining his Gaufe in them amidfi: the dark- 
 eft Times, that there were ftill fome Veftiges 
 of his Work among us, fomething of a Stand- 
 ard lifted up, a Banner difplayed, fomething 
 of ContradL&ion to the Burial of his Gaufe ; 
 which he has been pleafed to revive Time after 
 Time, when brought very low, — many Time 
 delivering us. And add to all this, the fervent 
 Prayers of his Saints, of his Wreftlers in thefe 
 Lands, that he would not utterly reject us and 
 caft us off: For he will regard the Prayer 
 of the Defliiute; he will not defpife their Prayer 9 
 Pfal. cii. 17. And feeing it is fuch a Token for 
 Good, furely the Wellwifhers of Truth will 
 look upon it as Matter of Praife, when a Ban- 
 ner is given to be difplayed becaufe of the Truth, 
 I proceed, 
 
 HEAD V. 
 
 V. To make fome Application of the Subject, 
 and that in a few Inferences. 
 
 From this Do&rine, we may fee, 
 1/?, That true Ifraelites are of a public Spirit : 
 They are not only taken up about themfelves 
 and their own Salvation, but alfb about God's 
 declarative Glory, about the Gaufe of Truth. 
 Indeed true Religion begins at home, with a 
 What Jhall I do to be faved ? But where Grace 
 is really implanted and led forth into Exercife, 
 G 2 that 
 
C 46 -] 
 
 that Perfon will not be neutral and indifferent 
 about the public Caufe : Wo to them that are at 
 eafe in Zion,-^that are not grieved for the Afflic- 
 tions of Jofeph, Amos vi. 1. 6. Rithtly-exer- 
 cifed Chriftians will indeed be grieved, when 
 Truth fuffers, — and when they that are minting 
 to appear for It in a Way of dilplaying their 
 Banners, are fuffering : They are forrowful for 
 the folemn Affembly, to them the Reproach there- 
 of is a Burden, Zeph. iii. 18. And they re- 
 joice when Truth keeps the Field, when the 
 Banner is fupported and maintained ; eflaying 
 to caft in their Mite for lifting up the Burden 
 of his Praife, In the Name of the Lord we -will 
 Jet up our Banners, Pfal. xx. 5. 
 
 idly. We may hence infer, that the Lord 
 will fee to his own Work. Thou haft given a 
 Banner ; it is the Lord that gives it, that Sup- 
 ports it, that gathers his Army about it, and 
 enables to difplay it. The Work is not left in 
 the Hands of Inftruments, or it would foon 
 ceaie; howeafily would they be let and hindered 
 in it, by the Oppofition and Contradiction they 
 meet with ? But I will work, (fays Jehovah), 
 and who fh all let it? If. xliii. 13. He defies 
 the Devil and all his Agents, however formi- 
 dable they may appear, however many Banner! 
 they may difplay, — to let and hinder his Work: 
 The Hand of Jehovah holds up the Standard. 
 A Trinity of Perfons are with the Church, to 
 carry on the good Work there : Hag. ii. 4. 5 
 Be Jlrong and work ; for I am with you, faith 
 the Lord of Hofts : According to the Word which 
 I covenanted with you, when ye came out o J 
 Egypt 7 fo my Spirit remaineth among you : Fear 
 
 ye 
 
C 47 1 
 ye not. Thefe Words, according to, in the 
 Beginning of f 5. are a Supplement; and 
 without them it reads, I am with you faith the 
 Lord, the Word which I covenanted with you, 
 (which may point out Chrift, often called the 
 Word in Scripture), fo my Spirit remaineth a- 
 mong you. The God and Father of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift is in the Church ; for the Name of 
 the City is, The Lord is there. Chrift the Head 
 of the Church is there ; for Zion's King is in 
 her, her Counfellor is not perijhed ; he is there, 
 the Standard-bearer among ten thou/and; there 
 to work, — for my Father worketh hitherto, 
 and I work, John v. 17. And the Spirit is 
 there; for, fays Chrift, The Spirit of Truth, he 
 (hall abide with you for ever. And feeing the 
 Lord is in the Church, no doubt but he will 
 maintain the Banner given, to the Terror of 
 his Adverfaries ; making his Army victorious, 
 while their Enemies fhall faint and fall before 
 him : If. x. 17. And the Light of Ifrael fhall 
 be for a Fire, and his holy One for a Flame : 
 And it Jlmll burn and devour his Thorns and 
 bis Briers in one Day. And, ^18. They /hall 
 be as when a Standard-bearer fainteth. As the 
 Pillar of Cloud, when it removed behind Ifrael, 
 and fo was between them and the Egyptians, 
 was a Light to Ifrael, and Darknefs to their 
 Enemies the Egyptians ; fo when the Lord is 
 a Light to his Ifrael, to his Army, to dirett them 
 and comfort them in his Work, — he will be 
 as a Fire and Flame to burn up their Enemies, 
 who are to him as Briers and Thorns before a 
 devouring Fire. And the Work will be all his, 
 and appear to be fo; that it fhall from that 
 
 Time 
 
[ 48 1 
 
 Time be /aid of Jacob and of Ifrael, What hath 
 Cod wrought ? 
 
 2dly 9 Hence fee the Duty of the Watchmen 
 upon Mount Ephraim, of Office-bearers in the 
 Houfe of God. They in a fpecial Manner are 
 to difplay a Bannerbecaufe of the Truth, to de- 
 fend it, to contend for it. And particularly, 
 when any Truth is oppofed, and that not only 
 when grofs Error in oppofition thereto is plain- 
 ly vented, but when in a more deceitful Way it 
 may be fecretly thruft at ; then it becomes the 
 Watchmen to give Warning from their glorious 
 Captain, unto the Army of the Lamb, of their 
 Danger, — and to fet about a vigorous difplaying 
 of the Banner becaufe of the Truth prefently 
 flruck at and oppofed. Herefies ordinarily creep 
 in unawares, and under plaufible Pretences too ; 
 as if the admitting this and the other Notion 
 would tend more to folve this and the other Dif- 
 ficulty : And the Truth is, Error cannot well 
 fet up its Head without afluming fome Drefs of 
 this Nature, becaufe it cannot, like God's Truth, 
 abide the Light. But when it is introduced un- 
 der fuch Shams, and timely Notice is not taken 
 by the Watchmen, and timely Warning given ; 
 the Lamb's Army are ready to be broke hi up- 
 on, and many are ready to fail a Prey to De- 
 vourers. And feeing this is our Duty, as Office- 
 bearers in the Lord's Houfe, to difplay the Ban- 
 ner for Truth ; there are feveral Things we had 
 need to feek Acquaintance with, in order to our 
 being fitted for the Performance of this our Duty. 
 
 i. We had need to feek the Knowledge of the 
 Truth, as it is in Jefus ; and for this End to be 
 about Ghrift's Hand for his own teaching ; If fi 
 
 be 
 
E 49 3 
 
 be (fays the Apoftle) that ye have heard him, and 
 have been taught by him, as the Truth is in Jefus, 
 Eph. iv. 21.; and, fays Chrift, John viii. 32. 
 Ye /hall know the Truth, and the Truth Jhall 
 make you free. We cannot fuitably teftify for 
 what we do rfbt know. And in order to this, 
 our main Study fhould be the Truth, as it is 
 contained in the Volume of God's Book, the 
 Scriptures of Truth ; daily fearching them, and 
 trying the Spirits by them : And witbal feeking 
 fuch a Knowledge of the Truth, as will have 
 Influence upon our Hearts and Converfations. 
 
 2. "We had need to feek the Faith of the 
 Truth, without which we cannot well appear 
 for it. There is a receiving of the Truth that 
 ive may befaved, which we had need to be ac- 
 quainted with. If we have the Faith of the 
 Truth, we will fee its Glory and Excellency ; 
 fuch a Value and Precioufnefs of the Truth, as 
 we will be ready to lofe all rather than let it go. 
 Mens light Thoughts of the Truth, flow from 
 their Want of Faith. 
 
 3. We had need of Love to the Truth 1 
 There is to be a receiving the Love of theTruth f 
 2 ThefT. ii. 10. Love to Chrift is very neceflary 
 in his Minifters, and to the Truth as it is in Je- 
 Jus. We are exhorted to love the Truth and the 
 Peace, Zech. viii. 19. We are to love God's 
 Truth, and cleave unto it at all Hazards ; to 
 love Jerufalem's Peace, and purfue it, in fuch a 
 Way as may evidence our Love to the Truth. 
 
 4. We had need of Zeal for the Truth : And 
 according to our Meafure of Faith of and Love 
 .to the Truth, will be the Meafure of our Zeal 
 for it. Our Lord exhorts a coldrife lukewarm 
 
 Church, 
 

 t so 1 
 
 Church, Rev. iii. 19. Be zealous therefore, and 
 repent. The Want of Zeal is complained of in 
 the People of old, They are not valiant for the 
 Truth upon the Earth, Jer. ix. 3. The Apo- 
 itle tells us, it is good to be zeahujly affecled in 
 a good Caufe ; and a better Caufe never can be 
 than the Caufe of Truth. But in order to all 
 this, 
 
 5. We had need to feek the Spirit of Truth. 
 Need we the Knowledge of the Truth ? Then 
 he is the Spirit of Wifdom and Revelation, in the 
 Knowledge of Chrifi, Eph. i. 17. ; and it is pro- 
 mifed of him, he fhall teach you all Things. 
 Need we the Faith of the Truth ? Then he is 
 the Spirit of Faith, 2 Cor. iv. 13. We having re- 
 ceived the Spirit of Faith, have believed, and 
 
 therefore Jpoken. Need we Love to the Truth ? 
 Then he is the Spirit of Love, and of a found 
 Mind, 2 Tim. i. 7. ; he kindles the Fire of Love 
 in the Soul to Chrift and his Truth. Need we 
 Zeal for the Truth ? Then he that kindles the 
 Fire of Love in the Heart, makes it flame in a 
 holy Zeal. He is the Spirit of Power, as in the 
 forecited Scripture, 2 Tim. i. 7. ; and Magnani- 
 mity, to enable us to make a zealous and bold 
 Appearance forChrift's borne-down Caufe : And 
 a? we may lay our Account with Trials in a 
 Way of cleaving to the Truth, we need the 
 Spirit as a Comforter to fupport and carry 
 through, in a Way of rejoicing in Tribulation. 
 Well, ar we need the Spirit, it is Ground of 
 Encouragement that he is promifed, and the* 
 Accomplidiment of the Promife may be expect- 
 ed: John xiv. 16. 17. / will pray the Father, 
 and he /hall give you another Comforter, that he 
 
 may 
 
I si 3 
 
 may abide with you for ever ; even the Spirit of 
 
 Truth. He dwelleth -with you, and /ball be 
 
 in you. Chap. xv. 26. 27. When the Comforter 
 is come, whom I will fend unto you from the Fa- 
 ther, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedetk 
 from the Father, he /hall teftify of me : And yc 
 alfo /hall bear witnefs. Chap. xvi. 7. 13. If I 
 depart, I will fend him unto you. When the Spi- 
 rit of Truth is come, he will guide you into all 
 Truth. 
 
 Athly, Hence fee the Warrantablenefs of the 
 Contendings of a Remnant & this Day for 
 Truth. When the Caufe of Chrift was buried 
 in the Land, and Grave-flones of Afts of Parlia- 
 ment and of AlTemblies were rolled to the Door of 
 the Sepulchre, and all Means for reforming them 
 proved abortive ; what a fad Situation had we 
 been in, had not the Lord led out a Remnant 
 in his Providence, without the Camp, bearing 
 his Reproach, to take Truth by the Hand ; and 
 given them a Banner, enabling them to make 
 fome Mints at difplaying the fame becaufe of the 
 Truth ? And the Lord has been leading them 
 on to appear for Truth, from Time to Time, 
 when oppofed upon different hands ; for the 
 Do&rine, the Worfhip, the Difcipline and Go- 
 vernment of the Lord's Houfe, — to the Mainte- 
 nance of which thefe Lands are folemnly fworn, 
 however they have broken the Bands, and caft 
 away the Cords. And the Lord's thus maintain- 
 ing a Teftimony for him, while it is the Butt of 
 the Malice of the Generation, and Chrift and 
 his Caufe efpoufed by a Remnant, — is a Sign 
 that is fpoken againft ; this is a Sign that the 
 Lord is loath to give us up, and a Token for 
 H good 
 
Z 5* 1 
 
 good that he will keep by the Land, that he 
 will turn again, and have Compaffion upon us, — «, 
 though notwithftanding the Land /ho u Id be laid 
 defo late for the Fruit of our Doings. 
 
 Sthly, Hence fee Ground for Exhortation, 
 both to them that are deftitute of the Truth, and 
 to the Wellwifliers of Truth. 
 
 i. As to the firft, — we exhort fuch to feek 
 Acquaintance with Chiift, who is the Way, the 
 Truth, and the Life ; for if ye have not Ac- 
 quaintance with him, you but live in Error, and 
 muft go down to the Grave with a Lye in your 
 right Hand. We exhort you to believe the£ 
 Truth of the Threatenings of the Law, wherein 
 God is (peaking awfully to you ; fb as to fly in- 
 to Chrift, in whom you will fee the Truth of 
 thefe Threatenings evidently manifefted, in their 
 having been executed upon him, as the Surety of 
 the Covenant, — to the full. Believe the Truth 
 of God's Words of Grace and Promife in the 
 everlafting Gofpel, which are publifhed to you 
 as a Ground for your Faith and Hope. By re- 
 jecting the Grace of God, and misbelieving his 
 Record, his Words of Promife, which are to 
 you and to your Children, you will come to know 
 to your fad Experience the Truth of his awful 
 Threatenings ; as you muft lie under the Curfi 
 of a broken Govenant eternally : He that belie- 
 veth not, Jlmll be damned. O then believe this 
 Truth, that thou hafl deflroyed thyfelf; that 
 thou canft not help thyfelf, that all the Creation 
 of God cannot help thee. Believe this Truth, 
 that God hath given his only begotten Son, that 
 whofoevtr believeth in him Jhould not perijh, but 
 have everlajiing Life: that he hath given to you 
 
 in 
 
r 53 3 
 
 !o the Word of Salvation eternal Life, and this 
 Life is in his Son. Mint, in a Dependence up- 
 on the Grace that is in the Promife, at receiving 
 an offered Cbrift ; and refting upon him alone 
 for Salvation, as he is fully and freely offered to 
 you in the Gofpel. 
 
 2. As to them that are Wellwifliers to Truth, 
 we would exhort fuch, (i.) Seek to know more 
 and more of the Power of divine Truth belie- 
 ved, for the cleanfing and purifying of your 
 Hearts and Conversions. Many detain the 
 Truth in Unrig hteoufnefs ; they have the Truth 
 in their Understandings by a Head-knowledge of 
 it, — but it is incarcerate there, it is held and 
 detained there as in a Prifon, incompaffed with 
 Vk Guard of corrupt Affe&ions, — that it has not 
 Entrance into the Heart, and fo has no Influ- 
 ence for changing the Heart and Conversation. 
 jThe Truth received into the Heart, will have 
 \\ purifying, a fan&ifying Efficacy thereupon : 
 Sanfli/y them through thy Truth ; thy Word is 
 Truth, Johnxvii. 17. And this will appear in 
 he Life, by a walking in the Truth ; and fo 
 fommending Religion to others, bringing up a 
 $ood Report of Chrift and his Caufe to your 
 Neighbours about you : Let your Light fo JhinG 
 efore Men, as others feeing your good IVorks 
 nay glorify your Father which is in Heaven. 
 2.) We exhort you to be valiant in your Sta- 
 ions for the Truth. Ydu are called to affemble 
 bout the Starfdard of Zion's King, to appear 
 pr Chrift and his Caufe ; putting in your Mite 
 >r keeping up his Remembrance, and tranfmit- 
 ng to Pofterity a Teftimony for the Truths of 
 hrift : Stand faft in the Faith, quit you like 
 H 2 Men. 
 
t 54 3 
 
 Men, be ftrong, iGor.xvi. 13. (3.) Keepyoui 
 Eye upon the great Standard-bearer, the Lor 
 Chrift, the Captain of the Lord's Hofts ; wh 
 appears with his Sword drawn in his Hand ; 
 who is poflefTed of infinite Wifdom to direct hi: 
 Aimy, and of infinite Power to protect them 
 and will undoubtedly bring them off the Fiel<J| 
 victorious, yea more than Conquerors, over thei*b 
 
 inward Enemies, the Corruptions of their 
 
 Hearts, and all their outward Oppofers, wherq 
 once their Warfare is accomplijhed. Many errJ 
 in looking more to them that are about the* 
 Standard, than to the Standard itfelf, and the! 
 glorious Standard-bearer; but let your Eyes bej 
 directed this Way, and thus will you be anima?| 
 ted and encouraged to appear for his Caufe.— -J 
 And let it be your Concern, to be found witti 
 Chrift and about his Standard, though all wer» 
 to forfake him but yourfelves. (4.) Pray foifc 
 the Advancement of thrift's Interefts, for thqj 
 fupporting of the Banner given to be difplaye 
 becaufe of the Truth : Prayer fh all be made fo, 
 him y Pfal. Ixxii. 15. Pray for them that a: 
 called, in an eminent Manner, to difplay t 
 Banner : Brethren, pray for us. Pray for t\ 
 Peace of Jerufalem. Pray for a witneffing S; 
 nod, that the Lord may reveal to them the 
 vndance of Peace and Truth, and may unl 
 them to one another in the Truth ; that t 
 Promife may be accomplished, — Thy Watchm^ 
 Jhall lift up the Voice, with the Voice togeth 
 (hall they jing ; for they jh all fee Eye to Ey 
 when the Lord Jhall bring again Zion, If. Hi 
 (5.) Sing both of Mercy and Judgment. "V 
 have Ground to ling of Judgment, in refpect 
 
 wh 
 
1 
 
 t 55 1 
 
 what the Lord has been juftly provoked to. We 
 may join with the Church in the Context here, 
 Thou haft caft us off; thou haft /battered us ; 
 thou haft been difpleafed: Thou haft made the 
 Earth to tremble; thou haft broken it. Thou 
 haft /hewed thy People hard Things ; thou haft 
 made us to drink the Wine of Aftoni/hment. But 
 at the lame time, we are to blefs God for un- 
 deferved Mercy in the midft of deferved Wrath, 
 in ftill maintaining his Caufe; and fo to fing of 
 Mercy as well as Judgment, in a'- Way of ac- 
 knowledging to his Praife, — Thou haft given a 
 Banner to them that fear thee ; that it may be 
 difplayed becaufe of the Truth. Selah, 
 
 FINIS. 
 
Speedily will be publiftred, 
 
 The PROCEEDINGS of the Associate 
 Synod, at Edinburgh, in March and Auguft 
 1755, concerning the Reverend Mr Thomas 
 Mair Minifter of the Gofpel at Orwell; in the : 
 Cafe of his difTenting from the Aft of SynodV 
 April 18. 1754? containing an Aflertion of fbme, 
 Gofpel-truths, in oppofition to Arminian Errors 
 upon the Head of Univerfal Redemption. 
 
 "With an Introduction and Appendix. 
 
 To be (old at the Printing-houle of Sands, 
 Murray j and Cochran, in Craig's Clole ; and by 
 John Reid at his Hpufe within the Society-gate % 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 Where may be had, 
 
 The forementioned Aft of the Aflbciate Sy- 
 nod, from which Mr Mair diflented ; and alfb 
 all the Proceedings of the faid Synod relating 
 to the Cafe of the feparating Brethren, and the 
 Burgefs-oath.